received in that capacity from the United States; and the king, Louis XIII. created him a knight and baron. After holding this office for fifteen years, he became obnoxious
, lord of Someldyck and Spyck,
one of the most celebrated negociators of the United Provinces, was the son of Cornelius Aarsens, (who was greffier, or secretary of state, from 1585 to 1623,) and was
born at the Hague in 1572. His father put him under the
care of Duplessis Mornay at the court of William I. prince
of Orange. The celebrated John Barnevelt sent him afterwards as agent into France; and, after residing there
some time, he was recognised as ambassador, the first
whom the French Court had received in that capacity from
the United States; and the king, Louis XIII. created him
a knight and baron. After holding this office for fifteen
years, he became obnoxious to the French Court, and was
deputed to Venice, and to several German and Italian
princes, on occasion of the troubles in Bohemia. But such
was the dislike the French king now entertained against
him, that he ordered his ambassadors in these courts not
to receive his visits. One cause of this appears to have
been a paper published by Aarsens in 1618, reflecting on
the French king’s ministers. In 1620 he was sent as ambassador to England, and again in 1641: the object of this
last embassy was to negociate a marriage between prince
William, son to the prince of Orange, and a daughter of
Charles I. Previous to this, however, we find him again
In France, in 1624, as ambassador extraordinary, where
it appears that he became intimate with and subservient to
the cardinal Richelieu; who used to say that he never
knew but three great politicians, Oxenstiern, chancellor
of Sweden, Viscardi, chancellor of Montferrat, and Francis Aarsens. His character, however, has not escaped just
censure, on account of the hand he had in the death of
Barnevelt, and of some measures unfriendly to the liberties
of his country. He died in 1641. The editors of the Diet.
Historique attribute to him “A Journey into Spain, historical and political,
” published by De Sercy at Paris,
ol, in Leicestershire; to be under the eye of his aunt, lady Bromley, widow of sir Edward Bromley, a baron of the Exchequer in the reigns of queen Elizabeth and James
, an eminent magistrate of the
city of London, was one of the younger sons of James
Abney, esq. of Willesley, in the county of Derby, where
his ancestors had resided for upwards of five hundred years.
He was born January 1639; and, as his mother died in his
infancy, his father placed him at Loughborough school, in
Leicestershire; to be under the eye of his aunt, lady Bromley, widow of sir Edward Bromley, a baron of the Exchequer in the reigns of queen Elizabeth and James I. At
what time he came to London, we are not told; but he
appears to have carded on business with success and reputation, as in 1693 he was elected sheriff of London, and
in the following year he was chosen alderman of Vintry
ward, and about the same time received the honour of
knighthood from king William. In 1700, some years before
his turn, he was chosen lord mayor, and employecd his
influence in favour of the Protestant religion with much
zeal. He had the courage, at this critical juncture, when
the king of France had proclaimed the Pretender king of
Great Britain, to propose an address from the Corporation
to king William, although opposed by the majority of his
brethren on the bench; and he completely succeeded. The
example being followed by other corporations, this measure
proved of substantial service to the king, who was thereby
encouraged to dissolve the Parliament, and take the sense
of the people, which was almost universally in favour of
the Protestant succession. The zeal sir Thomas had displayed in this affair, as well as his steady adherence to the
civil and religious privileges established by the Revolution,
rendered him so popular, that his fellow-citizens elected
him their representative in parliament. He was also one of
the first promoters of the Bank of England, and for many
years before his death was one of its directors. He died
Feb. 6, 1721-2, aged 83, after having survived all his
senior brethren of the court of Aldermen, and become the
father of the city. He was a man of strict piety and independence of mind, and munificent in his charities. Having
been educated among the dissenters, he attended their
places of worship in common, but in his magistracy attended the church, on all public occasions, and. wjien solicited to support pubirc charities. The most remarkable
circumstance of his hospitality, is the kind and lasting asyr
lum which he provided for the celebrated Dr. Watts at his
house at Stoke Newington. That eminent divine was attacked by an illness in 1712, which incapacitated him for
public service. “This calamitous state,
” says Dr. Johnson,
“made the compassion. of his friends necessary, and drew
upon him the attention of sir Thomas Abney, who received
him into his house; where, with a constancy of friendship
and uniformity of conduct not often to be found, he was
treated for thirty-six years with all the kindness that friendship could prompt, and all the attention that respect could
dictate. Sir Thomas died about eight years afterwards,
but he continued with the lady and her daughters to the end
of his life.
”
one of these wretches with having retreated twice from the leap without daring to take it: “Mons. le baron,” said the soldier, “with all your bravery, I defy you to take
, of
an ancient family in Dauphiny, and a bold and enterprising spirit, was born in 1513. After having served in the
army with great distinction, he espoused the cause of the
Huguenots from resentment to the duke of Guise in 1562.
He took Valence, Vienne, Grenoble, and Lyons, but signalized himself less by his prowess and his activity than by his
atrocious acts of vengeance. The Catholic writers say, that
in regard to persons of their communion he was what
Nero had been of old to the primitive Christians. He put
his invention to the rack to find out the most fantastic punishments, and enjoyed the barbarous satisfaction of inflicting them on all that fell into his hands. At Montbrison and at Mornas, the soldiers that were made prisoners
were obliged to throw themselves from the battlements
upon the pikes of his people. Having reproached one of
these wretches with having retreated twice from the leap
without daring to take it: “Mons. le baron,
” said the soldier, “with all your bravery, I defy you to take it in three.
”
The composed humour of the man saved his life. His
conduct was far from being approved even by the most
violent of Ins party; admiral Coligny and the prince of
Conde were so shocked at his cruelties, that the government of Lyons was taken from him; and piqued at this,
Des Adrets was upon the point of turning Catholic; but
he was seized at Romans, and would have been brought to
the scaffold, if the peace, just then concluded, had not
saved him. He afterwards put his design in execution,
and died despised and detested by both parties, Feb. 2,
1587. He left two sons and a daughter, who had no issue,
gome time before his death, Des Adrets, being at Grenoble, where the duke de Mayenne then was, he wanted to
revenge the affronts and threats that Pardaillan had given
him on account of the murder of his father. He repeated
several times, that he had quitted his solitude to convince
all such as might complain of him, that his sword was not
grown so rusty but that it could always right him. Pardaillan did not think himself obliged to take any notice of this
bravado of a swordsman then in his 74th year: and Des
Adrets went back again content with his rhodomontade. The ambassador of Savoy once meeting him on the
high road alone, with only a stick in his hand, was surprised at seeing an old man, notorious for his barbarous
executions, walking without a companion and quite defenceless, and asked him of his welfare. “I have nothing
to say to you,
” answered Des Adrets coldly, “unless it be
to desire you to acquaint your master, that you met the
baron des Adrets, his very humble servant, on the high
road, with a white stick in his hand and without a sword,
and that nobody said any thing to him.
” One of the sons
of the baron des Adrets was engaged in the massacre of St.
Bartholomew. He had been page to the king, who ordered
him one day to go and call his chancellor. The magistrate,
who was then at table, having answered him, that as soon
as he had dined he would go and receive the commands of
his majesty “What!
” said the page, “dare you delay a
moment when the king commands Rise, and instantly
be gone
” Whereupon he took hold of the table-cloth by
one corner, and drew the whole of the dinner down upon
the floor. M. de la Place relates this anecdote (rather improbable it must be confessed) in his “Pieces interessantes,
” torn. IV; and adds, that the story being told to
Charles IX. by the chancellor, the monarch only laughed,
and said “that the son would be as violent as the father.
”
To this day the name of Adrets is never pronounced in
Dauphiny without horror. Such the story usually reported
of this extraordinary character; but it is said that Maimbourg, Brantome, Moreri, and Daniel have given some
exaggerated accounts of his cruelties. Thnanus has
justified him from some of the accusations, and particularly in
affair of Mornas, where he was not present.
ft the manuscript nearly prepared for the press. In this state it remained for some years, until Mr. Baron Maseres, with his usual liberal and active spirit, resolved
, an Italian
lady of great learning, was born at Milan, March 16, 1718.
Her inclinations from her earliest youth led her to the
study of science, and at an age when young persons of her
sex attend only to frivolous pursuits, she had made such
astonishing progress in mathematics, that when in 1750
her father, professor in the university at Bologna, was unable to continue his lectures from infirm health, she obtained permission from the pope, Benedict XIV. to fill his
chair. Before this, at the early age of nineteen, she had
supported one hundred and ninety-one theses, which were
published, in 1738, under the title “Propositiones Philosophicæ.” She was also mistress of Latin, Greek, Hebrew,
French, German, and Spanish. At length she gave up her
studies, and went into the monastery of the Blue Nuns, at
Milan, where she died Jan. 9, 1799. In 1740 she published a discourse tending to prove “that the study of the
liberal arts is not incompatible with the understandings of
women,
” This she had written when scarcely nine years
old. Her “Instituzioni analitiche,
” Traites elementaires du Calcul
differentiel et du Calcul integral,
”
, lord Fortescue of the kingdom of Ireland, a baron of the exchequer, and puisne judge of the king’s bench and common
, lord Fortescue of the kingdom of Ireland, a baron of the exchequer, and puisne judge of the king’s bench and common pleas in the reigns of George I. and II. was born March 7, 1670, being the second son of Edmund Fortescue, of London, esq. and Sarah, daughter of Henry Aland, of Waterford, esq. in honour of whom he added Aland to his name. He was descended from sir John Fortescue, lord chief justice and lord high chancellor of England under king Henry VI. He was educated probably at Oxford, as that university, in complimenting him with a doctor’s degree, by diploma, in 1733, alluded to his having^tudied there. On leaving the university he became a member of the Inner Temple, where he was chosen reader in 1716, 2 Geo. I. as appears by a subscription to his arms, and was called to the bar about the time of the Revolution. For his arguments as pleader in the courts of justice, the reader is referred to the following authorities; viz. the Reports of Mr. justice Fortescue Aland; Mr. serjeant Carthew; Mr. recorder Comberbach; lord chancellor (of Ireland) Freeman; lord chief baron Gilbert’s Cases; Mr. justice Levintz; Mr. justice Lutwyche; lord chief justice Raymond; Mr. Serjeant Salkeld; Mr. serjeant Skinner; and Mr. justice Ventris.
one of the barons of the exchequer, in which court he succeeded sir Samuel Dodd, the late lord chief baron, deceased. In the office of solicitor-general he was himself
On Friday, October 22, 1714, he was appointed solicitorgeneral to his royal highness the prince of Wales, afterwards king George the Second; and on December 21, 1715, he was constituted solicitor-general to the king, in the room of Nicholas Lechmere, resigned; which arduous and important office he executed so much to the satisfaction of his majesty and the people, that he was thought deserving of a higher post; and accordingly, 24th January, 1716-7, Hilary term, the king appointed him one of the barons of the exchequer, in which court he succeeded sir Samuel Dodd, the late lord chief baron, deceased. In the office of solicitor-general he was himself succeeded by sir William Thompson the recorder of London. The reader is referred to the reports of the lord chief baron Comyns, and of the lord chief baron Gilbert, sir John Strange and Bunbury, for our baron’s resolutions and opinions while he sat in this court.
s, was pleased to create him a peer of Ireland, by the style and title of John lord Fortescue Aland, baron Fortescue of Credan, in the kingdom of Ireland, by privy seal,
In May 1718, he was constituted one of the justices of the court of king’s bench; but after the accession of king George II. all the judges had new patents, except Mr. justice Aland, whose commission was superseded, for reasons which have not transpired. It appears, however, that he regained his majesty’s favoifV, as in January 1728 he was appointed one of the justices of the court of common pleas. He continued on this bench from Michaelmas vacation, 2 Geo. II. 1728, until Trinity term 19 and 20, A. D. 1746, when he resigned the same, having sat in the superior courts of Westminster for the long period of thirty years, and eighteen of them in the court alluded to. His majesty, in further testimony of his judicial integrity and abilities, was pleased to create him a peer of Ireland, by the style and title of John lord Fortescue Aland, baron Fortescue of Credan, in the kingdom of Ireland, by privy seal, dated at Kensington, June 26, 1746, 19 Geo. II. and by patent dated at Dublin, August 15. But he did not enjoy this honour long, dying Dec. 19 of the same year, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. The family is now extinct.
tical Inquiry into the Life of Alexander the Great, by the ancient historians from the French of the baron de St. Croix; with notes and observations, by sir Richard Clayton,
His excesses with regard to wine were more notorious,
and beyond all imagination; and he committed, when intoxicated, a thousand extravagances. It was owing to
wine, that he killed Clytus, who saved his life; and burnt
Persepolis, one of the most beautiful cities of the east:
he did this last indeed at the instigation of the courtezan
Thais: a circumstance which makes it the more atrocious.
It is generally believed, that he died by drinking immoderately; and even Plutarch, who affects to contradict it,
owns that he did nothing but drink the whole day he was
taken ill.
His character has been so often the theme of history,
nd the subject of discussion, tfyat it would be superfluous
to analyze the various opinions entertained. The reader,
however, to whom the subject is interesting, may be referred, with confidence, to a work, entitled “A critical
Inquiry into the Life of Alexander the Great, by the ancient historians from the French of the baron de St. Croix;
with notes and observations, by sir Richard Clayton, bart.
”
Lond.
There are likewise of his: 1. “Les Bigarrures Calotines.” 2. “Lettres à Milord * * *, concerning the Baron and the Demoiselle le Couvreur.” 3. “Anecdotes of Russia, under
, was born at Chartres, and died at Paris the 2d of
May, 1753. He gave to the French theatre several comedies that met with tolerable success; and to the Italian
theatre, “l'Embarras des Richesses,
” which was far better
received; the “Tour de Carnaval,
” and some other pieces.
His “Ecole des Bourgeois,
” abounds in that true comic
humour which characterises the plays of Moliere. There
are likewise of his: 1. “Les Bigarrures Calotines.
” 2.
“Lettres à Milord * * *, concerning the Baron and the
Demoiselle le Couvreur.
” 3. “Anecdotes of Russia, under Peter I.
” Connoissauce de la Mythologie,
”
n him in 1737. He published a “Histoire de la Suisse” Fribourg, 1750 to 1753, 10 vols. 8vo, of which baron Zurlauben, a competent and impartial judge, says, that it would
, the descendant of an ancient patrician family of Fribourg in
Swisserland, was born there in 1689, and died Feb. 17,
1771. In 1718 he was a captain in the Austrian service,
but returned to his country, over which he long presided
as avoyer, or magistrate, an appointment conferred upon
him in 1737. He published a “Histoire de la Suisse
”
Fribourg,
itary honours, he received the dignity of the British peerage on the 20th May, 1776, by the title of baron Amherst, of Holmesdale, in the county of Kent. His last public
General Amherst now seeing that the whole continent qf North America was reduced in subjection to Great Britain, returned to New tfork, the capital of the British empire, and was received with all the respect due to his public services. The thanks of the House of Commons had already been transmitted to him; and, among other honourable testimonies of approbation, in 1761, he was created a knight of the Bath. He had also some time before been appointed commander in chief of all the forces in America, and governor-general of the British provinces there. But shortly after the peace was concluded, he resigned his command, and returned to England, arriving in London December 1763. His Majesty received him with most gracious respect and approbation, and the government of the province of Virginia was conferred upon him, as the first mark of royal favour. In 1768, there appears to have been a temporary misunderstanding between him and his royal master, which, however, soon terminated, as in the end of that year he was appointed colonel of the third regiment of foot, with permission to continue his command of the sixtieth, or royal American regiment, of four battalions; and in Oct. 1770, he was appointed governor of the island of Guernsey, and the castle of Cornet, with all its dependencies. To these promotions was added the office of lieutenant-general of the ordnance, in Oct. 1772, at which time he was sworn of the privy council. From this period, also, to the beginning of 1782, he officiated as commander in chief of the English forces, though he was not promoted to the rank of general in the army till March 1778, from which period to the time of his resignation, in March 1782, he acted as eldest general on the staff of England. Until his military promotion in 1778, he had no higher appointment in the army than that of eldest lieutenant-general on the English staff. In 1780, he resigned the command of the third regiment of foot, and was promoted to the second troop of horse grenadiers. Besides these military honours, he received the dignity of the British peerage on the 20th May, 1776, by the title of baron Amherst, of Holmesdale, in the county of Kent. His last public services were the means he adopted in quelling the dreadful riots in London in the month of June, 1780. The regulations and instructions of his lordship on this occasion were not less distinguished by wisdom and promptitude than by humanity.
neralship of ordnance, were put into other hands. In 1787, he received another patent of peerage, as baron Amherst, of Montreal, with remainder to his nephew, William
In 1732, on the change of the administration usually called that of lord North, the command of the army, and the lieutenant-generalship of ordnance, were put into other hands. In 1787, he received another patent of peerage, as baron Amherst, of Montreal, with remainder to his nephew, William Pitt Amherst. On the staff being reestablished, he was, Jan. 22, 1793, again appointed to the command of the army in Great Britain, although at that time, general Conway, the duke of Gloucester, sir George Howard, the duke of Argyle, the hon. John Fitz-william, and sir Charles Montagu, were his seniors. On the 10th of February 1795, the command of the army being given to the duke of York, an offer of earldom, and the rank of field marshal, were made to lord Amherst, who then declined accepting them, but on the 30th July 1796, accepted the rank of field-marshal. His increasing age and infirmities, had, however, rendered him unfit for public business nearly two years before this period, and he now retired to his seat at Montreal in Kent, where he August 3, 1797, in the eighty-first year of his age. and was interred in the family vault in Seven Oaks church, on the 10th. Lord Amherst had been twice married; first, to Jane, only daughter of Thomas Dallison, of Manton, in Lincolnshire, esq. who died Jan. 7, 1765; and secondly, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of general George Gary, brother to viscount Falkland, who survived him; but by neither had he any issue. His two brothers had distinguished themselves in the service of their country; John, an admiral of the blue, died Feb. 12, 1778 and William, already mentioned, a lieutenant-general in the army, died May 13, 1781. His son inherits lord Amherst’s title and estate.
abeth’s command, and without her knowledge. After the cause had been heard, sir Roger Manwood, chief baron of the exchequer, gave his opinion first, wherein he extolled
, a younger brother of a good family, either of Broughton, or of Flixborough in Lincolnshire, descended originally from Scotland. He received the first part of his education in the country, and went afterwards to Lincoln college in Oxford: from thence he removed to the Inner Temple, where he read law with great assiduity, and in due time was called to the bar. In the ninth of queen Elizabeth, he was both Lent and Summer reader; in the sixteenth of that queen, double reader, notes of which readings are yet extant in manuscript; and in the nineteenth year of queen Elizabeth, he was appointed one of the queen’s Serjeants at law. Some time after, he was made a judge; and, in 1581, being upon the Norfolk circuit at Bury, he exerted himself against the famous Browne, the author of those opinions which were afterwards maintained by a sect called from him Brownists: for this conduct of judge Anderson, the bishop of Norwich wrote a letter to treasurer Burleigh, desiring the judge might receive the queen’s thanks. In 1582, he was made lord chief justice of the common pleas, and the year following received the honour of knighthood. In 1586, he was appointed one of the commissioners for trying Mary queen of Scots; on the 12th of October, the same year, he sat in judgment upon her; and on the 25th of the same month, he sat again in the star-chamber, when sentence was pronounced against this unhappy queen. In 1587, he sat in the star-chamber on secretary Davison, who was charged with issuing the warrant for the execution of the queen of Scots, contrary to queen Elizabeth’s command, and without her knowledge. After the cause had been heard, sir Roger Manwood, chief baron of the exchequer, gave his opinion first, wherein he extolled the queen’s clemency, which he said, Davison had inconsiderately prevented; and therefore he was for fining him ten thousand pounds, and imprisonment during the queen’s pleasure. Chief justice Anderson spoke next, and said that Davison, had done justum, non juste,—that is, he had done what was right, but not in a right manner, which, Granger observes, is excellent logic for finding an innocent man guilty.
wing, the king raised him to the honour of an English peerage, by the style and title of lord Anson, baron of Soberton, in the county of Southampton; and his lordship
Mr. Anson, a few days after his return into his own
country, was made a rear-admiral of the blue, and in a
very short time, he was chosen member of parliament
for Heydon in Yorkshire. On the 27th December 1744,
when the duke of Bedford was appointed first lord of the
admiralty, he was appointed one of the commissioners
of the admiralty; and on the 23d of April, in the following year, was made a rear-admiral of the white. On the
14th of July 1746, he was raised to the rank of vice-admiral; and in the latter end of that year, and beginning of
1747, he commanded the squadron in the channel service,
and bore the inconveniencies of a long and tempestuous
winter navigation, with his usual patience and perseverance. Nothing would have frustrated the success of this
expedition, but the accidental intelligence which was
given, by the master of a Dutch vessel, to the duke of
D'Arville’s fleet, of admiral Anson’s station and intention.
However, being employed again early in the ensuing
spring, he had an opportunity of rendering a very signal
service of his country. Being then on board the Prince
George, of 90 guns, with rear-admiral Warren, in the
Devonshire, and twelve ships more under his command,
he intercepted, on the 3d of May 1747, off Cape Finisterre, a considerable fleet, bound from France to the
East and West Indies, and laden with merchandise, treasure, and warlike stores; and took six men of war, and
four East Indiamen, not one of the enemy’s vessels of war
escaping. By this successful exploit, he defeated the
pernicious designs of two hostile expeditions, and made a
considerable addition to the force and riches of our own
kingdom. M. St. George, captain of the Invincible, in
allusion to the names of two of the ships which had been
taken, and pointing to them at the same time, said, when
he presented his sword to the conqueror, “Monsieur, vous
avez vaincu V In-vincible, et la Gloire vous suit.
” On the
13th of June following, the king raised him to the honour
of an English peerage, by the style and title of lord Anson,
baron of Soberton, in the county of Southampton; and
his lordship made choice of a motto, very happily suited
to his perils and his successes, ML Desperandum. On
the 25th of April 1748, he married Elizabeth, eldest
daughter of Philip lord Hardwicke, at that time lord high
chancellor of Great Britain; but his lady died without
issue on the 1st of June 1760.
, principal of the university of Aberdeen, was the son of the baron of Arbuthnot, and was born in the year 1538. He studied philosophy
, principal of the university of Aberdeen, was the son of the baron of Arbuthnot,
and was born in the year 1538. He studied philosophy
and the classics in the university of Aberdeen, and civil
law in France, where he was five years under the care of
the famous Cujacius. Having taken the degree of licentiate, he returned home in 1563, and appeared very warmly
in support of the reformed religion. At this time queen
Mary was resident in her kingdom; but the earl of Murray
having the supreme direction of all things, the reformed
church of Scotland was in a very flourishing condition.
The friends of Mr. Arbuthnot prevailed upon him to take
orders, but whether he received them from a bishop or
from presbyters is uncertain. In 1568, he assisted as a
member of the general assembly, which was held in the
month of July at Edinburgh. By this assembly he was
intrusted with the care of revising a book which had given
offence, entitled “The Fail of the Roman Church,
” printed by one Thomas Bassenden, in Edinburgh. The exception taken to it was, that the king had the style of the
supreme head of the church: at the s,ame time there was
another complaint against this Bassenden, for printing a
lewd song at the end of the Psalm book. On these matters an order was made, forbidding the printer to vend
any more of his books till the offensive title was altered,
and the lewd song omitted. The assembly also made an
order, that no book should be published for the future, till
licensed by commissioners of their appointment.
chfield. When he had attained the age of sixteen he was taken into the family of James Paget, esq. a baron of the exchequer, who had married his mother’s sister, and as
, an eminent philosopher, chemist,
and antiquary, of the seventeenth century, and founder
of the noble museum at Oxford, which still bears his name,
was the only son of Mr. Simon Ashmole, of the city of
Litchfield, in Staffordshire, sadler, by Anne, the daughter of
Mr. Anthony Boyer, of Coventry, in Warwickshire, woollen-draper. He was born May 23, 1617, and during his
early r education in grammar, was taught music, in which
he made such proficiency as to become a chorister in the
cathedral at Litchfield. When he had attained the age of
sixteen he was taken into the family of James Paget, esq.
a baron of the exchequer, who had married his mother’s
sister, and as his father died in 1634, leaving little provision for him, he continued for some years in the Paget
family, during which time he made considerable progress
in the law, and spent his leisure hours in perfecting himself in music and other polite accomplishments. In March
1638, he married Eleanor, daughter of Mr. Peter Manwaring, of Smallwood, in the county Palatine of Chester,
and in Michaelmas term the same year, became a solicitor
in Chancery. On February 11, 1641, he was sworn an
attorney of the court of common pleas, and on December
5th, in the same year, his wife died suddenly, of whom
he has left us a very natural and affectionate memorial.
The rebellion coming on, he retired from London, being
always a zealous and steady loyalist, and on May 9, 1645,
became one of the gentlemen of the ordnance in the garrison at Oxford, whence he removed to Worcester, where
he was commissioner, receiver, and register of the excise,
and soon after captain in the lord Ashley’s regiment, and
comptroller of the ordnance. In the midst of all this business he entered himself of Brazen-Nose college, in Oxford, and applied himself vigorously to the sciences, but
especially natural philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy;
and his intimate acquaintance with Mr. (afterwards sir George) Wharton, seduced him into the absurd mysteries
of astrology, which was in those days in great credit. In
the month of July, 1646, he lost his mother, who had
always been a kind parent to him, and for whom he had a
very pious regard. On October 16th, the same year, be
was elected a brother of the ancient and honourable society
of Free and Accepted Masons, which he looked upon as a
high honour, and has therefore given us a particular account of the lodge established at Warrington in Lancashire and in some of his manuscripts, there are very
valuable collections relating to the history of the free
masons. The king’s affairs being now grown desperate,
Mr. Ashmole withdrew himself, after the surrender of the
garrison of Worcester, into Cheshire, where he continued
till the end of October, and then came up to London,
where he became acquainted with Mr. (afterwards sir Jonas)
Moore, William Lilly, and John Booker, esteemed the
greatest astrologers in 'the world, by whom he was caressed, instructed, and received into their fraternity, which
then made a very considerable figure, as appeared by the
great resort of persons of distinction to their annual feast,
of which Mr. Ashmole was afterwards elected steward. Jn
1647 he retired to Englefield, in Berkshire, where he pursued his studies very closely, and having so fair an opportunity, and the advantage of some very able masters,
he cultivated the science of botany. Here, as appears
from his own remarks, he enjoyed in privacy the sweetest
moments of his life, the sensation of which perhaps was
quickened, by his just idea of the melancholy state of the
times. It was in this retreat that he became acquainted
with Mary, sole daughter of sir William Forster, of Aldermarston, in the county of Berks, bart. who was first married to sir Edward Stafford, then to one Mr. Hamlyn, and
lastly to sir Thomas Mainwaring, knt recorder of Reading,
and one of the masters in chancery and an attachment
took place but Mr. Humphrey Stafford, her second son,
had such a dislike to the measure, that when Mr. Ashmole
happened to be very ill, he broke into his chamber, and if
not prevented, would have murdered him. In the latter
end of 1648, lady Mainwaring conveyed to him her estate
at Bradfield, which was soon after sequestered on account
of Mr. Ashmole’s loyalty but the interest he had with
William Lilly, and some others of that party, enabled him
to get that sequestration taken off. On the sixteenth of
November, 1649, he married lady Mainwaring, and settled
in London, where his house became the receptacle of the
most learned and ingenious persons that flourished at that
time. It was by their conversation, that Mr. Ashmole,
who hud been more fortunate in worldly affairs than most
scholars are, and who had been always a curious collector
of manuscripts, was induced to publish a treatise written
by Dr. Arthur Dee, relating to the Philosopher’s stone,
together with another tract on the same subject, by an unknown author. These accordingly appeared in the year
following but Mr. Ashmole was so cautious, or rather
modest, as to publish them by a fictitious name. He at
the same time addressed himself to a work of greater consequence, a complete collection of the works of such English chemists, as had till then remained in ms. which cost
him a great deal of labour, and for the embellishment of
which he spared no expence, causing the cuts that were
necessary, to be engraved at his own house in Black-Friars,
by Mr. Vaughan, who was then the most eminent artist in
that department in England. He imbibed this affection for
chemistry from his intimate acquaintance with Mr. William
Backhouse, of Swallowfield in the county of Berks, who
was reputed an adept, and whom, from his free communication of chemical secrets, Mr. Ashmole was wont to call
father, agreeably to the custom which had long prevailed
among the lovers of that art, improperly, however, called
chemistry for it really was the old superstition of alchemy. He likewise employed a part of his time in acquiring the art of engraving seuls, casting in sand, and
the mystery of a working goldsmith. But all this time,
his great work of publishing the ancient English writers in
chemistry went on and finding that a competent knowlege of the Hebrew was absolutely necessary for understanding and explaining such authors as had written on the
Hermetic science, he had recourse to rabbi Solomon Frank,
by whom he was taught the rudiments of Hebrew, which
he found very useful to him in his studies. At length,
towards the close of the year 1652, his “Theatrum Chymicum Britannicum
” appeared, which gained him great reputation in the learned world, as it shewed him to be a
man of a most studious disposition, indefatigable application, and of wonderful accuracy in his compositions. It
served also to extend his acquaintance considerably, and
among others the celebrated Mr. Seiden took notice of him
in the year 1653, encouraged his studies, and lived in
great friendship with him to the day of his death. He was
likewise very intimate with Mr. Oughtred, the mathematician, and with Dr. Wharton, a physician of great
racter and experience. His marriage with lady -Main-waring, however, involved him in abundance of law-suits
with other people, and at last produced a dispute between
themselves, which came to a hearing on October 8, 1657,
in the court of chancery, where serjeant Maynard having
observed, that in eight hundred sheets of depositions taken
on the part of the lady, there was not so much as a bad
word proved against Mr. Ashrnole, her bill was dismissed,
and she delivered back to her husband. He had now for
some time addicted himself to the study of antiquity and
records, which recommended him to the intimate acquaintance of Mr. (afterwards sir William) Dugdale, whom about
this time he attended in his survey of the Fens, and was
very useful to him in 'that excellent undertaking. Mr.
Ashmole himself soon after took the pains to trace the
Roman road, which in Antoninus’s Itinerary is called Bennevanna, from Weeden to Litchfield, of which he gave
Mr. Dugdale an account, in a letter addressed to him upon
that subject. It is very probable, that after his studies
had thus taken a new turn, he lost somewhat of his relish
for chemistry, since he discontinued the Theatrum Chemicum, which, according to his first design, was to have consisted of several volumes yet he still retained such a remembrance of it, as induced him to part civilly with the
sons of art, by publishing a treatise in prose on the philosopher’s stone, to which he prefixed an admirable preface, in which he wishes to apologize for taking leave of
these fooleries. In the spring of the year 1658, our author began to collect materials for his history of the order
of the garter, which he afterwards lived to finish, and
thereby rendered both the order and himself immortal,
the just reward of the prodigious pains he took in searching
records in the Tower, and elsewhere, comparing them with
each other, and obtaining such lights as were requisite to
render so perplexed a subject clear, and to reduce all the
circumstances of such a vast body of history into their proper order. In September following he made a journey to
Oxford, where he was extremely well received, and where
he undertook to make a full and distinct description of the
coins given to the public library by archbishop Laud, which
was of great use to him in the works which he afterwards
composed. He had lodged and boarded sometimes at a house
in South Lambeth, kept by Mr. John Tradescant, whose
father and himself hud been physic-gardeners there for
many years, and had collected avast number of curiosities,
which, after mature deliberation, Mr. Tradescant and his
wife determined to bestow on Mr. Ashmole, and accordingly sealed and delivered a deed of gift for that purpose,
on December 16, 1659. On the restoration of king Charles
II. Mr. Ashmole was Dearly introduced into the presence
and favour of his majesty, and on June 18, 1660, which was
the second time he had the honour of discoursing with the
king, he graciously bestowed upon him the place of Windsor herald. A few days after, he was appointed by the king
to make a description of his medals, and had them delivered into his hands, and king Henry VHIth’s closet assigned
for his use, being also allowed his diet at court. On August 21st, in the same year, he presented the three books
which he had published, to his majesty, who, as he both
loved and understood chemistry, received them very graciously. On September 3, he had a warrant signed for the
office of commissioner of the excise, in consequence of a
letter written by his majesty’s express command, to the
earl of Southampton, then lord high-treasurer, by Mr. Se^
cretary Morris. About this time, a commission was granted
to him as incidental to the care of the king’s medals, to
examine the famous, or rather infamous, Hugh Peters,
about the contents of the royal library which had fallen
into his hands, and which was very carefully and punctually
executed, but to very little purpose. On November 2d,
he was called to the bar in Middle-Temple hall, and January 15, 1661, he was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society. On February 9th following, the king signed a warrant for constituting him secretary of Surinam in the West
Indies. In the beginning of the year 1662, he was appointed one of the commissioners for recovering the king’s
goods, and about the same time he sent a set of services
and anthems to the cathedral church of Litchfield, in memory of his having been once a chorister there, and he
gave afterwards twenty pounds towards repairing the cathedral. On June 27, 1664, the White Office was opened,
of which he was appointed a commissioner. On Feb. 17,
1665, sir Edward By she sealed his deputation for visiting Berkshire, which visitation he began on the llth
of March following, and on June 9, 1668, he was appointed by the lords commissioners of the treasury, accomptant-general, and country accomptant in the excise.
His second wife, lady Main waring, dying, April 1, in the
same year, he soon after married Mrs. Elizabeth Dugdale,
daughter to his good friend sir William Dugdale, kht. garter king at arms, in Lincoln’s-inn chapel, on Novembers.
The university of Oxford, in consideration of the many
favours they had received from Mr. Ashmole, created him
doctor of physic by diploma, July 19, 1669, which was
presented to him on the 3d of November following, by
Dr. Yates, principal of Brazen-Nose college, in the name
of the university. He was now courted and esteemed by
the greatest people in the kingdom, both in point of title
and merit, who frequently did him the honour to visit him
at his chambers in the Temple, and whenever he went his
summer progress, he had the same respect paid him in the
country, especially at his 'native town of Litchfield, to which
when he came, he was splendidly entertained by the corporation. On May 8, 1672, he presented his laborious
work on the most noble order of the garter, to his most
gracious master king Charles II. who not only received it
with great civility and kindness, but soon after granted to
our author, as a mark of his approbation of the work, and
of his personal esteem for him, a privy seal for 400 pounds
out of the custom of paper. This was his greatest undertaking, and had he published nothing else, would have
preserved his memory, as it certainly is in its kind one of
the most valuable books in our language. On January
29, 1675, he resigned his office of Windsor herald, which
by his procurement, was bestowed on his brother Dugdale,
It was with great reluctancy that the earl marshal parted
with him, and it was not long after, that he bestowed on
him the character of being the best officer in his office. On
the death of sir Edward Walker, garter king at arms, Feb_
20, 1677, the king and the duke of Norfolk, as earl marshal, contested the right of disposing of his place, on which
Mr. Ashmole was consulted, who declared in favour of the
king, but with so much prudence and discretion as not to
give any umbrage to the earl marshal. He afterwards himself refused this high office, which was conferred on his
father-in-law sir -William Dugdale, for whom he employed
his utmost interest. About the close of 1677, a proposal
was made to Mr. Ashmole to become a candidate for the
city of Litchfield, but finding himself poorly supported by
the very persons who would have encouraged him to stand,
he withdrew his pretensions. On the 26th of January,
1679, about ten in the morning, a fire began in the Middle
Temple, in the next chambers to Mr. Aslimole’s,- by which
he lost a library he had been collecting thirty-three years;
but his Mss. escaped, by their being at his house in South
Lambeth. He likewise lost a collection of 9000 coins,
ancient and modern but his more valuable collection of
gold medals were likewise preserved by being at Lambeth
his vast repository of seals, charters, and other antiquities
and curiosities, perished also in the flames. In 1683, the
university of Oxford having finished a noble repository
near the theatre, Mr. Ashmole sent thither that great collection of rarities which he had received from the Tradescants before-mentioned, together with such additions as he
had made to them; and to this valuable benefaction he
afterwards added that of his Mss. and library, which still
remain a monument of his generous love to learning in
general, and to the university of Oxford in particular. In
the beginning of the year 1685, he was invited by the magistrates, and by the dean of Litchfield, to represent that
corporation in parliament but upon king James’s intimating to him, by the lord Dartmouth, that he would take it
kindly if he would resign his interest to Mr. Levvson, he instantly complied.
, lord chief baron of the exchequer, was descended of a very ancient family in
, lord chief baron of the exchequer, was descended of a very ancient family in Glocestcrshire, and son of sir Edward Atkyns, one of the barons of the exchequer, by Ursula, daughter of sir Thomas Dacres of Cheshunt in Hertfordshire. He was born in 1621, and, after being instructed in grammar-learning in his father’s house, was sent to Baliol college, Oxford. Removing thence to one of the inns of court, he applied himself very closely to the study of the law. In April 1661, at the coronation of king Charles II. he was made a knight of the bath and in September the same year created M. A. in full convocation at Oxford. In 1671 he was appointed a king’s serjeant at law; and in 1672, a judge of the court of common pleas. In 1679, from an apprehension of very troublesome times, he resigned his office, and retired into the country. In July 1683, when lord Russel was first imprisoned, on account of that conspiracy for which he afterwards suffered, sir Robert Atkyns, being applied to for his advice, gave it in the following letter, probably addressed to some of the friends of that nobleman, which manifests his courage and integrity, as well as his prudence and learning
was received with great marks of distinction by king William, who, in May 1689, made him lord chief baron of the exchequer. In October following, the marquis of Halifax,
At the revolution, which sir Robert zealously promoted, he was received with great marks of distinction by king William, who, in May 1689, made him lord chief baron of the exchequer. In October following, the marquis of Halifax, whom the Lords had chosen for their speaker, desiring to be excused from discharging that office any longer, the lord chief baron Atkyns was immediately elected in his room, and was speaker till the great seal was given to sir John Sommers, in the beginning of 1693.
ed to accomplish them, he has the following passage, which will assist our readers in judging of the baron’s character "There is one piece of policy of his, wherein he
October 30, 1693, when the lord mayor of London elect was sworn in before sir Robert, in the exchequer, he made a famous speech, wherein, after drawing a terrible picture of the designs of Lewis XIV. and of the means employed to accomplish them, he has the following passage, which will assist our readers in judging of the baron’s character "There is one piece of policy of his, wherein he outdoeth all other princes whatsoever and that is, the great thing of maintaining and managing intelligence. He can tell when your merchant-ships set out, and by what time they shall return nay, perhaps, he does take upon him to know, by the help of some confederacy with him that is prince of the power of the air, that the wind shall not serve in such or such a corner till such a time he knoweth when our royal navy is to be divided, and when it is united.
to an Answer, entitled, The Magistracy and Government of England vindicated. 1 * 7.” The lord chief baron Atkyns*s Speech to sir William Ashurst, lord mayor elect for
In June 1695, being then in his 74th year, he resigned
his office, and retired to his seat at Saperton-hall in Glocestershire, where he spent the last fourteen years of his
life in ease and quiet. He died in the beginning of the
year 1709, aged eighty-eight. He was a man of great
probity as well as of great skill in his profession, and a
warm friend to the constitution. He was twice married,
first to Mary daughter of sir George Clerk, of Welford in
Northamptonshire, and afterwards to Anne daughter of sir
Thomas Dacres. He left behind him an only son, the
subject of the next article. His writings are collected into
one volume, 8vo, under the title of Parliamentary and Political Tracts, 1734, containing, 1. “The power, jurisdiction, and privilege of Parliament, and the antiquity of
the House of Commons asserted occasioned by an information in the king’s bench, by the attorney-general,
against the speaker of the House of Commons.
” 2. “An
Argument in the great case concerning the Election of
Members to Parliament, between sir Samuel Barnardiston,
plaintiff, and sir William Soame, sheriff of Suffolk, defendant, in the court of king’s bench, in an action upon the
case, and afterwards by error sued in the exchequer chamber.
” 3. “An inquiry into the power of dispensing w
Penal Statutes. Together with some animadversions upct.:
a book writ by sir Edward Herbert, lord chief justice of
the court of common pleas, entitled, A short account of
the Authorities in law upon which judgment was given in
sir Edward Hale’s case.
” 4. “A Defence concerning the
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the realm of England.
” 5. “A
Defence of the late lord Russel’s Innocency, by way of
confutation of a libellous pamphlet, entitled, An Antidote
against Poison with two letters of the author of this book,
upon the subject of his lordship’s trial.
” The first and
chief of these letters we have given above. 6. “The lord
Russel’s Innocency further defended, by way of reply to
an Answer, entitled, The Magistracy and Government of
England vindicated. 1 * 7.
” The lord chief baron Atkyns*s
Speech to sir William Ashurst, lord mayor elect for the
city of London, at the time of his being sworn in their majesties court of exchequer.“Besides these tracts, he wrote
a treatise against the exorbitant power of the court of Chancery, published in 1695, entitled
” An inquiry into the
Jurisdiction of the Chancery in causes of Equity,“and annexed to it
” The case of Sir Robert Atkyns about a Separate Maintenance,“fol. He was also the author of a
tract,
” The true and ancient jurisdiction of the House
of Peers," fol. 1699, but neither are in the above volume.
ebt, in the Marshalsea, Sept. 14, 1677, and was buried in St. George’s, Southwark, at the expence of baron Atkyns, to whom he was related.
, a typographical author, born in
Gloucestershire, in 1615; studied at Baliol college, Oxford, in 1629, where he was a gentleman commoner, and
removed afterwards to Lincoln’s inn. He visited France
with a young nobleman, and at his return frequented the
court but the civil wars breaking out, he suffered much
on account of his loyalty. After the restoration he was a
deputy-lieutenant of Gloucestershire. Having been at the
expence of above a thousand pounds in law-suits for near
twenty-four years, to prove the right of the king’s grant in
printing law books, he had some hopes of repairing his finances by his pen and published his “Original and
growth of Printing in England,
” 4to, Vindication,
” &c. containing a
relation of several passages in the western wars of England,
wherein he was concerned. To which are added his “Sighs
and Ejaculations,
” 4to,
, daughter of Claude d'Aubespine, baron of Chateauneuf, and wife of Nicolas de Neufville de Villeroi,
, daughter of Claude d'Aubespine, baron of Chateauneuf, and wife of Nicolas de Neufville de Villeroi, secretary of state, was a French lady whose beauty and talents rendered her one of the ornaments of the courts of Charles IX. Henry III. and Henry IV. Ronsard has celebrated her in a sonnet, in which he quaintly advises her to substitute the laurels she had merited for the hawthorn (aubespine) which composed her name. She died at Villeroi in 1506, and Bertaud, bishop of Seez, wrote an epitaph on her. She is said to have translated Ovid’s epistles, and to have written several original works in verse and prose, none of which, however, we find specified in our authorities. Her statue, in white marble, is in the present French museum.
neva, 1630, 8vo; a very satirical piece entitled “La Confession de Sancy;” and in 1731, was printed “ Baron de Foeneste,” 12mo, said to be his, which is a more gross composition.
Many curious anecdotes are reported of his freedoms
with the king. Before he returned to the court, he sent
one of his pages to announce to the sovereign that he was
upon the road. The king asked him from whence he
came? The page said, “Yes, yes;” and to every question that was put to him, still returned “Yes, yes.” On
the king’s asking him why he continued to answer his
questions in that manner, he replied, “Sire, I said yes
yes, because kings drive away from their presence all persons who will not make use of those words to every thing
which their sovereigns require of them.
” While equerry
to the king, and lying one night with the Sieur de la Force
in the guard chamber, he whispered in his companion’s
ear, “Certainly our master is the most covetous, and most
ungrateful mortal upon earth.
” Receiving no answer, he
repeated the accusation, but la Force, being scarcely
awake, did not hear him distinctly, and asked, “What do
you say, D'Aubigne?
” “Cannot you hear him?
” said the king,
who was awake, “he tells you I am the most covetous and most ungrateful mortal on earth.
” “Sleep on,
sire,
” replied D'Aubigne, “I have a good deal more to
say yet.
” The next day, Aubigne tells us in his memoirs,
the king did not look unkindly on him, but still gave him
nothing. After, however, sometimes pleasing and sometimes displeasing the king and court by these freedoms, he
again found it necessary to retire, and passed the rest of his
days at Geneva, where he died in 1630, in the 80th year
of his age. It was here probably, where he was received
with great respect and honour, that he employed his pen
on those various works which entitle him to a distinguished
place in the republic of letters. These were his universal
history, entitled “Histoire Universelle depuis 1550
jusq'en 1601, avec un histoire abregée de la mort de
Henry IV.
” 3 vols. folio, printed at St. Jean d'Angeli, although the title page says Maille, 1616—18—20, and
reprinted in 1626, with additions and corrections. The first
edition is in most request by the curious, as having some
strokes of satire in it which are omitted in the other. His
style is not uniform, and he often departs from the dignity
of history to indulge in a jocose garrulity, accompanied
with impassioned coarse passages, which are, however,
highly characteristic of the writer. The first volume was
burnt by order of the parliament of Paris, on account of
the freedoms he had taken with the royal personages, particularly Henry III. The first and second parts of this
history, which contain the wars of the prince of Condé
and of the admiral Coligny, the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and the first transactions of the League, are given
rather in a succinct form, but the third, which continues the
detail until the peace of Henry the Great, is the most full
and most correct. He wrote also some “Tragedies,
”
A collection of Poetical pieces,
”
printed at Geneva, La Confession de Sancy;
” and in Baron de Foeneste,
” 12mo, said to be his, which is
a more gross composition. In the same year his Memoirs,
written by himself, were printed, and have been translated
into English. His son, Constant D'Aubigne, a most profligate character, was the father of madame de Maintenon.
atter end of the same year, viz. on the 29th of November, 30 Hen. VIII. the chancellor was created a baron, by the style of lord Audley of Walden in the county of Essex,
, descended of an
ancient and honourable family, of the county of Essex,
was born in 1488. He was by nature endowed with great
abilities, from his ancestors inherited an ample fortune,
and was happy in a regular education, but whether at
Oxford or Cambridge is not certain. At what time he was
entered of the Inner-Temple, does not appear, but in
1526 he was autumn reader of that house, and is thought
to have read on the statute of privileges, which he handled
with so much learniag and eloquence, as to acquire great
reputation. This, with the duke of Suffolk’s recommendation, to whom he was chancellor, brought him to the'
knowledge of his sovereign, who at that time wanted men
of learning and some pliability he was, accordingly, by
the king’s influence, chosen speaker of that parliament,
which sat first on the third of November, 1529, and is by
some styled the Black Parliament, and by others, on account of its duration, the Long Parliament. Great complaints were made in the house of commons against the
clergy, and the proceedings in ecclesiastical courts, and
several bills were ordered to be brought in, which alarmed
some of the prelates. Fisher, bishop of Rochester,
inveighed boldly against these transactions, in the house of
lords, with which the house of commons were so much
offended, that they thought proper to complain of it, by
their speaker, to the king, and Fisher had some difficulty
in excusing himself. The best historians agree, that great
care was taken by the king, or at least by his ministry, to
have such persons chosen into this house of commons as
would proceed therein readily and effectually, and with
this view Audley was chosen to supply the place of sir
Thomas More, now speaker of the lords’ house, and chancellor of England. The new house and its speaker justified
his majesty’s expectations, by the whole tenor of their behaviour, but especially by the passing of a law, not nowfound among our statutes. The king, having borrowed
very large sums of money of particular subjects, and entered into obligations for the repayment of the said sums,
the house brought in, and passed a bill, in the preamble of
which they declared, that inasmuch as those sums had been
applied by his majesty to public uses, therefore they cancelled and discharged the said obligations, &c. and the
king, finding the convenience of such a parliament, it sat
again in the month of January, 1530-1. In this session
also many extraordinary things were done amongst the
rest, there was a law introduced in the house of lords, by
which the clergy were exempted from the penalties they
had incurred, by submitting to the legatine power of
Wolsey. On this occasion the commons moved a clause in
favour of the laity, many of themselves having also incurred the penalties of the statute. But the king insisted
that acts of grace ought to flow spontaneously, and that this
was not the method of obtaining what they wanted; and the
house, notwithstanding the intercession of its speaker, and
several of its members, who were the king’s servants, was
obliged to pass the bill without the clause, and immediately
the king granted them likewise a pardon, which reconciled
all parties. In the recess, the king thought it necessary
to have a letter written to the pope by the lords and commons, or rather by the three estates in parliament, which
letter was drawn up and signed by cardinal Wolsey, the
archbishop of Canterbury, four bishops, two dukes, two
marquisses, thirteen earls, two viscounts, twenty-three
barons, twenty-two abbots, and eleven members of the
house of commons. Thepurport of this letter, dated
July 13, above three weeks after the parliament rose, was
to iMigage the pope to grant the king’s desire in the divorce
business, for the sake of preventing a civil war, on account of the succession, and to threaten him if he did not,
to take some other way. To gratify the speaker for the
great pains he had already taken, and to encourage him to
proceed in the same way, the king made him this year
attorney for the duchy of Lancaster, advanced him in
Michaelmas term to the state and degree of a serjeant at
law, and on the 14th of November following, to that of
his own serjeant. In January, 1531-2, the parliament had
its third session, wherein the grievances occasioned by the
excessive power of the ecclesiastics and their courts, were
regularly digested into a book, which was presented by
the speaker, Audley, to the king. The king’s answer was,
He would take advice, hear the parties accused speak, and
then proceed to reformation. Jn this session, a bill was
brought into the house of lords, for the better securing the
rights of his majesty, and other persons interested in the
eare of wards, which rights, it was alleged, were injured
by fraudulent wills and contracts. This bill, when it came
into the house of commons, was violently opposed, and the
members expressed a desire of being dissolved, which the
king would not permit but after they had done some
business, they had a recess to the month of April. When
they next met, the king sent for the speaker, and delivered
to him the answer which had been made to the roll of
grievances, presented at their last sitting, which afforded
very little satisfaction, and they seemed now less subset
viciit. Towards the close of the month, one Mr. Themse
moved, That the house would intercede with the king, to
take back his queen again. The king, extremely alarmed
at this, on the 30th of April, 1532, sent for the speaker, to
whom he repeated the plea of conscience, which had induced him to repudiate the queen, and urged that the
opinion of the learned doctors, &c. was on his side. On
the 11th of May the king sent for the speaker again, and
told him, that he had found that the clergy of his realm
were but half his subjects, or scarcely so much, every
bishop and abbot at the entering into his dignity, taking
an oath to the pope, derogatory to that of their fidelity
to the king, which contradiction he desired his parliament to take away. Upon this motion of the king’s, the
two oaths he mentioned were read in the house of commons and they would probably have complied, if the plague
bad not put an end to the session abruptly, on the 14th
of May; and two days after, sir Thomas More, knt. then
lord chancellor of England, went suddenly, without acquainting any body with his intention, to court, his majesty being then at York Place, and surrendered up the
seals to the king. The king going out of town to EastGreenwich, carried the seals with him, and on Monday,
May 20, delivered them to Thomas Audley, esq, with the
title of lord keeper, and at the same time conferred on him
the honour of knighthood. September 6, sir Thomas delivered the old seal, which was much worn, and received a
new one in its stead, yet with no -higher title: but on
January 26, 1533, he again delivered the seal to the king,
who kept it a quarter of an hour, and then returned it with
the title of lord chancellor. A little after, the king
granted to him the site of the priory of Christ Church,
Aldgate, together with all the church plate, and lands belonging to that house. When chancellor he complied with
the king’s pleasure as effectually as when speaker of the
house of commons. For in July 1535, he sat in judgment
on sir Thomas More, his predecessor, (as he had before on bishop Fisher,) who was now indicted of high-treason upon
which indictment the jury found him gnilty, and the lord
chancellor, Audley, pronounced judgment of death upon
him. This done, we are told, that sir Thomas More said,
that he had for seven years bent his mind and study upon
this cause, but as yet he found it no where writ by any
approved doctor of the church, that a layman could be
head of the ecclesiastical state. To this Audley returned,
“Sir, will you be reckoned wiser, or of a better conscience,
than all the bishops, the nobility, and the whole kingdom
” Sir Thomas rejoined, “My lord chancellor, for
one bishop that you have of your opinion, I have a hundred
of mine, and that among those that have been saints and
for your one council, which, what it is, God knows, I have
on my side all the general councils for a thousand years
past; and for one kingdom, I have France and all the
ether kingdoms of the Christian world.
” As our chancellor
was very active in the business of the divorce, he was no
less so in the business of abbies, and had particularly a
large hand in the dissolution of such religions houses as
had not two hundred pounds by the year. This was in the
twenty-seventh of Henry VIII, and the bill being delayed
long in the house of commons, his majesty sent for the
members of that house to attend him in his gallery, where
he passed through them with a stern countenance, without
speaking a word the members not having received the
king’s command to depart to their house, durst not return
till they knew the king’s pleasure so they stood waiting in
the gallery. In the mean time the king went a hunting,
and his ministers, who seem to have had better manners
than their master, went to confer with the members to
some they spoke of the king’s steadiness and severity to
others, of his magnificence and generosity. At last the
king came back, and passing through them again, said,
with an air of fierceness peculiar to himself, That if his
bill did not pass, it should cost many of them their heads.
Between the ministers’ persuasions and the king’s threats,
the matter was brought to an issue the king’s bill, as he
called it, passed and by it, he had not only the lands of
the small monasteries given him, but also their jewels, plate,
and rich moveables. This being accomplished, methods
were used to prevail with the abbots of larger foundations
to surrender. To this end, the chancellor sent a special
agent to treat with the abbot of Athelny, to offer him an
hundred marks per annum pension which he refused, insisting on a greater sum. The chancellor was more successful with the abbot of St. Osithes in Essex, with whom
he dealt personally and, as he expresses it in a letter to
Cromwell, the visitor-general, by great solicitation prevailed with him but then he insinuates, that his place of
lord chancellor being very chargeable, he desired the king
might be moved for addition of some more profitable offices
unto him. In suing for the great abbey of Walden, in the
same county, which he obtained, besides extenuating its
worth, he alleged under his hand, that he had in this
world sustained great damage and infamy in serving the
king, which the grant of that should recompense. But if
the year 1536 was agreeable to him in one respect, it was
far from being so in another; since, notwithstanding the
obligations he was under to queen Anne Bullen, he was
obliged, by the king’s command, to be present at her apprehension and commitment to the Tower. He sat afterwards with Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, when he
gave sentence of divorce on the pre-contract between the
queen and the lordPiercy and on the 15th of May, in the
same year, he sat in judgment on the said queen, notwithstanding we are told by Lloyd, that with great address he
avoided it. The lengths he had gone in serving the king,
and his known dislike to popery, induced the northern,
rebels in the same year, to name him as one of the evil
counsellors, whom they desired to see removed from about
the king’s person which charge, however, his majesty,
as far as in him lay, wiped off, by his well- penned answer
to the complaints of those rebels, wherein an excellent
character is given of the chancellor. When the authors of
this rebellion came to be tried, the chancellor declined
sitting as lord high steward, which high office was executed
by the marquis of Exeter, on whom shortly after, viz. in
1538, Audley sat as high-steward, and condemned him,
his brother, and several t other persons, to suffer death as
traitors. In the latter end of the same year, viz. on the
29th of November, 30 Hen. VIII. the chancellor was created
a baron, by the style of lord Audley of Walden in the
county of Essex, and was likewise installed knight of the
garter. In the session of parliament in 1539, there were
many severe acts made, and the prerogative carried to an
excessive height, particularly by the six bloody articles,
and the giving the king’s proclamation the force of a law.
It does not very clearly appear who were the king’s principal counsellors in these matters but it is admitted by
the best historians, that the rigorous execution of these
laws, which the king first designed, was prevented by the
interposition of the lord Audley, in conjunction with Cromwell, who was then prime minister, and the duke of Suffolk,
the king’s favourite throughout his whole reign. In the
beginning of 1540, the court was excessively embarrassed.
What share Audley had in the fall of Cromwell afterwards
is not clear, but immediately after a new question was
stirred in parliament, viz. How far the king’s marriage with
Anne of Cleves, was lawful This was referred to the
judgment of a spiritual court and there are yet extant the
depositions of Thomas lord Audley, lord chancellor, Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas, duke of Norfolk,
Charles, duke of Suffolk, and Cuthbert, lord bishop of
Durham, wherein they jointly swear, that the papers produced to prove the retraction of the lady Anne’s contract
with the duke of Lorrain, were inconclusive and unsatisfactory. Other lords and ladies deposed to other points,
and the issue of the business was, that the marriage was
declared void by this court, which sentence was supported
by an act of parliament, affirming the same thing, and
enacting, That it should be high-treason to judge or believe otherwise. This obstacle removed, the king married
the lady Catherine Howard, niece to the duke of Norfolk,
and cousin -german to Anne Bullen. Nothing is clearer
from history, than that the chancellor was closely attached
to the house of Norfolk and yet in the latter end of the
year 1541, he was constrained to be an instrument in the
ruin of the unfortunate queen information of her bad life
before her marriage, being laid first before the archbishop
of Canterbury, and by him communicated to the chancellor. The king then appointed lord Audley one of the
commissioners to examine her, which they did, and there
is yet extant a letter subscribed by him and the other
lords, containing an exact detail of this affair, and of the
evidence on which, in the next session of parliament, the
queen and others were attainted. The whole of this business was managed in parliament by the chancellor, and
there is reason to believe, that he had some hand in another
business transacted in that session which was the opening
a door for the dissolution of hospitals, the king having now
wasted all that had accrued to him by the suppression of
abbies. Some other things of the like nature were the
last testimonies of the chancellor’s concern for his master’s
interest but next year a more remarkable case occurred.
Jn the 34th of Henry VIII. George Ferrers, esq. burgess
for Plymouth, was arrested, and carried to the compter,
by virtue of a writ from the court of king’s bench. The
house, on notice thereof, sent their serjeant to demand
their member in doing which, a fray ensued at the compter, his mace was broke, his servant knocked down, and
himself obliged to make his escape as well as he could.
The house, upon notice of this, resolved they would sit
no longer without their member, and desired a conference
with the lords where, after hearing the mutter, the lord
chancellor Audley declared the contempt was most flagrant,
and referred “the punishment thereof to the house of commons whereupon Thomas Moyle, esq. who was then
speaker, issued his warrant, and the sheriff of London,
and several other persons, were brought to the bar of the
house, and committed, some to the Tower, and some to
Newgate. This precedent was gained by the king’s want
of an aid, who at that time expected the commons would
offer him a subsidy the ministry, and the house of lords,
knowing the king’s will gave the commons the
complimerit of punishing those who had imprisoned one of their
members. Dyer, mentioning this case, sap,
” The sages
of the law held the commitment of Ferrers legal, and
though the privilege was allowed him, yet was it held unjust.“As the chancellor had led a very active life, he
grew now infirm, though he was not much above fifty years
old, and therefore began to think of settling his family and
affairs. But, previous to this, he obtained from the king a
licence to change the name of Buckingham college in
Cambridge, into that of Magdalen, or Maudlin some will
have it, because in the latter word his own name is included. To this college he was a great benefactor, bestowed on it his own arms, and is generally 'reputed its
founder, or restorer. His capital seat was at Christ-Christ
in town, and at Walden in Essex and to preserve some
remembrance of himself and fortunes, he caused a magnificent tomb to be erected in his new chapel at Walden.
About the beginning of April, 1544, he was attacked by
his last illness, which induced him to resign the seals but
he was too weak to do it in person, and therefore sent them
to the king, who delivered them to sir Thomas Wriothesley,
with the title of keeper, during the indisposition of the
chancellor a circumstance not remarked by any of our
historians. On the 19th of April, lord Audi ey made hU
will, and, amongst other things, directed that his executors
should, upon the next New-year’s day after his decease,
deliver to the king a legacy of one hundred pounds, from
whom, as he expresses it,
” he had received all his reputations and benefits." He died on the last of April, 1544,
when he had held the seals upwards of twelve years, and
in the fifty-sixth of his life, as appears by the inscription
on his tomb. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas
iGrey, marquis of Dorset, by whom he had two daughters,
Margaret and Mary; Mary died unmarried, and Margaret
became his sole heir. She married first lord Henry Dudley,
a younger son of John duke of Northumberland, and he
being slain at the battle of St. Quintin’s, in Picardy, in
1557, she married a second time, Thomas duke of Norfolk, to whom she was also a second wife, and had by him
a son Thomas, who, by act of parliament, in the 27th of
Elizabeth, was restored in blood; and in the 39th of the
same reign, summoned to parliament by his grandfather’s
title, as baron of Walden, In the 1st of James I. he was
created earl of Suffolk, and being afterwards lord
hightreasurer of England, he built on the ruins of the abbey of
Walden, that nee noble palace, which, in honour of our
chancellor, he called Audley-End.
the title given him of lord high chancellor of England and in July of the same year, he was created baron of Verulam in the county of Hertford. This new honour excited
In the mean time the chancellor continued to supreintend the king’s affairs in general, and particularly the concerns of the civil list. There are many of his letters extant, both to the king and to Buckingham, upon this subject, which demonstrate an independence of mind, and an intrepidity in the discharge of his duty, very remote from the servile temper of which his enemies have accused him. In the beginning of January 1618, he had the title given him of lord high chancellor of England and in July of the same year, he was created baron of Verulam in the county of Hertford. This new honour excited his lordship to new services, and it appears from his own writings, that he was very attentive to every thing that might conduce, either to the immediate benefit of the king, or to the general good of his subjects. Some of his particulartransactions are detailed in the history of the times, and in his life in the Biographia but it would swell this article beyond all useful bounds were we to enter upon these. With regard to his more personal history, it may, however, be necessary to subjoin that while high chancellor, he procured from the king the farm of the alienation-office, which was of considerable benefit, and proved a great part of his subsistence, after he lost his office. He likewise procured York-house for his residence, for which he seems to have had an affection, as being the place of his birth, and where his father had lived all the time he possessed the high office of lord keeper of the great seal.
ordshire, knt. secondly, to sir Henry Nevil, knt and thirdly, to sir William Periam, knt. lord chief baron of the exchequer. After her decease he married Anne, daughter
He was not happier in his fortune than in his family.
