shewed like a wart. This account I had from Geo. Estcourt, D.D. whose brother-in-lawe, Nathan, was one of those that sawe him. SIR GEOFFREY CHAUCER. Memorand. S: Hamond L'Estrange, of. . . . . had his Workes in MS. a most curious piece, most rarely writt and illumined, weh he valued at 100lib. His grandson and heire still hath it.* He taught his sonne the use of [the] astrolabe at 10. Dunnington Castle, neer Newbury, was his; a noble seate and strong castle, which was held by King Ch. I. but since dismanteled. Mem. Neer this castle was an oake, under which Sir Geoffrey was wont to sitt, called Chaucer's-oake, wch was cutt downe by the Car. 1 and so it was, that was called into the starre chamber, and was fined for it. Judge Richardson harangued against him long, and like an orator, had topiques from the Druides, &c. His picture is at his old house at Woodstock (neer the parke * From Mr. Roger L'Estrange. + This information I had from an able attorney that was at the hearing. gate), a foot high, halfe way: it has passed from proprietor to proprietor. WILLIAM CHILLINGWORTH, D.D. Was borne in Oxford, his father was a brewer. About A..... he was acquainted with one who drew him and some other scholars over to Doway, where he was not so well entertained as he thought he merited for his great disputative witt. They made him the porter (which was to trye his temper, and exercise his obedience,) so he stole over and came to Trinity coll. againe, where he was fellowe. W. Laud, A. B. C. was his godfather and great friend. He sent his grace weekly intelligence of what passed in the university. S: Wm Davenant (poet laureat) told me that notwithstanding this doctor's great reason, he was guiltie of the detestable crime of treachery. Dr. Gill, F. Dris Gill, schoolmaster of Paules school, and Chillingworth held weekely intelligence one with another for some yeares, wherein they used to nibble at state-matters. Dr. Gill in one of his letters calls King James and his sonne, the old foole and the young one, wch letter Chillingworth communicated to W. Laud, A. B. Cant. The poore young Dr. Gill was seised, and a terrible storme pointed towards him, which, by the eloquent intercession and advocation of Edward Earle of Dorset, together with the teares of the poore old Doctor, his father, and supplication on his knees to his matie, were* blowne over. I am sorry so great a witt should have such a næve. He was a little man, blackish haire, of a Saturnine countenance. The Ld Falkland and he had such extraordinary clear reasons, that they were wont to say at Oxon, that if the great Turke were to be converted by naturall reason, these two were the persons to convert him. He lies buried in the south side of the cloysters at Chichester, where he dyed of the morbus castrensis after the taking of Arundel castle by the parliament. In his sicknesse he was inhumanely treated by Dr. Cheynell, who, when he was to be buried, threw his booke into the grave with him, saying, "Rott with the rotten; Let the dead bury the dead." This following inscription was made and set up by Mr. Oliver Whitby, his fellowe collegiate at Trin. coll. and now one of the prebendarys of this church : Virtuti sacrum. Spe certissima resurrectionis GULIELMVS CHILLINGWORTH, S. T. P. * [Sic. EDIT.] Collegij St Trinitatis olim Omni Literarum genere celeberrimus, Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ adversus Romano-Catholicam Propugnator invictissimus, Ecclesiæ Sarisburiensis Præcentor* dignissimus ; Furentis cujusdam Theologastri, Diris et maledictione sepultus: Ab OLIVERO WHITBY, Brevi hoc monimento, Anno Salutis, My tutor, W. Browne, hath told me, that Dr. Chillingworth studied not much, but when he did, he did much in a little time. He much delighted in Sextus Empericus. He did walke much in the College grove, and there contemplate, and meet with some cod's-head or other, and dispute with * This is a mistake; he was not Chantor of the Church, but Chancellor of the Church of Sarum. Whose office was antiently to read a lecture in Latin, quarterly, in the pulpit in the library, either in Theologie or the Canon Lawe. Since the Reformation 'twas commuted into preaching on the Holydayes. He was never swore to all the points of the Church of England. ↑ Minister of Petworth. him and baffle him. He thus prepared himselfe before hand. He would alwayes be disputing; so would my tutor. I thinke it was an epidemick evill of that time, wch I thinke now is growne out of fashion, as unmannerly and boyishe. He was the readiest and nimblest disputant of his time in the university, perhaps none hath equalled him since. I have heard Mr. Tho. Hobbes, Malmesb. (who knew him) say, that he was like a lusty fighting fellow that did drive his enemies before him, but would often give his owne party terrible smart back-blowes. When Dr. Kettle, (the president of Trin. coll.) dyed,* wch was in A...... Dr. Chillingworth was competitor for the presidentship, with Dr. Hannibal Potter and Dr. Roberts. Dr. Han. Potter had been formerly chaplain to the Bp. of Winton, who was so much Dr. Potter's friend, that though (as Will Hawes hath told me) Dr. Potter was not lawfully elected, upon referring themselves to their visitor (Bp of Winton), the Bishop (Curle) ordered Dr. Potter possession; and let the fellowes gett him out if they could. This was shortly after the Lord Falkland was slaine, who had he lived, Dr. Chillingworth assured Will. Hawes, no man should have carried *This cannot be; Dr. Kettle died after Chillingworth. [In the hand-writing of Anthony à Wood. EDIT.] |