Thomas Hobbes

son of Tho. Hobbes Vicar of Westport within the liberty of Malmsbury and of Charlton in Wilts, was born at Westport on the 5. of Apr. 1588, which day was then Goodfriday, by a memorable token that such, whom the world call Hobbists, have several times said, that as our Saviour Christ went out of the world on that day to save the men of the world, so another Saviour came into the world on that day to save them, or to that effect. After he had been educated in Grammar learning at Malmsbury under one Rob. Latymer, he was sent to Madg. Hall in 1602, where being puritanically educated, took the degree of Bach. of Arts, an. 1607: which being compleated by Determination, was, upon the recommendations of the then Principal, taken into the service of Will. Cavendish Baron of Hardwick, (afterwards Earl of Devonshire) with whom being in great estimation for his sedulity, temperate and jocund humour, was by him appointed to wait on his eldest son the Lord Will. Cavendish, several years younger than Hobbes. Soon after he travelled with him into France and Italy, where he not only improved himself much by learning the languages belonging to those Countries, but also as to men and manners. In the mean time he finding the foundation of that learning which he had laid in the University to decay, and in some manner to be forgotten, made use of all the spare houres that he could obtain, to retrieve it first, and then to build upon it afterwards, minding more the Gr. and Lat tongue, than Logick and Philosophy, because these two last seemed to be neglected as vain matters by prudent men. After his return into England, he diligently applied himself to the perusal of Histories and the Poets, and somtimes to the Commentaries of the most eminent Grammarians, not that he might write floridly, but in a good latine stile, and with more consideration find out the congruity of words, and so to dispose of them that his reading might be perspicuous and easie. Amongst the Greek Historians he had Thucidides in more esteem than the rest; which, at spare hours, he translating into English, was, after it had been approved by several persons, published about the year 1628, to the end that the follies of the Democratic Athenians might be laid open to the men of our Country. The same year William Earl of Devonshire before mention’d dying, after this our author had served him 20 years, partly in the office of Secretary, he travelled the next into France with the son of Sir Gervas Clifton: in which peregrination he began to make an inspection into the elements of Euclid and to be delighted in his method, not only for the Theorems therein, but for the art of reasoning. In 1631 he was recalled home by the Earl of Devonshire, to the end that he might instruct his eldest son of 13 years of age in several sorts of juvenile Literature. After he had served in that office three years, he travelled with him, as his governour, into France and Italy. While he remained at Paris, he began to make diligent search into the fundamentals of natural science; which, when he perceived to be contained in the nature and variety of motion, he first of all sought after what motion that might be which causes sense, understanding. representations and other proprieties of Animals: And what he did in this, he once or twice in a week communicated to Marinus Marsennus a Minim, conversant in all kind of Philosophy, and a good man as to life and conversation. In 1637 he returned into England with his Pupil, (since his benevolent Patron) and remained with him in great respect in his family; from whence he continued Commerce by letters concerning natural knowledg with Marsennus. In the mean time the Scots, after they had ejected there Bishops, took up arms against their King, being encouraged thereunto, and favoured, by the Presbyterian Ministers and others of the La [•] -party of England. To stop their careere, a Parliament was called in England, began at Westm 3. Nov. 1640; from the proceedings of which Convention, our author Hobbes perceiving in the beginning, that a Civil war would suddenly follow, he retired forthwith to Paris, that he might with peace and quietness follow his studies there, and converse with Marsennus, Gassendus and other eminent persons for learning and reasoning. While he remained at Paris, he wrote his book De cive, which afterwards he reviewed, and added many things thereunto. Soon after the