After Oxford was surrendred, which was 24 July[1118] 1646, he came to London, and lived with his brother Eliab a rich[1119] merchant in London, on ... hill, opposite to St. Lawrence (Poultry) church[1120], where was then a high leaden steeple (there were but two, viz. this and St. Dunstan's in the East) and at his brother's country house at Roe-hampton.
His brother Eliab bought, about 1654, Cockaine-house, now[1121](1680) the Excise-Office, a noble house, where the Doctor was wont to contemplate on the leads of the house, and had his severall stations, in regard of the sun, or wind.
He did delight to be in the darke, and told me he could then best contemplate. He had a house heretofore at Combe, in Surrey, a good aire and prospect, where he had caves made in the earth, in which in summer time he delighted to meditate.--He was pretty well versed in the Mathematiques, and had made himselfe master of Mr. Oughtred's Clavis Math. in his old age; and I have seen him perusing it, and working problems, not long before he dyed, and that booke was alwayes in his meditating apartment.
His chamber was that roome that is now the office of Elias Ashmole, esq.; where he dyed, being taken with the dead palsye, which tooke away his speech. As soone as he sawe he was attaqued, he presently sent for his brother, and nephews, and gave one a watch, another another thing, etc., as remembrances of him. He dyed worth 20,000 _li._ which he left to his brother Eliab. In his will he left his old friend Mr. Thomas Hobbes 10 _li._ as a token of his love.
_His sayings._--He was wont to say that man was but a great mischievous baboon.
He would say, that we Europaeans knew not how to order or governe our woemen, and that the Turkes were the only people used them wisely.
He had been physitian to the Lord Chancellor Bacon, whom he esteemed much for his witt and style, but would not allow him to be a great philosopher. 'He writes philosophy like a Lord Chancelor,' said he to me, speaking in derision; 'I have cured him.'
About 1649 he travelled again into Italy, Dr. George (now Sir George) Ent, then accompanying him.
At Oxford, he grew acquainted with Dr. Charles Scarborough, then a young physitian (since by king Charles II knighted), in whose conversation he much delighted; and wheras before, he[1122]marched up and downe with the army, he tooke him to him and made him ly in his chamber, and said to him, 'Prithee leave off thy gunning, and stay here; I will bring thee into practice.'