He had a good naturall witt, and gaind by the Spanish trade a fair estate.
His second wife was ... the daughter of ... Hine, alderman of London, a very beautifull dame, as by her picture, at length, in the dining rome, doeth appear. By her he had a daughter, his only child, who was counted the flower of Bristol, who was maried to Sir Thomas Trenchard of Dorsetshire, who dyeing (together with her child), the alderman gave him compensation for the mannour of Dunderhill[1233] and had it again.
His third wife was ... by whom he had no issue. His fourth and last wife was Rachel, daughter of Richard Danvers of Tokenham, Wilts, esq., relict of John Aubrey of Burleton in the county of Hereford, esq. (my father Richard Aubrey being then eleaven yeares of age). He had no issue by her. The alderman made him[1234] a good falkoner, but did cutt downe his woods and never made him any satisfaction: but lett his good workes be sett in balance against it.
He lived nobly; kept a plentifull table; and was the most popular magistrate[1235] in the city, alwaies chosen a member of Parliament. He kept a noble house, and did entertain and treat the peers and great persons that came to the city. He kept his hawkes.
I remember five that had been bred-up under him, but not one of them came to good, they lived so luxuriously, just as the servants of Sir John Robinson, governor of the Tower.
He had a very good healthy constitution, and was an early riser; wrote all his letters and dispatched his businesse betime in the morning.
He was charitable in his life in breeding-up of poor scholars: particularly I remember William Haywood, D.D., whome he preferred to St. John's Colledge in Oxon, where are[1236] certaine Bristowe fellowships. His father was a cowper in Ballance Street; his mother, whom I well remember, was a midwife in the city.
He had a fair[1237] house in St. Nicholas Street, where is the stateliest dining roome in the city. He had been thrice mayor of this city, as is to be seen in the table of mayors in St. Nicholas Street in golden letters.
His beloved and only daughter dyeing, and so being orbus, Richard Wheeler his nephew, who was bred a merchant under him with others, was his heir; but he proving a sott and a capricious coxcombe, he setled all his estate upon the city of Bristow for pious uses, and was, I doe believe, the greatest benefactor that ever the city had. He gave the mannour of Durdery and the mannour of Burnet and divers houses in Bristowe.