[Sidenote:  Head]

In his old age he was very bald[1], which claymed a veneration; yet within dore he used to study, and sitt bare-headed:  and sayd he never tooke cold in his head but that the greatest trouble was to keepe-off the Flies from pitching on the baldnes:  his Head was ... inches (I have the measure) in compasse, and of a mallet forme, approved by the Physiologers.

[Footnote 1:  ‘recalvus’ above ’very bald’.]

[Sidenote:  Eie]

He had a good Eie, and that of a hazell colour, which was full of life & spirit, even to his last:  when he was earnest, in discourse, there shone (as it were) a bright live-coale within it. he had two kind of Lookes:  when he laught, was witty, & in a merry humour, one could scarce see his Eies:  by and by when he was serious and earnest[1], he open’d his eies round (i.) his eielids. he had midling eies, not very big, nor very little.

[Footnote 1:  ‘earnest’ above ’positive’.]

[Sidenote:  Stature]

He was six foote high and something better, and went indifferently erect; or, rather considering his great age, very erect.

[Sidenote:  Sight Witt]

His Sight & Witt continued to his last.  He had a curious sharp sight, as he had a sharpe Witt; which was also so sure and steady, (and contrary to that men call Brodwittednes,) that I have heard him oftentimes say, that in Multiplying & Dividing he never mistooke a figure[1]:  and so, in other things.  He thought much & with excellent Method, & Stedinesse, which made him seldome make a false step.

[Footnote 1:  ‘never ... figure’ above ‘was never out’ (’out’ corrected to ’mistooke’).]

[Sidenote:  Reading]

He had read much, if one considers his long life; but his Contemplation was much more then his Reading.  He was wont to say that, if he had read as much as other men, he should have knowne no more then[1] other men.

[Footnote 1:  ‘knowne ... then’ above ’continued still as ignorant as’.]

* * * * *

[Sidenote:  Singing]

He had alwayes bookes of prick-song lyeing on his Table:  e.g. of H. Lawes &c.  Songs:  which at night when he was a bed, & the dores made fast, & was sure no body heard him, he sang aloud, (not that he had a very good voice) but to cleare his pipes[1]:  he did beleeve it did his Lunges good, & conduced much to prolong his life.

[Footnote 1:  ‘to cleare his pipes’ above ’for his healths sake’.]

56.

THOMAS FULLER.

Born 1608.  Died 1661.

He was of Stature somewhat Tall, exceeding the meane, with a proportionable bigness to become it, but no way inclining to Corpulency:  of an exact Straightnesse of the whole Body, and a perfect Symmetry in every part thereof.  He was of a Sanguine constitution, which beautified his Face with a pleasant Ruddinesse, but of so Grave and serious an aspect, that it Awed and Discountenanced the smiling Attracts of that complexion.  His Head Adorned with a comely Light-Coloured Haire, which was so, by Nature exactly Curled (an Ornament enough of it self in this Age to Denominate a handsome person, and wherefore all Skill and Art is used) but not suffered to overgrow to any length unseeming his modesty and Profession.