His first wife was Jane, daughter of William Fernley, of
Meting in the county of Suffolk, esrj. by whom he
had issue three sons and three daughters. The sons were,
1. Sir Nicholas. 2. Nathaniel Bacon, of whom we have
just given some account. 3. Edward Bacon, of Shrubland-hall in Suffolk, esq. in right of his wife Helen, daughter and heir of Thomas Littel of the same place, esq. and
of Bray, in the county of Berks, by Elizabeth his wife,
daughter and coheir to sir Robert Litton, of Knebworth in
the county of Hertford, knt. from whom is lineally descended Nicholas Bacon of Shrubland-hall, esq. and from
younger sons of the said Edward are the Bacons of Ipswich
in Suffolk, and Earlham in Norfolk, descended. The
daughters were, 1. Anne, already noticed. 2. Jane, married first to sir Francis Windham, knt. one of the justices
of the common pleas;‘ second, to sir Robert Mansfield,
knt. And 3. Elizabeth, married first to sir Robert d’Oyly of
Chislehampton in Oxfordshire, knt. secondly, to sir Henry
Nevil, knt and thirdly, to sir William Periam, knt. lord
chief baron of the exchequer. After her decease he married Anne, daughter of sir Anthony Cooke, of Giddy-hall in
the county of Essex, knt. by whom he had two sons, Anthony and Francis, the illustrious lord Bacon. Of Anthony
there is a long, but imperfect and not very interesting account, in the “Biographia Britannica.
”
s marriage with Dervorgille, one of the three daughters and coheiresses of Alan of Galloway (a great baron in Scotland), by Margaret the eldest sister of John Scott, the
, founder of Balliol college in Oxford, was the son of Hugh de Balliol of Bernard’s castle in the diocese of Durham. He was a person very eminent for power and riches, being possessed of thirty knights’ fees, about 12,000l. a considerable estate in those times. But he received a great addition thereto, by his marriage with Dervorgille, one of the three daughters and coheiresses of Alan of Galloway (a great baron in Scotland), by Margaret the eldest sister of John Scott, the last earl of Chester, and one of the heirs to David, some time earl of Huntingdon. From 1248 to 1254 he was sheriff of the county of Cumberland and in 1248 was constituted governor of the castle of Carlisle. Upon the marriage of Margaret daughter of king Henry 111. to Alexander III. king of Scotland, the guardianship of them both, and of that kingdom, was committed to our sir John de Balliol, and to another lord but, about three years after, they were accused of abusing their trust, and the king inarched towards Scotland with an army, to chastise them. However, in consideration of the many important services performed, in the most difficult times, to K. John the king’s father, by Hugh, our John BallioPs father and especially by a sum of money, he soon made his peace. In the year 1258, he had orders to attend the king at Chester, with horse and arms, to oppose the incursions of Lhewelyn prince of Wales. And two years after, in recompence of his service to king Henry, as well in France as in England, he had a grant of two hundred marks for discharging which, the king gave him the wardship of William de Wassingle. In part of the years 1260, 1261> 1262, 1263, and 1264, he was sheriff for the counties of Nottingham and Derby; and in 1261, was appointed keeper of the honour of Peverell. In 1263, he began the foundation and endowment of Balliol college in Oxford > which was perfected afterwards by his widow. Duririg the contests and war between ^king Henry III. and his barons > he firmly adhered to the king on which account his lands were seized and detained by the barons, but restored again through one of his sons’ interposition. In 1264, he attended the king at the battle of Northampton, wherein the barons were defeated but, the year following, he was taken prisoner, with many others, after the king’s fatal overthrow at Lewes. It appears that he soon after made his escape^ and endeavoured to keep the northern parts of England in king Henry’s -obedience, and having obtained authority from prince Edward, he joined with other of the northern barons, and raised all the force he could to rescue the king from his confinement. He died a little before Whitsuntide, in the year 1269, or as Savage, the historian of Balliol college, thinks, in 1266; leaving, three sons behind him, Hugh, and Alexander, who both died without issue and John, afterwards chosen king of Scotland.
e three first. We have likewise by him a Description of the empire of Russia, published in German by baron de Strahlemberg, 1757, and translated into French, but this
, born at Paris
in 1710, was the son of a woodmonger, and originally intended for his father’s trade but nature had given him a
taste for literature, and in order to be able to cultivate it,
he at first embraced the ecclesiastical profession, which
he quitted some time afterwards, and retired to Holland, where he passed ten or fifteen years. He carried
with him from that country charts but little known in
France, which he communicated to M. Bauche, who kept
him with him above twenty-three years, and in whose workshe had the greatest share. In 1759, however, a production appeared under his name. This was “Mappe-monde
Historique
” an ingenious and novel chart, in which the
author has had the skill to combine geography, chronology,
and history into one system. He had intended to particularize this general chart in distinct maps but he was forced
to abandon this idea by the necessity he laboured under of
gaining his bread by rapid publications. The world is indebted to him for the “Tablettes Chronologiques
” ofthe
abbe Lenglet, Geographic IVJoderne
” of the abbe la Croix, the substance of which is properly his the two last volumes of the “Bibliotheque de
France,
” of father le Long; and he furnished great assistance to M. de Fontette in the publication of the three
first. We have likewise by him a Description of the empire of Russia, published in German by baron de Strahlemberg, 1757, and translated into French, but this is a very
inaccurate work and “Vie de M. Francois Paris, diacre,
”
is sick and lame patients, from which there is a print dated 1748-9, which appears to be the work of Baron. There is also a mezzotinto of admiral Vernon, from a picture
, was an English artist of the
last century, but known rather as a copyist than an original
painter. He painted a picture of the celebrated Dr. Ward
relieving his sick and lame patients, from which there is a
print dated 1748-9, which appears to be the work of
Baron. There is also a mezzotinto of admiral Vernon,
from a picture by Bard well in 1744. At what time he
died is not known, but it is probable that he was living in
1773, as a second edition of his treatise was published in
that year. Whatever his merits as a painter, he certainly
thought himself qualified to give instructions in the practical part of the art, and published a quarto pamphlet of
sixty-four pages, entitled the “Practice of Painting and
Perspective made easy,
”
erve as a seminary, out of which the mission into England, Scotland, and Ireland, might be supplied. Baron, after some time, grew into high reputation, and became especially
, whose true name
was Fitz-Gerald, was descended from a branch of the FitzGcralds of Burnchurch in the county of Kilkenny, a family
settled in Ireland soon after the English acquisitions in that
country, which has produced several men of figure in the
church. But he has been more remarkable in the learned
world for his maternal genealogy, being the son of a sister
of Luke Wadding, that eminent Franciscan friar, who, in
the seventeenth century, demonstrated his great abilities
and industry, by many voluminous treatises of genius and
labour. His uncle Wadding took great care of his education in his youth, which he saw rewarded by an uncommon
diligence: and when he was of a proper age procured his
admission into the Franciscan order, and sent for him toRome; where he lived under his own eye in the college
of St. Isidore, a society of thut order founded by himself
in 1625, for the education of Irish students in the study of
the liberal arts, divinity, and controversy, to serve as a
seminary, out of which the mission into England, Scotland, and Ireland, might be supplied. Baron, after some
time, grew into high reputation, and became especially
remarkable for the purity of -his Latin style, which procured
him great reputation. He was for a considerable time lecturer on divinity in the above-mentioned college, and in all
resided at Rome about sixty years, where he died, very
old, and deprived of sight,. March 18, 1696, and was
buried at St. Isidore’s. His works are, 1. “Orationes
Panegyricce Sacro-Prophanre decem,
” Romae, Romse, 1645, 24to. 3.
” Prolusiones Philosophicee,“Romae, 1651, 12mo. 4. a Harpocrates quinque Ludius; seu Diatriba silentii,
” Romce,
Obsidio et Expugnatio Arcis Duncannon ia Hibernia, sub Thoma Prestono.
” 6. “Boetius
Absolutus; sive de ConsolationeTheologiae, lib. iv.
” Roma-,
Controversial et Stratagemata,
” Lug'duni, Scotus Defensus,
” Colonize, Cursus Philosophicus,
” Colonise, Epistolæ Familiares Parceneticse,
” &c. These are
among his 11. “Opuscula varia Herbipoli,
” Theologia,
” Paris, Johannes
Duns Scotus, ordinis minorum, Doctor subtilis de Angeiis contra adversantes defensus, nunc quoque Novitate amplificatus,
” FlorentitE, Annales Ordinis S. S.
Trinitatis Redemptions Captivorum, Fundatoribus 8. S.
Johanne de Matha, et Felice de Valois,
” in vols. folio.
The first volume was printed at Rome in 1686, and begins
with the year 1198, in which pope Innocent the Third gave
habit to the founders, and is carried down to the year 1297,
just one hundred years. In this volume we have an account
of the foundations of their convents, their privileges, and
benefactions, the eminent fathers of their order, their miracles and actions; as also, the number of slaves delivered
by them from bondage.
s, engraven from die designs of Rubens in the collection of Dr. Meacle. Being afterwards reconciled, Baron accompanied Dubosc to Paris in 1729, and engraved a plate from
, an engraver of considerable fame in this country, was a native of France, and there first learned his art. He was brought into England by Duhosc, with whom he went to law respecting the plates for the storyof Ulysses, engraven from die designs of Rubens in the collection of Dr. Meacle. Being afterwards reconciled, Baron accompanied Dubosc to Paris in 1729, and engraved a plate from Watteau, and engaged to do another from Titian in the king’s collection, for Mons. Crozat, for which he was to receive 60l. sterling. While at Paris, they both sat to Vanloo. How soon afterwards he returned to England, is not known, but he died in Panton-square, Piccadilly, Jan. 24, 1762. His manner of engraving seems to have been founded on that of Nicholas Dorigny. It is slight and coarse, 2 without any great effect; and his drawing is frequently very defective. He executed, however, a great number of works, a few portraits, and some considerable pictures after the best masters; as the family of Cornaro, at Northumberland house; Vandyke’s family of the earl of Pembroke, at Wilton; Henry VIII. giving the charter to the barber surgeons, from Holbein; the equestrian figure of Charles I. by Vandyke, at Kensington; its companion, the king, queen, and two children; and king William on horseback with emblematic figures, at Hampton-court. His last considerable work was the family of Nassau, by Vandyke. This, and his St. Cecilia from Carlo Dolce, he advertised in 1759, by subscription, at a guinea the pair.
a surgeon in the armies of Italy and Germany, and published some medical works. There was a Theodore Baron before these, probably their ancestor, who, in 1609, published
, ancient professor and
dean of the faculty of medicine at Paris, the place of his
birth, died July 29, 1758, at about the age of 72. He had
a great share in the Pharmacopoeia of Paris, for 1732, 4to;
and in 1739, gave an academical dissertation in Latin on
chocolate, “An senibus Chocolate potas?
” which has
been often reprinted. His son, of the same name, war
also dean of the faculty at Paris, where he died in 1787, at
the age of eighty. He was long a surgeon in the armies of
Italy and Germany, and published some medical works.
There was a Theodore Baron before these, probably their
ancestor, who, in 1609, published a curious work entitled
“De operationis meiendi triplici lacsione et curatione,
” of
which Haller gives a brief analysis.
that once in a century we might see a Cæsar, but that two thousand years were requisite to produce a Baron. One day his coachman and his lacquey were soundly chastised
he was seen within a minute to turn pale and red, in conformity to the verse. He was styled with one consent, the
Roseius of his times. He said himself, in one of his enthusiastical fits of vanity, that once in a century we might
see a Cæsar, but that two thousand years were requisite to
produce a Baron. One day his coachman and his lacquey
were soundly chastised by those of the marquis de Biran,
with whom Baron lived on those familiar terms which young
noblemen frequently allow to players. “Monsieur le marquis,
” said he to him, “your people have ill treated mine;
I must have satisfaction of you.
” This he repeated several
times, using always the same expressions, your people and
mine. M. de Biran, affronted at the parallel, replied:
“My poor Baron, what wouldst thou have me say to thee?
why dost thou keep any people?
” He was on the point
of refusing the pension bestowed on him by Louis XIV.
because the order for it ran: “Pay to the within-named
Michael Boyrun, called Baron, &c.
” This actor, born with
the choicest gifts of nature, had perfected them by thq
utmost exertions of art: a noble figure, a sonorous voice,
a natural gesticulation, a sound and exquisite taste. Racine, versed as he was in the art of declamation, wanting to
represent his Andromache to the actors, in the distribution
of the parts, had reserved that of Pyrrhus for Baron. After
having shewn the characters of several of the personages to
the actors who were to represent it, he turned towards
Baron:“As to you, sir, I have no-instruction to give you;
your heart will tell you more of it than any lessons of mine
could explain.
” Baron would affirm that the force and play
of declamation were such, that tender and plaintive sounds
transferred on gay and even comic words, would no less
produce tears. He has been seen repeatedly to make the
trial of this surprising effect on the well-known sonnet,
Baron, in common with all great painters and great poets, was fully
Baron, in common with all great painters and great poets,
was fully sensible that the rules of art were not invented
for enslaving genius. “We are forbid by the rules,
” said
this sublime actor, “to raise the arms above the head; but
if they are lifted there by the passion, it is right: passion
is a better judge of this matter than the rules.
” He died
at Paris, Dec. 22, 1729, aged 77, Three volumes in 12mo
of theatrical pieces were printed in 1760, under the name
of this comedian; but it is doubted whether they are all
his. “L'Andrienne
” was attributed to pere de la Rue, at
the very time when it was in full representation. It was
to this that Baron alluded in the advertisement he prefixed
to that piece. “I have here a fair field,
” said he, “for
complaining of the injustice that has been intended me. It
has been said that I lent my name to the Andrienne. I
will again attempt to imitate Terence; and I will answer as
he did to those who accused him of only lending his name
to the works of others (Scipio and Lselius). He said, that
they did him great honour to put him in familiarity with
persons who attracted the esteem and the respect of all
mankind.
” The other pieces that merit notice are,
“L'homme à bonne fortune,
” “La Coquette,
” “L'Ecole
des Peres,
” &c. The dramatical judgment that reigns
in these pieces, may perhaps be admitted as a proof that
they are by Baron. The dialogue of them is lively, and
the scenes diversified, although they rarely present us with
grand pictures: but the author has the talent of copying
from nature certain originals, not less important in society
than amusing on the stage. It is evident that he had studied the world as well as the drama. As to the versification,
if Baron was an excellent actor, he was but an indifferent
poet. The abbé d'Alainval published the “Lettres sur
Baron et la le Couvreur.
” The father of this famous actor possessed also in a superior degree the talent of declamation. The manner of his death is remarkable. Playing
the part of Don Diego in the Cid, his sword fell from his
hand, as the piece requires; and kicking it from him with
indignation, he unfortunately struck against the point of
it, by which his little toe was pierced. This wound was at
first treated as a trifle; but the gangrene that afterwards
appeared requiring the amputation of his leg, he would
not consent to the operation. “No, no,
” said he; “a
theatrical monarch would be hooted if he should appear
with a wooden leg
” and he preferred the gentle expectation of death, which happened in 1655.
Iconoclastes, and afterwards an Edition of Milton’s prose works, were prepared and corrected by Mr. Baron. For this task he was well qualified, being an industrious collector
, a dissenting minister, but most
noted for his zeal as a political writer, was born at Leeds
in Yorkshire, and educated at the university of Glasgow,
which he quitted in 1740, with very honourable testimonies to his learning and personal character, from the
celebrated Hutchinson, and the mathematical professor
Simpson. Where he passed his time after this, we know
not; but in 1753, he was ordained pastor of the dissenting
meeting at Pinners’ hall, Broad-street, London, a congregation, if we are not mistaken, of the Baptist persuasion.
What he was as a divine, is not very clear, but tho whole
bent of his studies was to defend and advance civil and religious liberty. This zeal led the famous Thomas Hollis,
csq. to engage his assistance in editing some of the authors
in the cause of freedom, whose works he wished to reprint
with accuracy, and in an elegant form. Toland’s Life of
Milton, Milton’s Iconoclastes, and afterwards an Edition
of Milton’s prose works, were prepared and corrected by
Mr. Baron. For this task he was well qualified, being an
industrious collector of books on the subject of constitutional liberty, several of which he communicated to Mr.
Hollis, with ms notes, or memorandums of his own in
the blank pages, in which, we are told, he was not always
in the right. Still he was indefatigable in searching for
what he reckoned scarce and valuable liberty-tracts, many
of which Mr. Hollis bought of him while he lived, and
others he bought at the sale of his books after his death.
Mr. Baron, we are likewise told, “only breathed, he did
not live, in his own estimation, but whilst he was in someway or other lending his assistance to the glorious cause
of religious and civil liberty. He wrote, he published, and
republished perpetually in its defence. His character was
one of the most artless and undisguised in the world. He
was a man of real and great learning of fixed and steady
integrity and a tender and sympathizing heart.
” Yet
with such a heart, we are told, not very consistently, that
had he been mindful of his domestic concerns, he might
have left a competency behind for his wife and family, but
his whole soul was engaged in the cause, and he neglected
every other concern. For this absurd and unjust train of
feeling, we are referred to the natural impetuosity of his
temper, and his eccentricities, which indicated occasional
derangements of mind. With many virtues, it is added,
and a few faults, which must have been of a peculiar kind,
since “they only wanted the elevation of a higher station
and a better fate to have assumed the form of virtues,
”
Mr. Baron passed the greatest part of his life in penurious
circumstances, which neither abated the generous ardour,
or overcame the laudable independency of iiis spirit. These
virtues, “with their blessed effects,
” were all he left behind him, for the consolation and support of a widow and
three children. He died at his house at Blackheath, Feb.
22, 1768. His principal publication was a collection of
what he called liberty-tracts, first published in 2 vols. 1752,
under the title of “The pillars of Priestcraft and Orthodoxy shaken.
” In who has
been made a sacrifice to proud bigots, religious rogues,
and psalm-singing hypocrites:
” and flatters himself that
his subscribers will “enable him to express his utter contempt, and everlasting abhorrence of them all.
” To this
meek wish, he adds an assurance that the *' names of the
subscribers shall not be printed." This edition appeared
after his death, and was published for the benefit of his
family, along with a-new edition of Milton’s Eikonoclastes,
and his manuscript sermons and papers.
ystem of it, which should be conformable to the doctrine of St. Thomas. This was what engaged father Baron to undertake the works which he wrote upon that subject. He
, a learned father
of the Romish church, and a monk of the Benedictine order, was born at Martres in the diocese of Rieux in Gascony, and entered into the order of the preaching friars
at Toulouse in 1622. He taught divinity several years
with applause in the convent of the same city, and was
made prior there; as he was likewise at Avignon, and in
the general novitiate of the suburb of St. Germain at Paris.
He was definitor for his province in the general chapter
held in 1656, in which he presided at the theses dedicated
to pope Alexander VII. which gained him the esteem of all
the city and his whole order. He was present at the assembly, in which the pope ordered the definitors and
fathers of the chapter to be told, from him, that he was
extremely grieved to see the Christian morality sunk into
such a deplorable relaxation, as some of the new casuists
had reduced it to, and that he exhorted them to compose
another system of it, which should be conformable to the
doctrine of St. Thomas. This was what engaged father
Baron to undertake the works which he wrote upon that
subject. He was again chosen provincial; and afterwards
sent by the father general as commissary to Portugal, upon
important affairs, which he managed with such success,
that the queen, the court, and all the monks gave testimony of his merit by a public act. He returned to Paris
to the general novitiate, and died there, Jan. 21, 1674,
aged seventy years. Besides several Latin poems, which
he left as instances of his capacity in polite literature, he
published the following works: 1. “Theologia Moralis,
”
Paris, Libri
Apologetici contra Theophilum Rainaudum,
” Paris, Mens sancti Augustini & Thorn ae de
Gratia & Libertate,
” Ethica Christiana,
”
Paris, Responsio ad Librum Cardense,
” ibid, in 8vo. 6. “L'Heresie Convaincue,
” Paris,
Panegyriques des Saints,
” ibid.
, by privy seal, dated at St. James’s, June 10, and by patent at Dublin, July 1, 1720, to create him baron Barrington of Newcastle, and viscount Barrington of Ardglass.
, first lord viscount
Harrington, a nobleman of considerable learning, and
author of several books, was the youngest son of Benjamin
Shute, merchant (youngest son of Francis Sbute, of Upton, in the county of Leicester, esq.) by a daughter of the
Kev. Jos. Caryl, author of the commentary on Job. He
was born at Theobalds in Hertfordshire, in 1678, and received part of his education at Utrecht, as appears from a
Latin oration which he delivered at that university, and
published there in 1698, in 4to, under the following title
“Oratio de studio Philosophise conjungendo cum studio
Juris Roman!; habita in inclyta Academia Trajectina Kalendis Junii, 1698, a Johanne Shute, Anglo, Ph. D. et
L. A. M.
” He published also three other academical exercises; viz. 1. “Exercitatio Physica, de Ventis,
” Utrecht,
Dissertatio Philosophica, de Theocratia
morali,
” Utrecht, Dissertatio Philosophica Inauguralis, de Theocratia civili,
” Utrecht, An essay upon the
interest of England, in respect to Protestants dissenting
from the Established Church,
” 4to. This was reprinted two
years after, with considerable alterations and enlargements,
and with the title of “The interest of England considered,
”
&c. Some time after this he published another piece in.
4to, entitled “The rights of Protestant Dissenters,
” in
two parts. During the prosecution of his studies in the
law, he was applied to by queen Anne’s whig ministry, at
the instigation of lord Sorners, to engage the Presbyterians in Scotland to favour the important measure then in
agitation, of an union of the two kingdoms. Flattered at
the age of twenty-four, by an application which shewed
the opinion entertained of his abilities, and influenced by
the greatest lawyer and statesman of the age, he readily
sacrificed the opening prospects of his profession, and undertook the arduous employment. The happy execution
of it was rewarded, in 1708, by the place of commissioner
of the customs, from which he was removed by the Tory
administration in 1711, for his avowed opposition to their
principles and conduct. How high Mr. Shute’s character
stood in the estimation even of those who differed most
widely from him in religious and political sentiments, apyears from the testimony borne to it by Dr. Swift, who
writes thus to archbishop Kitig, in a letter dated London,
Nov. 30, 1708. “One Mr. Shute is named for secretary
to lord Wharton. He is a young man, but reckoned the
shrewdest head in England, and the person in whom the
Presbyterians chiefly confide; and if money be necessary
towards the good work, it is reckoned he can command as
far as 100,000l. from the body of the dissenters here. As
to his principles, he is a moderate man, frequenting the
church and the meeting indifferently.
” In the reign of
queen Anne, John Wildman, of Becket, in the county of
Berks, esq. adopted him for his son, after the Roman custom, and settled his large estate upon him, though he was
no relation, and said to have been but slightly acquainted
with him. Some years after, he had another considerable
estate left him by Francis Harrington, of Tofts, esq. who
had married his tirst cousin, and died without issue. This
occasioned him to procure an act of parliament, pursuant
to the deed of settlement, to assume the name and bear the
arms of Barrington. On the accession of king George
he was chosen member of parliament for the town of Berwick-upon-Tvveed. July 5, 1717, he had a reversionary
grant of the office of master of the rolls in Ireland, which.
he surrendered Dec. 10, 1731. King George was also
pleased, by privy seal, dated at St. James’s, June 10, and
by patent at Dublin, July 1, 1720, to create him baron
Barrington of Newcastle, and viscount Barrington of Ardglass. In 1722 he was again returned to parliament as
member for the town of Berwick; but in 1723, the house
of commons, taking into consideration the affair of the Harburgh lottery, a very severe and unmerited censure of expulsion was passed upon his lordship, as sub-governor of
the Harburgh company, under the prince of Wales.
to promote him. Accordingly, on the 5th of August 1634, he obtained a grant of the office of second baron of the exchequer of Ireland, to hold during pleasure, with such
, lord Santry, descended from a Welch
family, was the son of a merchant in Dublin, and educated in the profession of the law. When admitted at the
bar, he practised for some years with great reputation and
success. In 1629, the king conferred upon him the office
of his majesty’s serjeant at law, for the kingdom of Ireland,
at a yearly fee of twenty pounds ten shillings sterling, and
in as full a manner as the same office was granted before
to sir John Brereton, knt.; and lord Wentworth, afterwards earl of Strafford and lord deputy of Ireland, soon
discovered his abilities, took him under his protection,
and laid hold of the first opportunity he had to promote
him. Accordingly, on the 5th of August 1634, he obtained a grant of the office of second baron of the exchequer of Ireland, to hold during pleasure, with such
fees, rewards, and profits, as sir Robert Oglethorpe, sir
Lawrence Parsons, sir Gerard Lowther, or any other second baron, did or ought to receive; and he soon after
received the honour of knighthood. He obtained this favour, notwithstanding a powerful recommendation from
England in behalf of another; and it was merely the fruit
of the lord Wentworth’s friendship, of which he had occasion, soon after, of making a public acknowledgement.
After the year 1640, when the parliament of Ireland were
about to send over a committee of their body to England,
to impeach the earl of Stratford, he joined all his weight
and interest with sir James Ware, and other members of
the house of commons, to oppose those measures; though
the torrent was so violent, that it was fruitless, nor do we
hear much of our baron during the long course of the rebellion, till a little before the restoration of king Charles II.
in the year 1660, when he was appointed chairman of the
convention, which voted his majesty’s restoration without
any previous conditions, in which resolution, no doubt, he
was instrumental, since we find his majesty took his merit
into consideration a very short time after. For on the
17th of November that year, the king issued a privy seal
for advancing him to the office of chief-justice in the king’s
bench in Ireland, and another on the 18th of December
following, in consideration of his eminent fidelity and
zeal shewn in his majesty’s service, for creating him lord
baron of San try, in the kingdom of Ireland, to him and the
heirs male of his body; and he was soon after called to
the privy council. He died in March 1672, and was buried in Christ church, Dublin. His only publication was,
“The case of Tenures upon the commission of defective
titles, argued by all the judges of Ireland, with the resolution, and reasons of their resolution,
” Dublin,
proposed by sir Orlando Bridgman, lord keeper of the great seal, and countenanced by the lord chief baron Hale, for a comprehension of such of the dissenters as could
, an eminent nonconformist divine of
the seventeenth century, was born in November 1625,
and after a suitable school education, was sent to Cambridge, where he was admitted of Emanuel college, from
which he removed to King’s, in 1644. He commenced
bachelor of arts in 1647, and applying himself to the study
of divinity, became a distinguished preacher among the
Presbyterians. He was afterwards appointed vicar of
St. Dunstan’s in the West, London; and joined with several other divines in preaching a morning exercise at Cripplegate church. At this exercise Dr. Tillotson preached,
in September 1661, the first sermon which was ever
printed by him. Upon the restoration of Charles II.
Mr. Bates was made one of his majesty’s chaplains; and,
in the November following, was admitted to the degree of
doctor in divinity in the university of Cambridge, by royal
mandate. The king’s letter to this purpose was dated on
the 9th of that month. About the same time, he was
offered the deanery of Lichfield and Coventry, which he
refused; and it is said that he might afterwards have been
raised to any bishopric in the kingdom, if he would have
conformed to the established church. Dr. Bates was one
of the commissioners at the Savoy conference in 1660, for
reviewing the public liturgy, and was concerned in drawing
up the exceptions against the Common Prayer. He was,
likewise, chosen on the part of the Presbyterian minfoters,
together with Dr. Jacomb and Mr. Baxter, to manage the
dispute with Dr. Pearson, afterwards bishop of Chester,
Dr. Gunning, afterwards bishop of Ely, and Dr. Sparrow,
afterwards bishop of Ely. In 1665, he took the oath required of the nonconformists by the act commonly called
the Five Mile Act, and which had passed in the parliament
held that year at Oxford, on account of the plague being
in London. When, about January 1667-8, a treaty
was proposed by sir Orlando Bridgman, lord keeper of
the great seal, and countenanced by the lord chief baron
Hale, for a comprehension of such of the dissenters as
could be brought into the communion of the church, and
for a toleration of the rest, Dr. Bates was one of the divines
who, on the Presbyterian side, were engaged in drawing
up a scheme of the alterations and concessions desired by
that party. He was concerned, likewise, in another fruitless attempt of the same kind, which was made in 1674.
His good character recommended him to the esteem and
acquaintance of lord keeper Bridgman, lord chancellor
Finch, and his son, the earl of Nottingham. Dr. Tillotson had such an opinion of his learning and temper, that it
became the ground of a friendship between them, which
continued to the death of that excellent prelate, and Dr.
Bates, with great liberality, used his interest with the archbishop, in procuring a pardon for Nathaniel lord Crewe,
bishop of Durham, who, for his conduct in the ecclesiastical commission, had been excepted out of the act of
indemnity, which passed in 1690. When the dissenters presented their address to king William and queen Mary, on
their accession to the throne, the two speeches to their
majesties were delivered hy Dr. Bates, who was much respected by that monarch; and queen Mary often entertained herself in her closet with his writings. His residence, during the latter part of his life, was at Hackney,
where he preached to a respectable society of Protestant
dissenters, in an ancient irregular edifice in Mare-street,
which was pulled down in 1773. He was also one of the
Tuesday lecturers at Salter’s hall. He died at Hackney,
July 14, 1699, in the 74th year of his age. After his death,
his works, which had been separately printed, were collected into one volume fol. besides which a posthumous
piece of his appeared in 8vo, containing some “Sermons
on the everlasting rest of the Saints.
” He wrote, likewise,
in conjunction with Mr. Howe, a prefatory epistle to Mr.
Chaffy’s treatise of the Sabbath, on its being reprinted;
and another before lord Stair’s vindication of the Divine
Attributes. Dr. Bates is universally understood to have
been the politest writer among the nonconformists of the
seventeenth century. It is reported, that when his library
came to be disposed of, it was found to contain a great
number of romances; but, adds his biographer, it should
be remembered that the romances of that period, though
absurd in several respects, had a tendency to invigorate
(who died in 1794) several years chancellor of England, and promoted to the peerage by the title of baron Apsley. He died, after a few days illness, at his seat near
In 1772, he was advanced to the dignity of earl Bathurst. He lived to see his eldest surviving son, the second earl Bathurst (who died in 1794) several years chancellor of England, and promoted to the peerage by the title of baron Apsley. He died, after a few days illness, at his seat near Cirencester, Sept. 16, 1775, in his ninety-first year.
d by unjustly converting to his own use an estate, which he held in trust for the natural son of the baron of Vescey. He procured the translation of the body of St. William,
, bishop of Durham in the reigns of Edward I. and II. was advanced, with
the king’s consent, from the archdeaconry of Durham and
other preferments to the bishopric. Of his extraction and
education we have no account. He was elected by the
monks on the 9th of July 1283, and consecrated, in the
presence of the king and several of the nobles, by William
Wicwane, archbishop of York, on the 9th of January following. At the time of his consecration, the archbishop,
having had a dispute, during the vacancy of the see, with
the chapter of Durham, obliged the prior to go out of the
church; and the next day enjoined the new bishop, upon
his canonical obedience, to excommunicate the superior
and several of the monks: but Bek refused to obey the
archbishop, saying, “I was yesterday consecrated their
bishop, and shall 1 excommunicate them to-day? 110 obedience shall force me to this.
” He was enthroned on
Christmas eve,
bout the middle of the sixteenth. Sir Robert was speaker of the house of commons, 14 Eliz. and chief baron of the exchequer; and caught his death at the black assize at
, an English antiquary, was son of
Beaupré Bell, esq. of Beaupré-hall in Upwell and Outwell
in Clackclose hundred, Norfolk, where the Beaupré family
had settled early in the fourteenth century, and enjoyed the
estate by the name of Beaupré (or de Bello prato) till sir
Robert Bell intermarried with them about the middle of
the sixteenth. Sir Robert was speaker of the house of
commons, 14 Eliz. and chief baron of the exchequer; and
caught his death at the black assize at Oxford, 1577.
Beaupr Bell, his fourth lineal descendant, married Margaret, daughter of sir Anthony Oldfield of Spalding, bart. who
died 1720, and by whom he had issue his namesake the
subject of this article, and two daughters, of whom the
youngest married William Graves, esq. of Fulborn in Cambridgeshire, who thereby inherited the family estate near
Spalding, with the site of the abbey. Mr. Bell, junior, was
educated at Westminster school, admitted of Trinity-college, Cambridge, 1723, and soon commenced a genuine
and able antiquary. He made considerable collections of
church notes in his own and the neighbouring counties, all
which he bequeathed to the college where he received his
education. Mr. Biomfield acknowledges his obligations to
him for collecting many evidences, seals, and drawings, of
great use to him in his “History of Norfolk.
”
In March 14, 1664, he was advanced to the degree of a baron, by the title of Lord Arlington of Arlington in Middlesex, and
In March 14, 1664, he was advanced to the degree of a
baron, by the title of Lord Arlington of Arlington in Middlesex, and in 1670, was one of the cabinet council, distinguished by the title of the Cabal, and one of those
ministers, who advised the shutting up of the exchequer.
April 22, 1672, he was created viscount Thetford and
earl of Arlington and on the 15th of June following, was
made knight of the garter. On the 22d of the same month
he was sent to Utrecht, with the duke of Buckingham and
lord Hallifax, as ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiaries, to meet jointly with such as should be appointed by the king of France, and with the deputies from
the States-General, but this negociation had no great effect. In April 1673, he was appointed one of the three
plenipotentiaries from the court of Great Britain to Cologne, in order to mediate a peace between the emperor
and king of France. In January following, the house of
commons resolving to attack him, as well as the dukes of
Lauderdale and Buckingham, who were likewise members
of the Cabal, the last endeavoured to clear himself by casting all the odium upon the earl of Arlington; who being
admitted to make his defence in that house, answered some
parts of the duke of Buckingham’s speech, but was so far
from giving them satisfaction with regard to his own conduct, that they immediately drew up articles of impeachment against him, in which he was charged to have been a
constant and vehement promoter of popery and popish
councils; to have been guilty of many undue practices in
order to promote his own greatness; to have embezzled
and wasted the treasure of the nation; and to have falsely
and traiterously bet ayed the important trust reposed in
him, as a counsellor and principal secretary of state. Upon this he appeared before the house of commons, and
spoke much more than was expected; excusing himself,
though without blaming the king. This had so good an
effect, that though he, as secretary of state, was more exposed than any other, by the many warrants and orders
which he had signed; yet he was acqu.tted by a small majority. But the care, which he took to preserve himself,
and his success in it, lost him his high favour; with the
king, as the duke of York was greatly offended with him;
for which reason he quitted his post, and was made lord
chamberlain on the lith of September 1671-, with this
public reason assigned, that it was in recompence of his
long and faithful service, and particularly for having performed the office of principal secretary of state for the
space of twelve years to his majesty’s great satisfaction.
But finding, that his interest began sensibly to decline,
while that of the earl of Danby increased, who succeeded
lord CiiHord in the office of lord high treasurer, which had
ever been the height of lord Arlington’s ambition, he conceived an implacable hatred against that earl, and used his
utmost effort* to supplant him, though in vain. For, upon
his return from his unsuccessful journey to Holland in
1674-5, his credit was so much sunk, that several persons
at court took the liberty to mimic his person and behaviour,
as had been formerly done against lord chancellor Clarendon; and it became a common jest for some courtier to
put a black patch upon his nose, and strut about with a
white staff in his hand, in order to divert the king. One
reason of his majesty’s disgust to him is thought to have
been the earl’s late inclining towards the popular opinions,
and especially his apparent zealous proceedings against
the papists, while the court knew him to be of their religion in his heart, [n confirmation of this a remarkable
story is told; that col. Richard Talbot, afterwards earl of
Tyrconnel, having been some time absent from the court,
upon his return found lord Arlington’s credit extremely
low; and seeing him one day acted by a person with a
patch and a staff, he took occasion to expostulate this matter with the king, with whom he was very familiar, remonstrating, how very hard it was, that poor Harry Ben net
should be thus used, after he had so long and faithfully
served his majesty, and followed him every where in his
exile. The king hereupon began to complain too, declaring what cause he had to be dissatisfied with his conduct, “who had of late behaved himself after a strange
manner; for, not content to come to prayers, as others
did, he must be constant at sacraments too.
” “Why,
”
said colonel Taibot interrupting, “does not your majestydo the same thing?
” “God’s fish,
” replied the king with
some warmth, “I hope there is a difference between Harry
Bennet and me.
” However, in
bearing date the 9th of April 1689, two clays before the king and queen’s coronation, he was created baron of Cirencester, viscount Woodstock, and earl of Portland. In
, earl of Portland, &c. one of the greatest statesmen of his time, and
the first that advanced his family to the dignity of the
English peerage, was a native of Holland, of an ancient
and noble family in the province of Guelderland. After a
liberal education, he was promoted to be page of honour
to William, then prince of Orange (afterwards king William III. of England), in which station his behaviour and
address so recommended him to the favour of his master,
that he preferred him to the post of gentleman of his bedchamber. In this capacity he accompanied the prince into
England, in the year 1670, where, going to visit the university of Oxford, he was, together with the prince, created
doctor of civil law. In 1672, the prince of Orange being
made captain-general of the Dutch forces, and soon after
Stadtholder, M. Bentinck was promoted, and had a share
in his good fortune, being made colonel and captain of the
Dutch regiment of guards, afterwards esteemed one of the
finest in king William’s service, and which behaved with
the greatest gallantry in the wars both in Flanders and
Ireland. In 1675, the prince falling ill of the small-pox,
M. Bentinck had an opportunity of signalizing his love and
affection for his master in an extraordinary manner, and
thereby of obtaining his esteem and friendship, by one of
the most generous actions imaginable: for the small-pox
not rising kindly upon the prince, his physicians judged it
necessary that some young person should lie in the same
bed with him, imagining that the natural heat of another
would expel the disease. M. Bentinck, though he had
never had the small-pox, resolved to run this risque, and
accordingly attended the prince during the whole course
of his illness, both day and night, and his highness said
afterwards, that he believed M. Bentinck never slept; for
in sixteen days and nights, he never called once that he
was not answered by him. M. Bentinck, however, upon
the prince’s recovery, was immediately seized with the
same distemper, attended with a great deal of danger, but
recovered soon enough to attend his highness into the field,
where he was always next his person; and his courage and
abilities answered the great opinion his highness had formed of him, and from this time he employed him in his most
secret and important affairs. In 1677, M. Bentinck was
sent by the prince of Orange into England, to solicit a
match with the princess Mary, eldest daughter of James,
at that time duke of York (afterwards king James II.) which
was soon after concluded. And in 1685, upon the duke
of Monmouth’s invasion of this kingdom, he was sent over
to king James to offer him his master’s assistance, both of
his troops and person, to head them against the rebels,
but, through a misconstruction put on his message, his
highness’s offer was rejected by the king. In the year
1688, when the prince of Orange intended an expedition
into England, he sent M. Bentinck, on the elector of Brandenburgh'a death, to the new elector, to communicate to
him his design upon England, and to solicit his assistance.
In this negociation M. Bentinck was so successful as to
bring back a more favourable and satisfactory answer than
the prince had expected; the elector having generously
granted even more than was asked of him. M. Bentincfc
had also a great share in the revolution; and in this difficult and important affair, shewed all the prudence and sagacity of the most consummate statesman. It was he that
was applied to, as the person in the greatest confidence
with the prince, to manage the negociations that were set
on foot, betwixt his highness and the English nobility and
gentry, who had recourse to him to rescue them from the
danger they were in. He was also two months constantly
at the Hague, giving the necessary orders for the prince’s
expedition, which was managed by him with such secrecy,
that nothing was suspected, nor was there ever so great a
design executed in so short a time, a transport fleet of
500 vessels having been hired in three days. M. Bentinck
accompanied the prince to England, and after king James’s
abdication, during the interregnum, he held the first place
among those who composed the prince’s cabinet at that
critical time, and that, in such a degree of super-eminence,
as scarcely left room for a second: and we may presume
he was not wanting in his endeavours to procure the crown
for the prince his master; who, when he had obtained it,
was as forward on his part, in rewarding the faithful and
signal services of M. Bentinck, whom he appointed groom
of the stole, privy purse, first gentleman of the royal bedchamber, and first commoner upon the list of privy counsellors. He was afterwards naturalised by act of parliament; and, by letters patent bearing date the 9th of April
1689, two clays before the king and queen’s coronation, he
was created baron of Cirencester, viscount Woodstock,
and earl of Portland. In 1690, the earl of Portland,
with many others of the English nobility, attended king
William to Holland, where the earl acted as envoy for his majesty, at the grand congress held at the
Hague the same year. In 1695, king William made this
nobleman a grant of the lordships of Denbigh, Bromtield,
Yale, and other lands, containing many thousand acres, in
the principality of Wales, but these being part of the
demesne thereof, the grant was opposed, and the house
of commons addressed the king to put a stop to the passing
it, which his majesty accordingly complied with, and recalled the grant, promising, however, to find some other
way of shewing his favour to lord Portland, who, he said,
had deserved it by long and faithful services. It was to
this nobleman that the plot for assassinating king William
in 1695 was first discovered; and his lordship, by his indefatigable zeal, was very instrumental in bringing to light
the whole of that execrable scheme. The same year another affair happened, in which he gave such a shining proof
of the strictest honour and integrity, as has done immortal
honour to his memory. The parliament having taken into
consideration the affairs of the East India company, who,
through mismanagement and corrupt dealings, were in
danger of losing their charter, strong interest was made
with the members of both houses, and large sums distributed, to procure a new establishment of their company by
act of parliament. Among those noblemen whose interest
was necessary to bring about this affair, lord Portland’s was
particularly courted, and an extraordinary value put upon
it, much beyond that of any other peer; for he was offered no less than the sum of 50,000l. for his vote, and his
endeavours with the king to favour the design. But his
lordship treated this offer with all the contempt it deserved, telling the person employed in it, that if he ever
so much as mentioned such a thing to him again, he would
for ever be the company’s enemy, and give them all the
opposition in his power. This is an instance of public
spirit not often mst with, and did not pass unregarded;
for we find it recorded in an eloquent speech of a member
of parliament, who related this noble action to the house
of commons, much to the honour of lord Portland. It was
owing to this nobleman, also, that the Banquetting-house at
Whitehall was saved, when the rest of the Palace was destroyed by fire. In February 1696, he was created a knight
of the garter, at a chapter held at Kensington, and was installed at Windsor on the 25th of March, 1697, at which
time he was also lieutenant-general of his majesty’s forces:
for his lordship’s services were not confined to the cabinet;
he likewise distinguished himself in the field on several
occasions, particularly at the battle of the Boyne, battle of
Landen, where he was wounded, siege of Limerick, Namur, &c. As his lordship thus attended his royal master
in his wars both in Ireland and Flanders, and bore a principal command there, so he was honoured by his majesty
with the chief management of the famous peace of Ryswick; having, in some conferences with the marshal
BoufHers, settled the most difficult and tender point, and
which might greatly have retarded the conclusion of the
peace. This was concerning the disposal of king James;
the king of France having solemnly promised, in an open
declaration to all Europe, that he would never lay down his
arms tilt he had restored the abdicated king to his throne,
and consequently could not own king William, without
abandoning him. Not long after the conclusion of the
peace, king William nominated the earl of Portland to be
his ambassador extraordinary to the court of France; an,
honour justly due to him, for the share he had in bringing
about the treaty of Hysvvick; and the king could not have
fixed upon a person better qualified to support his high
character with dignity and magnificence. The French
likewise had a great opinion of his lordship’s capacity and
merit; and no ambassador was ever so respected and caressed in France as his lordship was, who, on his part, filled
his employment with equal honour to the king, the British
nation, and himself. According to Prior, however, the
earl of Portland went on this embassy with reluctance, having been for some time alarmed with the growing favour of
a rival in king William’s affection, namely, Keppel, afterwards created earl of Albermarle, a DutchmLin, who had
also been page to his majesty. “And,
” according to Prior,
“his jealousy was not ill-grounded for Albemarle so prevailed in lord Portland’s absence, that he obliged him, by
several little affronts, to lay down all his employments,
after which he was never more in favour, though the king
always shewed an esteem for him.
” Bishop Burnet says
“That the earl of Portland observed the progress of the
king’s favour to the lord Albemaiie with great uneasiness
they grew to be not only incompatible, as all rivals for favour must be, but to hate and oppose one another in every
thing; the one (lord Portland) had more of the confidence,
the other more of the favour. Lord Portland, upon his
return from his embassy to France, could not bear the visible superiority in favour that the other was growing up to;
so he took occasion, from a small preference given lord
Albemarle in prejudice of his own post, as groom of the
stole, to withdraw from court, and lay down all his employments. The king used all possible means to divert
him from this resolution, but could not prevail on him to
alter it: he, indeed, consented to serve his majesty still in
his state affairs, but would not return to any post in the
household.
” This change, says bishop Kennet, did at first
please the English and Dutch, the earl of Albermarle having cunningly made several powerful friends in both nations, who, out of envy to lord Portland, were glad to see
another in his place; and it is said that lord Albemarle was
supported by the earl of Sutherland and Mrs. Villiers to
pull down lord Portland: however, though the first became
now the reigning favourite, yet the latter, says bishop
Kennet, did ever preserve the esteem and affection of king
William. But king William was not one of those princes
who are governed by favourites. He was his own minister
in all the greater parts of government, as those of war and
peace, forming alliances and treaties, and he appreciated
justly the merit of those whom he employed in his service.
It is highly probable, therefore, that lord Portland never
Jost the king’s favourable opinion, although he might
be obliged to give way to a temporary favourite. The
earl of Albemarle had been in his majesty’s service from
a youth, was descended of a noble family in Guelderland, attended king William into England as his page of
honour, and being a young lord of address and temper,
with a due mixture of heroism, it is no wonder his majesty took pleasure in his conversation in the intervals of
state business, and in making his fortune, who had so
long followed his own. Bishop Burnet says, it is a difficult matter to account for the reasons of the favour shewn
by the king, in the highest degree, to these two lords,
they being in all respects, not only of different, but of
quite opposite characters; secrecy and fidelity being the
only qualities in which they did in any sort agree. Lord
Albetnarle was very cheerful and gay, had all the arts of
a court, was civil to all, and procured favours for many;
but was so addicted to his pleasures that he could scarcely
submit to attend on business, and had never yet distinguished himself in any thing. On the other hand, lord
Portland was of a grave and sedate disposition, and indeed,
adds the bishop, was thought rather too cold and dry, and
had not the art of creating friends; but was indefatigable
in business, and had distinguished himself on many occasions. With another author, Mackey, his lordship has the
character of carrying himself with a very lofty mien, yet
was not proud, nor much beloved nor hated by the people.
But it is no wonder if the earl of Portland was not acceptable to the English nation. His lordship had been for ten
years entirely trusted by the king, was his chief favourite
and bosom-friend, and the favourites of kings are seldom
favourites of the people, and it must be owned king William was immoderately lavish to those he personally loved.
But as long as history has not charged his memory with
failings that might deservedly render him obnoxious to the
public, there can be no partiality in attributing this nobleman’s unpopularity partly to the above reasons, and partly
to his being a foreigner, for which he suffered not a little
from the envy and malice of his enemies, in their speeches,
libels, &c. of which there were some levelled as well
against the king as against his lordship. The same avereion, however, to foreign favourites, soon after shewed itself
against lord Albemarle, who, as he grew into power and
favour, like lord Portland, began to be looked upon with
the same jealousy; and when the king gave him the order
of the garter, in the year 1700, we are told it was generally disliked, and his majesty, to make it pass the better,
at the same time conferred the like honour on Jord Pembroke (an English nobleman of illustrious birth). Yet it
was observed, that few of the nobility graced the ceremony
of their installation with their presence, and that many
severe reflections were then made on his majesty, for giving the garter to his favourite. The king had for a long
time given the earl of Portland the entire and absolute government of Scotland; and his lordship was also employed,
in the year 1698, in the new negociation set on foot for
the succession of the Crown of Spain, called by the name
of the partition treaty > the intention of which being frustrated by the treachery of the French king, the treaty itself fell under severe censure, and was looked upon as a
fatal slip in the politics of that reign; and lord Portland
was impeached by the house of commons, in the year
1700, for advising and transacting it, as were also the
other lords concerned with him in it. This same year,
lord Portland was a second time attacked, together with
lord Albemarle, by the house of commons, when the affair of the disposal of the forfeited estates in Ireland was
under their consideration; it appearing upon inquiry, that
the king had, among many other grants, made one to lord
Woodstock (the earl of Portland’s son) of 135,820 acres of
land, and to lord Albemarle two grants, of 108,633 acres
in possession and reversion; the parliament came to a resolution to resume these grants; and also resolved, that
the advising and passing them was highly reflecting on the
king’s honour; and that the officers and instruments concerned in the procuring and passing those grants, had
highly failed in the performance of their trust and duty;
and also, that the procuring or passing exorbitant grants,
by any member now of the privy-council, or by any other
that had been a privy -counsellor, in this, or any former
reign, to his use or benefit, was a high crime and misdemeanour. To carry their resentment still farther, the
commons, immediately impeached the earls of Portland and
Albemarle, for procuring for themselves exorbitant grants.
This impeachment, however, did not succeed, and then
the commons voted an address to his majesty, that no person who was not a native of his dominions, excepting his
royal highness prince George of Denmark, should be admitted to his majesty’s councils in England or Ireland, but
this was evaded by the king’s going the very next day to
the house of lords, passing the bills that were ready, and
putting an end to the session. The partition treaty was
the last public transaction we find lord Portland engaged
in, the next year after his impeachment, 1701, having
put a period to the life of his royal and munificent master,
king William III.; but not without having shewn, even in
his last moments, that his esteem and affection for lord
Portland ended but with his life: for when his majesty
was just expiring, he asked, though with a faint voice, for
the earl of Portland, but before his lordship could come,
the king’s voice quite failed him. The earl, however,
placing his ear as near his majesty’s mouth as could be, his
lips were observed to move, but without strength to express his mind to his lordship; but, as the last testimony
of the cordial affection he bore him, he took him by the
hand, and carried it to his heart with great tenderness,
and expired soon after. His lordship had before been a
witness to, and signed his majesty’s last will and testament,
made at the Hague in 1695; and it is said, that king
William, the winter before he died, told lord Portland, as
they were walking together in the garden at Hampton
court, that he found his health declining very fast, and
that he could not live another summer, but charged his
lordship not to mention this till after his majesty’s death.
We are told, that at the time of the king’s death, lord
Portland was keeper of Windsor great park, and was displaced upon queen Anne’s accession to the throne: we are
not, however, made acquainted with the time when his
lordship became first possessed of that post. After king
William’s death, the earl did not, at least openly, concern
himself with public affairs, but betook himself to a retired
life, in a most exemplary way, at his seat at Bulstrode in
the county of Bucks, where he erected and plentifully
endowed a free-school; and did many other charities.
His lordship had an admirable taste for gardening, and
took great delight in improving and beautifying his own
gardens, which he made very elegant and curious. At
length, being taken ill of a pleurisy and malignant fever,
after about a week’s illness he died, November 23, 1709,
in the sixty-first year of his age, leaving behind him a very
plentiful fortune, being at that time reputed one of the
richest subjects in Europe. His corpse being conveyed to
London, was, on the third of December, carried with,
great funeral pomp, from his house in St. James’s square
to Westminster-abbey, and there interred in the vault
under the east window of Henry the Seventh’s chapel.
e of Rousseau. 2. “Apologie de la Religion Chretienne contre l'auteur du Christianisme devoid,” (the baron Holbach) Paris, 1769, 2 vols. 12mo. 3. “Examen du Materialisme,
, a French writer of
considerable note, was born at Darnay in Lorraine, December 31, 1718. In the career of promotion he was first curate of Flangebouche, a small village in Frunche-Comte,
then professor of theology, principal of the college of Besai^on, a canon of the church of Paris, and confessor to
the king’s aunts. Throughout life he was one of the most
strenuous opponents of the modern philosophers of France.
He acquired an early name by some essays on various literary subjects, to which the prizes were adjudged at Besanon and his reputation was considerably heightened by his
very ingenious and plausible work, entitled “Elements
primitifs des Langues, &c.
” Paris, Origine des Dieux du Pagunisme et
les sens des Fables decouvert, par une explication suivie
des Poesies d'Hesiode,
” Paris, 1767, 2 vols. 12mo. When
about the same time he found religion attacked in every
quarter by a combination of men of talents in France, he
determined to endeavour to counteract their schemes.
With this view he wrote “La Certitude des Preuves du
Christianisme,
” Examen critique des Apologistes de la religion Chretienne,
” improperly attributed to Freret; and it was allowed
to have been written with much sense, precision, and moderation. This work, which occasioned more friends and
more enemies to Bergier than any other, passed through
three editions in the same year, besides being translated
into Italian and Spanish. Voltaire, to whom the popularity
of any writings of this tendency must have been peculiarly
unpleasant, affected to answer it in his “Conseils raisonables,
” written with his usual art, but more remarkable for
wit than argument. Bergier answered the “Conseils,
”
the only instance in which he noticed any of his adversaries
in public. He had another more contemptible antagonist,
the noted Anacharsis Cloots, who published what he, and
perhaps no man else, would have called “Certitude des
Preuves du Mahometisme.
” About this time the clergy of
France, sensible of Bergier’s services, gave him a pension
of two thousand livres, and offered him some valuable benefices, but he would only accept of a canonry in Notre
Dame, and it was even against his inclination that he was
afterwards appointed confessor to the mesdames, the last
king’s aunts. Free from ambition, modest and simple in
dress and manners, he was desirous only of a retired life,
and at Paris he lived as he had done in the country, in the
midst of his books. This study produced, successively,
1. “Le Deisme refute par lui-meme,
” Paris, Apologie de la Religion Chretienne contre l'auteur du Christianisme devoid,
” (the baron Holbach) Paris, Examen du
Materialisme, ou refutation du systeme de la Nature,
” Paris, Traite historique et dogmatique de la vraie Religion, &c.
” Paris, Discours sur le
Manage des Protestants,
” Observations
surle Divorce,
” ibid. Encyclopedic methodique,
” 3 vols. 4to. The abbé“Barruel says,
that when this work was first undertaken, some deference
was still paid to religion, and Bergier thought it incumbent
on him to yield to the pressing solicitations of his friends,
lest the part treating of religion should fall into the hands
of its enemies, but in this they were deceived. Bergier,
indeed, performed his task as might have been expected
but in other parts of the work the compilers exceeded their
predecessors in licentious sentiments, and at the same time
availed themselves of the name of Bergier as a cloak. M.
Barbier attributes to our author the sketch of Metaphysics
inserted in the
” Cours d‘etude de l’usage de l'Ecole militaire." In all his works there is a logical arrangement and
precision, and the only objection the French critics have is
to his style, which is sometimes rather diffuse. He died at
Paris, April 9, 1790. He was a member of the academy of
Besangon, and an associate of that of inscriptions and belleslettres.
n to Germany they visited Berlin, where Mr. Berkenhout met with a near relation of his father’s, the baron de Bielfeldt, a nobleman then in high estimation with the late
, an English miscellaneous
writer, was born, about 1730, at Leeds in Yorkshire, and
educated at the grammar-school in that town. His father,
Xvho was a merchant, and a native of Holland, intended him
for trade and with that view sent him at an early age to
Germany, in order to learn foreign languages. After continuing a few years in that country, he made the tour of
Europe in company with one or more English noblemen.
On their return to Germany they visited Berlin, where
Mr. Berkenhout met with a near relation of his father’s,
the baron de Bielfeldt, a nobleman then in high estimation
with the late king of Prussia; distinguished as one of the
founders of the royal academy of sciences at Berlin, and
universally known as a politician and a man of letters.
With this relation our young traveller fixed his abode for
some time; and, regardless of his original. destination, became a cadet in a Prussian regiment of foot. He soon obtained an ensign’s commission; and, in the space of a few
years, was advanced to the rank of captain. He quitted
the Prussian service on the declaration of war between
England and France in 1756, and was honoured with the
command of a company in the service of his native country. When peace was concluded in 1760, he went to
Edinburgh, and commenced student of physic. During
his residence at that university he compiled his “Clavis
Anglica Lingux Botanicæ
” a book of singular utility to
all students of botany, and at that time the only botanical
lexicon in our language, and particularly expletive of the
Linnsean system. It was not, however, published until
1765.
in 1765, as we learn from his “Dissertatio medica inauguralis de Podagra,” dedicated to his relation baron de Bielfeldt. Returning to England, Dr. Berkenhout settled at
Having continued some years at Edinburgh, Mr. Berkenhout went to the university of Leyden, where he took
the degree of doctor of physic, in 1765, as we learn from his
“Dissertatio medica inauguralis de Podagra,
” dedicated to
his relation baron de Bielfeldt. Returning to England,
Dr. Berkenhout settled at Isleworth in Middlesex, and in
1766, published his “Pharmacopoeia Medici,
” 12mo, the
third edition of which was printed in Outlines of the Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland,
” vol. I.; vol. II. appeared in 1770, and vol.
III. in 1771. The encouragement this work met with afforded at least a proof that something of the kind was
wanted. The three volumes were reprinted together in.
1773, and in 1788 were again published in 2 vols. 8vo,
under the title of “Synopsis of the Natural History of
Great Britain, &c.
” In Dr. Cadogan’s dissertation on the Gout, examined and refuted
”
and in Biographia Literaria, or a Biographical
History of Literature; containing the lives of English,
Scotch, and Irish authors, from the dawn of letters in these
kingdoms to the present time, chronologically and classically arranged,
” 4to, vol.1, the only volume which appeared. The lives are very short, and the author frequently
introduces sentiments hostile to religious establishments
and doctrines, which could not be very acceptable to English readers. The dates and facts, however, are given
with great accuracy, and in many of the lives he profited
by the assistance of George Steevens, esq. the celebrated
commentator on Shakspeare. This was followed by “A
treatise on Hysterical Diseases, translated from the French.
”
In Lucubrations on
Ways and Means, inscribed to lord North,
” proposing certain taxes, some of which were adopted by that minister,
and some afterwards by Mr. Pitt. Dr. Berkenhout’s friends
at that time appear to have taken some pains to point him
out as an inventor of taxes. His next work was “An essay
en the Bite of a -Mad Dog, in which the claim to infallibility of the principal preservative remedies against the
Hydrophobia is examined.
” In the year following Dr.
Berkenhout published his “Symptomatology
” a book
which is too universally known to require any recommendation. In 1788, appeared “First lines of the theory and
practice of Philosophical Chemistry,
” dedicated to Mr.
Eden, afterwards lord Auckland, whom the doctor accompanied to America. Of this book it is sufficient to say,
that it exhibits a satisfactory display of the present state
of chemistry. His last publication was “Letters on Education, to his son at Oxford,
” Lives of the Admirals,
” 4 vols. 8vo and once printed
“Proposals for a history of Middlesex, including London,
”
4 vols. fol. which, as the design dropt, were never circulated. There is also reason to suppose him the author of
certain humorous publications, in prose and verse, to which
he did not think fit to prefix his name, and of a translation
from the Swedish language, of the celebrated count Tessin’s letters to the late king of Sweden. It is dedicated to
the prince of Wales, his present majesty of Great Britain
and was, we believe, Mr. Berkenhout’s first publication.
He died the 3d of April 1791, aged 60.
n, with count de Truchses, Prussian ambassador to the court of St. James’s, but discovering that the baron’s talents were not calculated for diplomatic affairs, h, in
, was born at Hamburgh March 31, 1717. Jn a journey which he made to Brunswick, he became acquainted with Frederick II. then prince royal, who, on coming to the throne, took him into his service, and sent him, as secretary of legation, with count de Truchses, Prussian ambassador to the court of St. James’s, but discovering that the baron’s talents were not calculated for diplomatic affairs, h, in 1745, appointed him preceptor to prince Augustus Ferdinand his brother; after that, in 1747, curator of the universities, and in 1748 he created him a baron, with the rank of privy-counsellor. The last years of his life he spent in study and retirement at Treban, in the country of Altenburgh, where he died April 5, 1770. He wrote
s,” 1763, and “Erudition universelle,” 1768, 4 vols. both translated into English by Dr. Hooper. The baron also conducted for about three years a periodical publication
2. “Progres des Allemands dans les belles-lettres,
” Amusemens dramatiques,
” Leyden,
Lettres familieres,
” Erudition universelle,
” The Hermit/' and is by some the reputed
author of the
” Memoirs of the duchess of Hanover, spouse
to George I." which is more generally attributed to baron.
Polnitz.
