N.B. he made his nephews songsters, and sing, from the time they were with him.

[FIRST WIFE AND CHILDREN]

He married his first wife, Mary Powell of Fosthill,4 at Shotover, in Oxonshire, Anno Domini …; by whom he had four children. [He] hath two daughters living: Deborah was his amanuensis (he taught her Latin, and to read Greeke to him when he had lost his eyesight, which was anno Domini …).

[SEPARATION FROM HIS FIRST WIFE]

She went from him to her mother’s at … in the king’s quarters, near Oxford, anno Domini …; and wrote the Triplechord about divorce.5

Two opinions do not well on the same bolster. She was a … Royalist, and went to her mother to the King’s quarters, near Oxford. I have perhaps so much charity to her that she might not wrong his bed: but what man, especially contemplative, would like to have a young wife environed and stormed by the sons of Mars, and those of the enemy party?

His first wife (Mrs. Powell, a Royalist) was brought up and lived where there was a great deal of company and merriment <dancing, etc.>. And when she came to live with her husband, at Mr. Russell’s in St. Bride’s churchyard, she found it very solitary; no company came to her; oftentimes heard his nephews beaten and cry. This life was irksome to her, and so she went to her parents at Fosthill. He sent for her, after some time; and I think his servant was evilly entreated: but as for manner of wronging his bed, I never heard the least suspicions; nor had he, of that, any jealousy.

[SECOND WIFE]

He had a middle wife, whose name was Katharine Woodcock. No child living by her.

[THIRD WIFE]

He married his second [sic] wife, Elizabeth Minshull, anno … (the year before the sickness): a gentle person, a peaceful and agreeable humor.

[HIS PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT]

He was Latin secretary to the Parliament.

[HIS BLINDNESS]

His sight began to fail him at first upon his writing against Salmasius, and before ’twas full completed one eye absolutely failed. Upon the writing of other books after that, his other eye decayed.

His eyesight was decaying about 20 years before his death. His father read without spectacles at 84. His mother had very weak eyes, and used spectacles presently after she was thirty years old.

[WRITINGS AFTER HIS BLINDNESS]

After he was blind he wrote these following books, viz.: Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Grammar, Dictionary (imperfect).

I heard that after he was blind that he was writing a Latin dictionary (in the hands of Moses Pitt). Vidua affirmat6 she gave all his papers (among which this dictionary, imperfect) to his nephew, a sister’s son, that he brought up, … Phillips, who lives near the Maypole in the Strand. She has a great many letters by her from learned men, his acquaintance, both of England and beyond the sea.

[HIS LATER RESIDENCES]

He lived in several places, e.g., Holborn near Kingsgate. He died in Bunhill, opposite the Artillery-garden wall.

[HIS DEATH AND BURIAL]

He died of the gout, struck in the 9th or 10th of November, 1674, as appears by his apothecary’s book.

He lies buried in St. Giles Cripplegate, upper end of the chancel at the right hand, vide his gravestone. Memorandum: his stone is now removed, for about two years since (now 1681) the two steps to the communion table were raised. I guess John Speed7 and he lie together.

[PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS]

His harmonical and ingenious soul did lodge in a beautiful and well-proportioned body—“In toto nusquam corpore menda fuit,” Ovid.8

He was a spare man. He was scarce so tall as I am, [ … ] of middle stature.

He had auburn hair. His complexion exceeding fair—he was so fair that they called him the Lady of Christ’s College. Oval face. His eye a dark gray.

He had a delicate tuneable voice, and had good skill. His father instructed him. He had an organ in his house; he played on that most.

Of a very cheerful humor. He would be cheerful even in his gout-fits, and sing.

He was very healthy and free from all diseases: seldom took any physic (only sometimes he took manna):9 only towards his latter end he was visited with the gout, spring and fall.

He had a very good memory; but I believe that his excellent method of thinking and disposing did much to help his memory.

He pronounced the letter R <littera canina10> very hard (a certain sign of a satirical wit—from John Dryden.).

[PORTRAITS OF HIM]

Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widow, to preserve.11

His widow has his picture, drawn very well and like, when a Cambridge-scholar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his books are not at all like him.

[HIS HABITS]

His exercise was chiefly walking.

He was an early riser <scil. at 4 a clock manè12>; yea, after he lost his sight. He had a man read to him.