y to Amsterdam, where he died in 1696. He published some sermons and religious tracts in German, and in Latin the lives of Grotius and Arminius; the latter was republished
, eldest son of the preceding, was born in 1653, at Nieukoop, educated at Hoorn and Amsterdam, and studied philosophy and divinity under Philip Limborch. After passing the usual examinations, he was licensed, in 1673, to the office of the ministry at Schoonhoven, where he remained tiiree years. He then removed to the Arminian congregation at Hoorn; to Alomar, in 1631; Rotterdam, in 1683; and finally to Amsterdam, where he died in 1696. He published some sermons and religious tracts in German, and in Latin the lives of Grotius and Arminius; the latter was republished at Brunswick, with a preface and notes by Mosheim, in 1725, 8vo.
, in Latin Braunius, Bruinus, or Brunus, was archdeacon of Dortmund,
, in Latin Braunius, Bruinus, or Brunus, was
archdeacon of Dortmund, and dean of Notre
Dame at Cologne, and flourished about the beginning of
the seventeenth century. He wrote a “Latin oration
against the Fornicating Priests,
” Civitates orbis terrarum
in aes incisse et excusce, et descriptione topographica, morali, politica, illustrate,
” 6 vols. large fol. with five coloured plates by Hohenberg and Hoeft'nagel, 1572, &c.
reprinted in 5 vols. 1612. He died in 1622.
in the schools, with a treatise “De eo quod nimium est in studio grammatico,” and a system of logic in Latin and German, which soon took the place of that ofWendelin.
, whom Meister calls the
greatest reformer of the Swiss schools which the last century produced, was born at Zurich March 1, 1701, and
after going through a course of academical instruction, was
admitted into orders in 1720. The space which usually
intervenes between the ordination of young ministers and
their establishment in a church, he employed principally
in the study of the ancient authors, familiarizing himself
with their language and sentiments, an employment which,
like Zuinglius, he did not think unworthy of the attention
of an ecclesiastic. Persius was his favourite poet, whom,
he studied so critically as to furnish the president Bouhier
with some happy elucidations, which the latter adopted,
Breitinguer, however, was not merely a verbal critic, and
considered such criticism as useful only in administering
to higher pursuits in philosophy and the belles-lettres.
The “Bibliotheque Helvetique
” which he and Bodmer
wrote, shews how criticism and philosophy may mutually
assist each other. He formed an intimacy with Bodmer
in early life, (see Bodmer), and both began their career
as reformers of the language and taste of their country.
Breitinguer found a liberal patron in the burgomaster
Escher, who himself proved that the study of the Greek
language is a powerful counterpoise to a bad taste, and
was the person who encouraged Breitinguer principally to
produce a new edition of the Septuagint translation. In
1731 he was chosen professor of Hebrew, and in ordeir to
facilitate the study of that language to his pupils, he wrote
his treatise on the Hebrew idioms. Some time after he
was appointed vice-professor of logic and rhetoric, and
from that time began the reformation which he thought
much wanted in the schools, with a treatise “De eo quod
nimium est in studio grammatico,
” and a system of logic
in Latin and German, which soon took the place of that
ofWendelin. He contributed also various papers to the
“Tempe Helvetica,
” and the “Musaeum Helveticum,
”
and at the request of the cardinal Quirini drew up an account of a ms. of the Greek psalms which was found in
the canons’ library. He published also the “Critical art
of Poetry.
” His biographer bestows great praise on all
those works, and different as the subjects are, assures us
that he treated each as if it had been the exclusive object
of his attention. His literary acquaintance was also very
extensive, and he numbered among his correspondents the
cardinals Passionei and Quirini, the president Bouhier,
the abbe“Gerbert de St. Blaise, with Iselin, Burmann,
Crusius, le Maitre, Vernet, Semler, Ernesti, &c. But he
chiefly excelled as a teacher of youth, and especially of
those intended for the church, having introduced two regulations, the benefit of which his country amply acknowledges. The one was that young divines should preach,
in turn, twice a week, on which occasion the sermon was
criticised by the whole body of students, aided also by
Breitinguer’s remarks. The other respects an institution
or society of Ascetics, as they were called. This was composed of the clergy, who assembled at stated hours, to
discuss subjects relative to their profession, and compose
sermons, prayers, hymns, &c. Some of them also were
employed in visiting the hospitals, others qualified for
schoolmasters, and all were to assist the poor with advice
or pecuniary aid. Breitinguer also prepared a catechism
for the young, on an improved plan, and a little before
his death, published
” Orationes Carolina? d'Hottinguer,“dedicated to Semlin. He continued his active exertions
almost to the last hour of his life, being present at an ecclesiastical council, on Dec. 13, 1776, but on his return
was seized with an apoplexy, of which he died the following day. Breitinguer had as much learning as Bodmer,
though not as much natural fire; and was an excellent
critic. To the works already noticed, we may add his
” Diatribe historico-Jiteraria in versus obscurissimos a
Persio Satir. I citatos," 1740, 8vo. His edition of the
Septuagint, in 4 vols. 4to, wa.t published at Zurich, (TigUnim,) 1730. The text is accurately compiled from the
Oxford edition of Grabe: to which are added at the bottom of each page the various readings of the Codex Vaticanus. Nothing is altered except a few typographical
errors, and some emendations of Grabe, which did not
coincide with the editor’s opinion. The clearness of the
type and beauty of the paper recommend it to the reader’s
attention; and the care, accuracy, and erudition displayed
throughout the work, may entitle it to bear, away the palm
even from Grabe’s edition. Such at least is the opinion of
Masch.
compared them with the originals, and printed that book from the author’s manuscript, in 1625, fol. in Latin. It is a complete refutation of the old story of the Nag’s
The only service to the public which sir N. Brent did,
appears to have been in procuring the history of the council of Trent. As father Paul and father Fulgentio, the
two joint authors, composed it, they privately gave a copy
to Brent, who sent it over weekly to the archbishop Abbot
in the original Italian; and it came to his hands under five
or six covers to other persons, for the greater security.
When Mr. Brent had sent it all over, he came back himself, and translated it out of Italian into English and Latin. The original Italian was printed first at London in
1619, and dedicated to king James I. by D. Antonio de
Dominis, archbishop of Spalatro, who had been instrumental in procuring that history. The English translation
was published in 1619, folio. A new edition was printed
in 1640; and another in 1676, with other pieces of father
Paul at the end. His other publication would have done
him equal credit, had he adhered to his principles. He
reviewed Mr. Francis Mason’s “Vindication of the Church
of England, concerning the Consecration and Ordination
of the Bishops, &c.
” examined the quotations, compared
them with the originals, and printed that book from the
author’s manuscript, in 1625, fol. in Latin. It is a complete refutation of the old story of the Nag’s head ordination.
e Protestant’s Apology for the Roman Church, 4to, 1604, 1608, 1615. 2.” The Liturgy of the Mass, &c.“ in Latin, Cologn, 1620, 4to. 3.” St. Augustin’s Religion; giving
, perhaps worth mentioning here,
as the assumed name of one James Anderton, of Lostock
in Lancashire, in the seventeenth century, who published
under it, 1. “The Protestant’s Apology for the Roman
Church, 4to, 1604, 1608, 1615. 2.
” The Liturgy of the
Mass, &c.“in Latin, Cologn, 1620, 4to. 3.
” St. Augustin’s Religion; giving an account of his opinion in matters
of controversy between Catholics and Protestants,“1620,
8vo. Dr. Thomas Morton, the learned bishop of Durham,
answered the
” Protestant’s Apology“in a work entitle4
” A Catholic Appeal for Protestants," 1606, 4to. Some
farther particulars of Anderton’s works, although none of
his life, may be seen in our authority.
remark^ was never completed. Wood represents him as a pious and learned man, and critically skilled in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and the Oriental languages, a vigilant
, a learned English divine, the son
of Robert Brett, of Whitstanton, in Somersetshire, was
born in London, in 1561, and entered a commoner of
Hart-hall, Oxford, in 1582, where he took one degree in
arts, and was then elected fellow of Lincoln-college, and
was distinguished for his progress in the learned languages.
About 1595 he was made rector of Quainton, near Aylesbury, and was admitted B. D. in 1597. In 1604 he was
appointed one of the seven Oxford divines who were to
translate the Bible by king James’s order; and was afterwards made one of the first fellows of Chelsea college, a
foundation which, we have already had occasion to remark^
was never completed. Wood represents him as a pious
and learned man, and critically skilled in Latin, Greek,
Hebrew, and the Oriental languages, a vigilant pastor,
a liberal benefactor, and a faithful friend. He died April
la, 1637, and was buried in the chancel of his church at
Quainton, under a monument with his effigies, and those
of his widow and four children kneeling. He published,
1. “Vitae Sanctorum Evangelist. Johannis et Lucae a Simeone Metaphraste concinnatae,
” Oxon, Agatharchidis et Memnonis Historicorum quae supersunt
omuia,
” ibid. Iconum sacraruni decas,
in qua e subjectis Typis compluscula sanae doctrinse capita
eruuntur,
” ibid.
f England; and for his life and learning, truly praise-worthy. Besides the above works, he published in Latin: 1. “Ecclesiae primitives Sacramentum & Sacrificium, a
, a learned divine of the seventeenth century, was born in the Isle of Jersey, in the reign
of king James I. and probably educated in grammar-learning in that place. From thence he went and studied logic
and philosophy in the Protestant university of Saumur,
where he took the degree of master of arts, on September
12, 1634. Coming to Oxford, he was, October 12, 1638,
incorporated M. A. as he stood at Saumur. About this
time king Charles I. having through archbishop Laud’s
persuasion founded three fellowships in the colleges of
Pembroke, Exeter, and Jesus, for the islands of Jersey
and Guernsey, alternately, Mr. Brevint was nominated
the first fellow at Jesus-college upon this foundation, in
1638. Here he continued till he was ejected from his fellowship by the parliament- visitors, for refusing to take the
solemn league and covenant, and withdrew to his native
country, but upon the reduction of that place by the parliament’s forces, he fled into France, and became minister
of a Protestant congregation in Normandy. Not long
after, he had the honour of being made chaplain to the
viscount de Turenne, afterwards marshal of France, whose
lady was one of the most pious women of her time. Whilst
he was in that station, he was one of the persons “employed about the great design then in hand, of reconciling
the Protestant and Popish religions; which gave him an access into, and made him acquainted with every corner of that
church,
” as he says himself. At the restoration of king
Charles II. he returned to England, and was presented by
that prince (wjio had known him abroad) to the tenth prebend in the church of Durham, vacant by the promotion of
Dr. J. Cosin to that see, and was installed March 15, 1660-61.
By bishop Cosiu, who had been his fellow-sufferer, he was
also collated to a living in the diocese of Durham. On the
27th of February, 1661-62, he took his degree of D. D. at
Oxford. Having during his exile seen Popery in its native
deformity, and observed all the mean and dishonest arts
that are used to support it, he in 1672 published “Missale Romanum; or, the depth and mystery of the Roman
Mass laid open and explained, for the use of both reformed
and unreformed Christians,
” and the next year, “The
Christian Sacramenc and Sacrifice, by way of discourse,
meditation, and prayer, upon the nature, parts, and blessings of the holy communipn,
” reprinted on the recommendation of Dr. Waterland, in 1739. And in 1674,
“Saul and Samuel at Endor, or the new waies of salvation
and service, which usually tempt men to Rome, and detain them there, truly represented and refuted,
” reprinted
A brief account of R. F.
his Missale Vindicaturo, or vindication of the Roman mass,
”
being an answer to “The depth and mystery of the Roman
Mass,
” above-mentioned. The learning and other eminent
qualifications of the author having recommended him to the
esteem of the world, and to the favour of his sovereign, he
was promoted to the deanery of Lincoln, and was installed
January 3, 1681-82, and had the prebend of WeltonPayns-hall annexed thereto, January 7th following. He
died May 5, 1695, and was buried in the cathedral church
of Lincoln, behind the high altar; where, on a gravestone, is an inscription to his memory. He was a person
of extensive reading, especially in the controversy between
the Protestants and Papists; zealous for the church of
England; and for his life and learning, truly praise-worthy.
Besides the above works, he published in Latin: 1. “Ecclesiae primitives Sacramentum & Sacrificium, a pontificiis
corruptelis, & exinde natis controversiis liberum,
” written at the desire of the princesses of Turenne and Bouillon.
2. “Eucharistiae Christianse prsesentia realis, & pontificia
ficta, luculentissimis non testimoniis modo, sed etiam fundamentis, quibus fere tota S. S. Patrum Theologia nititur,
hsec explosa, ilia suffulta & asserta.
” 3. “Pro Serenissima Principe Weimariensi ad Theses Jenenses accurata
Responsio.
” 4. “Ducentue plus minus Praelectiones in
Matthaei xxv capita, et aliorum Evangelistarum locos
passim parallelos.
” He also translated into Frenck
“The judgment of the university of Oxford concerning
the solemn League and Covenant.
”
the discipline and ceremonies of the church, which seems to have led 'him to write his Commentaries in Latin on the Song of Solomon and the Revelations. This last
, an English divine, attached
to the principles of the puritans, was born at Nottingham
in 1557, and was educated in Queen’s college, Cambridge,
and long maintained a controversy on the discipline and
ceremonies of the church, which seems to have led 'him
to write his Commentaries in Latin on the Song of Solomon
and the Revelations. This last was afterwards translated
under the title of “The Revelation of St. John illustrated,
” Brightman Redivivus, or the posthumian offspring of Thomas Brightman,
in four Sermons,
” 4to.
, in Latin Brod&Us, an eminent critic, on whom Lipsius, Scaliger,
, in Latin Brod&Us, an eminent critic, on whom Lipsius, Scaliger, Grotius, and all the learned
of his age, have bestowed high encomiums, was descended
from a noble family in France, and born at Tours in 1500.
He was liberally educated, and placed under Alciat to
study the civil law; but, soon forsaking that, he gave himself up wholly to languages and the belles-lettres. He
travelled into Italy, where he became acquainted with Sadolet, Bembus, and other eminent characters; and here
he applied himself to the study of philosophy, mathematics, and the sacred languages, in which he made no small
proficiency. Then returning to his own country, he led a
retired but not an idle life; as his many learned lucubrations
abundantly testify. He was a man free from all ambition
and vain-glory, and suffered his works to be published
rather under the sanction and authority of others, than
under his own: a singular example, says Thuanus, of modesty in this age, when men seek glory not only from
riches and honours, but even from letters; and that too
with a vanity which disgraces them. He died in 1563, at
Tours, where he was a canon of St. Martin. His principal
works are, 1. his “Miscellanea, a collection of criticisms
and remarks, the first six books of which are published in
Gruter’s
” Lampas, seu fax artium,“vol. II. and the four
latter in vol. IV. 2.
” Annotationes in Oppianurn, Q. Calabrum, et Coluthum,“Basil, 1552, 8vo. 3.
” Notae in
Martialem,“ibid. 1619, 8vo. 4.
” Annot. in Xenophontem, Gr. et Lat.“ibid. 1559, fol. 5.
” Epigrammata Grseca
cum Annot. Brodaei et H. Steph." Francfort, 1600, fol.
Many of these epigrams were translated into Latin by Dr.
Johnson, and are printed with his works.
, an edition of Rapin on gardens, at the end of which he has subjoined a history of gardens, written in Latin with admirable elegance, and abounding in the most delightful
, an eminent classical scholar and
editor, was born at Tanay, a small village of the Nivernois, in 1722, and died at Paris, Feb. 12, 1789, at the
age of 67. In his youth he made it his practice to write
notes in every book that he read; and the margins of severaHn his library were entirely filled with them. Until his
last moment he pursued the same 'method of study. All
these he arranged wonderfully in his memory; and if it
had been possible after his death to have put his papers in
that order which he alone knew, they would have furnished
materials for several curious volumes. With this method,
and continued labour for twelve hours a day, the abbé
Brotier acquired an immense stock of various knowledge.
Except the mathematics, to which it appears he gave little
application, he was acquainted with every thing; natural
history, chemistry, and even medicine. It was his rule
to read Hippocrates and Solomon once every year in their
original languages. These he said were the best books
for curing the diseases of the body and the mind. But the
belles lettres were his grand pursuit. He had a good
knowledge of all the dead languages, but particularly the
Latin, of which he was perfectly master: he was besides
acquainted with most, of the languages of Europe. This
knowledge, however extensive, was not the only part in
which he excelled. He was well versed in ancient and
modern history, in chronology, coins, medals, inscriptions,
and the customs of antiquity, which had always been objects of his study. He had collected, a considerable quantity of materials for writing a new history of France, and
it is much to be regretted that he was prevented from undertaking that work. The akl>6 Brotier recalls to our remembrance those laborious writers, distinguished for their
learning, Petau, Sirmond, Labbu, Cossart, Hardouin, Souciet, &c. who have done so much honour to the college
of Louis XIV. in which he himself was educated, and where
fre lived several years as librarian; and his countrymen
say he is the last link of that chain of illustrious men, who
have succeeded one another without interruption, for near
two centuries. On the dissolution of the order of Jesuits,
the abbe Brotier found an asylum equally peaceful and
agreeable in the house of Mr. de la Tour, a printer, eminent in his business, who has gained from all connoisseurs
a just tribute of praise for those works which have come
from his press. It was in this friendly retirement that the
abbe Brotier spent the last twenty-six years of his life, and
that he experienced a happiness, the value of which he
knew how to appreciate, which arose from the care, attention, and testimonies of respect, bestowed upon him both
by Mr. and Mrs. de la Tour. It was there also that he
published those works which will render his name immortal; an edition of Tacitus, enriched not only with notes
and learned dissertations, but also with supplements, which
sometimes leave the reader in a doubt, whether the modern writer is not a successful rival of the ancient: this
was first published in 1771, 4 vols. 4to, and reprinted in
1776, in 7 vols. fcvo. He published also in 1779, 6 vols.
12mo, an edition of Pliny the naturalist, which is only a'
short abridgment of what he had prepared to correct and
enlarge the edition of Hardouin, and to give an historical
series of all the new discoveries made since the beginning
of this century; an immense labour, which bespeaks the
most extensive erudition. To these two editions, which
procured the abbe Brotier the applauses of all the literati
in Europe, he added in 1778, 8vo, an edition of Rapin on
gardens, at the end of which he has subjoined a history of
gardens, written in Latin with admirable elegance, and
abounding in the most delightful imagery: for the abbe
was not one of those pedants, according to the expression
of the poet, “herisses de Grec & de Latin;
” he possessed a lively imagination, and a fine taste, with clearness
and perspicuity; and above all, a sound judgment, which
never suffered him to adopt in writing any thing that
was not solid, beautiful, and true. His other works are,
1. “Examen de PApologie de M. I 7 Abbe de Prades,
” Conclusiones ex universa Theologia,
” Traite des Monnoies Romanies, Grecques, et
Hebr. compares avec les Monnoies de France, pour l'intelligencederEcriture Sainte, et de tous les auteurs Grecs,
et Remains,
” Prospectus d'une edit. Lat.
de Tacite,
” Supplementa, lib. 7.
loAnnal. Taciti,
” 17 v 55, 8vo. 6.“Cl. viri de la Caille
vita
”7 1763, 4to. 7. “Phaedri Fabularum, lib. v. cum
notis et suppl. access. Parallela J. de la Fontaine Fabulse,
”
Memoire du Levant
” Brumoy’s Theatre,
” Parolles Memorables,
” a work
of which Mr. Seward has made great use in his “Anecdotes.