Parliamenteers prevailing, many Royallists of great note, particularly the Prince of Wales, retired to Paris: About which time a Nobleman of the Province Languedoc invited our author to go with him there, to live and to be maintained with necessaries by him; but being commended to the Prince that he might teach him the Elements of Mathematicks, he continued of Paris, followed that employment very diligently, and all the spare time that he could obtain he spent in writing a book entit. Leviathan, not only most known in England [〈◊〉] also in neighbouring Nations, which he procured to [〈…〉] at London, while he remained at Paris in the 63 year of his age. Soon after, being recalled home to the house of his Patron the Earl of Devon, he published two books, one De Corpore, and another De Homine. The first was oppugned by two Theologists, who were afterwards ashamed (as ’tis said) of what they had done; the other rested untouched. Soon after he published others, the titles of which I shall give you anon, and only now say, that tho he hath an ill name from some, and good from others, yet he was a person endowed with an excellent Philosophical soul, was a contemner of riches, mony, envy, the world, &c. He was charitable and beneficial to his Relations and others. He was a severe lover of Justice, and endowed with great Morals. Among those that he lived with and was conversant, he was cheerful, open, and free of his discourse, yet without offence to any, which he endeavoured always to avoid. Many writers do speak honorably of him in their respective works, and Dr. Sam. Sorbiere his great acquaintance doth mention him with venerable respect in the Relation ((a))((a)) Printed at Paris in French, 1664. p. 65. &c. of his voyage into England, and tells us also that his picture (which was drawn by the hand of Sam. Cooper the Prince of Limners of the age he lived in) hangs in his Majesties Closet at Whitehall. His Picture also hath been in great esteem in France, insomuch that the Vertuosi thereof have come as ’twere in Pilgrimage to the house of Sorbiere to see it. Outlandish Gentlemen also, when they came to London, during the life time of the author, did make it one of their employes to visit him, and Cosmo Prince (since the Great Duke) of Tuscany, went to him more than once, in the month of May 1669 and discoursed and was pleasant with him. He also expressed so great veneration for him, that he and some of his Genltemen carried with them all his published works. His Majesty also K. Ch. 2. delighted in his company when he learned Mathematicks of him, and express’d his esteem so much of him after his restauration, that he allowed him a pension of an 100 l. per an. out of his Exchecquer. He was most excellently well skill’d in the Lat. and Gr. tongues, was a great Critick and Poet and above all a Philosopher and Mathematician; yet in his last dayes, after he had been exasperated by certain Academians, especially of Oxon, he express’d himself in his writings an enemy to the Universities, Scholastical Divinity, Metaphysicks, Aristotle, Duns Scotus, &c. To conclude: “A man he was of excellent parts, (as a noted ((b))((b)) E [•] w. Hyde Earl of Clarendon in his Brief view and survey of Mr. Hobbes’s L [•] viathan, p. 2.3. author tells us) of great wit, some reading and somewhat more thinking.—One who had spent many years in foreign parts and observation, understood the learned, as well as the modern, languages, had long the reputation of a great Philosopher and Mathematician, and in his age had conversation with very many worthy and extraordinary men; to which, it may be, if he had been more indulgent in the more vigorous part of his life, it might have had an influence upon the temper of his mind, whereas age seldom submits to those questions, enquiries and contradictions, which the laws and liberties of conversation require: And it hath been always a lamentation amongst Mr. Hobbes his friends, that he spent too much time in thinking and too little in exercising those thoughts in the company of other men of the same, or of as good faculties; for want whereof his natural constitution, with age, contracted such a morosity, that doubting and contradicting men were never grateful to him.—In a word, besides his eminent parts of learning and knowledg, he was always looked upon as a man of probity and a life free from scandal, &c.” The books and other things that he hath written are these.

