[971]One Mr. Gerard, of Castle Carey in Somerset, collected the antiquities of that county, Dorset, and that of Devon: which I cannot for my life retrive. His executor had them, whose estate was seized for debt; and <they> utterly lost.
[972]... Ralegh _m._ Katherine Champernon _m._ ... Gilbert | | Sir Walter Ralegh Adrian Gilbert, chymist; sine prole.
This Adrian Gilbert was an excellent chymist, and a great favourite of Mary, countesse of Pembroke, with whom he lived and was her operator. He was a man of great parts, but the greatest buffoon in England; cared not what he said to man or woman of what quality soever. Some curious ladies of our country have rare receipts of his. 'Twas he that made the curious wall about Rollington parke at Wilton.
[973]Mr. Elias Ashmole sayes that amongst his papers of John Dee or Dr. <Richard> Napier he finds that one of them held great correspondence with Adrian Gilbert. Quaere of him de hoc.
[974]Dr. Gill, the father, was a very ingeniose person, as may appeare by his writings. Notwithstanding he had moodes and humours, as particularly his whipping-fitts:--
As Paedants out of the schoole-boies breeches doe clawe and curry their owne itches
This Dr. Gill whipped ... Duncomb, who was not long after a colonel of dragoons at Edgehill-fight, taken pissing against the wall. He had his sword by his side, but the boyes surprized him: somebody had throwen a stone in at the windowe; and they seised on the first man they lighted on.[975]I thinke his name was _Sir John D_. (Sir John Denham told me the storie), and he would have cutt the doctor, but he never went abroad but to church, and then his army went with him. He complained to the councill, but it became ridicule, and so his revenge sank.
Dr. Triplet came to give his master a visit, and he whip't him. The Dr. gott ... Pitcher, of Oxford, who had a strong[976] and a sweet base, to sing this song under the schoole windowes, and gott a good guard to secure him with swords, etc., and he was preserved from the _examen_ of the little myrmidons which issued-out to attach him; but he was so frighted that he bes ... him selfe most fearfully.
In Paul's church-yard in London There dwells a noble firker; Take heed you that pass Lest you tast of his lash * * * * * Still doth he cry Take him up, take him up, Sir, Untrusse with expedition. Oh the birchen tool That he winds i' th' school Frights worse than an inquisition.