Sir Christopher Wren (1631-1723).
[1282]Sir Christopher Wren[CX], surveyor of his majestie's buildings, borne at ... Knahill[1283] in the parsonage-howse in the county of Wiltes neer Shaftesbury, Thursday, October 20, 1631[CY], 8h P.M.—the bell rang VIII as his mother fell in labour with him (from himselfe).
He was knighted[CZ] at Whitehall on Friday, 14th November 1673, at 5h A.M. (from Mr. Robert Hooke, the next day).
[1284]Anno 1669, Dr. Christopher Wren was invited by the bishop of Sarum (Seth Ward), where he made a particular survey of the cathedrall church[DA]. He was at least a weeke about it, and a curious discourse it was: it was not above two sheetes. Upon my writing The Natural History of Wilts, I had occasion to insert it there, and they told me that it was lent to somebody—they could not tell to whom. But in Febr. last Mr. Cole thinks it not unlikely that Mr. Nash (the surveyor of the fabrick) of Sarum may have that paper. I desired him to enquire but have not yet received any answer.
<Pedigree: in MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 28v.>
in Suffolke. |
|
... Wren, a wealthy m. ...
citizen in Cheapside |
(quaere if not a |
millener). |
+---------------------------------+-+
| |
Matthew Wren, m. ... Christopher Wren, m. ... Cox, of Funthill
Lord Bishop | second son, deane | in com. Wilts.
of Ely. | of Windsor |
+--------------+---------+ |
| | |
Matthew Wren, secretary |
to the Lord Chancellor |
Hyde, then to the duke |
of Yorke. |
+-----------------------+----------+
| |
Faith, daughter m. Sir Christopher m. <Jane> Fitzwilliams, |
of Sir Thomas Wren. daughter of the lord |
Coghill of Blech- Fitzwilliams in North- |
ington in com. amptonshire, second |
Oxon., first wife, wife, A.D.... |
A.D.... |
|
+------------------------------------+
|
... m. William
| Holder, D.D.,
| sub-deane of
| the king's
| chapel.
|
sine prole.
Notes.
[CX] Wren was one of the people from whose patronage Aubrey, in his evil days, hoped for some official post. On a slip pasted to fol. 27v of MS. Aubr. 9 is this note:—
'Mr. Secretary Wren's indefinite (?) kindnesse is valuable if our lord P. <? William lord Brouncker, Pres. Roy. Soc. 1663-1677> know it, and Mr. <John> Collins, but cave. They might between them determine somewhat certaine. There are peaceable places among souldiers; and now the navy offices thrive, and a man can nowhere so well hide himselfe in an office as there, 'cause 'tis out of the way.
'I cannot get Quillettus here, but would you could find Gallus Veridicus, which you must enquire for privately. I never saw it, but Mr. Oldenburg may possibly have heard of it.
'The want of the Royal Society is the greatest defect of our parts[1285]: possibly you may have some one that for money will informe mee as you doe for love. If you find any such, fix him for[1286] J.†'
[CY] Aubrey was anxious to obtain the exact date as an item towards his pet astrological collection. But he fancied that Wren had played a trick on him, by taking the place of a brother of the same name, one year younger, who died in infancy. Aubrey might have reflected that, while it is possible that parents might give the name of a deceased child to their next, the other course is unlikely. The following excerpts from Aubrey's letters to Anthony Wood bear on the point:—
(a) Nov. 17, 1670: MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 128:—'Dr. Christopher Wren was borne at <East> Knoyle, baptized the 10th day of November 1631. I have writt to him for the exact time, astrologiae ergo: 'tis a poore-spirited thing, if he will not resolve me.'
(b) Jan. 16, 1671/2: MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 160v:—'Dr. Christopher Wren ... tells me he was borne at ... Knahill 20 October, 1631. He was a second Christopher: <the one> whome I sent to you was the first.'
(c) Feb. 1, 1671/2: MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 165:—'Dr. Christopher Wren hath putt a trick on us, as it seemes; for he hath made him selfe a yeare younger then indeed he is, though he needs not be ashamed of his age, he hath made such admirable use of his time. I mett t'other day accidentally with the parson of Knahill, who justifies the register, and not only so but proves it by his neighbour that was his nurse and her son that suckled with him—evidence notorious. 'Tis true, as the Doctor sayes, that there were two Christophers, but it was the latter, i.e. the Doctor—that parson Hill justifies—quod nota.'
[CZ] Aubrey several times notes this. MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 5:—'Sir Xpfer Wren knighted, November 14, 1673.' MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 7:—'Sir Christopher Wren received the honour of knighthood at Whitehall on Friday 14th November, 5h A.M., 1673—from Mr. Robert Hooke, the next day.'
[DA] MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 69-74, is 'A survey of Our Lady Church at Salisbury, taken by Dr. Christopher Wren (since Sir Christopher) anno Domini 1669, being invited downe to doe it by Seth Ward, lord bishop of Sarum.'—Another, less perfect, MS. copy of this report is in Wood MS. B. 14.