De Mirabilibus Pecci. This is a lat. poem and was printed at Lond about 1636, and the second time there in 1666 in qu. Translated into English by a person of quality, and printed with the Latin at Lond. 1678. oct. It treates of the wonders of the Devills arse in peak, near Chatsworth in Derbyshire. Such a book also entit. The wonders of the peake, was written by Charles Cotton Esq—Lond. 1681. qu. a poem.

Elementa Philosophica de Cive Par. 1642. &c.

Answer to Sir Will. D’avenants Epist. or pref. to Gondibert. Par. 1650. in tw. afterwards printed with Gondibert in qu.

Humane nature: or the fundamentall Elements of policie; being a discoverie of the faculties, acts and passions of the soul of man. Lond. 1650 in tw. &c.

De Corpore Politico: or of the Elements of the Law. Lond. 1650 in tw. &c.

Leviathan: or the matter, forme and power of a Commonwealth. Lond. 1651 fol. Reprinted there again with its old date, an. 1680 fol. Turned into lat. by another hand, and printed at Amsterd. 1668. qu. &c.

Review of the Leviathan—Print. only with the English editions; and in the place of that, in those of the Lat. is an Appendix consisting barely of three chapters. As for the Review and the writing thereof, an eminent ((c))((c)) The said Edw. Earl of Clar. in the same Brief view, &c. p. 317. author will give you a better account than I can: therefore I pray go to him. It is said by one ((d))((d)) March. Nedham in Merc. Pol. nu. 84, from Jan. 8. to Jan. 15. an. 1651. - 2. who was no friend to K. Ch. 2. or Monarchy, that the author Mr. Hobbes being at Paris when his book was published, “he sent one of them as a present to the King of Scots, which he accepted in regard he had been his Tutor in the Mathematicks, but being afterwards informed by some of his Priests, that that book did not only contain many Principles of Atheism and gross impiety, (for so they call every thing that squares not with the Clergy interest) but also such that were prejudicial to the Church, and reflected dangerously upon the Majesty of Soveraign Princes; therefore when Mr. Hobbes came to make a tender of his service to him in person, he was rejected, and word brought him by the Marquess of Ormonde, that the King would not admit him, and withal told him the reason: By which means Mr. Hobbes declines in credit with his friends there of the Royal Stamp, &c.” Many have been the authors that have written against this Leviathan, as may be seen in Auctarium Vitae Hobbianae, and partly in the body of this work: But more by far have been the censures of it, and those severe too, as having no true Divinity, or true Philosophy or true policy in it. The author several times saith that the law of nature is the law of God, and yet all wickedness is lawful by the law of nature.—That no Homicide, or Selfcide, or Fratricide, or Patricide is against the law of nature. If so, ’tis a wise law that forbids nothing. Also that there must be a law of God winking at most unnatural impieties: That which forbids nothing is no law. As for policy, he lays the foundation of the government in the populace, which overthrows all government, and that might is right: But if he had consulted the Scripture, the word of God would have shewed that the foundation of government was not laid in the people. Read the Assyrian monarchy and the rest, and you’ll find that the beginning of government was not in the people. See the story of Romulus and there is the contrary. ’Tis true, people are causa sine qua non, but no finite. The power of the key, is not given by God out of the commune of the people, nor the power of the sword. As for Philosophy, ’tis enough that he kicks off Aristotle, a man admired by all ages and all persons, as a wise secretary of nature. There are some things or scales of the Leviathan which the Reader cannot conceive to be impregnable as yet, till he see farther and plainer proofs of them as (1) That the Soveraign hath no power but from the people, and that it is only the mutual consent of the major part, transferring their natural right upon him that makes it so. cap. 18. (2) That the Parent hath no right or power of dominion over the Child by generation, as his Parent, or because he begat him, but only by the Childs consent, either express, or by other sufficient arguments declared. cap. 20. (3) That the Victor can have no right or dominion over the vanquished, but only by the vanquisheds consent, &c. ibid. And as for those matters which are looked upon as blasphemous by some Scholars, and others, I shall refer the reader to a little pamphlet entit. A Beacon set on fire, &c. Lond. 1652. qu. p. 14.15. This book of the Leviathan which hath a great name among, and is much celebrated by many, contains in it (notwithstanding some very odd principles) good learning of all kinds, politely ((e))((e)) Edw. E. of Clar. in his Survey of the Leviathan, p. 2. See more in p. 5.6, 8.306.319. See also in the Epistle ded. to the King. extracted and very wittingly and cunningly disgested, in a very commendable method and in a vigorous and pleasant stile: which hath prevailed over too many, to swallow many new tenets as maxims without chewing; which manner of diet, for the indisgestion, Mr. Hobbes himself did much dislike, &c. At length after the Parliament had censur’d it, (as also the book of Purgatory written by Tho. de Albiis) in the month of Oct. 1666, (in which month a Bill was brought into the House against Atheisme and Profaneness) and some of the principal Heads of this University had found therein, as in that De Cive, several positions destructive to the sacred persons of Princes, their state and government, and of all humane society, the venerable Convocation did, by their judgment and decree past among them on the 21. of July 1683, condemn them as pernitious and damnable, and thereupon caused the said two books to be publickly burnt (with others of the like nature) in their School court or quadrangle, just after the dissolution of that Convocation. Our author Hobbes also hath written,

Compendium of Aristotles Rhetorick and Ramus his Logick.