Sudermania, in 1731. After completing his studies at Upsal, he was engaged as tutor in the family of baron de Rndbeck, with whose son he travelled in England, France,
, a Swedish traveller of considerable note, was born in the province of Sudermania, in 1731. After completing his studies at Upsal, he was engaged as tutor in the family of baron de Rndbeck, with whose son he travelled in England, France, Italy, Germany, &c. During his residence at Paris, he applied himself eagerly to the study of the oriental languages, for which he had always had a strong predilection. On his return, Gustavus III. employed him on a voyage to Greece, Syria, and Kgypt, and at the same time appointed him titular professor of the university of Lunden. He departed accordingly in 1776 for Constantinople, where he remained some time to acquire the Turkish language and was afterwards pursuing his journey, when he was seized with the plague, and died at Salonichi, or Salonica, July 12, '1779. His letters, containing an account of his travels, were published in Swedish at Stockholm, 1778, 3 vols. 8vo. They contain many curious particulars respecting medals, manuscripts, scarce books, and some interesting anecdotes of Voltaire, whom he visited, yet he is accused of inaccuracy in many points but it ought to be added, that these letters were not intended for publication.
o the use and importance of external religion, &c.” but was not generally known to be his, until Mr. Baron, an enthusiast in controversies, republished it with Mr. Blackburne’s
, the celebrated author of
the “Confessional,
” was born at Richmond in Yorkshire,
June 9, 1705. At the age of seventeen he was admitted
pensioner of Catherine-hall, Cambridge, where his peculiar notions on civil and religious liberty rendered him obnoxious to his superiors, and occasioned the loss of a fellowship for which he was a candidate. In 1739, he was
ordained by Dr. Gooch, bishop of Norwich, at Ely chapel,
Holborn, and in a short time afterwards was inducted into
the rectory of Richmond in Yorkshire, where he resided
constantly for forty years, during which he composed all
the pieces contained in the late edition of his works, besides a multitude of smaller ones. His first appearance as
an author was on the following occasion. In 1749, the
rev. John Jones, vicar of Alconbury, near Huntingdon,
published his “Free and candid disquisitions relating to
the Church of England,
” containing many observations on
the supposed defects and improprieties in the liturgical
forms of faith and worship of the established church. As
Mr. Blackburne corresponded with this gentleman, who
had submitted the work to his perusal in manuscript, and
as there were many of his opinions in which Mr. Blackburne
coincided, it was not unnatural to suppose that he had a
hand in the publication. This, however, Mr. Blackburne
solemnly denied, and his biographer has assigned the probable reason. “The truth,
” says he, “is, Mr. Blackburne, whatever desire he might have to forward the work
of ecclesiastical reformation, could not possibly conform
his style to the milky phraseology of the ‘ Disquisitions,’
nor could he be content to have his sentiments mollified
by the gentle qualifications of Mr. Jones’s lenient pen. He
was rather (perhaps too much) inclined to look upon those
who had in their hands the means and the power of reforming
the errors, defects, and abuses, in the government, forms
of worship, faith and discipline, of the established church,
as guilty of a criminal negligence, from which they should
have been roused by sharp and spirited expostulations. He
thought it became disquisitors, with a cause in hand of
such high importance to the influence of vital Christianity,
rather to have boldly forced the utmost resentment of the
class of men to which they addressed their work, than, by
meanly truckling to their arrogance, to derive upon themselves their ridicule and contempt, which all the world
saw was the case of these gentle suggesters, and all the
return they had for the civility of their application.
” Animated by this spirit, which we are far from thinking candid or expedient, Mr. Blackburne published “An Apology,
” for the “Free and candid disquisitions,
” to which,
whatever might be its superior boldness to the “milky
phraseology
” of Mr. Jones, he yet did not venture to put
his name nor, although he was suspected to be the author,
did he meet with any of that “arrogance,
” which is attributed to those who declined adopting Mr. Jones’s scheme
of church-reformation. On the contrary, in July, 1750,
he was collated to the archdeaconry of Cleveland, and in
August following to the prebend of Bilton, by Dr. Matthew Hutton, archbishop of York, to whom he had been
for some years titular chaplain and when his friends intimated their suspicions that he would write no more “Apologies
” for such books as “Free and candid Diquisitions,
” he answered, “with a cool indifference,
” that he
had made no bargain with the archbishop for his liberty.
His next publication, accordingly, was an attack on Dr.
Butler bishop of Durham’s charge to his clergy in 1751,
which, in Mr. Blackburne’s opinion, contained some doctrines diametrically opposite to the principles on which the
protestant reformation was founded. This appeared in
1752, under the title of “A Serious Enquiry into the use
and importance of external religion, &c.
” but was not
generally known to be his, until Mr. Baron, an enthusiast
in controversies, republished it with Mr. Blackburne’s
name, in his collection, entitled “The Pillars of Priestcraft and Orthodoxy shaken.
”
when a difficulty of breathing first seized him, and afterwards gradually increased. In a letter to baron Bassand, he writes thus of himself “An imposthumation of the
His progress in physic hitherto was without any assistance from lectures, except those mentioned in anatomy,
and a few by professor Drelincourt on the theory; nor had
he yet any thoughts of declining the priesthood: amidst
mathematical, philosophical, anatomical, chemical and medical researches, he still earnestly pursued divinity. He
went to the university of Harderwick in Guelderland, and
in July 1693 was created there M. D. Upon his return to
Leyden, he still persisted in his design of engaging in the
ministry, but found an invincible obstruction to his intention. In a passage-boat where he happened to be, some
discourse was accidentally started about the doctrine of
Spinosa, as subversive of all religion and one of the passengers, who exerted himself most, opposing to this philosopher’s pretended mathematical demonstrations only the
loud invective of a blind zeal, Boerhaave asked him calmly,
“Whether he had ever read the works of the author he
decried
” The orator was at once struck dumb, and fired
with silent resentment. Another passenger whispered the
person next him, to learn Boerhaave’s name, and took it
down in his pocket-book; and as soon as he arrived at
Leyden, gave it out every where, that Boerhaave was become a Spinosist. Boerhaave, finding that such prejudices
gained ground, thought it imprudent to risque the refusal
of a licence for the pulpit, when he had so fair a prospect
of rising by physic. He now therefore applied wholly to
physic, and joined practice with reading. In 1701, he
took the office of lecturer upon the institutes of physic
and delivered an oration the 18th of May, the subject of
which was a recommendation of the study of Hippocrates:
apprehending that, either through indolence or arrogance,
this founder of physic had been shamefully neglected by
those whose authority was likely to have too great weight
with the students of medicine. He officiated as a professor,
with the title of lecturer only, till 1709, when the professorship of medicine and botany was conferred on him:
his inaugural oration was upon the simplicity of true medical science, wherein, exploding the fallacies and ostentation of alchemistical and metaphysical writers, he reinstates
medicine on the ancient foundation of observation and experiments. In a few years he enriched the physic-garden
with such a number of plants, that it was found necessary
to enlarge it to twice its original extent. In 1714, he arrived to the highest dignity in the university, the rectorship; and, at its expiration, delivered an oration on the
method of obtaining certainty in physics. Here, having
asserted our ignorance of the first principles of things, and
that all our knowledge of their qualities is derived from
experiments, he was thence led to reprehend many systems
of the philosophers, and in particular that of Des Cartes,
the idol of the times. This drew upon him the outrageous
invectives of Mr. R. Andala, a Cartesian, professor of divinity and philosophy at Franeker, who sounded the alarm,
that the church was in danger; and that the introduction
of scepticism, and even Spinosism, must be the
consequence of undermining the Cartesian system by such a
professed ignorance of the principles of things his virulence was carried to such a degree, that the governors of
the university thought themselves in honour obliged (notwithstanding Boernaave’s remonstrances to the contrary) to
insist upon his retracting his aspersions. He accordingly
made a recantation, with offers of further satisfaction to
which Boerhaave generously replied, that the most agreeable satisfaction he could receive was, that so eminent a
divine should have no more trouble on his account. In
1728, he was elected of the academy of sciences at Paris;
and, in 1730, of the royal society of London. In 1718,
he succeeded Le Mort in the professorship of chemistry
and made an oration on this subject, “That chemistry was
capable of clearing itself from its own errors.
” August
An imposthumation of
the lungs, which has daily increased for these last three
months, almost suffocates me upon the least motion if it
should continue to increase without breaking, I must sink
under it; if it should break, the event is still' dubious
happen what may, why should I be concerned since it
cannot be but according to the will of the Supreme Being,
what else should 1 desire God be praised In th mean
time, I am not wanting in the use of the most approved
remedies, in order to mitigate the disease, by promoting
maturation, but am no ways anxious about the success of
them I have lived to upwards of sixty-eight years, and
always cheerful.
” Finding also unusual pulsations of the
artery in the right side of the neck, and intermissions of
the pulse, he concluded there were polypous concretions
between the heart and lungs, with a dilatation of the vessels. Sept. 8, 1738, he wrote his case to Dr. Mortimer,
secretary of the royal society and for some days there
were flattering hopes of his recovery but they soon vanished, and he died the 23d, aged almost seventy.
rhaave’s character will not be read without interest “Fifty years are now elapsed,” says the learned baron Haller, “since I was the disciple of the immortal Boerhaave
The following anecdotes respecting an important feature
in Boerhaave’s character will not be read without interest
“Fifty years are now elapsed,
” says the learned baron
Haller, “since I was the disciple of the immortal Boerhaave but his image is continually present to my mind.
I have always before my eyes the venerable simplicity of
that great man, who possessed in an eminent degree the
power of persuasion. How often have I heard him say,
when he spoke of the precepts of the Gospel, that the Divine Teacher of it had much more knowledge of the human
heart than Socrates He particularly alluded to that sentence in the New Testament, * Whosoever looketh after
a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery
with her in his heart' for, added my illustrious master,
” the first attacks of vice are always feeble reason has
then some power over the mind. It is then in the very
moment that such thoughts occur as have a tendency to
withdraw us from our duty, that, if we with diligence suppress them, and turn our attention to something else, we
may avoid the approaching danger, and not fail into the
temptations of vice."
ethone. Upon his return to his own country, he was appointed tutor to the sons of Anthony de Vienne, baron de Clervaut, with whom he travelled into Germany and Italy.
, a famous French antiquary,
was born at Besangon, 1528, and published several collections, which tend to illustrate the Roman antiquities, on
which he had bestowed great attention, having drawn plans
of all the ancient monuments in Italy, and visited all the
antiquities of the isles of Corfu, Cephalonia, and Zante.
He went also to the Morea, and would have proceeded to
Syria, had he not been prevented by a dangerous fever,
which seized him at Methone. Upon his return to his own
country, he was appointed tutor to the sons of Anthony de
Vienne, baron de Clervaut, with whom he travelled into
Germany and Italy. He had left at Montbeliard his antiquities, which he had been collecting with so much pains;
and had the misfortune to lose them all when the people
of Lorraine ravaged Franche Comte“. He had now none
left except those which he had transported to Metz, where
he himself head retired; but as it was well known that he
intended to publish a large collection of antiquities, there
were sent to him from all parts many sketches and draughts
of old monuments, by which means he was enabled to favour the public with his work, entitled,
” De Romano?
urbis topographia et antiquitate.“It consists of four volumes in folio, which are enriched with several prints, by
Theodore de Bry and his sons, 1597 1602. He published also the lives of many famous persons, with their
portraits, entitled,
” Theatrum vitoe humanx,“divided into
four parts, in 4to: the first printed at Francfort, 1597;
the second and third in 1598; and the fourth in 1599.
His treatise,
” De divinatione et magicis praestigiis,“was
not printed till after his death, which happened at Metz,
Oct. 30, 1602. There have been two editions of it: one
at Hainan in 1611, 4to; another at Oppenheim in 1625,
folio. He wrote also a book of
” Emblems,“with de Bry’s
engravings, Francfort, 1595, 4to;
” Parnassus Biceps,“ibid, 1627, fol. a very rare book; and
” Habitus variarum
orbis gentium,“1581, fol. with plates. He published also
some
” Poemata, Epigramrnata, &c." 1574, 16mo; but
these are not so much esteemed as his other performances.
His adventure in a garden of cardinal Carpi at Rome,
shews him a genuine antiquary. This garden was full of
ancient marbles, and situated on the Mons Quirinalis.
Boissard went thither one day with his friends, and immediately parted from them, let them return home, and concealed himself in some of the alleys. He employed the
rest of the day in copying inscriptions and drawing the
monuments; and as the garden gates were shut, he staid
there all night. The next morning, the cardinal, finding
him at this work, could not imagine how a stranger should
get into his garden at an unseasonable hour; but when he
knew the reason of Boissard’s staying there all night, he
ordered him a good breakfast, and gave him leave to
copy and draw whatsoever he should think curious in his
palace.
, baron of Villars, bailif of Gex, in which office he was living in
, baron of Villars, bailif of Gex,
in which office he was living in 1618, maitre d'hotel to
queen dowager Louisa of France, was also secretary to the
marechal de Bnssac, and accompanied him into Piedmont
under Henry II. We have by him, “L‘Histoire des Guerres
de Piemont, depuis 1550 jusqu’en 1561;
” Paris,
t on his future disposition. He was maintained at school by an ancestor of Nicholas Lechmere, esq. a baron of the exchequer in the reign of king William; and in 1512,
, bishop of London, proverbial for his cruelty, was the son of an honest poor man, and born, at Hanley in Worcestershire, although some have very eagerly reported that he was the natural son of one George Savage, a priest, as if the circumstance of his birth could have had any effect on his future disposition. He was maintained at school by an ancestor of Nicholas Lechmere, esq. a baron of the exchequer in the reign of king William; and in 1512, he was entered at Broadgate-hall in Oxford, now Pembroke college. On June 12, 1519, he was admitted bachelor of the canon, and the day following bachelor of the civil law. He entered into orders about the same time, and had some employment in the diocese of Worcester; and on the 12th of July 1525, was created doctor of the canon law. He was a man of some, though not great learning, but distinguished himself chiefly by his skill and dexterity in the management of affairs, which made him be taken notice of by cardinal Wolsey, who appointed him his commissary for the faculties; and he was with this prelate at Cawood, when he was arrested for high treason. He enjoyed at once the livings of Blaydon and Cherry Burton in Yorkshire, Ripple in Worcestershire, East Dereham in Norfolk, and the prebend of Chiswick in the cathedral church of St. Paul: but the last he resigned in 1539, an of East Dereham in 1540. He was installed archdeacon of Leicester, October 17, 1535.
hthood, and two others to have the dignity of baronet conferred on them. He was also himself created baron Delamer of Dunham-Massey; and on the 30th of July, 1660, he
He was afterwards set at liberty, upon giving bail; and
being member of parliament for Chester, he was the first
of the twelve members sent by the house of commons, in
May 1660, to carry to king Charles II. the answer of that
house to his majesty’s letter, as appears by the journals of
the house of commons, May 7, 1660. And on the 13th of
July following, the house of commons ordered, that the
sum of ten thousand pounds should be conferred on him,
as a mark of respect for his eminent services, and great
sufferings for the public. In this resolution the lords afterwards concurred. It appears, that the first motion was for
twenty thousand pounds, which the house of commons
was about to agree to, had not sir George Booth himself,
in his place, requested of the house, that it might be no
more than ten; declaring, that what he had done was
purely with intention of serving his king and country, as
became him in duty to do, without view of any reward.
After the restoration, his services were also considered as
so meritorious, that the king gave him liberty to propose
six gentlemen to receive the honour of knighthood, and
two others to have the dignity of baronet conferred on
them. He was also himself created baron Delamer of Dunham-Massey; and on the 30th of July, 1660, he was appointed custos rotulorum for the county of Cheshire, but
on the 30th of May, 1673, he resigned this office to
Henry, his son and heir. “After this,
” says Collins, “he
not being studious to please the court in those measures
which were taken in some parts of that reign, both he and
his family were soon afterwards disregarded by the king,
and ill used by his successor king James the Second.
” His
lordship died at Dunham-Massey, in the 63d year of his
age, on the 8th of August, 1684, and was buried in a very
splendid manner at Bowdon, in the burial-vault of the
family. He was twice married: his first wife was the lady
Catherine Clinton, daughter and co-heir to Theophilus
earl of Lincoln, who died in child-bed in 1643, by whom
he had issue one daughter, Vere, who Belied unmarried at
Canonbury-house, in 1717, in the seventy-fourth year of
her age, and was buried in Islington church. His second
wife was the lady Elizabeth Grey, eldest daughter of
Henry earl of Stamford, by whom he had issue seven sons
and five daughters. His eldest son, William, died young,
and he was succeeded in his honours and estate by his second son, Henry, who is the subject of the following
article.
, earl of Warrington, and baron Delamer of Dunham Massey, an upright senator and distinguished
, earl of Warrington, and baron Delamer of Dunham Massey, an upright senator and distinguished patriot, was born on the 13th of January, 1651. He was the second son of the preceding George lord Delamer, by the lady Elizabeth Grey. In the life-time of his father, he was custos rotulorum for the county palatine of Chester, and also knight of the shire for that county, in several parliaments during the reign of king Charles ths Second. He very early rendered himself conspicuous by his zeal for the protestant religion, and the liberties of his country. When the bill for excluding the duke of York from the throne was brought into parliament, Mr. Booth was very active in the promotion of it, and also made a spirited speech in support of the necessity of frequent parliaments, and against governing by favourites; and he opposed, with a becoming spirit, the unjust and arbitrary power assumed by the privy council, of imprisoning men contrary to law.
, Baron, an eminent mineralogist, was born of a noble family at Carlsburg,
, Baron, an eminent mineralogist, was
born of a noble family at Carlsburg, in Transylvania, Dec.
26, 1742. He came early in life to Vienna, and studied
under the Jesuits, who, perceiving his abilities, prevailed
on him to enter into their society, but he remained a member only about a year and a half. He then went to Prague,
where, as it is the custom in Germany, he studied law, and
having completed his course, made a tour through a part
of Germany, Holland, the Netherlands, and France, and
returning to Prague, he engaged in the studies of natural
history, mining, and their connected branches, and in,
1770, he was received into the department of the mines
and mint at Prague. The same year he visited the principal mines of Hungary and Transylvania, and during this
tour kept up a correspondence with the celebrated Ferber,
who, in 1774, published his letters. It was in this town,
also that he so nearly lost his life, and where he was struck
with the disease which embittered the rest of his days. It
appears from his eighteenth letter to Mr. Ferber that, when
at Felso-Banya, he descended into a mine, where fire was
used to detach the ore, to observe the efficacy of this means,
but too soon after the fire had been extinguished, and while
the mine was full of arsenical vapours raised by the heat.
How greatly he suffered in his health by this accident appears from his letter, in which he complained that he could
hardly bear the motion of his carriage. After this he was
appointed at Prague counsellor of the mines. In 1771, he
published a small work of the Jesuit Poda, on the machinery
used about mines, and the next year his “Lithophylacium
Borneanum,
” a catalogue of that collection of fossils, which
he afterward disposed of to the lion. Mr. Greville. This
work drew on him the attention of mineralogists, and
brought him into correspondence with the first men in that
study. He was now made a member of the royal societies
of Stockholm, Sienna, and Padua; and in 1774, the same
honour was conferred on him by the royal society of
London.
o keep itself very secret in Austria; but Joseph, on his coming to the throne, tolerated it, and the baron founded in the Austrian metropolis, a lodge called the “True
His free and active genius led him to interest himself in
all the occurrences of the times, and to take an active
part in all the institutions and plans which professed to
enlighten and reform mankind. With these benevolent
intentions he formed connexions with the free-masons,
whose views in this part of the world occasioned the laws
and regulations made against masonry by the emperor Joseph. Under Theresa, this order was obliged to keep itself very secret in Austria; but Joseph, on his coming to
the throne, tolerated it, and the baron founded in the
Austrian metropolis, a lodge called the “True Concord,
”
a society of learned men, whose lodge was a place of rendezvous for the literati of the capital. The obstacles these
gentlemen found, to the progress of science and useful knowledge, had the tendency to draw their attention
to political subjects; and subjects were really discussed
here which the church had forbidden to be spoken of, and
to which the government was equally averse. At their
meetings, dissertations on some subject of history, ethics,
or moral philosophy, were read by the members; and
commonly something on the history of ancient and modern
mysteries and secret societies. These were afterward published in the Diary for Free-masons, for the use of the initiated, and not for public sale. In the winter they met
occasionally, and held more public discourses, to which
the members of the other lodges were allowed access. Aa
most of the learned of Vienna belonged to this lodge, it
was very natural to suppose, that many of the dissertations
read here, were not quite within the limits of the original
plan of the society. It was these dissertations which gave
rise to another periodical work, which was continued for
some time by the baron, and his brother masons. He was,
likewise active in extirpating what he reckoned superstitions of various kinds, which had crept into the other
lodges, and equally zealous in giving to these societies
such an organization, as might render them useful to the
public.
The baron, and many others of his lodge, belonged to the society of the
The baron, and many others of his lodge, belonged to the society of the illuminated. This, says his biographer, was no dishonour to him: the views of this order, at least at first, seem to have been commendable; they were the improvement of mankind, not the destruction of society. Such institutions are only useful or dangerous, and to be approved of or condemned, according to the state of society; and this was before the French revolution, and in a country less enlightened than almost any other part of Germany. But this was before the French revolution as a cause is before its effect, and there can be no doubt that much of the misery inflicted on Europe is to be traced to these societies. So zealous, however, was the baron in favour of the illuminati, that when the elector of Bavaria ordered all those in his service to quit this order, he was so displeased that he returned the academy of Munich the diploma they had sent him on their receiving him among them, publicly avowed his attachment to the order, and thought it proper to break off all further connexion with Bavaria, as a member of its literary society. The freemasons did not lung retain the patronage of their sovereign: the emperor Joseph soon became jealous of their influence, and put them under such restrictions, and clogged them with such incumbrances, as to amount almost to a prohibition; and the society found it necessary to dissolve.
What raised the baron more justly high in the public opinion, was his knowledge of
What raised the baron more justly high in the public
opinion, was his knowledge of mineralogy, and his successful experiments in metallurgy, and principally in the progress of amalgamation. The use of quick-silver in extracting the noble metals from their ores, was not a discovery
of the baron’s, nor of the century in which he lived; yet
he extended so far its application in metallurgy as to form
a brilliant epoch in this most important art. After he had
at great expence made many private experiments, and was
convinced of the utility of his method, he laid before the
emperor an account of his discovery, who gave orders that
a decisive experiment on a large quantity of ore should be
made at Schemnitz, in Hungary, in the presence of Charpentier from Saxony, Ferber from Russia, Elhujar from
Spain, Poda, and other celebrated chemists, which met
with universal approbation, and established the utility of
his discovery. In 1786, Born published, at the desire of
the emperor, his treatise on Amalgamation; and in the following year, a farther account of it was published by his
friend Ferber. As a considerable saving in wood, time,
and labour, attended his process, the emperor gave orders
that it should be employed in the Hungarian mines; and
as a recompence to the inventor, a third of the sum that
should be saved by adopting his method was granted to
him for ten years, and for ten years more the interest of
that sum. Such, however, was the hospitality of Born,
and his readiness to admit and entertain all travellers, and
to patronize distressed talents of every kind, that his expences exceeded his income, and he was at last reduced to
a state of insolvency. Amidst all his bodily infirmities and
pecuniary embarrassments, and notwithstanding the variety
of his official avocations, he was indefatigable in his literary
pursuits; and in 1790, he published in two volumes, a
“Catalogue methodique raisonné,
” of Miss Raab’s collection of fossils, which is regarded as a classical work on that
subject. He employed himself also in bleaching wax by a
new chemical process, and in boiling salt with half the
wood commonly used for that purpose. Whilst he was engaged in writing the “Fasti Leopoldini,
” or a history of
the reign of Leopold II. in classical Latin, and a work on
Mineralogy, his disease rapidly advanced, and being attended with violent spasms, terminated his life on the 28th
of August, 1791. His treatise on Amalgamation was translated into English, and published by R. E. Raspe, Lond.
1791, 4to, and his travels through the Bannat of Temeswar,
&c. were published in 1787.
which he received 80l. per plate; and, assisted first by Du Guernier, and afterwards by Beauvais and Baron, he completed them within two years, in 1717. He then became
, an engraver, was a native of
France, and being invited to England by Nicholas
Dorigny, assisted him for some time in engraving the cartoons of Raphael; and afterwards separating from Dorigny,
he undertook to engrave the cartoons for the printsellers.
He also engraved the duke of Marlborough’s battles, for
which he received 80l. per plate; and, assisted first by
Du Guernier, and afterwards by Beauvais and Baron, he
completed them within two years, in 1717. He then became a printseller, and published, by subscription, the
translation of Picart’s Religious Ceremonies. As an engraver, he possessed no great merit: his style is coarse
and heavy, and the drawing of the naked parts of the
figure in his plates is very defective. The “Continence
of Scipio,
” from a picture of Nicholas Poussin, in the
Houghton collection, is one of his plates. He flourished
in 1714.
to mathematics and architecture; and,n three or lour years made such progress as to be usefrl to the baron of Thiers, whom he accompanied to thearmy in quality of engineer.
, one of the earliest
French infidels, who assumed the name of philosophers
was born at Paris in 1722, and died therein 1759, aged
only thirty -seven. During his education, he is said to
have come out of the college of Beauvais almost as ignorant
as he went in; hut, struggling hard against his inaptitude
to study, he at length overcame it. At seventeen years of
age he began to apply himself to mathematics and architecture; and,n three or lour years made such progress
as to be usefrl to the baron of Thiers, whom he accompanied to thearmy in quality of engineer. Afterwards he
had the supervision of the highways and bridges, and executed severa public works in Champagne, Burgundy, and
Lorrain. Ii cutting through mountains, directing and
changing tie courses of rivers, and in breaking up and
turning ov<r the strata of the earth, he saw a multitude of
different substances, which (he thought) evinced the great
antiquity of it, and a long series of revolutions which it
must hav undergone. From the revolutions in the globe,
he passei to the changes that must have happened in the
manner?of men, in societies, in governments, in religion
and fomed many conjectures upon all these. To be farther saisfied, he wanted to know what, in the history of
ages, lad been said upon these particulars; and, that he
might be informed from the fountain-head, he learned
first latin, and then Greek. Not yet content, he plunged
into clebrew, Syriac, Chaldaic, and Arabic and from
these studies accumulated a vast mass of singular and paradoxical opinions which he conveyed to the public in the
followng works: 1. “Traite du Despotisme Oriental,
” 2
vols. 2mo, 2. “L'antiquite devoile, par ses usages,
” 3
vols. 12mo. This was posthumous. 3. Another work, entitle! “Le Christianisme demasqu6,
” 8vo, is attributed
to Hm, but it is not certain that he was the author of it.
4. le furnished to the Encyclopedic the articles Deluge,
C-rvde, and Societe. 5. A dissertation on Elisha and
Eioch. 6. He left behind him in ms. a dictionary, which
my be regarded as a concordance in antient and modern
Jjnguages. Voltaire, the baron D'Holbach, and other disgminators of infidelity, made much use of Boulanger’s
works, and more of his name, which, it is supposed, they
prefixed to some of their own compositions. Barruel gives
some reason for thinking that Boulanger retracted his
opinions before his death. His name, however, still remained of consequence to the party; and as late as 1791,
an edition of his works, entitled the Philosophical
Library, was published at the philosophic press in Swisserland.
ing the life of his father, who was sir John Bourchier, K. G. fourth son of William earl of Ewe, and baron Berners, by marriage with Margery, daughter and heir of Richard
, lord Berners, was born about 1467, son and heir of sir Humphrey Bourchier by Elizabeth, daughter and heir of sir Frederick Tilney (widow of sir Thomas Howard), which Humphrey was killed at Barnet-field, on Edward IVth’s part, and buried in Westminster abbey, during the life of his father, who was sir John Bourchier, K. G. fourth son of William earl of Ewe, and baron Berners, by marriage with Margery, daughter and heir of Richard lord Berners. Lord Bourchier succeeded his grandfather, May 16, 1474, being then only seven years old. He was educated in Baliol college, Oxford, and afterwards travelled abroad, and returned a master of seven languages, and a complete gentleman. In 1405 he obtained the notice of Henry VII. by his valour in quelling the fury of the rebels in Cornwall and Devonshire, under the conduct of Michael Joseph, a blacksmith. In 1513 he was captain of the pioneers at the siege of Therouenne. In 1514, being made chancellor of the king’s exchequer for life, he attended the lady Mary, the king’s sister, into France, to her marriage with king Lewis XII. and in 1527 obtained i grant from the king of several manors. Afterwards he vas made lieutenant of Calais and the marches adjoining to France, and spending most of his time there, wrot< several learned works in that situation. There he made his will, March 3, 1532, bequeathing his body to be bur'ud in the chancel of the parish church of our lady, within the town of Calais, and appointing that an honest priest shouldsing mass there for his soul, by the space of three years, ie died March 16th following, leaving by Katherine his wie, daughter of John duke of Norfolk, Joane his daughter nd heir, married to Edmund Knyvet of Ashwelthorpe inNorfolk, esq.
, better known by the name of Brantôme, of which he was abbot, added to that title those of lord and baron of Richemont, chevalier, gentleman of the chamber to the kings
, better known by the name of Brantôme, of which he was abbot, added to that title those of lord and baron of Richemont, chevalier, gentleman of the chamber to the kings Charles IX. and Henry III. and chamberlain to the duke of Alençon. He had the design of being created a knight of Maltha in a voyage he made to that isle during the time of the siege in 1565. He returned to France, where he was fed with vain expectations; but he received no other reward (as he tells us himself) than being welcomed by the kings his masters, great lords, princes, sovereigns, queens, princesses, &c. He died July 5, 1614, at the age of 87. His memoirs were printed in ten volumes, 12mo, viz. four of the French commanders; two of foreign commanders two of women of gallantry one of illustrious ladies; and one of duels. There is another edition of the Hague, 1741, 15 vols. 12mo, on account of the supplement, which makes five, and also a Paris edition 1787, 8 vols. 8vo. These memoirs may be of some use, if read cautiously, by those who would know the private history of Charles IX. of Henry III. and of Henry IV. Here the man is more represented than the prince. The pleasure of seeing these kings in their peculiarities in private life, added to the simplicity of Brantome’s style, renders the reading of his memoirs extremely agreeable. But some of his anecdotes are grossly indecent, and many of them fictions.
n this she lay hid for some days, and then went to East Friesland, where she got protection from the baron of Latzbourg, and was made governess of an hospital.
But stopping in her way at several places of Holstein,
where she dismissed some disciples (who followed her, she found, for the sake of interest) she plied her pen, which
was so prolific that she found it convenient to provide herself with a press, where she printed her books in French,
Dutch, and German. Among others she answered all her
adversaries, in a piece entitled, “The testimony of truth,
”
in which she handled the ecclesiastics in a severe manner.
In these controversial pieces she" demonstrated her want of
the first fundamental of all religion both natural and revealed, humility. Two Lutheran ministers raised the
alarm against her by some books, in which they declared,
that people had been beheaded and burnt for opinions
more supportable than hers. The Labbadists also wrote
against her, and her press was prohibited. In this distress
she retired to Hensberg in 1673, but was discovered, and
treated so ill by the people under the character of a sorceress, that she was very happy in getting secretly away.
Afterwards, being driven from city to city, she was at length
forced to abandon Holstein, and went to Hamburgh in
1676, as a place of more security; but her arrival was no
sooner known, than they endeavoured to seize her. On
this she lay hid for some days, and then went to East Friesland, where she got protection from the baron of Latzbourg, and was made governess of an hospital.
mite there. It was on this account that she found persecutors in East Friesland, notwithstanding the baron de Latzbourg’s protection; so that she took her way to Holland
It is observable, that all other passions have their holidays, but avarice never suffers its votaries to rest. When our devotee accepted the care of this charity, she declared that she consented to contribute her industry both to the building and to the distribution of the goods, and the inspection of the poor, but without engaging any part of her estate; for which she alleged two reasons, one, that her goods had already been dedicated to God for the use of those who sincerely sought to become true Christians; the other, that men and all human things are very inconstant. On this principle, she resolved never to part with any thing, but refer all donations to her last will and testament; and accordingly, when she had distributed among these poor people certain revenues of the place annexed to this hospital by the founder, being asked if she would not contribute something of her own, she returned an answer in writing, that because these poor lived like beasts, who had no souls to save, she had rather throw her goods, which were consecrated to God, into the sea, than leave the least mite there. It was on this account that she found persecutors in East Friesland, notwithstanding the baron de Latzbourg’s protection; so that she took her way to Holland in 1680, but died at Franeker, on the 30th of October the same year.
;” translated the Dialogue between Sylla and Socrates; made several corrections to the work from the Baron’s “Spirit of Laws,” and improved it with his own notes. A new
In 1744, Mr. Bowyer is supposed to have written a small
pamphlet on the present state of Europe, taken principally
from Pufendorff. In 1746, he projected, what during his
whole life he had in view, a regular edition of Cicero’s
Letters, in a chronological order, on a plan which it is to
be lamented that he did not complete; as an uniform series
thus properly arranged would have formed a real history of
Tully’s life, and those which cannot be dated might be
thrown to the end without any inconvenience. In the same
year he published “The Life of the Emperor Julian,
”
translated from the French of M. Bleterie, and improve^
with twelve pages of curious notes, and a genealogical
table. The notes were not entirely Mr. Bowyer’s, but
were drawn up, in part, by Mr. Clarke and other learned
men. The translation, by Miss Anne Williams (Dr. Johnson’s inmate), and the two sisters of the name of
Wilkinson, was made under Mr. Bowyr’s immediate inspection.
In this year also, he printed, and is supposed to have assisted in thp composition of, “A Dissertation, in which the
objections of a late pampinet (by bishop Ross) to the writings of the anci nits, after the mariner of Mr. Maryland,
are clearly answered: those passages in Tuily corrected,
on which some of the objections are founded; with
Amendments of a few pieces of criticism in Mr. Maryland’s
Epistola Critica,
” 8vo. On the 2d of August, 1747, Mr.
Bowyer entered a second time into the matrimonial state,
with a most benevolent and worthy woman, Mrs. Elizabeth
Bill, by whom he had no children. In 1750, he had the
honour of sharing, with Dr. Burton, in the invectives most
liberally bestowed by Dr. King, in his “Elogium Famse
inserviens Jacci Etouensis, sive Gigantis: or, the Praises
of Jack of Eaton, commonly called Jack the Giant.
” Dr.
King’s abuse was probably owing to his having heard that
our learned printer had hinted, in conversation, his doubts
concerning the doctor’s Latiriity. Mr. Bowyer drew up
strictures in his own defence, which he intended to insert
at the conclusion of a preface to Montesquieu’s Reflections, &c.; but, in consequence ol Mr. Clarke’s advice, they
were omitted. In the same year, a prefatory critical dissertation, and some valuable notes, were annexed, by our
author, to Kuster’s Treatise “De vero usu Verborum
Mediorum;
” a new edition of which work, with further
improvements, appeared in 1773. He wrote, likewise,
about the same time, a Latin preface to Leedes’s “Veteres
Poeta? citati, &c.
” Being soon after employed to print an
edition of colonel Bladen’s translation of Cæsar’s Commentaries, that work received considerable improvements from.
Mr. Bowyer’s hands, and the addition of such notes in it
as are signed Typogr. In the subsequent editions of this
work, though printed by another person, and in our author’s life-time, the same signature, contrary to decorum,
and even justice, was still retained. In 1751, he wrote a
long preface to Montesquieu’s “Reflections on the Rise
and Fall of the Rouian Empire;
” translated the Dialogue
between Sylla and Socrates; made several corrections to
the work from the Baron’s “Spirit of Laws,
” and improved
it with his own notes. A new edition, with many; new
notes, was printed in 1759. He gave likewise to the
public, in 1751, with a preface, the first translation that
was made of Rousseau’s paradoxical oration on the effects
of the arts and sciences, which gained the prize at the academy of Dijon, in 1750; and which first announced that
singular genius to the attention and admiration of Europe.
On the publication of the third edition of lord Orrery’s
“Remarks on the Life and Writings of Dr. Swift,
” in Two Letters from Dr. Bentley in the shades below, to
lord Orrery in a land of thick darkness.
” The notes
signed B, in the ninth quarto volume of Swift’s works, are
extracted from these Letters, which are reprinted at large
in his “Tracts.
” In Vindication of the Histories of the Old and New Testament, in answer to the Objections of Lord Bolingbroke,
”
Mr. Bowyer drew up an analysis of the same, with an intention of sending it to the Gentleman’s Magazine: it is now
printed in Mr. Nichols’s “Anecdotes.
” In Remarks on a Speech made in Common Council,
on the Bill for permitting persons professing the Jewish Religion to be naturalized, so far as Prophecies are supposed
to be affected by it.
” The design of this sensible little tract,
which was written with spirit, and well received by those
who were superior to narrow prejudices, was to shew, that
whatever political reasons might be alleged against the
Bill, Christianity would in no degree be prejudiced by
the indulgence proposed to be gVanted to the Jews. In
the same year, some of Mr. Bowyer’s notes were annexed
to bishop Clayton’s translation of “A Journal from Grand
Cairo to Mount Sinai, and back again.
” In Commentary on the Book of Wisdom,
” and enriched it with the remarks of Mr. Markland.
Upon the death of Mr. Richardson, in 1761, Mr. Bowyer,
through the patronage of the late earl of Macclesfield, was
appointed printer to the Royal Society; and, under the
friendship of five successive presidents, had the satisfaction
of continuing in that employment till his death. In the
same year (1761), appeared “Verses on the Coronation
of their late majesties, king George the Second and queen
Caroline, October 4, 1727, spoken by the Scholars of
Westminster school (some of them now the ornaments of the Nation) on January 15th following, being the Day of
the Inauguration of Queen Elizabeth, their foundress
with a Translation of all the Latin copies The whole
placed in order of the transactions of that important day.
Adorned with the Coronation Medals pf the Royal Pair,
and a bust of our present king. To which is subjoined
the Ceremonial of the august Procession, very proper to
be compared with the approaching one; and a Catalogue
of the Coronation Medals of the Kings and Queens of England.
” The original part of this pamphlet, in which a great
deal of humour is displayed, was entirely Mr. Bowyer' s:
the Latin verses were translated partly by him, but principally by Mr. Nichols. Our learned printer’s next publication was of a more serious and weighty nature, an excellent edition of the Greek Testament, in two volumes,
1763, 12mo, under the following title: “Novum Testamentum Greecum, ad Fidem GrascorUm solum Codicum
Mss. nunc primum expressum, adstipulante Joanne Jacobo Wetstenio, juxta Sectiones Jo. Albert! Bengelii divisum; et nova Interpunctione saepius illustratum. Accessere in altero Volumine Emendationes conjecturales virorum doctorum undecunque collectse.
” This sold with
great rapidity; though Mr. Bowyer, in his advertisements
of it in the public papers, was pleased to add, that it
boasted neither elegance of type nor paper, but trusted to
other merits. The conjectural emendations are a very
valuable addition to the Greek Testament, and were extremely well received by the learned. In a letter of thanks,
from the president and fellows of Harvard college, in Cambridge, New-England, to Mr. Bowyer, in 1767, for several benefactions of his to that college, they express themselves as follows: “It is a particular pleasure to us to
mention your very curious edition of the Greek Testament, in two volumes, with critical notes, and many happy
conjectures, especially as to the punctuation, an affair of
the utmost importance as to ascertaining the sense. This
work, though small in bulk, we esteem as a rich treasure
of sacred learning, and of more intrinsic value than many
large volumes of the commentators.
” A second edition of
the Conjectures on the New Testament, with very considerable enlargements, was separately published, in one
volume, 8vo, in 1772, a third in 4to, 1782, and a fourth
from the interleaved -copy of Dr. Owen, which he bequeathed to the honourable and right reverend Dr. Shute
Barrington, bishop of Durham, is just published (1812).
Bishop Wavbnrton having censured apassage in the first edition, Mr. Bowyer sent him a copy of the second, with a conciliatory letter. In 1765, at the request of Thomas Hollis,
esq. our learned printer wrote a short Latin preface to Dr.
Wallis’s “Grammatica Linguae Anglicanse.
” A larger English preface, which was written by him, and intended for
that work, is printed in his “Tracts.
” Some copies of this
book were sent by him to the rev. Edward Clarke, when,
chaplain to the earl of Bristol at Madrid, to be given to the
Spanish literati. Towards the latter end of the same year,
in consequence of overtures from a few respectable friends
at Cambridge, Mr. Bowyer had some inclination to have
undertaken the management of the University press, by
purchasing a lease of its exclusive privileges. He went,
accordingly, to Cambridge for this purpose; but the treaty
proved fruitless, and he did not much regret the disappointment. In the beginning of 1766, by engaging in a partnership with Mr. Nichols, he was again enabled to withdraw, in some degree, from that close application, which
had begun to be prejudicial to his health. His new associate had been trained by him to the profession, and had
assisted him several years in the management of business. He was very happy in this connection; and it is unnecessary to add how successfully Mr. Nichols has trod in
the steps of his worthy and learned friend and partner. In,
that year (1766) Mr. Bowyer wrote an excellent Latin preface to “Joannis Harduini, Jesuitae, ad Censuram Scriptorum veterum Prolegomena; juxta Autographum.
” In
this preface he gives an account of the nature of the work,
and of the manner in which it had been preserved. Mr. De
Missy’s remarks on the celebrated Jesuit’s extraordinary production were published about the same time, in a letter to
Mr. Bowyer, written in Latin. In 1767, he was appointed
to print the Journals of the House of Lords, and the Rolls
of Parliament. The noble peer to whom he was indebted
for this appointment, and his gratitude to whom is testified
in the inscription which he left behind him, to be placed in
Stationers Hall, was the earl of Marchmont. Mr. Bowyer
was now compelled, from the want of sufficient room, to
exchange White Fryars for Red Lion-passage; and it was
not without reluctance that he quitted a residence to which
he had been accustomed from his infancy. His new printing-house was opened with the sign of his favourite Cicero’s
Head: under which was inscribed, “M, T, Cicero, A Quo
Primordia Preli,
” in allusion to the well-known early editions of Tally’s Offices. Having printed this year Mr.
Clarke’s excellent and learned work on “The Connexion
of the Roman, Saxon, and English Coins,
” he wrote some
notes upon it, which are interspersed throughout the volume with those of the author. Part of the dissertation on
the Roman Sesterce was, likewise, Mr. Bowyer’s production; and the index, which is an uncommonly good one,
and on which he did not a little pride himself, was drawn up
entirely by him. On the 14th of January, 177 J, he lost
his second wife, who died at the age of seventy. His old
friend, Mr. Clarke, who had administered consolation to
him, on a similar occasion, nearly forty years before, again
addressed him with tenderness on this event. In the Philosophical Transactions for 1771, was printed a very ingenious “Enquiry intothe value of the antient Greek and Roman Money,
” by the late Matthew Raper, esq. The opinions advanced by this respectable gentleman, on these
subjects, not coinciding with those of Mr. Bowyer, he
printed a small pamphlet, entitled, “Remarks, occasioned
by a late Dissertation on the Greek and Roman Money.
” The pamphlet was intended as an appendix
to Mr. Clarke’s Treatise on Coins. The opinions of many
excellent writers in Germany and France having been ably
controverted in that elaborate work, Mr. Bowyer transmitted
a copy of it to the French king’s library, and inscribed his
little appendix,
quired the esteem and confidence of all ranks of people, as well as of his prince, who created him a baron by the title of lord Boyd, of Kilmarnock. In 1459, he was, with
, a nobleman of Scotland, of whose early years we have no account, began to make a figure in public life towards the end of the reign of James II. of Scotland. Being a man of great penetration and sound judgment, courteous and affable, he acquired the esteem and confidence of all ranks of people, as well as of his prince, who created him a baron by the title of lord Boyd, of Kilmarnock. In 1459, he was, with several other noblemen, sent to Newcastle, with the character of plenipotentiary, to prolong the truce with England, which had just fhen expired. On the death of James II. who was killed at the siege of Roxburgh, lord Boyd was made justiciary, and one of the lords of the regency, in whose hands the administration was lodged during the minority of the young king. His lordship had a younger brother who had received the honour of knighthood, sir Alexander Boyd of Duncow, a man in great credit with the king, whom he was appointed to teach the rudiments of military discipline; and between them, the two brothers found means to engross most of the places and preferments about the court. Sir Alexander began to instil into the young king, then twelve years old, that he was now capable of governing without the help of guardians and tutors, and that he might free himself from their restraint. This advice was readily listened to, and the king resolved to take upon himself the government, which, however, was no other than transferring the whole power, from the other regents, to the Boyds. The king was at this time at Linlithgow, and it was necessary to remove him to Edinburgh, to take upon him the regal government, which the Boyds effected, partly by force, and partly by stratagem. Haying got the king- to Edinburgh, lord Boyd began to provide for his own safety, and to avert the danger which, threatened him and his friends, for what they had done in the face of an act of parliament; and accordingly prevailed upon the king to call a parliament at Edinburgh, in October 1466; in which lord Boyd fell down upon his knees before the throne, where the king sat, and in an elaborate harangue, complained of the hard construction put upon the king’s removal from Linlithgow, and how ill this was interpreted by his enemies, who threatened that the advisers of that affair should one day suffer punishment; humbly beseeching his majesty to declare his own sense and pleasure thereupon, and that if he conceived any illwill or disgust against him for that journey, that he would openly declare it. The king, after advising a little with the lords, made answer, that the lord Boyd was not his adviser, but rather his companion in that journey; and therefore that he was more worthy of a reward for his courtesy, than of punishment for his obsequiousness or compliance therein; and this he was willing to declare in a public decree of the estates, and in the same decree provision should be made, that this matter should never be prejudicial to the lord Boyd or his companions. His lordship then desired, that this decree might be registered in the acts of the assembly, and confirmed by letters patent under the great seal, which was also complied with. At the same time also the king, by advice of his council, gave him letters patent, whereby he was constituted sole regent, and had the safety of the king, his brothers, sisters, towns, castles, and all the jurisdiction over his subjects, committed to him, till the king himself arrived to the age of twenty-one years. And the nobles then present solemnly promised to be assistant to the lord Boyd, and also to his brother, in all their public actions, and that they would be liable to punishment, if they did not carefully, and with faithfulness, perform what they then promised, to which stipulation the king also subscribed. Lord Boyd next contrived to be made Jord great chamberlain, and after this had the boldness to procure the lady Mary Stewart, the late king’s eldest daughter, in marriage for his son sir Thomas Boyd, notwithstanding the care and precaution of the parliament. The lord Boyd’s son was a most accomplished gentleman, and this match and near alliance to the crown, added to his own distinguished merit, raised him to a nearer place in the affection as well as confidence of his sovereign, by whom he was soon after created earl of Arran, and was now himself considered as the fountain from whence all honours and preferments must flow. The lord chamberlain, by this great accession of honour to his family, seemed to have arrived at the highest pinnacle of power and grandeur; but what seemed to establish his power, proved the very means of its overthrow. About this time, a marriage having been concluded, by ambassadors sent into Denmark for that purpose, between the young king of Scotland, and Margaret, a daughter of the king of Denmark, the earl of Arran was selected to go over to Denmark, to espouse the Danish princess in the king his brother-in-law’s name, and to conduct her to Scotland. The earl of Arran, judging all things safe at home, willingly accepted this honour; and, in the beginning of the autumn of 1469, set sail for Denmark with a proper convoy, and a noble train of friends and followers. This was, however, a fatal step, for the lord chamberlain, the earl’s father, being now much absent from the court in the necessary discharge of his office, as well as through age and infirmities, which was the case also of his brother sir Alexander Boyd; the earl of Arran had no sooner set out on his embassy, than every endeavour was tried to alienate the king’s affection from the Boyds. Every public miscarriage was laid at their door; and the Kennedies, their ancient enemies, industriously spread abroad reports, to inflame the people likewise against them. They represented to the king, that the lord Boyd had abused his power during his majesty’s minority; that his matching his son, the earl of Arran, with the princess Mary, was staining the royal blood of Scotland, was an indignity to the crown, and the prelude to the execution of a plot they had contrived of usurping even the sovereignty itself; for they represented the lord chamberlain as an ambitious, aspiring man, guilty of the highest offences, and capable of contriving and executing the worst of villanies: with what justice, history does not inform us. Buchanan only says the Boyds were the occasion of the king’s degeneracy into all manner of licentiousness, by their indulgence of his pleasures. The king, however, young, weak, credulous, and wavering, and naturally prone to jealousy, began to be alarmed, and was prevailed on to sacrifice, not only the earl of Arran, but all his family, to the resentment of their enemies, notwithstanding their ancestors’ great services to the crown, and in spite of the ties of blood which united them so closely. At the request of the adverse faction, the king summoned a parliament to meet at Edinburgh, the 20th of November, 1469, before which lord Boyd, the earl of Arran, though in Denmark, and sir Alexander Boyd of Duncow, were summoned to appear, to give an account of their administration, and answer such charges as should be exhibited against them. Lord Boyd, astonished at this sudden blow, betook himself to arms; but, finding it im-r possible to stem the torrent, made his escape into England; but his brother, sir Alexander, being then sick, and trusting to his own integrity, was brought before the parliament, where he, the lord Boyd, and his son the earl of Arran, were indicted of high-treason, for having laid hands on the king, and carried him, against an act of parliament, and contrary to the king’s own will, from Linlithgow to Edinburgh, in 1466. Sir Alexander alleged in his defence, that they had not only obtained the king’s pardon for that'offence in a public convention, but it was even declared a good service by a subsequent act of parliament; but no regard was had to this, because it was obtained by the Boyds when in power, and masters of the king’s person: and the crime being proved against them, they were found guilty by a jury of lords and barons; and sir Alexander Boyd, being present, was condemned to lose his head on the Castle-hill of Edinburgh, which sentence was executed accordingly. The lord Boyd would have undergone the same fate, if he had not inade his escape into England, where, however, he did not long survive his great reverse of fortune, dying at Alnwick in 1470. The earl of Arran, though absent upon public business, was declared a public enemy, without being granted a hearing, or allowed the privilege of defending himself, and his estates confiscated. Things were in this situation, when he arrived from Denmark, with the espoused queen, in the Frith of Forth. Before he landed he received intelligence of the wreck and ruin of his family, and resolved to retire into Denmark; and without staying to attend the ceremonial of the queen’s landing, he took the opportunity of one of those Danish ships which convoyed the queen, and were under his command, and embarking his lady, set sail for Denmark, where he met with a reception suitable to his high birth. From thence he travelled through Germany into France, and went to pay a visit to Charles duke of Burgundy, who received him most graciously, and being then at war with his rebellious subjects, the unfortunate lord offered him his service, which the duke readily accepted, and finding him to be a brave and wise man, he honoured and supported him and his lady, in a manner becoming their rank. But the king their brother, not yet satisfied with the miseries of their family, wrote over to Flanders to recal his sister home; and fearing she would not be induced to leave him, he caused others to write to her, and give her hopes that his anger towards her husband might be appeased, and that if she would come over and plead for him in person, there was no doubt but she might prevail with her brother to restore him again to his favour. The countess of Arran, flattered with these hopes, returned, and was no sooner arrived in Scotland, than the king urged her to a divorce from her husband, cruelly detained her from going back to him, and caused public citations, attested by witnesses, to be fixed up at Kilmarnock, the seat of the Boyds, wherein Thomas earl of Arran was commanded to appear in sixty days, which he not doing, his marriage with the king’s sister was declared null and void, and a divorce made (according to Buchanan), the earl still absent and unheard; and the lady Mary was compelled, by the king, to marry James lord Hamilton, a man much inferior to her former husband both in point of birth and fortune. This transaction was in 1474; and the earl of Arran, now in the last stage of his miseries, and borne down with the heavy load of his misfortunes, soon al'ter, died at Antwerp, and was honourably interred there. The character of him and of his father is variously represented. That they were ambitious, and regardless of the means of gratifying that ambition, cannot well be denied, nor are we permitted to censure with great asperity their enemies who effected their ruin by similar measures and with similar motives. Their fall undoubtedly holds out an useful lesson, but the experience of others, especially of examples in history, seldom checks the progress of that ambition that has once commenced in success.
ndant of Robert Boyd, earl of Arran, sometime protector of Scotland, from whom descended James Boyd, baron of Trochrig, the father of the subject of this article. He was
, an eminent Scotch divine, of the
same family as the preceding, being a descendant of Robert Boyd, earl of Arran, sometime protector of Scotland,
from whom descended James Boyd, baron of Trochrig, the
father of the subject of this article. He was born in 1578,
and educated at the university of Edinburgh, where he
took his master’s degree. In 1604, according to the custom of the times, he travelled into France, and studied for
some time under Rivet, improving himself in Greek and
Hebrew, and in French, which he spoke with great fluency.
He was afterwards invited by tt:e university of Montauban
to be professor of philosophy, and in the mean time himself studied divinity, dnd was ordained according to the
forms of the French reformed church. In 1608 he was
removed to a professorship at Saumur, which he filled until 1614, and both as a preacher and teacher was much
admired and eagerly followed. His fame reaching the ears
of his sovereign, king James, he sent him a pressing invitation to fill the divinity chair in the university oi Glasgow, in consequence of which he removed thither in 1615,
to the great sorrow of his friends at SaumiT, and the university at large. He was enabled soon, in conjunction
with some able colleagues, to raise the reputation of the
Glasgow university, the mode of study in which he reformed from the useless and disputatious modes of the
schools. His situation, however, afcerwards became embarrassed from the disputes which arose respecting the
scheme of king James to assimilate the churches of England and Scotland, which was highly unpopular in the
latter country. Boyd’s education, and especially his associations abroad, had inclined him to the presbyterian
form of church government, and finding that he could not
under such circumstances retain his situation as preacher
and professor at Glasgow, he resigned both, and went to
live privately on an estate which he possessed. Endeavours were made to fix him in Edinburgh, and afterwards
to recall him to Glasgow, but these not being successful,
he finally retired from public life to Carrick, his estate,
where he died Jan. 5, 1627. He wrote in very elegant
Latin, a commentary on the epistle to the Ephesians,
which was published under the title “Roberti Bodii Scoti
Praelectiones in Epistolam ad Ephesios,
” Lond.
himself in the prosecution of his studies, he entered into the service of sir Richard Manwood, chief baron of the exchequer, as one of his clerks: but perceiving few advantages
, a celebrated statesman, descended
from an ancient and honourable family, and distinguished
by the title of the great earl of Cork, was the youngest
son of Mr. Roger Boyle of Herefordshire, by Joan, daughter of Robert Naylor of Canterbury, and born in the city
of Canterbury, Oct. 3, 1566. He was instructed in grammar learning by a clergyman of Kent; and after having
been a scholar in Ben'et college, Cambridge, where he
was remarkable for early rising, indefatigable study, and
great temperance, became student in the Middle Temple.
He lost his father when he was but ten years old, and his
mother at the expiration of other ten years; and being
unable to support himself in the prosecution of his studies,
he entered into the service of sir Richard Manwood, chief
baron of the exchequer, as one of his clerks: but perceiving few advantages from this employment, he resolved
to travel, and landed at Dublin in June 1588, with a very
scanty stock, his whole property amounting, as he himself
informs us, to 271. 3s. in money, two trinkets which his
mother gave him as tokens, and his wearing apparel. He
was then about two-and-twenty, had a graceful person,
and all the accomplishments for a young man to succeed in
a country which was a scene of so much action. Accordingly he made himself very useful to some of the
principal persons employed in the government, by penning
for them memorials, cases, and answers; and thereby acquired a perfect knowledge of the kingdom and the state
of publia affairs, of which he knew well how to avail himself. In 1595 he married at Limeric, Joan, the daughter
and coheiress of William Ansley of Pulborough, in Sussex,
<esq. who had fallen in love with him. This lady died 1599,
in labour of her first child (born dead) leaving her husband an estate of 500l. a year in lands, which was the beginning of his fortune. Some time after, sir Henry Wallop, of Wares, sir Robert Gardiner, chief justice of the
king’s bench, sir Robert Dillam, chief justice of the common pleas, and sir Richard Binghim, chief commissioner
of Connaught, envious at certain purchases he had made in
the province, represented to queen Elizabeth that he was
in the pay of the king of Spain (who had at that time some thoughts of invading Ireland), by whom he had been furnished with money to buy several large estates; and that
he was strongly suspected to be a Roman catholic in his
heart, with many other malicious suggestions equally
groundless. Mr. Boyle, having private notice of this,
determined to come over to England to justify himself:
but, before he could take shipping, the general rebellion
in Minister broke out, all his lands were wasted, and he
had not one penny of certain revenue left. In this distress
he betook himself to his former chamber in the Middle
Temple, intending to renew his studies in the law till the
rebellion should be suppressed. When the earl of Essex
was nominated lord-deputy of Ireland, Mr. Boyle, being
recommended to him by Mr. Anthony Bacon, was received
by his lordship very graciously; and sir Henry Wallop,
treasurer of Ireland, knowing that Mr. Boyle had in his
custody several papers which could detect his roguish
manner of passing his accounts, resolved utterly to depress
him, and for that end renewed his former complaints
against him to the queen. By her majesty’s special directions, Mr. Boyle was suddenly taken up, and committed
close prisoner to the Gatehouse: all his papers were
seized and searched; and although nothing appeared to
his prejudice, yet his confinement lasted till two months
after his new patron the earl of Essex was gone to Ireland,
At length, with much difficulty, he obtained the favour of
the queen to be present at his examination; and having
fully answered whatever was alledged against him, he gave
a short account of his behaviour since he first settled in
Ireland, and concluded with laying open to the queen
and her council the conduct of his chief enemy sir Henry
Wallop. Upon which her majesty exclaimed with, her
usual intemperance of speech, “By God’s death, these are
but inventions against this young man, and all his sufferings are for being able to do us service, and these
complaints urged to forestal him therein. But we find him to
be a man fit to be employed by ourselves; and we will employ him in our service: and Wallop and his adherents
shall know that it shall not be in the power of any of them,
to wrong him. Neither -shall Wallop be our treasurer any
longer.
” Accordingly, she gave orders not only for Mr.
Boyle’s present enlargement, but also for paying all the
charges and fees his confinement had brought upon him,
and gave him her hand to kiss before the whole assembly.
A few days after, the queen constituted him clerk of the
council of Munster, and recommended him to sir George
Carew, afterwards earl of Totness, then lord president of
Munster, who became his constant friend; and very soon,
after he was made justice of the peace and of the quorum,
throughout all the province. He attended in that capacity
the lord president in all his employments, and was sent by
his lordship to the queen with the news of the victory
gained in December 1601, near Kinsate, over the Irish,
and their Spanish auxiliaries, who were totally routed,
1200 being slain in the field, and 800 wounded. “I
made,
” says he, “a speedy expedition to the court, for I
left my lord president at Shannon -castle, near Cork, on
the Monday morning about two of the clock; and the next
day, being Tuesday, I delivered my packet, and supped
with sir Robert Cecil, being then principal secretary of
state, at his house in the Strand; who, after supper, held
me in discourse till two of the clock in the morning; and
by seven that morning called upon me to attend him to
the court, where he presented me to her majesty in her
bedchamber.
” A journey so rapid as this would be thought,
even in the present more improved modes of travelling,
requires all his lordship’s authority to render it credible.
orn a privy counsellor of stete of the kingdom of Ireland Sept. 29, 1616, he was created lord Boyle, baron of Youghall: Oct. 16, 1620, viscount of Dungarvon, and earl
In 1602, Mr. Boyle, by advice of his friend sir George
Carew, paid his addresses to Mrs. Catherine Fenton,
daughter of sir Geoffry Fenton, whom he married on the
25th of July, 1603, her father being at that time principal
secretary of state. “I never demanded,
” says he, “any
marriage portion with her, neither promise of any, it not
being in my considerations; yet her father, after my marriage, gave me one thousand pounds in gold with her. But
that gift of his daughter to me, I must ever thankfully acknowledge as the crown of all my blessings; for she was
a most religious, virtuous, loving, and obedient wife to me
all the days of her life, and the mother of all my hopeful
children .
” He received on his wedding day, July 23,
1603, the honour of knighthood from his friend sir George
Carew, now promoted to be lord-deputy of Ireland: March
12, 1606, he was sworn a privy counsellor to king James,
for the province of Munster Feb. 15, 1612, he was sworn
a privy counsellor of stete of the kingdom of Ireland
Sept. 29, 1616, he was created lord Boyle, baron of Youghall: Oct. 16, 1620, viscount of Dungarvon, and earl of
Cork. Lord Falkland, the lord-deputy, having represented
his services in a just light to king Charles I. his majesty
sent his excellency a letter, dated Nov. 30, 1627, directing him to confer the honours of baron and viscount upon
the earl’s second surviving son Lewis, though he was then
only eight years old, by the title of Baron of Bandonbridge, and viscount Boyle of Kinalmeaky in the county
of Cork.
to maintain them, for he was in the 37th year of his age when knighted, and in his 50th when made A baron. He made large purchases, but not till he was able to improve
He affected not places and titles of honour until he was
well able to maintain them, for he was in the 37th year of
his age when knighted, and in his 50th when made A
baron. He made large purchases, but not till he was able
to improve them; and he grew rich on estates which had
ruined their former possessors. He increased his wealth,
not by hoarding, but by spending; for he built and walled
several towns at his own cost, but in places so well situated,
that they were soon filled with inhabitants, and quickly repaid the money he had laid out, with interest, which he as
readily laid out again. Hence, in the space of forty years,
he acquired to himself what in some countries would have
been esteemed a noble principality; and as they came to
years of discretion, he bestowed estates upon his sons,
and married his daughters into the best families of that
country. He outlived most of those who had known the
meanness of his beginning; but he delighted to remember
it himself, and even took pains to preserve the memory of
it to posterity in the motto which he always used, and
which he caused to be placed upon his tomb, viz. “God’s
providence is my inheritance.
