Brief Lives, Vol. 2

Chapter 323: John Willis.

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

About This Book

A collection of concise biographical sketches of contemporaries and earlier figures recorded by an antiquarian observer, combining factual entries—births, offices, publications, and inscriptions—with personal anecdotes, hearsay, heraldic and parish-register notes, bibliographic references, and occasional critical judgments. Entries range from terse records to extended reminiscences, often citing documentary sources or witness statements, and reflect an informal, detail-driven approach aimed at preserving lives, reputations, and local traditions for reference and remembrance.

John Willis.

[1247]John Willis, B.D.—author of the Art of Memorie, in Latin, 1618, 12mo.—Dr. Davenant told me that when he was of Cambridge, that one preaching at St. Marie's—'and now,' said he (before he was aware) 'I am come to the lyon's taile'; this was (it seemes) his locus[1248]: the people stared on him.

Inventor of Short-hand,—'tis the best. Bishop Wilkins sayd, 'tis only used in England, or by the English; and [1249] 'twas a good while before the logarithmes gott beyond sea. Mr. Wingate first brought it into France, and shewed it to them; scil. when he went into France to teach the Queen-Mother English; he dedicated it to Monsieur the duke of Orleans.