”
nguage, and of writing, as well as of painting, sculpture, and music.” A very well-written character in Latin, by an advocate of Edinburgh, is appended to the Letters.
Mr. Brown was not only known as an exquisite drafts.man, he was also a good philosopher, a sound scholar, and
endowed with a just and refined taste in all the liberal and
polite arts, and a man of consummate worth and integrity.
Soon after his death his “Letters on the Poetry and Music
of the Italian Opera,
” 12mo, were published. They were
originally written to his friend lord Monboddo, who wished
to have Mr. Brown’s opinion on those subjects, which have
so intimate a connection with his work on the Origin and
Progress of Language; and who was so pleased with the
style and observations contained in them, that he wrote
an introduction, which was published with them, in one
volume, 12mo, 1789, for the benefit of his widow. The
letters, written with great elegance and perspicuity, are
certainly the production of a strong and fervid mind, acquainted with the subject; and must be useful to most of
the frequenters of the Italian opera, by enabling them to
understand the reasons on which the pleasure they receive
at that musical performance is founded, a knowledge in
which they are generally very deficient. Not being written
for publication, they have that spirit and simplicity which
every man of genius diffuses through any subject which he
communicates in confidence, and which he is but too apt
to refine away when he sits down to compose a work for
the public. Lord Monboddo, in the fourth volume of the
Origin and Progress of Language, speaking of Mr. Brown,
says, “The account that I have given of the Italian language is taken from one who resided above ten years in
Italy; and who, besides understanding the language perfectly, is more learned in the Italian arts of painting,
sculpture, music, and poetry, than any man I ever met
with. His natural good taste he has improved by the study
of the monuments of ancient art, to be seen at Rome and
Florence; and as beauty in all the arts is pretty much the
same, consisting of grandeur and simplicity, variety, decorum, and a suitableness to the subject, I think he is a
good judge of language, and of writing, as well as of
painting, sculpture, and music.
” A very well-written character in Latin, by an advocate of Edinburgh, is appended
to the Letters. Mr. Brown left behind him several very
highly-finished portraits in pencil, and many very exquisite sketches in pencil and in pen and ink, which he had
taken of persons and of places in Italy; particularly a book
of studies of heads, taken from the life, an inestimable
treasure to any history painter, as a common-place book
for his pictures, the heads it contained being all of them
Italian ones, of great expression, or of high character.
He was so enraptured with his art, and so assiduous in the
pursuit of it, that he suffered no countenance of beauty,
grace, dignity, or expression, to pass him unnoticed; and
to be enabled to possess merely a sketch for himself, of
any subject that struck his fancy, he would make a present
of a high-finished drawing to the person who permitted his
head to be taken by him. The characteristics of his hancl
were delicacy, correctness, and taste, as the drawings he
made from many of Mr. Townley’s best statues very plainly
evince. Of his mind, the leading features were acuteness,
liberality, and sensibility, joined to a character firm, vigorous, and energetic. The last efforts of this ingenious
artist were employed in making two very exquisite drawings, the one from Mr. Townley’s celebrated bust of Homer, the other from a fine original bust of Pope, supposed
to have been the work of Rysbrac. From these drawings
two very beautiful engravings have been made by Mr. Bartolozzi and his pupil Mr. Bovi. After some stay in London, his health, which had never been robust, yielded to
extraordinary application, and he was forced to try a seavoyage, and return on a visit to Edinburgh, to settle his
father’s affairs, who was then dead, having been some time
before in a state of imbecility. On the passage from
London to Leith, he was somehow neglected as he lay
sick on his hammock, and was on the point of death
when he arrived at Leith. With much difficulty he was
brought up to Edinburgh, and laid in the bed of his friend
Runciman, the artist, who had died not long before in the
same place. Here he died, Sept. 5, 1787. His portrait
with Runciman, disputing about a passage in Shakspeare’s
Tempest, is in the gallery at Dryburgh abbey. This was
the joint production of Brown and Runciman before the
death of the latter in 1784.
served by himself, having trusted very few to the descriptions of others. This little tract, written in Latin with the English and Irish names, might be of considerable
At this time he also collected materials, and made the
necessary observations (being a very good mathematician and astronomer) for a new map of Jamaica, which he published in London, in August 1755, engraved by Dr. Bayly,
on two sheets, by which the doctor cleared four hundred
guineas. Soon after this (March 1756) he published his
“Civil and Natural History of Jamaica,
” in folio, ornamented with forty-nine engravings of natural history, a
whole sheet map of the island, and another of the harbour
of Port-Royal, Kingston-town, &c. Of this work there
were but two hundred and fifty copies printed by subscription, at the very low price of one guinea, but a few were
sold at two pounds two shillings in sheets by the printer.
Most unfortunately all the copper-plates, as well as the
original drawings, were consumed by the great fire in
Cornhill, November 7, 1765. This alone prevented in his
life-time a second edition of that work, for which he made
considerable preparations, by many additional plants, and
a few corrections in his several voyages to these islands,
for he was six different times in the West Indies; in one
of those trips he lived above twelve months in the island
of Antigua: however, these observations will we trust not
be lost to the public, as he sent before his death to sir Joseph Banks, P. R. S. “A catalogue of the plants growing
in the Sugar Islands, &c. classed and described according
to the Linnaean system,
” in 4to, containing about eighty
pages. In Exshaw’s Gentleman’s and London Magazine
for June 1774, he published “A catalogue of the birds of
Ireland,
” and in Exshaw’s August Magazine following,
“A catalogue of its fish.
” In Flora Hibernica,
” a work every botanist will allow to
be much wanting.
hus Iscanus was Joseph of Exeter, who flourished in the thirteenth century, and wrote two epic poems in Latin heroics. Had Browne begun much later, he would have conferred
Prince informs us, that “as he had honoured his country
with his sweet and elegant Pastorals, 90 it was expected, and
he also entreated, a little farther to grace it by his drawing
out the line of his poetic ancestors, beginning in Joseph
Iscanus, and ending in himself: a noble design, if it
had been effected.
” Josephus Iscanus was Joseph of
Exeter, who flourished in the thirteenth century, and
wrote two epic poems in Latin heroics. Had Browne
begun much later, he would have conferred a very high
obligation on posterity. Collections of poetry are of very
ancient date, but very little is known with certainty of the
lives of English poets, and that little, must now be recovered with great difficulty.
miscellaneous pieces, in prose and verse, and published 4 vols. 12mo, in 1741. Some of his poetry is in Latin, with translations, and we find here some dramatic pieces.
Brumoy was alao employed in completing the history of
the “Revolutions of Spain,
” left unfinished by father
Orleans. This was published in 1734 in 3 vols. 4to, of
which about a half belongs to our author. He was next
requested by the booksellers to collect his own miscellaneous pieces, in prose and verse, and published 4 vols.
12mo, in 1741. Some of his poetry is in Latin, with translations, and we find here some dramatic pieces. He was
also the editor of various editions of works at the request
of the booksellers. He was employed on the continuation
of the “History of the Gallican church,
” when he was
seized with a paralytic stroke, which proved fatal April 17,
1742.
of converted penitents. Father Le Brun also wrote “Eloquentia Poetica,” Paris, 1655, 4to, a treatise in Latin on the precepts of the art of poetry, supported on examples
, a French Jesuit, was born at
Nantes in 1607, and died at Paris Sept. 1, 1663. He
wrote many pieces of Latin poetry. The principal are,
1. “The Ignatiad,
” in xii books: the subject is the pilgrimage of St. Ignatius to Jerusalem. This poem forms a
part of his “Virgilius Christianus;
” in which he has imitated, with more piety than taste, the eclogues, the georgics,
and the Æneid. His “Ovidius Christianus
” is in the same
strain: the Heroic Epistles are changed into pastoral letters,
the Tristibus into holy lamentations, and the Metamorphoses
into stories of converted penitents. Father Le Brun also
wrote “Eloquentia Poetica,
” Paris,
erein he designed to treat of the custom of giving the same lofty titles to persons whom we write to in Latin, as are given in common languages. There are but few countries
His writings, become very scarce, were so earnestly
sought after by the best judges, that there was great joy
in the republic of letters, on hearing that Mr. Cromer had
undertaken to publish a new edition of them. The first
part of that design was accomplished in 1698, Berlin, 8vo.
The Cracow edition was in 1582. Bruto promises in one
of his letters, to add another to them, wherein he designed
to treat of the custom of giving the same lofty titles to
persons whom we write to in Latin, as are given in common languages. There are but few countries in which
they are more nice in this point than in Poland; and yet
Bruto would not conform to the new style, not even in
writing to some Polish lords, but dispensed with all ceremonies that might make him deviate from the purity of the
ancient language of Rome. In a letter he wrote to John
Poniatowski, he says: “This is my first letter to you,
which I write in the Roman manner, as I used to do even
to the king. I can bring myself to every thing else, can
love you, obey you, and always regard you, which I shall
do very willingly, as you highly deserve. But when I
have any thing to write to you in Latin, suffer me, without
offence, to write according to the use of the Latin tongue,
for I cannot understand that I am writing to your greatnesses, your magnificences, &c. which exist no where on
this side of the moon: I am writing to you.
” Bruto,
though whimsical in this respect, was at least classical, as
it is certain that ancient Rome had no such usage in the
time of its greatest glory, and of its most accomplished
politeness.
us in Dactylotheca Ducis Marburiensis.” The first volume of the exposition of these gems was written in Latin by Mr. Bryant, and translated into French by Mr. Maty.
In 1783 was printed, at the expence of the duke of
Marlborough, for private distribution, that splendid work,
“The Maryborough Gems,
” under the title of “Gemmarum antiquarurn delectus ex prsestantioribus desumptus in
Dactylotheca Ducis Marburiensis.
” The first volume of
the exposition of these gems was written in Latin by Mr.
Bryant, and translated into French by Mr. Maty. That of
the second was written by Dr. Cole, prebendary of Westminster, and translated by Mr. Dutens. The friendship
which subsisted between Mr. Bryant and the family of his
patron, prompted him on all occasions to attend to their
wishes, and to this disposition the public owe his “Treatise
on the Authenticity of the Scriptures, and the Truth of the
Christian Religion,
” Observations upon the
Plagues inflicted upon the Egyptians; in which is shewn
the peculiarity of those judgments, and their correspondence with the rites and idolatry of that people; with a
prefatory Discourse concerning the Grecian Colonies from
Egypt,
” 8vo. This is certainly to be reckoned amongst
Mr. Bryant’s best performances, and as such will be studiously read.
advantages; and therefore Peter Martyr wrote to him to avoid all public disputes.” His writings were in Latin and in German? and so numerous, that it is computed they
, an eminent German reformer, was
born in 1491, at Schelestadt, a town of Alsace. At the
age of seven he took the religious habit in the order of St.
Dominic, and with the leave of the prior of his convent,
went to -Heidelberg to learn logic and philosophy. Having
applied himself afterwards to divinity, he made it his endeavour to acquire a thorough knowledge of the Greek
and Hebrew. About this time some of Erasmus’s pieces
came abroad, which he read with great avidity, and
meeting afterwards with certain tracts of Luther, and
comparing the doctrine there delivered with the sacred scriptures, he began to entertain doubts concerning several
things in the popish religion. His uncommon learning
and his eloquence, which was assisted by a strong and
musical voice, and his free censure of the vices of the
times, recommended him to Frederick elector palatine,
who made him one of his chaplains. After some conferences with Luther, at Heidelberg, in 1521, he adopted
most of his religious notions, particularly those with regard to justification. However, in 1532, he gave the
preference to the sentiments of Zuinglius, but used his
utmost endeavours to re-unite the two parties, who both
opposed the Romish religion. He is looked upon as one
of the first authors of the reformation at Strasburg, where
he taught divinity for twenty years, and was one of the
ministers of the town. He assisted at many conferences
concerning religion; and in 1548, was sent for to Augsburg to sign that agreement betwixt the Protestants and
Papists, which was called the Interim. His warm opposition to this project exposed him to many difficulties and
harships; the news of which reaching England, where his
fame had already arrived, Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, g av e him an invitation to come over, which he
readily accepted. In 1549 an handsome apartment was
assigned him in the university of Cambridge, and a salary
to teach theology. King Edward VI. had the greatest regard for him; being told that he was very sensible of the
cold of this climate, and suffered much for want of a German stove, he sent him an hundred crowns to purchase one.
He died of a complication of disorders, in 1551, and was
buried at Cambridge, in St. Mary’s church, with great funeral pomp. Five years after, in the reign of queen Mary,
his body was dug up and publicly burnt, and his tomb demolished; but it was afterwards set up again by order of
queen Elizabeth. He married a nun, by whom he had
thirteen children. This woman dying of the plague, he
married another, and, according to some, upon her death,
he took a third wife. His character is thus given by Burnet:
“Martin Bucer was a very learned, judicious, pious, and
moderate person. Perhaps he was inferior to none of all
the reformers for learning; but for zeal, for true piety,
and a most tender care of preserving unity among the foreign churches, Melancthon and he, without any injury
done to the rest, may be ranked apart by themselves. He
was much opposed by the Popish party at Cambridge;
who, though they complied with the law, and so kept their
places, yet, either in the way of argument, as if it had
been for dispute’s sake, or in such points as were not determined, set themselves much to lessen his esteem. Nor
was he furnished naturally with that quickness that is necessary for a disputant, from which they studied to draw
advantages; and therefore Peter Martyr wrote to him to
avoid all public disputes.
” His writings were in Latin
and in German? and so numerous, that it is computed they
would form eight or nine folio volumes. His anxiety to
reconcile the Lutherans and Zuinglians led him to use
many general and perhaps ambiguous expressions in his
writings. He seems to have thought Luther’s notion of
the sacrament too strong, and that of Zuinglius too weak.
Verheiclen in Latin, and Lupton in English, have given a
list of his works, but without size or dates.
erse, more various, more original, and more elegant, than that of almost any other modern who writes in Latin, reflects, with regard to this particular, the greatest
Dr. Robertson, speaking of Buchanan’s History of Scotland, says, that “if his accuracy and impartiality had been,
in any degree, equal to the elegance of his taste, and to
the purity and vigour of his style, his history might be
placed on a level with the most admired compositions of
the ancients. But, instead of rejecting the improbable
tales of chronicle writers, he was at the utmost pains to
adorn them; and hath clothed with all the beauties and
graces of fiction, those legends which formerly had only
its wildness and extravagance.
” In another place, the
same celebrated historian observes, that *' the happy genius
of Buchanan, equally formed to excel in prose and in
verse, more various, more original, and more elegant, than
that of almost any other modern who writes in Latin, reflects, with regard to this particular, the greatest lustre on
his country."
hilosopher, and civilian. He wrote the lives of “William of Wainflete,” founder of Magdalen college, in Latin, Oxon, 1602, 4to, reprinted in “Batesii Vitæ” and of “Archbishop
, a civilian of Oxford, the son of John
Budden of Canford, in Dorsetshire, was born in that
county in 1566, and entered Merton college in 1582, but
was admitted scholar of Trinity college in May of the fol
lowing year, where he took his bachelor’s degree. He
was soon after ivmoved to Gloucester hall, where he took
his master’s degree, but chiefly studied civil law. He was
at length made philosophy reader of Magdalen college,
and took his bachelor and doctor’s degrees in civil law in
1602. In 1609 he was made principal of New-inn, and
soon after king’s professor of civil law, and principal of
Broadgate’s hall, where he died June 11, 1620, and was
buried in the chancel of St. Aldate’s church. Wood says
he was a person of great eloquence, an excellent rhetorician, philosopher, and civilian. He wrote the lives of
“William of Wainflete,
” founder of Magdalen college, in
Latin, Oxon, Batesii Vitæ
” and
of “Archbishop Morton,
” London, Common Wealth
of England;
” and from the French of P. Frodius, a civilian,
“A Discourse for Parents’ Honour and Authority over their
Children,
” Loud.
hed as a festival, calling it the “Feast of the translation.” His own works were principally written in Latin.
His. public services were not confined to Wittemberg.
In 1522, he was requested to go to Hamburgh, to draw
up for them certain doctrinal articles, the mode of church
government, &c. and he also erected a school in the monastery of St. John. In 1530 he performed the same services
for the reformed church of Lubeck. In 1537, he was
solicited by Christian king of Denmark to assist his majesty in
promoting the reformation, and erecting schools in his donrU
nions. All this he appears to have performed on an extensive
scale, for his biographers inform us that besides new modelling the church of Denmark, and substituting superintendants for bishops, he appointed ministers in the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, to the number of twentyfour thousand. He assisted likewise in 1542, in the advancement of the reformation in the dukedom of Brunswick
and other places. At length, after a life devoted to these
objects, he died April 20, 1558. He wrote a “Commentary on the Psalms;
” annotations on St. Paul’s Epistles;
a harmony of the Gospels, &c. and assisted Luther in
translating the bible into German. He used to keep the
day on which it was finished as a festival, calling it the
“Feast of the translation.
” His own works were principally written in Latin.
beginning of March 1596, through the recommendation of queen Elizabeth; and not being able to speak in Latin, he was permitted to deliver his lectures altogether in
, a celebrated musician, and doctor in
that faculty, was descended from a family of that name in
Somersetshire, and born about the year 1563. Having
discovered an excellent natural genius for music, he was
educated in that science, when very young, under Mr.
William Blitheman, an eminent master, and organist of
the chapel to queen Elizabeth. On the 9th of July 1586
he was admitted bachelor of music at Oxford, having exercised that art fourteen years; and, we are told, he would
have proceeded in that university “had he not met with
clowns and rigid puritans there, that could not endure
church-music.
” Some time after, he was created doctor
of music at Cambridge; but in what year is uncertain,
there being a deficiency in the register. In 1591 he was
appointed organist of the Queen’s chapel, in the room of
Mr. Blitheman, deceased; and on the 7th of July, the
year following, he was incorporated doctor of music at
Oxford. He was greatly admired for his fine hand on the
organ, as well as for his compositions; several of which
have been long since published in musical collections,
besides a large number in manuscript, that made a part of
the curious and valuable collection of music lately reposited
in the library of Dr. Pepusch. Upon the establishment of
Gresham-college, Dr. Bull was chosen the first professor
of music there, about the beginning of March 1596,
through the recommendation of queen Elizabeth; and not
being able to speak in Latin, he was permitted to deliver
his lectures altogether in English; which practice, so far
as appears, has been ever since continued, though the
professors of that science have often been men of learning.