”
, earl of Orrery, fifth son of Richard earl of Cork, was born April 25, 1621, and created baron Broghill in the kingdom of Ireland when but seven years old.
, earl of Orrery, fifth son of Richard earl of Cork, was born April 25, 1621, and created baron Broghill in the kingdom of Ireland when but seven years old. He was educated at the college of Dublin, and about the year 1636, sent with his elder brother lord Kinalmeaky to make the tour of France and Italy. Afterhis return he married lady Margaret Howard, sister to the earl of Suffolk. During the rebellion in Ireland, he commanded a troop of horse in the forces raised by his father, and on many occasions gave proofs of conduct and courage. After the cessation of arms, which was concluded in 1643, he came over to England, and so represented to the king the Irish papists, that his majesty was convinced they never meant to keep the cessation, and therefore sent a commission to lord Inchiquin, president of Munster, to prosecute the rebels. Lord Broghill employed his interest in that county to assist him in this service; and when the government of Ireland was committed to the parliament, he continued to observe the same conduct till the king was put to death. That event shocked him so much, that he immediately quitted the service of the parliament; and, looking upon Ireland and his estate there as utterly lost, embarked for England, and returned to his seat at Marston in Somersetshire, where he lived privately till 1649. In this retirement, reflecting on the distress of his country, and the personal injury he suffered whilst his estate was held by the Irish rebels, he resolved, under pretence of going to the Spa for his health, to cross the seas, and apply to king Charles II. for a commission to raise forces in Ireland, in order to restore his majesty, and recover his own estate. He desired the earl of Warwick, who had an interest in the prevailing party, to procure a licence for him to go to the Spa. He pretended to the earl, that his sole view was the recovery of his health; but, to some of his friends of the royal party, in whom he thought he could confide, he discovered hi* real design; and having raised a considerable sum of money, came to London to prosecute his voyage. The committee of state, who spared no pains to get proper intelligence, being soon informed of his whole design, determined to proceed against him with the utmost severity. Cromwell, at that time general of the parliament’s forces, and a member of the committee, was no stranger to lord Broghill’s merit; and considering that this young nobleman might be of great use to him in reducing Ireland, he earnestly entreated the committee, that he might have leave to talk with him, and endeavour to gain him, before they proceeded to extremities. Having, with great difficulty, obtained this permission, he immediately dispatched a gentleman to lord Broghill, to let him know that he intended to wait upon him. Broghill was surprised at this message, having never had the least acquaintance with Cromwell, and therefore desired the gentleman to let the general know that he would wait upon his excellency. But while he was expecting the return of the messenger, Cromwell entered the room; and, after mutual civilities, told him in few words, that the committee of state were apprised of his design of going over, and applying to Charles Stuart for a commission to raise forces in Ireland; and that they had determined to make an example of him, if he had not diverted them from that resolution. The lord Broghill interrupted him, and assured him that the intelligence which the committee had received was false; that he was neither in a capacity, nor had any inclination, to raise disturbances in Ireland; and concluded with entreating his excellency to have a kinder opinion of him. Cromwell, instead of making any reply, drew some papers out of. his pocket, which were the copies of several letters sent by lord Broghill to those persons in whom he most confided, and put them into his hands. Broghill, finding it was to no purpose to dissemble any longer, asked his excellency’s pardon for what he had said, returned him, Vol. VI. y his humble thanks for his protection against the committee, and entreated his advice how he ought to behave in so delicate a conjuncture. Cromwell told him, that though till this time he had been a stranger to his person, he was not so to his merit and character; that he had heard how gallantly his lordship had already behaved in the Irish wars; and therefore, since he was named lord lieutenant of Ireland, and the reducing that kingdom was now become his province, that he had obtained leave of the committee to offer his lordship the command of a general officer, if he would serve in that war: that he should have no oaths or engagements imposed upon him, nor be obliged to draw his sword against any but the Irish rebels. Lord Broghill was infinitely surprised at so generous and unexpected an offer: he saw himself at liberty, by all the rules of honour, to serve against the Irish, whose rebellion and barbarities were equally detested by the royal party and the parliament: he desired, however, the general to give him some time to consider of what he had proposed to him. Cromwell briskly told him, that he must come to some resolution that very instant; that he himself was returning to the committee, who were still sitting; and if his lordship rejected their offer, they had determined to send him to the Tower. Broghill,' rinding that his life and liberty were in the utmost danger, and charmed with the frankness and generosity of Cromwell’s behaviour, gave him his word and honour, that he would faithfully serve him against the Irish rebels; upon which, Cromwell once more assured him, that the conditions which he had made with him should be punctually observed; and then ordered him to repair immediately to Bristol, to which place forces should be sent him, with a sufficient number of ships to transport him into Ireland.
tenth year of her reign, raised him to the dignity of a British peer, under the title of lord Boyle, baron of Marston, in Somersetshire. On the accession of king George
, earl of Orrery, second son of
Roger second earl of Orrery, by lady Mary Sackville,
daughter to Richard earl of Dorset and Middlesex, was
born in August 1676, at his father’s house in Chelsea;
and at fifteen entered a nobleman of Christ-church, in
Oxford, under the care of Dr. Francis Atterbury, afterwards bishop of Rochester, and Dr. Freind. Dr. Aldrich,
the head of that society, observing his uncommon application, drew up for his use that compendium of logic
which is now read at Christ-church, wherein he styles him
“the great ornament of our college.
” Having quitted the
university, he was in
Orrery so far recovered his health and spirits as to be able to attend his public duty as an English baron. He took his seat in the house of peers in the session of parliament
In a few months lord Orrery so far recovered his health and spirits as to be able to attend his public duty as an English baron. He took his seat in the house of peers in the session of parliament which opened on the 13th of January, 1731-2, and soon distinguished himself by a speech in opposition to the ministry, against the mutiny-bill; the inconsistency of a standing army with the liberties of a free people being at that period the topic constantly insisted upon by the patriotic party. Though no notice is taken of his lordship’s speech in Timberland’s Debates, it is certain that he acquired considerable credit on this occasion. Mr. Budgell, in the dedication to his Memoirs of the Family of the Boyles, published in 1732, celebrates our noble lord as having displayed the united forces of reason and eloquence; and Mr. Ford, in a letter to Dr. Swift, written in the same year, mentions with pleasure a character which the dean had given of the earl of Orrery, and says, that he was extremely applauded for a speech he made against the army- bill. The approbation which his lordship received in this lirst exertion of his parliamentary talents, did not encourage him to become a public speaker; and we meet with only another instance in which he took any active part in a debate/ on the 13th of February, 1733-4, in favour of the duke of Marlborough’s bill for preventing the officers of the land forces from being deprived of their commissions, otherwise than by judgment of a court martial to be held for that purpose, or by address of either house of parliament. The delicacy of lord Orrery’s health, his passion for private life, and the occasions he had of sometimes residing in Ireland, seem to have precluded him from a very constant and regular attendance in the English house of peers. However, he did not fail to go thither when he apprehended himself to be called to it by particular duty; and we find his name to a considerable number of the protests which were so frequent during the grand opposition to sir Robert Waipole’s administration.
ery succeeded to that nobleman’s Irish tides, viz. earl of Cork, viscount Dungarvan, and lord Boyle, baron of Youghall. About this time, Mr. Moore undertook the periodical
On the 3d of December, 1753, by the death of Richard
the third earl of Burlington, and fourth earl of Cork,
without issue male, lord Orrery succeeded to that nobleman’s Irish tides, viz. earl of Cork, viscount Dungarvan, and
lord Boyle, baron of Youghall. About this time, Mr.
Moore undertook the periodical publication called “The
World;
” to which our noble author contributed three
papers, viz. No. 47, 68, 161. The two first are papers
of some humour, intended to ridicule the practice of duelling, as it prevailed in the last age; and the third is a
father’s account of his son, Charles lord Dungarvan, whose
weakness of temper was such, that he could not resist the
temptation to indulgences which at last proved fatal. The
earl of Cork was a contributor, likewise, to the “Connoisseur,
” carried on by Mr. Thornton and Mr. Coiman.
In the last number of this publication, G. K. which was his
lordship’s signature, is distinguished, by the ingenious
authors, as their “earliest and most frequent correspondent;
” and “we are sorry,
” they add, “that he will not
allow us to mention his name; since it would reflect as
much credit on our work, as we are sure will redound to
it from his compositions.
” His communications to the
“Connoisseur
” were the most part of No. 14 and 17 the
letter signed Goliah English, in No. 19 great part of
No. 33 and 40 and the letters, signed “Reginald Fitzworm,
” “Michael Krawbridge,
” “Moses Orthodox,
” and
“Thomas Vainall,
” in No. for humour, innocent humour, no one
had a truer taste, or better talent.
” On the 20th of September, 1754, the earl and countess of Cork, with their
daughter lady Lucy Boyle, began a tour to Italy. His
lordship’s chief object was Florence, in which city and its
neighbourhood he resided nearly a year. Whilst he was
at that place, he presented to the academy della Crusca,
his friend Dr. Samuel Johnson’s English Dictionary. His
inveterate enemy, the gout, introduced by a severe winter,
overtook him even in Italy, and prevented his attendance
on the exercises of the academy. He enjoyed, at Florence, a general esteem; and, by a free conversation with
books and men, and the assistance of manuscripts, collected materials for the History of Tuscany, which he
intended to write in a series of Letters, twelve of which
only he lived to finish. In November 1755; he arrived at
Marston, having, in his return to England, on account of
the commencement of the war with France, gone through
Germany and part of Holland. The situation of public
affairs, in this country, at the beginning of the year 1757,
being such as required, in our national councils, the
most exertion of wisdom and integrity, one of lord Cork’s
friends urged him, in an ode, to exchange his retirement
for a more active scene.
ey were all hanged.” Upon the accession of his late majesty king George I. in 1714, he was created a baron of this kingdom, by the title of baron Carleton of Carleton,
, Lord Carleton, and lord president of
the council in the reign of king George I. was descended
from Richard Boyle, first earl of Cork in Ireland, and was
third son of Charles lord Clifford of Lanesborough in the
county of York, by Jane, youngest daughter of William
Seymour, duke of Somerset. Being elected a member of
the house of commons, he scon distinguished himself to
such advantage, that in March 1700-1, he was appointed
chancellor and nnder-treasurer of the exchequer by king
William, and was admitted into a high degree of favour and
confidence with that prince. He continued in that post
till the 11th of February, 1707-8, when he was made one
of the principal secretaries of state, in the room of Robert
Harley, esq. and was consequently one of the ministry
when the reputation of England was carried to so great
an height, and when the queen obtained so many successes
in defence of the common cause of Europe. In this station he took all occasions of shewing his regard for men of
genius and learning; and soon after the battle of Blenheim, was employed by the lord treasurer Godolphin, at
the solicitation of the lord Halifax, to go to Mr. Addison,
and desire him to write some piece, which might transmit
the memory of that glorious victory to posterity. Mr. Addison, who was at that time but indifferently lodged, was
surprised with this visit from a person of Mr. Boyle’s rank
and station; who, after having acquainted him with his
business, added, that the lord treasurer, to encourage him
to enter upon this subject, had already made him one of
the commissioners of the appeals; but entreated him to
look upon that post only as an earnest of something more
considerable. In short, Mr. Boyle said so many obliging
things, and in so graceful a manner, as gave Mr. Addison
the utmost spirit and encouragement to begin that poem,
which he entitled “The Campaign;
” soon after the publication of which, he was, according to Mr. Boyle’s promise, preferred to a considerable post. In 1710, Mr.
Boyle was one of the managers at the trial of Dr. Sacheverell; but upon the general change of the ministry, not
long after, was dismissed from the post of secretary of state;
in which he was succeeded by Henry St. John, esq. afterwards lord viscount Bolingbroke. “I never,
” says Swift,
“remember such bold steps taken by a court; I am almost shocked at it, though I did not care if they were all
hanged.
” Upon the accession of his late majesty king
George I. in 1714, he was created a baron of this kingdom,
by the title of baron Carleton of Carleton, in the county
of York, and was soon after made lord president of the
council, in which post he continued till his death, which
happened on Sunday the 14th of March, 1724-5, at his
house in Pall-mall, now the residence of his royal highness the Prince Regent.
Mr. Budgell tells us, that he was endowed with great
prudence and a winning address; and that his long experience in public affairs had given him a thorough knowledge in business. He spoke frequently while he was a
member of the house of commons; and it was allowed by
very good judges, that he was never once known to say
an imprudent thing in a public debate, or to hurt the
cause which he engaged in; a circumstance peculiar to
himself above most other speakers in so public an assembly.
The author of the “Spectator,
” in the dedication to him
of the third volume of that work, observes likewise, that
there was no person, whose merit was more universally
acknowledged by all parties, and who had made himself
more friends and fewer enemies: that his great abilities
and unquestioned integrity in those high employments
which he had passed through, would not have been able
to have raised this general approbation, had they not been
accompanied with that moderation in a high fortune, and
that affability of manners, which were so conspicuous
through all parts of his life: that his aversion to any ostentatious arts of setting to show those great services which
he had done the public, contributed likewise not a little to
that universal acknowledgment which was paid him by his
country: and that he was equally remarkable for the great
figure which he made in the senate, as for that elegance
and politeness, which appeared in his more retired conversation. Davis, in his characters published under the
name of Mackay, says of him, “He is a good companion
in conversation; agreeable among the ladies; serves the
queen very assiduously in council; makes a considerable
figure in the house of commons; by his prudent administration obliges every body in the exchequer; and in time
may prove a great man.
” To this Swift added in his copy
of the book, “had some very scurvy qualities, particularly
avarice.
”
ther John (for he had two brothers of that name). This Edmund was summoned to parliament in 1530, as baron of Eaton Bray; but his son John lord Bray dying without issue
, was second son of sir Richard
Bray, one of the privy council to king Henry VI. who lies
buried in the north aile of Worcester cathedral, in which
county sir Reginald was born. One of this family (which were lords of Braie, or Bray, in Normandy) came with
William the Conqueror into England, where they flourished
in the counties of Northampton and Warwick; but Edmond, the father of sir Richard, is styled of Eton Bray, in
the county of Bedford, which county they had represented
in parliament in 18 Ed. I. and 6 Ed. II. In 1 Rich. III.
this Reginald had a general pardon granted to him, probably on account of his having taken part with Henry VI.
to whose cause he had a personal as well as hereditary
attachment being receiver- general to sir Henry Stafford,
who married Margaret, countess of Richmond, mother to
the earl of Richmond, afterward king Henry VII. and
continued in her service after the death of sir Henry, and
was put in trust for her dowry, on her marriage to Thomas,
earl of Derby. When the duke of Buckingham had concerted with Morton, bishop of Ely (then his prisoner at Brecknock in Wales), the marriage of the earl of Richmond with the princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edward I V. and the earl’s advancement to the throne, the
bishop recommended sir Reginald for the transaction of
the affair with the countess, telling the duke he had an old
friend with her, a man sober, secret, and well-witted,
called Reginald Bray, whose prudent policy he had known
to have compassed matters of great importance; and accordingly wrote to him in Lancashire, where he then was
with the countess, to come to Brecknock with all speed. He
readily obeyed the summons, entered heartily into the
design, and was very active in carrying it on; and soon
engaged sir Giles Daubeney (afterwards lord Daubeney),
sir John Ciieney, Richard GuiUbrd, esq. and many other
gentlemen of note, to take part with Henry. After the
success at Bosworth, he gradually rose into great favour
with the king, who eminently distinguished and liberally
rewarded his services. His attachment to that prince was
sincere and uriremitted; and such were his ptudence and
abilities, that he never forfeited the confidence he had
acquired, during an attendance of seventeen years on the
most suspicious monarch of his time. He was made a
knight banneret, probably at the battle of Bosworth; a
knight of the bath at the king’s coronation, and afterwards
a kni“ht of the garter. In the first year of the kind’s reign
he had a grant of the constableship of the castle of Oakham in Rutlandshire, and was appointed joint chie‘ justice,
with the lord Fitzwalter, of all the forests south of Trent,
and chosen of the privy council. After this he was appointed high-treasurer, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and nigh steward of the university of Oxford. At
the queen’s coronation, the ducliess of Norfolk, &c. sat at
one side-table at the other, lady Ferrars, v>f Chartley,
lady Bray, &c. At the christening of prince Arthur, sir
Reginald bore a rich salt of gold which was given by the
earl of Derby. He was amongst the knights bannerets
when Henry, the king’s second son, was created duke of
York in 1494. In the 7th year of the king, he by indenture covenanted to serve him in his wars beyond sea a
whole year, with twelve men, himself accompted, each
having his custrell and page, twenty-four demy lances,
seventy-seven archers on horseback, two hundred and
thirty-one archers, and bil’.es on foot twenty-four. In the
10th year he had a grant for life of the Isle of Wight,
castle of Carisbrook, and the manors of Swainston, Brixton,
Thorley, and Welow, in that isle, at th^ rent of 308l. 6s. 8rf.
Camden mentions the grant of the Isle of Wight at the
rent of 300 marks. In June 1497 he was at the battle of
Blackheath, when the lord Audley, having joined the
Cornish rebels, was taken prisoner; on whose execution
and attainder, his manor of Shire Vachery and Crap ley in
Surry, with a large estate there, was given to sir Reginald.
He received many other marks of the king’s bounty and
favour, and died 5th August 1503, possessed of a very
great estate; notwithstanding which, and his activity as
a minister, under a monarch whose love of, money was the
cause of great and just complaints amongst the people,
historians call him the father of his country, a sage and
grave person, a fervent lover of jusuce, and one who
would often admonish the king when he did any thing contrary to justice or equity. That he should do this, and
the king still continue his favour, is an ample proof of the
sense which his sovereign entertained of his services and
abilities. He appears to have taken great delight in architecture, and to have had no small skill in it, as he had
a principal concern and direction in building Henry Vllth’s
chapel in Westminster-abbey, and in the finishing and
bringing to perfection the chapel of St. George at Windsor, to which he was a liberal benefactor in his life-time,
and for the completion of which he made farther provision
by his will. His arms, crest, and device (R. B.) are exhibited on the cieling of the chapel at Windsor in many
places; and in the middle of the south aile is a spacious
chapel erected by him, and still called by his name, in
which also, by his own particular direction, he was interred, though his executors neglected to erect a tomb for
him, as he desired. Perhaps they thought his merit would
be the most lasting monument. It is supposed that he
is buried under the stone which covers Dr. Waterland;
for, on opening the vault for that gentleman, who died in
1740, a leaden coffin, of ancient form and make, was
found, which by other appearances also was judged to be
that of sir Reginald, and was, by order of the dean, immediately arcned over with great decency. He was of
great devotion, according to the piety of the times, and a
bountiful friend, in his life-time, to many churches. In
one of the letters of the dean and chapter of Westminster, John, abbot of Newminster in Northumberland, addresses him as founder of the monastery of Pipwell (in Northamptonshire); but this must be on account of some
donations, as that house was founded by William Boutevileyr in 1143. In 1494, being then high steward of Oxford, he gave 40 marks to repair the church of St. Mary’s,
in a window of which were the figures of him and his wife
kneeling, their coats of arms on their backs, remaining in
1584. The dean and chapter of Lincoln, in recompence
for his services to them, receive him and my lady his wife
to be brother and sister of their chapter, and to be partakers of all suffrages, prayers, masses, fastings, almsdeeds, and other good deeds, whatever they be, done in
the said church, both in their lives and after their deceases. The prior of the cathedral church of Durham
receives him in like manner. In a south window of the
priory church of Great Malvern in Worcestershire, were
the portraits of Henry VII. Elizabeth his queen, prince
Arthur, sir Reginald Bray, John Savage, and Thomas
LoveJ), esquires, with their coats of arms on their armour,
and the following words underneath:
” Orate pro bono
statu nobilissimi et excellentissimi Regis Henrici Septimi
et Elizabeths Reginse, ac Domini Arthuri Principis filii
eorundem, nee not) praedilectissimae consortis suoe, ac suorum trium militum." The portraits of the king and sir
Reginald remained in 1774, and are engraved in Mr.
Strutt’s View of the Arms and Habits of the English, vol. II,
plate 60. The others have been broken and destroyed.
He had no issue, and his elder brother John having only
one daughter, married to sir William Sandes, afterwards
lord Sandes of the Vine, he left the bulk of his fortune to
Edmund, eldest son of his younger brother John (for he had two brothers of that name). This Edmund was summoned to parliament in 1530, as baron of Eaton Bray;
but his son John lord Bray dying without issue in 1557,
the estate was divided amongst six daughters of Edmund.
Sir Reginald left very considerable estates to Edward and
Reginald, younger brothers of Edmund. From Edward
the manor of Shire Vachery and Cranley, above mentioned,
has descended to the rev. George Bray, who was owner in
1778. Reginald settled at Barrington in Gloucestershire,
where the male line of that branch became extinct about
sixty years ago.
cruple, until by frequent discourse on the subject of parties, with his near relation the lord chief baron Gilbert, who endeavoured to bring him over to the whigs, that
At each of these institutions he took the oath of abjuration, and without scruple, until by frequent discourse on the subject of parties, with his near relation the lord chief baron Gilbert, who endeavoured to bring him over to the whigs, that he might have the better opportunity of recommending him to higher preferment, he unwittingly opened his eyes, as he terms it, and rivetted him the firmer in his former opinions; and, upon reading the trial of Dr. Sacheverel, published soon after, he began in earnest to believe he had taken oaths which he ought not to have taken, and resolved never to repeat them. In this dilemma, however, he had no scruple about the schism in the church, nor about continuing to pray for a prince in possession of the throne, until upon the accession of a new one, an act of parliament was made obliging all persons to take the oaths afresh. But this, in the present state of his conscience, he could not comply with, and wrote to his patron the archbishop, in April 1715, desiring he would give him leave to resign his livings, to which his grace answered very kindly, that he would advise him to consider farther of it, and not to do that rashly of which he might afterwards repent. Dr. Brett accordingly took his advice, and made no resignation, considering that his non-compliance with the act of parliament would' in a short time vacate them of course. He left off, however, to officiate in either of them, but still went to his own parish church as a lay communicant, until Mr. Campbell wrote to him, by order of bishop Hickes, (who had got some information of his resolution) pressing him earnestly to refrain entirely from all communion with the parish churches, urging the point of schism. On this he had recourse to ?.lr. Dodwell’s tracts on that subject, whose arguments not satisfying his mind, he resolved to surrender himself up to bishop Hickes, and upon a penitential confession, was received into his communion July 1, 1715, who from this time appears to have had a great influence over him.
was called to be a serjeant by the king’s special writ, and on June 1, was advanced to be lord chief baron of the exchequer, from which, Oct. 22, he was removed to be
, a lawyer of considerable eminence, was the son of Dr. John Bridgeman, bishop
of Chester, and educated to the profession of the law, in
which, as he disapproved of the usurpation, he made no
figure until the restoration, when on May 13, 1660, he was
called to be a serjeant by the king’s special writ, and on
June 1, was advanced to be lord chief baron of the exchequer, from which, Oct. 22, he was removed to be lord chief
justice of the common pleas. While he presided in this’
court, his reputation was at its height for equity and moderation. In 1667, when the great seal was taken from
lord Clarendon, the king delivered it, August 13, to sir
Orlando, with the title of Keeper. After this, his good
name began to decline: he was timid and irresolute, and
his timidity still increased with his years: nor was his
judgment equal to all the difficulties of his office. His
Jady, a woman of cunning and intrigue, was too apt to interfere in chancery suits; and his sons, who practised under him, did not bear the fairest characters. He was desirous of an union with Scotland, and a comprehepsion
with the dissenters: but was against tolerating the papists.
He is said to have been removed from his office for refusing
to affix the seal to the king’s declaration for liberty of conscience, Nov. 17, 1672. The time of his death we have
not been able to ascertain, but a singular account of his
son sir Orlando, may be seen in the Biog. Brit. vol. VI.
p. 3740. The lord-keeper is known as a law writer, by his
“Conveyances, being select precedents of deeds and instruments concerning the most considerable estates in
England,
”
tiquaries, he enriched their volumes with some curious papers relative to the ancient seal of Robert baron Fitzwaltet, and those of queens Catharine Parr and Mary d'Este;
Mr. Brooke, by a well-regulated ceconomy, had acquired about 14,000l. By his will he appointed his two sisters executrixes and residuary legatees, and bequeathed his Mss. to the college of arms. He made many collections, chiefly relative to the county of York. His father inheriting the Mss. of his great uncle, the rev. Brooke, which he had made as a foundation for the topography of that great division of the kingdom, they came into his hands, and he greatly enlarged them by his own industry, and by copying the manuscripts of Jennings and Tellyson, which treated upon the same subject. His collections were not confined to Britain; but he added much to his literary labours whilst on a tour to the continent. The whole shew his judgment as well as application. Becoming, April 6, 1775, a member of the society of antiquaries, he enriched their volumes with some curious papers relative to the ancient seal of Robert baron Fitzwaltet, and those of queens Catharine Parr and Mary d'Este; illustrations of a Saxon inscription in Kirkdale church, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and another in Aldborough church, in Holderness; and of a deed belonging to the manor of Nether-Sillington, in Yorkshire. Some items of his, signed J. B. appear in the Gentleman’s Magazine; and the first writers of the age in history, biography, and topography, have been indebted to him.
ew probably to expel him the college, it was solemnly argued, whether he was a herald; but the chief baron of the exchequer, Whitfield, decided in his favour. Dec. 4,
1621, with a view probably to expel him the college, it was solemnly argued, whether he was a herald; but the chief baron of the exchequer, Whitfield, decided in his favour. Dec. 4, he and Creswell, Somerset herald, were sentenced to the Marshaisea for having spoken contemptuously of the Earl Marshal. Cresweil was obliged to resign, but Brooke died in his office, universally despised, Oct. 15, 1625, and was buried in the church of Reculver in Kent.
, a celebrated general of the eighteenth century, was the son of Ulysses, baron de Brown, colonel of a regiment of cuirassiers in the service
, a celebrated general of the eighteenth century, was the son of Ulysses, baron
de Brown, colonel of a regiment of cuirassiers in the service of the emperors Leopold and Joseph, created in
1716, by the emperor Charles VI. a count of the holy Roman empire, his younger brother George receiving the
like dignity at the same time, who was general of foot,
counsellor of war, and a colonel of a regiment of infantry,
under Charles -VI. They were of an ancient and noble
family in Ireland. The subject of the present memoir
was born at Basle, Oct. 24, 1705-. After having passed
through the lessons of a school at Limerick in Ireland, he
was called to Hungary at ten years of age, by count
George de Brown, his uncle, and was present at the famous siege of Belgrade in 1717; about the close of the
year 1723, he became captain in his uncle’s regiment, and
then lieutenant-colonel in 1725. He went to the island of
Corsica in 1730, with a battalion of his regiment, and contributed greatly to the capture of Callansana, where he
received a wound of some consequence in his thigh. He
was appointed chamberlain to the emperor in 1732, and
colonel in 1734. He distinguished himself in the war of,
Italy, especially in the battles of Parma and Guastalla,
and burnt, in presence of the French army, the bridge
which the marechal de Noailles had thrown across the
Adige. Being appointed general in 1736, he favoured,
the year following, the retreat of the army, by a judicious
manoeuvre, and saved all the baggage at the memorable
day of Banjaluca in Bosnia, Aug. 3, 1737. This signal
piece of service procured him a second regiment of infantry, vacant by the death of count Francis de Wallis. On
his return to Vienna in 1739, the emperor Charles VI.
raised him to the dignity of general-neld-marechal-lieute.^
nanr, and gave him a seat in the Aulic council of war.
After the death of that prince, the king of Prussia having
entered Silesia, count de Brown, with but a small body oi
troops, disputed with him every foot of ground for the
space of two months. He commanded in 1741 the infantry of the right wing of the Austrian army at the battle of
Molvitz; and, though wounded, made a handsome retreat.
He then went into Bavaria, where he commanded the van
of the same army, made himself master of Deckendorf, an4
took much of the enemy’s baggage, and forced the French
to quit the banks of the Danube, which the Austrian army
afterwards passed in perfect safety; in commemoration of
which, a marble pillar was erected on the spot, with the
following inscription: “Theresise Austriacae Augustse Duce
Exercitus Carolo Alexandro Lotharingico, septemdecirn
superatis hostilibus VilHs, captoque Deckendorfio, renitentibus undis, resistentibus Gallis, Duce Exercitus Ludovico Borbonio Contio, transivit hie Danubium Ulysses
Maximilianus, S. R. I. Comes de Brown, Locumtenens
Campi Marashallusj Die 5 Junii, A. D. 1743.
” The queen
of Hungary sent him the s^me year to Worms, in quality
of her plenipotentiary to the king of Great Britain: where
he put the finishing Hand to the/ treaty of alliance between the courts of Vienna, London, and Turin, and she
declared him her actual privy counsellor at her coronation
qf Bohemia. The count de Brown, in 1744, followed
prince Lobkovitz jnto Italy, took the city of Veletri the
4th of August, notwithstanding the great superiority of the
enemy in numbers, penetrated into their camp, defeated
several regiments, and took a great many prisoners. Being
recalled to Bavaria, he performed several military exploits,
and returned to Italy in 1746. He drove the Spaniards
out of the Milanese; and, having joined the army of the
prince de Lichtenstein, he commanded the left wing of
the Austrian troops at the battle of Placentia, the 15th of
June 1746; and routed the right wing of the enemy’s
army, commanded by the marechal de Maillebois. After
this famous battle, the gaining of which was due to him, he
commanded in chief the army ordered against the Genoese,
made himself master of the pass of la Bochetta, though
defended by 4000 men, and took possession of the city of
Genoa. Count Brown then went to join the troops of the
king of Sardinia, and, in conjunction with him, took Montalbano and the territory of Nice. He passed the Var the
30th of November, in opposition to the French troops,
entered Provence, and captured the isles of Saint-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat. He had nearly made himself
master of all Provence, when the revolution at Genoa and
the army of the marechal de Belleisle obliged him to make
that fine retreat which acquired him the admiration of all
good judges of. military tactics. He employed the rest of
the year 1747 in defending the states of the house of
Austria in Italy. The empress-queen of Hungary, in reward of his signal campaigns in Italy, made him governor
of Transylvania in 1749. In 1752 he had the government
of the city of Prague, with the general command of the
troops of that kingdom; and the king of Poland, elector
of Saxony, honoured him in 1755 with the order of the
white eagle. The king of Prussia having invaded Saxony
in 1756, and attacked Bohemia, count Brown marched
against him; he repulsed that prince at the battle of Lobositz the 1st of October, although he had but 26,800
men, and the king of Prussia was at the head of at least
40,000. Within a week after this engagement, he undertook that celebrated march into Saxony, for delivering the
Saxon troops shut up between Pirna and Konigstein:
an action worthy of the greatest general whether ancient or
modern. He afterwards obliged the Prussians to retreat
from Bohemia; for which service he obtained the collar
of the golden fleece, with which he was honoured by
the empress March 6, 1757. Shortly after this count
Brown went into Bohemia, where he raised troops with the
utmost expedition, in order to make head against the king
of Prussia, who had entered it afresh at the head of his
whole army. On May 6th was fought the famous battle of
Potshernitz, or of Prague, when count Brown was dangerously wounded. Obliged to retire to Prague, he there
died of his wounds, the 26th of June 1757, at the age of
52. The count was not only a great general, he was an
equally able negotiator, and well skilled in politics. He
married, Aug. 15, 1726, Maria Philippina countess of Mar
tinitz, of an illustrious and ancient family in Bohemia, by
whom he had two sons. The life of this excellent commander was published in two separate volumes, one in
German, the other in French, printed at Prague in 1757.
dicine at Heidelberg, and first physician to the elector palatine, who conferred on him the title of baron de Brunn in Hamerstein. About the same time, he niarried one
, a Swiss physician and anatomist of eminence, was born at Diessenhofen, the 16th of
January, 1653. After passing through the usual school
education, he was sent, at the age of sixteen, to Strasburgh, where, applying assiduously to the study of physic
and anatomy, he was created doctor in medicine in 1672.
For his thesis, he gave the anatomy of a child with two
heads, which he met with. He now went to Paris, and
attended the schools and hospitals there with such assiduity, as to attract the notice, and gain him the intimacy
of Dionis and du Verny, who were present while he made
the experiments on the pancreas, which enabled him, some
years after, to publish a more accurate description of that
viscus, than had been before given, under the title of “Experimenta nova circa Pancreas. Accedit Diatribe de Lympha et genuine Pancreatis usu,
” Leidse, Dissertatio Anatomica de Glandula pituitaria,
” Heidelb. 4to. From
this time he became in such great request for his knowledge and success in practice, that he was, in succession,
consulted by most of the princes in Germany. Among
others, in 1720, he was sent for to Hanover, to attend the
prince of Wales, afterwards king George II. In 1715 he
published at Heidelberg, “Glandula Duodeni sen Pancreas secundum detectum,
” 4to, which was only an improved edition of his “De Glandulis in Duodeno Intestino
detectis,
” which had been before twice printed. There
are some other lesser works, the titles and accounts of
which are given by Haller, in his Bib. Anat. In the latter
edition of Wepfer’s works are given dissections by our author, of the heads of some persons who died of apoplexy,
of whom he had had the care. Though early afflicted with
gravel, and in the latter part of his life with gout, he continued to attend to the calls of his patients, though living
a great distance from his residence. When in his 74th
year, he went in great haste to Munich, to attend the
elector Maximilian Emanuel; on his return, he was seized
with a fever, which, in a few days, put an end to his life,
October 2, 1727.
d, among others of the most eminent inhabitants, was in great favour with sir Thomas Hilton, knight, baron of Hilton, to whom he dedicated a book in the last year of queen
, a learned English physician
and botanist, was descended from an ancient family, and
born in the isle of Ely, about the beginning of Henry the
Eighth’s reign. He was bred up at Cambridge, as some
say, at Oxford according to others; but probably both
those nurseries of learning had a share in his education.
We know, however, but little of his personal history,
though he was famous in his profession, and a member of
the college of physicians in London, except what we are
able to collect from his works. Tanner says, that he was
a divine, as well as a physician; that he wrote a book
against transubstantiation; and that in June 1550 he was
inducted into the rectory of Blaxhall, in Suffolk, which
he resigned in November 1554. From his works we learn
that he had been a traveller over several parts of Germany,
Scotland, and especially England; and he seems to have
made it his business to acquaint himself with the natural
history of each place, and with the products of its soil.
It appears, however, that he was more permanently settled
at Durham, where he, practised physic with great reputation; and, among others of the most eminent inhabitants,
was in great favour with sir Thomas Hilton, knight, baron
of Hilton, to whom he dedicated a book in the last year
of queen Mary’s reign. In 1560, he went to London,
where, to his infinite surprise, he found himself accused
by Mr. William Hilton of Biddick, of having murdered his
brother, the baron aforesaid; who really died among his
own friends of a malignant fever. The innocent doctor
was easily cleared, yet his enemy hired some ruffians to
assassinate him, and when disappointed in this, arrested
Dr. Bulleyn in an action, and confined him in prison a
long time; where he wrote some of his medical treatises.
He was a very learned, experienced, and able physician.
He was very intimate with the works of the ancient physicians and naturalists, both Greek, Roman, and Arabian.
He was also a man of probity and piety, and though he
Jived in the times of popery, does not appear to have been
tainted with its principles. He died Jan. 7, 1576, and
was buried in the same grave with his brother Richard
Bulleyn, a divine, who died thirteen years before, in the
church of St. Giles, Cripplegate. There is an inscription
on their tomb, with some Latin verses, in which they are
celebrated as men famous for their learning and piety. Of
Dr. Bulleyn particularly it is said, that he was always as
ready to accommodate the poor as the rich, with medicines for the relief of their distempers. There is a profile
of Bulleyn, with a long beard, before his “Government
of Health,
” and a whole-length of him in wood, prefixed
to his “Bulwarke of defence.
” He was an ancestor of the
late Dr. Stukeley, who, in 1722, was at the expence of
having a small head of him engraved.
t and Dr. Tillotson, in the treaty proposed by sir Orlando Bridgeman, and countenanced by lord chief baron Hale, for a comprehension;vith the Dissenters. About a year
, a divine of distinguished abilities, was educated in Magdalen college, Cambridge, of
which he became a fellow, and where he was an eminent
tutor. He was ordained priest by bishop Sanderson; and,
in 1667, was appointed chaplain to lord keeper Bridgeman, by whom he was presented to a prebend of Norwich,
and to the rectory of St. George’s in Southwark. In 1668,
he was engaged, with Dr. Stiliingfleet and Dr. Tillotson,
in the treaty proposed by sir Orlando Bridgeman, and
countenanced by lord chief baron Hale, for a comprehension;vith the Dissenters. About a year before his death,
Oct. 19, 1680, Dr. Burton, by the interest of his friend
Tillotson with the Chapter of St. Paul’s, obtained the rectory of Barnes in Surry, at which place he died, of a malignant fever, in 1681. The only thing of his that appeared during his life, was the short “Alloquium ad Lectorem,
” prefixed to Dr. Cumberland’s treatise “De Legibus Naturae.
” After Dr. Burton’s decease, dean Tillotson published two volumes of his discourses, which reflect
great credit on his memory, from the piety and just sentiments they abound with on the nature and end of religion.
his most honourable privy-council; and on Sept 19, 1721 he was called to the peerage by the title of baron Byng, of Southill, in the county of Bedford, and viscount Torrington,
During the summer of 1705, he commanded in chief a squadron in the channel, and blocked up the French fleet in Brest, with a much inferior strength. In 1706, king Charles of Spain, the late emperor, being closely beseiged in Barcelona, by sea and land, by the duke of Anjou, and the place reduced to great extremity, and our fleet in the Mediterranean being too weak to relieve it, sir George Byng was appointed to command a strong squadron fitting out in England; in the hastening of which service, he used such diligence and activity, and joined our fleet with such unexpected dispatch, that the saving of that city was entirely owing to it. He assisted at the other enterprizes of that campaign, and commanded the ships detached for the reduction of Carthagena and Alicant, which he accomplished. In 1707 he served in the second post under Sir Cloudesley Shovel, at the seige of Toulon: and the year following was made admiral of the blue, and commanded the squadron which was fitted out to oppose the invasion designed against Scotland by the pretender with a French army from Dunkirk; which he fortunately prevented, by arriving off the Frith of Edinburgh before their troops could land, and obliged them to betake themselves to flight. On his return from this expedition, he was offered by the queen the place of one of the prince of Denmark’s council in the admiralty, which he then declined. He continued to command all that summer in the channel, and upon the marriage of the queen of Portugal, had the honour of conducting her majesty to Lisbon, where a commission was sent to him to be admiral of the white. In 1709 he commanded in chief her majesty’s fleet in the Mediterranean; and, after his return to England, was made one of the commissioners of the admiralty, and continued so till some time before the queen’s death; when, not falling in with the measures of the court, he was removed, but upon the accession of George I. he was restored to that station. In 1715, upon the breaking out of the rebellion which was at first secretly supported with arms "and warlike stores from France, he was appointed to command a squadron, with which he kept such a watchful eye along the French coast, by examining ships even in their ports, and obtaining orders from the court of France to put on shore at Havre de Grace great quantities of arms and ammunition shipped there for the pretender’s service; that, in reward for his services, the king on Nov. 15, 1715, created him a baronet, and gave him a ring of great value, and other marks of his royal favour. In 1717, upon the discovery of some secret practices of the ministers of Sweden against this kingdom, he was sent with a squadron into the Baltic, and prevented the Swedes appearing at sea. In 1718 he was made admiral and commander in chief of the fleet, and being sent with a squadron into the Mediterranean for the protection of Italy, according to the obligation England was under by treaty, against the invasion of the Spaniards, who had the year before surprized Sardinia, and had this year landed an army in Sicily, he gave a total defeat to their fleet near Messina: for which action he was honoured with a letter from the king, written with his own hand, and received congratulatory letters from the emperor and the king of Sardinia; and was further honoured by his imperial majesty with his picture set in diamonds. He remained for some time in these seas, for composing and adjusting the differences between the several powers concerned, being vested with the character of plenipotentiary to all the princes of Italy; and that year and the next he supported the German arms in their expedition to Sicily; and enabled them, by his assistance, to subdue the greatest part of that island. After performing so many signal services, he attended his majesty, by his command, at Hanover, who made him rear-admiral of England, and treasurer of the navy, and, on his return to England, one of his most honourable privy-council; and on Sept 19, 1721 he was called to the peerage by the title of baron Byng, of Southill, in the county of Bedford, and viscount Torrington, in Devonshire; and 1725 was made one of the knights of the bath on the revival of that order. In 1727, his late majesty, on his accession to the crown, placed him at the head of his naval affairs, as first lord of the admiralty, in which station he died, Jan. 17, 1732-3; and was interred at Southill, in Bedfordshire. Lord Torrington married, in 1691, Mary, daughter of James Master, of East Langdon, in the county of Kent, esq. by whom (who died in 1756) he had eleven sons and four daughters. His fourth son, was the unfortunate John Byng, admiral of the blue, who was condemned by the sentence, of a court-martial in 1757, and shot at Portsmouth March 14th of that year, for a breach of the twelfth article of war. From the best accounts published on this affair, it may be concluded that he was a sacrifice to popular clamour artfully directed to the wrong object.
9, to the duke of Marl bo rough’s camp, upon his parole and five days after he was exchanged for the baron Palavicini, a major-general in the French service, taken at
, first earl of Cadogan, the son of Henry Cadogan, a counsellor at law, by Bridget, daughter to sir Hardress Waller, knt. was educated to a military life, and in 1701 was made quarter-master-general of the army. In 1703 he was constituted colonel of the second regiment of horse, and on August 25, 1704, brigadiergeneral, having that year behaved with great gallantry at the attack of Schellenberg, and the battle of Hochstet. In June 1705 he was elected member of parliament for Woodstock; and on July 18th of the same year, at the forcing of the French lines near Tirlemont, he behaved with remarkable bravery at the head of his regiment, xvhich first attacking the enemy had such success, that they defeated four squadrons of Bavarian guards, drove them through two battalions of their foot, and took four standards. He was also in the battle of Ramilies, fought on May 12, 1706; after which the duke of Marlborough sent from his camp at Meerlebeck, on June 3, brigadier Cadogan, with six squadrons of horse, and his letter to the governor of Antwerp, to invite him and the garrison to the obedience of king Charles III. and having reported to his grace that ten battalions were in the city and castle of Antwerp, who seemed inclined to surrender on honourable terms, the duke sent him authority to treat with them. And after some conferences, they complied, and the garrison, consisting of six French and six Spanish regiments, were allowed to march out in three days, and be conducted to Quesnoy. But of the Walloon regiment, consisting of 600 men each, only 372 men marched out; the rest entering into the service of king Charles, except some few who were not in condition to serve, and returned to their respective dwellings. Afterwards, towards the close of the campaign that year, he was taken prisoner when on a foraging party, and was carried into Tournay, but he remained there only three days, the duke of Vendosme sending him, on August 19, to the duke of Marl bo rough’s camp, upon his parole and five days after he was exchanged for the baron Palavicini, a major-general in the French service, taken at the battle of Ramilies. On Jan. 1, 1706-7, he was promoted to the rank of major-general of her majesty’s forces. On Mr. Stepney’s decease in 1707, he succeeded him as minister plenipotentiary in the government of the Spanish Netherlands. And he soon after, in conference, brought to a conclusion the negotiation for the speedy exchange of prisoners; and, having shared in the most difficult enterprizes throughout the war, was constituted a lieutenant-general on January 10, 1708-9.
tle in June 1716, and on the 30th of the same month was created a peer by the title of Lord Cadogan, baron of Reading. His lordship soon after was again sent ambassador
When the duke of Marlborough was disgraced, and went abroad, he resigned all his employments, choosing, as he had a share in his grace’s prosperity, to be a partaker in his adversity; but first served the campaign, in 1712, under the duke of Ormond. At the accession of George I. on August 1, 1714, he was made master of the robes, and colonel of the second regiment of foot-guards; also envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States General. In 1715, he was appointed governor of the Isle of Wight; and having extinguished the remains of the rebellion in Scotland, he was elected a knight of the thistle in June 1716, and on the 30th of the same month was created a peer by the title of Lord Cadogan, baron of Reading. His lordship soon after was again sent ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States of Holland; and arriving at Brussels, on Sept. 15, 1716, signed, at the Hague, the treaty of defensive alliance between Great Britain, France,and the States General. He set out for Utrecht, on Jan. 28, 1716, to wait on the king, expected there that afternoon; who was pleased to command his attending him to Great Britain. And Mr. Leathes, his majesty’s secretary at Brusels, was appointed to reside at the Hague, during his lordship’s absence.
gland, on Nov. 7, and put to sea the same evening. Qn May 8, 1718, he was advanced to the dignity of Baron of Oakley, viscount Caversham, and earl of Cadogan, with remainder
On lis return, he was sworn of the privy council, on March 30, 1717; and in the month of July ensuing, was constituted general of all his majesty’s foot forces employed, or to be employed, in his service. The following year he was again appointed ambassador extraordinary at the Hague, where he arrived on Sept. 17, 1717; and, havingbrought his negotiations to a conclusion, embarked at the Brill for England, on Nov. 7, and put to sea the same evening. Qn May 8, 1718, he was advanced to the dignity of Baron of Oakley, viscount Caversham, and earl of Cadogan, with remainder of the barony of Oakley to Charles his brother. He set out for the Hague immediately after, where he arrived May 15, 1718, and on the 18th was visited by the public ministers, and by the president of the States General in the name of that body. Ten days after he was at Antwerp, where he conferred with tjie marquis de Prie, governor for the emperor in the Netherlands, in order to put an end to the difficulties that had long obstructed the execution of the barrier treaty; and bringing him to comply with what was demanded, he returned to the Hague on June 2 following, and communicated to the States his transactions at Antwerp, who appeared sensible of his friendly offices, and of the great obligations they were under to his Britannic majesty. And having fixed for his public entry the king his master’s birth-day, it was conducted with great splendour and magnificence. He then laboured with great diligence to adjust the difficulties, which deferred the finishing of the convention for the entire execution of the treaty of barrier, and had frequent conferences with the Imperial ministers and the State? General for that purpose.
, grand nephew of the preceding, and second son of Charles Sloan Cadogan, third baron, and first earl Cadogan of the new creation (1800), was born
, grand nephew of the preceding, and second son of Charles Sloan Cadogan, third baron, and first earl Cadogan of the new creation (1800), was born Jan. 22, 1751, at his father’s house in Bruton-street, and was educated at Westminster-school, whence he was removed to Christ church college, Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A. At this university, he distinguished himself by obtaining several prizes for classical learning, and by a diligent application to the study of the holy scriptures. In 1774, the vicarage of St. Giles’s, Reading, became vacant, by the death of the rev. William Talbot, a very popular preacher of Calvinistic principles, and was conferred on Mr. Cadogan, unsolicited, in the following manner. Lord Bathurst, who was then chancellor, called at lord Cadogan’s house in Privy Gardens, and desired to see him. Lord Cadogan was not at home; and the servants, seeing lord Bathurst plainly dressed, admitted him no farther than the hall, on the table of which he wrote a note, requesting lord Cadogan to accept the vicarage of St. Giles’s for his son. The offer of so valuable a preferment, and so near to the family seat at Caversham, was peculiarly acceptable to lord Cadogan: but his son not being in priest’s orders, it was held by sequestration till he was ordained priest in 1775. Soon after, he was presented by lord Cadogan to the rectory of Chelsea, but as he could not hold two livings without being a master of arts, that degree was conferred upon him by archbishop Cornwallis and in the following year, being then of sufficient standing in the university, he was regularly admitted to the same degree of Oxford.
ion of importance to the protestant cause. His life has been written by Gui Allard, with that of the baron des Adrets, and Dupuy Monbrun, Grenoble, 1675, 12mo.
, a native of Saint Jean, near
Voiron in Dauphiny, was secretary to M. de Lesdiguieres,
and minister of the reformed religion, afterwards chancellor of Navarre. Henry IV. had a particular esteem for
him, and employed him in affairs of the highest importance. Calignon and Thuanus together drew up the edict
of Nantes. He died September 1606, at Paris, aged fiftysix, much lamented. He was a man of great learning,
and well skilled in the management of affairs. A satire
written by him, entitled “Le Mepris des Dames,
” has been
preserved to us by du Verdier Vauprivas. “L 7 Histoire
des choses plus remarquables advenues en France en Annies 1587, 1588, et 1589, par S. C.
” printed
and in Feb. 1625 created him (by the name of sir George Calvert of Danbywiske in Yorkshire, knight) baron of Baltimore in the county of Longford in Ireland. He was at
, descended from the ancient and noble house of Calvert, in the earldom of Flanders, and afterwards created lord Baltimore, was born at Kipling in Yorkshire, about 1582. In 1593 he became a commoner of Trinity college, Oxford, and in Feb. 1597 he took the degree of B. A. At his return from his travels he was made secretary to Robert Cecil, one of the principal secretaries of state to James I. who continued him in his service when he was raised to the office of lord high -treasurer. On Aug. 30, 1605, when king James was entertained by the university of Oxford, he was created M. A. with several noblemen and gentlemen. Afterwards he was made one of the clerks of the privy council, and in 1617 received the honour of knighthood, and in Feb. 1619 he was appointed to be one of the principal secretaries of state. Thinking the duke of Buckingham had been the chief instrument of his preferment, he presented him with a jewel of great value; but the duke returned it, acknowledging he had no hand in his advancement, for that his majesty alone had made choice of him on account of his great abilities. In May 1620 the king granted him a yearly pension of 1000l. out of the customs. After having held the seals about five years, he resigned them in 1624, frankly owning to the king, that he was become a Roman catholic. The king, nevertheless, continued him a privy counsellor all his reign; and in Feb. 1625 created him (by the name of sir George Calvert of Danbywiske in Yorkshire, knight) baron of Baltimore in the county of Longford in Ireland. He was at that time a representative in parliament for the university of Oxford.
ntance commenced with the two Carews, Richard and George; the latter of whom was by James I. created baron Clopton, and by Charles I. earl of Totness; and it has been
From this school he was removed when about fifteen, years old, in 1566, to Oxford, and entered as a servitor at Magdalen college; and in the school belonging to that college perfected himself in grammar learning under Dr. Thomas Cooper, afterwards bishop of Lincoln and Winchester; but being disappointed of a demi’s place, he removed to Broadgate-hall, now Pembroke college, by the invitation of Dr. Thomas Thornton, canon of Christ church, his patron and tutor, and who had the honour to be tutor both to Camden and to sir Philip Sidney. Camden left behind him in Broadgate-hall a signal mark of the respect paid him by his contemporaries in the short Latin graces composed by him, which were used many years after by the scholars of this society. Three years after he removed from hence to Christ church, on the promotion of Dr. Thornton to a canon ry there. This kind patron provided for him during the rest of his continuance at the university, and he lived in his patron’s lodgings. At this time his acquaintance commenced with the two Carews, Richard and George; the latter of whom was by James I. created baron Clopton, and by Charles I. earl of Totness; and it has been supposed, as they were both antiquaries, their conversation might give Mr. Camden a turn to that study, which he himself informs us he had strongly imbibed before he left school, and improved at Oxford. He was also acquainted with John Packington, Stephen Powel, and Edward Lucy, knights.
, second duke of Argyle, and duke of Greenwich and baron of Chatham, grandson to the unfortunate earl of Argyle, was
, second duke of Argyle, and duke of Greenwich and baron of Chatham, grandson to the unfortunate earl of Argyle, was born on the 10th of October, 1678. He was son to Archibald, duke of Argyle, by Elizabeth, daughter of sir Lionel Talmash, of Helmingham, in the county of Suffolk. He very early -gave signs of spirit and capacity, and at the age of fifteen, made considerable progress in classical learning, and in some branches of philosophy, under the tuition of Mr. Walter Campbell, afterwards minister of Dunoon, in Argyleshire. It soon, however, appeared, that his disposition was towards a military life; and being introduced at the court of king William, under the title of Lord Lorn, he was preferred by that prince to the command of a regiment of foot in 1694, when he was not quite seventeen years of age; and in that station he gave signal proofs of courage and military capacity during the remainder of king William’s reign, and till the death of his father, the first duke of Argyle, 28th of September, 1703, whom he succeeded in his honours and estate and was soon after sworn of queen Anne’s privy council, appointed captain of the Scotch horseguards, and one of the extraordinary lords of session. He was likewise made one of the knights of the order of the thistle the following year, on the restoration of that order.
re; for which, on his arrival in England, her majesty created him a peer of England, by the title of Baron of Chatham, and Earl of Greenwich. In 1706, he made a campaign
In 1705, he was nominated her majesty’s lord high commissioner to the Scottish parliament, though he was then
only twenty-three years of age, an appointment which gave
much satisfaction to that nation, where, on his arrival, he
was received with unusual ceremony. On the 28th of
June, his grace opened the parliament by a speech, and
was so well convinced of the advantages which would result to both kingdoms from an union between England and
Scotland, that he employed his whole interest in the promotion of that measure; for which, on his arrival in England, her majesty created him a peer of England, by the
title of Baron of Chatham, and Earl of Greenwich. In
1706, he made a campaign under the duke of Marlborough;
and greatly distinguished himself by his courage and conduct in the battle of Ramillies, in which he acted as a brigadier-general; and also at the siege of Ostend, and in the
attack of Menin, of which his grace took possession on the
25th of August. After that event, he returned to Scotland, in order to be present in the parliament of that kingdom, when the treaty for the union was agitated; and was,
as before, very active in the promotion of it, though he
declined being one of the commissioners. When a riotous
multitude came to the parliament-close, demanding, with
loud clamours, “That the treaty of union should be rejected,
” his grace went out of the house, and appeased the
people who were assembled, by the calmness and strength
of reason with which he addressed them; but his zeal in
this affair diminished his popularity, though even his enemies did justice to the rectitude of his intentions. In
1708, he commanded twenty battalions at the battle of
Oudenarde; and the troops under his command were the
first of the infantry that engaged the enemy, a*nd they
maintained their post against unequal numbers. He likewise assisted at the siege of Lisle and commanded as
major-general at the siege of Ghent, taking possession of
the town and citadel on the 3d or' January, 1703-9. He
was afterwards raised to the rank of lieutenant-general, and
commanded in chief under general Schuyiemberg, at the
attack of Tournay. He had also a considerable share, on
the llth of September, 1709, in the victory a Malplaquet, where he was much exposed, and gained great honour. On the 20th of December, 1710, he was installed a
knight of the garter; and about this time took some part
in the debates in parliament, relative to the inquiry which
was set on foot concerning the management of affairs in
Spain, when he spoke and voted with the tofies, and joined
in the censure that was passed on the conduct of the late
whig ministry.
, by Roubiliiac, was afterwards erected to his memory. The titles of duke and earl of Greenwich, and baron of Chatham, became extinct at his death; but in his other titles
When the case of the city of Edinburgh, relative to the affair of Porteus, came to be agitated in parliament in 1737, the duke of Argyle exerted himself vigorously in favour of that city; and in 1739, from whatever cause it proceeded, he repeatedly voted against administration. He spoke against the Spanish convention with great spirit, and against the motion made by the duke of Newcastle, for an unlimited vote of credit. About this time he was removed from all his places, and engaged vigorously in the opposition against sir Robert Walpole. After the removal of that minister in 1741, he was again made master-general of the ordnance, colonel of his majesty’s royal regiment of horse-guards, and field marshal and commander in chief of all the forces in England. But in less than a month he resigned his employments for the last time, being, probably, dissatisfied with some of the political arrangements that took place after the removal of Walpole. About this time he is said fo have received a letter from the pretender, which some of his enemies are supposed to have procured to be written to him, with a view of injuring him; but he prevented any ill effects from it, by immediately communicating it to his majesty’s ministers. He had been for some years afflicted with a paralytic disorder, which now began to increase: and towards the close of his life he was somewhat melancholy and reserved. He died on the 3d of September, 1743, and was interred in Westminster-abbey, where one of the finest monuments in that place, by Roubiliiac, was afterwards erected to his memory. The titles of duke and earl of Greenwich, and baron of Chatham, became extinct at his death; but in his other titles he was succeeded by his brother Archibald earl of Ila.
, baron of Corano, was a native of Nardo in the kingdom of Naples, and
, baron of Corano, was a native of Nardo in the kingdom of Naples, and in the seventeenth century acquired much fame by his Italian poems.
Among his tragedies that of “II Corradino
” is distinguished above the rest, printed at Rome in 1694. He
employed himself in a work of far greater importance, his
“Imperio vindicate,
” an epic poem in forty cantos, printed
at Rome in
of William Clopton, of Clopton, co. Warwick, esq. he was June 4, J 605, advanced to the degree of a baron, by the title of lord Carew, of Clopton. Afterwards he was made
, afterwards earl of Totness (descended from an ancient family in the West of England, originally so named from Carew-castle in Pembrokeshire) was born in 1557. His mother was Anne, daughter of sir Nicolas Harvey, kiTight, and his father, George, archdeacon of Totness, and successively dean of Bristol, of the queen’s chapel, of Windsor, of Christ Church, Oxon, and of Exeter; besides several other preferments, most of which he resigned before his decease, which occurred in 1585. George Carew in 1572 was admitted gentleman commoner of Broadgate-hall (now Pembroke college) in Oxford; where he made a good proficiency in learning, particularly in the study of antiquitie’s, but being of an active temper, he left the university without a degree; and applying himself to military affairs, went and served in Ireland against the earl of Desmond. In 1580 he was made governor of Asketten-castle, and in 1589 was created master of arts at Oxford, being then a knight. Some time after, being constituted lieutenant-general of the artillery, or master of the ordnance in Ireland, he was one of the commanders at the expedition to Cadiz, in 1596; and again, the next year, in the intended expedition against Spain. Having in 1599 been appointed president of Munster, he was in 1600 made treasurer of the army, and one of the lords justices of Ireland. When he entered upon his government, he found every thing in a deplorable condition; all the country being in open and actual rebellion, excepting a few of the better sort, and himself having for his defence but three thousand foot and two hundred and fifty horse; yet he behaved with so much conduct and bravery, that he reduced many castles and forts, took James Fitz Thomas, the titular earl of Desmond, and O'Connor, prisoners; and brought the Bourkes, Obriens, and many other Irish rebels, to submission. He also bravely resisted the six thousand Spaniards, who landed at Kinsale, October 1, 1601, and had so well established the province of which he was president, by apprehending the chief of those he mistrusted, and taking pledges of the rest, that no person of consideration joined the Spaniards. In 1602 he made himself master of the castle of Donboy, which was a very difficult undertaking, and reckoned almost impracticable; and by this means prevented the arrival of an army of Spaniards, which were ready to sail for Ireland. He had for some time been desirous of quitting his burdensome office of president of Minister, but he could not obtain permission till the beginning of 1603, when, leaving that province in perfect peace, he arrived in England the 21st of March, three days before queen Elizabeth’s death. His merit was so great, that he was taken notice of by the nevr king, and made by him, in the first year of his reign, governor of the isle of Guernsey, and Castle Cornet: and having married Joyce*, the daughter and heir of William Clopton, of Clopton, co. Warwick, esq. he was June 4, J 605, advanced to the degree of a baron, by the title of lord Carew, of Clopton. Afterwards he was made vice-chamberlain and treasurer to king James’s queen; and in 1608 constituted master of the ordnance throughout England for life; and sworn of the privy-council to the king, as he had before been to queen Elizabeth. Upon king Charles Ist’s accession to the crown, he was created, Feb. 1, 1625, earl of Totness. At length, full of years and honours, he departed this life at the Savoy in London, March 27, 1629, aged seventy- three years and ten months and was buried at Stratford upon Avon, near Clopton leaving behind him the character of a faahful subject, a valiant and prudent commander, an honest counsellor, a genteel scholar, a lover of antiquities, and a great patron of learning. A stately monument was erected to his memory, by his widow, with a long inscription reciting his actions.
ble at court, and immediately after he was called up to the house of peers by the style and title of Baron Carleton of Imbercourt in the county of Surrey: and his next
In December 1625, soon after his return to England, he was appointed vice chamberlain of his majesty’s household, and at the same time was joined with earl Holland in an embassy to France, respecting the restitution of the ships, which had been lent to Louis XIII. and were employed against the Rochellers; to obtain a peace for the French protestants agreeably to former edicts, and to obtain the French accession to the treaty of the Hague. Although all these objects were not attained in the fullest intention, yet the ambassadors were thought entitled to commendation for their firm and prudent management of the various conferences. On their return in March 1625-6, they found the parliament sitting, and the nation inflamed to the highest degree at the mismanagement of public affairs. At this crisis, sir Dudley Carleton, who represented Hastings in Sussex, endeavoured to mitigate the violence of the commons in their impeachment of the duke of Buckingham; but his arguments, although not well suited to the humour of the time, were acceptable at court, and immediately after he was called up to the house of peers by the style and title of Baron Carleton of Imbercourt in the county of Surrey: and his next employment was more fully adapted to his talents. This was an embassy-extraordinary to France to justify the sending away of the queen of England’s French servants, which he managed with his usual skill.
