Anno Domini 1642, had his institution and induction for the rectorie of Bletchington in com. Oxon.
In the troublesome times he was with his father-in-lawe Wren at the garrison of Bristowe. After the surrender of it to the Parliament, he lived ... year at Knowyll with him.
Anno about 1646[1690], he went to Bletchington to his parsonage, where his hospitality and learning, mixt with great courtesie, easily conciliated the love of all his neighbours to him. The deane came with him thither, and dyed and is buryed there.
He was very helpfull in the education of his brother-in-law, Mr. Christopher Wren (now knighted), a youth of a prodigious inventive witt, and of whom he was as tender as if he had been his owne child, who[1691] gave him his first instructions in geometrie and arithmetique, and when he was a young scholar at the University of Oxford, was a very necessary and kind friend.
The parsonage-house at Bletchington was Mr. Christopher Wren's home, and retiring-place; here he contemplated, and studied, and found-out a great many curious things in mathematiques. About this house[1692] he made severall curious dialls, with his owne handes, which are still there to be seen. ☞ Which see, as well worthy to be seen.
But to returne to this honest worthy gentleman—he is a good poet. I have some very good verses (about 100) in Latin on St. Vincent's-rocks and the hott-well, neere Bristowe. He is very musicall, both theorically and practically, and he had a sweet voyce. He hath writt an excellent treatise of musique, in English, which is writt both doctis et indoctis, and readie for the presse. He is extremely well qualified for his[1693]place, of Sub-Deane of the King's Chapell, to which he was preferred[1694] anno 167<4>, as likewise of the Sub-Almoner, being a person abhorring covetousnes, and full of pitty[1695].
Anno 16—(vide his ...) ... Popham (the only son of ... Popham, admirall for the Parliament), being borne deafe and dumbe[1696], was sent to him to learne to speake, which he taught him to doe: by what method, and how soon, you may see in the Appendix concerning it to his Elements of Speech, 8vo, London, printed <1669>. It is a most ingeniose and curious discourse, and untouched by any other; he was beholding to no author; did only consult with nature. This booke I sent to Mr. Anthony Lucas, at Liege, who very much admires it and I have desired him to translate it into French. Dr. John Wallis unjustly arrogates the glory of teaching the sayd young gentleman to speake, in the Philosophical Transactions, and in Dr. Robert Plott's History of Oxfordshire; which occasioned Dr. Holder to write a ... against him, a pamphlet in 4to, 167-.
He has good judgement in painting and drawing.
In anno <1652> he was made a prebendary of Ely. Anno <1663> had the parsonage of <Northwold> in Norfolk.
He is a handsome, gracefull person, and of a delicate constitution, and of an even and smooth temper; so that, if one would goe about to describe a perfect good man, would drawe this Doctor's character. Of a just stature; grey eie; tall and well-sett; sanguine; thin skin; roundish face; gracefull elocution; his discourse so gent. and obligeing; cleer reason.