Cha. I. first had his court at Oxford, he was pitched upon as one fitt to write the newes, which Oxford newes was called Mercurius Aulicus, which he writt wittily enough, till the surrender of the towne (which was June 24, 1646.) He left a collection of all his Merc. Aulicus's and all his other pamphletts, which his executors* were ordered by the king to give to the A. B of Canterbury's library. After the surrender of Oxford, he was putt out of his Fellowship by the Visitors, and was faine to shifte for himselfe as well as he could. Most part of his time he spent at London, where he mett with severall persons of quality that loved his company, and made much of him. He went over into France where he stayed some time. I thinke not long. He received grace there from the Dutchess of Newcastle, I remember he tolde me. He gott many a fourty shillings (I believe) by Pamphletts, such as that of Col. Pride," and " The Last Will and Testament of Philip Earl of Pembroke," &c.

At the restauration of his Matie he was made Master of the Facultees, and afterwards one of the Masters of Requests. He was exceedingly confident, witty, not very gratefull to his benefactors, would lye damnably. He was of middling stature, great goggle eies, not of a sweet aspect, He was chosen burghes of Parliament at

* Sir Rich. Mason and St Muddiford Bramston.

Wilton, in Wiltshire, A Di. 166...* 167.. upon the choosing of this Parliament, he went downe to be elected, and at Salisbury heard how he was scorned and mocked at Wilton (whither he was going) and called Pensioner, &c. he went not to the borough where he intended to stand, but returned to London, and tooke it so to heart, that he insensibly decayed and pined away, and so Decemb. 1679, dyed at his lodgings in Whitehall, and was buried Decemb. 6. in St. Martyn's church-yard+ (in the Fields) neer the church, according to his will and testament. His executors intend to sett up an inscription for him against the wall.

He had the art of locall memory and his topiques were the chambers, &c. in All Soules colledge about 100, so that for 100 errands, &c. he would easily remember.

He was created Dr. of LL.

His Library sold to S Robert Atkins for 200lib. His MSS. (chiefly copies of Records) for 900lib.

Of the King's Long Parliament.

His reason was because he sayd they removed the bodies out of the church.

ADMIRALL BLAKE

Was borne at ... in com. Somerset, was of Albon-hall, in Oxford. He was there a young man of strong body, and good parts. He was an early riser and studyed well, but also tooke his robust pleasures of Fishing, Fowling, &c. He would steale swannes.*

....

He served in the House of Comons for A: Dni. .... he was made admirall. the greatest actions at sea that ever were done.

He did

He died A: Dni ..... and was buried in K. H. 7th's chapell; but upon the returne of the Kinge, his body was taken up again and removed by Mr. Wells' occasion, and where it is now, I know not. Qu. Mr. Wells of Bridgewater?

SIR HENRY BLOUNT, KNIGHT.

He was borne (I presume) at Tittinghanger, in the countie of Hertford. It was heretofore the summer seate of the Lord Abbot of St. Alban's. He was of Trinity College, in Oxford, where was a great acquaintance between him and Mr. Francis Potter. He stayed there about.... yeares, from thence he went to Grayes Inne,

From H. Norbone, B.D. his contemporary there.

VOL. II.

R

where he stayd.... and then sold his chamber there to Mr. Thomas Bonham (the poet) and [made a] voyage into the Levant.* He returned

He was pretty wild when young, especially addicted to comon wenches. He was a 2d brother. He was a gentleman pensioner to King Charles I. on whom he wayted (as it was his turne) to Yorke (when the King deserted yʻ Parliament), was with him at Edge-hill fight, came with him to Oxford, and so returned to London; walkt into Westminster hall with his sword by his side; the Parliamentarians all stared upon him as a Cavaleer, knowing that he had been with the King: was called before the House of Comons, where he remonstrated to them, he did but his duty, and so they acquitted him. In these dayes he dined most commonly at the Heycock's ordinary, neer the Pallsgrave-head taverne, in the Strand, which was much frequented by Parliament-men and gallants. One time Col. Betridge being there (one of the handsomest men about the towne) bragged much how the woemen loved him; S: H. Blount did lay a wager of.... with him, that let them two goe together to a Bordello, he only, without money, with his handsome person, and S: Henry with a xx piece on his bald crowne, that the wenches should

*May 7, 1634, he embarqued at Venice for Constantinople.

choose S. Henry before Betridge; and S: H. won the wager. E. W. Esq. was one of the wit

nesses.

Memorandum. There was about 164.. a pamphlet (writt by Hen. Nevill, Esq. ȧvovuus) called The Parliament of Ladies, 3 or 4 sheets in 4to. wherein S. Henry Blount was first to be called to the barre for spreading abroad that abominable and dangerous doctrine, that it was far cheaper and safer to lye with common wenches then with ladies of quality. His estate left him by his father was 500lib. p: annum wch he sold to

... for an annuitie of 1000lib. p: annTM in Anno Di 16.. and since his elder brother dyed. A Di 165.. he was made one of the comittee for

... ·

regulating the Lawes. He was severe against tythes, and for the abolishing them, and that every minister should have 100lib. p. an. and no more. Since he was year old he dranke nothing but water or coffee. 1647 or thereabout, he maryed to Mrs Hest: Wase, daugh. of S Christop. Wase, who dyed 1679, by whom he hath two sonnes, ingeniose young gentlemen. Charles Blount (his second son) hath writt Anima Mundi, 8: 167.. burnt by order of the Bp. of London, and of Sacrifices, 8:

I remember twenty yeares since he inveighed much against sending youths to the universities, because they learnt there to be debaucht; and that the learning that they learned there they