In 1601, his health being impaired, so that he was unable to perform the duty of his place, he went to travel,
having obtained leave to substitute, as his deputy, Mr.
Thomas Birde, son pf Mr. William Birde, one of the gentlemen of her majesty’s chapel. He continued abroad
above a year. After the death of queen Elizabeth, our
professor became chief organist to king James I. and December the 20th, the same year, he resigned his professorship of Gresham-college; but for what reason is not
known. In 1613 he again left England, induced, probably, by the declining reputation of church-music, which
at this time had not that regard paid to it, tfrat had been
formerly. He went directly into the Netherlands, where,
about Michaelmas, the same year, he was received into the
service of 'the archduke; and Mr. Wood says he died at
Hamburgh, or (as others, who remember him, have said)
at Lubeck. His picture is yet preserved in the musicschool at Oxford, among other famous professors of that
science, which hang round the room.
,“1572, 8vo. 11.” Common places of Christian Religion,“1572 and 158J, 8vo. 12.” Bullinger’s Decades, in Latin,“1586. 13.” The Summe of the Four Evangelists,“1582, 8vo.
, one of the reformers, was born,
at Bremgarten, “a village near Zurich, in Switzerland,
July 18, 1504. At the age of twelve he was sent by his
father to Emmeric, to be instructed in grammar-learning,
and here he remained three years, during which his father,
to make him feel for the distresses of others, and be more
frugal and modest in his dress, and temperate in his diet,
withdrew that money with which he was wont to supply
him; so that Bullinger was forced, according to the custom of those times, to subsist on the alms he got by singing from door to door. While here, he was strongly inclined to enter among the Carthusians, but was dissuaded
from it by an elder brother. At fifteen years of age he
was sent to Cologn, where he studied logic, and commenced
B. A. at sixteen years old. He afterwards betook himself
to the study of divinity and canon law, and to the reading
of the fathers, and conceived such a dislike to the schooldivines, as in 1520, to write some dialogues against them;
and about the same time he began to see the errors of the
church of Rome, from which, however, he did not immediately separate. In 1522, he commenced M. A. and returning home, he spent a year in his father’s house, wholly
employing himself in his studies. The year after, he was
called by the abbot of La Chapelle, a Cistercian abbey
near Zurich, to teach in that place, which he did with great
reputation for four years, and was very instrumental in
causing the reformation of Zuinglius to be received. It is
very remarkable that while thus teaching and changing the
sentiments of the Cistercians in this place, it does not appear that he was a clergyman in the communion of the see
of Rome, nor that he had any share in the monastic
observances of the house. Zuinglius, assisted by Oecolampadius and Bucer, had established the reformed doctrines
at Zurich in 1523; and in 1527, Bullinger attended the
lectures of Zuinglius in that city, for some months, renewed his acquaintance with Greek, and began the study
of Hebrew. He preached also publicly by a licence from
the synod, and accompanied Zuinglius at the famous disputation held at Bern in 1528. The year following, he
was called to be minister of the protestant church, in his
native place at Bremgarten, and married a wife, who
brought him six sons and five daughters, and died in 1564.
He met with great opposition from the papists and anabaptists in his parish, but disputed publicly, and wrote several
books against them. The victory gained by the Romish
cantons over the protestants in a battle fought 1531, forced
him, together with his father, brother, and colleague, to
fly to Zurich, where he was chosen pastor in the room of
Zninglius, slain in the late battle. He was also employed
in several ecclesiastical negociations, with a view to reconcile the Zuiuglians and Lutherans, and to reply to the,
harsh censures which were published by Luther against the
doctrine of the Swiss churches respecting the sacrament.
In 1549, he concurred with Calvin in drawing up a formulary, expressing the conformity of belief which subsisted
between the churches of Zurich and Geneva, and intended
on the part of Calvin, for obviating any suspicions that he
inclined to the opinion of Luther with respect to the sacra,
ment. He greatly assisted the English divines who fled
into Switzerland from the persecution raised in England
by queen Mary, and ably confuted the pope’s bull excommunicating queen Elizabeth. The magistrates of Zurich,
by his persuasion, erected a new college in 1538. He
also prevailed with them to erect, in a place that had formerly been a nunnery, a new school, in which fifteen
youths were trained up under an able master, and supplied
with food, raiment, and other necessaries. In 1549, he
by his influence hindered the Swiss from renewing their
league with Henry It. of France; representing to them,
that it was neither just nor lawful for a man to suffer himself to be hired to shed another man’s blood, from whom
himself had never received any injury. In 1551 he wrote
a book, the purport of which was to shew, that the council
of Trent had no other design than to oppress the professors
of sound religion; and, therefore, that the cantons should
pay no regard to the invitations of the pope, which solicited their sending deputies to that council. In 1561 he
commenced a controversy with Brentius concerning the
ubiquity of the body of Christ, zealously maintained by
Brentius, and as vehemently opposed by Bullinger, which
Continued till his death, on the 17th of September, 1575.
His funeral oration was pronounced by John Stukius, and
his life was written by Josias Simler (who had married one of his daughters), and was published at Zurich in 1575,
4to, with Stukius’s oration, and the poetical tributes of
many eminent men of his time. Bullinger' s printed works
are very numerous, doctrinal, practical, and controversial,
but no collection has ever been made of them. His high
reputation in England, during the progress of the reformation, occasioned the following to be either translated into
English, or published here: 1.
” A hundred Sermons
upon the Apocalypse,“1561, 4to. 2.
” Bullae papisticae
contra reginam Elizabetham, refutatio,“1571, 4to. 3.
” The Judgment of Bullinger, declaring it to be lawful for the ministers of the church of England to wear the
apparel prescribed by the laws, &c.“Eng. and Lat. 1566,
8vo. 4.
” Twenty-six Sermons on Jeremiah,“1583. 5.
” An epistle on the Mass, with one of Calvin’s,“1548, 8vo.
6.
” A treatise or sermon, concerning Magistrates and
Obedience of Subjects, also concerning the affairs of War,“1549, 8vo. 7,
” Tragedies of Tyrants, exercised upon
the church of God from the birth of Christ unto this present year 1572,“translated by Tho. Twine, 1575, 8vo. 8.
” Exhortation to the ministers of God’s Word, &c.“1575,
8vo. 9.
” Two Sermons on the end of the World,“1596,
8vo. 10.
” Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia
by the adversaries of the same, and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurich, reduced into seventeen common places,“1572, 8vo. 11.
” Common places of Christian Religion,“1572 and 158J, 8vo. 12.
” Bullinger’s Decades, in Latin,“1586. 13.
” The Summe of the Four Evangelists,“1582,
8vo. 14.
” The Sum or Substance pf St. Paul’s Epistle to
the Thessalonians,“1538, 8vo. 15.
” Three Dialogues
between the seditious Libertine or rebel Anabaptist, and
the true obedient Christian,“1551, 8vo. 16.
” Fifty godly
and learned Sermons, divided into five decades, containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion," a
very thick 4to vol. 1577, particularly described by Ames.
This book was held in high estimation in the reign of queen
Elizabeth. In 1586, archbishop Whitgift, in full convocation, procured an order to be made that every clergyman of
a certain standing should procure a copy of them, read one
of the sermons contained in them every week, and make
notes of the principal matters.
s, which, however, did not prevent his devoting himself to the study of the belles-lettres. He wrote in Latin the history of the war of Velletri in 1745, between the
, an Italian historian, was
born at Lucca in 1710, of a reputable family, and first embraced the ecclesiastical state. His studies being finished,
he went to Rome, and during a stay of some years in that
city, attracted the notice of the cardinal de Polignac, who
was desirous of gaining his attachment, but whom he refused, to accompany into France. Not meeting iif the
church with the advantages he had promised himself, he
gave it up, in order to bear arms in the service of the king
of the Two Sicilies, which, however, did not prevent his
devoting himself to the study of the belles-lettres. He
wrote in Latin the history of the war of Velletri in 1745,
between the Austrians and Neapolitans, in which he was
employed, under the title of “De rebus ad Velitras gestis
commentarius,
” Debello Italico commentarii,
” 4to,
in three books, for which he got the title of count to himself and his descendants. These two histories are much
esteemed for the correctness of the narration and the purity
of the Latinity, and have been several times reprinted.
The count de Buonamici also composed a treatise “De
scientia militari,
” but which has not hitherto been published. He died in 1761, at Lucca, the place of his nativity,
whither he was come for the benefit of his health. The
name of Castruccio being very famous in the history of
Lucca, he adopted it on his going into the Neapolitan service, instead of his baptismal name, which was FrancisJoseph-Mary. His work on the war in Italy was translated into English, and published in 1753 at London by
A. Wishart, M. A. under the title of “Commentaries of
the late war in Italy,
” 8vo.
l works are Commentaries on some of the books of the Old Testament, in Dutch, besides which he wrote in Latin: 1. “An Abridgment of Divinity,” Utrecht, 1671, 2 vols.
, the first upon record of a very
learned family, and professor of divinity at Utrecht, was
the son of Peter Burman, a Protestant minister at Frankendal, and was born at Leyden in 1632, where he pursued his studies. At the age of twenty-three he was
invited by the Dutch congregation at Hanau, in Germany,
to be their pastor, and thence he was recalled to Leyden,
and chosen regent of the college in which he had been
educated. Before he had been here a year, his high reputation occasioned his removal to Utrecht, where he was
appointed professor of divinity, and one of the preachers;
Here he acquired additional fame by his learning, and the
flourishing state to which he advanced the university. He
was reckoned an excellent philosopher, an eminent scholar
in the learned languages, and a good preacher. He died
Nov. 10, 1679. His principal works are Commentaries on
some of the books of the Old Testament, in Dutch,
besides which he wrote in Latin: 1. “An Abridgment of
Divinity,
” Utrecht, De Moralitate Sabbati,
” Narratio de controversiis
nuperius in academia Ultrajectina motis, &c.
” Utrecht,
Exercitationes Academic^,
” Rotterdam,
Tractatus de Passione Christi,
”
Academical discourses,
” published
by Grasvius, with some account of the author, Utrecht,
1700, 4to, and the same year they were translated and
printed in Dutch.
ut little is recorded of him, unless that he was a magistrate of Utrecht, and died in 1755. He wrote in Latin a “Life of Pope Adrian VI.” Utrecht 1727, and in 1738
, is said to have been the son of
the preceding, but little is recorded of him, unless that he
was a magistrate of Utrecht, and died in 1755. He wrote
in Latin a “Life of Pope Adrian VI.
” Utrecht 1727, and
in 1738 a quarto volume, to which we have been considerably indebted, entitled “Trajectum eruditum,
” or,
an account of the learned men of Utrecht.
g plan of study. On Mondays, he made each of the students, in their turn, explain a head of divinity in Latin, and propound such theses from it as he was to defend
About six months after he returned to Scotland, where
he declined accepting the living of Saltoun, offered him
by sir Robert Fletcher of that place, resolving to travel for
some time on the continent, in 1664, he went over into
Holland; where, after he had seen what was remarkable
in the Seven Provinces, he resided for some time at Amsterdam, and afterwards at Paris. At Amsterdam, by the
help of a learned Rabbi, he increased his knowledge in
the Hebrew language, and likewise x became acquainted
with the leading men of the different persuasions tolerated
in that country: among each of whom, he used frequently
to declare, he had met with men of such real piety and
virtue, that he contracted a strong principle of universal
charity. At Paris he conversed with the two famous
ministers of Charenton, Dailie and Morus. His stay in
France was the longer, on account of the great kindness
with which he was treated by the lord Holies, then ambassador at the French court. Towards the end of the
year he returned to Scotland, passing through Londo/rr,
where he was introduced, by the president sir Robert
Murray, to be a member of the royal society. In 1665,
he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Edinburgh, and
presented by sir Robert Fletcher to the living of Saitoun,
which had been kept vacant during his absence. He soon
gained the affections of his whole parish, not excepting the
presbyterians, though he was the only clergyman in Scotland that made use of the prayers in the liturgy of the
church of England. During the five years he remained at
Saitoun, he preached twice every Sunday, and once on
one of the week-days; he catechized three times a-week,
so as to examine every parishioner, old or young, three
times in the compass of a year: he went round the parish
from house to house, instructing, reproving, or comforting
them, as occasion required: the sick he visited twice a
day: he administered the sacrament four times a year, and
personally instructed all such as gave notice of their intention to receive it. All that remained above his own necessary subsistence (in which he was very frugal), he gave
away in charity. A particular instance of his generosity
is thus related: one of his parishioners had been in execution for debt, and applied to our author for some small
relief; who inquired of him, how much would again set
him up in his trade: the man named the sum, and he as
readily called to his servant to pay it him: “Sir,” said he,
“it is all we have in the house.” “Well,” said Mr. Burnet, “pay it this poor man: you do not know the pleasure
there is in making a man glad.” This may be a proper
place to mention our author’s practice of preaching extempore, in which he attained an ease chiefly by allotting many
hours of the day to meditation upon all sorts of subjects,
and by accustoming himself, at those times, to speak his
thoughts aloud, studying always to render his expressions
correct. His biographer gives us here two remarkable
instances of his preaching without book. In 1691, when
the sees, vacant by the deprivation of the nonjuring
bishops, were filled up, bishop Williams was appointed to
preach one of the consecration -sermons at Bow-church;
but, being detained by some accident, the archbishop of
Canterbury desired our author, then bishop of Sarum, to
supply his place; which he readily did, to the general satisfaction of all present. In 1705, he was appointed to preach
the thanksgiving-sermon before the queen at St. Paul’s; and
as it was the only discourse he had ever written before-hand,
it was the only time that he ever made a pause in preaching, which on that occasion lasted above a minute. The
same year, he drew up a memorial of the abuses of the
Scotch bishops, which exposed him to the resentments of
that order: upon which, resolving to confine himself to
study, and the duties of his function, he practised such a
retired and abstemious course, as greatly impaired his
health. About 1668, the government of Scotland being in
the hands of moderate men, of whom the principal was sir
Robert Murray, he was frequently consulted by them; and
it was through his advice that some of the more moderate
presbyterians were put into the vacant churches; a step
which he himself has since condemned as indiscreet. In
1669, he was made professor of divinity at Glasgow; in
which station he executed the following plan of study.
On Mondays, he made each of the students, in their turn,
explain a head of divinity in Latin, and propound such
theses from it as he was to defend against the rest of the
scholars; and this exercise concluded with our professor’s
decision of the point in a Latin oration. On Tuesdays, he
gave them a prelection in the same language, in which he
proposed, in the course of eight years, to have gone
through a complete system of divinity. On Wednesdays,
he read them a lecture, for above an hour, by way of a
critical commentary on St. Matthew’s Gospel;' which he
finished before he quitted the chair. On Thursdays, the
exercise was alternate; one Thursday, he expounded a
Hebrew Psalm, comparing it with the Septuagint, the
Vulgar, and the English version; and the next Thursday,
he explained some portion of the ritual and constitution
of the primitive church, making the apostolical canons his
text, and reducing every article of practice under the head
of one or other of those canons. On Fridays, he made
each of his scholars, in course, preach a short sermon upon
some text he assigned; and, when it was ended, he observed upon any thing that was defective or amiss in the
handling of the subject. This was the labour of the mornings: in the evenings, after prayer, he every day read
some parcel of scripture, on which he made a short
discourse; and, when that was over, he examined into
the progress of their several studies. Ail this he performed
during the whole time the schools were open; and, in
order to acquit himself with credit, he was obliged to study
hard from four till ten in the morning; the rest of the day
being of necessity allotted, either to the care of his pupils,
or to hearing the complaints of the clergy, who, rinding he
had an interest with men of power, were not sparing in
their applications to him. In this situation he continued
four years and a half, exposed, through his principles of
moderation, to the censure both of the episcopal and presbyterian parties. The same year he published his “Modest and free Conference between a Conformist and a Nonconformist.
” About this time he was entrusted, by the
duchess of Hamilton, with the perusal and arrangement
of all the papers relating to her father’s and uncle’s
ministry; which induced him to compile “Memoirs of the
Dukes of Hamilton,
” and occasioned his being invited to
London, to receive farther information, concerning the
transactions of those times, by the earl of Lauderdale; between whom and the duke of Hamilton he brought about
a reconciliation. During his stay in London, he was offered a Scotch bishopric, which he refused. Soon after
his return to Glasgow, he married the lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the earl of Cassilis. In 1672, he published his “Vindication of the Authority, Constitution, and
Laws, of the Church and State of Scotland,
” against the
principles of Buchanan and others; which was thought, at
that juncture, such a public service, that he was again
courted to accept of a bishopric, with a promise of the
next vacant archbishopric, but he persisted in his refusal
of that dignity. In 1673, he took another journey to
London; where, at the express nomination of the king,
after hearing him preach, he was sworn one of his majesty’s
chaplains in ordinary. He became likewise in high favour
with his majesty and the duke of York . At his return to
Edinburgh, finding the animosities between the dukes of
Hamilton and Lauderdale revived, he retired to his station
at Glasgow; but was obliged the next year to return to
court, to justify himself against the accusations of the duke
of Lauderdale, who had represented him as the cause and
instrument of all the opposition the measures of the court
had met with in the Scotch parliament. Thus he lost the
favour of the court; and, to avoid putting himself into the
hands of his enemies, he resigned the professor’s chair at
Glasgow, and resolved to settle in London, being now
about thirty years of age. Soon after, he was offered the
living of St. Giles’s Cripplegate, which he declined accepting, because he heard that it was intended for Dr.
Fowler, afterwards bishop of Gloucester. In 1675, our
author, at the recommendation of lord Holies, and notwithstanding the interposition of the court against him, was
appointed preacher at the Rolls chapel by sir Harbottle
Grimstone, master of the Rolls. The same year he was
examined before the house of commons in relation to the
duke of Lauderdale, whose conduct the parliament was
then inquiring into. He was soon after chosen lecturer of
St. Clement’s, and became a very popular preacher. In
1676, he published his “Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton;
” and the same year, “An account of a Conference
between himself, Dr. Stillingfleet, and Coleman.
” About
this time, the apprehensions of popery increasing daily, he
undertook to write the “History of the Reformation of the
Church of England.
” The rise and progress of this his
greatest and 'most useful work, is an object of too great
curiosity to require any apology on account of its length.
