Memoir of John Aubrey, F.R.S.; embracing his autobiographical sketches, a brief review of his personal and literary merits, and an account of his works, with extracts from his correspondence, anecdotes of some of his contemporaries, and of the times in which he lived / By John Britton ... Published by the Wiltshire Topographical Society [with its 5th Annual Report, 1845].

John Britton

Date:: 1845

Credit: Memoir of John Aubrey, F.R.S.; embracing his autobiographical sketches, a brief review of his personal and literary merits, and an account of his works, with extracts from his correspondence, anecdotes of some of his contemporaries, and of the times in which he lived / By John Britton ... Published by the Wiltshire Topographical Society [with its 5th Annual Report, 1845]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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IRELAND.—HOBBES ; COOPER; LOGGAN. oF or 21, and then, upon the unexpected turne upon Generall Monke’s comeing in, all these airie modells vanished. Then ’twas not fitt, nay treason, to have donne such ; but I well remember he [Harrington] severall times (at the breaking up) sayd, ‘Well, the King will come in. Let him come in, and call a Parliament of y° great cavaliers in England, so they be men of estates, and let them sett but 7 yeares, and they will all turn Commonwealthes men.’”* The arrival of General Monk in London, and the public events which ensued, are _ described by Aubrey in his interesting memoir of that individual. On the 23rd July, 1660, Sir John Aubrey, of Llantrithyd, was created a Baronet by King Charles II. In the same month Aubrey accompanied his friend, Anthony Ettrick, to Ireland, and on returning in August they narrowly escaped shipwreck. About twelve months afterwards he thus wrote to Thomas Hobbes: “ From N. Wales I went into Ireland, where I saw the manner of living of the natives, scorning industry and luxury, contenting themselves only with things necessary. That king- dom is in a very great distemper, and hath need of your advice to settle it; the animosities between the English and Irish are very great, and will ere long, I am confident, break into a war. Sir, you have done me so much honour in your acquaintance and civilities, that I want language to expresse my thankfulnesse ; among other favours I particularly return you my hearty thankes for the trouble I gave you to sitt for your picture,~ which is an honour I am not worthy of, and I beg your pardon for my great boldness, but I assure you no man living more prizes it, nor hath greater devotion for you then myselfe. Your brother I heare is well, * Lives of Eminent Men, vol. ii. p. 871. See also the same passage, with alterations and additions by Wood, in Athen. Oxon. (Life of Harrington.) + In Aubrey’s Life of Hobbes (Lives of Eminent Men, vol. ii. p. 632,) he says: “ He did me the honour to sitt for his picture to Jo. Baptist Caspars, an excellent painter, and ’tis a good piece. I presented it to the [Royal] Societie twelve yeares since.” It appears by a letter from Hollar to Aubrey, in the Ashmolean Museum (dated in 1665), that the former engraved a portrait of Hobbes from a picture lent to him by Aubrey: no doubt the picture by Caspars here alluded to. Aubrey also mentions another portrait of Hophes (Lives, vol. ii, p. 610). Mr. Samuel Cowper, the prince of limners of this last age, drew his picture as like as art shea afford, and one of the best pieces that ever he did, which his Majesty (Chas. II.) at his returne bought of him, and conserves as one of his greatest rarities, in his closet at Whitehall. This picture I intend to be borrowed of his Majesty, for Mr. Loggan to engrave an accurate piece by, which will sell well both at home and abroad.”

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