Sir William Petty

His father was by profession a clothier, and also did dye his own clothes : he left little or no estate to Sir William. About 12 or 13, i. e. before 15, he has told me, happened to him the most remarkable accident of life (which he did not tell me) and was the foundation of all the rest of his greatness and acquiring riches. He has told me that he never got by legacies, but only X pounds, which was not paid.