324 Life of the Rev. John Flamsteed, [Nov. 



that I was hardly able to go to school. When I left it^ my 

 master at that time motioned my going to the Universities, 

 of which my father (fearing, I suppose, my desire of going 

 thither) told me not till afterwards. Other reasons perhaps 

 he might have ; as, knowing the negligence of servants, 

 he might suppose that my presence at home might bridle, 

 if not remove, those disorders which they were prone unto. 

 Because I was now of more years and discretion than to be 

 anywise obliged (either by menaces or intreaties, by care- 

 lessness or fear) to connive at those faults which my sister, 

 although discreet, or rather witty, enough for her time, had 

 not the judgment, care, or knowledge either to discover or 

 prevent : she hardly then beginning to leave off her chil- 

 dren's sports and trifles. My natural weakness might be 

 another moving cause for his retaining me at home : hard 

 study he perceiving already to distemper my body, argued 

 that, where my studies would be my constant labour, my 

 disease would be so much the more violent ; and that if a 

 day's short reading caused so violent a headache, a week's, 

 or constant, study would make my disease intolerable. But 

 I suppose that colds did oftener cause this disease than read- 

 ing ; and yet, if reading should promote it, yet moderation 

 and reason might have prevented it : and he is not a man, 

 or not himself, that cannot use his studies with moderation. 

 Besides, the Universities might have afforded me so many 

 advices and helps from the ablest physicians the world 

 affords, and physic as light [and] cheap, anywhere for my 

 disease, as no other place could yield me. But since that 

 God hath otherwise disposed of me, I shall say no more 

 of it, but only this, — that my desires have been always of 

 learning and divinity : and though I have been acciden- 

 tally put from it by God's providence, yet I have always 

 thought myself more qualified for it than for any other 

 employment ; because my bodily weakness will not permit 

 me action, and my mind hath always been fitted for con- 

 templation of God and his works. 



Being thus withdrawn from school, I, within a month or 

 two after, had Sacrobosco's Spheres, in Latin, lent me, which 



• Tuesday before, or Whitsuntide. I cannot well remember whether it was 

 Tuesday before : Whitsuntide being the I3tli of May, 1662. 



