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MR. HENRY ISAACSON

Was secretary to Lancelot Andrews, L' Bishop
Was borne in this parish (of St.

of Winton.

"I shall only for the present hint that I have in some of my foregoing observations discovered some newe motions even "in the Earth itself, which perhaps were not dreamt of be"fore, which I shall hereafter more at large describe, when

further tryalls have more fully confirmed and compleated "these beginnings. At which time also I shall explaine a "systeme of the world, differing in many particulars from "any yet known, answering in all things to the comon rules "of mechanicall motions. This depends upon 3 supposi"tions; first, that all cœlestiall bodys whatsoever, have an "attractive or gravitating power towards their centers, where

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by they attract hot only their own parts, and keep them "from flying from them, as we may observe the earth to doe, "but that they doe also attract all the other coelestial bodys

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that are within the sphere of their activity, and consequently that not only the sun and the moon have an influ ence upon the body and motion of the Earth, and the Earth upon them, but that Mercury, also Venus, Mars, Saturne, "and Jupiter, by their attractive powers have a considerable "influence upon its motion, as in the same manner, the "corresponding attractive power of the Earth hath a consi"derable influence upon every one of their motions also. "The second supposition is this, that all bodys whatsoever, "that are put into direct and simple motion will soe continue "to move forwards in a streight line, till they are by some "other effectuall powers deflected and beat into a motion de"scribing a circle, ellipsis, or some other uncompounded curve "line. The third supposition is, that these attractive powers

Katharine Coleman) A: D 1581. Christened Septemb. 17th, and buried in this church. He

"ters.

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"are soe much the more powerfull in operating, by how "much nearer the body wrought upon is to their own cenNow what these severall degrees are, I have not yet "experimentally verified (but these degrees and proportions of "the power of attraction in the cœlestiall bodys and motions, were communicated to Mr. Newton by R. Hooke, in the 'yeare 1678, by letters, as will plainely appear both by the "coppy of the said letters, and the letters of Mr. Newton, in "answer to them, which are both in the custody of the said R. H. "both which also were read before the Royal Society at their "publique meeting, as appears by the Journall book of the said "Society). But it is a notion which if fully prosecuted, as "it ought to be, will mightily assist the astronomer, to re"duce all the cœlestial motions to a certaine rule, which I " doubt will never be done true without it. He that under"stands the natures of the circular pendulum and circular "motion, will easily understand the whole ground of this "principle, and will know when to find direction in nature, "for the true stating thereof. This I only hint at present to "such as have ability and opportunity of prosecuting this

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inquiry, and are not wanting of industry for observing "and calculating, wishing heartily such may be found, "having myself many other things in hand, which I "will first compleat, and therefore cannot soe well attend "to it. But this I durst promise the undertaker; that he "will find all the great motions of the world to be in"fluenced by this principle, and that the true understand"ing thereof, will be the true perfection of Astronomy."

About 9 or 10 years ago, Mr. Hooke writt to Mr. Isaac Newton, of Trinity coll. Cambridge, to make a Demonstration of this Theory, not telling him at first, the

died about ye 7th of Decemb. 1654. He had severall children, four sonnes still living one is a minister at Stoke, neer Ipswych, in Suffolk.

proportion of the gravity to the distance, nor what was the curv'd line that was thereby made. Mr. Newton, in his answer to the letter, did expresse that he had not known of it; and in his first attempt about it, he calculated the curve by supposing the attraction to be the same at all distances: upon which, Mr. Hooke sent, in his next letter, the whole of his hypothesis, scil. that the gravitation was reciprocall to the square of the distance, which would move the motion in an ellipsis, in one of whose foci, the sun being placed, the aphelion and parhelion of the planet would be opposite to each other in the same line, which is the whole cœlestial theory, concerning which Mr. Newton hath a demonstration, not at all owning, he receiv'd the first intimation of it from Mr. Hooke. Likewise Mr. Newton hath in the same booke printed some other theories and experiments of Mr. Hooke's, as that about the oval figure of the earth and sea: without acknowledgeing from whom he had them, though he had not sent it up wu the other parts of his booke till near a month after the theory was read to ye Society by Mr. Hooke, when it served to help to answer Dr. Wallis his arguments produced in the R. S. against it.

Mr. Wood! This is the greatest discovery in nature that ever was since the world's creation. It never was so much as hinted by any man before. I know you will doe him right. I hope you may read his hand. I wish he had writt plainer, and afforded a little more paper.

Tuus,

J. AUBREY.

Before I leave this towne, I will gett of him a catalogue of what he hath wrote; and as much of his inventions as I can.

In the chancell here I find this inscription, on a marble grave-stone, viz.

"Here lyeth the body of Richard Isaackson, Esq. Eastland Merchant, and free of the Paynters Stayners of this citie of London, who having lived in this parish 58 yeares, slept in the Lord 19 January, A D 1620. Henricus filius et hæres hoc memorabile posuit pietatis ergo."

Mem. .. Bourman, Dr. of Divinity, of Kingston upon Thames, did know Mr. Isaacson, and told me that he was a learned man, wch I easily believed, when I heard he was secretary to that learned prelate, who made use of none but for merit. The Dr. told me that when he presented his "" Chronologie" to his Matie King Charles the first, 'twas in the matted gallery at White-hall. He presently discerned the purpose of the treatise, and turned to his owne birth ; sayd the King, "Here's one lye to begin with.' It seemes that Mr. Isaacson had taken it out of (a foreigner), who used the other account.

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But they are many hundreds; he believes not fewer than a thousand. 'Tis such a hard matter to get people to doe themselves right.

* 'Twas presented in an ill hower. An Astrologer would give something to know that day and hower. He wanted a good election.

Poor Mr. Isaacson was so ashamed at this unlucky rencounter, that he immediately sneakt away and stayd not for prayse or reward, both wch perhaps he might have had, for his mate was well pleased with it. He wrote severall little bookes, besides his Chronologie. * He was of Pembroke-hall, in Cambridge. He was there about master of arts standing.

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DR. JAQUINTO,

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Physitian to Pope. .... then to King James. He went into the marshes of Essex, where they putt their sheep to cure them of the rott, where he lived sometime purposely to observe what plants the sheep did eat, of which herbs he made his medicine for the consumption, wch Mr. E. W. has.

INIGO JONES.

Mr. Oliver, the city surveyor, hath all his papers and designs, not only of St. Paul's Cath. &c. and the Banquetting-house, but his designe of all Whitehall, suiteable to the Banquettinghouse; a rare thing, we see.