His own account of it is as follows: “Some time after I
had printed the ‘ Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton,’
which were favourably received, the reading of these got
me the acquaintance and friendship of sir William Jones,
then attorney-general. My way of writing history pleased
him; and so he pressed me to undertake the History of
England. But Sanders’s book, that was then translated
into French, and cried up much in France, made all my
friends press me to answer it, by writing the History of
the Reformation. So now all my thoughts were turned
that way. I laid out for manuscripts, and searched into
all offices. I got for some days into the Cotton Library.
But duke Lauderdale hearing of my design, and apprehending it might succeed in my hands, got Dolben, bishop
of Rochester, to divert sir John Cotton from suffering me
to search into his library. He told him, I was a great
enemy to the prerogative, to which Cotton was devoted,
even to slavery. So he said, I would certainly make an ill
use of all 1 had found. This wrought so much on him,
that I was no more admitted, till my first volume was published. And then, when he saw how I had composed it,
he gave me free access to it.
” The first volume of this
work lay near a year after it was finished, for the perusal
and correction of friends; so that it was not published tiii
the year 1679, when the affair of the popish plot was in
agitation. This book procured our author an honour never
before or since paid to any writer: he had the thanks of
both houses of parliament, with a desire that he would
prosecute the undertaking, and complete that valuable
work. Accordingly, in less than two years after, he
printed the second volume, which met with the same general approbation as the first: and such was his readiness
in composing, that he wrote the historical part in the
compass of six weeks, after all his materials were laid in
order. The third volume, containing a supplement to the
two former, was published in 1714. “The defects of
Peter Heylyn’s
” History of the Reformation,“as bishop
Kicolson observes,
” are abundantly supplied in our
author’s more complete history. He gives a punctual account of all the affairs of the reformation, from its beginning in the reign of Henry VIII. to its final establishment
under queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1559. And the whole is
penned in a masculine style, such as becomes an historian,
and is the property of this author in all his writings. The
collection of records^ which he gives at the end of each
volume, are good vouchers of the truth of what he delivers
in the body of the history, and are much more perfect than
could reasonably be expected, after the pains taken, in
queen Mary’s days, to suppress every thing that carried
the marks of the reformation upon it.“Our author’s performance met with a very favourable, reception abroad, and
was translated into most of the European languages; and
even the keenest of his enemies, Henry Wharton, allows it
to have
” a reputation firmly and deservedly established.“The most eminent of the French writers who have attacked
it, M. Varillas and M. Le Grand, have received satisfactory
replies from -the author himself. At home it was attacked
by Mr. S. Lowth, who censured the account Dr. Burnet
had given of some of archbishop Cranmer’s opinions, asserting that both our historian and Dr. Stillingfleet had imposed upon the world in that particular, and had
” unfaithfully joined together“in their endeavours to lessen
episcopal ordination. Our author replied to Mr. Lowth,
in some
” letters. in answer“to his book. The next assailant was Henry Wharton, who, under the name of Anthony
Harrner, published
” A specimen of some Errors and
Defects in the History of the Reformation,“1693, 8vo, a
performance of no great candour; to which, however, our
historian vouchsafed a short answer, in a
” Letter to the
Bishop of Lichfield.“A third attack on this History was
made by Dr. Hickes in
” Discourses on Dr. Burnet and
Dr. Tillotson;“in which the whole charge amounts to no
more than this, that,
” in a matter of no great consequence,
there was too little care had in copying or examining a
letter writ in a very bad hand,“and that there was some
probability that Dr. Burnet
” was mistaken in one of his
conjectures.“Our author answered this piece, in a
” Vindication“of his History. The two first parts were translated into French by M. de Rosemond, and into Latin by
Melchior Mittelhorzer. There is likewise a Dutch translation of it. In 1682, our author published
” An abridgment of his History of the Reformation," in 8vo, in which
he tells us, he had wholly waved every thing that belonged
to the records, and the proof of what he relates, or to the
confutation of the falsehoods that run through the popish
historians; all which is to be found in the History at large.
And therefore, in this abridgment, he says, every thing is
to be taken upon trust; and those who desire a fuller satisfaction, are referred to the volumes he had before published.
olim subiit et subiturus est, complectens.” This Sacred Theory of the Earth was originally published in Latin, in 2 vols. 4to, the two first books concerning the deluge,
, a most ingenious and learned
writer, was born at Croft, in Yorkshire, about the year
1635. His first education was at the free-school of North-Alverton, in that county, from whence he was removed in
June 1651, to Clare-hall in Cambridge, where he had
Dr. Tillotson for his tutor. Dr. Cud worth was at that time
master of Clare-hall, but removed from it to the mastership
of Christ’s college, in 1654; and thither our author followed him. Under his patronage he was chosen fellow in
1657, commenced M. A. in 1658, and became senior
proctor of the university in 1661; but it is uncertain how
long after ward she continued his residence there. He was
afterwards governor to the young earl of Wiltshire, son of
the marquis of Winchester, with whom he travelled abroad ^
and gave such satisfaction, that, soon after his return to
England, he was invited and prevailed on by the first duke
of Ormond, to travel in the same capacity with the young
earl of Ossory, his grace’s grandson and heir-apparent.
These honourable connections introduced him into what
may properly be called the world: in which he afterwards
confirmed the reputation he already had for talents ad
learning, by the publication of his “Telluris theoria sacra,
orbis nostri originem & mutationes generales, quas olim
subiit et subiturus est, complectens.
” This Sacred Theory
of the Earth was originally published in Latin, in 2 vols.
4to, the two first books concerning the deluge, and paradise, 1681; the two last, concerning the burning of the
world, and the new heavens and new earth, in 1689. The
uncommon approbation this work met with, and the particular encouragement of Charles II. who relished its
beauties, induced the author to translate it into English.
Of this translation he published the two first books in 1684,
folio, with an elegant dedication to the king; and the two
last in 1689, with a no less elegant dedication to queen
Mary. “The English edition,
” he tells us, “is the same in
substance with the Latin, though, he confesses, not so
properly a translation, as a new composition upon the
same ground, there being several additional chapters in it,
and several new moulded.
”
is added, a dissertation on the Burtonian style. By a Master of Arts.” Dr. Burton’s Life was written in Latin by Dr. Edward Bentham, his relation, and canon of Christ
Dr. Burton is understood to have been the author, under
the name of “Phileleutherus Londinensis,
” of “Remarks
on Dr. King’s Speech before the University of Oxford, at
the Dedication of Dr. Radcliff’s Library, on the 13th of
April, 1749.
” This produced from Dr. King, “Elogium
Famæ inserviens Jacci Etonensis, sive Gigantis; or, The
Praises of Jack of Eton, commonly called Jack the Giant;
collected into English metre, after the manner of Thomas
Sternhold, John Hopkins, John Burton, and others. To
which is added, a dissertation on the Burtonian style. By
a Master of Arts.
” Dr. Burton’s Life was written in Latin
by Dr. Edward Bentham, his relation, and canon of Christ
church, under the title “De Vita et moribus Johannis Burtoni,
”
hool of Nuneaton in Warwickshire, and while there distinguished himself by no common taste and skill in Latin poetry. He was admitted of Brazen-nose college, Oxford,
, author of the “History of Leicestershire,
” and eldest son of Ralph Burton, esq. of
Lindley in Leicestershire, was born August 24, 1575, educated
at the school of Nuneaton in Warwickshire, and while
there distinguished himself by no common taste and skill in
Latin poetry. He was admitted of Brazen-nose college,
Oxford, 1591, and of the Inner Temple May 20, 1593,
B. A. June 22, 1594, and was afterwards a barrister and
reporter in the court of common pleas. But “his natural
genius,
” says Wood, “leading him to the studies of heraldry, genealogies, and antiquities, he became excellent
in those obscure and intricate matters; and, look upon him
as a gentleman, was accounted by all that knew him to be
the best of-his time for those studies, as may appear by his
description of Leicestershire.
” The author himself says, he
began his History of Leicestershire in 1597, not many ): ears
after his coming into the Inner Temple. In 1602 he corrected Saxton’s map of that county, with the addition of
eighty towns. His weak constitution riot permitting him
to follow his business, he retired into the country; and his
great work, the “Description of Leicestershire,
” was published in folio, he has undertaken to remove an eclipse from the sun without art or astronomical
dimension, to give light to the county of Leicester, whose
beauty has long been shadowed and obscured;
” and in his
preface declares himself one of those who hold that “gloria
totius res est vanissima mundi;
” and that he was unfit and
unfurnished for so great a business: “unfit,
” to use his
own words, “for that myself was bound for another study,
which is jealous, and will admit no partner; for that all
time and parts of time, that could possibly be employed
therein, were not sufficient to be dispensed thereon, by
reason of the difficulty of getting, and multiplicity of kinds
of learning therein. Yet if a partner might be assigned or
admitted thereto, there is no study or learning so fit or
necessary for a lawyer, as the study of antiquities.
” He
was assisted in this undertaking by his kinsmen John Beaumont of Gracedieu, esq. and Augustus Vincent, rougecroix; but the church notes were taken by himself. He
drew up the corollary of Leland’s life, prefixed to the
“Collectanea,
” with his favourite device, the sun recovering from an eclipse, and motto “Rilucera,
” dated Faledi
Antiquitates de Dadling-ton, manerio com. Leic, sive exemplificatio scriptorum,
cartarum veterum, inquisitionum, rotulorum curiarum, recordorum, et evidentium probantium antiquitates dicti
manerii de Dadlingtori, et hsereditatem de Burton in dicto
manerio de Dadlington, quoe mine sunt penes me Will'mum
Burton de Lindley com. Leic. modernum dominum dicti
manerii de Dadlington. Lahore et studio mei Will 1 mi
Burton de Lindley, apprenticii legum Angliae, et socii
Interioris Templi Londini; nuper habitatitis apud Falde
com. Staff, nunc apud Lindley, 25 Aug. 1625, set, 50.
”
He died at Falde, after suffering much in the civil wars
April 6, 1645, and was buried in the parish church thereto
belonging, called Hanbury. He left several notes, collections of arms and monuments, genealogies, and other
matters of antiquity, which he had gathered from divers
churches and gentlemen’s houses. Derby collections are
mentioned in Gascoigne’s notes, p. 53, probably by himself. In Osborne’s Catalogue, 1757, was “Vincent on
Brooke,
” with ms notes by William Burton, probably not
more than those on Cornwall, which Dr. Rawlinson had.
He was one of sir Robert Cotton’s particular friends, and
had the honour to instruct sir William Dugdale. He was
acquainted with Somner; and Michael Drayton, esq. was
his near countryman and acquaintance, being descended
from the Draytons of Drayton, or Fenny Drayton, near
Lindley. He married, 1607, Jane, daughter of Humphry
Adderley, of Wedington, Warwickshire; by whom he had
one son, Cassibelan, born 1609, heir of his virtues as well
as his other fortunes, who, having a poetical turn, translated Martial into English, which was published 1658. He
consumed the best part of his paternal estate, and died
Feb. 28, 1681, having some years before given most, if
not all, his father’s collections to Mr. Walter Chetwynd, to
be used by him in writing the antiquities of Staffordshire.
Several printed copies of Burton’s Leicestershire, with ms
notes by different persons, are existing in various collections *. “The reputation of Burton’s book,
” as Mr.
Gough justly observes, “arises from its being written early,
and preceded only by Lambarde’s Kent 1576, Carew’s Cornwall 1602, and Norden’s Surveys; and it is in comparison
only of these, and not of Dugdale’s more copious work,
that we are to understand the praises so freely bestowed
on it, and because nobody has treated the subject more remotely and accurately; for Dugdale, says Burton, as well
as Lambarde and Carevv, performed briefly. The present
volume, though a folio of above 300 pages, if the unnecessary digressions were struck out, and the pedigrees reduced
into less compass, would shrink into a small work. The
typographical errors, especially in the Latin, are so numerous, and the style, according to the manner of that time,
so loose, that the meaning is often doubtful. The description is in alphabetical order, and consists chiefly of pedigrees and moot-cases.
” The author, sensible of its defect,
greatly enlarged and enriched it with the addition of Roman, Saxon, and other antiquities, as appears from his letter
to sir Robert Cotton, dated Lindley, June 9, 1627, still extant among Cotton’s correspondences, in his library, Jul.
C. iii. This book, thus augmented, was, with other Mss.
by the same author, in the possession of Mr. Walter Chetwynd, of Ingestry, in Staffordshire, whom Camden in
Staffordshire calls “venerandae antiquitatis cultor maximus;
” and afterwards came to, or was borrowed by, Mr.
Charles King, tutor to Mr. Chetwynd, in whose hands
Brokesby mentions it, and says Mr. Chetwynd made considerable additions to it. He died in 1693. Lord Chetwynd
lent it to sir Thomas Cave, in whose hands Mr. Ashby saw
it in 1763 f. It is continued to 1642. It is not necessary to
say more of a work now so totally eclipsed, and rendered
useless, by the more elaborate, accurate, and satisfactory
“History of Leicestershire
” lately published by Mr.
Nichols, to which we may refer for many curious particu* These are particularized in the History of Hinckley, p. 131. A new edition
of the Description of Leicestershire was absurdly printed in 1777, without the
least improvement.
lars of Burton’s life, and especially an account by himself
in the form of a diary.
” are some animated passages. He published also an abridgment of the History of France, and another, in Latin, of the universal history, called “Floscoli Historiarum,”
, a French Jesuit, was born in
1607, either at Villa Franca in Beaujolais, or at Lyons,
and became a very frequent and admired writer, although
little of his fame has reached modern times. He died in
1678. His French poetry is now forgot, but his Latin
poetry published at Lyons in 1675, 8vo, still has some admirers; and in his “Scanderbeg,
” an epic poem, and
his “Rhea,
” are some animated passages. He published
also an abridgment of the History of France, and another,
in Latin, of the universal history, called “Floscoli Historiarum,
” which he afterwards translated into French, under
the title “Parterre historique,
” Lyons, Memoires
de Ville Tranche en Beaujolais,
”
a commentary upon the Massora; where he explains at large what the Rabbins think of it, and expounds in Latin the terms of the Massora, which are very difficult. He
, the first of a learned family, was
born at Camen, in Westphalia, in 1564, and became an
eminent Calvinist divine, and professor of the Hebrew and
Chaldaic languages at Basil, a situation which he filled
with great reputation until his death, in 1629. During
his Hebrew studies, he availed himself of the assistance
of the ablest Jews, and from them acquired a fondness for
rabbinical learning. The first of his works was his great
dictionary, entitled “Lexicon Chaldaicum, Talmudicum
et Rabbinicum,
” printed at Basil in Treasury of the Hebrew Grammar,
” 2 vols. 8vo. He
also printed a great Hebrew Bible at Basil, in 1618, 4 vols.
fol. with the Rabbins, the Chaldaic paraphrases, and the
Massora, after the manner of the great Bible of Venice;
but father Simon thinks it incorrect. To this Bible is
commonly added the Tiberias of the same author, which
is a commentary upon the Massora; where he explains at
large what the Rabbins think of it, and expounds in Latin
the terms of the Massora, which are very difficult. He
follows rabbi Elias the Levite, in his exposition of those
terms. He has also published “Synagoga Judaica,
” Bibliotheca of the Rabbins, a curious
work; but there have been since his time a great many
discoveries made in that part of learning. They who have a
mind to write Hebrew, may make use of the collection of
Hebrew letters, which he has published under the title of
” Institutio Epistolaris Hebraica,“1629, 8vo. He compiled also,
” Concordantia3 Hebraicse," published by his
son in 1632.
y,” in which he delivers the doctrine of the Greek church concerning the mass; and which was printed in Latin at Venice, in 1545, and at Antwerp in 1560; and in Greek
, nephew of the preceding,
and successor in the archbishopric of Thessalonica, flourished under the reign of Cantacuzenus, and had all his
uncle’s prejudices against the Latins. He also wrote “On
the procession of the Holy Ghost; and an exposition of the
Liturgy,
” in which he delivers the doctrine of the Greek
church concerning the mass; and which was printed in
Latin at Venice, in 1545, and at Antwerp in 1560; and
in Greek and Latin in the “Bibliotheca Patrum,
” Paris,
Bibliotheca,
” is also included his
“Life of Jesus Christ,
” translated into Latin, and separately printed at Ingolstadt, in 160*. A translation of his
work “against Usury,
” is also contained in the “Bibliotheca.
” In the sciences of mathematics and astronomy,
he is said to have surpassed all his contemporaries.
bert, 1738, foL with notes; an " Account of the Ecclesiastical History of the Councils and Canons,*' in Latin, the best edition of which is 1680, fol. In the edition
, of Aix, was a celebrated priest of
the oratory, who taught the canon law at Avignon, and
died September 25, 1685, at Aix, aged eighty one. His
chief works are: “Juris Canonici theoria, et praxis,
” a new
edition of which was published by M. Gibert, 1738, foL with
notes; an " Account of the Ecclesiastical History of the
Councils and Canons,*' in Latin, the best edition of which
is 1680, fol. In the edition of 1670, 8vo, are some Dissertations not to be found in that of 1680. Few ecclesiastics have been more praised for excellence of private
character than Cabassut.
&c.” and on this map was likewise the following account of the discovery, the original of which was in Latin: “In the year of our Lord 1497, John Cabot, a Venetian,
John Cabot, attended by his son Sebastian, set sail with
this fleet in the spring of the year 1497. They sailed
happily on their north west course, till the 24th of June,
jn the same year, about five in the morning, when they
discovered the island of Baccalnos, now much better known
by the name of Newfoundland. The very day on which
they made this important discovery, is known by a large?
map, drawn by Sebastian Cabor, and cut by Clement
Adams, which hung in the privy gallery at Whitehall;
whereon was this inscription, under the author’s picture
“Eftigics Seb. Caboti, Angli, Filii Jo. Caboti, Venetian!,
'IMilitis Aurati, &c.
” and on this map was likewise the following account of the discovery, the original of which was
in Latin: “In the year of our Lord 1497, John Cabot,
a Venetian, and his son Sebastian, with an English fleet,
set out from Bristol, and discovered that island which no
man before had attempted. This discovery was made on
the four and twentieth of June, about five o'clock in the
morning. This land he called Prima Vistu. (or First Seen),
because it was that part of which they had the first sight
from the sea. The island, which lies out before the land,
he called the island of St. John, probably because it was
discovered on the festival of St. John the Baptist. The
inhabitants of this island wore beasts’ skins, and esteemed
them as the finest garments.
” To this Purchas adds, “In
their wars they used bows, arrows, pikes, darts, wooden
clubs, and slings. They found the soil barren in some
places, and yielding little fruit; but it was full of white
bears and stags, far larger than those of Europe. It yielded
plenty of fish, and those of the larger kind, as seals and
salmon. They found soles there above a yard in length,
and great abundance of that kind of fish which the savages
called baccalaos. They also observed there partridges, as
likewise hawks and eagles; but what was remarkable in
them, they were all as black as ravens.
