102 Kington St. Michael. [John Aubrey. 



' Religio Medici ' first opened my understanding, I carried it to 

 Easton, with Sir Kenelm Digby. In Feb. following (with much 

 importunity) I gott my Father to lett me go to beloved Oxford 

 againe, (then a garrison pro Rege). I got Mr. Hesketh a priest, 

 Mr. Dobson's man, to draw the Ruines of Oseney 2 or 3 wayes 

 before t'was pulled downe : now the very foundation is digged up. 



" April and May. The small pox at Oxford. Left that ingeniose 

 place, and for 3 years led a sad life in the country. — where I con- 

 versed with none but servants and rustiques, (to my great greefe, 

 for in those days fathers were not acquainted with their children) 

 and soldiers quartered. Odi profanum vulgus et arceo. It was a 

 most sad life to me then, in the prime of my youth, nott to have the 

 benefit of an ingeniouse conversation, and scarce any good bookes. 

 Almost a consumption. This sad life I did lead in the country till 

 1646, at which time I got (with much adoe) leave of my father to 

 let mc goe to the Middle Temple. 



" 1646, April 16. Admitted. But my Father's sickness and 

 business never permitted me to make any settlement to my study. 

 My fancy lay most to geometry. My studies in it were on horse- 

 back, &c., so I got my Algebra : Oughtrcd in my pocket, with a 

 little information from Edw. Davenant D.D. of Gillingham, Dor- 

 set. [See Lives II. 296.] My father discouraged me. My head 

 was never idle : alwaies working : and even travelling (from 1649 

 to 1670 was never ofi" my horseback) did gleane some observations, 

 of which I have a collection in folio of two quire of paper, some 

 Avhercof are to be valued. If ever I had been good for anything 

 'twould have been a Painter. I could fancy a thing so strongly, 

 and have so cleare an idea of it. 



" June 24 following, Oxon was surrendered, and there came to 

 London many of the King's party, with whom I grew acquainted 

 (many of them I knew before). I loved not debauches, but their 

 martiall conversation : was not so fit for the messe. 



" November 6. I returned to Trin. Coll. in Oxon, again, to my 

 great joy: was much made of by the Fellows, had their learned 

 conversation, look't on books, musiquc. Here and at Middle Temple 

 oil" and on I for the most part enjoyed the greatest felicity of my 