, baron of Killaghy in the kingdom of Ireland, descended from an ancient
, baron of Killaghy in the kingdom of Ireland, descended from an ancient and good family in Herefordshire, was born at Pitchers Ocul in that county, February 10, 1657. His father was Mr. Warncomb Carpenter, sixth son of Thomas Carpenter, esq, of the Homme or Holme, in the parish of Dilwyn in Herefordshire. His mother was daughter to Mr. Taylor of the same county, and widow to Mr. John Hill, by whom she had one son. George lord Carpenter was the youngest of seven children, whom his father left at his death, and was educated at a private school in the country. In 1672 he went into the third troop of guards as a private gentleman, and was afterwards appointed quarter-master to the regiment of horse commanded by the earl of Peterborough, and went through the several posts of cornet, lieutenant, captain, &c. till he was advanced to that of lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, in which commission he continued thirteen years, though the regiment was almost coastantly in service. In 1693 he married Alice, daughter of William lord viscount Charlemont, who having a considerable jointure from her first husband James Margetson, esq. by the sale of part of it for her life he was enabled to purchase the regiment of dragoons which he commanded till his death. He served in all the first wars in Ireland and Flanders, and the last in Spain, with unblemished honour and reputation, and distinguished himself to great advantage by his courage, conduct, and humanity. At the unfortunate battle of Almanza in Spain he commanded the rear, and brought up the last squadron in the retreat, which saved the baggage of the army. At the battle of Almenara he was wounded, but received the compliments of Charles then king of Spain, and afterwards emperor of Germany, for his conduct in the engagement. He was again desperately wounded in defending the breach at Britmega against the whole French and Spanish army, where they "were at last taken prisoners. In 1705 he was made a brigadier-general; in 1708 major-general; and in 1710 lieutenant-general. In 1714 he was chosen member of parliament for Whitchurch in Hampshire; and the year following was appointed envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the emperor, whose personal regard and esteem he had gained while he served under that prince in Spain. But the rebellion breaking out that year, he was sent into the North, where he not only prevented the rebels from seizing Newcastle, and marching into Yorkshire, but having overtaken them at Preston, where they were invested by major-general Wills, he, by altering the disposition which that general had made, cut off entirely both their escape and their receiving any supplies, which immediately reduced them to a capitulation. In the beginning of February 1715-16 he sent a challenge to general Wills, but they were prevented from fighting by the interposition of the dukes of Marlborough and Montague. In 1716 he was appointed governor of 'Minorca, and commander in chief of his majesty’s forces in Scotland; and in 1719 was created baron Carpenter of Killaghy in the kingdom of Ireland. In 1722 he was chosen member of parliament for the city of Westminster, and upon all occasions voted for what he thought to be the real good of his country, without any regard to party. In October 1731 being near seventy-four years of age, he began to labour under the failure of appetite, and having had a fall, by which his teeth were loosened on that side which had not been wounded, he was capable of taking but little nourishment, which together with old age, and a decay of nature, put an end to his life February 10, 1731-2. He was interred near his beloved wife in the chancel of the parish church of Owselbury in Hampshire, where a monument of marble was erected to his memory by his son, the late lord Carpenter, who was the only issue he left.
y their precedency and pre-eminency, as if the said sir George Carterei hail actually been created a baron." Sir George’s rldest son, by his jady Elizabeth, who was his
, a loyalist in the time of
Charles f. of uncommon firmness and bravery, the descendant of an ancient family, originally from Normandy,
but afterwards settled at Guernsey and Jersey, was born
at Jersey in 1599, his father Ilelier Carteret, esq. being
at that time deputy governor of the island. He entered
early into the sea service, and had acquired the character
of an experienced officer, when king Charles I. ascended
the throne. This circumstance recommending him to the
notice and esteem of the duke of Buckingham, he was
appointed, in 1626, joint governor of Jersey, with Henry,
afterwards lord Jermyn and, in 1C '6 9, he obtained a grant
of the office and place of comptroller of all his Majesty’s
ships. At the commencement of the civil war, when the
parliament resolved to send out the earl of Warwick as
admiral of the fleet, they also resolved, that captain Carteret should be vice-ad miral. But he, thinking that he
ought not to accept the command without knowing the
royal pleasure, addressed himself to the king for direction,
who ordered him to decline the employment; and captain,
Batten, surveyor-general, was substituted in his place.
His Majesty was probably mistaken in this advice; for, if
captain Carteret had accepted of the charge, he might
probably have prevented the greater part of the fleet from
engaging in the cause of the parliament. Captain Carteret, however, likewise quitted the post of comptroller, and
retired, with his family, to the island of Jersey, the inhabitants of which were confirmed by him in their adherence
to the king; and desirous of more active service, he transported himself into Cornwall, with the purpose of raising a
troop of horse. When he arrived in that country, finding
there was a great want of powder, he went into France to
procure that and other necessary supplies; and was so successful, that, through the remainder of the war, the Cornish army was never destitute of ammunition. This was so
important and seasonable a service, that the king acknowledged it by particular approbation; and by conferring
upon him, at Oxford, the honour of knighthood, which
was speedily followed by his being advanced, on the 9th
of May 1645, to the dignity, of a baronet. Returning the
same year into Jersey, he found that several of the inhabitants had been induced to embrace the cause of the parliament, on which account he threw some of them into
confinement. This was so alarming and offensive to the
members at Westminster, that an order was made, that if,
for the future, he should put to death any of the island
whom he should take prisoners, for every one so slain,
three of the king’s men should be hung up. From the
words here used, it seems implied that sir George Carteret
had actually executed some one or more of the people of
Jersey who had appeared for the Parliament; a step highly
injudicious, whence, in all the subsequent propositions for
peace with the king, sir George was excepted from pardon.
When the prince of Wales, and many persons of distinction with him, came into Jersey in 1646, and brought with
them very little for their subsistence, they were all chear
fully entertained, and at a large expence, by sir George
Carteret who, being sensible how much it behoved him
to take care for supplies, equipped about half a score small
frigates and privateers, which soon struck a terror through
the whole channel, and made a number of captures. Upon
the prince’s leaving the island, at the positive command of
the queen, several of the council chose to stay with sir
George; au<=! the chancellor of the exchequer (afterwards earl of Clarendon) resided with him above two years.
After the death of the king, sir George Carteret, though
the republican party was completely triumphant, and
though Charles II. was at the Hague in a very destitute condition, immediately proclaimed him at Jersey, with all
his titles. Some months afterwards his Majesty determined
to pay a second visit to the island of Jersey, and arrived
in the latter end of September 1649, accompanied by his
brother the duke of York, with several of the nobility.
Here they were supplied by sir George with all necessaries.
The king, when prince of Wales, had procured his father’s
leave for making sir George Carteret his vice-chamberlain,
and he now appointed him treasurer of his navy; which however, at this time, chiefly consisted of the privateers that sir
George hue! provided, and of the men of war with prince Rupert. Charles II. staid in the island till the latter end of March
1650, when he embarked for Holland, in order to be more
commodiously situated for treating with the Scots, who had
invited him into that kingdom. This defiance of sir George
Carteret in harbouring the king, and taking many of their
trading vessels, enraged the republicans so much, that they
determined to exert every nerve for the reduction of Jersey.
A formidable armament being prepared, it put to sea in
October 1651, under the command of admiral Blake, and
major-general Holmes, to the last of whom the charge of
the forces for the descent was committed. In this crisis,
sir George Carteret prevented the landing of the republican army as long as possible; and when that was effected,
and the remaining forts of the island were taken, he retired
into Elizabeth castle, resolving to hold it out to the last extremity. The king being safely arrived in France, after the,
fatal battle of Worcester, sir George informed him of the
state of the garrison, but the king not being able to assist
him, he advised sir George Carteret, rather to accept of a
reasonable composition, than, by too obstinate a defence,
to bring himself and the loyal gentlemen who were with
him into danger of being made prisoners of war. Sir
George was ambitious that Elizabeth castle should be the
last of the king’s garrisons (as was in fact the case) which
should yield to the prevailing powers. He determined,
therefore, to conceal his majesty’s permission to treat, that
the knowledge of it might not renew the cry for a surrender. But, at length, provisions growing scarce, the
number of defenders lessening daily by death and desertion, and there being no possibility of supplies or recruits,
Elizabeth castle was surrendered in the? latter end of December, and sir George went first to St. Maloes, and
afterwards travelled through several parts of Europe. To
facilitate his reception at the different courts and places he
might be disposed to visit, he obtained from his royal
master a very honourable and remarkable certificate of recommendation. In 1657, sir George had given such offence
to Oliver Cromwell, by some hostile design or attempt
against the English vessels trading to the French ports,
that, by the Protector’s interest with cardinal Mazarine, he
was committed prisoner to the Bastile from which he was,
after some time, released by the intercession of his friends,
upon condition of his quitting France. In 1659, however,
we find him at Rheims, from whence, he repaired to the
king at Brussels, and followed him to Breda. Upon his
majesty’s being restored to his kingdoms, sir George Carteret rode, with him in his triumphant entry into the city of
London, on the 2<nh of May 1660, and next day he was
declared vice-chamberlain of the hoiishold, an-d sworn of
the privy council. He was also constituted treasurer of
the navy; and at the coronation of the king, he had the
honour of being almoner for the day. In the first parliament called by Charles II. in May, 1661, sir George Carteret
was elected representative for the corporation of Portsmouth; and it appears, that he was au active member of
the house. When the duke of York, 1673, resigned the
office of high admiral of England, sir George was constituted one of the commissioners of the admiralty; and“in
1676, he was appointed one of the lords of the committee
of trade. He was also vice-treasurer of Ireland, and
treasurer of the military forces there. At length, in consequence of his merit and services, the king determined
to raise him to the dignity of a peerage; but before the
design could be accomplished, he departed this life, on the
14th of January, 1679, being nearly eighty years of age.
On the 11th of February following, a royal warrant was
issued, in which it is recited,
” That whereas sir George
Carteret died before his patent for his barony was sued out,
liis Majesty authorizes Elizabeth, his widow, and her
youngest children, James Carteret, Caroline, wife of sir
Thomas S<:ot, kut. and Louisa, wife of sir Robert Atkins,
knt. to enjoy their precedency and pre-eminency, as if the
said sir George Carterei hail actually been created a baron."
Sir George’s rldest son, by his jady Elizabeth, who was his
cousin-gr nnan, being the daughter of sir PhiUp Carteret,
was ijained Philip after his grandfather. This gentleman
eminently distinguished himself in the civil wars, and was
khighted by Charles II on his arrival in Jersey. After the
king’s restoration, sir Philip Carteret married Jemima,
daughter of Edward Montague, the first earl of Sandwich,
and perished with that illustrious nobleman, in the great
sea-fight with the Dutch, in Solbay, on the 28th of May,
1672. Sir Philip determined, whilst many others left the
ship, to share the fate of his father-in-law. His eldest son
George was the first lord Carteret, and father to the subject
of the following article.
tesmen of the last century, was born on the 22d of April, 1690. His father was George lord Carteret, baron Carteret, of Hawnes in the county of Bedford, having been so
, earl Granville, one of the most distinguished orators and statesmen of the last century, was born on the 22d of April, 1690. His father was George lord Carteret, baron Carteret, of Hawnes in the county of Bedford, having been so created on the 19th of October 1681, when he was only fifteen years of age and his mother was lady Grace, youngest daughter of John earl of Bath. He succeeded his father when only in his fifth year. He was educated at Westminster school, from which he was removed to Christ-church Oxford in both which places he made such extraordinary improvements, that he became one of the most learned young noblemen of his time; and he retained to the last his knowledge and love of literature. Dr. Swift humorously asserts, that he carried away from Oxford, with a singularity scarcely to be justified, more Greek, Latin, and philosophy, than properly became a person of his rank; indeed, much more of each, than most of those who are forced to live by their learning will be at the unnecessary pains to load their heads with. Being thus accomplished, lord Carteret was qualified to make an early figure in life. As soon as he was introduced into the house of peers, which was on the 25th of May, 1711, he distinguished himself by his ardent zeal for the protestant succession, which procured him the eariy notice of king George 1. by whom he was appointed, in 1714, one of the lords of the bed-chamber in 1715, bailiff of the island of Jersey and in 1716, lord lieutenant and custis rotulorum of the county of Devon which last office he held till August 1721, when he resigned it in favour of Hugh lord Clinton. His mother also, lady Grace, was created viscountess Carteret and countess Grai>ville, by letters patent, bearing date on the first of January, 1714-15, with limitation of these honours to her son John lord Carteret. His lordship, though still young, became, from the ea.ly part of king George the First’s reign, an eminent speaker in the house of peers. The first instance of the display of his eloquence, was in the famous debate on the bill for lengthening the duration of Parliaments, in which he supported the duke of Devonshire’s motion for the repeal of the triennial act. On the 18th of February, 17 t 7- 18, he spoke in behalf of the bill for punishing mutiny and desertion; and in the session of parliament which met on the llth of November following, he moved, for the address of thanks to the king, to congratulate his majesty on the seasonable success of his naval forces; and to assume him, that the house would support him in the pursuit of those prudent and necessary measures he had taken to secure the trade and quiet of his dominions, and the tranquillity of Europe. In Jan. 1718-19 he was appointed ambassador extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the queen of Sweden, with whom his first business was to, remove the difficulties which the British subjects had met with* Jo their commerce in the Baltic, and to procure satisfaction for the losses they had sustained; and in both he completely succeeded. On the 6th of November, 1719, lord Carteret first took upon him the character of ambassador extraordinary ana plenipotentiary; at which time, in a private audience, he offered his royal master’s mediation t<v make peace between Sweden and Denmark, and between Sweden and the Czar; both of which were readily accepted by the queen. A peace between Sweden, Prussia, and Hanover, having been concluded by lord Carteret, it was proclaimed at Stockholm on the 9th of March, 1719-L'O. This was the prelude to a reconciliation between Sweden and Denmark, which he also effected, and the treaty was signed July 3, 1720. In August his lordship was appointed, together with earl Stanhope and sir Robert Siutcm, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary at the congress of Cambray but whether he acted in this capacity does not appear. From Denmark, however, he arrived in England Dec. 5, and a few weeks after took a share in the debates on the state of the national credit, occasioned by the unfortunate and iniquitous effects of the South-Sea scheme, maintaining that the estates of the criminals, whether directors or not directors, ought to be confiscated. Whilst this affair was in agitation, he was appointed ambassador extraordinary to the court of France, and was on the point of setting out, when the death of secretary Craggs induced his majesty to appoint lord Carteret his successor, May 4, 1721, and next day he was admitted into office, and sworn of his majesty’s most honourable privy council. Whilst lord Carteret was secretary of state, he not only discharged the general duties of his employment to the satisfaction of his royal master, but ably defended in parliament the measures of administration. This he did in the debate concerning Mr. Law, the famous projector of the Mississippi scheme, whose arrival in England, in 1721, by the connivance, as it was thought, and even under the sanction of the ministry, excited no small degree of disgust; and he also took a part on the side of government, in th debate on the navy debt, and with regard to the various other motions and bills of the session. In the new parliament, which met on the llth of October, 1722, his lordship, on occasion of Layer’s plot, spoke in favour of suspending the habeas corpus act for one year; acquainted the house with the bishop of Rochester’s, lord NortU and Grey’s, and the earl of Orrery’s commitment to the Tower; and defended the motion for the imprisonment of the duke of Norfolk. In all the debates concerning this conspiracy, and particularly with regard to Atterbury, lord Carteret vindicated the proceedings of the tectart; as he did, likewise, in the case of the act for laying an extraordinary tax upon papists. On the 26th of May, 1723, when the king’s affairs called him abroad, his lordship was appointed one of the lords justices of the kingdom; but notwithstanding this, he went to Hanover, in conjunction with lord Townshend, the other secretary; and both these noblemen, in their return to England, had several conferences at the Hague, with the principal persons of the Dutch administration, on subjects of importance. In the session of parliament, January, 1723-4, lord Carteret, in the debate on the mutiny bill, supported the necessity of eighteen thousand men being kept up, as the number of land- forces, in opposition to lord Trevor, who had moved that the four thousand additional men, who had been raised the year before, should be discontinued., Not many days after this debate, several alterations took place at court. Lord Carteret quitted the office of secretary of state, in which he was succeeded by the duke of Newcastle; and on the same day, being the third of April, 1724, he was constituted lord -lieutenant of Ireland, and in October arrived at Dublin, where he was received with the usual solemnity. The Irish were at that time in a great ferment about the patent for Wood’s halfpence, which makes so signal a figure in the life and writings of Dr. Swift. One of the first things done by the lord-lieutenant was to publish a proclamation, offering a reward of three hundred pounds for a discovery of the author of the Drapier’s Letters. When he was asked, by Dr. Swift, howhe could concur in the prosecution of a poor honest fellow, who had been guilty of no other crime than that of writing three or four letters for the good of his country, his excellency replied, in the words of Virgil,
was buried at Aldenham. He married Elizabeth, sole daughter andheir of sir Laurence Tanfield, chief baron of the exchequer, with whom he had the manor of Great Tew, Burford,
, afterwards created viscount Falkland,
and descended from the family of the Gary’s, of Cockington, in Devonshire, was the son of sir Edward Gary, of
Betkhamsted and Aldenham, in the county of Hertford,
knight, master of the Jewel-office to queen Elizabeth and
king James I. by Catherine his wife, daughter of sir Henry
Knevet, knight, and widow of Henry lord Paget. He was
born at Aldenham; and, when about sixteen years of age,
was sent to Exeter-college in Oxford, where it does not
appear he took any degree: but when he quitted the university, he left behind a celebrated name. Soon after, he
was introduced to court; and in 1608, made one of the
knights of the bath at the creation of Henry prince of
Wales. In 1617, he was sworn in comptroller of his majesty’s houshold, and one of his privy-council: and on
the 10th of November, 1620, was created viscount of Falkland, in the county of Fife, in Scotland. King James I.
knowing his great abilities and experience, constituted
him lord deputy of Ireland; into which high office he was
sworn, September 18, 1622; and continued in it till 1629.
During his administration, he kept a strict hand over. the
Roman catholics in that kingdom; who sent frequent complaints to the court of England against him, and though
he proceeded very honourably and justly, yet by the clamour of the Irish, and the prevailing power of his Popish
enemies, he was removed in disgrace; but his innocence
being afterwards vindicated, this affront was in some measure atoned for by the subsequent t'avour of the king. At
his return to England, he lived in honour and esteem, till
1633; when having the misfortune to break one of his
legs, on a stand in TheobaldVpark, he died in September and was buried at Aldenham. He married Elizabeth,
sole daughter andheir of sir Laurence Tanfield, chief
baron of the exchequer, with whom he had the manor of
Great Tew, Burford, and other estates in Oxfordshire.
He is said to have written many things, which never were
published, except, 1. “The History of the most unfortunate prince, king Edward II.
” found among his papers,
and printed in 1680, fol. and 8vo, with a preface of sir
James Harrington; at a time, says Wood, “when the
press was open for all books that could make any thing
against the then government.
” 2. “A Letter to James I.
”
and an “Epitaph on Elizabeth countess of Huntingdon,
”
which is in Wilford’s Memorials. The letter to the king
was in behalf of his son, the subject of the following article; who, for challenging sir Francis Willoughby, had
been thrown into the Meet. It was printed in the “Cabala.
” In the Harl. ms. 1581, there are four original
letters from lord Falkland to the duke of Buckingham.
master; who rewarded him first with knighthood, and then with the honorary titles of earl Caryl and baron Dartford. How long he continued in that service is not known:
, probably a native of Sussex, was of the
Roman catholic persuasion, being secretary to queen Mary,
the wife of James II. and one who followed the fortunes of
his abdicating master; who rewarded him first with knighthood, and then with the honorary titles of earl Caryl and
baron Dartford. How long he continued in that service is
not known: but he was in England in the reign of queen
Anne, and was the intimate friend of Pope, to whom he
recommended the subject of the “Rape of the Lock,
” and
who at its publication addressed it to him. From some of his
letters in the last edition of Pope’s Works, he appears to
have been living in 1717; but he was not the intimate
friend of Pope’s unfortunate lady, as asserted in the last
edition of this Dictionary. It is plain from one of his letters, dated July 1717, that he had no knowledge of her, and
asks Pope “who was the unfortunate lady you address a
copy of verses to?
” to which Pope does not appear to have
returned any answer.
noculation:. upon the recovery of trie grand duke, Catherine rewarded his services by creating him a baron of the Russian empire, and appointed him counsellor of state
In 1764, when the throne of Poland had become vacant by the death of Augustus III. in the October of the preceding year, Catherine displayed her political talents and influence in the advancement of her early favourite count Poiu'atowsky to that dignity. At this time she made a tour through Esthonia, Livonia, and Courland; but during her absence on this expedition, an insurrection broke out in the prison of the dethroned Ivan, which threatened the stability of her own throne. But this was soon quelled by the murder of that unhappy prince. What share the empress had in this affair is not very clear, but the event was certainly in her favour, and she now proceeded in her improvements, and in the establishment of useful institutions, endeavouring to soften the manners of her subjects by instruction. She also seemed determined to be at once both conqueror and legislatrix, and it is certain that the laws of the Russian empire were much simplified under her reign, and the administration of justice rendered milder and more impartial. Her purpose was to form a solid, and not an arbitrary legislation. Her whole plan was directed to prevent all those who governed under her from exercising a capricious and cruel authority, by subjecting them to invariable laws, which no authority should be able to infringe, but in this, when they were at a distance, she was not always successful. She also continued to cultivate and encourage the arts and sciences; to make her empire an asylum to the learned and ingenious and the transit of Vqihis, which happened in 1769, afforded an opportunity of exhibiting as well the munificence of Catherine as the attention she paid to astronomy. About the middle of the year 1767, the empress conceived the useful project of sending several learned men to travel into the interior of her immense territories, for the purpose of determining the geographical position of the principal places, of marking their temperature, and of examining into the nature of their soil, their productions, their wealth, as well as the manners and characters of the several people by whom they are inhabited. The selection of the learned travellers destined for this expedition, the helps that were granted them, and the excellent instructions that were given them, will be a lasting honour to the academy of sciences, by which they were appointed. About this time, viz. in 1768, the court of Catherine became the asylum of the sciences, to which she invited learned men from every part of Europe. She encouraged artists and scholars of all denominations; she granted new privileges to the academy of sciences, and exhorted the members to add the names of several celebrated foreigners to those which already conferred a lustre on their society. Nor was she less attentive to the academy of arts, by increasing the number of its pupils, and adding such regulations as tended more than ever to the attainment of the end for which it was endowed. For the further encouragement of the fine arts in her dominions, the empress assigned an annual sum of 5000 rubles for the translation of foreign works into the Russian language. The improvement of the state of physic was another important object of her concern; and in order to give the highest possible sanction to the salutary practice of inoculating for the small pox, she herself submitted to the operation under the care of an English practitioner, and she persuaded the grand duke to follow her example. In 1768, Dr. T Dimsdale, of Hertford, was invited to Russia for the purpose of introducing inoculation:. upon the recovery of trie grand duke, Catherine rewarded his services by creating him a baron of the Russian empire, and appointed him counsellor of state and physician to her imperial majesty, with a pension of 500l. a year, to be paid him in England; besides 10,000l. sterling, which he immediately received; and she also presented him with a miniatnre picture of herself, and another of the grand duke, as a memorial of his services. Her majesty likewise expressed her approbation of the conduct of his son, by conferring on him the same title, and ordering him to be presented with a superb gold snuff-box, richly set with diamonds. On December 3, 1768, a thanksgiving service was performed in the chapel of the palace on account of her majesty’s recovery and that of the grand duke from the small-pox: and the senate decreed, that this event should be solemnized by an anniversary festival, which has been regularly observed ever since.
t earl of Devonshire; and Charles Cavendish settled at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire, father of William baron Ogle and duke of Newcastle; and three daughters: Frances, who
, second son of Thomas Cavendish of Cavendish, in Suffolk, clerk of the pipe in the reign of Henry VIII. was born about 1505. He received a liberal education, and had settled upon him, by his father, certain lands in Suffolk. Cardinal Wolsey, who was a native of Suffolk, took him into his splendid i'an;ily, which consisted of one earl, nine barons, and several hundred knights, gentlemen, and inferior officers. He served the Cardinal as gentleman usher, and was admitted into more intimacy with him than any other servant, and therefore would not desert him in his fall; but was one of the few who stuck close to him when he had neither office nor salary to bestow. This singular fidelity^ joined to his abilities, recommended him to his sovereign, who received him into his own family and service. In 1540 he was appointed one of the auditors of the court of augmentation, and soon after obtained a grant of several lordships in the county of Hertford. In 1546 he was made treasurer of the chamber to his majesty, had the honour of knighthood conferred on him, and was soon after sworn of the privy council. He continued to enjoy both these honours during eleven years; in which time his estate was much increased by grants from Edward VI. in seven different counties; nor does it appear that he was in less credit or favour with queen Mary, under whose reign he died in 1557. He married three wives. His third and last, who survived him, was the widow of Robert Barley, esq. and justly considered as one of the most famous women of her time. She was the daughter of John Hard wick, of Hard wick, in Derbyshire, by Elizabeth the daughter of Thomas Leeke, of Lousland in the same county, esq. and in process of time became coheiress of his fortune, by the death of her brother without children. When she was scarce fourteen, she was married to Robert Barley, of Barley, in Derbyshire, esq. a young* gentleman of a large estate, all which he settled absolutely upon her on their marriage; and by his death without issue she came into possession of it in 1532. After remaining a widow about twelve years she married Cavendish, by whom she had Henry Cavendish, esq, who was possessed of considerable estates in Derbyshire, but settled at Tutbury in Staffordshire; William Cavendish the first earl of Devonshire; and Charles Cavendish settled at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire, father of William baron Ogle and duke of Newcastle; and three daughters: Frances, who married sir Henry Pierpoint of Holm Pierpoint, in the county of Nottingham, from whom the dukes of Kingston are descended; Elizabeth, who espoused Charles Stuart earl of Lenox, younger brother to the father of James I.; and Mary. After the death of sir William Cavendish, this lady consenting to become a third time a wife, married sir William St. Lowe, captain of the guard to queen Elizabeth, who had a large estate in Gloucestershire; which in articles of marriage she took care should be settled on her and her own heirs, in default of issue; and accordingly, having no child by him, she lived to enjoy his whole estate, excluding as well his brothers who were heirs male, as his own female issue by a former lady. In this third widowhood the charms of her wit and beauty captivated the then greatest subject of the realm, George Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, whom she brought to terms of honour and advantage to herself and children; for he not only yielded to a considerable jointure, but to an union of families, by taking Mary her youngest daughter to be the wife of Gilbert his second son, and afterwards his heir; and giving the lady Grace, his youngest daughter, to Henry her eldest son. Nov. 18, 1590, she was a fourth time left, and to death continued, a widow. A change of condition that perhaps never fell to any one woman to be four times a happy wife to rise by every husband into greater wealth and higher honours to havein unanimous issue by one husband only to have all those children live, and honourably disposed of in her lifetime and, after all, to live seventeen years a widow in absolute power and plenty .
, baron Ogle, viscount Mansfield, earl, marquis, and duke of Newcastle,
, baron Ogle, viscount Mansfield, earl, marquis, and duke of Newcastle, one of the most accomplished persons, as well as one of the most able generals and most distinguished patriots of the age, was son of sir Charles Cavendish, youngest son of sir William Cavendish, and younger brother of the first earl of Devonshire, by Catherine, daughter of Cuthbert lord Ogle. He was born in 1592, and discovering great capacity in his infancy, his father had him educated with such success, that he early acquired a large stock of solid learning, to which he added the graces of politeness. This soon made him be taken notice of at the court of James I. where he was quickly distinguished by the king’s favour; and in 1610, was made knight of the bath, at the creation of Henry prince of Wales. In 1617, his father died, by which he came to the possession of a very large estate and having a great interest at court, he was by letters- patent, dated November 3, 1620, raised to the dignity of a peer of the realm, by the style and title of baron Ogle and viscount Mansfield; and having no less credit with Charles I. than with his father king James, was in* the third year of the reign of that prince advanced to the higher title of earl of Newcastle upon Tyne, and at the same time he was created baron Cavendish of Bolesover. Our genealogists and antiquaries give us but a very obscure account of these honours, or at least, of the barony of Ogle, to which, in the inscription upon his own and his grandmother the countess of Shrewsbury’s tomb, he is said to have succeeded in right of his mother. His attendance on the court, though it procured him honour, brought him very early into difficulties; and there is some reason to believe that he was not much liked by the great duke of Buckingham, who perhaps was apprehensive of the large share he had in his master’s favour. However, he did not suffer, even by that powerful favourite’s displeasure, but remained in full credit with his master; which was notwithstanding so far from being beneficial to him, that the services expected from him, and his constant waiting upon the king, plunged him very deeply in debt, though he had a large estate, of which we find him complaining heavily in his letters to his firm and steady friend the lord viscount Wentworth, afterwards earl of Strafford. But th&e difficulties never in the least discouraged him from doing his duty, or from testifying his zeal and loyalty, when the king’s service required it. In 1638, when it was thought requisite to take the prince of Wales, afterwards Charles II. from the nursery, the king made choice of the earl of Newcastle, as the person in his kingdom most fit to have the tuition of his heir-apparent and accordingly declared him governor to the prince. In the spring of 1639, the first troubles in Scotland broke out, which induced the king to assemble an army in the north; soon after which, he went down thither to put himself at the head of it; and in his way, was most splendidly entertained by the earl of Newcastle, at his noble seat at Welbeck, as he had been some years before when he went into that kingdom to be crowned; which though in itself a very trivial matter, yet such was the magnificence of this noble peer, that from the circumstances attending them, both these entertainments have found a place in general histories. But this was not the only manner in which he expressed his warm affection for his master. Such expeditions require great expences, and the king’s treasury was but indifferently provided, for the supply of which, the earl contributed ten thousand pounds, and also raised a troop of horse, consisting of about two hundred knights and gentlemen, who served at their own charge; and this was honoured with the title of the Prince’s troop. These services, however, rather heightened than lessened that envy borne to him by some great persons about the court, and the choice that had been made of his lordship for the tuition of the prince, which was at first so universally approved, began now to be called in question by those who meant very soon to call every thing in question. On this the earl desired to resign his office, which he did; and in June 1640, it was given to the marquis of Hertford. As his lordship took this step from the knowledge he had of the ill-will borne him by the chief persons amongst the disaffected, so he thought he could not take a better method to avoid the effects of their resentment, than to retire into the country; which accordingly. he did, and remained there quietly till he received his majesty’s orders to visit Hull; and though these came at twelve o'clock at night, his lordship went immediately thither, though forty miles distant, and entered the place with only two or three servants, early the next morning. He cffered his majesty to have secured for him that important fortress, and all the magazines that were there: but instead of receiving such a command as he expected, his majesty sent him instructions to obey whatever directions were sent him by the parliament; upon the heels of which, came their order for him to attend the service of the house; which he accordingly did, when a design was formed to have attacked him, but his general character was so good, that this scheme did not succeed. He now again retired into the country, but soon after, upon the king’s coming to York, his lordship was sent for thither; and in June 1642, his majesty gave him directions to take upon him the care of the town of Newcastle, and the command of the four adjacent counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham. These orders were easily issued, but they were not so easily to be carried into execution; for at this time, the king had not either money, forces, or ammunition; and yet there never was more apparent necessity, for at that juncture his majesty had not a single port open in his dominions; and if either the order had been delayed a few days, or had been^ sent to any other person, the design had certainly miscarried. But, as soon as he received his majesty’s commands, he repaired immediately to the place, and by his own interest there secured it: he raised also a troop of one hundred and twenty horse, and a good regiment; of foot, which secured him from any sudden attempts. Soon after, the queen, who was retired out of the kingdom, sent a supply of arms and ammunition, which being designed for the troops under the king’s command, the earl took care they should be speedily and safely conducted to his majesty under the escdVt of his only troop, which his majesty kept, to the great prejudice of his own affairs in the nor x th. The parliament, in the mean time, had not forgotten the earl’s behaviour towards them, but as a mark of their resentment excepted him by name; which was so far from discouraging, that it put his lordship upon a more decided part: and having well considered his own influence in those parts, he offered to raise an army in the north for his majesty’s service. On this the king gave him a commission, constituting him general of all the forces raised north of Trent; and likewise general and commander in chief of such as might be raised in the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, Lancaster, Chester, Leicester, Rutland, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex; with power to confer the honour of knighthood, coin money, and to print and set forth such declarations as should seem, to him expedient; of all which extensive powers, though freely conferred, and without reserve, his lordship made a very sparing use. But with respect to the more material point of raising men, his lordship prosecuted it with such diligence, that in less than three months he had an army of eight thousand horse, foot, and dragoons, with which be marched directly into Yorkshire; and his forces having defeated the enemy at Fierce-bridge, his lordship advanced to York, where sir Thomas Glen ham, the governor, presented him with the keys, and the earl of Cumberland and many of the nobility resorted thither to compliment and to assist his lordship. He did not long remain there; but, having placed a good garrison in the city, marched on towards Tadcaster, where the parliament forces were very advantageously posted. The design which the earl had formed, not only for reducing that 'place, hut for making the troops that were there prisoners, tailed, through the want of diligence in some of his officers; hut notwithstanding this, his lordship attacked the place so vigorously, that the enemy thought fit to retire, and leave him in possession of the hest part of Yorkshire. This advantage he improved to the utmost, hy estahiishing garrisons in proper places, particularly at Newark upon Trent, by which the greatest part of Nottinghamshire, and some part of Lincolnshire, were kept in obedience. In the beginning of 1643, his lordship gave orders for a great convoy of ammunition to be removed from Newcastle to York, under the escort of a body of horse, commanded by lieutenantgeneral King, a Scotch officer, whom his majesty had lately created lord Ethyn. The parliament forces attempted to intercept this convoy at Y arum-bridge, but were beaten on the 1st of February with a great loss. Soon after this, her majesty landing at Burlington, the earl drew his forces that way to cover her journey to York, where she safely arrived on the 7th of March, and having pressing occasions for money, his lordship presented her with three thousand pounds, and furnished an escort of fifteen hundred men, under the command of lord Percy, to conduct a supply of arms and ammunition to the king at Oxford, where he kept them for his own service. Not long after, sir Hugh Cholmondley and captain Brown Bushel were prevailed upon to return to their duty, and give up the important port and castle of Scarborough. This was followed by the routing Ferdinando lord Fairfax on Seacroft, or as some call it Bramham-moor, by lord George Goring, then general of the horse under the earl, when about eight hundred of the enemy were taken prisoners; and this again made way for another victory gained on Tankersly-moor. In the month of April, the earl marched to reduce Rotherham, which he took by storm, and soon after Sheffield; but in the mean time, lord Goring and sir Francis Mackworth were surprised, on the 2 1st of May, at Wakefield, where the former and most of his men were made prisoners, which was a great prejudice to the service. In the same month her majesty went from York to Pomfret under the escort of the earPs forces; and from thence she continued Jier journey tp Oxford, with a body of seven thousand horse, foot, and dragoons, detached for that service by the earl; and those forces, likewise, the king kept about him. In the month of June the earl reduced Howly-house by storm; and on the 30th gained a complete victory over Ferdinando lord Fairfax, though much superior to him in numbers, on Adderton- heath, near Bradford, where the enemy had seven hundred men killed, and three thousand taken prisoners; and on the 2d of July following Bradford surrendered. The earl advanced next into Lincolnshire, where he took Gainsborough and Lincoln; but was then recalled by the pressing solicitations of the gentlemen of Yorkshire into that country, wherq Beverley surrendered to him on the 28th of August, and in the next month, his lordship was prevailed on to besiege Hull, the only place of consequence then held for the parliament in those parts. Notwithstanding these important successes obtained by an army raised, and in a great measure kept up by his lordship’s personal influence and expence, there have not been wanting censures upon his conduct; of which, however, his majesty had so just a sense, that by letters-patent dated the 27th of October, he advanced him to the dignity of marquis of Newcastle; and in the preamble of his patent all his services are mentioned with suitable encomiums. That winter the earl marched into Derbyshire, and from thence to his own house at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire, where he received the news of the Scots intending to enter England, which brought him back into Yorkshire, from whence he sent sir Thomas Glenham to Newcastle, and himself for some time successfully opposed the Scots in the bishopric of Durham: but, the forces he left behind under the command of lord Bellasis at Selby being routed, the marquis found himself obliged to retire, in order, if possible, to preserve York; and this he did with so much military prudence, that he arrived there safely in the month of April 1644, and retaining his infantry and artillery in that city, sent his horse to quarter in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire, for the sake of subsistence. The city was very soon blocked up by three armies, who quickly commenced a regular siege, and were once very near taking the place by storm; and at last, having lain before it three months, brought the garrison into great distress for want of provision; and if the marquis had not very early had recourse to a short allowance, had infallibly reduced it by famine. For though sir Charles Lucas, who commanded the marquis’s horse, importuned the king for relief, yet it was the latter end of June before his majesty could send a sufficient body, under the command of prince Rupert, to join sir Charles Lucas, and attempt the forcing the enemy to raise the siege; which, however, upon their approach, they did, remaining on the west side of the Owse with all their forces, while the king’s army advanced on the east side of the same river. By this quick and vigorous march, prince Rupert had done his business; but, as is very well observed by a most judicious historian of these times, he would needs overdo it; and not content with the honour of raising the siege of York by a confederate army much superior to his own, he was bent upon having the honour to beat that army also; and this brought on the fatal battle of Hessom, or, as it is more generally called, Marston-moor, which was fought July 2, 1644, against the consent of the marquis of Newcastle, who, seeing the king’s affairs totally undone thereby, made the best of his way to Scarborough, and from thence, with a few of the principal officers of his army, took shipping for Hamburgh. After staying about six months at Hamburgh, he went by sea to Amsterdam, and from thence made a journey to Paris, where he continued for some time; and where, notwithstanuing the vast estate he had when the civil war broke out, his circumstances were now so bad, that himself and his young wife were reduced to the pawning their cloaths for a dinner. He removed afterwards to Antwerp, that he might be nearer his own country; and there, though under very great difficulties, he resided for several years; while the parliament in the mean time levied prodigious sums upon his estate, insomuch that the computation of what he lost by the disorders of those times, though none of the particulars "can be disproved, amount in the whole to a sum that is almost incredible. It has been computed at 733,579l. All these hardships and misfortunes never broke his spirit in the least, which his biographer somewhat fondly says was chiefly owing to his great foresight; for as he plainly perceived after the battle of Marston-moor, that the affairs of Charles I. were irrecoverably undone, so he discerned through the thickest clouds of Charles lid’s adversity, that he would be infallibly restored: and as he had predicted Hie civil war to the father before it began, so he gave the strongest assurance to the son of his being called home, by addressing to him a treatise upon Government and the Interests of Great Britain with respect to the other powers of Europe; which he wrote at a time when the hopes of those about his majesty scarcely rose so high as the marquis’s expectations. During this long exile of eighteen years, in which he suffered so many and so oreat hardships, this worthy nobleman wanted not some consolations that were particularly such to one of his high and generous spirit. He was, notwithstanding his low and distressed circumstances, treated with the highest respect, and with the most extraordinary marks of distinction, by the persons entrusted with the government of the countries where he resided. He received the high compliment of having the keys of the cities he passed through in the Spanish dominions offered him: he was visited by don John of Austria, and by several princes of Germany. But what comforted him most was the company very frequently of his royal master, who, in the midst of his sufferings, bestowed upon him the most noble order of the garter. On his return to England at the restoration, he was received with all the respect due to his unshaken fidelity and important services was constituted chief justice in Eyre of the counties north of Trent, and, by letters- patent dated the 16th of March 1664, was advanced to the dignity of earl of Ogle, and duke of Newcastle. He spent the remainder of his life, for the most part, in a country retirement, and in reading and writing, in which he took singular pleasure. He also employed a great part of his time in repairing the injuries which his fortune had received, and at length departed this life December 25, 1676, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His grace was twice married, but had issue only by his first lady. His body lies interred, with that of his duchess, under a most noble monument at the entrance into Westminster-abbey, with an inscription suitable to his merits. His titles descended to his son Henry, earl of Ogle, who was the last heir male of this family, and died July 26, 1691, in whom the title of Newcastle, in the line of Cavendish, became extinguished, but his daughters married into some of the noblest families of this kingdom.
n this occasion, that, however sparing of her honours, she raised him to the peerage by the title of Baron of Burleigh in February 1571, when he had not much to support
The queen was so sensible of the great importance of Cecil’s service on this occasion, that, however sparing of her
honours, she raised him to the peerage by the title of Baron
of Burleigh in February 1571, when he had not much to
support his rank, for in a confidential letter written about
this time, he calls himself “the poorest lord in England.
”
The queen’s favour did not in other respects add to his
comfort, nor protect him from new attempts to destroy him.
A conspiracy of the private kind was now formed against
his life: and the two assassins, Barney and Matter, charged
it, at their execution, on the Spanish ambassador, for which
and other offences the ambassador was ordered to quit the
kingdom. As a consolation, however, for these dangers,
he was honoured with the order of the garter in June 1572;
and in September following, on the death of the marquis
of Winchester, was appointed lord high treasurer.
ted himself with his sovereign that he was raised to greater honours; being on May 13, 1603, created baron of Essenden, in Rutlandshire; on the 20th of August, 1604, viscount
In 1597 he was constituted cbancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. In February 1597-8 he went to France with Mr. Herbert and sir Thomas Wylkes, to endeavour to divert Henry IV. from the treaty at Vervins; and in May 1599, succeeded his father in the office of master of the court of wards, for which he resigned a better place, that of chancellor of the duchy, being so restrained in the court of wards, by new orders, that he was, as he expressed it, a ward himself. He succeeded his father likewise in the post of principal minister of state, and from that time public affairs seem to have been entirely under his direction. During the last years of his queen, he supported her declining age with such vigour and prudence as at once enabled her to assist her allies the States General, when they were ingloriously abandoned by France, and to defeat a dangerous rebellion in Ireland, which was cherished by powerful assistance from Spain. But though he was a faithful servant to his mistress, yet he kept a secret correspondence with her successor king James, in which he was once in great danger of being discovered by the queen. As her majesty was taking the air upon Blackheath, near her palace at Greenwich, a post riding by, she inquired from whence it came; and being told from Scotland, she stopped her coach to receive the packet. Sir Robert Cecil, who attended her, knowing there were in it some letters from his correspondents, with great presence of mind, called immediately for a knife toopen it, that a delay might not create suspicion. When he came to cut it open, he told the queen that it looked and smelt very ill, and therefore was proper to be opened and aired before she saw what it contained; to which her majesty consented, having an extreme aversion to bad smells. Upon her decease he was the first who publicly read her will, and proclaimed king James; and his former services to that prince, or the interest of sir George Hume, afterwards earl of Dunbar, so effectually recommended him to his majesty, that he took him into the highest degree of favour, and continued him in his office of principal minister; and though in that reign public affairs were not carried on with the same spirit as in the last, the fault cannot justly be charged on this minister, but on the king, whose timid temper induced him to have peace with all the world, and especially with Spain at any rate. But though sir Robert Cecil was far from approving, in his heart, the measures taken for obtaining that inglorious peace, yet he so far ingratiated himself with his sovereign that he was raised to greater honours; being on May 13, 1603, created baron of Essenden, in Rutlandshire; on the 20th of August, 1604, viscount Cranborne, in Dorsetshire (the first of that degree who bore a coronet), and on May 4, 1605, earl of Salisbury.
to settle in Toulouse, where he married, in 1552, Jane de Bernuy, daughter of the lord de Palficat, baron of Villeneufve. He was admitted counsellor in the parliament
, in Latin Calventius, president of the Inquests of the parliament of Toulouse, was
born in May 1523. He was brought to Paris in 1539 by
Mr. Lizet his uncle, at that time advocate-general in the
parliament of Paris, who kept him six years to his studies
under Orontius Fineus, Tusan, Buchanan, and some other
learned persons. He went to Toulouse in 1546, to learn
the civil law, and lodged in the same house with Turnebus, Mercerus, and Govea. He travelled into Italy in
1550, in order to pursue his studies, and was Alciat’s disciple at Pavia, and Socinus’s at Bologna. Being returned
to France, he went to Toulouse, and there completed his
course of law-studies, and was associated with Roaldes and
Bodinus, reading law lectures together in the public schools
with reputation. Having taken his doctor’s degree in that
university, he resolved to go to Paris, in order to make his
fortune; but though this resolution of his was strengthened
by some letters he received from Mr. Lizet, yet he chose
rather to settle in Toulouse, where he married, in 1552,
Jane de Bernuy, daughter of the lord de Palficat, baron of
Villeneufve. He was admitted counsellor in the parliament
of that city in 1553, afterwards created judge of French
poesy, and maintainer of the floral sports. He was appointed president of the inquests by the parliament in
1573. Being of a peaceable temper, he retired to his house
in Auvergne, during the first and last furies of the civil
wars, in order that he might not be an eye-witness of the
confusions which he saw would break out in Toulouse. It
was in this retirement he studied and translated Seneca, to
administer some consolation to himself during the wild
havock that was then making, and to employ his leisure to
advantage. His attachment to his sovereign gained him
the particular esteem of Henry IV. who in 1603 appointed
him counsellor of state and privy counsellor. The year
after, he resigned his dignity of president to Francis
Chalvet sieur de Fenouiliet, one of his sons, and retired
from business to spend the remainder of his days in peace
and among his books. He spent two years in this -retirement, with so much satisfaction to himself, that he used
frequently to declare to his relations, that he could not say
he had lived during the previous years of his life. He died
at Toulouse the 20th of June, 1607, being seventy-nine
years of age. Several authors have honoured him with
eulogiums.
His “Translation of Seneca,
” was published at Paris,
De claris interpretibus,
” thinks that his translation of
Seneca is too diffuse.
d to Demosthenes. Mr. Mounteney had been schoolfellow with Dr. Chapman at Eton, and was afterwards a baron of the exchequer in Ireland. If archbishop Potter had lived
, D. D. was the son of the rev. William Chapman, rector of Stratfield-say in Hampshire,
where he was probably born in 1704. He was educated at
King’s college, Cambridge, A. B. 1727, and A. M. 1731.
His first promotion was the rectory of Mersham in Kent,
and of Alderton, with the chapel of Smeeth; to which he
was appointed in 1739 and 1744, being then domestic
chaplain to archbishop Potter. He was also archdeacon
of Sudbury, and treasurer of Chichester, two options.
Being educated at Eton, he was a candidate for the provostship of that college, and lost it by a small majority,
and after a most severe contest with Dr. George. Among
his pupils he had the honour to class the first lord Camden, Dr. Ashton, Horace Walpole, Jacob Bryant, sir W.
Draper, sir George Baker, and others who afterwards attained to considerable distinction in literature. His first
publication was entitled “The Objections of a late anonymous writer (Collins) against the book of Daniel, considered/' Cambridge, 1728, 8vo. This was followed by his
” Remarks on Dr. Middleton’s celebrated Letter to Dr.
Waterland,“published in 1731, and which has passed
through three editions. In his
” Eusebius,“2 vols. 8vo,
he defended Christianity against the objections of Mor-gan, and against those of Tindal in his
” Primitive Antiquity explained and vindicated.“The first volume of
Eusebius, published in 1739, was dedicated to archbishop
Potter; and when the second appeared, in 1741, Mr.
Chapman styled himself chaplain to his grace. In the
same year he was made archdeacon of Sudbury, and was
honoured with the diploma of D. D. by the university of
Oxford. He is at this time said to have published the
” History of the ancient Hebrews vindicated, by Theophanes Cantabrigiensis,“8vo but this was the production
of Dr. Squire. He published two tracts relating to
” Phlegon,“in answer to Dr. Sykes, who had maintained
that the eclipse mentioned by that writer had no relation to
the wonderful darkness that happened at our Saviour’s crucifixion. In 1738 Dr. Chapman published a sermon
preached at the consecration of bishop Mavvson, and four
other single sermons, 1739, 1743, 1748, and 1752. In a
dissertation written in elegant Latin, and addressed to
Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Tunstall, then public orator of the
university of Cambridge, and published with his Latin
epistle to Dr. Middleton concerning the genuineness of
some of Cicero’s epistles, 1741, Dr. Chapman proved that
Cicero published two editions of his Academics; an original thought that had escaped all former commentators,
and which has been applauded by Dr. Ross, bishop of Exeter, in his edition of Cicero’s
” Epistolse ad familiares,“1749. In 1744 Mr. Tunstall published
” Observations on
the present Collection of Epistles between Cicero and M.
Brutus, representing several evident marks of forgery in
those epistles,“&c. to which was added a
” Letter from
Dr. Chapman, on the ancient numeral characters of the
Roman legions.“Dr. Middleton had asserted, that the
Roman generals, when they had occasion to raise new
legions in distant parts of the empire, used to name them
according to the order in which they themselves had raised
them, without regard to any other legions whatever. This
notion Dr. Chapman controverts and confutes. According
to Dr. Middleton there might have been two thirtieth legions in the empire. This Dr. Chapman denies to have
been customary from the foundation of the city to the time
when Brutus was acting against Anthony, but affirms nothing of the practice after the death of Brutus. To this
Dr. Middleton made no reply. In 1745 Dr. Chapman was
employed in assisting Dr. Pearce, afterwards bishop of
Rochester, in his edition of
” Cicero de Officiis.“About
this time Dr. Chapman introduced Mr. Tunstall and Mr.
Hall to archbishop Potter, the one as his librarian, the
other as his chaplain, and therefore had some reason to
resent their taking an active part against him in the option
cause, though they both afterwards dropped it. Dr. Chapman’s above-mentioned attack on Dr. Middleton, which he
could not parry, and his interposition in defence of his
much-esteemed friend Dr. Waterland, provoked Dr. Middleton to retaliate in 1746, by assailing him in what he
thought a much more vulnerable part, in his Charge to the
archdeaconry of Sudbury, entitled <e Popery the true bane
of letters.
” In would wash him as white
as snow.
” Thinking his case partially stated by Dr. Burn,
in his “Ecclesiastical Law,' 1 vol. I. (article Bishops), as
it was taken from the briefs of his adversaries, he expostulated with him on the subject by letter, to which the doctor
candidly replied,
” that he by no means thought him criminal, and in the next edition of his work would certainly
add his own representation." On this affair, however, Dr.
Hurd passes a very severe sentence in his correspondence
with Warburton lately published. Dr. Chapman died the
34th of October, 1784, in the 80th year of his age.
Petersburg. The empress, with a view of inducing him to settle there, made him an offer, by means of baron de Breteuil, of the distinguished place which had been occupied
The abbe set out for the place of his destination in the month of November 1760. After encountering a variety of almost incredible difficulties, he arrived at Tobolsk, where ignorance and superstition prepared new danger for him. The simple Russians, attentive to all his actions, beheld his preparations with the utmost terror; the observatory which he caused to be erected, and the instruments he transported thither, increased their alarm; and the overflowing of the river Irtish, which inundated part of the city, a natural consequence of the thaw that took place, served still more to confirm them in their suspicions. The governor of Tobolsk, a man of education, to whom the world is indebted for a correct chart of the Caspian, was obliged to give the abb a guard for his protection. The moment so long wished for, and purchased by such fatigue and peril, being at length arrived, the abbe", on the 5th of June, made every necessary preparation for observing the transit; but the pleasure which he anticipated from the success of his expedition was not free from a mixture of pain, for the sky, during the night, became quite overcast. This was a new source of uneasiness to the abbe; but luckily for science, a favourable wind, which sprung up at sun-rise, revived his hopes, by withdrawing the veil that obscured the object of his researches. The observation was made with the necessary precision, in presence of M. Ismailof, count Poushkin, and the archbishop of Tobolsk: and the academy of sciences at Paris, as well as that of Petersburg, received the particulars of this event soon after by a courier whom M. Ismailof immediately dispatched. The glory of this observation had preceded the abbé, and prepared new honours for him at St. Petersburg. The empress, with a view of inducing him to settle there, made him an offer, by means of baron de Breteuil, of the distinguished place which had been occupied by M. Delisle. But choosing rather to pass his days at home, he rejected the offers made him. On his arrival in France hebegan, to prepare an account of his journey, which was published in 1768, in 3 vols. 4to, elegantly printed and adorned with engravings. Besides the account of the particular object of his journey, the philosopher finds in it the history of mankind and of nature; and the statesman the political system and interest of nations. The great labour required to prepare this work for publication did not interrupt the abba’s astronomical pursuits. He enriched the memoirs of the academy with several instructive pieces; and that which he presented in 1767 is the more valuable, as it confirms the experiments made upon electricity at Tobolsk, and demonstrates the identity of the electric fluid with lightning.
this on the authority of the Dict. Hist, but it has been attributed to Duclos, to Saurin, and to the baron Holbach. The marquis de Chastellux died suddenly at Paris, Oct.
We have already noticed that the marquis served in
America, under Rochatnbeau, during the war with Great
Britain. This produced his “Voyage dans l'Amerique,
”
which was immediately translated into English, under the
title “Travels in North- America, in the years 1780, 1781,
1782,
” Examen Critique' 7 of the
travels, in which he convicted the writer of great partiality,
as well as of unjust representations of events; and the
same charges were brought against him by an anonymous
writer in our own country, who, after the appearance of
the translation, published
” Remarks on the Travels, &c.“1787, 8vo. The only other publication of the marquis’s
pen, was
” Notice sur la vie et les ecrits d'Helvetius,“printed with his poem
” Du Bonheur." We give this on
the authority of the Dict. Hist, but it has been attributed
to Duclos, to Saurin, and to the baron Holbach. The
marquis de Chastellux died suddenly at Paris, Oct. 24,
1788.
nted for private distribution, in 1783, 4to, by the learned Francis Maseres, esq. F. 11. S. cursitor- baron of the court of exchequer.
With respect to his collection of French historians, he
published the first two volumes in 1636, fol. after having
two years before issued a prospectus of the whole, and the
third and fourth volumes were in the press, when on May
30, 1640, he was crushed to death by a cart, as he was
going to his country-house at Verrieres. He was at this
time in full health, and bade fair for long life and usefulness. The two volumes, then in the press, were completed
by his son, and published in 1641, to which he added a
fifth volume in 1649, without any assistance from government, as the pension granted to his father, and continued to hirn on his death, was taken from him about
three years after that event. Some particulars of the continuation of the work to the present time may be seen in
our life of Bouquet. In Du Chesne’s “Historic Norluannorum,
” is the “Emmae Anglorum reginse encomium,
”
of which an edition, with William of Poictier’s history of
William the Conqueror, and other historical documents,
was published, or rather printed for private distribution,
in 1783, 4to, by the learned Francis Maseres, esq. F. 11. S.
cursitor-baron of the court of exchequer.
to obtain a title for his favourite; who, by letters patent, bearing date Dec. 1, 1682, was created baron of Eymouth in Scotland, and also appointed colonel of the 3d
The laurels he brought from France could not fail to gain him preferment at home; accordingly the king made him a lieutenant-colonel, and the duke made him gentleman of his bed-chamber, and soon after master of the robes. The second Dutch war being over, colonel Churchill was again obliged to pass his days at court, where he behaved with great prudence and circumspection in the troublesome times that ensued. In 1679, when the duke of York was constrained to go to the Netherlands, colonel Churchill attended him; as he did through all his peregrinations, till he was suffered to reside again in London. While he waited upon the duke in Scotland, he had a regiment of dragoons given him; and thinking it now time to take a consort, he made his addresses to Sarah Jennings, who waited on the lady Anne, afterwards queen of Great Britain. This young lady, then about twenty-one years of age, and universally admired both for her person and wit, he married in 1681, and by this match strengthened the interest he had already at court. In 1682 the duke of York returned to London; and, having obtained leave to quit Scotland, resolved to bring his family from thence by sea. For this purpose he embarked in May, but unluckily ran upon the Lemon Oar, a dangerous sand, that lies about 16 leagues from the mouth of the Humber, where his ship was lost, with some men of quality, and upwards of 120 persons on board. He was particularly careful of colonel Churchill’s safety, and took him into the boat in which himself escaped. The first use made by his royal highness of his interest, after he returned to court, was to obtain a title for his favourite; who, by letters patent, bearing date Dec. 1, 1682, was created baron of Eymouth in Scotland, and also appointed colonel of the 3d troop of guards. He was continued in all his posts upon the accession of James II. who sent him also his ambassador to France to notify that event. On his return, he assisted at the coronation in April 1685; and May following was created a peer of England, by the title of baroti Churchill of Sandridge in the county of Hertford.
al to the lord mayor, sir Samuel Pennant, sir Daniel Lambert, sir Thomas Abney, and others in court. Baron Clarke died in May, and was buried at Godmanchester. One of
As a man, his character stands very high. He is said to have spent the whole surplus of his annual income in works of hospitality and charity; and determined with himself never to have in reserve, how great soever his revenue might be, more than a sum sufficient to defray the expences of his funeral. The most remarkable instance of his active benevolence was in the case of the sick hospital at Winchester. Its institution, which was the first of the kind in England, those of the metropolis only excepted, owes its existence chiefly to the industry and indefatigable zeal of Dr. Alured Clarke, who in 1736 recommended the scheme to the public by every art of persuasion, and was so successful, that the first annual subscription amounted to upwards of 600l. And when the great utility of such a foundation became more apparent, its revenue soon increased to upwards of a thousand pounds per ann. and institutions of a like nature were in a short time established throughout the kingdom. The orders and constitutions of Winchester infirmary were drawn up by Dr. Clarke, and are a proof of great wisdom in a branch of political ceconomy, at that time very little understood. He began a similar institution upon his removal to Exeter, (where he had, with his usual liberality, expended a large sum of money upon the repair of his deanry house), but did not live long enough to see his laudable design fully executed. Dr. Clarke’s brother, Charles Clarke, esq. applied to the study of the law, in which he acquired great eminence, and was nominated one of the barons of the Exchequer in 1742. In the execution of this office, he caught the infectious disorder at the Old Bailey sessions in 1750, which proved at the same time fatal to the lord mayor, sir Samuel Pennant, sir Daniel Lambert, sir Thomas Abney, and others in court. Baron Clarke died in May, and was buried at Godmanchester. One of his sons is the present sir Alured Clarke, K. B.
ffluent estate, in consequence of his father’s decease, he married Catharine, daughter of lord chief baron Donnellan, and gave her fortune, which was not considerable,
, bishop of Clogher, was born at Dublin in 1695, a descendant of the Claytons of Fulwood, in Lancashire, whose estate he became possessed of, by right of inheritance. His father, Dr. Clayton, minister of St. Michael’s, Dublin, and dean of Kildare, sent him to Westminster-school, under the private tuition of Zachary Pearce, afterwards bishop of Rochester, with whom he held a lasting friendship. From Westminster school Dr. Clayton removed his son to Trinity college, Dublin, of which, in due time, he became a fellow, and afterwards made the tour of Italy and France. From whom Mr. Clayton received holy orders, what preferments he had before he was raised to the episcopacy, and when he took his degrees, we are not informed; only we find that he was become D. D. in 1729. In 1728, having come into the possession of an affluent estate, in consequence of his father’s decease, he married Catharine, daughter of lord chief baron Donnellan, and gave her fortune, which was not considerable, to her sister. He behaved with the same generosity to his own three sisters, and gave to each of them the double of what had been bequeathed to them by their father’s will.
year, 1732, she united herself in marriage with George Clive, a gentleman of the law, and brother to baron Chve; an union which was not productive of happiness to either
, an actress of great merit, whose
piaiden name was Raftor, was born in 1711, and shewed a
very early inclination and genius for the stage. Being
recommended to Cibber, he immediately engaged her
at a small salary, and she made her first appearance
on the stage in boy’s clothes, in the character of Isnienes, the page of Ziphores, in the play of “Mithridates,
” at Drury-lane theatre. Continuing to improve in
her profession, she added both to her salary and her fame.
In 1731 her performance of Nell in the “Devil to pay,
”
fixed her reputation as the greatest performer of her time
in that species of character, in which for more than thirty
years she remained without a rival. In the next year,
1732, she united herself in marriage with George Clive, a
gentleman of the law, and brother to baron Chve; an
union which was not productive of happiness to either
party. They soon agreed to separate, and for the rest of
their lives had no intercourse together. Mr. Clive, if we
mistake not, died at Bath in 1780, but we doubt whether
he was brother to the baron of the exchequer, as above
mentioned. In 1768, Mrs. dive’s intimate friend Mrs.
