By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 107 



country gentleman of independent fortune and good education, 

 whose fancy lay towards genealogical pursuits, chiefly Heraldry : 

 on which subject whenever Aubrey is at a loss, his intention to 

 consult the Alderton oracle is expressed by a " Mem. to ask T. G-. 

 de hoc." 



In a curious folio manuscript history of his own family by Mr. 

 Gore (now in the possession of Mr. PoulettScrope), it is mentioned 

 that at some period before the year 1664 Aubrey had mortgaged 

 his estate at Broad Chalk to Thos. Gore and his brother Charles, 

 as Trustees to their sister Anna, afterwards wife of John Scrope 

 Esq. of Castle Combe. ^ 



Another literary friend from whose society he found much com- 

 fort in the latter part of his life, was Mr. (afterwards Bishop) 

 Tanner, a native of Market Lavington, author of the Notitia Mo- 

 nastica. Tanner was only 22 years old at Aubrey's death, but he had 

 already shown so many qualifications for undertaking an important 

 historical and topographical work, as to lead Aubrey to express the 

 hope that in him the County of Wilts might find a proper historian. 



The following is his own list of the persons with whom (besides 

 those already mentioned) he had been most intimate. 



A. Ettrick of Trin. Coll. Oxford. Francis Potter, Rector of 

 Kilmington near Mere, of whom, as a very ingenious mathema- 

 tician and meclianic, Aubrey gives a long account in his " Lives," 



I At a later period the friendship between T. Gore and Anbrcy appears to have 

 been worn threadbare : for of liis former colleague, Aubrey in his fatal year 

 1671, writes thus, (to A. Wood). " Pray remember me to Mr. Browne," (a 

 clerical antiquary and friend). " If he writes or sees Mr. Gore, let him not tell 

 him that he saw me : for he is a fidling peevish fellow, and something related to 

 my adversaries." Again, in the same year when absconding, *' I writ a line to 

 Mr. Ooro a little before I went into France (that is, to Kent) to quare some 

 things: and to know what the Heralds did, &c., and told him that I correspond 

 with you and tliat you eould send a letter to mc. If he should not assist me ho 

 were an ill-natured cur, for he hath made me as much his slave as Sir Browne." 

 Finally, in 1080. " Pray write to the cuckold at ^Alderton, alias Aldrinyton ' 

 t^)on(iuire, &e., &c. But he is a yarc man and afraid of my queries as numy 

 people are when wo want to preserve the memories of their Relations." Aubrey 

 here alludes to Mr. Gore's preeiseness in expression, certainly carried to a weari- 

 wjme excess; for every time ho names his own parish in the MS. family History 

 alxjvo referred to, (and the name occurs a dozen times in every page) he invari- 

 ably reiterates his "Alderton alias Aldringten." 



