Reall Character: London, printed....
This last was his darling, and nothing troubled him so much when he dyed, as that he had not compleated it; which will now in a yeare more be donne by the care and studies of Mr. Robert Hooke, of Gresham College; Mr. Andrew Paschall, B.D. of Chedzoy, in com. Somerset; Mr. Francis Lodwyck, of London, merchant; Mr. John Ray, R.S.S., of Essex; and Mr. Thomas Pigott, M.A. (Wadham College). He lyes buried in the north-east end of the chancell of St. Laurence ... church, neer the wall, where will be an inscription sett up to his memorie.
John Willis.
[1247]John Willis, B.D.—author of the Art of Memorie, in Latin, 1618, 12mo.—Dr. Davenant told me that when he was of Cambridge, that one preaching at St. Marie's—'and now,' said he (before he was aware) 'I am come to the lyon's taile'; this was (it seemes) his locus[1248]: the people stared on him.
Inventor of Short-hand,—'tis the best. Bishop Wilkins sayd, 'tis only used in England, or by the English; and[1249] 'twas a good while before the logarithmes gott beyond sea. Mr. Wingate first brought it into France, and shewed it to them; scil. when he went into France to teach the Queen-Mother English; he dedicated it to Monsieur the duke of Orleans.
Thomas Willis (1621/2-1675).
[1250]Thomas Willis, M.D.—from himselfe—borne at Great Bedwyn in com. Wilts, January the 27th, anno Domini 1621. His father was steward to Sir Walter Smyth there, and had been sometime a scholar at St. John's College in Oxford.