Nicholas Hill

, a native of the City of London, was educated in Grammaticals in Merchant-Taylors School, in Academicals in St. Johns coll. of which he became Scholar in 1587. and in that of his age 17. In 1592. he took a degree in Arts, being then Fellow of that house, left it before he proceeded in that Faculty, and applying himself to the study of the Lullian doctrine, became most eminent in it. About that time he was a great favourite of Edward the poetical [〈…〉] of Oxford, spent some time with him, while [〈◊〉] co [••] umed his Estate beyond the Sea and at home. After that count’s death, or rather before, he was taken into the re [•••] ue of that most noble and generous person Henry [〈◊〉] of Northumberland, with whom he conti [•] ued for some time in great esteem. At length being suspected to comply with certain Traytors against K. James fled beyond the Seas and there died. He hath written a book intit.

Philosophia Epicurca, Democritana, T [〈…〉] a simpliciter, non e [〈…〉] a Par. 1601. [〈…〉] Dedicated to his little Son Laurence Hill. [〈…〉] edit. and perhaps with others, is printed, [〈…〉] prae [〈…〉] io cui [〈…〉] hands of his Widdow, various matters under his own hand-writing, but nothing that I can learn, fit for the Press. Among them are imperfect papers concerning the Eternity, infinity, &c. of the World, and others of the Essence of God, &c. Some of which coming into the hands of William Backhouse of Swallowfield in Berks. Esq from the Widdow of the said Nich. Hill, living behind Bow Church in London, about 1636. various copies were taken of them, and Edm. Earl of Mulgrave about that time having a copy, another was taken thence by one Dr. Joh. Everard, part of which I have seen under another hand. This is all, of truth, that I know of Nich. Hill, only that his name is mentioned by (*)(*) In his Epigrams numb. 134. Ben. Johnson thus.

—Those Atomi ridiculous,

Whereof old Democrite, and Hill Nicholis,

One said, the other swore, the World consists.

There are several traditions going from Man to Man concerning this Nich. Hill, one of which is this, that while he was Secretary to the Earl of Oxford before-mentioned, he, among other accompts, brought in this to him, Item for making a man. 10l.—0—0. Which, he being required to explain by the Count, he said he had meerly out of charity given that summ to a poor man, who had several times told him, that ten pounds would make him a man. Another is this, which I had from Dr. Joseph Maynard, sometimes Rector of Exeter coll. (younger Brother to Sir Joh. Maynard Serjeant at Law,) who had it from Mr. Rob. Hues author of the book De Globis, (an intimate acquaintance of Hill,) while he continued in Oxon in his last days, that is to say, That he was one of those learned men who lived with the Earl of Northumberland, that he fell into a Conspiracy with one Basset, who pretended some right to the Crown. Vpon which he was forced to fly into Holland, where he setled at Roterdam, with his Son Laurence, and practiced Physick. At length his said Son dying there of the Plague, did so much afflict him, that he went into an Apothecaries shop, swallowed poyson, and died in the place, &c. which by several is supposed to be about sixteen hundred and ten. 1610 But leaving these reports to such that delight in them, and are apt to snap at any thing to please themselves, I shall only say that our author Hill was a person of good parts, but humorous, that he had a peculiar and affected way, different from others, in his writings, that he entertained fantastical notions in Philosophy, and that as he had lived most of his time in the Romish Perswasion, so he died, but cannot be convinced that he should die the death of a Fool or a Madman.