Mr. Thomas Hobbes was born at Westport juxta Malmesbury, April the fifth, anno 1588, he told me, between four and six in the morning, in the house that faces or points to the horse-faire.  He died at Hardwick in Darbyshire, Anno Domini 1679, ætatis 91. [See Aubrey’s Life of Hobbes, appended to Letters from the Bodleian, vol. iii. p. 593. - J. B.]

Thomas Willis, M.D., was born at Great Bedwin in this county, anno [1621.] His father, he told me, was steward to my Lady Smyth there.  He dyed in London, and lies interred with his wife in Westminster Abbey.

Thomas Piers, D.D., and Dean of Salisbury, formerly President of Magdalen College in Oxford, was born at the Devizes.  His father was a woollen draper and an alderman there.

Sir Christopher Wren, Knt., Surveyor of his Majesties buildings, the eldest sonne of Dr. Christopher Wren, Deane of Windsor, was born at Knoyle, in this county, where his father was rector, in the parsonage-house, anno 1631; christened November the 10th; but he tells me that he was born October the 20th.  His mother fell in labour with him when the bell rung eight.

[Richard] Blackmore, M.D., born in Cosham parish, the sonne of an attorney, went to schoole to Parson.... of Dracot.  Scripsit an Epique poeme, called Prince Arthur, 1694.

Sir William Penn, Vice-Admirall, born at Minety, in the hundred of Malmesbury.  His father was a keeper in Braden forest:  the lodge is called Penn’s lodge to this day.  He was father to William Penn, Esq.  Lord Proprietor of Pensylvania; it is a very ancient family in Buckinghamshire.  This family in North Wilts had heretofore a dependence on the Abbey of Malmesbury as stewards or officers. [Sir William Penn was buried in Redcliffe Church, Bristol.  See Britten’s Account of Redcliffe Church. — J. B.]

T. Byfield, a physician, sonn of Adoniram Byfield, the Assembly man, born at Collingbourn Ducis, where his father was rector.  He published a book of Waters about 1684.

Mr. Edward Whatman, of Mayden Bradley, practitioner in physick, and very successfull in his practise.  By reason of the civill warrs he was of no university, but he was a young man of great parts and great hopes.  He died shortly after his Majesties restauration, aged about 35.  He onely printed “Funerall Obsequies on the Honourable the Ladie Elizabeth Hopton, wife to Sir Ralph Hopton,” London, 1647.

Mr. William Gardiner, the eminent schoolemaster at Blandford, about twenty yeares; born in this county; died about 1636, aetatis 47.
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Musicians.-The quire of Salisbury Cathedral hath produced as many able musicians, if not more, than any quire in this nation.

Andrew Markes, of Salisbury, where his father was a fiddle maker, was the best lutinist in England in his time — sc. the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and King James, and the best composer of lute lessons; and as to his compositions, Mr. Sam.  Cowper, the famous limner, who was an excellent lutinist, did affirme that they are of great value to this time.