His father was brought-up in the University of Oxon, at Christ Church, and his grandfather disinherited him because he kept not to the Catholique religion[XVIII.]. So therupon he came to London, and became a scrivener (brought up by a friend of his; was not an apprentice), and gott a plentifull estate by it, and left it off many yeares before he dyed.—He was an ingeniose man; delighted in musique; composed many songs now in print, especially that of Oriana[XIX.].
[XVIII.] Quaere—he found a bible in English, in his chamber.
[XIX.] Quaere Mr. J. Playford pro Wilby's sett of Oriana's.—MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 65.
[243]I have been told that the father composed a song of fourscore parts for the Lantgrave of Hess, for which <his> highnesse sent a meddall of gold, or a noble present. He dyed about 1647[244]; buried in Cripplegate church, from his house in the Barbican.
<His birth.>
[245]His son John was borne in Bread Street, in London, at[246] the Spread Eagle, which was his house [he had also in that street another house, the Rose; and other houses in other places].
He was borne anno Domini ... the ... day of ..., about ... a clock, in the....
[247]☞ Quaere Mr. Christopher Milton to see the date of his brother's birth.
[248][John Milton[249] was born the 9th of December, 1608, die Veneris[250], half an hour after 6 in the morning.]