AUBREY, JOHN, a famous English antiquary, de-
scended from an ancient family in Wiltshire, was born
in 1626. He made the history and antiquities of
England his peculiar study and delight; and contrib-
uted considerable assistance to the famous Monasticon
Anglicanum. He succeeded to several good estates;
but law-suits and other misfortunes consumed them all,
so that he was reduced to absolute want. In this ex-
tremity he found a valuable benefactress in the Lady
Long of Draycot in Wilts, who gave him an apart-
ment in her house, and supported him to his death,
which happened about the year 1700. He was a man
of considerable ability, learning, and application, a
good Latin poet, an excellent naturalist, but somewhat
credulous, and tinctured with superstition. He left
many works behind him. He wrote, 1. Miscellanies.
2. A Perambulation of the county of Surrey, in five
volumes, octavo. 3. The Life of Mr Hobbes of
Malmsbury. 4. Monumenta Britannica, or a discourse
concerning Stonehenge, and Roll Rich stones in Ox-
fordshire. 5. Architectonica Sacra; and several other
works still in manuscript.