Biography of Edward Cocker Engraver 1631-1676

In 1631 Edward Cocker Engraver was born.

Pepy's Diary. 10 Aug 1664. Thence I to Cocker's (age 33) again, and sat by him with good discourse again for an hour or two, and then left him, and by agreement with Captain Silas Taylor (age 40) (my old acquaintance at the Exchequer) to the Post Officer to hear some instrument musique of Mr. Berchenshaw's before my Lord Brunkard (age 44) and Sir Robert Murray (age 56). I must confess, whether it be that I hear it but seldom, or that really voice is better, but so it is that I found no pleasure at all in it, and methought two voyces were worth twenty of it.

Pepy's Diary. 10 Aug 1664. Up, and, being ready, abroad to do several small businesses, among others to find out one to engrave my tables upon my new sliding rule with silver plates, it being so small that Browne that made it cannot get one to do it. So I find out Cocker (age 33), the famous writing-master, and get him to do it, and I set an hour by him to see him design it all; and strange it is to see him with his natural eyes to cut so small at his first designing it, and read it all over, without any missing, when for my life I could not, with my best skill, read one word or letter of it; but it is use. But he says that the best light for his life to do a very small thing by (contrary to Chaucer's words to the Sun, "that he should lend his light to them that small seals grave"), it should be by an artificial light of a candle, set to advantage, as he could do it. I find the fellow, by his discourse, very ingenuous; and among other things, a great admirer and well read in all our English poets, and undertakes to judge of them all, and that not impertinently. Well pleased with his company and better with his judgement upon my Rule, I left him and home, whither Deane (age 30) by agreement came to me and dined with me, and by chance Gunner Batters's wife.

Pepy's Diary. 11 Aug 1664. So home to dinner, and by and by comes Mr. Creed, lately come from the Downes, and dined with me. I show him a good countenance, but love him not for his base ingratitude to me. However, abroad, carried my wife to buy things at the New Exchange, and so to my Lady Sandwich's (age 39), and there merry, talking with her a great while, and so home, whither comes Cocker (age 33) with my rule, which he hath engraved to admiration, for goodness and smallness of work: it cost me 14s. The doing, and mightily pleased I am with it.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Oct 1664. So to Trinity House, Deptford [Map], and there I dined among the old dull fellows, and so home and to my office a while, and then comes Mr. Cocker (age 33) to see me, and I discoursed with him about his writing and ability of sight, and how I shall do to get some glasse or other to helpe my eyes by candlelight; and he tells me he will bring me the helps he hath within a day or two, and shew me what he do.

Pepy's Diary. 07 Oct 1664. At noon dined at home, and then to my office again, and then abroad to look after callicos for flags, and hope to get a small matter by my pains therein and yet save the King (age 34) a great deal of money, and so home to my office, and there came Mr. Cocker (age 33), and brought me a globe of glasse, and a frame of oyled paper, as I desired, to show me the manner of his gaining light to grave by, and to lessen the glaringnesse of it at pleasure by an oyled paper. This I bought of him, giving him a crowne for it; and so, well satisfied, he went away, and I to my business again, and so home to supper, prayers, and to bed.

On 22 Aug 1676 Edward Cocker Engraver (age 45) died.