”
ws his character with much more blame than praise. Of his talents, indeed, his application and skill in Latin, Politian speaks in handsome terms, and acknowledges that
, a man of great learning in
the fifteenth century, was born at Torn sul lago, in 1445.
Such was his early reputation, that at the age of twentyfour he was invited by Paul II. to take upon him the office
of public lecturer on the belles-lettres at Rome; and Sixtus
IV. appointed him apostolic secretary. After a short life
of incessant study and literary warfare, he was cut off by a.
fever in 1477, when only thirty-two years of age. To him
is attributed the praise of having first pointed out and exemplified the true method of elucidating ancient authors,
by combining with verbal criticism, the lights of antiquity
and general erudition. The literary reputation of Calderinus procured him many rivals during his life-time, as
George Merula, Aurispa, Aug. Sabinus, Nic. Perottus,
Trapezuntius, &c. and it is certain that Politian draws his
character with much more blame than praise. Of his talents, indeed, his application and skill in Latin, Politian
speaks in handsome terms, and acknowledges that his proficiency in Greek was not inconsiderable; but adds, that
he was so vain of his own talents, and so tenacious of any
opinion he had once adopted, as to adhere to it in open
defiance of conviction and truth. The style of his compositions is haughty, contemptuous, and overbearing; he
cavils on every trifling pretext, and attacks all without
discrimination. These were propensities which involved
him in numberless disputes with the learned of the day.
Yet while he was the object of undisguised hatred to persons of this description, such was his authority in letters,
that even in his youth he carried away the palm of celebrity from all the Roman professors. Politian adds more
to the same purpose, which may be seen in our authority
on the other hand, the learned world are under unquestionable obligations to Calderinus, and probably, had he lived
longer, he would have corrected that vivacity of passion
which involved him so often with his contemporaries.
Among his works, is an ample Commentary on Martial,
Venice, 1474, fol.; another on Juvenal, ibid. 1475, fol.
The edition of Virgil of 1492, has some notes of his; and
he commented on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Persius, and Catullus. His notes “In Ibin
” were published at Venice,
Sylvae
” of Statins, Brixiae,
here is nothing here but scripture, reason, and the fathers’.” This work was in fact an enlargement, in Latin, of one which he wrote in English, and published in 1621,
July 12, the king came to that city in person, and soon
after Hewet and Simpson were deprived and imprisoned.
After this, Calderwood was called upon, and refusing to
comply with what the king in person required of him,
James, after haranguing at some length on his disobedience, committed him to prison; and afterwards the/
privy-council, according to the power exercised by them
at that time, directed him to banish himself out of the
king’s dominions before Michaelmas following, and not to
return without licence; and upon giving security for this
purpose, he was discharged out of prison, and suffered to
return to his parish, but forbid to preach. Having applied
to the king for a prorogation of his sentence without success, because he would neither acknowledge his offence,
nor promise conformity for the future, he retired to Holland in 1619, where his publications were securely
multiplied, and diffused through Scotland, particularly one
entitled “The Perth Assembly,
” which was condemned
by the council. In Altare Damascenum, seu ecclesiae Anolicanse politia, ecclesiae Scoticanae obtrusa a formalista quodam delineata, illustrata, et examinata,
” The writer of
the preface prefixed to Calderwood’s “True history of
the church of Scotland
” telis us, that “the author of this
very learned and celebrate 1 treatise (which is an answer to Lin wood’s ‘ Description of the Policy of the church of England’) doth irrefragably and unanswerably demonstrate
the iniquity of designing and endeavouring to model and
conform the divinely simple worship, discipline, and government of the church of Scotland to the pattern of the
pompously prelatic and ceremonious church of England;
under some conviction whereof it seems king James himself
was, though implacably displeased with it, when, being
after the reading of it somewhat pensive, and being asked
the reason by an English prelate standing by and observing
it, he told him he had seen and read such a book; whereupon the prelate telling his majesty not to suffer that to
trouble him, for they would answer it he replied, not
without some passion, < What would you answer, man
There is nothing here but scripture, reason, and the fathers’.
” This work was in fact an enlargement, in Latin, of
one which he wrote in English, and published in 1621,
under the title of “The Altar of Damascus,
” and which is
uncommonly rare. It concludes with noticing a rumour
spread by bishop Spotswood, that Mr. Calderwood had
turned Brownist, which rumour it denies in strong language,
and with the following intemperate and unbecoming threat:
“If either Spotswood, or his supposed author, persist in
their calumny after this declaration, 1 shall try if there be
any blood in their foreheads.
” Calderwood having in Altare Damascenum,
” with a design, as Calderwood believed, to have
dispatched him: but Calderwood had privately returned
into his own country, where he remained for several years.
Scot gave out that the king furnished him with the matter
for the pretended recantation, and that he only put it in
order.
es, Councils, and ancient Fathers of the primitive Church,” Lond. 1565, 4to. 4. “Progne,” a tragedy, in Latin; whichprobably was never printed. It was acted before
, a learned divine of
the sixteenth century, otherwise named Calfield, Cawfield,
Chalfhill, or Calfed, was born in Shropshire, in 1530.
Strype, however, says he was a Scotchman, and cousin to
Toby Malhew, afterwards archbishop of York. He received his education at Eton school, and from thence was
sent, in 1545, to King’s college in Cambridge, from which
he was removed, with many Other Cambridge men, in 1548,
to Christ Church in Oxford, newly founded by king Henry
VIII. Here be shewed himself to be a person of quick
wit and great capacity; being an excellent poet and author of a tragedy, with other theatrical performances. In
1549, he took his degree of bachelor of arts; and that of
master in 1552, being junior of the act celebrated in St.
Mary’s church, July 18. He was made, in 1560, canon of
the second canonry in Christ Church cathedral, Oxon; and,
On the 12th of December 1561, took the degree of bachelor
of divinity. In 1562 he was proctor for the clergy of London and the chapter of Oxford in the convocation that
made the XXXIX Articles and on the 16th of May, the
same year, was admitted to the rectory of St. Andrew
Wardrobe, London. The 4th of October following, he
was presented by the crown to the prebend of St. Pancras,
in the cathedral church of St. Paul; and May 4, 1565, was
collated by Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury, to
the rectory of Booking, in Essex; and on July 16th following, to the archdeaconry of Colchester in Essex, by
Edmund Grindal, bishop of London. The same year, December 17th, he took the degree of doctor in divinity. In
1568, he preached two sermpns in Bristol cathedral, on purpose to confute Dr. Cheney, who held that see in commendam, and who had spoken disrespectfully of certain opinions of Luther and Calvin. In 1569 he made application
to secretary Cecil, chancellor of the university of Cambridge, for the provostship of king’s college, but Dr.
Goad’s interest prevailed. Upon the translation of.Dr. Edwin Sandys from the bishopric of Worcester to that of
London in 1570, Dr. Calfhiil was nominated by queen
Elizabeth to succeed him 3 but before his consecration he
died, about the beginning of August (having a little before resigned his canonry of Christ Church, and rectory of St. Andrew Wardrobe), and was buried in the chancel of
Bocking church. His works were, 1. “Querela Oxoniensis Academise ad Cantabrigiam,
” Lond. Historia de exhumatione Catherines nuper
uxoris Pet. Martyris;
” or, The History of the digging up
the body of Catherine late wife of Peter Martyr, Lond.
1562, 8vo. The remains of this lady had been deposited
in the cathedral of Christ Church, near to the relics of St.
Frideswide, and in queen Mary’s reign were dug up and
buried in the dunghill near the stables belonging to the
dean; but on the accession of queen Elizabeth, an order
was given to replace them with suitable solemnity. This
order our author partly executed, and the remains of
Martyr’s wife were on this occasion purposely mixed with
those of St. Frideswide, that the superstitious worshippers
of the latter might never be able to distinguish or separate
them. 3. Answer to John Martiall’s “Treatise of the Cross,
gathered out of the Scriptures, Councils, and ancient Fathers of the primitive Church,
” Lond. Progne,
” a tragedy, in Latin; whichprobably was never
printed. It was acted before que^n Elizabeth at Oxford
in 1566, in Christ Church hall; but, says Wood, “it did
not take half so well as the much admired play of Palsemon
and Arcyte,
” written by Edwards. 5. “Poemata varia.
”
As to his character, we are informed, that he was in his
younger days a noted poet and comedian and in his elder,
an exact disputant, and had an excellent faculty in speaking and preaching. One who had heard him preach, gives
this account of him: “His excellent tongue, and rhetorical tale, tilled with good and wholesome doctrine, so
ravished the minds of the hearers, that they were all in
admiration of his eloquence.
” One John Calfhill, chaplain to Dr. Matthew, archbishop of York, a prebendary of
Durham, &c. who died in 1619, was probably son to our
author.
king there was much in this, did not answer it until pressed by his friends, when he wrote an answer in Latin, which, however, was not at this time published. When
, a celebrated French philosopher, was
a native of Mesnil-Hubert, near Argenton, in the diocese
of Seez. About 165.5, he studied philosophy at Caen,
and afterwards divinity at Paris, but philosophy was his
favourite pursuit, and the foundation of his fame. In
1660 he taught in the college du Bois, in Caen, and became there acquainted with Huet, afterwards bishop of
Avranches, who acknowledged the assistance he derived
from Cally in his studies. Their intimacy, however, was
interrupted by Cally’s avowal of adherence to ttie Cartesian system. CaJly was the first in France who had the
courage to profess himself a Cartesian, in defiance of the
prejudices and numbers of those who adhered to the ancient philosophy. He first broached his Cartesianism in
the way of hypothesis, but afterwards taught it more
openly, which procured him many enemies. Huet, although then very young, ventured to censure him; and
father Valois, the Jesuit, who was a contemporary professor of philosophy, attacked both Cally and his opinions
in a work which he published under the name of Louis de
la Ville, in 1680, entitled “Sentimens de M. Descartes,
touchant Pessence et les proprietes des corps, opposes a la
doctrine de Peglise, et conformesaux erreurs de Calvin sur
I'eucharistie.
” Cally, not thinking there was much in this,
did not answer it until pressed by his friends, when he
wrote an answer in Latin, which, however, was not at
this time published. When the duke de Montausier was
appointed by Louis XIV. to provide eminent classical
scholars to write notes on the classics published for the use
of the Dauphin, Cally was selected for the edition of
“Boethius de Consolatione,
” which he published, accordingly, in Institutio philosophica,
” 4to, which he
afterwards greatly enlarged, and published in 1695 under
the title “Universae philosophise institutio,
” Caen, 4 vols.
4to. In 1675 he was appointed principal of the college of
arts in Caen, on which he began a new course of philosophical lectures, and laid out ten or twelve thousand francs
on rebuilding a part of the college which had fallen into
ruin. In 1684 he was appointed curate of the parish of
St. Martin, in Caen, and the Protestants who were then
very numerous in that city, flocked to his sermons, and he
held conferences once or twice a week in his vestry, which
they attended with much pleasure, and we are told he 'made
many converts to the Popish religion. But this success,
for which every Catholic ought to have been thankful, excited the envy of those who had quarrelled with him before
on account of his Cartesianism, and by false accusations,
they procured him to be exiled to Moulins in 1686, where
he remained for two years. Finding on his return that the
Protestants were still numerous in Caen, and that they
entertained the same respect for him as before, he wrote for
their use a work entitled “Durand cornmente, ou Paccord
de la philosophie avec la theologie, tonchaut la transubstantialion.
” In this, which contained part of his answer
to father Valois, mentioned above, he revives the opinion
of the celebrated Durand, who said, if the church decided
that there was a transubstantiation in the eucharist, there
must remain something of what was bread, to make a difference between the creation and production of a thing
which was not, and annihilation or a thing reduced to
nothing. Cally sent this work in ms. to M. Basnage, who
had been one of his scholars, but received no answer. la
the mean time, unwilling to delay a work which he hoped
would contribute to the conversion of the Protestants, “he
engaged with a bookseller at Caen to print only sixty
copies, which he purposed to send to his friends at Paris,
and obtain their opinion as to a more extended publication.
The bookseller, however, having an eye only to his own
interest, undertook to assure Cally that the work would be
approved by the doctors of the Sorbonne, and he therefore
would print eight hundred. Cally unfortunately consented, and the work no sooner appeared, than he who
fondly hoped it would convert heretics, was himself treated
as a heretic. M. de Nesmond, then bishop of Bayeux,
condemned the work in a pastoral letter March 30, 1701,
and Cally in April following made his retractation, which
he not only read in his own church, but it was read in all
other churches; and he also destroyed the impression, so
that it is now classed among rare books. It was a small
vol. 12mo, 1700, printed at Cologne, under the name of
Pierre Marteau. Cally also published some of his sermons,
but they were too philosophical and dry for the closet, although he had contrived to give them a popular effect in
the pulpit. A work entitled
” Doctrine heretique, &c.
touchant la primauté du pape, enseignee par les Jesuites
dans leur college de Caen," is attributed to him, but as it
bears date 1644, he must have then been too young. He
died Dec. 31, 1709.
lica, et Gallica, Lingua composita, anuo 1769. Augustse Litteris Spathianis, 1770.” It is dedicated, in Latin, to LinIkeiis, and consists of various pieces in Latin,
, Lord Baltimore, a descendant of the preceding, and eldest son of Charles, the sixth
lord, was born in 1731, and succeeded to the title on the
death of his father in 1751, and also to the proprietorship
of Maryland. After returning from his travels he married
lady Diana Egerton, youngest daughter of the duke of
Bridgwater. In 1768 he was indicted at the Kingston assizes for a rape, but acquitted. He went soon after to
reside on the continent, and died at Naples, Sept. 14, 1771,
without issue by marriage, leaving his fortune to his sister,
Mrs. Eden. In 1767, he published “A Tour to the East
in the years 1763 and 1764, with remarks on the city of
'Constantinople and the Turks. Also select pieces of Oriental wit, poetry, and wisdom,
” Lond. Gaudia Poetica, Latina, Anglica,
et Gallica, Lingua composita, anuo 1769. Augustse Litteris Spathianis, 1770.
” It is dedicated, in Latin, to LinIkeiis, and consists of various pieces in Latin, French, and
English, prose and verse, of very little merit. A copy,
the only one said to be known in this country , was sold
at Mr. Isaac Reed’s sale, who likewise had another performance of his lordship’s, equally rare, and valued only
for its rarity, entitled “Coelestes et Inferi,
” Venetiis,
ca’s treatise “De dementia,” being at this time about twenty- four years of age. Having put his name in Latin to this piece, he laid aside his surname Cauvin, for that
, one of the chief reformers of the
church, was born at Noyon in Picardy, July 10, 1509. He
was instructed in grammar at Paris under Maturinus Corderius, to whom he afterwards dedicated his Commentary
on the first epistle of the Thessalonians, and studied philosophy in the college of Montaigu under a Spanish professor. His father, uho discovered many marks of hitf
early piety, particularly in his reprehensions of the vices of
his companions, designed him for the church, and got him
presented, May 21, 1521, to the chapel of Notre Dame
de la Gesine, in the church of Noyon. In 1527 he was
presented to the rectory of Marteville, which he exchanged
in 1529 fortlie rectory of Pont I‘Eveque near Noyon. His
father afterwards changed his resolution, and would have
him study law; to which Calvin, who, by reading the
scriptures, had conceived a dislike to the superstitions of
popery, readily consented, and resigned the chapel of Gesine and the rectory of Pont l’Eveque in 1534. He had
never, it must here be observed, been in priest’s orders, and
belonged to the church only by having received the tonsure.
He was sent to study the law first under Peter de l'Etoile
(Petrus Stella) at Orleans, and afterwards under Andrew
Alciat at Bourges, and while he made a great progress in
that science, he improved no less in the knowledge of divinity by his private studies. At Bourges he applied to the
Greek tongue, under the direction of professor Wolmar.
His father’s death having called him back to Noyon, he
staid there a short time, and then went to Paris, where he
wrote a commentary on Seneca’s treatise “De dementia,
”
being at this time about twenty- four years of age. Having
put his name in Latin to this piece, he laid aside his surname Cauvin, for that of Calvin, styling himself in the
title-page “Lucius Calvinus civis Romanus.
” He soon
made himself known at Paris to such as had privately embraced the reformation, and by frequent intercourse with
them became more confirmed in his principles. A speech
of Nicholas Cop, rector of the university of Paris, of which
Calvin furnished the materials, having greatly displeased
the Sorbonne and the parliament, gave rise to a persecu^
tion against the protestants; and Calvin, who narrowly escaped being taken in the college of Forteret, was forced to
retire to Xaintonge, after having had the honour to be introduced to the queen of Navarre, who allayed this first storm
raised against the protestants. Calvin returned to Paris in
1534. This year the reformed met with severe treatment,
which determined him to leave France, after publishing a
treatise against those who believe that departed souls are
in a kind of sleep. He retired to Basil, where he studied
Hebrew; at this time he published his “Institutions of the
Christian Religion,
” a work well adapted to spread his fame,
though he himself was desirous of living in obscurity. It
is dedicated to the French king, Francis I. This prince
being solicitous, according to Beza, to gain the friendship
of the Protestants in Germany, and knowing that they
were highly incensed by the cruel persecutions which their
brethren suffered in France, he, by advice of William de
Bellay, represented to them that he had only punished
certain enthusiasts, who substituted their own imaginations
in the place of God’s word, and despised the civil magistrate. Calvin, stung with indignation at this wicked evasion, wrote this work as an apology for the Protestants who
were burnt for their religion in France. The dedication to
Francis I. is one of the three that have been highly admired: that of Thuanus to his history, and Casaubon’s to
Polybius, are the two others. But this treatise, when first
published in 1555, was only a sketch of a larger work.
The complete editions, both in Latin and in French, with
the author’s last additions and corrections, did not appear
till 1558. After the publication of this work, Calvin went
to Italy to pay a visit to the duchess of Ferrara, a lady of
eminent piety, by whom he was very kindly received.
Prom Italy he came back to France, and having settled his
private affairs, he purposed to go to Strasbourg, or Basil,
in company with his sole surviving brother Antony Calvin;
but as the roads were not safe on account of the war, except through the duke of Savoy’s territories, he chose that
road. “This was a particular direction of Providence,
”
says Bayle; “it was his destiny that he should settle at
Geneva, and when he was wholly intent on going farther,
he found himself detained by an order from heaven, if I
may so speak.
