He
then came to London, where he had very good practise, and did great
cures; but the college hated him, and at last drove him out of London:
so he lived and died at Lambeth, where he lies buried. Elias Ashmole,
Esq. has severall bookes of his writing (never printed), as also his
own life. There it may be seen whether he was not a favorite of Mary,
Countesse of Pembroke. He was a chymist, as far as chymistry went in
those dayes, and 'tis very likely he was a favorite of her honour's.
Quaere Mr. Dennet, the Earl of Pembrock's steward, if he had not a
pension from the Earl of Pembrock? Forman is a common name in Calne
parish, Wilts, where there are still severall wealthy men, cloathiers,
&c. of that name; but tempore Regin? Elizabeth? there was a Forman
of Calne, Lord Maior of London. My grandfather Lyte told me that at
his Lord Maior's shew there was the representation of the creation
of the world, and writt underneath, "and all for man." [Some
interesting passages from Forman's MS. Diary have recently been
brought forward by Mr. Collier in illustration of the history of
Shakspere's works. They describe some very early performances of
several of his plays, at which Forman was present. - J. B.]
Sr Johan Davys, Knight, was born at Tysbury; his father was a tanner.
He wrote a poeme in English, called "Nosce Teipsum"*; also Reports. He
was Lord Chief Justice in Ireland. His wife was sister to the Earle of
Castle-Haven that was beheaded; she had also aliquid dementi?, and was
a prophetesse, for which she was confined in the Tower, before the
late troubles, for her predictions.
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