Letter about liberty and necessity. Lond. 1654. in tw. There again 1684. oct. 3d. edit. On this letter were observations made and written by Dr. Ben. Laney, as I have told you in the Fasti an. 1617.

Elementorum Philosophiae sectio prima de corpore; part. 4. Lond. 1655. oct. There again in English, 1656. qu. &c.

Six Lessons to the professors of Mathematicks of the institution of Sir Hen. Savile (viz. Ward and Wallis) Lond. 1656. qu.

The marks of the absurd Geometry, rural Language, &c. of Dr. Wallis. Lond. 1657. oct.

De Homine sect. 2. Lond. 1657. qu. Amstel. 1668. qu.

The questions concerning liberty and necessity, and chance, stated and debated between him and Dr. Bramhall Bishop of London-Derry. Lond. 1656. qu.

Examinatio & emendatio Mathematicae hodiernae &c. in sex dialogis. Lond. 1660. Amstel. 1668. qu.

Dialogus Physicus, seu de natura aeris. Lond. 1661. oct. Amstel. 1668. qu.

Considerations upon the reputation, loyalty, manners and religion of Tho. Hobbes, by way of a letter to a learned person. Lond. 1662. and 1680. oct.

De duplicatione cubi. Lond. 1661. Amst. 1668. qu.

Problemata physica, una cum magnitudine circuli. Lond. 1662. Amst. 1668. qu.

De principiis & ratiocinatione Geometrarum, contra fastuosum professorem Geometriae. Amst. 1668. qu.

Quadratura circuli, cubatio sphaerae, duplicatio cubi; una cum responsione ad objectiones Geometriae professoris Saviliani Oxoniae editas, an. 1669. Lond. 1669. qu.

Responsio ad objectiones Wallisii Oxoniae editas, an. 1669. ad. quadraturam circuli, &c. Lond. 1671.

Rosetum Geometricum, sive propositiones aliquot frustra antehac tentatae, cum censura brevi doctrinae Wallisianae de motu. Lond. 1671. qu. There is some account given of this book in the Philosophical Transactions, nu. 72. an. 1671.

Three papers presented to the Royal society against Dr. Wallis, with considerations on Dr. Wallis his answer to them. Lond. 1671. qu.

Principia & problemata aliquot Geometrica ante desperata, nunc breviter explicata & demonstrata. Lond. 1674. qu.

Epistola ad D [•] m. Ant. à Wood authorem Historiae & Antiq. Univ. Oxon. Dated 20. Apr. 1674, printed in half a sheet on one side. It was written to the said Mr. Wood upon his complaint made to Mr Hobbes of several deletions and additions made in, and to, his life and character (which he had written of him in that book) by the publisher (Dr. Jo. Fell) of the said Hist. & Antiq. to the great dishonor and disparagement of the said Mr. Hobbes. Whereupon, when that History was finished, came out a scurrilous answer to the said Epistle, written by Dr. Fell, which is at the end of that History.

Letter to William Duke of Newcastle concerning the controversie had with Dr. Laney Bishop of Ely about liberty and necessity. Lond. 1676 in tw.

Decameron Physiologicum: or ten dialogues of natural philosophy, &c. Lond. 1678 oct. To which is added the Proportion of a straight line to hold the arche of a Quadrant. An account of this book is in the Philos. Transact. nu. 138. p. 965.

His last words and dying Legacy—Printed on one side of a sheet of paper in Dec. 1679, published by Charles Blount (Son of Sir Hen. Blount) from the Leviathan, purposely to weaken and expose Hobb [•] s’s doctrine. Much about the same time was published,

His memorable sayings in his books, and at the Table—Printed on one side of a broad sheet of paper, with his picture before them.

Behemoth. The History of the Civil Wars of England from 1640 to 1660. Lond. 1679. 80. 82. oct. In which book (containing many faults) are several things against religion, antient learning, Universities, &c.

Vita Thomae Hobbes: Written by himself in a lat. poem. It was printed at Lond. in qu. about 3. weeks after the authors death, viz. in the latter end of Dec. 1679, and a fortnight after that, about the 10 of Jan. it was published in English verse, by another hand.—Lond. 1680. in 5. sh. in fol. The said lat. copy was reprinted, and put at the end of Vitae Hobbianae auctarium.