” William Farel, a man of a warm enthusiastic temper, who had in vain used many entreaties to
prevail with Calvin to be his fellow-labourer in that part of
the Lord’s vineyard, at last solemnly declared to him, in
the name of God, that if he would not stay, the curse of
God would attend him wherever he went, as seeking himself and not Christ. Calvin therefore was obliged to
comply with the choice which the consistory and magistrates of Geneva made of him, with the consent of the,
people, to be one of their ministers, and professor of divinity. It was his own wish to undertake only this last
office, but he was gbliged to take both upon him in August
1536. The year following he made all the people declare,
upon oath, their assent to a confession of faith, which contained a renunciation of Popery: and because this reformation in doctrine did not put an entire stop to the immoralities that prevailed at Geneva, nor banish that spirit of
faction which had set the principal families at variance,
Calvin, in concert with his colleagues, declared that they
could not celebrate the sacrament whilst they kept up their
animosities, and trampled on the discipline of the church.
He also intimated, that he could not submit to the regulation which the synod of the canton of Berne had lately
made *. On this, the syndics of Geneva summoned an assembly of the people; and it was ordered that Calvin,
Farel, and another minister, should leave the town in two
days, for refusing to administer the sacrament. Calvin'
retired to Strasbourg, and established a French church in
that city, of which he was the first minister; he was also
appointed to be professor of divinity there* During his
stay at Strasbourg, he continued to give many marks of
his affection for the church of Geneva; as appears, amongst
other things, by the answer which he wrote in 1539, to the
beautiful but artful letter of cardinal Sadolet, bishop of
Carpentras, inviting the people of Geneva to return into
the bosom of the Romish church. Two years after, the
divines of Strasbourg being very desirous that he should
assist at the diet which the emperor had appointed to be
held at Worms and at Ratisbon, for accommodating religious differences, he went thither with Bucer, and had a
conference with Melancthon. In the mean time the people
of Geneva (the syndics who promoted his banishment being now some of them executed, and others forced to fly their country for their crimes), entreated him so earnestly to
return to them, that at last he consented. He arrived at
Geneva, Sept. 13, 1541, to the great satisfaction both of
the people and the magistrates; and the first measure ha
adopted after his arrival, was to establish a form of church,
discipline, and a consistorial jurisdiction, invested with,
the power of inflicting censures and canonical punishments,
his elaborate and finished work, he had formed a design for writing a general history of this nation in Latin, of which the account of the conquest inserted in the
Mr. Camden being confined many months in consequence of a hurt in his leg by a fall from his horse, Sept. 7, 1607, employed himself in putting the last hand to the complete edition of his Britannia in folio, considerably augmented, adorned with maps, and applauded by a variety of poetical compliments from his friends both at home and abroad. He did not to the last give up thoughts of revising and enlarging it, for in 1621, we find him at Sandhurst in Kent, searching without success for a camp of Alexander Severus, who was, without any foundation, supposed to have been killed there instead of at Sisila or Sicila in Gaul. Dr. Smith gave Mr. Hearne, who left it to the Bodleian library, a copy of the last edition of the Britannia, with notes and emendations by Mr. Camden himself, in the margin and on little pieces of paper fixed in their proper places; and from this copy Hearne once had thoughts of publishing a new edition of the Britannia in the original language. Before Camden undertook this elaborate and finished work, he had formed a design for writing a general history of this nation in Latin, of which the account of the conquest inserted in the Britannia, article Normans, is a part: but foreseeing that the bare collecting materials would take up a man’s life, he contented himself with publishing the volume of original historians before mentioned.
cham, written in compliment to his friend Dr. Grant, and prefixed to his edition of Ascham’s Letters in Latin, 1590, 12mo; another entitled “ Hibernia an hexastich
Mr. Camden possessed no contemptible vein of poetry,
as may be seen by his Latin poem, entitled “Sylva,
” in
praise of Roger Ascham, written in compliment to his
friend Dr. Grant, and prefixed to his edition of Ascham’s
Letters in Latin, 1590, 12mo; another entitled “
Hibernia an hexastich prefixed to Hakluyt’s Voyages another
to sir Clement Edmondes’ translation of Cæsar’s Commentaries another to Thomas Rogers’ s
” Anatomy of the human mind, 7 ' 1576, 12mo. He wrote also ten epitaphs,
the most remarkable of which is that for the queen of
Scots. The marriage of the Tame and Isis, of which he
more than half confesses himself the author, does honour
to his fancy, style, and numbers.
500. The ancient family name was Leibhard, but it was afterwards changed into that of Cammermeister, in Latin Camerarius, or Chamberlain, from one of his ancestors
, one of the most learned writers of his age, was born at Bamberg April 12, 1500. The ancient family name was Leibhard, but it was afterwards changed into that of Cammermeister, in Latin Camerarius, or Chamberlain, from one of his ancestors having held that office at court. He was sent to a school at Leipsic when he was 13 years of age, and soon distinguished himself by his application to Greek and Latin authors, which he read without ceasing. When Leipsic, on one occasion, was in a tumult, Camerarius shewed no concern about any thing but an Aldus’s Herodotus, which he carried under his arm; and which indeed to a scholar at that time was of some consequence, when printing was in its infancy, and Greek books not easily procured. It is yet more to his praise that his Greek professor, when obliged to be absent, entrusted him to read his lectures, although at that time he was but sixteen years old. In 1517 he studied philosophy under Moseilanus; and this was the year, when the indulgences were preached, which gave occasion to the reformation. Camerarius was at St. Paul’s church in Leipsic with Heltus, who was his master in Greek and Latin literature, when these indulgences were exposed from the pulpit; but Heltus was so offended with the impudence of the Dominican who obtruded them, that he went out of the church in the middle of the sermon, and ordered Camerarius to follow him. When he had staid at Leipsic five years, he went to Erford; and three years after to Wittemberg, where Luther and Melancthon were maintaining and propagating the reformation. He knew Melancthon before lived afterwards in the utmost intimacy with him and, after Melancthon' s death, wrote a very copious and accurate life of him. He was also soon after introduced to Erasnrus, and his uncommon abilities and industry made him known to all the eminent men of his time.
He likewise published a catalogue of the bishops of the principal sees; Greek epistles; itineraries in Latin verse; epigrams of the ancient Greek poets; a commentary
His labours in the literary republic were prodigious.
He wrote a vast number of books, among which are the
lives of Melancthon and Hessius, and “Commentaries on
the NewTestament, grammatical and critical,
” printed with
Beza’s Greek Testament, Cambridge, he studied incessantly,
within doors and without, up and in bed, on a journey, and
in hours even of recreation; that he learned French and
Italian when he was old; that he had but a smattering of
Hebrew; that he understood Greek well; and that in Latin
he was inferior to none.
” Turnebus, Henry Stephens,
Lipsius, Beza, Scaliger, Thuanus, and Vossius, all speak
of him in the highest terms. Erasmus only said he owed
more to industry than to nature, which might, however,
apply to the uncommon care he took in remedying her
defects; but this opinion does not correspond with that
of any of his contemporaries. In private character he was a
man of great goodness of disposition, great humanity, candour, and. sincerity in his searches after truth.
e, and saying nothing of its being a translation, made some believe that the Lusiadas was originally in Latin. Large commentaries have been written upon the Lusiadas;
Camoens wrote a variety of poetical compositions, some
of which have been lately very elegantly translated into
English by lord viscount Strangford, who has also prefixed
a life of the author, from which we have extracted some
remarks. According to the researches his lordship has
made into the character of Camoens, he appears to have
possessed a lofty and independent spirit, with a disposition to gallantry which may probably have involved him in
difficulties. His genius, however, appears principally io
the “Lusiad,
” the subject of which is the first discovery of
the East Indies by Vasco de Gama the poem is conducted
according to the epic plan: both the subject and the in r
cidents are magnificent, but the machinery is perfectly
extravagant. Not only, says Blair, is it formed of a singular mixture of Christian ideas and pagan mythology,
tout it is so conducted, that the pagan gods appear to be
the true deities, and Christ and the blessed Virgin, to be
subordinate agents. One great scope of the Portuguese
expedition, our author informs us, is to propagate the
Christian faith, and to extirpate Mahometanism. In this
religious undertaking, the great protector of the Portuguese is Venus, and their great adversary is Bacchus,
whose displeasure is excited by Vasco’s attempting to rival
his tame in the Indies. Councils of the gods are held, in
which Jupiter is introduced, as foretelling the downfall of
Mahometanism, and the propagation of the gospel Vasco,
in a great distress from a storm, prays most seriously to
God; implores the aid of Christ and the Virgin; and begs
for such assistance as was given to the Israelites, when they
were passing through the Red Sea; and to the apostle
Paul, when he was in hazard of shipwreck. In return to
this prayer, Venus appears, who, discerning the storm to
be the work of Bacchus, complains to Jupiter, and procures the winds to be calmed. Such strange and preposterous machinery, shews how much authors have been
misled by the absurd opinion, that there could be no epic
poetry without the gods of Homer. Towards the end of
the work, indeed, the author gives us an awkward salvo for
his whole mythology: making the goddess Thetis inform
Vasco, that she, and the rest of the heathen deities, are no
more than names to describe the operations of Providence.
There is, however, says the same judicious critic, some
fine machinery of a different kind in the Lusiad. The genius of the river Ganges, appearing to Emanuel king of
Portugal, in a dream, inviting that prince to discover his
secret springs, and acquainting him that he was the destined monarch for whom the treasures of the East were
reserved, is a happy idea. But the noblest conception of
this sort is in the fifth canto, where Vasco is recounting to
the king of Melinda all the wonders which he met with in
his navigation. He tells him, that when the fleet arrived
at the Cape of Good Hope, which never before had been
doubled by any navigator, there appeared to them on a
sudden, a huge and monstrous phantom rising out of the
sea, in the midst of tempests and thunders, with a head
that reached the clouds, and a countenance that filled them
with terror. This was the genius, or guardian, of that
hitherto unknown ocean. It spoke to them with a voice
like thunder: menaced them for invading those seas which
he had so long possessed undisturbed, and for daring to
explore those secrets of the deep, which never had been
revealed to the eye of mortals; required them to proceed
no farther: if they should proceed, foretold all the successive calamities that were to befall them: and then, with
a mighty noise, disappeared. This is one of the most solemn and striking pieces of machinery that ever was employed, and is sufficient to show that Camoens is a poet,
though of an irregular, yet of a bold and lofty imagination.
The critical student will find a more severe censure of Canioens in Rapin, Dryden, and Voltaire. But the Lusiad
lias generally been considered as a poem of very superior
merit, and has been often reprinted and translated into
several languages, once into French, twice into Italian,
four times into Spanish; and lately, with uncommon excellence, into English, by Mr. Mickle; but it had beea
translated in the 17th century by sir Richard Fanshaw.
Mickle’s translation will be considered in his life. It was
translated into Latin by Thomas de Faria, bishop of Targa
in Africa; who, concealing his name, and saying nothing
of its being a translation, made some believe that the Lusiadas was originally in Latin. Large commentaries have
been written upon the Lusiadas; the most considerable of
which are those of Emanuel Faria de Sousa, in 2 vols. folio,
Madrid, 1639. These commentaries were followed the
year after with the publication of another volume in folio,
written to defend them; besides eight volumes of observations upon the miscellaneous poems of Camoens, which
this commentator left behind him in manuscript.
rable parts, an eloquent orator, a subtile philosopher and skilful disputant, an exact preacher both in Latin and English, and a man of good temper and address. Besides
All parties allow him to have been a most extraordinary:
man; of admirable parts, an eloquent orator, a subtile
philosopher and skilful disputant, an exact preacher both
in Latin and English, and a man of good temper and address. Besides the works already mentioned, he wrote,
1. “Nine Articles directed to the lords of the privy-council,
” The History of Ireland,
” noticed above,
published by sir James Ware, Dublin, 1633, fol. The
original ms. is in the British Museum. 3. “Chronologia
universalis.
” 4. te Conferences in the Tower,“published
by the English divines, 1583, 4to. 5 r
” Nar ratio de Divortio,“Antwerp, 1631. 6.
” Orationes,“ibid. 1631.
7.
” Epistoke variee,“ibid. 1631. 8.
” De Imitatione
Rhetorica," ibid. 1631. His life, written by Paul Bombino, a Jesuit, is very scarce the best edition is that of
Mantua, 1620, 8vo.
uch lamented. He was studious and learned, and is said to have understood eleven languages. He wrote in Latin a “History of the Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire,”
, of an illustrious family in
Tartary, and prince of Moldavia, was born in 1673. His
father, who was governor of the three cantons of Moldavia,
became prince of this province in 1664. Demetrius, being
sent early to Constantinople, flattered himself with the
prospect of succeeding him; but was supplanted by a rival
at the Porte. Being sent in 1710 by the Ottoman minister
to defend Moldavia against the czar Peter, he delivered
it up to that monarch and, following his new master
through his conquests, indemnified himself for all he had
lost; for he obtained the title of prince of the empire, with
full power and authority over the Moldavians, who quitted
their country to attach themselves to his fortunes. He
died, 1723, in his territories of the Ukraine, much lamented. He was studious and learned, and is said to have
understood eleven languages. He wrote in Latin a “History of the Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire,
”
A. D. System of the Mahometan Religion
” was written and printed
in the Russian language, by order of czar Peter; his moral
dialogues entitled “The World and the Soul,
” were
printed in Moldavia in Greek and Moldavian “The present state of Moldavia
” was printed in Latin his e< Musical
Airs with Turkish Words,“and
” An Introduction to Music," in Moldavian. He was also the author of other pieces,
which were either lost in his shipwreck, or still remain
in ms.
, in Latin Capycius, a native of Naples, and a Latin poet of the
, in Latin Capycius, a native of Naples, and a Latin poet of the sixteenth century, attempted
to imitate Lucretius, in his poem of the “Principles of
things,
” Frankfort, De Vate maximo,
” i. e. St. John the Baptist, which Gesner, doubtless a great friend of the poet,
equalled with the productions of antiquity.
th judgment to the second. He wrote several works of controversial theology and a system of divinity in Latin, 7 vols. folio.
, a Cistercian monk, born at Madrid in 1606, was at first abbot of Melrose, in the Low Countries, then titulary bishop of Missi; afterwards, by a singular turn, engineer apd intendant of the fortifications in Bohemia, from having served as a soldier. The same capricious and inconstant humour which made him lay down the crozier to take up the halberd, now led him from being engineer to, become bishop again. He had successively the bishoprics of Konigsgratz, of Campano, and of Vigevano, in which lastmentioned town he died in 1682, aged 76. He was a man of the most unbounded mind, and of whom it was said, that he was endowed with genius to the eighth degree, with eloquence to the fifth, and with judgment to the second. He wrote several works of controversial theology and a system of divinity in Latin, 7 vols. folio.
th his ancestors, in the church of St. Anthony, where a splendid monument, with a large inscription, in Latin, was erected to his memory. In an epigram written upon
, author of the Survey of Cornwal,
and brother of the preceding sir George Carew, the ambassador, was the eldest son of Thomas Carew, of Mast
Anthony, esq. by Elizabeth Edgecombe, daughter of Richard Edgecombe, of Edgecombe, esq. both in the same
county, and was born in 1555. When very young, he
became a gentleman commoner of Christ Church college,
Oxford; and at fourteen years of age had the honour of
disputing, extempore, with the afterwards famous sir Philip
Sydney, in the presence of the earls of Leicester, Warwick, and other nobility. After spending three years at
the university, he removed to the Middle Temple, where
he also resided three years, and then travelled into France,
and applied himself so diligently to the acquisition of the
French language, that by reading and conversation he
gained a complete knowledge of it in three quarters of a
year. Not long after his return to England he married, in
1577, Juliana Arundel, of Trerice. In 1581, Mr. Carew
was made justice of the peace, and in 1586 was appointed
high sheriff of the county of Cornwal; about which time
he was, likewise, queen’s deputy for the militia. In 1589
he was elected a member of the college of antiquaries, a
distinction to which he was entitled by his literary abilities
and pursuits. What particularly engaged his attention
was his native county, his “Survey
” of which was published
in quarto, at London, in Survey
” must have been greatly diminished.
Mr. Gough remarks, that the history and monuments of
this county were faintly touched by Mr. Carew; but it is
added, that he was a person extremely capable of describing them, if the infancy of those studies at that time had
afforded him light and materials. Another work of our
author was a translation from the Italian, but originally
written by Huarte in Spanish, entitled “The Examination
of Men’s Wits. In which, by discovering the variety of
natures, is shewed for what profession each one is apt, and
how far he shall profit therein.
” This was published at
London in 1504, and afterwards in 1604; and, thouo-h.
Richard Carew’s name is prefixed to it, has been principally ascribed by some persons to his father. According
to Wood, Mr. Carevv wrote also “The true and ready way
to learn the Latin Tongue,
” in answer to a query, whether
the ordinary method of teaching the Latin by the rules of
grammar, be the best mode of instructing youths in that
language? This tract t is involved in Mr. Samuel Hartlib’s
book upon the same subject, and with the same title. It
is certain that Mr. Carew was a gentleman of considerable
abilities and literature,and that he was held in great estimation by some of the most eminent scholars of his time. He
was particularly intimate with sir Henry Spelman, who
extols him for his ingenuity, virtue, and learning. Amongst
his neighbours he was celebrated as the most excellent
manager of bees in Cornwall. He died Nov. 6, 1620, and
was buried with his ancestors, in the church of St. Anthony,
where a splendid monument, with a large inscription, in
Latin, was erected to his memory. In an epigram written upon him he was styled “another Livy, another
Maro, another Papinian,
” epithets somewhat too high fot
his real merit. An English translation of “Godfrey of
Bulloigne,
” from Tasso, by him, was published in
sed, in much better health than usual. He was buried in St. John’s church, Hertford, with an epitaph in Latin, written by himself, in which he seems to reflect a little
, LL. D. many years an eminent schoolmaster at Hertford, and known to the literary world as the
translator of Lucian, was born at Muggleswick, in the
county of Durham, in 1722. His father was a fanner, and
had a small estate of his own, which the doctor possessed
at his death. He was first educated at the village school,
and privately by the rev. Daniel Watson, who was then a
young man, and curate of that place. Afterwards he was
sent to St. Paul’s school, where he continued longer than
boys usually do, as his father could not afford to send him
to either of the universities. He is supposed to have been
once a candidate for the mastership of St. Paul’s, but the
want of a degree was fatal to his application. When still
young, however, he became usher to Dr. Hurst, who was
master of the grammar-school at Hertford, and succeeded
him in that situation, which he held for many years with
the highest credit. He was honoured with the degree o/
LL. D. from the Marischal college, Aberdeen, by the influence of Dr. Beattie. He died June 6, 1807, after experiencing a gradual decay for nearly a year before, but on
the day of his death was, as he supposed, in much better
health than usual. He was buried in St. John’s church,
Hertford, with an epitaph in Latin, written by himself, in
which he seems to reflect a little on time lost, “studits
inanibus.-
” This may probably allude to his “Translation
of Lucian,
” on which he employed many of his leisure
hours, and which was published in 5 vols. 8vo. from 1773
to 1798. It procured him considerable fame, which, however, lias been diminished, in the opinion of many, since
the appearance of Dr. Francklin’s more classical translation.
