'The want of the Royal Society is the greatest defect of our parts[1285]: possibly you may have some one that for money will informe mee as you doe for love. If you find any such, fix him for[1286] J.†'
[CY] Aubrey was anxious to obtain the exact date as an item towards his pet astrological collection. But he fancied that Wren had played a trick on him, by taking the place of a brother of the same name, one year younger, who died in infancy. Aubrey might have reflected that, while it is possible that parents might give the name of a deceased child to their next, the other course is unlikely. The following excerpts from Aubrey's letters to Anthony Wood bear on the point:—
(a) Nov. 17, 1670: MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 128:—'Dr. Christopher Wren was borne at <East> Knoyle, baptized the 10th day of November 1631. I have writt to him for the exact time, astrologiae ergo: 'tis a poore-spirited thing, if he will not resolve me.'
(b) Jan. 16, 1671/2: MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 160v:—'Dr. Christopher Wren ... tells me he was borne at ... Knahill 20 October, 1631. He was a second Christopher: <the one> whome I sent to you was the first.'
(c) Feb. 1, 1671/2: MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 165:—'Dr. Christopher Wren hath putt a trick on us, as it seemes; for he hath made him selfe a yeare younger then indeed he is, though he needs not be ashamed of his age, he hath made such admirable use of his time. I mett t'other day accidentally with the parson of Knahill, who justifies the register, and not only so but proves it by his neighbour that was his nurse and her son that suckled with him—evidence notorious. 'Tis true, as the Doctor sayes, that there were two Christophers, but it was the latter, i.e. the Doctor—that parson Hill justifies—quod nota.'
[CZ] Aubrey several times notes this. MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 5:—'Sir Xpfer Wren knighted, November 14, 1673.' MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 7:—'Sir Christopher Wren received the honour of knighthood at Whitehall on Friday 14th November, 5h A.M., 1673—from Mr. Robert Hooke, the next day.'
[DA] MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 69-74, is 'A survey of Our Lady Church at Salisbury, taken by Dr. Christopher Wren (since Sir Christopher) anno Domini 1669, being invited downe to doe it by Seth Ward, lord bishop of Sarum.'—Another, less perfect, MS. copy of this report is in Wood MS. B. 14.