Pritchard quitted the stage; and the succeeding year she
determined to follow her example; but certainly might
have continued several years longer to delight the public
in various characters adapted to her figure and time of life,
as to the last she was admirable and unrivalled. From this
time Mrs. Clive retired to a small but elegant house near
Strawberry-hill, Twickenham, where she passed the remainder of her life in ease and independence, respected
by the world, and beloved by a circle of friends; at which
place, after a short illness, she departed this life, December 6, 1785. A'more extensive walk in comedy than that
of Mrs. Clive cannot be imagined; the chambermaid, in
every varied shape which art or nature could lend her;
characters of whim and affectation, from the high-bred lady
Fanciful, to the vulgar Mrs. Heidelberg; country girls,
romps, hoydens, and dowdies; superannuated beauties,
viragoes, and humourists. To a strong and pleasing voice,
with an ear for music, she added all the sprightly action
requisite to a number of parts in ballad farces. Her mirth
was so genuine, that whether it was restrained to the arch
sneer and the suppressed half-laugh, widened to the broad
grin, or extended to the downright honest burst of loud
laughter, the audience was sure to accompany her. Mrs.
Clive, in private life, was so far above censure, that her
conduct in every relation of it was not only laudable but
exemplary. For her benefits she introduced some trifling
pieces on the stage, written by herself or hejr friends, but
of no great merit.
bear arms, as he afterwards did two years in Hungary and Bohemia. It happened at that time, that the baron of Popel, who was his friend, was arrested by an order from
, or Cluvier), a celebrated geographer, was born of an ancient and noble family at Dantzic, in 1580, and educated by his father with a great deal of care, and sent to Leyden to study the civil law. But Cluver had no inclination for law, and his genius inclining him early to the love of geography, Joseph Scaliger is said to have advised him to make that his particular study, and not to do violence to his inclinations any longer. This advice was followed, upon which Cluver presently set out for the Low Countries, in order to take a careful survey of them but passing- through Brabant, for the sake of paying a visit to Justus Lipsius, he had the misfortune to be robbed, which obliged him to return immediately to Leyden. Meanwhile, his father, incensed by his deserting the study of the law, refused to furnish him with money, which drove him to bear arms, as he afterwards did two years in Hungary and Bohemia. It happened at that time, that the baron of Popel, who was his friend, was arrested by an order from the emperor; and thinking himself extremely ill used, he drew up a kind of manifesto by way of apology, which he sent to Cluver to translate into Latin. This Cluver having performed, caused it to be printed at Leyden which so displeased the emperor, that he complained by his ambassador to the States, and had Cluvcr arrested. Ciuver, however, was soon set at liberty, upon which he returned to his geographical studies, and travelled through several countries, particularly England, France, Germany, and Italy. He was also a great linguist, being able to talk with ease and fluency, as we are told, no less than ten languages. He died at Ley den, 1623, only forty -three years old, justly esteemed the first geographer who had put his researches in order, and reduced them to certain principles.
fterwards William III. He was employed in various affairs of importance, and received the dignity of baron of the empire from the emperor, 1713, as a reward for his services.
, an eminent lawyer, was born
March 25, 1644, at Bremen. He was professor of law at
Heidelberg, Utrecht, and Francfort on the Oder, where
he died August 18, 1719, aged seventy-six, leaving several
children. In 1670 the degree of LL. D. was conferred on
him by the university of Oxford, at the same time with
the prince of Orange, afterwards William III. He was
employed in various affairs of importance, and received
the dignity of baron of the empire from the emperor,
1713, as a reward for his services. He left several works
on the science he professed, among which are “Juris
publici prndentia,
” Francfort, Hypomnemata Juris,
”
ter of state, and grand chancellor to the late king of Prussia. That royal philosopher entrusted the baron Cocceius with the reform of the administration of justice throughout
, son to the preceding, was born
at Francfort on the Oder, towards the close of the seventeenth century, and died in 1755. He rose by his profound
knowledge of the civil law, to the post of minister of state,
and grand chancellor to the late king of Prussia. That
royal philosopher entrusted the baron Cocceius with the
reform of the administration of justice throughout his dominions. The “Frederkian Code,
” which this minister
compiled in Grotius de jure
belli ac pacis,
” more ample than any that had before appeared, printed 1755 at Lausanne, 5 vols. 4to. The first
volume, which serves as an introduction to the work, is by
Cocceius the father.
jurisdiction of all the courts in this kingdom, from the high court of parliament down to the court- baron. This part not being published till after his decease, there
In 1614 there was published, “A speech and charge at
Norwich assizes,
” intended to pass for sir Edward Coke’s;
but he clearly disclaims it, in the preface to the seventh
part of his Reports. He did indeed make a speech at that
time, and in some measure to this purpose; but these notes
of it were gathered and published without his knowledge
in a very incorrect and miserable manner, and published
with a design to prejudice and expose him. In 1614 was
published in folio, “A book of entries, containing perfect
and approved precedents of courts, declarations, informations, plaints, indictments, bars, duplications, rejoinders,
pleadings, processes, continuances, essoigns, issues, defaults, departure in despight of the court, demurrers, trials,
judgments, executions, and all other matters and proceedings, in effect, concerningthe practic part of the laws of
England, in actions real, personal, mixed, and in appeals:
being very necessary to be known, and of excellent use for
the modern practice of the law, many of them containing
matters in law, and points of great learning; collected and
published for the common good and beneh't of all the studious and learned professors of the laws of England, 1
” His “Institutes
” are divided into four parts. The first
is the translation and comment upon the “Tenures of Sir
Thomas Littleton,
” one of the judges of the common-pleas
in the reign of Edward IV. It was published in his lifetime, in 1628 but that edition was very incorrect. There
was a second published in 1629, said to be revised by the
author, and in which this work is much amended; yet several mistakes remained even in that. The second part of
the “Institutes
” gives us magna charta, and other select
statutes, in the languages in which they were first enacted,
and much more correct than they were to be had any where
else. He adds to these a commentary full of excellent
learning, wherein he shews how the common law stood before those statutes were made, how far they are introductory of new laws, and how far declaratory of the old; what
were the causes of making them, to what ends they were made,
and in what degree, at the time of his writing, they were
either altered or repealed. The third part of the “Institutes
” contains the criminal law or pleas of the crown:
where, among other things, he shews, in regard to pardons
and restitutions, how far the king may proceed by his prerogative, and where the assistance of parliament is necessary. The fourth part of the “Institutes
” comprehends
the jurisdiction of all the courts in this kingdom, from the
high court of parliament down to the court-baron. This
part not being published till after his decease, there are
many inaccuracies and some greater faults in it, which were
animadverted upon and amended in a book written by
William Pry nne, esq. and published in 1669. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth editions of the “Institutes,
”
the same day his majesty was graciously pleased to confer upon him and his heirs male, the title of baron Collinwood, of Caklburne and Hethpoole, in the county of No
On the 9th of November, 1805, when the rank of rearadmiral of the red was restored in the navy, he was advanced from the blue to the rank of vice-admiral of the red. On the same day his majesty was graciously pleased to confer upon him and his heirs male, the title of baron Collinwood, of Caklburne and Hethpoole, in the county of Northumberland: and the two houses of parliament, in addition to their vote of thanks, concurred in a grant of two thousand pounds a year for his own life, and the lives of his two succeeding male heirs, which upon finding that he had only two daughters, was afterwards changed into pensions upon them.
It was afterwards reprinted under the title of “Orbis sensualium pictus,” and is still, according to baron Born, used in the schools of Bohemia, Comenius being particularly
, a celebrated grammarian
and protestant divine, was born in Moravia in 1592. Having studied in several places, and particularly at Herborn,
he returned to his own country in 1614, and was made
rector of a college there. He was ordained minister in
1616, and two years after became pastor of the church of
Fulnec: at which time he was appointed master of a school
lately erected. He then appears to have projected the
introduction of a new method for teaching the languages.
He published some essays for this purpose in 1616, and
had prepared other pieces on that subject, which were destroyed in 1621, when the Spaniards plundered his library,
after having taken the city. The ministers of Bohemia,
and Moravia being outlawed by an edict in 1624, and the
persecution increasing the year after, Comenius fled to
Lesna, a city of Poland, and taught Latin. There he
published in 1631, his book entitled “Janua linguarum reserata,
” or, “the gate of languages unlocked
” of which he
gives us an account which is universally allowed to be true
“I never could have imagined,
” says he, “that this little
book, calculated only for children, should have met with
universal applause from the learned. This has been justified by the letters I have received from a great number of
learned men of different countries, in which they highly
congratulate me on this new invention; as well as by the
versions which have been emulously made of it into several
modern tongues. For it has not only been translated into
twelve European languages, namely, Latin, Greek, Bohemian, Polish, German, Swedish, Dutch, English, French,
Spanish, Italian, Hungarian; but likewise into the Asiatic
languages, as, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and even the Mogul, which is spoken all over the East Indies.
” It was afterwards reprinted under the title of “Orbis sensualium
pictus,
” and is still, according to baron Born, used in the
schools of Bohemia, Comenius being particularly skilled
in the language of that country.
ground, from which they were taken ten days after the fire but his “Lexicon Bobemicum,” a work which baron Born conceives would have been of the highest utility, was totally
Comenius became at last sensible of the vanity of his
labours, as we learn from the book he published in 1668
at Amsterdam, entitled “Unius necessarii,
” or “Of the
one thing needful;
” in which he acquaints us also with the
resolution he had made, of employing all his future thoughts
wholly on his salvation, and this he probably kept. He
died at Amsterdam, 1671, in his eightieth year. Had he
lived much longer, he would have seen the falsity of his
prophecies with regard to the millennium, which he affirmed would begin in 1672, or 1673. Whatever mortification Comenius must have felt on the score of his prophecies, his enemies have brought more serious charges against
him. He was first reproached with having done great prejudice to his brethren, who were banished with him from
Moravia. Most of them had fled from their country with
considerable sums of money; but, instead of being ceconomists, they squandered it away in a short time, because
Comenius prophesied they should return to their country
immediately, and thus they were very soon reduced to
beggary. He was also accused of having been the cause
of the plundering and burning of Lesna, where his brethren had found an asylum, by the panegyric he made so
unseasonably upon Charles Gustavus of Sweden, when he
invaded Poland. Comenius proclaimed him in a prophetic
manner to be the immediate destroyer of popery; by
which the protestants of Poland became extremely odious
to the Roman catholics of that kingdom. He did not
seem to be undeceived when the king of Sweden turned his
arms against Denmark; for he made him a second panegyric, wherein he congratulated him no less on this new
invasion than he had done upon the former. But whatever
credit the protestants of Lesna might give to Comenius,
that city was surprised and burnt by the Polish army; on
which occasion Comenius lost his house, his furniture, and
his library; a proof that, if he was an impostor, he had
first deceived himself. Part of his apocalyptic treatises,
and some other pieces relating to his Pansophia, escaped
the flames; he having just time to cover them, in a hole
under ground, from which they were taken ten days after
the fire but his “Lexicon Bobemicum,
” a work which
baron Born conceives would have been of the highest
utility, was totally destroyed. On this he had spent above
forty years of his life.
asurer. He was afterwards made lord lieutenant of the county of Dorset; and, April 23, 1672, created baron Cooper of Pawlet in the county of Somerset, and earl of Shaftesbury.
Upon the king’s coming over he was sworn of his majesty’s most honourable privy-council. He was also one of
the commissioners for the trial of the regicides; and though
the Oxford historian is very severe on him on this occasion,
yet his advocates are very desirous of proving that he was
not any way concerned in betraying or shedding the blood
of his sovereign. By letters patent, dated April 20, 1661,
he was created barou Ashley of Winborne St. Giles; soon
after made chancellor and nnder-treasurer of the exchequer, and then one of the lords commissioners for executing the office of high-treasurer. He was afterwards
made lord lieutenant of the county of Dorset; and, April
23, 1672, created baron Cooper of Pawlet in the county of
Somerset, and earl of Shaftesbury. November 4 following, he was raised to the post of lord high chancellor of
England. He shone particularly in his speeches in parliament; and, if we judge only from those which he made
upon swearing in the treasurer Clifford, his successor sir
Thomas Osborne, and baron Thurland, we must conclude
him to have been a very accomplished orator. The short
time he was at the helm was a season of storms and tempests; and it is but doing him justice to say that they
could not either affright or distract him. November 9, 1673,
he resigned the great seal under very singular circumstances. Soon after the breaking up of the parliament, as
Echard relates, the earl was sent for on Sunday morning
to court; as was also sir Heneage Finch, attorney-general,
to whom the seals were promised. As soon as the earl
came he retired with the king into the closet, while the
prevailing party waited in triumph to see him return without the purse. His lordship being alone with the king,
said, “Sir, I know you intend to give the seals to the attorney-general, but 1 am sure your majesty never intended
to dismiss me with contempt.
” The king, who could not
do an ill-natured thing, replied, “Gods fish, my lord, I
will not do it with any circumstance that may look like an
affront.
” “Then, sir,
” said the earl, “I desire your majesty will permit me to carry the seals before you to chapel, and send for them afterwards from my house.
” To
this his majesty readily consented; and the earl entertained the king with news and diverting stories till the very
minute he was to go to chapel, purposely to amuse the
courtiers and his successor, who he believed was upon the
rack for fear he should prevail upon the king to change
his mind. The king and the earl came out of the closet
talking together and smiling, and went together to chapel,
which greatly surprised, them all: and some ran immediately to tell the duke of York, that all his measures were
broken. After sermon the earl went home with the seals,
and that evening the king gave them to the attorneygeneral.
ir Charles Coote, on account of his many and very valuable services for the royal cause, was created baron and viscount Coote, and earl of Montrath in the Queen’s county.
, a distinguished military officer
in the 17th century, was the eldest son of Sir Charles
Coote, who was created baronet in April 1621. He was a
gentleman of great consideration in Ireland. Upon the
breaking out of the rebellion, in 1641, he had a commission
for a regiment of foot, and was made governor of Dublin.
From this period to the year 1652, he was engaged in a
great number of important services for his country. In
almost all the contests of which he took a part, he
was successful. After Ireland was reduced to the obedience
of the parliament, sir Charles was one of the court of justice in the province of Connaught, of which he was made
president by act of parliament. Being in England at the
time of the deposing of Richard Cromwell, he went post
to Ireland, to carry the news to his brother Henry Cromwell, that they might secure themselves; but when he perceived that king Charles the Second’s interest was likely to
prevail, he sent to the king sir Arthur Forbes, “to assure
his Majesty of sir Charles’s affection and duty, and that if
his Majesty would vouchsafe to come to Ireland, he was
confident the whole kingdom would declare for him; that
though the present power in England had removed all the
sober men from the government of the state in Ireland, under
the character of presbyterians, and had put Ludlow, Corbet,
and others of the king’s judges in their places, yet they were
generally so odious to the army as well as to the people,
that they could seize on their persons and the castle of
Dublin when they should judge it convenient.
” The king
did not think it prudent to accept the invitation. In a short
time after, sir Charles Coote, and some others, so influenced
the whole council of officers, that they prevailed upon them
to vote not to receive colonel Ludlow as commander in
chief, and made themselves masters of Athlone, Drogheda,
Limerick, Dublin, and other important places, for the service of the king. He immediately caused colonel Monk
to be made acquainted with the progress of the king’s interest in Ireland, who urged them by every means not to
restore the suspended commissioners to the exercise of
their authority. Soon after, sir Charles Coote and others
sent to the parliament a charge of high treason against colonel Ludlow, Corbet, Jones, and Thomlinson. He likewise made himself master of Dublin castle; and apprehended John Coke, chief justice of Ireland, who had been
solicitor-general at the trial of king Charles I. Notwithstanding this, parliament thought themselves so sure of him
in their interest, that he received their vote of thanks on
the 5th of Jan. 1659-60. On the 19th of the same month
he was appointed one of the commissioners for the management of the affairs of Ireland. Before those commissioners declared for king Charles, they insisted upon certain
things relating to their interest as members of that nation.
On the 6th of September 1660, sir Charles Coote, on account of his many and very valuable services for the royal
cause, was created baron and viscount Coote, and earl of
Montrath in the Queen’s county. He was also appointed
one of the lords justices of Ireland, but he did not long
enjoy these marks of his sovereign’s favour, for he died in
December 1661, and was succeeded in his estate and titles
by his son Charles, the second earl. Dr. Leland asserts that
Coote and his father had engaged in the parliamentary service not from principle, but interest. Dr. Kippis, however, doubts the assertion, upon the ground that the Cootes
were zealous presbyterians; and therefore he thinks it
highly probable that they were influenced, at least in part,
by their real sentiments, civil and religious, and especially
by their aversion from popery.
for his children. It is added, that he afterwards printed a book, entitled, “Speculum salvationis.” Baron Heinecken, who has minutely investigated the whole story, considers
, or Laurensz Jansz Koster, an
inhabitant of Haerlem, who died about 1440, has acquired
a name in the annals of printing, as the Dutch affirm him
to be the inventor of that art about the year 1430, but this
claim has been obstinately disputed. It is objected that it was
not till 130 years after the first exercise of this art at Mentz,
that the town of Haerlem formed any pretence to the honour
of this invention; and that, to the known and certain facts,
to the striking and incontestable proofs of its belonging to
Mentz, the men of Haerlem oppose nothing but obscure
traditions and conjectures, and not one typographical production that can in any way shew the merit of it to belong
to Coster. All that such objectors allow to Haerlem, is the
circumstance of being one of the first towns that practised
the art of cutting in wood, which led by degrees to the
idea of printing a book, first in wooden blocks engraved,
then in moveable characters of wood, and lastly in fusile
types. But it still remains to be proved, that this idea was
conceived and executed at Haerlem; whereas it is demonstrated that Gutemberg printed, first at Strasburg, and afterwards at Mentz, in moveable characters of wood, and that
the fusile types were invented at Mentz by Schojffert.
The learned Meerman, counsellor and pensionary of Rotterdam, zealous for the honour of his country, supported
the cause of Haerlem with all the sagacity and all the erudition that could be exerted, in a work entitled “Oru
gines Typographies:,
” printed at the Hague in Origin of Printing.
” The question is too
complicated for discussion in this place: we shall therefore
only add the tradition respecting Coster’s invention. It is
said that walking in a wood near Haerlem, he amused himself by cutting letters upon the bark of a tree, which he
impressed upon paper. Improving this incident, he proceeded to cut single letters upon wood, and uniting them
by means of thread, he printed a line or two for his children. It is added, that he afterwards printed a book, entitled, “Speculum salvationis.
” Baron Heinecken, who
has minutely investigated the whole story, considers it as
not entitled to the least credit; and pronounces the prints,
attributed to Coster, to be the works of a later date.
rles I. on the 1st of November, 1625; and on the 10th of April, 1628, dignified with the degree of a baron of this realm, by the title of lord Coventry, of Aylesborough
, lord keeper of the great seal of England in the reign of king Charles I. was son of Thomas Coventry, one of the justices of the court of common pleas. He was born at Croome d'Abitot in Worcestershire in 1573; and at fourteen years of age became a gentleman commoner in Baliol college in the university of Oxford; where, having continued about three years, he was removed to the Inner Temple in order to pursue his father’s steps in the study of the common law. In 1616 he was chosen autumn reader of that society; on the 17th of November the same year appointed recorder of the city of London; and on the 14th of March following, solicitorgeneral, and received the honour of knighthood two days after at Theobalds. January 14th, 1620-1, he was made attorney-general; and thence advanced to the office of lord keeper of tue great seal of England by king Charles I. on the 1st of November, 1625; and on the 10th of April, 1628, dignified with the degree of a baron of this realm, by the title of lord Coventry, of Aylesborough in the county of Worcester.
ces, he was advanced, Nov^ 9, 1706, to the dignity of a peer, by the style and title of lord Cowper, baron Cowper of Wingham in Kent; and on May 4, 1707, her majesty in
1619, 4to. Fuller’s Abel Redivivus. Clarke’s Ecclesiastical History, p. 445.
Hayley’s life of Cowper, To!. I. p. '2. 8vo edit. Mr. Hayley thinks it not
improbable that he may have been an ancestor of the poet.
waited upon the queen at St. James’s with the articles
agreed upon between the commissioners, as the terms upon
which the union was to take place, and made a speech to
her majesty on the occasion. The articles of union, agreed
upon by the commissioners, with some few alterations,
were afterwards ratified by the parliaments both of England and Scotland. The lord-keeper had a very considera^le hand in this measure, and in consideration of that,
and his general merit and services, he was advanced, Nov^
9, 1706, to the dignity of a peer, by the style and title of
lord Cowper, baron Cowper of Wingham in Kent; and
on May 4, 1707, her majesty in council declared him lord
high chancellor of Great Britain. In 1709, in consequence
of the intrigues of Harley and Mrs. Masham, the earl of
Sunderland, son-in-law to the duke of Marlborough, was
removed from the office of secretary of state; and it being
apprehended that this event would give disgust to that
great general, and perhaps induce him to quit the command of the army, a joint letter was sent to his grace by
lord Cowper, the dukes of Newcastle and Devonshire, and
other noblemen, in which they conjured him in the strongest terms, not to quit his command. But soon after, on
the 8th of August, 1710, the earl of Godolphin being removed from the post of lord-treasurer, the other whig ministers resigned with spirit and dignity. Lord Cowper, in
particular, behaved with unexampled firmness and honour,
rejecting with scorn the overtures which Harley, the new
favourite, made to induce him to continue. When he
waited on the queen to resign, she strongly opposed his
resolution, and returned the seals three times after he
had laid them down. At last, when she could not prevail,
she commanded him to take them ' adding, “I beg it as a
favour of you, if I may use that expression.
” Cowper
could not refuse to obey her commands: but, after a short
pause, and taking up the seals, he said that he would not
carry them out of the palace except on the promise, that
the surrender of them would be accepted on the morrow:
and on the following day his resignation was accepted.
This singular contest between her majesty and him lasted
three quarters of an hour.
of Durham, as they should become vacant. By the death of his two elder brothers, he became in 1691, baron Crewe of Stean; and, about the 21st of December the same year,
, bishop of Durham, the fifth sen of John lord Crewe, of Stean, co. Northampton, by Jemima, daughter and coheir of Edward Walgrave, of Lawford, in Essex, esq. was born at Stean, the 3 1st of January, 1633; and in 1652 admitted commoner of Lincoln college, in Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A. Feb. 1, 1655-6; soon after which he was chosen fellow of that college. On June 29th, 1658, he took the degree of M. A. At the restoration he declared heartily in favour of the crown and hierarchy; and in 1663 was one of the proctors of the university. The year following, on the 2d of July, he took the degree of LL. D.; and soon after went into holy orders. August the 12th, 1668, he was elected rector of Lincoln -college, upon the decease of Dr. Paul Hood. On the 29th of April, 1669, he was installed dean of Chichester, and held with that dignity, the praecentorship, in which he had been installed the day before. He was also appointed clerk of the closet to king Charles II. In 1671, upon the translation of Dr. Blandford to the see of Worcester, he was elected hishop of Oxford in his room, on the 16th of June, confirmed June the ISth, consecrated July the 2d, and enthroned the 5th of the same month; being allowed to hold with it, in commendam, the living of Whitney, and the rectorship of Lincoln college, which last he resigned in October 1672. In 1673 he performed the ceremony of the marriage of James duke of York with Maria of Este; and through that prince’s interest, to whom he appears to have been subservient, he was translated, the 22d of October, 1674, to the bishopric of Durham. In the beginning of J6.75, he baptized Katharina- Laura, the new-born daughter of James duke of York. The 26th of April, 1676, he was sworn of the privy council to king Charles II. and upon the accession of king James II. to the crown, he was in great favour with that prince; he was made dean of his majesty’s royal chapel in 1685, in the room of Compton, bishop of London, who had been removed; and within a few days after, was admitted into the privy council. In 1686 he was appointed one of the commissioners in the new ecclesiastical commission erected by king James, an honoqr which he is said to have valued beyond its worth. By virtue of that commission, he appeared on the 9th of August, at the proceedings against Henry bishop of London, and was for suspending him during the king’s pleasure; though the earl and bishop of Rochester, and chief justice Herbert, were against it. Immediately after that bishop’s suspension, commissioners were appointed to exercise all manner of ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the diocese of London, of which bishop Crewe was one. The 20th of November following, he was present at, and consenting to, the degradation of Mr. Samuel Johnson, previously to the most severe punishment that was inflicted on that eminent divine; and countenanced with his presence a prosecution carried on, in May 1687, against Dr. Peachy, vice-chancellor of Cambridge, for refusing to admit one Alban Francis, a Benedictine monk, to the degree of master of arts in that university, without taking the oaths. In July the same year, he offered to attend the pope’s nuncio at his public entry into London; but we are told his coachman refused to "drive lijm that way. His name was put again in a new ecclesiastical commission issued out this year, in October; in which he acted, during the severe proceedings against Magdalen college in Oxford, for refusing to elect one Anthony Farmer their president, pursuant to the king’s mandate. The bishop continued acting as an ecclesiastical commissioner till October 1688; when that commission was abolished. Towards the end of the year 1687, he was employed, with the bishops of Rochester and Peterborough, to draw up a form of thanksgiving for the queen’s being with child. But finding that the prince of Orange’s party was likely to' prevail, he absented himself from the council-board, and told the archbishop of Canterbury, that he was sorry for having so long concurred with the courtand desired now to be reconciled to his grace, and the other bishops. Even in the convention that met January 22, 1688-9, to consider of filling the throne, he was one of those who voted, on the 6th of February, that king James II. had abdicated the kingdom. Yet his past conduct was too recent to be forgotten, and therefore he was excepted by name out of the pardon granted by king William and queen Mary, May 23, 1690, which so terrified him, that he went over to Holland, and returned just in time to take the oaths to the new government, and preserved his bishopric. But, in order to secure to himself the possession of that dignity, he was forced to permit the crown to dispose of, or at least to nominate to, his prebends of Durham, as they should become vacant. By the death of his two elder brothers, he became in 1691, baron Crewe of Stean; and, about the 21st of December the same year, he married, but left no issue. During the rest of king William’s reign, he remained quiet and unmolested; and in the year 1710, he was one of the lords that opposed the prosecution then carried on against Dr. Sacheverell, and declared him not guilty; and likewise protested against several steps taken in that affair. He applied himself chiefly, in the latter part of his life, to works of munificence and charity. Particularly, he was a very great benefactor to Lincoln college, of which he had been fellow and rector; and laid out large sums in beautifying the bishop’s palace at Durham; besides many other instances of generosity and munificence of a more private nature. At length, his lordship departed this life on Monday September 18, 1721, aged eighty-eight; and was buried in his chapel at Stean, the 30th of the same month, with an inscription on his monument. He held the see of Durham forty-seven years. Dying without issue, the title of Baron Crewe of Stean became extinct with him.
l notes, and many references to later authorities, including several from the ms notes of lord chief baron Parker, was published by Thomas Leach, esq. There is an accurate
The “Reports
” of sir George Croke have obtained the
character of great authenticity. There have been several
editions, as in 1657, 1658, 1661, all of which are called
the first edition, and are frequently without tables of the
principal matters; there is also a very incorrect edition,
varying in the numbers from the other editions, and the
dates are printed in numerical letters MDCL. &c. An edition of 1669, which is called the second, is well printed in
3 vols, but has no references. The third, also in 3 vols,
fol. was translated and published by his son-in-law, sir
Harbottle Grimstone, in 1683 or 1685, with tables and references. This first led the way in divesting this branch of
legal literature of the foreign idiom, and substituting the
author’s native language. The fourth and last edition, in
4 vols. 8vo, 1790 1792, with additions and marginal
notes, and many references to later authorities, including
several from the ms notes of lord chief baron Parker, was
published by Thomas Leach, esq. There is an accurate
abridgment of Croke’s Reports, three parts, 8vo, by Will.
Hughes, esq, published in 1685. Sir George Croke’s arguments on ship-money were published with those of sic
Richard Hutton. Lloyd, no friend to the patriots of Charles
I.'s time, remarks that the share in this tax for which
Hampden went to law was eighteen shillings, and that it
cost the nation eighteen millions.
igned his mastership of the rolls . On the 9th of the same month he was advanced to the dignity of a baron of this realm, by the title of lord Cromwell of Okeham in R
, earl of Essex, an eminent statesman in the sixteenth century, was the son of Walter Cromwell, a blacksmith, at Putney, near London, and in his latter days a brewer; after whose decease, his mother was married to a sheerman in London. What education he had, was In a private school: and all the learning he attained to, was (according to the standard of those times), only reading and writing, and a little Latin. When he grew up, having a very great inclination for travelling, he went into foreign countries, though at whose expence is not known; and by that means he had an opportunity of seeing the world, of gaining experience, and of learning several languages, which proved of great service to him afterwards. Coming to Antwerp, where was then a very considerable English factory, he was by them retained to be their clerk, or secretary. But that office being too great a confinement, he embraced an opportunity that offered in 1510, of taking a journey to Rome. Whilst he remained in Italy he served for some time as a soldier under the duke of Bourbon, and was at the sacking of Rome: and at Bologna he assisted John Russel, esq. afterwards earl of Bedford, in making his escape, when he had like to be betrayed into the hands of the French, being secretly in those parts about our king’s affairs. It is also much to his credit, as an early convert to the reformation, that, in his journey to and from Rome, he learned by heart Erasmus’s translation of the New Testament. After his return from his travels he was taken into the family and service of cardinal Wolsey, who is said to have first discovered him in France, and who made him his solicitor, and often employed him in business of great importance. Among other things, he had the chief hand in the foundation of the two colleges begun at Oxford and Ipswich by that magnificent prelate; and upon the cardinal’s disgrace in 1529, he used his utmost endeavours and interest to have him restored to the king’s favour: even when articles of high-treason against him were sent down to the house of commons, of which Cromwell was then a member, he defended his master with so much wit and eloquence, that no treason cauld be laid to his charge: which honest beginning procured Cromwell great reputation, and made his parts and abilities to be much taken notice of. After the cardinal’s household was dissolved, Cromwell was taken into the king’s service (upon the recommendation of sir Christopher Hales, afterwards master of the rolls, and sir John Russel, knt. above-mentioned) as the fittest person to manage the disputes the king then had with the pope; though some endeavoured to hinder his promotion, and to prejudice his majesty against him, on account of his defacing the small monasteries that were dissolved for endowing Wolsey’s colleges. But he discovering to the king some particulars that were very acceptable to him respecting the submission of the clergy to the pope, in derogation of his majesty’s authority, he took him into the highest degree of favour, and soon after he was sent to the convocation, then sitting, to acquaint the clergy, that they were all fallen into a praemunire on the above account, and the provinces of Canterbury and York were glad to compromise by a present to the king of above 100,000l. In 1531 he was knighted; made master of the king’s jewel-house, with a salary of 50l. per annum; and constituted a privy-counsellor. The next year he was made clerk of the Hanaper, an office of profit and repute in chancery; and, before the end of the same year, chancellor of the exchequer, and in 1534, principal secretary of state, and master of the rolls. About the same time he was chosen chancellor of the university of Cambridge; soon after which followed a general visitation of that university, when the several colleges delivered up their charters, and other instruments, to sir Thomas Cromwell. The year before, he assessed the fines laid upon those who having 40l. per annum estate, refused to take the order of knighthood. In 1535 he was appointed visitor-general of the monasteries throughout England, in order for their suppression; and in that office is accused of having acted with much violence, although in other cases promises and pensions were employed to obtain the compliance of the monks and nuns. But the mode, whatever it might be, gave satisfaction to the king and his courtiers, and Cromwell was, on July 2, 1536, constituted lord keeper of the privy seal, when he resigned his mastership of the rolls . On the 9th of the same month he was advanced to the dignity of a baron of this realm, by the title of lord Cromwell of Okeham in Rutlandshire; and, six days after, took his place in the house of lords. The pope’s supremacy being now abolished in England, lord Cromwell was made, on the 18th of July, vicar-general, and vicegerent, over all the spirituality, under the king, who was declared supreme head of the church. In that quality his lordship satin the convocation holden this year, above the archbishops, as the king’s representative. Being-invested with such extensive power, he employed it in discouraging popery, and promoting the reformation. For that purpose he caused certain articles to be enjoined by the king’s authority, differing in many essential points from the established system of the Roman-catholic religion; and in September, this same year, he published some injunctions to the clergy, in which they were ordered to preach up the king’s supremacy; not to lay out their rhetoric in extolling images, relics, miracle*, or pilgrimages, but rather to exhort their people to serve God, and make provision for their families: to put parents and other directors of youth in mind to teach their children the Lord’s-prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments in their mother-tongue, and to provide a Bible in Latin and English, to be laid in the churches for every one to read at their pleasure. He likewise encouraged the translation of the Bible into English; and, when finished, enjoined that one of the largest volume should be provided for every parish church, at the joint charge of the parson and parishioners. These alterations, with the dissolution of the monasteries, and (notwithstanding the immense riches gotten from thence) his demanding at the same time for the king subsidies both from the clergy and laity, occasioned very great murmurs against him, and indeed with some reason. All this, however, rather served to establish him in the king’s esteem, who was as prodigal of money as he was rapacious and in 1537 his majesty constituted him chief justice itinerant of all the forests beyond Trent and on the 26th of August, the same year, he was elected knight of the garter, and dean of the cathedral church of Weils. The year following he obtained a grant of the castle and lordship of Okeham in the county of Rutland; and was also made constable of Carisbrook-castle in the Isle of Wight. In September he published new injunctions, directed to all bishops and curates, in which he ordered that a Bible, in English, should be set up in some convenient place in every church, where the parishioners might most commodiously resort to read the same: that the clergy should, every Sunday and holiday, openly and plainly recite to their parishioners, twice or thrice together, one article of the Lord’s Prayer, or Creed, in English, that they might learn the same by heart: that they should make, or cause to be made, in their churches, one sermon every quarter of a year at least, in which they should purely and sincerely declare the very gospel of Christ, and exhort their hearers to the works of charity, mercy, and faith not to pilgrimages, images, &c. that they should forthwith take clown all images to which pilgrimages or offerings were wont to be made: that in all such benefices upon which they were not themselves resident, they should appoint able curates: that they, and every parson, vicar, or curate, should for every church keep one book of register, wherein they should write the day and year of every wedding, christening, and burying, within their parish; and therein set every person’s name that shall be so wedded, christened, or buried, &c. Having been thus highly instrumental in promoting the reformation, and in dissolving the monasteries, he was amply rewarded by the king in 1539, with many noble manors and large estates that had belonged to those dissolved houses. On the 17th of April, the same year, he was advanced to the dignity of earl of Essex; and soon after constituted lord high chamberlain of England. The same day he was created earl of Essex he procured Gregory his son to be made baron Cromwell of Okeham. On the 12th of March 1540, he was put in commission, with others, to sell the abbey-lands, at twenty years’ purchase: which was a thing he had advised the king to do, in order to stop the clamours of the people, to attach them to his interest, and to reconcile them to the dissolution of the monasteries. But as, like his old master Wolsey, he had risen rapidly, he was now doomed, like him, to exhibit as striking an example of the instability of human grandeur; and au unhappy precaution to secure (as he imagined) his greatness, proved his ruin. Observing that some of his most inveterate enemies, particularly Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, began to be more in favour at court than himself, he used his utmost endeavours to procure a marriage between king Henry and Anne of Cleves, expecting great support from a queen of his own making; and as her friends were Lutherans, he imagined it would bring down the popish party at court, and again recover the ground he and Cranmer had now lost. But this led immodiaieiy to his destruction; for the king, not liking the queen, began to hate Cromwell, the great promoter of the marriage, and soon found an opportunity to sacrifice him; nor was this difficult. Cromwell was odious to all the nobility by reason of his low binh: hated particularly by Gardiner, and the Roman catholics, for having been so busy in the dissolution of the abbies: the reformers themselves found he could not protect them from persecution; and the nation in general was highly incensed against him for his having lately obtained a subsidy of four shillings in the pound from the clergy, and one tenth and one fifteenth from the laity; notwithstanding the immense sums that had flowed into the treasury out of the monasteries. Henry, with his usual caprice, and without ever considering that Cromwell’s faults were his own, and committed, if we may use the expression, for his own gratification, caused him to be arrested at the council table, by the duke of Norfolk, on the 10th of June, when he least suspected it. Being committed to the Tower, he wrote a letter to the king, to vindicate himself from the guilt of treason; and another concerning his majesty’s marriage with Anne of Cleves; but we do not find that any notice was taken of these: yet, as his enemies knew if he were brought to the bar he would justify himself by producing the king’s orders and warrants for what he had done, they resolved to prosecute him by attainder; and the bill being brought into the house of lords the 17th of June, and read the first time, on the 19th was read the second and third times, and sent down to the commons. Here, however, it stuck ten days, and at last a new bill of attainder was sent up to the lords, framed in the house of commons: and they sent back at the same time the bill the lords had sent to them. The grounds of his condemnation were chieHy treason and heresy; the former very confusedly expressed. Like other falling favourites, he was deserted by most of his friends, except archbishop Cranmer, who wrote to the king in his behalf with great boldness and spirit. But the duke of Norfolk, and the rest of the popish party, prevailed; and, accordingly, in pursuance of his attainder, the lord Cromwell was brought to a scaffold erected on Tower-hill, where, after having made a speech, and prayed, he was beheaded, July 28, 1540. His death is solely to be attributed to the ingratitude and caprice of Henry, whom he had served with great faithfulness, courage, and resolution, in the most hazardous, difficult, and important undertakings. As for the lord Cromwell’s character, he is represented by popish historians as a crafty, cruel, ambitious, and covetous man, and a heretic; but their opponents, on better grounds, assert that he was a person of great wit, and excellent parts, joined to extraordinary diligence and industry; that his apprehension was quick and clear; his judgment methodical and solid; his memory strong and rational; his tongue fluent and pertinent; his presence stately and obliging; his heart large and noble; his temper patient and cautious; his correspondence well laid and constant; his conversation insinuating and close: none more dextrous in finding out the designs of men and courts; and none more reserved in keeping a secret. Though he was raised from the meanest condition to a high pitch of honour, he carried his greatness with wonderful temper; being noted in the exercise of his places of judicature, to have used much moderation, and in his greatest pomp to have taken notice of, and been thankful to mean persons of his old acquaintance. In his whole behaviour he was courteous and affable to all; a favourer in particular of the poor in their suits; and ready to relieve such as were in danger of being oppressed by powerful adversaries; and so very hospitable and bountiful, that about two hundred persons were served at the gate of his house in Throgmorton-strcet, London, twice every day, with bread, meat, and drink sufficient. He must be regarded as one of the chief instruments in the reformation; and though he could not prevent the promulgation, he stopped the execution, as far as he could, of the bloody act of the six articles. But when the king’s command pressed him close, he was not firm enough to refuse his concurrence to the condemnation and burning of John Lambert. In his domestic concerns he was very regular; calling upon his servants yearly, to give him an account of what they had got under him, and what they desired of him; warning them to improve their opportunities, because, he said, he was too great to stand long; providing for them as carefully, as for his own son, by his purse and credit, that they might live as handsomely when he was dead, as they did when he was alive. In a word, we are assured, that for piety towards God, fidelity to his king, prudence in the management of affairs, gratitude to his benefactors, dutifulness, charity, and benevolence, there was not any one then superior to him in England.
amily of the superintendant Paul Rehfeld, of Stralsund. Here he remained till the minister of state, baron von Schwicheidt, of Hanover, became acquainted with him, and
, professor of history and
rhetoric at Marpurg, was born Aug. 18, 1724, at Techentin, in the duchy of Mecklenburg, of which place his
father was minister. Alter his decease, his mother married his successor, John Frederic Aepin; and it was from
him that her son’s mind received its first cultivation. He
was then placed in the schools at Parchim anil Schwerin,
and in 1742 repaired to the university of Rostock. Having
completed his academical studies, he accepted the
situation of private tutor in the family of the superintendant
Paul Rehfeld, of Stralsund. Here he remained till the
minister of state, baron von Schwicheidt, of Hanover, became acquainted with him, and entrusted him with the
education of his children. That gentleman gave Curtius
many proofs of the regard he entertained for him. Among
other things, during the seven years’ war, at a time when
he himself was overwhelmed with business, he once charged
Curtius with an important commission to the duke of Brunswick, who then commanded the allied army. He likewise
gained the entire confidence of that excellent minister,
the baron von Miinchhausen, who had become acquainted
with him by means of Schwicheidt. He held his situation
in the house of the latter till 1759, when he was appointed
regular professor at the academy of Lilneburg, where he
taught logic, metaphysics, history, &c. In 1767 he was
appointed professor of history, rhetoric, and poetry, at
Marburg, and about this time published his “Commentarii
de Senatu Romano, sub iniperatoribus, &c.
” In
hful services, and zealous affection to his royal person and government, thought fit to create him a baron of the kingdom of Ireland, by the style and title of Baron Cutts
, a brave officer in king William’s
wars, was a younger son of Richard Cutts, esq. of an
ancient and distinguished family, settled about the time of
Henry VI. at Matching in Essex, where they had considerable property. His father removed to Childerley in Cambridgeshire, to take possession of a good estate given him
by sir John Cutts, bart. who died without issue. This,
estate, after the decease of an elder brother, devolved on
John; who sold it, to pay incumbrances, to equip himself
as a soldier, and to enable himself to travel. After an
academical education at Cambridge, he entered early into
the service of the duke of Monmouth, and afterwards was
aid-de-camp to the duke of Lorrain in Hungary, and signalized himself in a very extraordinary manner at the
taking of Buda by the imperialists in 1686; which important place had been for nearly a century and a half in the
hands of the Turks. Mr. Addison, in a Latin poem, not
unworthy of the Augustan age, plainly hints at Mr. Cutts’ s
distinguished bravery at that siege. He was afterwards
colonel of a regiment in Holland under the States, and accompanied king William to England, who “being graciously pleased to confer a mark of his royal favour upon
colonel John Cutts, for his faithful services, and zealous
affection to his royal person and government, thought fit
to create him a baron of the kingdom of Ireland, by the
style and title of Baron Cutts of Gowran in the said
kingdom, December 6, 1690.
” He was appointed governor of
the Isle of Wight, April 14, 1693 made a major-general
and, when the assassination-project was discovered, 1695-6,
was captain of the king’s guard. He was twice married
first to Elizabeth, daughter of George Clark of London,
merchant (relict of John Morley, of Glynd, in Sussex, and after, of John Trevor, esq. eldest brother to the first lord Trevor). This lady died in Feb. 1692. His second wife,
an amiable young woman, was educated under the care of
her grandmother, the lady Pickering, of Cambridgeshire.
She was brought to bed of a son, September 1, 1697, and
died in a few days after, aged only 18 years and as many
days. Her character has been admirably delineated by
bishop Atterbury, in the dedication to a sermon he
preached on occasion of her death.
ds was put in possession of the cure of St. Khazaim, or St. Catiani, near Aurspergh, by Christopher, baron of Aurspergh, in 1585, who, when the popish party banished Dalmatin
, a very learned Lutheran divine of the sixteenth century, of whose personal history little is known, deserves notice as thetranslator of Luther’s German Bible into the Sclavonian, which language being . spoken in Styria, Carinthia, and Carniola, the states of those countries came to a determination that this Bible should be printed for their use. They first employed John Manlius, a printer of Laybach, who was the first that printed the Sclavonic in Roman letters: but while Manlius was making his calculations of expence, &c. the archduke Charles of Austria forbad him to print it. This appears to have happened in 1580. The states, however, only changed their determination so far as to have it printed elsewhere, and sent Dalmatin for that purpose to Gratz, where he was to correct the press, after the copy had been carefully revised at Laybach by him, in conjunction with other eminent divines and Oriental scholars. But, finding that no impression of this Bible would be permitted in the Austrian dominions, the states sent, in April 1583, Dalmatin, and another divine, Adam Bohoritsch, to Wittemberg, with a recommendation to the elector of Saxony, and the work being begun in May 1583, was finished Jan. 1, 1584. They had agreed with Samuel Seelfisch, bookseller at Wittemberg, that he should print fifteen hundred copies, each to contain two hundred and eighty sheets of the largest paper, on a fine character, with wooden cuts; for which the states of Carniola were to pay after the rate of twenty florins for every bale of five hundred sheets. The expences of the impression of this Bible amounted to about eight thousand florins: towards which the states of Styria gave a thousand florins, those of Carirrthia nine hundred, and the evangelic states of Carniola six thousand one hundred. These particulars may not be unacceptable to typographical students, as it is but seldom we have access to the history of early printing. Of Dalmatin we are only told that he afterwards was put in possession of the cure of St. Khazaim, or St. Catiani, near Aurspergh, by Christopher, baron of Aurspergh, in 1585, who, when the popish party banished Dalmatin in 1598, kept him concealed in his house; and a vault under the stable before the castle used long to be shewn as the hole of the preacher."
, the seventh baron and first viscount Stair, was born in 1609, studied at the college
, the seventh baron and first
viscount Stair, was born in 1609, studied at the college
of Glasgow, and passed all the regular degrees of learning
in that university. On the commencement of the rebellion in the reign of Charles I. he accepted a captain’s commission from the parliament, in the earl of Glencain.'s regiment, but was soon called off to a more suitable province,
that of filling a philosophy chair in the university of Glasgow. Having applied himself particularly to the study of
the laws, he entered as an advocate in 1648, and became
eminent for his judgment and skill, if not for his integrity.
When the estates of the nation sent commissioners to
Breda to invite Charles II. to Scotland, he was appointed
secretary to the embassy, and acquitted himself entirely to
his majesty’s satisfaction. He then resumed his practice
at the bar, but could not be prevailed upon to take any
oaths to the government during the usurpation. When
Charles II. was restored to the throne, he conferred on
Mr. Dalryrnple the honour of knighthood, appointed him
a senator of the college of justice, and in 1671, lord president of the session, in which office his conduct was very
unpopular; and in 1682, being dismissed from all his offices, he retired to Holland, where he became such a
favourite with William prince of Orange, that when advanced to the throne of these kingdoms, his majesty restored him to his place of lord president, and raised him
to the dignity of viscount Stair, lord Glenluce and Stranrawer. His lordship continued to enjoy his high legal
office, and the favour of his prince, till his death, Nov. 25,
1695 4 His character as a politician has not been favourably drawn by some historians, particularly Mr. Laing, in.
his lately -published “History of Scotland.
” His personal
character seems liable to less objection, and of his learning
no doubt can be justly entertained. He wrote: 1. “The
Institutions of the Law of Scotland,
” second edit. fol. Decisions of the Court of Session from 1661 to 1681,'
”
2 vols. fol. 3. “Philosophia nova experimentalis,
” published in Holland during his exile, and much commended
by Bayle in his Journal. 4. “A Vindication of the Divine
Perfections, &c. by a Person of Honour,
” An Apology for his own Conduct,
” 4to, the only copy
of which extant is said to be in the advocates’ library at
Edinburgh. Had lord Orford read much of his history, he
needed not have added that “it is not known on what occasion-he published it.
”
tgeneral of the horse, and serjeant-major of the whole army, under Robert earl of Essex, and Charles Baron of Montjoy, in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Upon the accession
, a brave warrior in the end of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth century, and created earl of Dariby by king Charles I. was the second son of sir John Danvers, knight, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and coheir to John Nevil the last lord Latimer. He was born at Dantesey in Wiltshire, on the 28th of June, 1573. After an education suitable to his birth, he went and served in the Low Country wars, under Maurice count of Nassau, afterwards prince of Orange; and was engaged in many military actions of those times, both by sea and land. He was made a captain in the wars of France, occasioned in that kingdom by the League; and there knighted for his good service under Henry IV. king of France. He was next employed in Ireland, as lieutenantgeneral of the horse, and serjeant-major of the whole army, under Robert earl of Essex, and Charles Baron of Montjoy, in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Upon the accession of king James I. he was, on account of his family’s deserts and sufferings, advanced, July 21, 1603, to the dignity of a peer of this realm, by the title of Baron of Dantesey: and in J 605, by a special act of parliament, restored in blood as heir to his father, notwithstanding the attainder of his elder brother, sir Charles Danvers, knight. He was also appointed lord president of Munster in Ireland; and in 1620 made governor of the Isle of Guernsey for life. By king Charles I. he was created earl of Danby, February 5, 1625-6; and made of his privy council; and knight of the order of the garter. Being himself a man of learning, as well as a great encourager of it, and observing that opportunities were wanting in the university of Oxford for the useful study of botany, he purchased for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, five acres of ground, opposite Magdalen college, which had formerly served for a burying-place to the Jews (residing in great numbers at Oxford, till they were expelled England by king Edward I. in 1290), and conveyed his right and title to that piece of land to the university, on the 27th of March, 1622. The ground being first considerably raised, to prevent its being overflowed by the river Cherwell, the heads of the university laid the first stones of the walls, on the 25th of July following. They were finished in 1633, being fourteen feet high: and cost the noble benefactor about five thousand pounds. The entrance into the garden is on the north side under a stately gate, the charge of building which amounted to between rive and fix hundred pounds. Upon the front of that gateway, is this Latin inscription: Gloriie Dji Opt. Max. Honori Caroli Regis, in usum Acad. et Keipub. Henricus Comes Danby, D.D. MDCXXXII. For the maintenance of it, and of a gardener, the noble founder left, by will, the impropriate rectory of Kirkdale in Yorkshire: which was afterwards settled for the same purpose, by his brother and heir sir John Danvers, knt. The earl of Danby’s will bore date the 14th of December, 1640.
for natural history induced him privately to study medicine. Accordingly he attended the lectures of Baron, Martiney, and Col de Villars, and likewise those of Winslow,
, an eminent French naturalist, was born at Montbar in the department of tlio Cote D'Or, May 29, 1716. His father, John Daubenton, was a notary in that place, and his mother’s name was Mary Pichenot. In his youth he distinguished himself by the sweetness of his temper, and by a diligent application to his Studies. The Jesuits of Dijon, under whose tuition he was first placed, noticed him in a peculiar manner. Having gone through the philosophical course taught by the Dominicans of Dijon, his father, who destined him for the church, and who had made him assume the ecclesiastical dress at the age of twelve, sent him to Paris to study theology, but his predilection for natural history induced him privately to study medicine. Accordingly he attended the lectures of Baron, Martiney, and Col de Villars, and likewise those of Winslow, Hunault, and Anthony Jussieu, in the botanic garden. The death of his father, which happened in 1736, leaving him at liberty to pursue the bent of his own inclinations, he took his degrees at Rheims in 1740 and 1741, after which he returned to his native province, where, doubtless, his ambition would have been for ever confined to the practice of medicine, had not a happy accident brought him upon a more brilliant theatre.
n country, on account of his attachment to the Roman catholic religion. He also assumed the title of Baron of Muresk, which is said to have been one of the titles of his
, a man of considerable learning
and singular character, was born in Scotland in 1579. He
is said to have been descended from a noble family, and
was instructed in grammar learning at Aberdeen; but
being obliged at an early age to leave Scotland, on account
of the commotions that then prevailed in that country, he
went into England, where he studied for some time at
Pembroke-hall in Cambridge. From thence he went to
France, where he gave out, that he had left givat estates
in his own country, on account of his attachment to the
Roman catholic religion. He also assumed the title of
Baron of Muresk, which is said to have been one of the
titles of his father; but the low state of his finances obliged him to undertake to teach classical literature at Paris.
In that city he also published, in 1613, in one volume, fol.
“Antiquitatum Romanarum corpus absolutiss mum, in quo
praeter ea quse Joannes Rosinus delineaverat, inlimta supplentur, mutantur, adduntur, ex criticis, et omnibus utriusque linguae auctoribus collectum: poetis, oratoribus, historicis, jurisconsultis, qui laudati, explicati, correctique.
”
of sir John Denham, knt. of Little Horseley in Essex, by Eleanor, daughter of sir Garret More, knt. baron of Mellefont in Ireland, was born at Dublin in 1615, his father
, an eminent English poet, the
only son of sir John Denham, knt. of Little Horseley in
Essex, by Eleanor, daughter of sir Garret More, knt. baron of Mellefont in Ireland, was born at Dublin in 1615,
his father having been some time before chief baron of the
exchequer in Ireland, and one of the lords commissioners
of that kingdom; but, upon his being made, in 1617, one
of the barons of the exchequer in England, he was brought
by him to London, and educated there in school-learning.
In 1631 he was entered a gentleman-commoner of Trinitycollege in Oxford “but being looked upon,
” says Wood,
“as a slow and dreaming young man by his seniors and
contemporaries, and given more to cards and dice than his
study, they could never then in the least imagine that he
could ever enrich the world with his fancy, or issue of his
brain, as he afterwards did.
” When he had continued
there three years, and undergone a public examination for
his degree of B. A. he went to Lincoln’s Inn with a view of
studying the law; but his love of gaming continuing, he
squandered away all the money he could get. His father
being informed of this, and threatening to disinherit him if
he did not reform, he wrote a little “Essay upon Gaming,
”
which he presented to his father, in order to shew him
what an abhorrence he had conceived towards it: this gentleman’s death, however, no sooner happened, in 1638,
than he returned to his former habits, and presently lost
several thousand pounds.
ed in this office, with great reputation, until his death in 1669. The letters which John Christian, baron of Boinebourg, wrote to him, and which were printed in 1703,
, the son of John Conrad,
first minister of the church of Butzbach, and afterwards
superintendent of Giessen, and nephew of Conrad Dieterk,
another learned German divine, was born at Butzbach,
Jan. 19, 1612. After having studied at Marpurg, Jena,
and Strasburgh, he maintained a thesis, in 1635, under
professor Dilher, on the utility of profane authors in the
study of the Holy Scriptures. He then went into Holland, where he became acquainted with the learned Vossius, Boxborn, Barlaeus, Heinsius, and other eminent
scholars. Thence he travelled into Denmark and Prussia,
remaining some time at Konigsberg. On his return,
George II. landgrave of Hesse, appointed him professor of
Greek and history in 1639. From the observations which
he left on the aphorisms of Hippocrates, he appears to
have in some early part of his life studied medicine. On
certain disputes arising between the princes of the house of
Hesse, prince George invited him to his court to arrange
the papers and documents preserved in the archives. In
1647, he obtained leave to go to Hamburgh, where he
remained until these family-disputes were adjusted. In
1653, when the college of Giessen was founded, which
had brought many visitors from Marpnrg, he became one
of the professors, and remained in this office, with great
reputation, until his death in 1669. The letters which
John Christian, baron of Boinebourg, wrote to him, and
which were printed in 1703, evince the high esteem which
that nobleman entertained for him. He was editor of a
work written by Henry of Bunau, entitled “Historia
imperatorum Germanicorum familise Saxonies, Henrici I.
Ottonis magni; Ottonis II. Ottonis III. et Henrici II.
”
Giessen, 1666, 4to. His own works are, 1. “Breviarium
historicum et geographicum.
” 2. “Breviarium pontificum.
” 3. “Discursus historico-politicus de perigratione
studiorum,
” Marpurg, Graecia exulans,
seu de infelicitate superioris sseculi in Greecarum litterarum ignoratione.
” 5. “Antiquitates llomanai.
” 6.
“latraeum Hippocraticum,
” Ulm, 1661, 4to. 7. “Breviarium ha3reticorurn et conciliorum.
” 8. “Index in Hesiodum.
” 9. “Lexicon Etymologico-Graecum.
” 10.
“Antiquitates Biblicue, in quibus decreta, prophetiae, sermones, consuetudincs, ritusque ac dicta veteris Testamenti de rebus Judaeorum et Gentilium, qua sacris, qua
profanis, expenduntur; ex editione Joannis-Justi Pistorii,
”
Giessen, Antiquitates Nov. Testamenti, seu
illustramentum Nov. Test, sive Lexicon philologico-theologicum Græco-Latinum,
” Francfort, 1680, folio.
ouncil, and vicechamberlain of his majesty’s household; and in 1618 was advanced to the dignity of a baron, by the title of the lord Digby of Sherbourne, in Dorsetshire.
, earl of Bristol, and father of lord George Digby, was by no means an inconsiderable man, though checked by the circumstances of his times from making so great a figure as his son. He was descended from an ancient family at Coleshill, in Warwickshire, and born in 1580. He was entered a commoner of Magdalen-college, Oxford, in 1595; and the year following distinguished himself as a poet by a copy of verses made upon the death of sir Henry Union of Wadley, in Berks. Afterwards he travelled into France and Italy, and returned from thence perfectly accomplished; so that soon falling under the notice of king James, he was admitted gentleman of the privy-chamber, and one of his majesty’s carvers, in 1605. February following he received the honour of knighthood; and in April 1611, was sent ambassador into Spain, as he was afterwards again in 1614. April 1616 he was admitted one of the king’s privy-council, and vicechamberlain of his majesty’s household; and in 1618 was advanced to the dignity of a baron, by the title of the lord Digby of Sherbourne, in Dorsetshire. In 1620 he was sent ambassador to the archduke Albert, and the year following to Ferdinand the emperor; as also to the duke of Bavaria. In 1622 he was sent ambassador extraordinary to Spain, concerning the marriage between prince Charles and Maria daughter of Philip III. and the same year was created earl of Bristol. Being censured by the duke of Buckingham, on his return from the Spanish court in 1624, he was for a short time sent to the Tower but after an examination by a committee of lords, we do not find that any thing important resulted from this inquiry. After the accession of Charles I. the tide of resentment ran strong against the earl, who observing that the king was entirely governed by Buckingham, resolved no longer to keep any measures with the court. In consequence of this, the king, by a stretch of prerogative, gave orders that the customary writ for his parliamentary attendance should not; be sent to him, and on May 1, 1626, he was charged with high treason and other offences. Lord Bristol recriminated, by preparing articles of impeachment against the duke; but the king, resolving to protect Buckingham, dissolved the parliament. The earl now sided with the leaders of opposition in the long parliament. But the violences of that assembly soon disgusting him, he left them, and became a zealous adherent to the king and his cause; for which at length he suffered exile, and the loss of his estate. He died at Paris, Jan. 21, 1653.
al counsellor of state and physician to her imperial majesty, with an annuity of 500l. the rank of a baron of the Russian empire, to descend to his eldest son, and a black
Having fully satisfied himself about the new method of
treating persons under inoculation for the small-pox, he
published his treatise on the subject in 1766, which was
soon circulated over the continent, and translated into all
languages. His particular opinion may be learned from
the conclusion, in which he says that, “although the whole
process may have some share in the success, it consists
chiefly in the method of inoculating with recent fluid matter, and the management of the patients at the time of
eruption.
” This proof of his professional knowledge occasioned his being invited to inoculate the empress Catherine of Russia, and her son, in 1768, of which he gives a
very particular and interesting account in his “Tracts on
Inoculation,
” printed in Thoughts on general and partial Inoculation,
” 8vo;
and two years after, “Observations on the Introduction to
the plan of the Dispensary for general Inoculation,
” 8vo.
This involved him in a controversy with Dr. Lettsom, in
which he opposed the above plan for inoculating the poor
at their own houses; and opened an inoculation-house,
under his own direction, for persons of all ranks in the
neighbourhood of Hertford, which was resorted to with
success. His controversy with Dr. Lettsom was carried on
in the following pamphlets “Dr. Lettsom’s letter on General Inoculation
” “Remarks on Ditto,
” 8vo; “Review
of Dr. Lettsom’s observations on the Baron’s Remarks
”
“Letter to Dr. Lettsom on his Remarks, &c.
” “Answer to
Baron Dimsdale’s Review,
” and “Considerations on the
plan, &c.
” In Tracts on Inoculation,
” already mentioned, which were liberally distributed,
but not sold.
hare this honour with any person; and he therefore viewed with an envious eye his colleague Eguinard Baron, who blended likewise polite literature with the study of the
, professor of civil law at Bourges, was born at St. Brien, a city of Bretagne, in France, 1509. He was the son of John Duaren, who exercised a place of judicature in Bretagne; in which place he succeeded his father, and performed the functions of it for some time. He read lectures on the Pandects, at Paris, in 1536; and, among other scholars, had three sons of the learned Budaeus. He was sent for to Bourges in 1538, to teach civil law, three years after Alciat had retired, but quitted his place in 1548, and went to Paris, being very desirous to join the practice to the theory of the law. He accordingly attended the bar of the parliament of Paris, but conceived an unconquerable aversion to the chicanery of the court, and fortunately at this time advantageous offers were made him by the duchess of Berri, sister of Henry II. which gave him a favourable opportunity to retire from the bar, and to resume with honour the employment he had at Bourges. He returned to his professorship of civil law there, in 1551; and no professor, except Alciat, had ever so large a stipend in the university as himself, nor more reputation, being accounted the first of the French civilians who cleared the civil-law-chair from the barbarism of the glossators, in order to introduce the pure sources of the ancient jurisprudence. It was however his failing to be unwilling to share this honour with any person; and he therefore viewed with an envious eye his colleague Eguinard Baron, who blended likewise polite literature with the study of the law. This jealousy prompted him to write a book, in which he endeavoured to lessen the esteem the world had for his colleague, yet, as if ashamed of his weakness, after the death of Baron, he shewed himself one of the most zealous to immortalize his memory 7 and erected a monument to him at his own expence. He had other colleagues, who revived his uneasiness; and Duaren may serve as an example to prove that some of the chief miseries of human life, which we lament so much, and are so apt to charge on the nature and constitution of things, arise merely from ur own ill-regulated passions. He died at Bourses in 1559, without having ever married. He had great learning and judgment, but so bad a memory, that he was obliged always to read his lectures from his notes. Although a protestant, he never had the courage to separate from the church of Home. His treatise of benefices, published in 15 Jo, rendered him suspected of heresy, and Baudouin, with whom he had a controversy, accused him of being a prevaricator and dissembler, which, however, appears to have been unjust.
of the ancient family of the Dudleys, and his father was sir John Dudley, second son of John Dudley, baron of Dudley, and knight of the garter. About the age of sixteen
, a celebrated lawyer and statesman, in the reign of Henry VII. was born in 1462. Some
have said, that he was the son of a mechanic: but this notion probably took its rise from prejudices conceived
against him for his mal-administrations in power; for he
was of the ancient family of the Dudleys, and his father
was sir John Dudley, second son of John Dudley, baron
of Dudley, and knight of the garter. About the age of
sixteen he was sent to Oxford, where he spent some time
and afterwards removed to Gray’s-inn in London, in order
to prosecute the study of the law. This he did with great
diligence, and came at length to be considered as so able
a person in his profession, as to induce Henry VII. to take
him very early into his service. It is said that fur his singular prudence and fidelity he was sworn of the king’s
privy-council in his 23d year, which some think too early
a period: it is, however, asserted by Polydore Vergil, who
was then in England. In 1492 we find him one of those
great men in the king’s army near Boiogne, who were
chiefly instrumental in making a peace with France; and
that two years after he obtained the wardship and marriage
of Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Grey, viscount L‘lsle,
sister and coheiress of John viscount L’lsle, her brother.
