John Aubrey
John Aubrey
John Aubrey was an English antiquary, natural philosopher and writer. He was a pioneer archaeologist, who recorded numerous megalithic and other field monuments in southern England, and who is particularly noted for his systematic examination of the Avebury henge monument. The Aubrey holes at Stonehenge are named after him, although there is considerable doubt as to whether the holes that he obser
"He left an estate of eleaven thousand pounds per annum. Sir John Danvers, who knew him, told me that he had heard one say to him, reflecting on his great scraping of wealth, that his sonnes would spend his Estate faster than he gott it; he replyed, They cannot take more delight in the spending of it than I did in the getting of it."
John Aubrey"Dr. Kettle was wont to say that Seneca writes as a Boare does pisse, scilicet by jirkes."
John Aubrey"How these curiosities would be quite forgott, did not such idle fellowes as I am putt them downe."
John Aubrey"He had read much, if one considers his long life; but his contemplation was much more then his reading. He was wont to say that if he had read as much as other men, he should have knowne no more than other men."
John Aubrey"He pronounced the letter R (littera canina) very hard – a certaine signe of a Satyricall Witt."
John Aubrey"His complexion exceeding faire – he was so faire that they called him the Lady of Christs College."
John Aubrey"Sciatica: he cured it, by boyling his buttock."
John Aubrey"He was a learned man, of immense reading, but is much blamed for his unfaithfull quotations."
John Aubrey"This Earle of Oxford, making of his low obeisance to Queen Elizabeth, happened to let a Fart, at which he was so abashed and ashamed that he went to Travell, 7 yeares. On his returne the Queen welcomed him home, and sayd, My Lord, I had forgott the Fart."
John Aubrey"His Comoedies will remaine witt as long as the English tongue is understood, for that he handles mores hominum [the ways of mankind]. Now our present writers reflect so much on particular persons and coxcombeities that twenty yeares hence they will not be understood."
John Aubrey"His manner of Studie was thus…About every three houres his man was to bring him a roll and a pott of Ale to refocillate his wasted spirits: so he studied and dranke, and munched some bread; and this maintained him till night, and then, he made a good Supper: now he did well not to dine, which breakes off ones fancy, which will not presently be regained: and tis with Invention as a flux, when once it is flowing, it runnes amaine: if it is checked, flowes but guttim [drop by drop]: and the like for perspiration, check it, and tis spoyled."
John Aubrey"I remember about 1660 there was a great difference between him and Sir Hierome Sanchy, one of Olivers knights…The Knight had been a Soldier, and challenged Sir William to fight with him. Sir William is extremely short sighted, and being the challengee it belonged to him to nominate place and weapon. He nominates, for the place, a darke Cellar, and the weapon to be a great Carpenters Axe. This turned the knights challenge into Ridicule, and so it came to nought."
John Aubrey
