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Brief Lives, Vol. 2

Chapter 324: Thomas Willis (1621/2-1675).
By John Aubrey
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BiographiesBritish LiteratureHistory - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)

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.

Thomas Willis (1621/2-1675).

[1250]Thomas Willis, M.D.—from himselfe—borne at Great Bedwyn in com. Wilts, January the 27th, anno Domini 1621. His father was steward to Sir Walter Smyth there, and had been sometime a scholar at St. John's College in Oxford.

[1251]Thomas Willis, M.D.; vide Westminster Abbey pro inscriptione.

[1252]Thomas Willis, M.D., natus ...; (vide A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon.).

1647 and 1648 (quaere, if not +), kept Abingdon-market[1253], and Dr. <Richard> Lydall and he had a horse between them: this was before a Doctor[1254]. He grew more and more into good practise.

He studied chymistry in Peckwater Inne chamber[1255]. He was in those dayes very mathematicall, and I have heard him say his genius lay more to mathematics then chymistry.

His father was steward to Sir John (I thinke) Smyth[1256]; and had a little estate at Ivy Hinksey, where my lady Smyth (vidua) dyed.

He went to schoole to Mr. <Edward> Sylvester in Oxon, over the meadowes, where he ayred his muse, and made good exercise:—from William Hawes, his schoolefellow. Anno about 1657 (quaere there), riding towards Brackley to a patient, his way led him thorough Astrop, where he observed the stones in the little rill were discoloured of a kind of Crocus Martis colour; thought he, this may be an indication of iron; he getts gaules, and putts some of the powder into the water, and immediately it turned blackish; then sayd he, 'I'le not send my patients now so far as Tunbridge,' and so he in a short time[1257] brought these waters into vogue, and hath inriched a poore obscure village. He was middle stature: darke red[1258] haire (like a red pig): stammered much.

He was first servitor to Dr. <Thomas> Iles, one of the canons of Xt. Ch. whose wife was a knowing woman in physique and surgery, and did many cures. Tom Willis then wore a blew livery-cloak, and studied at the lower end of the hall, by the hall-dore; was pretty handy, and his mistresse would oftentimes have him to assist her in making of medicines. This did him no hurt, and allured him on.