In 1499 he was one of those who signed the ratification of
the peace just mentioned, by the authority of parliament;
which shows that he was, if not in great credit with his
country, at least in high favour with his prince, whom he
particularly served in helping to fill his coffers, under the
colour of law, though with very little regard to equity and
justice. All our general histories have handled this matter
so in the gross, that it is very difficult to learn from them
wherein the crimes of Empson and Dudley consisted: but
Bacon, who understood it well, relates every circumstance
freely and fully in the following manner: “As kings do
more easily find instruments for their will and humour,
than for their service and honour, he had gotten for his
purpose, or beyond his purpose, two instruments, Empson
and Dudley, bold men, and careless of fame, and that took
toll for their master’s grist. Dudley was of a good family,
eloquent, and one that could put hateful business into
good language; but Empson, that was the son of a sievemaker, triumphed always in the deed done, putting off all
other respects whatsoever. These two persons, being
lawyers in science, and privy-counsellors in authority,
turned law and justice into wormwood and rapine. For,
first, their manner was to cause divers subjects to be indicted for sundry crimes, and so far forth to proceed in
form of law; but, when the bills were found, then presently to commit them: and, nevertheless, not to produce
them in any reasonable time to their answer, but to suffer
them to languish long in prison, and, by sundry artificial
devices and terrors, to extort from them great fines and
ransoms, which they termed compositions and mitigations.
Neither did they, towards the end, observe so much as the
half face of justice in proceeding by indictment, but sent
forth their precepts to attach men, and convent them before themselves and some others, at their private houses,
in a court of commission; and there used to shuffle up a
summary proceeding by examination, without trial of jury,
assuming to themselves there, to deal both in pleas of the
crown and controversies civil. Then did they also use to
enthral and charge the subjects’ lands with tenures in capite, by finding false offices, and thereby to work upon
them by wardships, liveries, premier seisins, and alienations, being the fruits of those tenures, refusing, upon
divers pretexts and delays, to admit men to traverse those
false offices according to the law. Nay, the king’s wards,
after they had accomplished their full age, could not be
suffered to have livery of their lands, without paying excessive fines, far exceeding all reasonable rates. They did
also vex men with informations of intrusion, upon scarce
colourable titles. When men were outlawed in personal
actions, they would not permit them to purchase their
charters of pardon, except they paid great and intolerable
sums, standing upon the strict point of law, which, upon
outlawries, giveth forfeiture of goods: nay, contrary to all
law and colour, they maintained the king ought to have the
half of men’s lands and rents, during the space of full two
years, for a pain, in case of outlawry. They would also
ruffle with jurors, and enforce them to find as they would
direct and, if they did not, convent them, imprison them,
and fine them.
”
, son of the preceding, baron of Maipas, viscount L‘Isle, earl of Warwick, and duke of No
, son of the preceding, baron of Maipas, viscount L‘Isle, earl of Warwick, and duke of Northumberland, was born in 1502, and afterwards became one of the most powerful subjects this kingdom ever saw. At the time his father was beheaded, he was about eight years old; and it being known that the severity exercised in that act was rather to satisfy popular clamour than justice, his friends found no great difficulty in obtaining from the parliament, that his father’s attainder might be reversed, and himself restored in blood; for which purpose a special act was passed in 1511. After an education suitable to his quality, he was introduced at court in 15-23, where, having a line person, and great accomplishments, he soon became admired. He attended the king’s favourite, Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk, in his expedition to France; and distinguished himself so much by his gallant behaviour, that he obtained the honour of knighthood. He attached himself to cardinal Wolsey, whom he accompanied in his embassy to France; and he was also in great confidence with the next prime minister, lord Cromwell. The fall of these eminent statesmen one after another, did not at all affect the favour or fortune of sir John Dudley, who had great dexterity in preserving their good graces, without embarking too far in their designs; preserving always a proper regard for the sentiments of his sovereign, which kept him in full credit at court, in the midst of many changes, as well of men as measures. In 1542, he was raised to the dignity of viscount L’Isle, and at the next festival of St. George, was elected knight of the garter. This was soon after followed by a much higher instance both of kindness and trust; for the king, considering his uncommon abilities and courage, and the occasion he had then for them, made him lord high admiral of England for life; and in this important post he did many singular services. He owed all his honours and fortune to Henry VII L and received from him, towards the close of his reign, very large grants of church lands, which, however, created him many enemies. He was also named by king Henry in his will, to be one of his sixteen executors; and received from him a legacy of 500l. which was the highest he bestowed on any of them.
, son of John duke of Northumberland, afterwards baron L‘Isle, and earl of Warwick, was born about 1530, and carefully
, son of John duke of Northumberland, afterwards baron L‘Isle, and earl of Warwick, was
born about 1530, and carefully educated in his father’s
family. He attended his father into Norfolk against the
rebels in 1549, and, for his distinguished courage, obtained, as is probable, the honour of knighthood. He was
always very high in king Edward’s favour: afterwards,
being concerned in the cause of lady Jane, he was attainted, received sentence of death, and remained a prisoner till Oct. the 18th, 1554; when he was discharged,
and pardoned for life. In 1557, in company with both his
brothers, Robert and Henry, he engaged in an expedition
to the Low Countries, and joined the Spanish army that
lay then before St. Q.uintin’s. He had his share in the
famous victory over the French, who came to the relief of
that place; but had the misfortune to lose there his
youngest brother Henry, who was a person of great hopes,
and had been a singular favourite with king Edward. This
matter was so represented to queen Mary, that, in consideration oftheir faithful services, she restored the whole
family in blood and accordingly an act passed this year
for that purpose. On the accession of queen Elizabeth,
he became immediately one of the most distinguished persons at her court; and was called, as in the days of her
brother, lord Ambrose Dudley. He was afterwards created
first baron L’Isle, and then earl of Warwick. He was
advanced to several high places, and distinguished by numerous honours; and we find him in all the great and
public services during this active and busy reign; but,
what is greatly to his credit, never in any of the intrigues
with which it was blemished: for he was a man of great
sweetness of temper, and of an unexceptionable character;
so that he was beloved by all parties, and hated by none.
In the last years of his life he endured great pain and
misery from a wound received in his leg, when he defended
New Haven against the French in 1562; and this bringing
him very low, he at last submitted to an amputation, of
which he died in Feb. 1589. He was thrice married, but
had no issue. He was generally called “The good earl
of Warwick.
”
, baron of Denbigh, and earl of Leicester, son to John duke of Northumberland,
, baron of Denbigh, and earl of
Leicester, son to John duke of Northumberland, and brother to Ambrose earl of Warwick, before mentioned, was
born about 1532, and coming early into the service and
favour of king Edward, was knighted in his youth. June
1550 he espoused Amy, daughter of sir John Robsart, at
Sheen in Surrey, the king honouring their nuptials with
his presence; and was immediately advanced to considerable offices at court. In the first year of Mary he fell into
the same misfortunes with the rest of his family; was imprisoned, tried, and condemned; but pardoned for life,
and set at liberty in October 1554. He was afterwards
restored in blood, as we have observed in the former article. On the accession of Elizabeth, he was immediately
entertained at court as a principal favourite: he was made
master of the horse, installed knight of the garter, and
sworn of the privy-council in a very short time. He obtained moreover prodigious grants, one after another,
from the crown: and all things gave way to his ambition,
influence, and policy. In his attendance upon the queen
to Cambridge, the highest reverence was paid him: he
was lodged in Trinity college, consulted in all things, requests made to the queen through him; and, on August 10,
1564, he on his knees entreated the queen to speak to the
iruversity in Latin, which she accordingly did, and was probably prepared to grant the request. At court, however,
Thomas earl of Sussex shewed himself averse to his
counsels, and strongly promoted the overture of a marriage
between the queen and the archduke Charles of Austria;
as much more worthy of such a princess than any subject
of her own, let his qualities be what they would. This
was resented by Dudley, who insinuated that foreign alliances were always fatal; that her sister Mary never knew
an easy minute after her marriage with Philip; that her
majesty ought to consider, she was herself descended of
such a marriage as by those lofty notions was decried: so
that she could not contemn an alliance with the nobility of
England, but must at the same time reflect on her father’s
choice, and her mother’s family. This dispute occasioned
a violent rupture between the two lords, which the queen
took into her hands, and composed; but without the least
diminution of Dudley’s ascendancy, who still continued to
solicit and obtain new grants and offices for himself and his
dependants, who were so numerous, and made so great a
figure, that he was styled by the common people “The
Heart of the Court.
”
ace, filled the world with the rumour of a lamentable tragedy . In Sept. 1564, the queen created him baron of Denbigh,and, the day after, earl of Leicester, with great
To give some colour to these marks of royal indulgence,
the queen proposed him as a suitor to Mary queen of
Scots; promising to that princess all the advantages she
could expect or desire, either for herself or her subjects,
in case she consented to the match. The sincerity of this
was suspected at the time, when the deepest politicians
believed that, if the queen of Scotland had complied, it
would have served only to countenance the preferring him
to his sovereign’s bed. The queen of Scots rejected the
proposal in a manner that, some have thought, proved as
fatal to her as it had done to his own lady, who was supposed to be sacrificed to his ambition of marrying a queen.
The death of this unfortunate person happened September
8, 1560, at a very unlucky juncture for his reputation;
because the world at that time conceived it might be much
for his conveniency to be without a wife, this island having
then two queens, young, and without husbands. The
manner too of this poor lady’s death, which, Camden says,
was by a fall from a high place, filled the world with the
rumour of a lamentable tragedy .
In Sept. 1564, the queen created him baron of Denbigh,and, the day after, earl of Leicester, with great pomp and
ceremony; and, before the close of the year, he was made
chancellor of Oxford, as he had been some time before
high-steward of Cambridge. His great influence in the
court of England was not only known at home, but abroad,
which induced the French king, Charles IX. to send him
the order of St. Michael, then the most honourable in
France; and he was installed with great solemnity in 1565.
About 1572 it is supposed that the earl married Douglas,
baroness dowager of Sheffield: which, however, was managed with such privacy, that it did not come to the queen’s
ears, though a great deal of secret history was published,
even in those days, concerning the adventures of this unfortunate lady, whom, though the earl had actually married her, and there were legal proofs of it, yet he never
would own as his wife. The earl, in order to stifle this
affair, proposed every thing he could think of to lady
Douglas Sheffield, to make her desist from her
pretensions but, finding her obstinate, and resolved not to comply with his proposals, he attempted to take her off by
poison “For it is certain,
” says Dugdale, “that she had
some ill potions given her, so that, with the loss of her
hair and nails, she hardly escaped death.
” It is, however,
beyond all doubt, that the earl had by her a son (sir Robert Dudley, of whom we shall speak hereafter, and to whom, by the name of his Base Son, he left the bulk of his fortune), and also a daughter.
, baron of Carlscroon, historiographer to the emperor, who was forced
, baron of Carlscroon, historiographer
to the emperor, who was forced to fly to Holland on account of religion, after having served without much benefit
in France, is known by several writings, although we know
little of his personal history. The chief of them are 1.
“Des Memoires Politiques, pour servir a Pintelhgence de
la paix de Ilyswic,
” Hague, Voyages
en France, en Italie, en Aiiemagne, aMalte, et en Turkic,
”
Corps univers^lle diplomatique
du droit des gens;
” containing the treaties of alliance, of
peace, and of commerce, from the peace of Munster to
1709, Amsterdam, 1726, 8 vols. folio. This work is not
exempt from fanlts, but neither is it without utility. With
the addition of the treaties made before the Christian n>ra,
published by Barbeyrac, Rousset, and Saint-Priest, and
those of Munster and Osnaburg, they together form a collection of 19 volumes in folio. 4. “Hist, militaire du
prince Eugene de Savoie, du prince et due de Marlborough, &c.
” Hague, Lettres Historiques,
” from January
pprobation of all parties. October 21, 1797, he was created lord viscount Duncan, of Camperdown, and baron Duncan, of Lnndie, in the shire of Perth. On his being introduced
At this most alarming and unprecedented crisis, the
conduct of admiral Duncan must not be forgotten, although
we have no inclination to revive the memory of that unnatural rebellion by a particular narrative. When the
mutiny raged in his squadron in a most awful manner, and
when left only with three ships, he still remained firm in
his station off the Texel, and succeeded in keeping the
Dutch navy from proceeding to sea; a circumstance, in
all probability, of as high consequence to the nation as his
subsequent victory. His behaviour at the time of the mutiny will be best seen from the speech which he made to
the crew of his own ship, on the 3d of June, 1797, and
which, as a piece of artless and affecting oratory, cannot
but be admired by the most fastidious taste. His men
being assembled, the admiral thus addressed them from
the quarter-deck: “My lads I once more call you together with a sorrowful heart, from what I have lately seen
of the disaffection of the fleets; I call it disaffection, for
the crews have no grievances. To be deserted by my fleet,
in the face of an enemy, is a disgrace which I believe
never before happened to a British admiral; nor could I
have supposed it. My greatest comfort, under God, is,
that I have been supported by the officers, seamen, and
marines of this ship; for which, with a heart overflowing
with gratitude, I request you to accept my sincere thanks.
I flatter myself much good may result from your example,
by bringing those deluded people to a sense of the duty
which they owe, not only to their king and country, but to
themselves. The British navy has ever been the support
of that liberty which has been handed down to us by our
ancestors, and which, I trust, we shall maintain to the
latest posterity and that can only be done by unanimity
and obedience. The ship’s company, and others who have
distinguished themselves by their loyalty and good order,
deserve to be, and doubtless:,v'// be, the favourites of a
grateful country; they will also have, from their individual
feelings, a comfort which must be lasting, and not like
the fleeting and false confidence of those who have swerved
from their duty. It has often been my pride with you to
look into the Texel, and see a foe which dreaded coming
out to meet us. My pride is now humble indeed! My
feelings are not easily to be expressed! Our cup has overflowed, and made us wanton. The all-wise Providence
has given us this check as a warning, and I hope we shall
improve by it. On Him, then, let us trust, where our
only security can be found. I find there are many good
men among us; for my own part, I have had full confidence of all in this ship; and once more beg to express my
approbation of your conduct. May God, who has thus so
far conducted you, continue to do so! and may the
British navy, the glory and support of our country, be
restored to its wonted splendour, and be not only the
bulwark of Britain, but the terror of the world But this
can only be effected by a strict adherence to our duty and
obedience and let us pray that the Almighty God may
keep us in the right way of thinking. God bless you all!
”
The crew of the Venerable were so affected by this impressive address, that, on retiring, there was not a dry
eye among them. On the suppression of the mutiny, the
admiral resumed his station with his whole fleet off the
coast of Holland, either to keep the Dutch squadron in the
Texel, or to attack them if they should attempt to come
out. It has since been discovered, that the object of the
Batavian republic, in conjunction with France, was to invade Ireland, where, doubtless, they would have been cordially welcomed by numerous bodies of the disaffected.
Hence it will be seen that the object of watching and
checking the motions of the Dutch admiral was of the
Utmost consequence. After a long and very vigilant attention to the important trust reposed in him, the English
admiral was necessitated to repair to Yarmouth Roads to
refit. The Batavian commander seized this favourable
interval, and proceeded to sea. That active officer, captain sir H. Trollope, however, was upon the look-out, and,
having discovered the enemy, dispatched a vessel with the
glad intelligence to admiral Duncan, who lost not an instant
of time, but pushed out at once, and in the morning of
the 11th of October fell in with captain Trollope’s squadron
of observation, with a signal flying for an enemy to the
leeward. By a masterly manoeuvre the admiral placed
himself between them and the Texel, so as to prevent
them from re-entering without risking an engagement. An
action accordingly took place between Camperdown and
Egmont, in nine fathoms water, and within five miles of
the coast. The admiral’s own ship, in pursuance of a plan
of naval evolution which he had long before determined
to carry into effect, broke the enemy’s line, and closely
engaged the Dutch admiral De Winter, who, after a most
gallant defence, was obliged to strike. Eight ships were
taken, two of which carried flags! All circumstances considered the time of the year, the force of the enemy, and
the nearness to a dangerous shore this action will be pronounced, by every judge of nautical affairs, to be one of
the most brilliant that graces our annals. The nation was
fully sensible of the merit and consequence of this glorious
victory; politicians beheld in it the annihilation of the
designs of our combined enemies; naval men admired the
address and skill which were displayed by the English commander in his approaches to the attack; and the people at
large were transported with admiration, joy, and gratitude.
The honours which were instantly conferred upon the
venerable admiral received the approbation of all parties.
October 21, 1797, he was created lord viscount Duncan,
of Camperdown, and baron Duncan, of Lnndie, in the
shire of Perth. On his being introduced into the house of
peers, on Nov. 8, the lord chancellor communicated to him
the thanks of the house, and in his speech said, “He congratulated his lordship upon his accession to the honour of
a distinguished seat in that place, to which his very meritorious and unparalleled professional conduct had deservedly
raised him that conduct (the chancellor added) was such
as not only merited the thanks of their lordships’ house,
but the gratitude and applause of the oountry at large; it
had been instrumental, under the auspices of Providence,
in establishing the security of his majesty’s dominions, and
frustrating the ambitious and destructive designs of the
enemy.
” A pension of 2000l. per annum was also granted
his lordship, for himself and the two next heirs of the
peerage.
evated to the peerage by the title of Viscount Melville, of Melville in the county of Edinburgh, and Baron Dunira in the county of Perth. On Mr. Pitt’s return to office
Mr. Dundas continued in his several offices (with the addition of keeper of the privy seal in Scotland, conferred upon him in 1800,) until 1801, when he resigned along with Mr. Pitt, and in 1802 was elevated to the peerage by the title of Viscount Melville, of Melville in the county of Edinburgh, and Baron Dunira in the county of Perth. On Mr. Pitt’s return to office in May 1804, lord Melville succeeded lord St. Vincent as first lord of the admiralty, and continued so until the memorable occurrence of his impeachment. He had, while treasurer of the navy, rendered jnuch essential advantage to the service, and had been instrumental in promoting the comfort of the seamen by the bills he introduced for enabling them, during their absence, to allot certain portions of their pay to their wives and near relatives; and he also brought forward a bill for regulating the office of treasurer of the navy, and preventing an improper use being made of the money passing through his hands, and directing the same from time to time to be paid into the Bank; but by the tenth report of the commissioners for naval inquiry, instituted under the auspices of the earl ofSt. Vincent, it appeared that large sums of the public money in the hands of the treasurer had been employed directly contrary to the act. The matter was taken up very warmly by the house of commons, and after keen debates, certain resolutions moved by Mr. Whi thread for an impeachment against the noble lord, were carried on the 8th of April, 1805. On casting up the votes on the division, the numbers were found equal, 216 for, and 216 against; but the motion was carried by the casting vote of the right hon. Charles Abbot, the speaker. On the 10th, lord Melville resigned his office of first lord of the admiralty, and on the 6th of May he was struck from the list of privy counsellors by his majesty. On the 26th of June, Mr. Whitbread appeared at the bar of the house of lords, accompanied by several other members, and solemnly impeached lord Melville of high crimes and misdemeanours; and on the 9th of July presented at the bar of the house of lords the articles of impeachment. The trial afterwards proceeded in Westminster-hall, and in the end lord Melville was acquitted of all the articles hy his peers. That lord Melville acted contrary to his own law, in its letter, there can be no doubt; but on the other hand it does not appear that he was actuated by motives of personal corruption, or, in fact, that he enjoyed any peculiar advantage from the misapplication of the monies. Those under him, and whom his prosecutors, the better to get at him, secured by a bill of indemnity, employed the public money to their own use and emolument; nor does it appear that lord Melville ever had the use of any part of it, except one or two comparatively small sums for a short period. The impropriety of his conduct, therefore, was not personally offending against the act, but suffering it to be done by the paymaster and others under him; and, after all, no money was lost to the public by the malversations.
, where he died suddenly, at the house of his nephew, the right honourable Robert Dundas, lord chief baron of the exchequer in Scotland, May 27, 1811. His lordship married
Lord Melville was afterwards restored to his seat in the privy council, but did not return to office. Sometimes he spoke in the house of lords, but passed the greatest part of his time in Scotland, where he died suddenly, at the house of his nephew, the right honourable Robert Dundas, lord chief baron of the exchequer in Scotland, May 27, 1811. His lordship married first, Elizabeth, daughter of David Rennie, esq. of Melville Castle by whom he had a son (the present lord Melville) and three daughters; and secondly, in 1793, he married lady Jane Hope, sister to James earl of Hopetown, by whom he had no issue.
belonging to the young princes of Lorraine, who were hunting in the forest with count Vidampiere and baron Pfutschner, their governors. A variety of questions were put
Seated one day at the foot of a tree, absorbed in his
reflections, and surrounded by maps of geography, which
he examined with the most eager attention, a gentleman
suddenly approached him, and asked with an air of surprise what he was doing. “Studying geography,
” said
he. “And do you understand any thing of the subject r
”
“Most assuredly I never trouble myself about things
I do not understand.
” “And what place are you now
seeking for?
” “I am trying to find the most direct way
to Quebec.
” “For what purpose?
” “That I might go
there, and continue my studies in the university of that
town.
” < But why need you go for this purpose to the
end of the world? There are universities nearer home,
superior to that of Quebec; and if it will afTord you any
pleasure, I will point them out to you." At this moment
they were joined by a large retinue belonging to the young
princes of Lorraine, who were hunting in the forest with
count Vidampiere and baron Pfutschner, their governors.
A variety of questions were put to Duval, which he answered with equal precision and good sense, and without
being out of countenance. In consequence of this interview, Leopold, duke of Lorraine, took him under his protection, and when he was brought to the court at Luneville,
the duke received him in the midst of a numerous assembly,
whom this singular event had collected. He answered
every question that was put to him, without being confused,
notwithstanding the novelty of the scene to him, and the
important part he had to act; and the duke committed the
care of his establishment at the college of Pont-a-Mousson
to baron Pfutschner. Here his natural taste for study,
added to his desire of answering the expectations of his
illustrious patron, made him redouble his zeal. History,
geography, and antiquities, were the studies he preferred,
and in which his new guides were peculiarly qualified to
assist him. He lived two years in this house; and the
improvement he made was so great, that duke Leopold,
as a recompense, and to give him an opportunity of still
further progress, permitted him in 1718 to make a journey
to Paris in his suite. On his return the next year the duke
appointed him his librarian, and conferred on him the office of professor of history in the academy of Luneville.
he mastership of the rolls till May 15, 1603, when James I. conferred it on Edward Bruce, afterwards baron of Kmloss.
, lord Ellesmere, an eminent English statesman and lawyer, the son of Richard Egerton, of Ridley, in Cheshire, was born in Cheshire, about the year 1540. In 1556 he was admitted a commoner of Brasencse college, in Oxford, where he continued about three years; and having laid a good foundation of classical and logical learning, he removed thence to Lincoln’s-inn, and applied himself with such success to the study of the law, that he soon became a noted counsellor. The superior abilities he displayed in the line of his profession, and his distinguished eminence at the bar, attracted the notice of queen Elizabeth, and on June 28, 1581, she appointed him her solicitor-general: the year after he was chosen Lent reader of the society of Lincoln’s-inn, and was made also one of the governors of that society, in which office he continued for twelve years successively. His conduct and proficiency in the law, promoted him on June 2, 1594, to the office of attorney-general, and he was knighted soon after. On the 10th of April, 1593, he was appointed master of the rolls, when he shewed his great friendship to Mr. Francis Bacon, afterwards lord Verulam, by assisting him with his own observations in regard to the office of solicitor-general, then likely to become vacant by the advancement of Mr. Edward Coke to that of attorneygeneral, which was acknowledged by sir Robert Cecil as a favour done personally to himself. Upon the death of sir John Puckering, he had the great eal of England delivered to him at Greenwich on the 6th of May, 1596, with the title of lord keeper, by the special choice and favour of the queen, without any mediator or competitor, and even against the interest of the prime minister and his son; and at the same time he was sworn of her majesty’s privycouncil. He was permitted to hold the mastership of the rolls till May 15, 1603, when James I. conferred it on Edward Bruce, afterwards baron of Kmloss.
put a new one into his hands, accompanied with a paper of his own writing, by which he created him “ Baron, of Kllesmere for his good and faithful services, not only in.
The integrity and abilities of the lord keeper so conciliated the favour and confidence of the queen, that she.
employed him in her most weighty emergencies. In 1598^
tye was in corpmission for treating with the Putch, and,
jointly with the lord Buckhurst, Cecil, and others, signed
a new treaty with their ambassadors in London, hy which
the queen was eased of an annual charge of 120,000l. In
1600, he was again in commission with the lord treasurer
Buckhurst and the earl of Jlsscx, for negotiating affairs
with the senate of Denmark. His conduct in regard to the
unfortunate earl of Essex, whose name will for ever distinguish yet disgrace the annals of Elizabeth, exhibits
his character both as a wise and loyal subject, and a siacere and honest friend. These illustrious men filled two
of ttie highest and most important offices of state at the
same time, and with the most perfect harmony, although
their characters were very different. Sensible, however,
of Essex’s great merit as a soldier, and of his constitutional infirmity as a man, the lord keeper took every opportunity tq soften the violence and asperity of his disposition, and to reclaim him to the -dictates of reason and
duty. An instance of his friendly interference, in the year
1598, is given by Mr. Camden by which the high and
fesentful spirit of Essex, which disdained to brook an insult from a queen, who, our readers will remember, struck
him, was at length softened into a due submission to his
royal benefactress; in consequence of which he was pardoned, and again received into her favour. (See Devereux). From this unfortunate affair, however, his friends
took an omen of his future ruin, under the conviction that
princes, once offended, are seldom thoroughly reconciled.
When on his hasty and unexpected return from the Irish
expedition, he was summoned before the privy council,
suspended from his offices, and committed to the custody
of the lord keeper, the latter rendered him every kind and
friendly office and, in all his future condu?t to this unfortunate man, tempered justice with compassion preserving a proper medium between the duty of the magistrate, and the generosity of the friend. By the most popular and well-timed measures, he appeased the minds of
a, prejudiced people, who then became tumultuous from,
the injuries and indignities 'which they supposed were
done to the person of their favourite general; asserting
the queen’s authority, and justifying the conduct of the
public counsels, without heightening or exaggerating the
misconduct of the unfortunate earl. Still as the minds of
the people remained dissatisfied, under a persuasion of his
innocence, to remove the grounds of these suspicions, the
queen resolved that his cause should have an open hearing,
not in the star-chamber, but in the lord keeper Egerton’s
house, before the council, four earls, two barons, and four
judges, in order that a censure might be formally passed
upon him, but without charge of perfidy. On this occasion, when he began to excuse and justify his conduct,
the lord keeper interrupted him in the most friendly manner, and advised him to throw himself upon the mercy and
goodness of the queen, and not, by an attempt to alleviate
his offences, to extenuate her clemency. The issue of
this trial it is unnecessary here to relate, as it may be
found in our account of this unfortunate nobleman. As
far as the subject of the present article is concerned, it
may be sufficient to add, that after the execution of Essex,
with Cuffe, Jvlerrick, Danvers, and Blunt, principal confederates, the lord keeper was in a special commission,
with others of the first dignity, to summon all their accomplices, in order to treat and compound with them for the
redemption of their estates; and, on security being given
for the payment of the fines assessed, their pardon and redemption were obtained. The next year, 1602, he was
again commissioned with others of the privy council, to
reprieve all such persons/convicted of felony as they should
think convenient, and to send them, for a certain time, to
some of the queen’s galleys. And again, in the forty-fifth
year of Elizabeth, for putting the laws in execution
against the Jesuits and seminary priests, ordained according to the rites of the church of Rome. In March 1603,
after the queen, oppressed with the infirmities of age, had
retired from Westminster to Richmond, the lord keeper
and the lord admiral, accompanied by the secretary, were
deputed by the rest of the privy council to wait upon her
there, in order to remind her majesty of her intentions, in
regard to her successor to the crown, whom she appointed
to be her nearest kinsman, James of Scotland. After the
queen’s death, the care and administration of the kingdom
devolved upon the lord keeper and the other ministers of
state, till the arrival of king James, her successor, from
Scotland, who, by his sign manual, dated at Holy-rood
house, Sth of April, 1603, signified to the privy council,
that it was his royal pleasure that sir Thomas Egerton
should exercise the office of lord keeper till farther orders.
On the 3d of May he waited upon the king at Broxbourne
in Hertfordshire, and resigned the great seal to his majesty, who delivered it back again, confirming his office,
and commanding him to use it as he had done before. On
the 19th of July, king James caused the great seal to be
broken, and put a new one into his hands, accompanied with
a paper of his own writing, by which he created him “Baron,
of Kllesmere for his good and faithful services, not only in.
the administration of justice, but also in council, both to the
late queen and himself;
” the patent for which title he caused
to be dispatched the 2 1st of the same month. On the
24th, the day before his coronation, he constituted him lord
high chancellor of England, which high and important
office of state he supported for more than twelve years,
with equal dignity, learning, and impartiality. On the
25th and 26th of November, Henry lord Cobham, and
Thomas lord Grey de Wilton, were tried by their peers,
the lord chancellor sitting as lord high steward. In 1604,
he was, with certain other commissioners, authorized by
act of parliament, to bring about an union between England and Scotland, it being the king’s desire, that, as the
two crowns were united in one person, an union of the
nations might be effected by naturalization. But, differences arising between the house of lords and house of commons upon this point of the naturalization of the Scotch,
he was one of the lords appointed of the committee of
conference between the two houses. The whole of this
transaction, and the causes of its failure, are stated at large
in the fifth volume of the Parliamentary History. In 1605,
he was appointed high steward of the city of Oxford, and
in 1609, he was in commission to compound with all those,
who, holding lands by knight’s service, &c. were to pay
the aid for making the king’s son a knight.
n, and partly among the countess of Carlisle, lady Anne Vernon, and lady Louisa Macdonald, the chief baron’s lady all of whom were his relations.
His grace died at his house in Cleveland-row, in the morning of March 8, 1803, after a cold which brought on the complaints accompanying the influenza. He was never married; and his celibacy is asserted to have been occasioned (though we do not vouch for the fact) by a circumstance which is said to have occurred in early life. We understand it to be in substance as follows: the duke being on a visit at a friend’s, who was on the eve of marriage, the lady to whom he was betrothed took a fancy to his grace; and, forgetting her own dignity and her sacred engagement to another, made an easy sacrifice of her virtue to him. This occurrence is said to have wrought so strongly on his grace’s mind, as to have indelibly impressed on it an idea of general infidelity in the sex, and to have determined him against ever entering the pale of matrimony. If this statement be true, it affords a striking instance of what is not very uncommon among men; namely, of a great and enlightened mind being led, by a peculiar incident, into a general conclusion; and, in this case, a conclusion which, for the honour of the fair part of our species, we trust and believe, is equally unfounded in. nature and experience, and no less libellous than unwarranted. By his active spirit, and his unshaken perseverance, he amassed immense wealth. But the public grew rich with him; and his labours were not more profitable to himself than they were to his country. His return to the income-tax was 110,000l. a-year the greater part acquired by his own exertions, and derived from circumstances of the highest benefit to the nation. To the loyally loan he subscribed 100,000l. all in ready money, at one time. By his will he left most of his houses, his plate, his pictures, valued at 150,000l. and his estate lately purchased at Woolmers, in Hertfordshire, to earl Gower, together with his canal property in Lancashire, which brings in from 50 to 80,000l. per annum. All this property is entailed on earl Gower’s second son, lord Francis Levison Gower: the first son will inherit the marquis of Stafford’s estates. To general Egerton, now earl of Bridgewater, he bequeathed the estate of Ashridge, in Hertfordshire, and other estates in Bucks, Salop, and Yorkshire, to the amount of 30,000l. per annum. About 600,000l. in the funds he left chiefly to general Egerton, and partly among the countess of Carlisle, lady Anne Vernon, and lady Louisa Macdonald, the chief baron’s lady all of whom were his relations.
to add that of knight of the bath and an elevation to the peerage, by the title of lord Heathfield, baron Gibraltar, on June 14, 1787, and permitting his lordship to
On his return to England, the gratitude of the British senate was as forward as the public voice in giving him that distinguished mark his merit deserved, to which his majesty was pleased to add that of knight of the bath and an elevation to the peerage, by the title of lord Heathfield, baron Gibraltar, on June 14, 1787, and permitting his lordship to take also the arms of the fortress he had so bravely defended, to perpetuate to futurity his noble conduct. He married Anne, daughter of sir Francis Drake, of Devonshire, who died in 1769, leaving his lordship a son, Francis Augustus Eliott, the present peer. He closed a life of military renown at the most critical season for his memory. He had acquired the brightest honours of a soldier, the love and reverence of his country; and he fell in an excursion beyond his strength, from an anxiety to close his life on the rock where he had acquired his fame. He died in the seventy-third year of his age, July 6, 1790, at his chateau at Aix-la-Chapelle, of a second stroke of the palsy, after having enjoyed for some weeks before a tolerable share of good health, and an unusual flow of spirits. Two days before his death, he dined with a friend with whom he was soon after to have travelled to Leghorn in his way to Gibraltar. His remains were brought to Dover from Ostend, in the Race-horse packet, whence they were conveyed to Heathfield in Sussex, and there deposited, in a vault built for that purpose, over which a handsome monument is erected.
, baron of Dun, the ancestor of the preceding, and one of the protestant
, baron of Dun, the ancestor of the
preceding, and one of the protestant reformers in Scotland,
was born at the family-seat near Montrose, in 1508, or
1509. His father was John Erskiue, of Dun, a descendant
of the earls of Marr, and his mother was a daughter of
William, first lord Ruthven. He was educated most probably at the university of Aberdeen; and according to the
ancient custom of the nobility of Scotland, pursued his studies
for some time in one or other of the foreign universities.
Buchanan styles him “a man of great learning:
” and to
this character he is amply entitled, as we are informed he
was the first of his countrymen who patronized the study of
the Greek language, which was first taught by his means at
Montrose. In 1534, on returning from his travels, he brought
with him a Frenchman skilled in the Greek tongue, whom he
settled at Montrose, and upon his departure he liberally
encouraged others to come from France and succeed to his
place; and from this private seminary many Greek scholars
proceeded, and the knowledge of the language was gradually diffused through the kingdom. After his father’s
death, he was employed as the other barons or lairds then,
were, in administering justice in the county of Angus, to
which he belonged, and occasionally assisting in the meetings of parliament. He was besides almost constantly
chosen provost, or chief magistrate of the neighbouring
town of Montrose. At an early period of his life, he became a convert from popery, but the precise manner in
which his conversion was accomplished, is not known. He
was, however, a liberal encourager of those who became
converts, and especially those who suffered for their rehgiou. The castte of Dun was always a sanctuary to
protestant preachers a-.id professors, and here he appears
to have associated with a number of persons, some of high
rank, who strengthened each other in their principles, and
by their power and influence contributed much to the reformation in that part of the kingdom.
page of history. It may suffice to notice here, that Mr. Erskine occasionally assisted as a temporal baron, but before the war was concluded, he relinquished his armour,
The parliament, which met Dec. 14, 1537, appointed
him by the title of “John Erskine of Dun, knight and
provost of Montrose,
” to go to the court of France, as one
of the commissioners from Scotland, to witness the young
queen’s (Mary) marriage with the dauphin, and to settle
the terms of the marriage contract; and on his return he
was surprised to find that the reformation was likely to be
forwarded by the very means taken to suppress it. An
aged priest named Mill, had suffered martyrdom at St.
Andrew’s, and in the opinion of archbishop Spottiswood,
“the death of this martyr was the death of popery in this
realm.
” The protestants were now increasing in numbers,
and were not a little encouraged by the death of queen
Mary of England, and the accession of Elizabeth, whom
they knew to be favourable to their cause. The queen
regent of Scotland was therefore addressed more boldly
than before by the protestant lords, in behalf of the free
exercise of their religion, and by Erskine among the rest;
but, although his demands and language are said to have
been more moderate than the rest, this produced no effect,
and a proclamation was issued, requiring the protestant
ministers to appear at Stirling, May 10, 1559, and there
to be tried for reputed heresy. The protestant lords and
other laity determined upon this to accompany and defend
their ministers, and much confusion would have immediately ensued, if Mr. Erskine had not obtained a promise
from the queen regent, that the ministers should not be
tried; and the people were ordered to disperse. No
sooner had this been done, than the queen broke her promise, and a civil war followed, for the particulars of which
we must refer to the page of history. It may suffice to
notice here, that Mr. Erskine occasionally assisted as a
temporal baron, but before the war was concluded, he relinquished his armour, and became a preacher, for which by
his learning and study of the controversies between the
church of Rome and the reformers, he was well qualified.
The civil war ended in favour of the prntestant party, by the
death of the queen regent in 1560 and a parliament, or
convention of the estates was immediately held, who began
their proceedings by appointing a committee of lords,
barons, and burgesses, to distribute the few protestant
ministers whom they then had, to the places where their
services were most required. The committee nominated
some of them to the chief cities, and as “The first book
of Discipline
” was now produced, they, agreeably to the
plan proposed in that book, nominated five ministers who
should act in the capacity of ecclesiastical Supkrintendants. Mr. Erskine was one of these five, and had the superintendency of all ecclesiastical matters in the counties
of Angus and Mearus, and from this period Ins usual designation was, “John Erskine of Dun, knight, superintendant of Angus and Mearus.
” This was in fact a kind
of episcopal authority, conferred for life; but for their
conduct the superintendants were accountable to the general assembly of the clergy. Their office was sufficiently laborious, as well as invidious; and we find Mr.
Erskine several times applying to be dismissed. In 1569,
by virtue of his office, he had to suspend from their offices
for their adherence to popery, the principal, sub-principal, and three professors of King’s-college, Aberdeen.
In 1577, he had a hand in compiling the “Second Book
of Discipline,
” or model for the government of a presbyterian church, which still exists; and in other respects he
was an active promoter of the reformation as then established, until his death, March 21, 1591, in the eightysecond year of his age. Buchanan, Knox, and Spottiswood, agree in a high character of him; and even queen
Mary preferred him as a preacher, because, she said, he
“was a mild and sweet natured man, and of true honesty
and uprightness.
”
, concludes, in the manner of Plutarch, with the particular anecdotes and incidents of his life. The baron d’Espagnac had married at Brussels, the 18th of December 1748,
, a writer on military affairs, was born at
Brive-la-Gaillarde, March 25, 1713, and died at Paris, Feb.
28, 1783. He bore arms at the age of nineteen, signalized
his prowess in Italy in 1734, and was aid de-camp in the
campaigns of Bavaria in 1742. Marshal Saxe, who was
well acquainted with his military talents, employed him
either as aide-major-general of the army, or as colonel of
one of the regiments of grenadiers created in 1745. Being
appointed in 1766 governor of the hotel-des-invalides, he
not only maintained the utmost regularity, but introduced
great improvements there. He obtained the rank of lieutenant-general in 1780. Among his works are, 1. “Campagnesdu roi en 1745, 1746, 1747, et 1748,
” 4 vols. 8vo.
2. “Essai sur la science de la Guerre, 1751,
” 3 vols. 8vo.
3. “Essai sur les grandes operations de la Guerre,
” Supplement aux Reveries du
marechal de Saxe,
” Paris, Eloge de Catinat,
” and “Reflexions sur I'abbS
Suger et son siecle.
”
raordinary to England, in 1661, he had an affront offered to him there, Oct. 10 of that year, by the baron de Vatteville, ambassador from Spain, which his sovereign not
, marshal of France, and viceroy of America, was born at A gen, in 1627, and served a long time in Holland, under prince Maurice, with whom he acted as agent of France, and proved at once a good general and an able negociator. Being appointed ambassador extraordinary to England, in 1661, he had an affront offered to him there, Oct. 10 of that year, by the baron de Vatteville, ambassador from Spain, which his sovereign not only disavowed, but issued orders to his ministers at foreign courts, not to contest with the ambassadors of France in any public ceremonies. Count d‘Estrades having negotiated in 1662 the sale of Dunkirk, was commissioned to receive that town from the hands of the English. Though Charles II. had signed the treaty, the parliament strongly opposed its execution, and the English garrison refused to evacuate the place. But the count d’Estrades (according to the French historian’s account) judiciously distributed considerable sums of money; and the governor and the garrison embarked for London. On their passage they met the packet conveying to them the order of parliament not to surrender Dunkirk to the French; but the affair was already settled, owing to the active and ingenious address of d'Estrades. Being returned to Paris, he was dispatched again to London, in 1666, in quality of ambassador extraordinary; and the year following went over to Holland, invested with similar powers, and there concluded the treaty of Breda. He distinguished himself not less in 1673, when sent ambassador extraordinary to the conferences of Nimegucn for the general peace. He died the 26th of February, 1686, at the age of seventy-nine. He had been appointed two years before, governor to the duke of Chartres, and superintendant of his finances. The negociations of the count d'Estrades were printed at the Hague, 1742, in 9 vols. 12mo, which is merely an extract from the originals, which form 22 vols. folio, the thinnest of which is of 900 pages. John Aymon published some of them at Amsterdam, in 1709, 12mo.
rd lieutenant of Ireland, which he held till March 11, 1686, when the king was pleased to make Henry baron Arundel of Wardour lord privy seal. While in this office he
and cultivated minds to cherish an affectionate remembrance of the academies where they first pursued their studies, Mr. Evelyn gave a noble testimony of his high respect for his alma mater, Oxford, by using his utmost interest with the lord Henry Howard, in order to prevail upon him to bestow the Arundeliao marbles, then in the garden of Arundel-house in the Strand, upon the university, in which he happily succeeded, and obtained the thanks of that learned body, delivered by Dr. Barlow, and other delegates specially appointed for the purpose. Nor was this the last favour conferred by lord Arundel, at the request of Mr. Evelyn, whom he honoured with his closest friendship, after he arrived at the title of Duke of Norfolk. Of this interest Mr. Evtlyn made no other advantage than giving a right direction to the natural generosity of that excellent person, whence flowed some particular marks of kindness to the royal society, which were very gratefully accepted; and something farther would have been procured, if the duke’s sudden and unexpected death had not frustrated the schemes formed by our author for the service of that learned society, to which, from its very foundation, he was attached with unabated zeal. Mr. Evelyn spent his time, at this juncture, in a manner as pleasing as he could wish. He had great credit at court, and great reputation in the world; was one of the commissioners for rebuilding St. Paul’s, attended the meetings of the royal society with great regularity, undertook readily whatever tasks were assigned him to support that reputation, which, from their first institution, they had acquired, and which, by degrees, triumphed over that envy which it raised. He was punctual in the discharge of his office as a commissioner of the sick and wounded; and when he had leisure retired to his seat at Sayes-court, where the improvement of his garden was his favourite ambition. Yet in the midst of his employments, both public and private, and notwithstanding the continual pains that he bestowed in augmenting and improving the books he hud already published, he found leisure sufficient to undertake fresli labours oi the same kind, without any diminution of the high character he had obtained by his former writings. He made a journey to Oxford in the summer of 1669, where, on the 15th of July, at the opening of the theatre, he was honoured with the degree of doctor of the civil law; at the same time this honour was conferred on the duke of Ormond, their chancellor, and on the earl of Chesterfield. After king Charles II. had tried, with very little effect, to promote trade, according to the advice of persons engaged in it, he thought proper to constitute a particular board for that purpo.se, in Sept. 1672, and named several persons of great rank to be members of that council, and amongst them Mr. Evelyn, who had previously (Feb. 1671) been nominated one of the council of foreign plantations. These preferments were so welcome to a person of his disinterested temper and true public spirit, that he thought he could not express his gratitude better than by digesting, in a short and plain discourse, the chief heads of the history of trade and navigation, dedicated to the king, which was very graciously received, and is allowed to contain as much matter in as small a compass as any that was ever written uprm the topic. Notwithstanding these late auditions to his employments, when the royal society found it requisite to demand the assistance of some of its principal members, and to exact from them the tribute of certain dissertations upon weighty and philosophical subjects, he produced his share with his usual vigour and promptitude, as appears by their TVmisactions. We have now named all the preferments ronferred on him in that reign; and though they were none of them very considerable in respect of profit, yet he was jo easy in his own circumstances, so good an oeconomist, and so true a patriot, that while he daily saw fresh improvements made in every county throughout the kingdom, and the commerce of the nation continually extended, he thought himself amply recompensed, and never failed to express his sentiments in that respect with great cordiality. The severe winter of 1683 gave some interruption to his domestic enjoyments, the frost committing dreadful depredations in his fine gardens at Sayes-court, of which he sent a full and very curious account to the royal society in the beginning of the succeeding spring. After the accession of king James, we find him, in December 1685, appointed with the lord viscount Tiviot of the kingdom of Scotland, and colonel Robert Philips, one of the commissioners for executing the great office of lord privy-seal, in the absence of Henry earl of Clarendon, lord lieutenant of Ireland, which he held till March 11, 1686, when the king was pleased to make Henry baron Arundel of Wardour lord privy seal. While in this office he refused to put the seal to Dr. Obadiah Walker’s licence to print popish books. On May 5, 1695, he was appointed treasurer of Greenwich hospital, and although now much advanced in years, continued his literary labours, with his accustomed zeal, at his leisure hours.
Guast, in Lower Normandy, April 1, 1613. He was the third son of Charles de St. Denis, castellan or baron of St. Denis le Guast; and took the name of St. Evremond from
, a writer, who distinguished himself by his talents and productions in polite
literature, and who was many years resident in England,.
was born at St. Denis le Guast, in Lower Normandy, April
1, 1613. He was the third son of Charles de St. Denis,
castellan or baron of St. Denis le Guast; and took the
name of St. Evremond from a manor which was part of the
estate of his father, and of which he was sometimes styled
lord. He was intended, by his father, for the profession
of the law; and, when he was nine years of age, he was
sent to Paris to be bred a scholar. He was entered in the
second form in the college of Ciermont; and continued
there four years, during which he went through a course
of grammar learning and rhetoric. He was next sent to
the university of C;ien, in order to study philosophy but
he continued there one year only, and then returned to
Paris, where he pursued the same study a year longer in
the college of Harcourt. He distinguished himself not
only by his application to literature, but by other accomplishments; and he particularly excelled in fencing, so
that “St. Evremond’s pass
” was famous among those who
were skilled in that art. When he had passed through a
course of philosophy, be began to study the law: but
whether his relations had then other views for him, or that
his inclination led him to a military life, he quitted that
study after he had prosecuted it somewhat more than a
jear, and was made an ensign before he hud quite attained
to the age of sixteen. After he had served two or three
campaigns, he obtained a lieutenant’s commission; and,
after the siege of Laiidvecy, in 1637, he had the command
of a company of foot.
ion at this period, such conduct was certain of a reward; and the recorder was, in 1772, appointed a baron of his majesty’s exchequer. In a short time subsequent to his
The resolution of the recorder was, however, attended with considerable mortification and some danger. He was summoned to justify his conduct before the common council, and his speech on that occasion was not calculated to avert the vote of censure which followed it. He was not only treated with great acrimony, but it was in the view of the powerful party to deprive him of his office. They, however, contented themselves with holding him forth, not only in their speeches, but in publications and caricatures, as an offensive character, and a city mob at that time was a very unpleasant enemy. In the temper and disposition of administration at this period, such conduct was certain of a reward; and the recorder was, in 1772, appointed a baron of his majesty’s exchequer. In a short time subsequent to his possession of the ermine, on a question proposed to the twelve judges by the house of lords, baron Eyre was distinguished by his argument on that occasion. That he conducted himself with honour and ability in his judicial station, appears from his successive advancements. In 1787 he succeeded that able lawyer and excellent man sir John Skynner, as chief baron of his own court. On the resignation of lord Thurlow in 1792; he was appointed first commissioner of the great seal; and on the removal of lord Loughborough, in the succeeding year, to the chancery bench, he succeeded that noble judge as chief justice of the common pleas, in which situation he continued until his death, at his seat, Ruscombe, in Berkshire, July 6, 1799, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
ary of Greek, but was, not long after, requested by the elector to go again to Paris as tutor to the baron Rothenschild, and in 1659 he accompanied his pupil to the Hague,
, an eminent protestant divine of the seventeenth century, was born at Schafhousen,
July 29, 1639. He began his studies under the inspection
of his father, who was rector of thq college; but in 1647
went to Cologne, where his brother Sebaldus lived, and
there for about a year studied Greek and Latin. In 1643
he returned to Schafhousen, but left it for Heidelberg in
the following year, where his brother had been appointed
professor of history and Greek. In 1650 he went to
Utrecht, and for about two years was employed in teaching. At the end of that time he visited Paris as tutor of
the son of M. de la Lane, governor of Reez, and remained
in tnis station for three years. Having returned to Heidelberg in 1656, he took his degree of master of arts, and the
following year was admitted into holy orders, and appointed
professor extraordinary of Greek, but was, not long after,
requested by the elector to go again to Paris as tutor to
the baron Rothenschild, and in 1659 he accompanied his
pupil to the Hague, and afterwards into England. On
their return to France they parted, and Fabricius went to
Leyden, where he took his degree of doctor in divinity.
Soon after he was appointed professor of divinity at Heidelr
berg, superintendant of the studies of the electoral prince,
inspector of the college of wisdom, and philosophy professor. In 1664 he was appointed ecclesiastical counsellor
to the elector, who, in 1666, sent him to Schafhousen to
explain to that canton the reasons for the war of Lorraine,
which office Dr. Boeckelman had discharged in the other
cantons. In 1674, when the French army advanced towards Heidelberg, Fabricius retired to Fredericksburgh,
and to Cologne, but returned the same year. In 168O,
although a Calvinist, he was commissioned with a Roman
catholic to open the temple of concord at Manheim. In
1688, the French, who had taken possession of Heidelberg,
showed so much respect for his character as to give him a
passport, which carried him safely to Schafhousen; but
the continuance of the war occasioned him again to shift
his place of residence, and when at Francfort, he was employed by the king of England (William III.) and the
States General to join the English envoy in Swisserland,
and watch the interests of the States General. In the
execution of this commission he acquitted himself with
great ability, and was particularly successful in adjusting
tjbe differences between the Vaudois and the duke of
Savoy, and afterwards in accomplishing an alliance between
the duke and the States General. We find him afterwards
at Heidelberg, and Francfort, at which last he died in
1697. From these various employments it appears that he
was a man of great abilities and political weight, and he
derived likewise considerable reputation from his writings
as a divine. Such was his abhorence of Socinianism that
he opposed the settlement of the Socinian Poles when
driven out of their own country in the Palatinate; in which,
however, at that time he was not singular, as, according
to Mosheim, none of the European nations could be persuaded to grant a public settlement to a sect whose members denied the divinity of Christ. The same historian
informs us that he “was so mild and indulgent
” as to
maintain, that the difference between the Lutherans and
Roman catholics was of so little consequence, that a Lutheran might safely embrace popery; an opinion, which,
mild and indulgent as Mosheim thinks it, appears to us
more in favour of popery than of Lutheranism. His works,
on controversial topics, were collected and published in a
quarto volume, by Heidegger with a life of the author,
printed at Zurich in 1698.
lector of Hanover, and he had a brother who held a considerable office in that prince’s service. The baron, of whom we are speaking, as soon as he had finished his studies,
, known to the public by his letters relating to Charles XII. of Sweden, during his residence in the Ottoman empire, was sprung from a good family in Germany. His father was president of Zell for George I. as elector of Hanover, and he had a brother who held a considerable office in that prince’s service. The baron, of whom we are speaking, as soon as he had finished his studies, went into Holstein, and was early taken into the service of that court, where his talents were much admired. He was sent from thence, by the duke administrator, in a public character, to his Swedish majesty, while he continue at Bender. He was then in the flower of his youth, had a good person, pleasing address, great accomplishments, and no vanity. He soon stood very high in the good graces of that prince; accompanied him in his exercises, was frequently at his table, and spent hours alone with him in his closet. He it was that gave him a turn for reading; and it was out of his hand that monarch snatched the book, when he tore from it the 8th satire of Boileau, in which Alexander the Great is represented as a madman. He had but one enemy in the court, viz. general Daldorff, who was made prisoner by the Tartars, when they stormed the king’s camp at Bender. Fabricius took pains to find him out, released him, and supplied him with money; which so entirely vanquished the general, that he afterwards became a warm friend. This amiable man was likewise in favour with king Stanislaus, and with our own monarch George I. whom he accompanied in his last journey to Hanover, and who may be said to have died in his arms. "A translation of his genuine letters in English, containing the best accounts relating to the Northern Hero during his residence in Turkey, was published in one volume 8vo, Lond. 1761.
afflicted with almost a total failure of sight, which, however, was restored by the skill, first of Baron Wenzel, and afterwards of Mr. Wathen. Infirmities, however,
As a minister Mr. Farmer received every mark of honour from the dissenters which it was in their power to bestow. For a great number of years he preached twice a day at Walthamstow: but, an associate being at length provided for him at that place, he became in 1761 afternoonpreacher to the congregation of Salters-hall, and some time after was chosen one of the Tuesday-lecturers at Salters-hall. He was also a trustee of the rev. Dr. Daniel Williams’ s various bequests; and he was likewise one of Mr. Coward’s trustees; in which capacity he became a dispenser of the large charities that had been left by the gentleman with whom he had been connected in early life. As Mr. Farmer advanced in years, he gradually remitted of his employments as a divine. He resigned first, in 1772, the being afternoon-preacher at Salters-hall; after which, in 1780, he gave up the Tuesday lectureship of the same place. In his pastoral relation at Walthamstow he continued a few years longer, when he quitted the pulpit entirely. In these several cases his resignations were accepted with peculiar regret. After he had ceased to be a preacher, it was his general custom to spend part of the winter at Bath. Early in 1785, Mr. Farmer was afflicted with almost a total failure of sight, which, however, was restored by the skill, first of Baron Wenzel, and afterwards of Mr. Wathen. Infirmities, however, growing upon him, he departed this life on the 6th of February, 1787, in the seventy-third year of his age, and was buried in Walthamstow church-yard, in the same grave with his friends Mr. and Mrs. Snell. On Sunday, the 18th, his funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Urvvick, of Clapham, whose discourse was printed. In his last will, besides providing handsomely for his relations, and remembering his servants, he left a hundred pounds to the fund for the widows of dissenting ministers, and forty pounds to the poor of Walthamstow parish. His regard to the family with which he had so long been connected, and to which he had been so peculiarly obliged, was testified by his bequeathing pecuniary legacies to every member of that family. Smaller legacies were left by him to others of his friends. His executors were William Snell, esq. of Clapham, and William Hood, esq. of Chancery-lane, barrister; the first the son, and the second one of the grandsons of Mr. Farmer’s great patron. To another grandson, the rev. Robert Jacomb, our author bequeathed his library, with the exception of such classic books as Mr. Snell might select; who also was a residuary legatee, in conjunction with his sister, Mrs. Hood. In this will he also made his request (for that is the term used), that his executors would burn his sermons and manuscripts, unless he should direct otherwise by a separate paper; and, in case they should not do it, the legacies of a hundred pounds each, which he had left them, were to be null and void. He had nearly completed a second volume on the demonology of the ancients; a curious dissertation on the story of Balaam, which he had transcribed for the press, and for the printing of which he had given his directions, and had made preparations for a second edition of his Treatise on Miracles, by which it would have been considerably enlarged, and highly improved; all which were destroyed, as, in the opinion of the executors, coming within the intent of his will. His biographer laments bitterly this undistinguishing destruction, which, indeed, seems rather too much to resemble what happened in Don Quixote’s library.
ommander of armies in martial expeditions while abroad; made knight-banneret in the field of battle; baron, in France, and knight of the garter in England and, particularly,
, knight, and knight-banneret, a
valiant and renowned general, governor, and nobleman in
France, during our conquests in that kingdom, under king
Henry IV. V. and VI. of England, and knight-companion
of the most noble order of the garter, has been supposed,
from the title of his French barony, and from his name
being so often corruptly mentioned in the French histories^
owing to his long residence, and many engagements in
the wars there, to have been born in France, at least of
French extraction. Others, allowing him to have been
a native of England, have no less erroneously fixed hist
birth-place in Bedfordshire; but it is well known that he
was descended of an ancient and famous English family in
the county of Norfolk, which had flourished there and in
other parts of the kingdom, in very honourable distinction,
before the conquest: and from a train of illustrious ancestors, many of them dignified with the honour of knighthood, invested with very eminent employments, and possessed of extensive patrimonies. But one of the principal
branches being seated at Castre in Fleg near Great Yarmouth in that county, which estate descending to these
ancestors, he afterwards adorned with a noble family seat,
it is presumed he was born therej or in Yarmouth. His
father was John Fastolff, esq. of that town, a man of considerable account, especially for his public benefactions,
pious foundations, &c. His mother was Mary, daughter
of Nicholas Park, esq. and married to sir Richard Mortimer,
of Attleburgh; and this their son was born in the latter
end of king Edward the Illd’s reign. As he died at the
age of eighty, in 1459, his birth could not happen later
than 1378. It may fairly be presumed he was grounded
as well in that learning and other accomplishments which
afterwards, improved by his experience and sagacity, rendered him so famous in war and peace, as in those virtuous
and religious principles which governed his actions to the
last. His father dying before he was of age, the care of
his person and estate were committed to John duke of
Bedford, who was afterwards the most wise and able regent
of France we ever had there; and he was the last ward
which that duke had: others, indeed, say that he was
trained up in the Norfolk family, which will not appear
improbable when we consider that it was not unusual in
those times for young noblemen whilst under wardship to
be trained under others, especially ministers of state, in
their houses and families, as in academies of behaviour, and
to qualify them for the service of their country at home
pr abroad. But if he was under Thomas Mowbray duke
pf Norfolk, while he enjoyed that title, it could be but
one year, that duke being banished the kingdom by king
Richard II. in 1398, though his younger son, who was
restored to that title many years after, might be one of sir
John FastoltFs feoffees. And it is pretty evident that he
was, but a few years after the banishment of that duke, in
some considerable post under Thomas of Lancaster, after^
wards duke of Clarence, and second son of the succeeding
king Henry IV. This Thomas was sent by his father so
early, according to some writers, as the second year of his
reign, which was in 1401, lord lieutenant of Ireland. And
it is not improbable that Fastolff was then with him; for
we are informed by William of Wyrcestre, that in the sixth,
and seventh years of the said king Henry, that is, in 1405
and 1406, this John Fastolff, esq. was continually with,
him. And the same lord lieutenant of Ireland was again
there in 1408, 10 Henry IV. and almost to the beginning
of the next year, when it is no less probable that Fastolff
was still with him; for, in the year last mentioned, we
find that he was married in that kingdom to a rich
young widow of quality, named Milicent, lady Castlecomb,
daughter of Robert lord Tibetot, and relict of sir Stephen
Scrope, knight; the same, perhaps, who is mentioned,
though not with the title of knighthood, by sir P. Leycester, to have been the said lord lieutenant’s deputy of
Ireland, during most of the intervals of his return to England; which deputy-lieutenant died in his office the same
year. This marriage was solemnized in Ireland on the
feast of St. Hilary, 1408, and Fastolff bound himself in
the sum of 1000l. to pay her 100l. a year, for pin-money
during life; and she received the same to the 24th year of
king Henry VI. The lands in Wiltshire and Yorkshire
which came to Fastolff by this marriage with the said lady,
descended to Stephen Le Scrope, her son and heir. We
may reasonably believe that this marriage in Ireland engaged his settlement in that kingdom, or upon his estate
in Norfolk, till his appointment to the command of some
forces, or to some post of trust under the English regency
in France, soon after required his residence in that kingdom. For, according to the strictest calculation we can
make from the accounts of his early engagements in
France, the many years he was there, and the time of his
final return, it must be not long after his marriage that he
left either England or Ireland for that foreign service;
being employed abroad by Henry IV. V. and VI. in the
wars in France, Normandy, Anjou, Mayne, and Guyenne,
upwards of forty years; which agrees very well with what
Caxton has published, in his concise, yet comprehensive
character of him, little more than twenty years after his
death, where he speaks of his “exercisyng the warrys in
the royame of Fraunce and other countrees, &c. by fourty
yeres enduryng.
