I remember one St. Andrewe's day (which is the day of the generall meeting of the Royall Society for annuall elections), I sayd, 'methought 'twas not so well that we should pitch upon the Patron of Scotland's day, we should rather have taken St. George or St. Isidore' (a philosopher canonized). 'No,' said Sir William,' I would rather have had it[644] on St. Thomas day, for he would not beleeve till he had seen[645] and putt his fingers into the holes,' according to the motto Nullius in verba.
He haz told me that he never gott by legacies in his life, but only x li. which was not payd.
[646]He has told me, that wheras some men have accidentally come into the way of preferment, by lying at an inne, and there contracting an acquaintance; on the roade; or as some others[LVII.] have donne; he never had any such like opportunity, but hewed out his fortune himselfe—quod N.B.
[LVII.] E.g. my cosen Rowland Plattes, whom the lord Cottington never having seen before, liked so well, that he made him his gentleman of the horse when he went his embassy into Spaine[647]. This was on ship-board.
He is a proper handsome man, measured six foot high, good head of browne haire, moderately turning up: vide his picture as Dr. of Physique. His eies are a kind of goose-grey, but very short sighted, and, as to aspect, beautifull, and promise sweetnes of nature, and they doe not decieve, for he is a marveillous good-natured person, and εὔσπλαγχνος. Eie-browes thick, darke, and straight (horizontall). His head is very lardge, μακροκέφαλος. He was in his youth very slender, but since these twenty yeares and more past he grew very plump, so that now (1680) he is abdomine tardus. This last March, 1679/80, I perswaded him to sitt for his picture to Mr. Loggan, the graver, whom I forthwith went for myselfe, and he drewe it just before his goeing into Ireland, and 'tis very like him. But about 1659, he had a picture in miniture drawne by his friend and mine, Mr. Samuel Cowper (prince of limners of his age), one of the likest that ever he drew.
Scripsit:
1. W. P.'s Advice concerning the Education of Youth[648], sticht, 4to, printed.
2. [A[649] contest and controversie between him and Sir ...: about which Sir William printed a little discourse in 8vo: quaere nomen libri.]
3. Historie or Discourse of Taxes, 4to.