Historical narration of heresie and the punishment thereof. Lond. 1680 in 4. sh. and an half in fol. There again in 1682 oct. It is mostly taken out of the second chapter De Haeresi of his Appendix to the Leviathan in latine, and seems to have been wrot purposely to vindicate its author from all default in the publication of the Leviathan. For after he hath deduced from our Saviours time the different punishments (by way of History) by laws enacted and inflicted on those who were declared Hereticks throughout the several ages of the Church, (having told what was done in other parts of the world relating to this point) he proceeds to reckon up the many laws here in force against Hereticks, from the first profession of Christianity, down to the [•] ate Civil Wars, and saith that the Court of High Commission had the sole power of declaring what was heresie, according to the mind of the first four general Councils (that is according to the faith declared in the Nicene Creed, as is manifest from the Councils themselves) invested in them, in all Qu. Elizabeths Raign, that after this Court was taken away at the beginning of the late troubles, thereby to satisfie the restless clamours of the Presbyterian party against it, no body stood then empowered by lawful authority either to declare what was heresie, or to punish any one proved to be this way obnoxious. At this time he saith his Leviathan came forth; for the writing of which, he could not be deemed heretical: And the reasons which moved him to compose and publish that book, (so much justly excepted against) he there gives and then concludes. So that ’tis manifest he aimes and levels at this as his end in this narration, viz. to vindicial himself from the imputation of disturbing the peace contrary to the known laws of the realm by his setting forth such monstrous and dangerous tenets and principles in his Leviathan. He addeth also that at the first Parliament, after the Kings restauration, the Episcoparians and Presbyterians accused it of heresie, and yet there was no law then which declared what it was. The falsity of the said Historical narration of Heresie, is shewn in a small treatise entit. The Leviathan heretical: or the charge exhibited in Parliament against Mr. Hobbes justified, &c. written by John Dowell Vicar of Melton-Mowbray in Leycestershire—Oxon. 1683. in tw. In which book p. 137 the author saith that Oliver gaining ths Protectorship, was so pleased, with many of his principles laid down in the Leviathan, which tended to justifie and support his usurpation, that the great place of being Secretary was profer’d to him.

Vita Thomae Hobbes. Written by himself in prose, and printed at Caropolis alias London before Vitae Hobbianae auctarium, an. 1681. oct. There again 1682. qu.

A brief of the art of Rhetorick. containing in substance all that Aristotle hath written in his three books of that subject—Printed in tw. but not said when. Afterwards it was published in two books—Lond. 1681. oct. The first bearing the title of The Art of Rhetorick, and the other of The Art of Rhetorick plainly set forth; with pertinent examples for the more easie understanding and practice of the same. To which is added,

A dialogue between a Philosopher and a Student of the Common Laws of England.—He hath also written,

An answer to Archb. Bramhalls book, called The catching of the Leviathan. Lond. 1682. oct.

Seven philosophical problems and two propositions of Geometry. Lond. 1682. oct. Dedicated to the King in the year 1662.

An apology for himself, and his writings—In which he sets forth that those things he delivered in the Leviathan, were not his own opinions, but submitted to the judgment of the Ecclesiastical power, and that he never maintained any of them afterwards, either in writing or discourse: Adding also, that what is in it of Theology, contrary to the general warrant of Divines, was not put in as his own opinion, but propounded with submission to those, who had the Ecclesiastical power.

Historia Ecclesiastica carmine Elegiaco concinnata. Aug. Trinob. i. e. Lond. 1688. oct. Besides all these, he hath other things in Ms, not yet printed, among which is His defence in the matter relating to Dan. Scargil Bach. of Arts of C. C. Coll. in Cambridge, written in one sheet; a copy of which Sir John Birkenhead had in his possession; which, after his death, came into the hands of Hen. Birkenhead. See in Vitae Hobbianae auctarium. p. 108.109.

