He was taught[513] to read, and a little to write. He learn'd no farther then As in praesenti.
He was bound apprentice to a shoe-maker in ..., anno aetat....; where he was kept hard to his trade.
At 18 he gott him a Lillie's grammar, and Goldman's dictionary, and a Latin bible, and Ovid's Metamorphoses.
He is of an excellent healthy constitution and great temperance, of indefatigable industrie, and sleepes but ... houres.
In ... yeeres he made himselfe a competent master of the Latin tongue, well enough to reade any astrologicall booke, and quickly became a master of that science. He then studyed the Greek tongue, and also the Hebrew, to neither of which he is a stranger. He then studyed good authors in physique, and intends to make that his profession and practyse; but is yet (1680) a shoemaker in Convent Garden.
Scripsit, viz.:—
first, The Hebrew Kalendar, 1678.
Ecclesilogia (almanack), 1679.
The same againe, 1680.
Vade Mecum, 8vo.