98 



Kington 8t. Michael. 



[Jb/m Aubrey. 



of a booke. This person's life is more remarqueablo in an Astro- 

 logicall respect for his escape from many dangers in journeys both 

 bj' land and water, than for any advancement of learning, having, 

 from his birth (till of late yeares) being labouring under a crowd of 

 ill directions. He was borne at Easton Piersc (a hamlet in the 

 parish of Kington St. Michael), in the Hundred of Malmsbury, in 

 the Countie of Wilts, (his Mother's inheritance, D. and H. of Mr. 

 Isaac Lyte,) about sun-rising on March 12 (St. Gregory's day), a.d. 

 1G25.^ In an ill hour, Saturn directly opposing my ascendant — in 



Horoscope of his Nutivity, (from his oicn skcic/i.J 



n\y Grandfather's chamber I first drew my breath : very weak nnd 

 like to dye, and therefore christened that morning before morning 

 prayer. ' 



1 A mistake has sometimes been made (amongst others, by the Editor of "Notes 

 and Queries, vol. I. p. 13) about Aubrey's birthday ; arising from a passage in 

 his " Miscellanies " ("Day-Fatality") : "I shall take particular notice here of 

 the Srd of Novemher, hccmise it is my own Birthday, iS'e." But the early pages 

 of the "Miscellanies" including this passage are stated by Aubrey himself to 

 have been copied word for word from " Observations by Joliu Gibbon" (lUuc- 

 Mantle), printed 1678 ; (and also Harl. Misc. viii. :300, 8vo). The 3rd November 

 was therefore John GihhQn''s birthday, not Aubrey's. He was certainly ba[)tized 

 at Kington (see Parish Reyister) on 1 2th March: and in allusion to this day he 

 frequently subscribed his name in letters to his friends as "J. Gregorius." 