Dr. Carr’s other publications were trifles, on which himself
perhaps set no very high value “Vol. III. of Tristram
Shandy,
” in imitation of Sterne, but soon detected, 1760
“Filial Piety,
” a mock heroic, 1764, fol. and
” Eponi-na, a
Dramatic Essay, addressed to the ladies," 1765.
s order, where he died the same year, aged 72. His principal works are, 1. “Summary of the Councils” in Latin, 1681, 4to, which is valued. 2. “A Treatise on the residence
, a Dominican, born in
1504 at Miranda in Navarre, appeared with great distinction at the council of Trent, where he composed a treatise
on trie residence of bishops, which he held to be of divine
right, treating the contrary opinion as diabolical. Philip II.
king of Spain, having married queen Mary in 1554, took
Carranza with him into England, who laboured to restore
the Catholic religion there, and pleased Philip so much,
that he appointed him archbishop of Toledo 1557. This
illustrious prelate was, however, accused before the Inquisition, 1559, and carried as a heretic to Rome, where he
was thrown into prison, and suffered greatly during ten
years, notwithstanding the solicitations of his friend Navarre, who openly undertook his defence. At length the
Inquisition declared by a sentence passed 1576, that there
was not any certain proof that Carranza was a heretic.
They condemned him nevertheless to abjure the errors
which had been imputed to him, and confined him to la
Minerve, a monastery of his order, where he died the same
year, aged 72. His principal works are, 1. “Summary
of the Councils
” in Latin, A Treatise on the residence of Bishops,
” A Catechism
” in Spanish,
here he died in 1556 or 1557. He was considered as one of the most elegant writers of his time, both in Latin and Italian; of the former we have sufficient proof in
, an eminent Italian writer, was
born at Florence in 1503, and educated at Bologna, and at
Florence under Ubaldino Bandinelli. In 153S he became
clerk of the apostolic chamber, and was in his youth distinguished for the elegance of his writings, and the licentiousness of his morals. In 1544 he was promoted to the
archbishopric of Benevento, and sent as pope’s nuncio to
Venice, and it is thought would have been made a cardinal,
but for some indecent writings which he had published in
his youth: but there must have been some other reason
than this for his not obtaining that honour, as these writings had been no obstruction to his advancement to the
archbishopric. He was engaged, however, in several political negociations, until he became involved in the disgrace of the cardinal Alexander Farnese, and retired to
Venice. Upon the accession of pope Paul IV. who had an
esteem for him, he returned to Rome, where he amused
himself with literary pursuits, and where he died in 1556
or 1557. He was considered as one of the most elegant
writers of his time, both in Latin and Italian; of the former we have sufficient proof in his “Latina Monimenta,
”
Florence, Galateo,
” or art of living in the world, which is a system
of politeness, and has been translated into most European
languages. In 1774, it was published in an English translation, 12mo. There are complete editions of Casa’s works,
Venice, 1752, 3 vols. and 5 vols. and Naples, 6 vols. 4to.
Some of his Italian poems are sufficiently licentious, but
the authenticity of other works of that description attributed to him has been questioned, particularly by Marchand,
and by other authorities specified by Saxius.
nch by Nic. Fontaine, 1663, 2 vols. 8vo; and seven books upon the Incarnation. These are all written in Latin, with a clearness and simplicity of style excellently
, was a celebrated solitary, a native
of Scythia, of the fifth century, who spent part of his life
in the monastery of Bethlehem with the monk Germain,
his friend. They engaged openly in the defence of St.
Chrysostom, against Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria.
Cassian went to Rome, and from thence to Marseilles,
where he founded two monasteries, one of men, the other
of virgins. He ranks among the greatest masters of the
monastic life, and died about the year 448. He left
“Collations,
” or conferences of the fathers of the desert,
and “Institutions,
” in 12 books, translated iHto French by
Nic. Fontaine, 1663, 2 vols. 8vo; and seven books upon
the Incarnation. These are all written in Latin, with a
clearness and simplicity of style excellently calculated to
inspire the heart with virtuous dispositions. They were
printed at Paris, 1642, and at Leipsic, 1722, folio, and are
in the library of the fathers. St. Prosper has written
against the “Conferences.
” Cassian is reckoned among
the first of the Semi-Pelagians, of which sect Faustus of
Riez, Vincent of Lerins, Gennadius of Marseilles, Hilerias
of Aries, and Arnobius the younger, were the principal
defenders. The semi-pelagians were opposed by the whole
united forces of St. Augustin and Prosper, without being
extirpated, or overcome by them. This sect was condemned by some synods, and was rejected by the church.
f Italy, who acquired considerable reputation in the sixteenth century, by his poetical compositions in Latin and Italian, was born at Feltri about 1480, of a noble
, a lawyer of Italy, who acquired considerable reputation in the sixteenth century,
by his poetical compositions in Latin and Italian, was born
at Feltri about 1480, of a noble family. He studied philosophy ai>d the arts at Padua, where he received his doctor’s degree in 1503. He afterwards studied law, and
amidst the fatigues of his profession, found leisure to
cultivate the muses. The town of Feltri employed him as
their agent at Venice, where, as well as at Padua, he
formed an intimacy with many eminent scholars and persons of rank. He died in 1537, lamented by his friends
and by his country, to which he had rendered important
services. Both during his life and after his death, he was
celebrated by the contemporary poets, and a medal was
struck to his memory. He was married, but having no
children, he founded a college or academy at Padua, with
three scholarships, one of civil and canon law, another of
medicine, and the third of arts; and whoever enjoyed these
was obliged to teach poor scholars gratis for a certain
period. His poetical works remained unpublished, and
indeed unknown until 1757, when they were printed in a
small quarto volume, “Poesi volgari e Latine di Cornelio
Castaldi,
” &c. with his life by Thomas Joseph Farsetti, a
patrician of Venice. His Italian poems are written with
ease, and abound in imagery, and in his Latin ' efforts he
has imitated the ancients with success. M. Conti was the
editor of the collection.
he printed a Greek poem on the life of John the baptist, and a paraphrase on the prophecy of Jonah, in Latin verse. He translated some passages of Homer, and some
He published in 1546, a translation of the Sibylline verses into Latin heroic verse, and of the books of Moses into Latin prose, with notes. This was followed, in 1547, by his Latin version of the psalms of David, and of all the other songs found in scripture. In 1548, he printed a Greek poem on the life of John the baptist, and a paraphrase on the prophecy of Jonah, in Latin verse. He translated some passages of Homer, and some books of Xenophon and St. Cyril. He also turned into Latin several treatises of the famous Ochinus, particularly the thirty dialogues, some of which seem to favour polygamy. He advanced some singular notions in his notes on the books of Moses; as for instance, that the bodies of malefactors ought not to be left on the gibbets; and that they ought not to be punished with death, but with slavery. His reason for these opinions was, that the political laws of Moses bind all nations. His notes on the Epistle to the Romans were condemned by the church of Basil, because they opposed the doctrine of predestination and efficacious grace. He began his Latin translation of the Bible at Geneva in 1542, and finished it at Basil in 1550. It was printed at Basil in 1551, and dedicated by the author to Edward VI. king of England. He published a second edition of it in 1554, and another in 1556. The edition of 157& is most esteemed. The French version was dedicated to Henry II. of France, and printed at Basil in 1555, and in this he is accused of having made use of low and vulgar terms. Those who have indulged their invectives against- Calvin and Beza for their dislike of Castalio’s translations, do not seem to advert to the serious consequences of exhibiting bad translations to the people, who had but just been admitted to the privilege of reading the scriptures in any shape.
iction. The younger Aldus published a better at Lucca, 1590, 4to. Castracani’s Life was also written in Latin by Nicolas Tegrimo, and printed at Modena, 1496, 4to,
Machiavel, who has written the Life of Castruccio, and
from whom we have extracted this account of him, says,
that he was not only an extraordinary man in his own age,
but would have been so in any other. He was tall and
well-made, of a noble aspect, and so winning an address,
that all men went away from him satisfied. His hair was
inclining to red; and he wore it above his ears. Whereever he went, snow, hail, or rain, his head was always uncovered. He had all the qualities that make a man great;
was grateful to his friends, terrible to his enemies, just
with his subjects, subtle with strangers; and, where stratagem would do the business, he never had recourse to
force. No man was more forward to encounter dangers,
no man more careful to escape them. He had an uncommon presence of mind, and often made repartees with
great smartness. Machiavel’s Life, however, abounds in
fiction. The younger Aldus published a better at Lucca,
1590, 4to. Castracani’s Life was also written in Latin by
Nicolas Tegrimo, and printed at Modena, 1496, 4to, and
Paris, 1546; and Muratori has inserted it in vol. XL of his
“Script. Italic.
”
e editions of 1524, 4to, and 1526, 8vo, are also scarce. Johndu Pins wrote the life of St. Catherine in Latin, Bologna, 1505, 4to; there is another in French by P.
, of Sienna, was born in that city in
1347, and having vowed virginity at eight years old, she
took the Dominican habit some time after, and became
eminent for her genius, charity, zeal, and writings. Going to Avignon, in order to reconcile the Florentines with
Gregory XI. who had excommunicated them, she pressed that
pope so much, by her discourses and solicitations, that she
engaged him to quit France and go to Rome in 1377, where
he again fixed the pontifical seat, seventy years after Clement V. had removed it to France. She died 1380, aged
33, and was canonized by Pius II. 1461. Various “Letters
” in Italian are ascribed to her, which were printed at
Venice, 1500, fol. “Italian poems,
” Sienna,
nto Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portugueze, German, and English. He published several other books, both in Latin and French particularly, 1. “De Kloquentia sacra et humana,”
None of his works did him more honour in his day, than
that which he entitled “La cour sainte,
” or “The holy court,
”
a moral work, illustrated by stories well known once to the
readers of old folios in this country. It has been often reprinted and translated into Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portugueze, German, and English. He published several other
books, both in Latin and French particularly, 1. “De Kloquentia sacra et humana,
” Klectorum Symbolorum et Parabolarum historicarum Syntagmata,
” Disputes
sur les quatre livres des Hois, touchant l'Education des
Princes,
” fol. 4. “Tragedise Sacra,
” Apologie pour les Religieux de la Compagnie de Jesus,
” La Vie neutre des Filles devotes,
” &c. 1G44-.
7. “Symbolica ^gyptiorum Sapientia,
” Christian Diary
” was printed in English, Father,
you have here an attendant, who, if I am not mistaken,
will become in time one of the greatest ornaments in your
society.
”
until he procured him to be capitally condemned. This poem “Acerba,” properly “Acerbo,” or “Acervo,” in Latin Acervus, is in the sesta rima divided into five books,
, is the adopted name of Francis,
or Francesco Stabili; a native of Ascoli, in the march of
Ancona, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, whg
acquired considerable reputation, unfortunately for himself,
as a critic and poet. Among the many anachronisms and
contradictions in the accounts given of his life, which Tirabotchi has endeavoured to correct, we find that when
young, he was professor of astrology in the university of
Bologna, that he published a book on that science, which
being denounced to the Inquisition, he escaped by recanting what was offensive but that the same accusations
being afterwards renewed at Florence, he was condemned
to be burnt, and suffered that horrible deatb in 1327, in
the seventieth year of his age. We have already seen,
in former lives, that it was no uncommon thing for enraged
authors to apply to the secular arm for that revenge which
they could not otherwise have inflicted on one another.
The pretence for putting this poor man to death, was his
“Commentary on the Sphere of John de Sacrabosco,
” in
which, following the superstition of the times, he asserted
that wonderful things might be done by the agency of certain demons who inhabited the first of the celestial spheres.
This was foolish enough, but it was the prevalent folly of
the times, and Cecco probably believed what he wrote.
That he was not an impostor wiser than those whom he
duped, appears from his conduct to Charles, duke of Calabria, who appointed him his astrologer, and who, having
consulted him on the future conduct of his wife and daughter, Cecco, by his art, foretold that they would turn out
very abandoned characters. Had he not persuaded himself into the truth of this, he surely would have conciliated
so powerful a patron by a prediction of a more favourable
kind; and this, as may be supposed, lost him the favour of
the duke. But even the loss of his friend would not have
brought him to the stake, if he had not rendered himself
unpopular by attacking the literary merit of Dante and
Guido Cavalcanti, in his poem entitled “Acerba.
” This
provoked the malice of a famous physician, named Dino
del Garbo, who never desisted until he procured him to be
capitally condemned. This poem “Acerba,
” properly
“Acerbo,
” or “Acervo,
” in Latin Acervus, is in the
sesta rima divided into five books, and each of these into
a number of chapters, treating of the heavens, the elements, virtues, vices, love, animals, minerals, religion,
&c. The whole is written in a bad style, destitute of harmony, elegance, or grace; and, according to a late author, much of the plan, as well as the materials, are taken
from the “Tresor
” of Brunetto Latini. It is, however, a
work in demand with collectors, and although often
printed, most of the editions are now very scarce. The
first was printed at Venice in 1476, 4to, with the commentary of Nicolo Massetti, and was reprinted in 1478.
Haym (in the edition of his Biblioteca, 1771) speaks of a
first edition as early as 1458, which we apprehend no bibliographer has seen.
h printed and manuscript, and threatened to murder him; to some of which he returned an answer, both in Latin and English, declaring that he despised all their threats
, earl of Salisbury, son to the preceding, was born, probably, about the year 1550, and being of a weakly constitution, was tenderly brought up by his mother, and educated under a careful and excellent tutor till he was sent to St. John’s college, Cambridge. Here he had conferred upon him the degree of M. A. and was afterwards incorporated in the same degree at Oxford. In the parliaments of 1585 and 1586 he served for the city of Westminster; as he did afterwards, in 1588, 1592, 1597, and 1600, for the county of Hertford. In 1588 he was one of the young nobility who went volunteers on board the English fleet sent against the Spanish armada. He was a courtier from his cradle, having the advantage of the instructions and experience of his illustrious father, and living in those times when queen Elizabeth had most need of the ablest persons, was employed by her in affairs of the highest importance, and received the honour of knighthood in the beginning of June 1591, and in August following was sworn of the privy-council. In 1596 he was appointed secretary of state, to the great disgust of the earl of Essex, who was then absent in the expedition against Cadiz, and had been zealous for the promotion of sir Thomas Bodley. Whilst he was in that post he shewed an indefatigable address in procuring foreign intelligence from all parts of the world, holding, at his own charge, a correspondence with all ambassadors and neighbouring states. By this means he discovered queen Elizabeth’s enemies abroad, and private conspiracies at home* and was on this account as highly valued by die queen as he was hated by the popish party, who vented their malice against him in several libels, both printed and manuscript, and threatened to murder him; to some of which he returned an answer, both in Latin and English, declaring that he despised all their threats for the service of so good a cause as he was engaged in, that of religion and his country.
of the city of Nuremberg,” Strasburg, 1513, 4to; and various other works, enumerated by Moreri, all in Latin. He was not deficient in the sallies of imagination, though
, a Latin poet, called also Protucius and Meissel, was born at Sweinfurt near Wetrtzburg
in 1459, and died at Vienna in 1508, after having gained
the poetic laurel. He has left, 1. “Odes,
” Strasburg,
Epigrams,
” and a poem on the manners
of the Germans, An historical account
of the city of Nuremberg,
” Strasburg,
1670, and was early distinguished by spirit, vivacity, and a turn for poetry, which, while he wrote in Latin, procured him considerable reputation. This, however,
, a French Jesuit, was
born at Paris in 1670, and was early distinguished by
spirit, vivacity, and a turn for poetry, which, while he
wrote in Latin, procured him considerable reputation.
This, however, he forfeited by his French verses, in imitation of Marot, in which he mistook burlesque and trifling,
for the familiar and simple. He wrote also some theatrical
pieces of an inferior order but was more successful in his
“Defense de la Poesie Francoise,
” and other dissertations
on the same subject. He wrote also, 1. “L'Histoire de
Thamas Kouli-Kan, sophi de Perse,
” Amsterdam, Histoire de la Conjuration de Rienzi,
”
12mo, which was completed by father Brumoy. 3. A criticism on the abbé Boileau’s “History of the Flagellants.
” He contributed also a great many papers to the Journal de
Trevoux, and was long engaged in a controversy with one
of the authors of the Journal des Savans, occasioned by
two dissertations printed at the end of the second volume
of Sannadon’s Horace, relative to a passage in Horace
concerning the music of the ancients. This produced from
Cerceau some valuable essays on the subject. His Latin
poetry was published in 1696, 12mo, under the title
“Varia de variis argumentis Carmina a multis e societate
Jesu.
” The other authors in this volume are Vaniere and
Tarillon. In 1807, his dramatic pieces were reprinted at
Paris, in 3 vols. 18mo, under the title “Theatre à l'usage
des colleges,
” He died suddenly in
ch have not been published. Augustin Favoriti, secretary of the college of cardinals, wrote his life in Latin, which is in the “Memoria philosophorum, &c. curante Henningo
, a very accomplished Italian
scholar, was born at Rome in Oct. 1595, the son of Julian
Cesarini, duke of Citta Nuova, and of Livia Ursini. Such
was his application to study, that at an age when most
scholars are but beginning, he was acquainted with languages, philosophy, theology, law, medicine, mathematics,
and sacred and profane history. Cardinal Bellarmin compared him in knowledge, personal character, and accomplishments, to Picus de Mirandula, and such was the general esteem in which he was held, that a medal was struck
with the heads of Cesarini and Picus crowned with laurel,
and on the reverse two phenixes. His modesty and probity were not less conspicuous than his learning. Pope
Urban VIII. intended to have made him a cardinal, but he
died in the flower of his age, in 1624, then a member of
the academy of the Lyncei. His Latin and Italian poems
were printed in the collection entitled “Septem illustrium
virorum poemata,
” Antwerp, Memoria philosophorum,
&c. curante Henningo Witten, decas prima,
” Francfort,
s tired of contending with Politian, or because he was hurt with Politian’s acknowledged superiority in Latin learning. Such is the usually-received account, which
, a native of Athens,
of the fifteenth century, and the scholar of Theodore
Gaza, was one of those Greeks who about the time of the
taking of Constantinople went into the west. At the invitation of Lorenzo de Medici, he became professor of the
Greek language at Florence in 1479; where he had for
his rival Angelus Politianus, to whom Laurence had committed the tuition of one of his sons. After the death of
Laurence, Chalcondyles was invited to Milan by Lewis
Sfortia; which invitation he accepted, either because he
was tired of contending with Politian, or because he was
hurt with Politian’s acknowledged superiority in Latin
learning. Such is the usually-received account, which
rests only on the authority of Paul Jovius, who was always
hostile to the character of Politian; but Mr. Roscoe in his
life of Lorenzo has proved that the story is without foundation. At Milan, however, Chalcondyles taught Greek
a long time with great reputation; and did not die before
1510, when there is reason to think he was above 80 years
of age. Among the learned Greeks whom pope Nicolas V.
sent to Rome to translate the Greek authors into Latin,
Chalcondyles was one; from which we may collect, that
he probably travelled into the west before the taking of
Constantinople in 1453, since Nicolas died in 1455. He
published a grammar, of which we shall presently take
notice; and under his inspection and care was first published at Florence, in 1499, the Greek Lexicon of Suidas.
