I have proposed to my self, to make some Animadversions upon such particulars, as may in my judgment produce much mischief in the World, in a Book of great Name, and which is entertain’d and celebrated (at least enough) in the World; a Book which contains in it good learning of all kinds, politely extracted, and very wittily and cunningly disgested, in a very commendable method, and in a vigorous and pleasant Style:  which hath prevailed over too many, to swallow many new tenets as maximes without chewing; which manner of diet for the indigestion M’r Hobbes himself doth much dislike.  The thorough novelty (to which the present age, if ever any, is too much inclin’d) of the work receives great credit and authority from the known Name of the Author, a Man of excellent parts, of great wit, some reading, and somewhat more thinking; One who ha’s spent many years in forreign parts and observation, understands the Learned as well as modern Languages, hath long had the reputation of a great Philosopher and Mathematician, and in his age hath had conversation with very many worthy and extraordinary Men, to which, it may be, if he had bin more indulgent in the more vigorous part of his life, it might have had a greater influence upon the temper of his mind, whereas age seldom submits to those questions, enquiries, and contradictions, which the Laws and liberty of conversation require:  and it hath bin alwaies a lamentation amongst M’r Hobbes his Friends, that he spent too much time in thinking, and too little in exercising those thoughts in the company of other Men of the same, or of as good faculties; for want whereof his natural constitution, with age, contracted such a morosity, that doubting and contradicting Men were never grateful to him:  In a word, M’r Hobbes is one of the most antient acquaintance I have in the World, and of whom I have alwaies had a great esteem, as a Man who besides his eminent parts of Learning and knowledg, hath bin alwaies looked upon as a Man of Probity, and a life free from scandal; and it may be there are few Men now alive, who have bin longer known to him then I have bin in a fair and friendly conversation and sociableness.

55.

Notes by JOHN AUBREY.

I have heard his brother Edm and M’r Wayte his schoole fellow &c, say that when he was a Boy he was playsome enough:  but withall he had even then a contemplative Melancholinesse. he would gett him into a corner, and learne his Lesson by heart presently.  His haire was black, & his schoolefellows[1] were wont to call him Crowe.

[Footnote 1:  ‘his schoolefellows’ written above ’the boyes’.]

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