He[619] was borne at his father's house aforesaid, which is ..., on Monday, the twenty-sixth of May 1623, eleven houres 42´ 56˝ afternoone (vide Scheme[620]): Xtned on Trinity Sunday.
Rumsey is a little haven towne, but hath most kinds of artificers in it. When he was a boy his greatest delight was to be looking on the artificers,—e.g. smyths, the watch-maker, carpenters, joyners, etc.—and at twelve years old could have worked at any of these trades. Here he went to schoole, and learn't by 12 yeares a competent smattering of Latin, and was entred into the Greek. He haz had few sicknesses. About 8, in April very sick and so continued till towards Michaelmas. ☞ About 12 (or 13), i.e. before 15, he haz told me, happened to him the most remarkable accident of life (which he did not tell me), and which was the foundation of all the rest of his greatnes and acquiring riches.
He[621] enformed me that, about 15, in March, he went over into Normandy[622], to Caen, in a vessell that went hence, with a little stock, and began to merchandize[623], and had so good successe that he maintained himselfe, and also educated himselfe; this I guesse[624] was that most remarkable accident that he meant. Here he learn't the French tongue, and perfected himselfe in the Latin, and had Greeke enough to serve his turne. Here (at Caen) he studyed the arts. Memorandum:—he was sometime at La Flesshe in the college of Jesuites. At 18, he was (I have heard him say) a better mathematician then he is now: but when occasion is, he knows how to recurre to more mathematical knowledge. At Paris he studyed anatomie, and read Versalius with Mr. Thomas Hobbes (vide Mr. Hobbs' life), who loved his company. Mr. H. then wrot his Optiques; Sir W. P. then had a fine hand in drawing and limning, and drew Mr. Hobbes's opticall schemes for him, which he was pleased to like. At Paris, one time, it happened that he was driven to a great streight for money, and I have heard him say, that he lived a weeke on two peniworth (or 3, I have forgott which, but I thinke the former) of walnutts. Quaere whether he was not sometimes a prisoner there?
Anno Domini 164- he came to Oxon, and entred himselfe of Brasen-nose college. Here he taught[625] anatomy to the young scholars. Anatomy was then but little understood by the university, and I remember[626] he kept a body that he brought by water from Reding a good while to read on, some way preserv'd or pickled[627].
Anno Domini <1650> happened that memorable accident and experiment of the reviving Nan Green[628], which is to be ascribed and attributed to Dr. William Petty, as the first discoverer of life in her, and author of saving her. Vide and insert the materiall passages in the tryal, and anatomicall experiment of Nan Green at Oxon: vide the narrative.
Here he lived and was beloved by all the ingeniose scholars[629], particularly Ralph Bathurst of Trin. Coll. (then Dr. of Physique); Dr. John Wilkins (Warden of Wadham Coll.); Seth Ward, D.D., Astronom. Professor: Dr. <Robert> Wood; Thomas Willis, M.D., &c.—Memorandum:—about these times experimentall philosophy first budded here and was first cultivated by these vertuosi in that darke time.
Anno Domini ... (quaere) he was chosen musique professor at Gresham Colledge, London, v. pag.[e] 2.
Anno Domini ... (quaere Edmund Wyld, esq., when) the Parliament sent surveyors to survey Ireland; vide pag.[630] 2.
[631]Dr. Petty was resident in Oxon 1648, 1649, and left it (if Anthony Wood[632] is not mistaken) in 1652. He tooke his degree of Dr. of Physique anno Domini ... at ... (quaere).