Sir Richard Napier (1608-1675/6).
[390]Yesterday I was with Mr. Elias Ashmole, who tells me that Sir Richard Napier[AF] was of Allsoules, and about 1642.
I writt to you from Mr. Ashmole in a former letter[AG] that Sir Richard Napier is buryed at Lindford, but died at Besels-leigh; but before he came thither, he lay at an inne at ..., where, when the chamberlain brought him up to his chamber, and the Dr. look't on the bed and saw a dead man lye in or on the bed—'What!' sayd he, 'do you lodge me where a dead man lies?' Sayd the chamberlain, 'Sir, here is no dead man.' The Dr. look't at it again, and saw it was him selfe. And from thence he went (ill) to Besil's-leigh and died.
[391]On Sunday last I dined with Mr. Ashmole, who bids me answer you[AH] positively that Sir Richard Napier never did write anything, and sayes he haz acquainted you thus much before by letter.
Notes.
[AF] He was nephew of the preceding. He matriculated at Wadham in 1624; was fellow of All Souls in 1628; and created M.D. in Nov. 1642.
[AG] On June 29, 1689: now in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 386v:—'Sir Richard Napier was buried at Lynford, in Buckinghamshire: it was his manour, which his sonne sold for 19,500 li.'
[AH] This note is a postscript torn from a letter addressed, no doubt to Anthony Wood, by 'your faithful friend, J. Aubrey.'