Mr. Hobbes hath also translated into English (1) The History of the Greecian War, in eight books Printed in 1628. and afterwards at Lond. in 1676. fol. Written originally by Thucidides. (2) The Voyage of Ulysses; or Homers Odysses, book 9.10.11.12. Lond. 1674. oct. in English verse. (3) Homers Iliads and Odysses. Lond. 1675. and 77. &c. in tw. in Engl. vers. Before which is a preface concerning the virtues of heroick Poesie. What other things go under his name, I know not as yet: sure it is, if several persons of credit may be believed, that a certain Scholar, who was made a Bishop sometime after the restauration of K. Ch. 2, did say it openly in the time of Oliver, (he having been bred under Presbyterians and Independents) that he had rather be author of one of Mr. Hobbes his books, than to be King of England. To conclude; about two months before the death of this noted author, he was seized with an acute pain in making water, caused by a strangury, or ulcer in the bladder: which continuing for a considerable time, he made use of some medicines by the advice of a Chirurgion, yet the Physitian judged it incurable by reason of his great age, and natural decay. But he finding little benefit of the said medicines, he asked the Chirurgion, whether he thought his distemper curable; to which being answered, it would be very difficult to make a perfect cure, and the best that could be expected was ease for the present, he thereupon made this expression, I shall be glad then to find a hole to creep out of the world at; seeming then to be more afraid of the pains he thought he should endure before he died, than of death. About the 20. of Nov. his Patron the Earl of Devons. being to remove from Chatsworth to Hardwyke in Derbyshire, Mr. Hobbes would not be left behind, and therefore with a feather-bed laid in a coach, upon which he lay warm clad, he was safely conveyed to Hardwyke, and was, in appearance, as well after that little journey, (being but 10. miles) as before it. But within few days after, he was suddenly stricken with a dead Palsie, which stupified his right side from head to foot, and took away his speech, and ’tis thought his reason and sense too, which continued about 7 days before he died. So that being so suddenly seized, he did not take the Sacrament, nor seem to desire the company of any Minister, which in charity may be imputed to his want of understanding, tho ’tis well known, as the E. of Devonshires Chaplain hath said, he several times (within two years after his death) received the Sacrament from him with seeming devotion. He dyed at Hardwyke before mentioned, about 10 of the clock at night, on the fourth day of Decemb. in sixteen hundred seventy and nine:1679. Whereupon his body being wrap’d up in a woollen shroud and coffin’d; was two days after accompanied by most of the E. of Devonshires Family and some of the neighbourhood, (after they had received a funeral entertainment) to the Parish Church called Hault-Hucknell; where, in an Isle joyning to the Church, he was inter’d with the service in the Common-prayer book, close to the rail of the monument of the Grandmother of the then present Earl of Dev. Soon after was a Marble stone, with an inscription thereon laid over his grave, the contents of which, and a farther account of the person, you may at large see in Vitae Hobbianae auctarium, following the life in prose before mention’d (written by himself) and published by Rich. Blackbourne, born in London, sometimes M. of A. of Trin. Coll. in Cambridge, afterwards Doctor of Phys. of Leyden in Holland: The materials of which were all, or at least the most part, taken from the English life in M [•] . of Thom. Hobbes, largely and more punctually written by John Aubrey his antient acquaintance, born at Easton-Piers near Malmsbury, bred under the same Master (who had been a Pedagogue above 40 years) that educated Hobbes in Grammatical learning; afterwards he became Gent. Com. of Trin. Coll. in Oxon, then a Student in the Middle Temple, and afterwards a member of the Royal Society. Mr. Hobbes by his last Will and Test. dat. 25. Sept. 1677. did bequeath to Mary Tirell, Daughter of his deceased Bro [•] ther Edm. Hobbes 40 l. To Eleanor Harding Daughter of the said Edm. 40 l. To Elizab. Alaby Daughter of Thomas Alaby 200 l, for her furtherance in marriage: which Eliz. was then an Orphan and committed to the tuition of M [•] . Hobbes Exec. to the said Tho. as also an 100 l. (which th [•] Earl of Devon. gave him to dispose in his will) to be equal [•] ly divided among the Grandchildren of his said B [•] othe [•] Edm. Hobbes; to the eldest of which named Thom. Hobbes he had before given a piece of Land. He also lef [•] considerable Legacies to his Executor James Wheldon a servant to the Earl of Devonshire, who before had, for many years, been his Amanuensis.