” So that, we cannot see any room, either
in the time or the temper, in the fortunes or employments
of this knight, for him to have been a companion with, or
follower and corrupter of prince Henry, in his juvenile
and dissolute courses; nor, that Shakspeare had any view
of drawing his sir John Falstaff from any part of this sir
John Fastolff’s character; or so much as pointing at any
indifferent circumstance in it that can reflect upon his
memory, with readers conversant in the true history of
him. The one is an old, humourous, vapouring, and
cowardly, lewd, lying, and drunken debauchee, about the
prince’s court when the other was a young and grave,
discreet and valiant, chaste and sober, commander abroad
continually advanced to honours and places of profit, for
his brave and politic atchievements, military and civil;
continually preferred to the trust of one government or
other of countries, cities, towns, &c. or as a genera^
and commander of armies in martial expeditions while
abroad; made knight-banneret in the field of battle; baron,
in France, and knight of the garter in England and, particularly, when finally settled at home, constantly exercised
in acts of hospitality, munificence, and chanty; a founder
of religious buildings, and other stately edifices ornamental
to his country, as their remains still testify; a generous
patron of worthy and learned men, and a public benefactor
to the pious and the poor. In short, the more we
compare the circumstances in this historical character, with
those in that poetical one, we can find nothing discreditable in the latter, that has any relation to the former, or
that would mislead an ignorant reader to mistake or confound them, but a little quibble, which makes some conformity in their names, and a short degree in the time
wherein the one did really, and the other is feigned to live.
And, in regard to the prince of Wales, or our knight’s
being engaged in any wild or riotous practices of his youth,
the improbabilities may also appear from the comparison of
their age, and a view of this prince’s commendable engagements till that space of time in which he indulged his
interval of irregularities, when the distance of our knight
will clear him from being a promoter of, or partaker in
them. For it is apparent, that he had been intrusted with
a command in France some time before the death of king
Henry IV. because, in 1413, the rery first year of his son,
who was now grown the reformed, and soon after proved
the renowned, Henry V. it appears that Fastolff had the
castle and dominion of Veires in Gascoigne committed to
his custody and defence: whence it is very reasonably inferred, that he then resided in the said duchy, which at
that time was possessed by the English. In June 1415,
Fastolff, then only an esquire, was returned, by indenture,
with ten men of arms, and thirty archers, to serve the king
at his arrival in France. Soon after king Henry was arrived in Normandy, in August following, with above 30,000
men, the English army having made themselves masters of
Harfleur, the most considerable port in that duchy, Fastolff
was constituted lieutenant thereof, with 1500 men, by the
earl of Derby, as Basset in his ms history informs us;
but, as we find it in others, the king, upon this conquest,
constituted his said uncle Thomas Beaufort, earl of Dorset
and duke of Exeter, governor of Harfleur, in conjunction
sir John Fastolff; and, having repaired the fortificaplaced therein a garrison of two thousand select
men, as Titus Livius numbers them; or of fifteen hundred
ien at arms, and thirty-five knights, according to Hall’s
account; to which number Monstrelet also adds a thousand
archers. Towards the latter end of October, in the year
last mentioned, he was dangerously engaged in the evermemorable battle of Agincourt, where it is said that Fastolff, among others, signalized himself most gallantly by
taking the duke of Alengon prisoner; though other
historians say that duke was slain after a desperate encounter
with king Henry himself, in which he cut off the crowned
crest of the king’s helmet. The fact is, that, in a succeeding battle, Fastolff did take this duke’s son and successor prisoner. In the same year, 1415, he, with the
duke and 3000 English, invaded Normandy, and penetrated almost to Rouen; but on their return, loaded with
booty, they were surprised, and forced to retreat towards
Harfleur, whither the enemy pursuing them, were totally
defeated. The constable of France, to recover his credit,
laid siege to Harfleur, which made a vigorous defence
under sir John Fastolff and others till relieved by the fleet
under the duke of Bedford. He was at the taking of the
castle of Tonque, the city of Caen, the castle of Courcy,
the city of Sees, and town of Falaise, and at the great
siege at Rouen, 1417. For his services at the latter he
was made governor of Conde Noreau; and for his eminent
services in those victories, he received, before the 29th of
January following, the honour of knighthood, and had the
manor and demesne of Fritense near Harfleur bestowed
upon him during life. In 1418 he was ordered to seize
upon the castle and dominion of Bee Crispin, and other
manors, which were held by James D'Auricher, and several
other knights; and had the said castle, with those lands,
granted him in special tail, to the yearly value of 2000
scutes. In 1420 he was at the siege of Monsterau, as Peter
Basset has recorded; and, in the next year, at that of
Meaulx-en-Brie. About five months after the decease of
king Henry V. the town of Meulent having been surprized
in January 1422, John duke of Bedford, regent of France,
and sir John Fastolff, then grand master of his household,
and seneschal of Normandy, laid siege to the same, and
re-took it. In 1423, after the castle of Craven t was relieved, our knight was constituted lieutenant for the king
and regent in Normandy, in the jurisdictions of Rouen,
Evreux, Alengon, and the countries beyond the river
Seine: also governor of the countries of Anjou and Maine,
and before the battle of Verneuil was created banneret,
About three months after, being then captain of Alengon,
and governor of the marches thereof, he laid siege to the
castle of Tenuye in Maine, as a French historian informs
us, which was surrendered to him; and, in 1424, he was
sent to oppose the delivery of Alenon to the French, upon
a discovery made that a Gascoigner had secretly contracted
to betray the same. In September 1425, he laid siege to
Beaumont le Vicompt, which surrendered to him. Then
also he took the castle of Sillie-Je-Guillem, from which he
was dignified with the title of baron: but this, revolting
afterwards again to the French, was assaulted by the earl
of Arundel, and retaken about seven years after. In the
year last mentioned, our active warrior took also St. Ouen
D'Estrais, near Laval, as likewise the castle of Gravelle,
with other places of strength, from the enemy; for which
dangerous and indefatigable service in France he was about
the same time elected in England, with extraordinary
deference to his merits, knight companion of the order of
the garter. In 1426 John lord Talbot was appointed
governor of Anjou and Maine, and sir John Fastolff was
removed to another place of command, which, in all probability, might be the foundation of that jealousy, emulation, or competition, between them, which never was cordially reconciled. In October 1428, he had a protection
granted him, being then going into France; and there he
performed an enterprise of such bravery and conduct as is
scarcely thought to have been paralleled in ancient or
modern history. The English army, at the siege of Orleans, being in great want of provisions, artillery, and
other necessaries, sir John Fastolff, with some other approved commanders, was dispatched for supplies by William de la Pole duke of Suffolk, to the regent at Paris;
who not only provided him plentifully therewith, but allowed him a strong guard at his return, that he might convey the same safely to the siege. The French, knowing
the importance of this succour, united two armies of very
superior numbers and force to meet him; but, either in
different encounters, or in a pitched battle, as the French
thetnselv es allow, he totally overthrew them; slew greater
numbers than he had under his command, not to mention
the wounded and the prisoners; and conducted his convoy
safe to the English camp. And because it was in the time
of Lent, and he had, among his other provision, several
of his carriages laden with many barrels of herrings, which
he applied to form a fortification, the French have ever
since called this victory “The battle of herrings.
” But
as the fortune of war is precarious, the English army was
soon after obliged to raise the siege of Orleans, and though
they received recruits from the duke of Bedford, they were
in no degree strong enough to encounter the French army
at Patay. At the battle which happened there in June
1429, many of the English, who were of most experienced
and approved valour, seeing themselves so unequal, and
the onset of the French so unexpected, made the best
retreat they could and, among them who saved themselves, as it is said, was sir John Fastolff vfho, with such
as could escape, retired to Corbeil thus avoiding being
killed, or, with the great lord Talbot, lord Hungerford,
and sir Thomas Ramps ton, taken prisoner of war. Here
the French tales, which some English historians have inconsiderately credited, contradict or invalidate themselves;
for, after having made the regent most improbably, and
without any examination, or defence, divest Fastolff of his
honours, they no less suddenly restore him to them, for,
as they phrase it, “apparent causes of good excuse;
though against the mind of the lord Talbot;
” between
whom there had been, it seems, some emulous contests,
and therefore it is no wonder that Fastolff found him upon
this occasion an adversary. It is not likely that the regent
ever conceived any displeasure at this conduct, because
Fastolff was not only continued in military and civil employments of the greatest concern, but appears more in
favour with the regent after the battle of Patay than before. So that, rather than any dishonour here can be
allowed, the retreat itself, as it is told, must be doubted.
It was but in 1430 that he preferred him to the lieutenancy
of Caen in Normandy. In 1432 he accompanied him into
France, and was soon after sent ambassador to the council
of Basil, and chosen, in the like capacity, to negociate
a final or temporary peace with France. And that year,
Fastolff, with the lord Willoughby, commanded the army
which assisted the duke of Bretagne against the duke of
Alen^on. Soon after this he was for a short space in England; for, in 1433, going abroad again, he constituted
John Fastolff, of Olton, probably a near relation, his general attorney. In 1434, or the beginning of the year
after, sir John was again with the regent of France;'and,
in 1435, he was again one of the ambassadors to conclude
a peace with France. Towards the latter end of this year
the regent died at Rouen, and, as the greatest proof he
could give of his confidence in the honour and integrity of
sir John Fastolff, he made him one of the executors of his.
last will. Richard, duke of York, who succeeded in the
regency of France, made Fastolff a grant of an annuity of
twenty pounds a year of his own estate, “pro notabili et
landdbili servicio, ac bono consilio;
” which is sufficient to
shew this duke’s sentiments also of his merits. In 1436,
and for about four years longer, he seems to have been
well settled at his government in Normandy; after which,
in 1440, he made his final return home, and, loaclen
with the laurels he had gathered in France, became as illustrious in his domestic as he had been in his foreign
character. The late Mr. Gough, by whom this article was
much enlarged, had an inventory of all the rich jewels,
plate, furniture, &c. that he either had, or left in France,
at his return to England. In 1450 he conveyed to John
Kemp, cardinal archbishop of York, and others, his manor
of Castre in Fleg, and several other lands specified in the
deed of conveyance. The same year, Nov. 8, the king
by writ directed Richard Waller, esq. David John William
Needham, and John Ingoldsby, to cause Thomas Danyell,
esq. to pay to sir John FastolfF, knight, the lOOl. that he
was indebted to him for provisions, and for his ship called
the George of Prussia, alias Danyell’s Hulk, which ship
the said Danyell took on the sea as a prize, and never had
it condemned; so that the king seized it, ordered it to be
sold, and sir John to be paid out of it. At length being
arrived, in 1459, beyond the age of fourscore years, he
says of himself, that he was “in good remembrance, albeit
I am gretly vexed with sickenesse, and thurgh age infebelyd.
” He lingered under an hectic fever and asthma
for an hundred and forty-eight days; but before he departed he made his will on the fifth of November in that
year, and died at his seat at Castre the next day after,
being the festival of St. Leonard, or the eve before, as
appears in the escheats, in the 39th or last year of king
Henry the Vlth’s reign, and no less than thirty-six years
beyond the extravagant period assigned by Fuller. He
was buried with great solemnity under an arch, in a chapel
of our lady of his own building, on the south side of the
choir at the abbey-church of St. Bennet in the Holm, in
Norfolk, which was ruined at the dissolution; and so much
was he respected after his decease, that John Beauchamp,
lord of Powyke, in his last will dated the 15th of Edward
IV. appointed a chantry, more especially for the soul of
sir John Fastolff.
ouse the 8th and the llth of June 1659, made a considerable noise. He wrote a Latin answer to father Baron’s objections against the “Scientia media,” entitled “Responsio
, a French Jesuit, and a native of
Rouergue, and confessor to the king of France, was born
in 1614, and turned a Jesuit in 1632. He had taught
philosophy fonr years, divinity twelve years, and ethics
two years. He had been principal of the college of Toulouse, and had acquitted himself very well of that employment. The Jesuits probably looked upon him as a very
able man, since they designed to make him the king’s
confessor, to which office he was promoted in 1670. He
died in the convent of the Jesuits at Paris, October 29,
1674. He was one of the ablest antagonists of Jansenius’s
followers, and his thesis concerning probability, which hq
maintained at Toulouse the 8th and the llth of June 1659,
made a considerable noise. He wrote a Latin answer to
father Baron’s objections against the “Scientia media,
”
entitled “Responsio ad Objectiones Vincentianas,
” Toulouse,
ng the eldest son of sir Richard Fiennes, to whom James I. had restored and confirmed the dignity of baron Say and Sele: and, after being properly instructed at Winchester
, lord Say and Sele, a person of
literary merit, but not so well known on that account as
for the part he bore in the Grand Rebellion, was born at
Brpughton in Oxfordshire, in 1582, being the eldest son
of sir Richard Fiennes, to whom James I. had restored and
confirmed the dignity of baron Say and Sele: and, after
being properly instructed at Winchester school, was sent
in 1596 to New-college in Oxford, of which, by virtue of
his relationship to the founder, he was made fellow. After
he had spent some years in study, he travelled into foreign
countries, and then returned home with the reputation of
a wise and prudent man. When the war was carried on in
the Palatinate, he contributed largely to it, according to
his estate, which was highly pleasing to king James; but,
indulging his neighbours by leaving it to themselves to pay
what they thought fit, he was, on notice given to his majesty, committed to custody in June 1622. He was,
however, soon released; and, in July 1624, advanced from a
baron to be viscount Say and Scle. At this time, says
Wood, he stood up for the privileges of Magna Charta;
but, after the rebellion broke out, treated it with the utmost contempt: and when the long-parliament began in
3640, he shewed himself so active that, as Wood says, he
and Hampden and Pym, with one or two more, were
esteemed parliament-drivers, or swayers of all the parliaments in which they sat. In order to reconcile him to tne
court, he had the place of mastership of the court of wards
given him in May 1641 but this availed nothing; for,
when arms were taken up, he acted openly against the
king. Feb. 1642, his majesty published two proclamations,
commanding all the officers of the court of wards to.
attend him at Oxford; but lord Say refusing, was outlawed,
and attainted of treason. He was the last 'who held the
office of master of this court, which was abolished in 1646
by the parliament, on which occasion 10,000l. was granted
to him, with a part of the earl of Worcester’s estate, as a
compensation. In 1648 he opposed any personal treaty
with his majesty, yet the same year was one of the parliament-commissioners in the Isle of Wight, when they
treated with the king about peace: at which time he is
said to have urged against the king this passage out of
Hooker’s “Ecclesiastical Polity,
” that “though the king
was singulis major, yet he was universis minor
” that is,
greater than any individual, yet less than the whole community. After the king’s death, he joined with the Independents, as he had done before with the Presbyterians;
and became intimate with Oliver, who made him one of
his house of lords. “After the restoration of Charles II.
when he had acted,
” says Wood, “as a grand rebel for
his own ends almost twenty years, he was rewarded forsooth with the honourable offices of lord privy seal, and
lord chamberlain of the household; while others, that had
suffered in estate and body, and had been reduced to a bit
of bread for his majesty’s cause, had then little or nothing
given to relieve them; for which they were to thank a
hungry and great officer, who, to fill his own coffers, was
the occasion of the utter ruin of many.
” Wood relates
also, with some surprise, that this noble person, after he
had spent eighty years mostly in an unquiet and discontented condition, had been a grand promoter of the rebellion, and had in some respect been accessary to the
mupdler of Chailes I. died quietly in his bed, April 14, 1662,
and was buried with his ancestors at Broughton. On the
restoration he was certainly made lord privy seal, but nut,
as Wood says, chamberlain of the household. Whitlock
says, that “he was a person of great parts, wisdom, and
integrity:
” and Clarendon, though of a contrary, party,
does not deny him to have had these qualities, but only
supposes them to have been wrongly directed, and greatly
corrupted. He calls him, “a man of a close and reserved
nature, of great parts, and of the highest ambition; but
whose ambition would not be satisfied with offices and preferments, without some condescensions and alterations in
ecclesiastical matters. He had for many years been the
oracle of those who were puritans in the worst sense, and
had steered all their counsels and designs. He was a notorious enemy to the church, and to most of the eminent
churchmen, with some of whom he had particular contests.
He had always opposed and contradicted all acts of state,
and all taxes and impositions, which were not exactly legal,
&c. In a word, he had very great authority with all the
discontented party throughout the kingdom, and a good
reputation with many who were not discontented; who
believed him to be a wise man, and of a very useful temper
in an age of licence, and one who would still adhere to
the law.
” But from a comparison of every authority, a
recent writer observes, that he appears to have been far
from a virtuous or amiable man; he was poor, proud, and
discontented, and seems to have opposed the court, partly
at least with the view of extorting preferment from thence.
He had the most chimerical notions of civil liberty, and
upon the defeat of those projects in which he had so great
a share, retired with indignation to the isle of Lundy, on
the Devonshire coast, where he continued a voluntary prisoner until the protector’s death.
ey general; and, about three years after, lord keeper. Soon after he was advanced to the degree of a baron, by the title of Lord Finch of Daventry, in the county of Northampton,
As solicitor-general, he took an active part in the trials
of the regicides, and in April 1661, by the strong recommendation of lord Clarendon, he was chosen a member of
parliament for the university of Oxford; but, says Wood,
“he he did us no good, when we wanted his assistance for
taking off the tribute belonging to hearths.
” In 1665, after
the parliament then sitting at Oxford had been prorogued,
he was in full convocation created doctor of civil law; and,
the creation being over, the vice-chancellor, in t^ie presence of several parliament-men, stood up and spoke to
the public orator to do his office, who said, among other
things, “That the university wished they had more colleges to entertain the parliament men, and more chambers,
but by no means more chimnies;
” at which sir Heneage
was observed to change countenance, and draw a little
back. When the disgrace of lord Clarendon drew on, in
1667, and he was impeached in parliament for some supposed high crimes, sir Heneage, not forgetting his old
friend, appeared vigorously in his defence. In 1670, the
king appointed him attorney general; and, about three
years after, lord keeper. Soon after he was advanced to
the degree of a baron, by the title of Lord Finch of Daventry, in the county of Northampton, and upon the surrender of the great seal to his majesty, Dec. 19, 1675, he
received it immediately back again, with the title of Lord
High Chancellor of England.
1789, his lordship received the seals, and was raised to the dignity of the peerage by the title of baron Fitzgibbon of Lower Connello. To these dignities were added
, earl of Clare, and lord high chancellor of Ireland, the son of John Fitzgibbon, esq. an eminent lawyer at the Irish bar, who died in 1780, was born in 1749, educated at the universities of Dublin and Oxford, and afterwards entered upon the study of the law, of which profession he became the great ornament in his native country. In 1784 he was appointed attorney-general on the elevation of Mr. Scott to the bench, and on the decease of lord chancellor Lifford in 1789, his lordship received the seals, and was raised to the dignity of the peerage by the title of baron Fitzgibbon of Lower Connello. To these dignities were added the titles of viscount Clare, Dec. 20, 1793, and earl of Clare, June 10, 1795; and the English barony of Fitzgibbon of Sidbury, in Devonshire, Sept. 24, 1799. In 1802 his health appeared to be so seriously affected, that his physicians thought proper to recommend a more genial climate; and he had arrived at Dublin from his country seat at Mountshannon, designing to proceed immediately to Bath, or if his strength permitted to the south of France. The immediate cause of his death was the loss of a great quantity of blood, while at Mountshannon, which was followed by such extreme weakness, that upon his arrival at Dublin on the 25th, there was reason to fear he could not survive the ensuing day; on Wednesday these alarming appearances increased so much, that upon a consultation of physicians, he was given over. On being made acquainted with this melancholy truth, the firmness of his lordship’s mind did not forsake him. To prevent any impediment to the public business, he directed the new law officers to be called, and from his bed administered to them the necessary oaths. Soon after, his lordship fell into a lethargic slumber, and continued motionless until Thursday Jan. 28, 1802, when he ceased to breathe.
was distinguished by his family, an well as by his uncommon merit, being himself lord of Corse, and baron of O'Neil, in the shire of Aberdeen. He was liberally educated
, an eminent Scotsman, was born
in 1564, when the affairs of the church of Scotland were
in great confusion. He was distinguished by his family,
an well as by his uncommon merit, being himself lord of
Corse, and baron of O'Neil, in the shire of Aberdeen.
He was liberally educated both at Aberdeen and St. Andrew’s; and having a plentiful estate, a noble alliance,
and great credit in his country, he contributed much towards restoring order, by encouraging pious and peaceable
ministers, and by instructing the people in set conferences
as well as occasional discourses; especially the papists, who
would hear nothing from the pulpit. In this laudable manner he acted as a layman; and his abilities became so conspicuous, that he was often solicited to enter into the
ministry by eminent persons both in church and state. He
at length submitted to their judgment, and was ordained a
presbyter at the age of 28. He was admitted minister of
Keith, where he continued with the highest applause till
1618; and then, at the earnest desire of the clergy and
laity of the diocese of Aberdeen, as well as at the express
command of the king, was promoted to the bishopric of
Aberdeen, which he had held about seventeen years. “It
was,
” says Burnet, “with great difficulty, that king James
made him accept that dignity; and for several months he
refused it, having proposed to himself to live in a less
conspicuous state. It was soon seen, how much, he deserved to be a bishop; and that his refusal was not counterfeit, but the real effect of his humility. In all his behaviour he has displayed the character of a truly apostolic
man. He visited his diocese without pomp and noise, attended only by one servant, that he might more easily be
informed of what belonged to his care, &c.
”
baroness Holland; and on April 16, 1763, he himself was created a peer by the title of lord Holland, baron Holland, of Foxley, in the county of Wilts. In the latter part
, Lord Holland, the first nobleman of
that title, was the second and youngest son of the second
marriage, of sir Stephen Fox, and brother of Stephen
first earl of Ilchester. He was born in 1705, and was
chosen one of the members for Hendon, in Wiltshire, on
a vacancy, in March 1735, to that parliament which met
Jan. 23, 1734; and being constituted surveyor-general of
his majesty’s board of works, a writ was ordered June 17,
1737, and he was re-elected. In the next parliament,
summoned to meet June 25, 1741, he served for Windsor; and in 1743, being constituted one of the commissioners of the treasury, in the administration formed by
the Pelhams, a writ was issued Dec. 21st of that year, for
a new election, and he was re-chosen. In 1746, on the
restoration of the old cabinet, after the short administration
of earl Granville, he was appointed secretary at war, and
sworn one his majesty’s most honourable privy-council.
On tbis occasion, and until he was advanced to the peerage, he continued to represent Windsor in parliament.
In 1754, the death of Mr. Pelham produced a vacancy in
the treasury, which was filled up by his broker the duke
of Newcastle, who, though a nobleman of high honour,
unblemished integrity, and considerable abilities, yet was
of too jealous and unstable a temper to manage the house
of commons with equal address and activity, and to guide
the reins of government without a coadjutor at so arduous
a conjuncture. The seals of chancellor of the exchequer
and secretary of state, vacant by the death of Mr. Pelham, and by the promotion of the duke of Newcastle, became therefore the objects of contention. The persons
who now aspired to the management of the house of commons, were Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt (afterwards earl of Chatham) whose parliamentary abilities had for some time
divided the suffrages of the nation; who had so long fosterod reciprocal jealousy, and who now became public
rivals for power. Both these rival statesmen were younger
brothers, nearly of the same age; both were educated at
Eton, both distinguished for classical knowledge, both
commenced their parliamentary career at the same period,
and both raised themselves to eminence by their superior
talents, yet no two characters were ever more contrasted.
Mr. Fox inherited a strong and vigorous constitution, was
profuse and dissipated in his youth, and after squandering
his private patrimony, went abroad to extricate himself
from his embarrassment*. On his return he obtained a
seat in parliament, and warmly attached himself to sir
Robert Walpole, whom he idolized; and to whose patronage he was indebted for the place of surveyor-general
of the board of works. His marriage in 1744 with lady
Caroline Lennox, daughter of the duke of Richmond,
though at first displeasiug to the family, yet finally
strengthened his political connections. He was equally a
man of pleasure and business, formed for social and convivial
intercourse; of an unruffled temper, and frank disposition.
No statesman acquired more adherents, not merely from
political motives, but swayed by his agreeable manners,
and attached to him by personal friendship, which he fully
merited by his zeal in promoting their interests. He is
justly characterized, even by Lord Chesterfield, “as having
no fixed principles of religion or morality, and as too unwary in ridiculing and exposing them.
” As a parliamentary orator, he was occasionally hesitating and perplexed;
but, when warmed with his subject, he spoke with an animation and rapidity which appeared more striking from
his former hesitation. His speeches were not crowded
with flowers of rhetoric, or distinguished by brilliancy of
diction; but were replete with sterling sense and sound
argument. He was quick in reply, keen in repartee, and
skilful in discerning the temper of the house. He wrote
without effort or affectation; his public dispatches were
manly and perspicuous, and his private letters easy and
animated. Though of an ambitious spirit, he regarded
money as a principal object, and power only as a secondary concern. He was an excellent husband, a most indulgent father, a kind master, a courteous neighbour, and
one whose charities demonstrated that he possessed in
abundance the milk of human kindness. Such is said to
have been the character of lord Holland, which is here introduced as a prelude to some account of his more illustrious son. It may therefore suffice to add, that in 1756
he resigned the office of secretary at war to Mr. Pitt, and
in the following year was appointed paymaster of the forces,
which he retained until the commencement of the present
reign; his conduct in this office was attended with some
degree of obloquy; in one instance, at least, grossly
overcharged. For having accumulated a considerable fortune by the perquisites of office, and the interest of money
in hand, he was styled in one of the addresses of the city
of London, “the defaulter of unaccounted millions.
” On
May 6, 1762, his lady was created baroness Holland; and
on April 16, 1763, he himself was created a peer by the
title of lord Holland, baron Holland, of Foxley, in the
county of Wilts. In the latter part of his life he amused
himself by building, at a vast expence, a fantastic villa at
Kingsgate, near Margate, His lordship was also a lord
of the privy-council, and clerk of the Pells, in Ireland,
granted him for his own life and that of his two sons.
Lord Holland died at Holland-house, near Kensington,
July 1, 1774, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, leaving
three sons, Stephen, his successor; Charles James, the
subject of the next article; and Henry Edward, a general
in the army. Stephen, second lord Holland, survived his
father but a few months, dying Dec. 26, 1774, and was
succeeded by Henry Richard, the present peer.
, knt. lord chief baron of the exchequer, and an eminent law writer, was born Oct. 10,
, knt. lord chief baron of the
exchequer, and an eminent law writer, was born Oct. 10,
1674. Of his family, education, or early life, it has been
found impossible to recover any information* Either in
1714, or 1715, for even this circumstance is not clearly
ascertained, he was appointed one of the judges of the
court of king’s bench in Ireland, and within a year was
promoted to the dignity of chief baron of the exchequer in
that kingdom, which office he held till the beginning of
1722, when he was recalled. During his residence there,
he was engaged in an arduous and delicate contest concerning the ultimate judicial tribunal to which the inhabitants were to resort, which was disputed between the
English house of lords and the Irish house of lords; and
he appears to have been taken into custody by the order of
the latter, for having enforced an order of the English
house in the case of Annesley versus Sherlock, “contrary
to the final judgment and determination of that house.
”
It appears by the style of this last order of the Irish house
of lords, that he was a privy counsellor of that kingdom;
and it is noticed in his epitaph, that a tender was made to
him of the great seal, which he declining, returned to
England. Here he was first called to the degree of an
English serjeant at law, preparatory, according to ancient usage, to his taking his seat as one of the barons of
the exchequer, in which he succeeded sir James Montague
in June 1722. Having remained in that station for three
years, he was in Jan. 1724 appointed one of the commissioners of the great seal in the room of lord Macclesfield, his
colleagues being sir Joseph Jekyll and sir Robert Raymoqd.
The great seal continued in commission till June 1, 1725,
when sir Peter King was constituted lord keeper, and on the
same day sir Jeffray Gilbert became, on the appointment of
sir Rpbert Eyre to the chief-justiceship of the commonpleas, lord chief baron, which office he filled until his
death, Oct. 14, 1726, at an age which may be called early,
if compared with the multitude and extent of his writings,
which were all left by him in manuscript.
Sedg. wick, esq. Besides these there are in Mr. Hargrave’s collection two manuscripts of lord chief baron Gilbert, the one a “History of the Feud,” the other “A Treatise
In the only character extant of him, it is said that “he
filled up every station of life with the greatest integrity
and most untainted honour; and discharged the duties of
his profession to the general satisfaction of all that had any
opportunity of observing his conduct. Nor did his speedy
advancement from one post to another procure him the
envy even of the gentlemen of the long robe, who constantly paid him the regard that is due to the greatest
merit when he was alive, and by whom the loss of him is
now as generally regretted. The skill and experience he
had in the laws of fads country, and the uncommon penetration he discovered in the decision of such causes of
equity as came before him, were not more known in Westminster-hall, than his unwearied pursuit of mathematical
studies (when his affairs would permit), as well as his fine
taste of the more polite parts of learning, were to men of
the most exalted genius in either.
” He was interred in a
vault built for the purpose in the abbey church at Bath,
in which city he died. A monument was afterwards erected
to his memory in the Temple church, London. His works
are, 1. “Law of Devises, last Wills, and Revocations,
”
Lond. The
Law of Uses and Trusts,
” The Law and Practice of Ejectments,
” Reports of Cases in Equity and Exchequer,
” Law and Practice of Distresses
and Replevins,
” no date, reprinted History and Practice of Civil
Actions in the Common-pleas,
” Treatise of the Court of Exchequer,
” partly printed
in Treatise of
Tenures,
” third edition, Treatise of
Rents,
” 8vo. 10. “History and Practice of the high
court of Chancery,
” Cases in Law and Equity,
”
The Law of Executions,
” &c. Theory or Law of Evidence,
” Abridgment of Locke’s Essay on the Human
Understanding,
” and his argument in a case of homicide.
'The first volume was again reprinted in 1801, by J. Sedg.
wick, esq. Besides these there are in Mr. Hargrave’s collection two manuscripts of lord chief baron Gilbert, the
one a “History of the Feud,
” the other “A Treatise of
Remainders.
”
state, which he soon resigned for the office of first commissioner of the treasury, and was created baron Godolphin of Rialton in Cornwall. He had hitherto sat in the
, earl of Godolphin, and lord high treasurer of England, descended from a very ancient family in Cornwall, was the third son of Francis Godolphin, K. B. by Dorothy, second daughter of sir Henry Berkley, of Yarlington in Somersetshire. He had great natural abilities, was liberally educated, and inheriting the unshaken loyalty of his family, entered early into the service of Charles II. who after his restoration made him one of the grooms of his bed-chamber. In 1663, when attending his majesty to the university of Oxford, he had the degree of M. A. conferred upon him. In 1678, he was twice sent envoy to Holland, upon affairs of the greatest importance; and the next year was made one of the commissioners of the treasury, which trust he discharged with integrity, and being considered as a man of great abilities, was sworn of the privy council. In 1680 he openly declared for the bill of exclusion of the duke of York; and in the debate in council, whether the duke should return to Scotland before the parliament met, he joined in the advice for his going away; and though the rest of the council were of the contrary opinion, yet the king acquiesced in his and lord Sunderland’s reasons. In April 1664 he was appointed one of the secretaries of state, which he soon resigned for the office of first commissioner of the treasury, and was created baron Godolphin of Rialton in Cornwall. He had hitherto sat in the house of commons as representative for Helston and for St. Mawe’s.
achines still employed in agriculture and chemistry, c. in France. In connexion with the unfortunate baron de Marivetz, he published a learned and elaborate work entitled
, a learned French physician,
professor of mathematics, and a member of several learned
societies, was born at Paris March 7, 1722. His first public services in the literary world were the arrangement and
preparation for the press of M. la Condamiue’s memoir
on the measure of the first three degrees of the meridian
in the Southern hemisphere. In the Encyclopaedia he was
chosen for the department of the mechanic arts, and his
numerous articles are remarkable for accuracy and perspicuity. He had a great turn for mechanics, and invented
several machines still employed in agriculture and chemistry, c. in France. In connexion with the unfortunate
baron de Marivetz, he published a learned and elaborate
work entitled “Physique du monde,
” five volumes of
which he published during the life of his colleague, and
afterwards three others. The whole was to have been
comprized in 14 vols. 4to, but of these eight only have
appeared. In 1779 he published “Prospectus d'un traite
de geometric physique particuliere du royaume de France,
”
4to. He died at Paris in
y, at Stow; and December 31, he was created a peer of Great Britain, by the title of lord Lansdowne, baron of Bideford, in the county of Devon. In this promotion he was
SacheverelPs trial, which happened not long after,
brought on that remarkable change in the ministry in 1710,
when Mr. Granville^s friends came again into power. He
was elected for the borough of Helston, but, being returned
at the same time for the county of Cornwall, he chose to
represent the latter; and on September 29, he was declared secretary at war, in the room of Robert Walpole,
esq. afterwards the celebrated minister. He continued in
this office for some time, and discharged it with reputation;
and, towards the close of the next year, 1711, he married
the lady Mary, daughter of Edward Villiers, earl of Jersey,
at that time possessed of a considerable jointure, as widow
of Thomas Thynne, esq. He had just before succeeded to
the estate of the elder branch of his family, at Stow; and
December 31, he was created a peer of Great Britain, by
the title of lord Lansdowne, baron of Bideford, in the
county of Devon. In this promotion he was one of the
twelve peers who were all created at the same time; and so
numerous a creation, being unprecedented, gave much
offence, although but little in his case. His lordship was
now the next male-issue in that noble family, in which two
peerages, that of the earl of Bath, and that of lord Grenville of Potheridge, had been extinguished almost together: his personal merit was universally allowed; and as to
his political sentiments, those who thought him most mistaken, allowed him to be open, candid, and uniform. He
stood always high in the favour of queen Anne; and with
great reason, having upon every occasion testified the
greatest zeal for her government, and the most profound
respect for her person. For these reasons, in the succeeding
year, 1712, he was sworn of her majesty’s privy-council,
made controller of her household, about a year after advanced to the post of treasurer in. the same office; and to
his other honours, says Dr. Johnson, was added the dedication of Pope’s “Windsor Forest.
” His lordship continued in his office of treasurer to the queen, until her
death, when he kept company with his friends in falling a
sacrifice to party-violence, being removed from his treasurer’s place by George I. Oct. 11, 1714.
d of the French academy of sciences, was born in Languedoc, in 1712, and was the son of John de Gua, baron of Halves, whose property was swallowed up in the unfortunate
, a learned French abbé, prior of
St. George de Vigou, a member of the royal society of
London (1742) and of the French academy of sciences, was
born in Languedoc, in 1712, and was the son of John de
Gua, baron of Halves, whose property was swallowed up
in the unfortunate Missisippi Scheme. He was educated
for the church, but appears to have had less ambition for
promotion in that, than to render himself distinguished for
scientific knowledge. When admitted into the academy
of sciences in 1741, he gave a specimen of his skill in
mathematics by publishing “Usages de l'analyse de Descartes,
” and was the author of other papers on mathematical subjects in the Memoirs of the Academy, in one of
which he endeavours to vindicate Descartes against our
Wallis, who, in the abbe’s opinion, wrote his history of
algebra for no other purpose than to bestow upon his coun tryman Hariot, the discoveries that belong to Viete and
Descartes. (See Hariot.) The abbe* was, however, chiefly
distinguished in France for having first given the plan of
the Encyclopedic, although he wrote very little in it. In
1764 he presented a plan for exploring the mines of Languedoc, and was the author of some other projects whick
bad little success. His necessities sometimes drove him to
the business of translating for the booksellers. Amonothese publications we find bishop Berkeley’s “Hylas and
Philonous,
” “Locke’s Essay,
” Anson’s Voyage, and Decker
on trade. He died at Paris, June 2, 1735, leaving the
character of a man of considerable learning and industry,
but not very happy in his temper, and often pursuing
trifling difficulties, which he made a great merit in surmounting, such as complicated anagrams; and on one occasion, in consequence of a sort of challenge, he perplexed
himself in writing a very long poem, in which words only
of one syllable were admitted.
oast of Spain: these successes were followed by others still more important. In 1696 he fell in with baron de Wassenaer, who with three ships was escorting a fleet of
, a French naval officer,
born at St. Malo in 1673, was the son of a merchant who
had been French consul at Malaga, and who commanded
armed vessels, either for war or trade, as circumstances
required. Young Du Guay, led by his example, went on
board a privateer, and performed a number of heroic actions. In 1691, when he was only in his eighteenth year,
he had the command of an armed sloop, carrying fourteen
guns, with which he obtained much success on the coast of
Ireland. Three years after he entered the river of Limerick, and carried off several vessels but falling in with four
English ships, he was obliged to yield, and was taken a
prisoner into Plymouth. In confinement he won the aifootions of a female, who enabled him to make his escape, and
in a short time he appeared again on the coast of England,
where he captured some prizes. In 1695 he took three
rich vessels on the Irish coast, and two Dutch ships on th
coast of Spain: these successes were followed by others
still more important. In 1696 he fell in with baron de
Wassenaer, who with three ships was escorting a fleet of
merchant-men, and took the baron with a part of his convoy. He presented, in person, his prisoner to the king,
and thereupon was removed to the royal navy, and appointed to the command of a frigate. In a few years afterwards he was made captain of a fifty-four gun ship, with
which, it is said, he took an English man-of-war of seventytwo gnus. So brilliant was his career of success, that in
1709 he was rewarded with letters of noblesse, the preamble to which records his having captured more than 300
merchant ships, and 20 ships of war. The most important
f all his exploits was the taking of Rio Janeiro in 1711,
which occasioned a loss to the Portuguese of at least a million sterling. A pension was now forced on him, he having in 1707 refused one that was then offered, requesting
that it might be granted to his second captain, whose thigh
had been shot off. “I,
” said the gallant officer, “am
sufficiently rewarded, if I obtain the advancement of my
friends. 7 ' In 1728 he was made commander of the order
of St. Louis, and lieutenant-general, and in 1731 went at
the head of a squadron to curb the insolence of Algiers
and Tunis, and promote a good understanding between
France and Tripoli. After many other important services,
he died at Paris Sept. 27, 1736, leaving
” Memoirs,"
partly written by his own hand, and partly by a nephew,
which were printed in one vol. 4to. 1740.
of Amsterdam soon after offered him a considerable sum to digest and revise Blondel’s “Remarks upon Baron ius’s Annals,” and gave him hopes of a professorship; but receiving
His learned friends all this while were labouring to serve
him. Grttviiis tried to get him a place at Duisbnrg, but
could not succeed. The magistrates of Amsterdam soon
after offered him a considerable sum to digest and revise
Blondel’s “Remarks upon Baron ius’s Annals,
” and gave
him hopes of a professorship; but receiving a letter from
Gronovius, which proposed to him a better offer, he declined the undertaking. Gronovius proposed to him the
making the tour of France, Italy, and other countries of
Europe, in quality of tutor to a rich young gentleman,
whose name was Samuel Schas; and this proposal he
readily embraced, though he had another letter from Alexander Moms, with the offer of a pension of Saumur, and a
lodging in the house of the celebrated professor Amyrault,
if he would read lectures upon ancient history to some
French noblemen.
ipt three folio volumes of the antiquities of Nismes, with drawings, which were sold by his heirs to baron HohendorfF, and are said to be now in the imperial library at
, a French antiquary, and counsellor of the presidial court of Nismes, was born in that
city in 1600, of protestant parents, and early acquired a
reputation for learning and probity. The court frequently
employed him in affairs of importance, in all which he acquitted himself with ability. Henry Frederic of Nassau,
prince of Orange, having appointed him counsellor of the
parliament of that city, Louis XIV. permitted him to retain with it his office in the presidial of Nismes, one of the
most considerable of the kind in that kingdom. He died
at Nismes, in 1680. His antiquarian pursuits produced a
dissertation entitled, 1. “Explicatio duorum vetustorum
numismatum Nemausensium ex sere,
” Thesaurus.
” 2.
“Recherches historiques et chronologiques, concernant
l'etablissement et la suite de seuechaux de Beaucaire et
de Nimes,
”
ducted, however, in concert with the English malcontents and refugees, by count Gyllenborg at London baron Goertz, the Swedish envoy, at the Hague, and baron Sparre, at
, a Swedish states. man and a man of learning, was descended of an ancient and respectable family, one of the members of which was created a count in the reign of Charles XII. The display of count Gyllenborg 7 s political fame was first made at London, where he resided for several years in quality of ambassador from the court of Stockholm, and where his conduct brought upon him a very singular misfortune. In 1716, Charles XII. irritated against George I. for his purchasing of the king of Denmark the duchies of Bremen and Verdeii (conquered from the Swedish monarch) formed a project of invading Scotland from Gottenburg, with 16,000 men, and placing the Pretender on the throne of Great Britain. After the very recent defeat of a plan of this kind, this new one may appear somewhat romantic. It was conducted, however, in concert with the English malcontents and refugees, by count Gyllenborg at London baron Goertz, the Swedish envoy, at the Hague, and baron Sparre, at Paris. But the English ministry being apprized of it, intercepted, copied, and then forwarded their correspondence; and just as the plot was ripe for execution (the Habeas Corpus act having been purposely suspended) caused the Swedish ambassador to be arrested in London, and published in their own justification, all the intercepted letters in French and English. Gyllenborg was first sent to a house in the country, where he was strictly guarded, and was afterwards conveyed to a sea-port, and dismissed the kingdom, in July 1717. As soon as he arrived at Stockholm, the British ambassador was likewise liberated from confinement, as the Swedish court had thoyght proper to use reprisals.
Gyllenborg afterwards waited on Charles XII. and was appointed, with baron Goertz, minister-plenipotentiary at the conferences of pacification
Gyllenborg afterwards waited on Charles XII. and was
appointed, with baron Goertz, minister-plenipotentiary at
the conferences of pacification which were opened with
the court of Russia in the isle of Aland, but which terminated without success. In 1719 he was raised to the dignity of high chancellor of Sweden. In the beginning of
the following year he also acted an important part in the
negociations respecting the accession of Frederick I. to the
throne, and gained constantly greater influence during the
reign of this monarch, who appointed him counsellor of
the Swedish empire, and chancellor of the university of
Lund; and in 1739, when a great change took place in the
senate and ministry, in which he took an active part, he
was made president of chancery, minister for the foreign
and home departments, and soon after chancellor of tin*
university of Upsal. He died Dec. 14, 1746, with a high
character for political talent, general learning, and ambition to promote learning and science in his country. He
left to the university of Upsal, his valuable cabinet of natural history, remarkable for a great number of amphibious
productions and corals, which Linnæus has described under
the title “Amphibia Gyllenborgiana.
” He appears also
to have been a man of a religious turn of mind, from his
translating into the Swedish language Sherlock’s “Discourse on Death,
” but which he could not get licensed,
as the Swedish clergy pretended to find some things in it
contrary to sound doctrine. He procured it, therefore, to
be printed in Holland, and distributed the whole edition
for the benefit of his countrymen. He als* translated some
English comedies, with alterations suitable to the genius
of the Swedes, which were acted with applause at Stockholm. He had a concern in a periodical paper called the
“Argus,
” printed at Stockholm, but which, owing to the
editor meddling imprudently with politics, appears to have
been discountenanced. The count married an English
lady, second daughter of John Wright, esq. attorney-general of Jamaica, and widow of Elias Deritt, esq. deputy o'f
the great wardrobe under the duke of Montague, by whom
he had no issue; the counts of his name in Sweden are his
collateral relations. His lady’s daughter by Mr. Deritt,
accompanying her mother to Sweden, was created countess
Gyllenborg, and afterwards married Baron Sparre, on
whose dqath she returned to England, where she died in
1766, and her daughter by the Baron died at Thirske in
Yorkshire in 1778.
his native place, he settled at the Hague, where he practised with success for nearly twenty years. Baron Van Swieten being acquainted with the extent of his talents,
, professor of medicine in the university of Vienna, was born at Leyden in 1704, and educated under the celebrated Boerhaave. After having received the degree of M. D. at his native place, he settled
at the Hague, where he practised with success for nearly
twenty years. Baron Van Swieten being acquainted with
the extent of his talents, invited him to remove to Vienna,
with the view of uniting with him in the proposed plan of
reform, which he had prevailed on the empress to support,
in the medical faculty of that capital. De Haen accordingly repaired to that city in 1754; and his merits were
found fully equal to the expectations that had been formed
of them. At the express command of Maria Theresa, he
undertook a system of clinical education, in the hospital
which he superintended, as the most advantageous method
of forming good physicians: the result of this duty was the
collection of a great number of valuable observations, which
were published in the successive volumes of the work entitled “Ratio Medendi in Nosocomio Practico,
” Vienna,
About this time (1729), he came to London with the Danish ambassador, baron Stoelenthal, and here he composed some of his most beautiful
About this time (1729), he came to London with the
Danish ambassador, baron Stoelenthal, and here he composed some of his most beautiful odes, and his best songs.
In 1733 he was appointed secretary of the English factory
at Hamburgh, which united him with our countrymen,
whom he always esteemed. In 1734 he married the
daughter of an English taylor, of the name of Butler, a
step which does not seem to have added to his happiness.
In 1738 he published the first volume of his “Fables,
” an
original work, which contributed much to his reputation. In
1740, he composed the beautiful satire of “The Philosopher;
” in Sage;
” in
Happiness.
” This
last piece is equally favourable to his opinions and his
poetical talents. His modest muse does not succeed in
sublime descriptions, or the dithirambic flights: it has
more of the elegance that pleases, than the splendour that
dazzles; more Socratic wisdom, than oriental sublimity.
His Moral Poems are like the Sermones of Horace. His
“Considerations on some of the Attributes of God
” contains the sublimest passages of Scripture “The Prattler
”
is a dialogue full of familiar descriptions of human life
*/ The Letter to a Friend“is an instructive commentary
on the
” Nil Adrnirari" of Horace. Various other pieces
followed; but, in 1750, he first excited the gaiety of his
nation, by mixing sports and graces with the solemn poetry
of the Germans. His odes and songs are highly pleasing.
Nature, sprightliness, simplicity, enthusiasm, and harmony,
unite to render them seductive: for spirit and elegance,
he may be said to resemble our own Prior.
serjeant-at-law; and upon settling the courts in Westminster-hall, constituted him in November chief baron of the exchequer. When chancellor Clarendon delivered him his
When Cromwell died, he not only excused himself from
accepting the mourning that was sent him, but also refused
the new commission offered him by Richard; alleging,
that “he could act no longer under such authority.
” He
did not sit in Cromwell’s second parliament in 1655;but
in Richard’s, which met in January 1658-9, he was one^of
the burgesses for the university of Oxford. In the healing
parliament in 1660, which recalled Charles II, he was
elected one of the knights for the county of Gloucester;
and moved, that a committee might be appointed to look
into the propositions that had been made, and the concessions that had been offered by Charles I. during the late
war, that thence such propositions might be digested as
they should think fit to be sent over to the king at Breda.
The king upon his return recalled him in June by writ, to
the degree of serjeant-at-law; and upon settling the courts
in Westminster-hall, constituted him in November chief
baron of the exchequer. When chancellor Clarendon delivered him his commission, he told him that “if the king
could have found out an honester and fitter man for that
employment, he would not have advanced him to it; and
that he had therefore preferred him, because he knew none
that deserved it so well.
” As he knew it was usual for
persons in his present station to be knighted, he endeavoured to avoid that honour, by declining for a considerable
time all opportunities of waiting on the king; which Clarendon observing, sent for him upon business one day,
when the king was at his house, and told his majesty,
“there was his modest chief-baron,' 1 on which he was unexpectedly knighted. He continued eleven years in this
place, and very much raised the reputation and practice
of the court by his impartial administration of justice, and
by his cautious diligence, and great exactness in trials.
This gave occasion to the only complaint that was made
of him,
” that he did not dispatch matters quick enough;"
but on the other hand his deliberation had this good effect,
that causes tried before him were seldom if ever tried
again.
elf could bestow, but procured him also letters of nobility from the emperor. The title, however, of baron de Haller, he never assumed, although it was often bestowed
But the labours of Dr. Haller during his residence at Gottingen, were by no means confined to any one department of science. He was not more anxious to be an improver himself, than to instigate others to similar pursuits. To him, the anatomical theatre, the school of midwifery, the chirurgical society, and the royal academy of sciences at Gottingen, owe their origin. Such distinguished merit could not fail to meet with a suitable reward from the sovereign under whose protection he then taught. The king of Great Britain not only honoured him with every mark of attention which he himself could bestow, but procured him also letters of nobility from the emperor. The title, however, of baron de Haller, he never assumed, although it was often bestowed on him. On the death of Dillenius he had an offer of the professorship of botany at Oxford the states of Holland invited him to the chair of the younger Albinus and the king of Prussia was anxious that he should be the successor of Maupertuis at Berlin. Marshal Keith wrote to him in the name of his sovereign, offering him the chancellorship of the university of Halle, vacant by the death of the celebrated Wolff. Count Orlowr invited him to Russia, in the name of his mistress, the empress, offering him a distinguished place at St. Petersburgh. The king of Sweden conferred on him an unsolicited honour, by raising him to the rank of knighthood, of the order of the polar star; and the late Joseph II. emperor of Germany, honoured him with a personal visit.
him in Italy, and who afterwards did him great service when he came to Kngland for the second time, baron Kilmansegge, who now introduced him at court, and so well recommended
He now returned to his native country, but could not prevail on himself to settle while there was any musical court which he had not seen. He accordingly visited Hanover, where he met with Steffani, with whom he had been acquainted at Venice; and who was then master of the chapel to George I. when elector of Hanover. There also was a nobleman who had taken notice of him in Italy, and who afterwards did him great service when he came to Kngland for the second time, baron Kilmansegge, who now introduced him at court, and so well recommended him to his electoral highness, that he immediately offered him a pension of 1500 crowns per annum, as an inducement to stay. Handel excused his not accepting this high favour, because he had promised the court of the elector palatine, and had also thoughts of going to England, whither he had received strong invitations from the duke of Manchester. On this he obtained leave to be absent for a twelvemonth or more at a time, and to go whithersoever he pleased; and on these conditions he thankfully accepted the pension.
had deserved at his hands, he durst not appear at court. It happened, however, that his noble friend baron Kilmansegge was here; and he, with others of the nobility, contrived
After paying a visit to his mother, who was now extremely old and blind, and to his old master Zackau, he
set out for Dusseldorp. The elector was highly pleased
with him, and at parting made him a present of a fine set
of wrought plate for a dessert. From Dusseldorp he made
the best of his way through Holland; and embarking for
England, he arrived at London in the winter of 1710,
where he was soon introduced at court, and honoured with
marks of the queen’s favour. Many of the nobility were
impatient for an opera from him on which he composed
“Rinaldo,
” which succeeded so wonderfully, that his
engagements at Hanover became the subject of much
concern. He returned however thither in about a twelvemonth; for besides his pension, Steffani had resigned to
him the mastership of the chapel; but in 17 12 he obtained
leave of the elector to visit England again, on condition
that he returned within a reasonable time. The poor state
of music here, and the wretched proceedings at the Haymarket, made the nobility desirous that he might be employed in composing for the theatre. To their applications the queen added her own authority; and as an encouragement, settled on him for life a pension of 20O/,
per annum. All this induced Handel to forget his obligations to Hanover; so that when George I. came over at
the death of the queen, in 1714, conscious how ill he had
deserved at his hands, he durst not appear at court. It
happened, however, that his noble friend baron Kilmansegge was here; and he, with others of the nobility, contrived the following scheme for reinstating him in his majesty’s favour. The king was persuaded to form a party
on the water; and Handel was desired to prepare some
music for that occasion. This, which has since been so
justly celebrated under the title of the “Water Music,
”
was performed and conducted by himself, unknown to his
majesty, whose pleasure on hearing it was equal to hig
surprize. Upon his inquiring whose it was, the baron
produced the delinquent, and presented him to his majesty, as one that was too conscious of his fault to attempt
an excuse for it. Thus Handel was restored to favour,
and his music honoured with the highest approbation; and
as a token of it, the king was pleased* to add a pension foe
life of 200l. a year to that which queen Anne had before
given him. Some years after, when he was employed to
teach the young princesses, another pension was added to
the former by her late majesty.
, third and last baron of that name and family, descended from John, younger brother
, third and last baron
of that name and family, descended from John, younger
brother to sir Nicholas Hare, baronet, master of the rolls,
and privy-counsellor to Henry VIII. (both sons to Nicholas Hare of Homersfield, in the county of Suffolk, the elder branch being seated at Stow Bardolph, in Norfolk)
was born at Blechingley, in Surrey, May 10, 1693; educated at Enfield, under Dr. Uvedale, who had also the
honour of educating, among many other eminent men, the
late earl of Huntingdon, and sir Jeremy Sambrooke, bart.
After the death of his grandfather, Hugh lord Colerane,
in 1708, he succeeded to the title, and was admitted a
gentleman commoner of Corpus Christi college, Oxford,
under the tuition of Dr. Rogers, who afterwards married
Lydia, one of his lordship’s sisters . A lyric poem by
lord Colerane appeared in the “Academiae Oxoniensis
Comitia Philologica, 1713,
” and in the “Musaj Anglicanae,
” vol. III. p. 303, under the title of “Musaruin
oblatio ad reginam.
” Dr. Basil Kennet, who succeeded
Dr. Turner in the presidency of that society, inscribed
to his lordship an epistolary poem on his predecessor’s
death. He was a great proficient in the learned languages, particularly the Greek; and eminently versed
in history, both civil and ecclesiastical. He was grand
master of the society of free-masons, and had made the
tour of Italy three times; the second time with Dr.
Con yers Middle ton, about 1723, in which he made a noble collection of prints and drawings of all the antiquities,
buildings, and pictures in Italy; given after his decease
to Corpus Christi college. The esteem in which he was
held by the literati procured him admittance into the Republica Literaria di Arcadia, and the particular intimacy
of the marquis Scipio Maffei; who afterwards visited him
at his ancient manor and seat at Tottenham, in Middlesex.
His lordship died at Bath, Aug. 4, 1749; and was buried
in the family vault at Tottenham, built, with the vestrv,
by his grandfather. His very valuable collection of prints
relative to English antiquities, with a portrait of him when
a young man, by Richardson, were obtained after his
death by Mr. Henry Baker for the Society of Antiquaries.
His books were sold to T. Osborne, who detained some of
the family papers, which were with difficulty recovered
from him. The pictures, bronzes, marble, tables, urns,
vases, and other antiquities, were sold by auction, March
13 and 14, 1754, for 904l. 135. 6d. The coins, it is supposed, were disposed of privately. His lordship married
in 1717, Anne, only daughter of John Hanger, esq. by
whom he had a fortune of 100,000l. but she, having unaccountably left him within three years, and resisted every
effort of his to recall her, after twenty more years he
formed a connexion with a foreign lady, Miss Duplessis, by
whom he had a natural daughter, Henrietta Rosa Pevegrina, born in Italy, and afterwards naturalized. She was
married in 1764 to James Townsend, esq. alderman of
Bishopsgate ward, who in her right -enjoyed the extensive manor of Tottenham, and repaired the family seat,
commonly called Bruce-castle, from having anciently belonged to theBruces earls of Huntingdon, which had been
considerably modernized in the close of the seventeenth
century. It is now the property of William Curtis, esq.
son to sir William Curtis, bart.
ent services, was pleased to advance him to the peerage of Great Britain, by the style and titles of baron Harley of Wigmore, in the county of Hereford, earl of Oxford,
In 1711, queen Anne, to reward his many eminent services, was pleased to advance him to the peerage of Great Britain, by the style and titles of baron Harley of Wigmore, in the county of Hereford, earl of Oxford, and earl Mortimer, with remainder, for want of issue male of his own body, to the heirs male of sir Robert Harley, knight of the Bath, his grandfather. May 29, 1711, he was appointed lord high treasurer of Great Britain; and August 15th following, at a general court of the South-sea company he was chosen their governor, as he had been their founder and chief regulator. October 26, 1712, he was elected a knight companion of the most noble order of the garter. July 27, 1714, he resigned his staff of lord high treasurer of Great Britain, at Kensington, into the queen’s hand, she dying upon the 1st of August following. June 10, 1715, he was impeached by the House of commons of high-treason, and high crimes and misdemeanors; and on July the 16th was committed to the Tower by the House of lords, where he suffered confinement till July 1, 1717, and then, after a public trial, was acquitted by his peers. He died in the 64th year of his age, May 21, 1724, after having been twice married.
mbridge he became domestic chaplain to sir William Brooke, knt. lord-warden of the Cinque Ports, and baron of Cobham in Kent, who is supposed to have given him the living
, an English historian, was a
native of London, and educated at Westminster school,
under the celebrated Alexander Nowell. He afterwards
studied at both universities, but in what colleges seems
doubtful. Wood suspects Christ Church for Oxford, and
Baker mentions one of this name a bachelor of arts of St.
John’s, Cambridge; but the date, 1571, is obviously too
late for our Harrison. He says himself that both universities “are so clear to him that he cannot readily tell to
which of them he owes most good will.
” After leaving
Cambridge he became domestic chaplain to sir William
Brooke, knt. lord-warden of the Cinque Ports, and baron
of Cobham in Kent, who is supposed to have given him the
living of Radwinter, in Essex, in Feb. 1558, which he held
until his death in the end of 1592 or beginning of 1593.
He wrote a “Historical Description of the Island of Britain,
” published in Holiingshed’s Chronicles; and “A
Chronology
” mentioned by Hollingshed. He translated
also “The Description of Scotland,
” from Hector Boethius,^ which is prefixed to Hollingshed’s “Hist, of Scotland.
” Wood says he obtained a canonry of Windsor, and
was buried there, leaving several children by his wife Manan, daughter of Will. Isebrand, ofAnderne, in Picardy.
His turn appears to have been more for compiling ancient
history than topography; for in his dedication to lord
Cobham he says, “Indeed I must needs confess, that un1 now of late, except it were from the parish where I
dwell unto your honour in Kent, or out of London, where
I was born, unto Oxford and Cambridge, where I have
been brought up, I have never travelled forty miles forth
right and at one journey in all my life.
”
in, and first lord of the admiralty; and, in 1776, he was made a peer of England, under the title of Baron Hawke, of Towton, in the county of York. His lordship married
, an eminent naval
officer, was the son of Edward Hawke, esq. barrister at law,
by Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Bladen, esq. He was
from his youth brought up to the sea, and passed through
the inferior stations till, in 1713—4, he was appointed captain
of the Wolf. His intrepidity and conduct were first of all
distinguished in the memorable engagement with the combined fleets of France and Spain on Toulon, in 1744, when
the English fleet was commanded by the admirals Matthews, Lestock, and Rowley. If all the English ships had
done their duty on that day as well as the Berwick, which
captain Hawke commanded, the honour and discipline of
the navy would not have been so tarnished. He compelled
the Pader, a Spanish vessel of 60 guns, to strike; and, to
succour the Princessa and Somerset, broke the line without orders, for which act of bravery he lost his commission, but was honourably restored to his rank by the king.
In 1747 he was appointed rear-admiral of the 'white; and
on the 14th of October, in the same year, fell in with a
large French fleet, bound to the West Indies, convoyed
by nine men of war, of which he captured seven. This
was a glorious day for England, and the event taught British commanders to despise the old prejudice of staying
for a line of battle. “Perceiving,
” says the gallant admiral in his letters to the Admiralty, “that we lost time in
forming our line, I made the signal for the whole squadron
to chase, and when within a proper distance to engage.
”
On October the 31st, admiral Hawke arrived at Portsmouth
with his prizes, and as a reward of his bravery, he was
soon afterwards made knight of the bath. In 1748 he was
made vice-admiral of the blue, and elected an elder brother of the Trinity-house; in 1755 he was appointed viceadmiral of the white, and in 1757 commanded the squadron which was sent to co-operate with sir John Mordaunt
in the expedition against Rochfort. In 1759, sir Edward
commanded the grand fleet opposed to that of the French
equipped at Brest, and intended to invade these kingdoms.
He accordingly sailed from Portsmouth, and, arriving off
Brest, so stationed his ships that the French fleet did not
dare to come out, and had the mortification of beholding
their coast insulted, and their merchantmen taken. The
admiral, however, being by a strong westerly wind blown
from his station, the French seized this opportunity, and
steered for Quiberon-bay, where a small English squadron
lay under the command of commodore Duff. Sir Edward
Hawke immediately went in pursuit of them, and on the
20th of November came up with them off Belleisle. The
wind blew exceedingly hard at the time, nevertheless the
French were engaged, and totally defeated, nor was the
navy of France able to undertake any thing of consequence
during the remainder of the war. This service, owing to
the nature of the coast, was peculiarly hazardous; but when
the pilot represented the danger, our gallant admiral only
replied, “You have done your duty in pointing out the
difficulties; you are now to comply with my order, and
lay me along the Soleil Royal.
” For these and similar
services, the king settled a pension of 2000l. per annum
on sif Edward and his two sons, or the survivor of them;
he also received the thanks of the house of commons, and
the freedom of the city of Cork in a gold box. In 1765
he was appointed vice-admiral of Great Britain, and first
lord of the admiralty; and, in 1776, he was made a peer
of England, under the title of Baron Hawke, of Towton, in
the county of York. His lordship married Catharine the
daughter of Walter Brooke, of Burton-hall, in Yorkshire,
esq. by whom he had four children. He was one of the
greatest characters that ever adorned the British navy; but
most of all remarkable for the daring courage which induced him on many occasions to disregard those forms of
conducting or sustaining an attack, which the rules and
ceremonies of service had before considered as indispensable. He died at his seat at Shepperton in Middlesex,
October 14, 1781.