Pierius Valerianus, in his book “De infelicitate literatorum,
” says, that Chalcondyles, though a deserving man
in his moral as well as literary character, led nevertheless
a very unhappy life; and reckons perpetual banishment
from his country among the chief of his misfortunes.
Others have mentioned domestic evils that have attended
him. The particulars of his life are very imperfectly
given. Dr. Hody has probably collected all that now can
be found, but he has merely given the notices from various
authors, without attempting a regular narrative. Some
have thought that he was at one time a printer, and that
he printed the folio Homer of Florence, which goes by his
name, and which was executed in 1488; but this report
no doubt arose from the care he took in correcting the
press, as the printers’ names are given in that rare edition.
The “domestic evils
” above alluded to have a better foundation, as he was unhappy in his wife, whose chastity was
suspected, and in his sons: Theophilus, the eldest, who
taught Greek at Paris, was assassinated in the streets in a
riotous squabble; and two others, Saleucus and Basil, both
of promising talents, died young.
dier, with which in former times they were well acquainted, his general learning and admirable skill in Latin poetry, of which he gave them many proofs during his stay
, a gallant soldier, an able
statesman, and a very learned writer in the sixteenth century, was descended from a good family in Wales, and
born at London about 1515. His quick parts discovered
themselves even in his infancy; so that his family, to promote that passionate desire of knowledge for whidh he was
so early distinguished, sent him to the university of Cambridge, where he remained some years, and obtained great
credit, as well by the pregnancy of his wit as his constant
and diligent application, but especially by his happy turn
for Latin poetry, in which he exceeded most of his contemporaries. Upon his removing from college he came
up to court, and being there recommended to the esteem
and friendship of the greatest men about it, he was soon
sent abroad into Germany with sir Henry Knevet, as the
custom was in the reign of Henry VIII. when young men
of great hopes were frequently employed in the service of
ambassadors, that they might at once improve and polish
themselves by travel, and gain some experience in business. He was so well received at the court of the emperor
Charles V. and so highly pleased with the noble and generous spirit of that great monarch, that he attended him in
his journies, and in his wars, particularly in that fatal expedition against Algiers, which cost the lives of so many
brave men, and was very near cutting short the thread of
Mr. Chaloner’s; for in the great tempest by which the
emperor’s fleet was shattered on the coast of Barbary in
1541, the vessel, on board of which he was, suffered shipwreck, and Mr. Chaloner having quite wearied and exhausted himself by swimming in the dark, at length beat
his head against a cable, of which laying hold with his
teeth, he was providentially drawn up into the ship to which
it belonged. He returned soon after into England, and as
a reward of his learning and services, was promoted to the
office of first clerk of the council, which he held during
the remainder of that reign. In the beginning of the next
he came into great favour with the duke of Somerset,
whom he attended into Scotland, and was in the battle of
Mussleburgh, where he distinguished himself so remarkably in the presence of the duke, that he conferred upon
him the honour of knighthood Sept. 28, 1547, and after
his return to court, the duchess of Somerset presented
him with a rich jewel. The first cloud that darkened his
patron’s fortune, proved fatal to sir Thomas Chaloner’s
pretensions; for being a man of a warm and open temper,
and conceiving the obligation he was under to the duke as
a tie that hindered his making court to his adversary, a
stop was put to his preferment, and a vigilant eye kept
upon his actions. But his loyalty to his prince, and his
exact discharge of his duty, secured him from any farther
danger, so that he had leisure to apply himself to his
studies, and to cultivate his acquaintance with the worthiest
men of that court, particularly sir John Cheke, sir Anthony Coke, sir Thomas Smith, and especially sir William
Cecil, with whom he always lived in the strictest intimacy.
Under the reign of queen Mary he passed his time, though
safely, yet very unpleasantly; for being a zealous protestant, he could not practise any part of that complaisance
which procured some of his friends an easier life. He
interested himself deeply in the affair of sir John Cheke,
and did him all the service he was able, both before and
after his confinement. This had like to have brought sir
Thomas himself into trouble, if the civilities he had shewn
in king Edward’s reign, to some of those who had the
greatest power under queen Mary, had not moved them,
from a principle of gratitude, to protect him. Indeed, it
appears from his writings, that as he was not only sincere,
but happy in his friendships, and as he was never wanting
to his friends when he had power, he never felt the want
of them when he had it not, and, which he esteemed the
greatest blessing of his life, he lived to return those kindnesses to some who had been useful to him in that dangerous season. Upon the accession of Elizabeth, he appeared at court with his former lustre; and it must afford
us a very high opinion of his character as well as his capacity, that he was the first ambassador named by that wise
princess, and that also to the first prince in Europe, Ferdinand I. emperor of Germany. In this negociation, which
was of equal importance and delicacy, he acquitted himself with great reputation, securing the confidence of the
emperor and his ministers, and preventing the popish
powers from associating against Elizabeth, before she
was well settled on the throne, all which she very
gratefully acknowledged. After his return from this embassy, he was very soon thought of for another, which was
that of Spain; and though it is certain the queen could
not give a stronger proof than this of her confidence in
his abilities, yet he was very far from thinking that it was
any mark of her kindness, more especially considering the
terms upon which she then stood with king Philip, and
the usage his predecessor, Chamberlain, had met with at
that court. But he knew the queen would be obeyed,
and therefore undertook the business with the best grace
he could, and embarked for Spain in 1561. On his first
arrival he met with some of the treatment which he dreaded.
This was the searching of all his trunks and cabinets, of
which he complained loudly, as equally injurious to himself as a gentleman, and to his character as a public minister. His complaints, however, were fruitless; for at that
time there is great probability that his Catholic majesty
was not over desirous of having an English minister, and
more especially one of sir Thomas’s disposition, at his
court, and therefore gave him no satisfaction. Upon this
sir Thomas Chaloner wrote home, set out the affront that
he had received in the strongest terms possible, and was
very earnest to be re-called; but the queen his mistress
contented herself with letting him know, that it was the
duty of every person who bore a public character, to bear
with patience what happened to them, provided no personal indignity was offered to the prince from whom they
came. Yet, notwithstanding this seeming indifference on
her part, the searching sir Thomas Chaloner’s trunks was,
many years afterwards, put into that public charge which
the queen exhibited against his Catholic majesty, of injuries done to her before she intermeddled with the affairs of
the Low Countries. Sir Thomas, however, kept up his
spirit, and shewed the Spanish ministers, and even that
haughty monarch himself, that the queen could not have
entrusted her affairs in better hands than his. There were
some persons of very good families in England, who, for
the sake of their religion, and no doubt out of regard to
the interest to which they had devoted themselves, desired
to have leave from queen Elizabeth to reside in the Low
Countries or elsewhere, and king Philip and his ministers
made it a point to support their suit. Upon this, when a
conference was held with sir Thomas Chaloner, he answered very roundly, that the thing in itself was of very
little importance, since it was no great matter where the
persons who made this request spent the remainder of their
days; but that considering the rank and condition of the
princes interested in this business, it was neither fit for the
one to ask, nor for the other to grant; and it appeared
that he spoke the sense of his court, for queen Elizabeth
would never listen to the proposal. In other respects he
was not unacceptable to the principal persons of the
Spanish court, who could not help admiring his talents as
a minister, his bravery as a soldier, with which in former
times they were well acquainted, his general learning and
admirable skill in Latin poetry, of which he gave them
many proofs during his stay in their country. It was here,
at a time when, as himself says in the preface, he spent
the winter in a stove, and the summer in a barn, that he
composed his great work of “The right ordering of the
English republic.
” But though this employment might in
some measure alleviate his chagrin, yet he fell into a very
grievous fit of sickness, which brought him so low that his
physicians despaired of his life. In this condition he
addressed his sovereign in an elegy after the manner of
Ovid, setting forth his earnest desire to quit Spain and
return to his native country, before care and sickness
forced him upon a longer journey. The queen granted
his petition, and having named Dr. Man his successor in
his negociation, at length gave him leave to return home
from an embassy, in which he had so long sacrificed his
private quiet to the public conveniency. He accordingly
returned to London in the latter end of 1564, and published
the first five books of his large work before-mentioned,
which he dedicated to his good friend sir William Cecil;
but the remaining five books were probably not published.
in his life-time. He resided in a fair large house of his
own building in Clerkenwell-close, over-against the decayed nunnery; and Weever has preserved from oblivion
an elegant fancy of his, which was penciled on the frontispiece of his dwelling. He died Oct. 7, 1565, and was
buried in the cathedral church of St. Paul with great funeral
solemnity, sir William Cecil, then principal secretary of
state, assisting as chief mourner, who also honoured his
memory with some Latin verses, in which he observes,
that the most lively imagination, the most solid judgment,
the quickest parts, and the most unblemished probity,
which are commonly the lot of different men, and when so
dispersed frequently create great characters, were, which
very rarely happens, all united in sir Thomas Chaloner,
justly therefore reputed one of the greatest men of his
time. He also encouraged Dr. William Malim, formerly
fellow of King’s college in Cambridge, and then master of
St. Paul’s school, to collect and publish a correct edition
of our author’s poetical works; which he accordingly did,
and addressed it in an epistle from St. Paul’s school, dated
August 1, 1579, to lord Burleigh. Sir Thomas Chaloner
married Ethelreda, daughter of Edward Frodsham of EJton,
in the county palatine of Chester, esq. by whom he had
issue his only son Thomas, the subject of the next article.
This lady, not long after sir Thomas’s decease, married
sir * * * Brockett, notwithstanding which the lord Burleigh continued his kindness to her, out of respect to that
friendship which he had for her first husband. Sir Thomas’s epitaph was written by one of the best Latin poets of
that age, Dr. Walter Haddon, master of requests to queen
Elizabeth.
, like his father, a great talent- for poetry, which he wrote with much facility both in English and in Latin, but it does not appear that he published any thing before
the younger, the son of
the former by his wife Ethelreda, daughter of Mr. Frodsham of Elton in Cheshire, was born in 1559, and being
very young at the time of his father’s decease, and his
mother soon after marrying a second husband, he owed his
education chiefly to the care and protection of the lordtreasurer Burleigh, by whom he was first put under the
care of Dr. Malim, master of St. Paul’s school, and afterwards removed to Magdalen college in Oxford, where he
closely pursued his studies at the time when his father’s
poetical works were published; and as a proof of his veneration for his father’s friend, and gratitude for the many
kindnesses himself had received, he prefixed a dedication
to this work to his patron the lord Burleigh, He left the
college before he took any degree, but not before he had
acquired a great reputation for parts and learning. He
had, like his father, a great talent- for poetry, which he
wrote with much facility both in English and in Latin, but
it does not appear that he published any thing before he
left England, which was probably about the year 1580.
He visited several parts of Europe, but made the longest
stay in Italy, fprmed an acquaintance with the gravest and
wisest men in that country, who very readily imparted to
him their most important discoveries in natural philosophy,
which he had studied with much diligence and attention.,
At his return home, which was some time before 1584, he
appeared very much at court, and was esteemed by the
greatest men there, on account of his great learning
and manners. About this time he married his first
wife, the daughter of his father’s old friend sir William
Fleetwood, recorder of London, by whom he had several
children. In the year 1591 he had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him, as well in regard to his own personal merit“as the great services of his father; and some
years after, the first alum mines that were ever known to
be in this kingdom, were discovered, by his great sagacity,
not far from Gisborough in Yorkshire, where he had an
estate. In the latter end of queen Elizabeth’s reign, sir
Thomas Chaloner made a journey into Scotland, whether
out of curiosity, with a view to preferment, or by the
direction of sir Robert Cecil, afterwards earl of Salisbury,
who was his great friend, is uncertain; but he soon grew
into such credit with king James, that the most considerable persons in England addressed themselves to him for
his favour and recommendation. Amongst the rest, sir
Francis Bacon, afterwards chancellor, wrote him a very
warm letter, which is still extant, which he sent him by his
friend Mr. Matthews, who was also charged with another
to the king; a copy of which was sent to sir Thomas Chaloner, and Mr. Matthews was directed to deliver him the
original, if he would undertake to present it. He
accomparried the king in his journey to England, and by his
learning, conversation, and address, fixed himself so effectually in that monarch’s good graces, that, as one of the
highest marks he could give him of his kindness and confidence, he thought fit to intrust him with the care of
prince Henry’s education, August 17, 1603, not as his
tutor, but rather governor or superintendant of his household and education. He enjoyed this honour, under several
denominations, during the life-time of that excellent
prince, whom he attended in 1605 to Oxford, and upon
that occasion was honoured with the degree of master of
arts, with many other persons of distinction. It does not
appear that he had any grants of lands, or gifts in money,
from the crown, in consideration of his services, though
sir Adam Newton, who was preceptor to prince Henry,
appears to have received at several times the sum of four
thousand pounds by way of free gift. Sir Thomas Chaloner had likewise very great interest with queen Anne,
and appears to have been employed by her in her private
affairs, and in the settlement of that small estate which she
enjoyed. What relation he had to the court after the
death of his gracious master prince Henry, does no where
appear; but it is not at all likely that he was laid aside.
He married some years before his death his second wife
Judith, daughter to Mr. William Biount of London, and
by this lady also he had children, to whom he is said to
have left a considerable estate, which he had at SteepleClaydon in the county of Buckingham. He died November 17, 1615, and was buried in the parish church of Chiswick in the county of Middlesex. His eldest son William.
Chaloner, esq. was by letters patents dated July 20, in
the 18th of James I. in 1620, created a baronet, by the
title of William Chaloner of Gisborough in the county of
York, esq. which title was extinct in 1681. Few or none,
either of our historians or biographers, Anthony Wood
excepted, have taken any notice of him, though he was
so considerable a benefactor to this nation, by discovering
the alum mines, which have produced vast sums of
money, and still continue to be wrought with very great
profit. Dr. Birch, indeed, in his
” Life of Henry Prince
of Wales,“has given a short account of sir Thomas, and
has printed two letters of his, both of which shew him to
have been a man of sagacity and reflection. In the Lambeth library are also some letters of sir Thomas Chaloner’s,
of which there are transcripts by Dr. Birch in the British
Museum. The only publication by sir Thomas Chalouer
is entitled
” The virtue of Nitre, wherein is declared the
sundry cures by the same effected," Lond. 1584, 4to. In
this he discovers very considerable knowledge of chemistry
and mineralogy.
, in Latin Calventius, president of the Inquests of 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.
t in the third, out of the five prizes which were distributed annually, he gained four, failing only in Latin verses. The next year he gained the whole, and used to
, an ingenious French writer, and one of the victims of the revolution, was born in 1741, in a bailiwick near Clermont, in
Auvergne. In supporting a revolution which levelled all
family distinctions, he had no prejudices to overcome,
being the natural son of a man whom he never knew. This
circumstance, however, did not diminish his affection for
his mother, who was a peasant girl, to supply whose wants
he often denied himself the necessaries of life. He was
taken at a very early age into the college des Prassins at
Paris, as a bursar, or exhibitioner, and was there known
by his Christian name of Nicolas. During the first two
years he indicated no extraordinary talents, but in the
third, out of the five prizes which were distributed annually, he gained four, failing only in Latin verses. The
next year he gained the whole, and used to say, “I lost
the prize last year, because 'I imitated Virgil; and this
year I obtained it, because I took Buchanan, Sarbievius,
and other moderns for my guides.
” In Greek he made a
rapid progress, but his petulance and waggish tricks threw
the class into so much disorder, that he was expelled, and
not long after left the college altogether. Thrown now on
the world, without friends or money, he became clerk to
a procurator, and afterwards was taken into the family of
a rich gentleman of Liege, as tutor. After this he was
employed on the “Journal Encyclopedique,
” and having
published his Eloges on Moliere and La Fontaine, they
were so much admired as to be honoured with the prizes
of the French academy, and that of Marseilles. About
this time he had little other maintenance than what he derived from the patronage of the duke de Choiseul and
madame Helvetius, and therefore was glad to take such
employment as the booksellers offered. For them he compiled a “French Vocabulary,
” and a “Dictionary of the
Theatres.
” While employed on this last, he fancied his
talents might succeed on the stage, and was not disappointed. His tragedy of “Mustapha,
” acted in Epistle from a father to a son, on the birth of a
grandson,
” gained him the prize of the French academy,
although it appears inferior to his “L'Homme de Lettres,
discours philosop.hic|iic en vers.
” At length he gained a
seat in the academy, on the death of St. Palaye, on whom
he wrote an elegant eloge. His tragedy of “Mustapha
”
procured him the situation of principal secretary to the
prince of Conde, but his love of liberty and independence
prevented him from long discharging its duties. After resigning it, he devoted himself wholly to the pleasures of
society, where he was considered as a most captivating
companion. He also held some considerable pensions,
which, however, he lost at the revolution.
, in Latin Campellensis, was a native of the village of Champeaux
, in Latin Campellensis,
was a native of the village of Champeaux near Melun, in
the province of Brie, and flourished in the eleventh and
twelfth centuries. After studying law under Ansehn, dean
of the cathedral church of Melun, he was ordained
archdeacon of Paris, and appointed to read lectures on logic in
the schools of that church. Some time after he retired
with some of his pupils to a monastery, in which was St.
Victor’s chapel, near Paris, and there founded the abbey
of regular canons. He continued to teach in that convent,
and, as generally supposed, was the first public professor of
scholastic divinity. He was made bishop of Chalons in
1113, and died in Jan. 1121. None of his works are extant, for the “Dialogue between a Christian and a Jew,
”
printed under his name in the “Bibliotheca Patrum,
”
belongs to Gilbert of Westminster. It is thought that he
wrote a book of sentences before Peter Lombard, of which
a ms copy was in the library of Notre-dame at Paris. He
maintained the doctrine of the Realists, who held that all
individual things partake of the one essence of their species, and are only modified by accident. He had the appellation of the Venerable Doctor. Brucker has given a
Jong account of his disputes with Abelard, who was one of
his scholars, and who ventured to question the opinions of
his master, and leaving him, opened a school of his own at
Melun, where the splendour of his superior talents in disputation attracted general admiration, and eclipsed the fame
of Champeaux.
t praise. Dr. Chandler also left in his interleaved Bible, a large number of critical notes, chiefly in Latin, and which were intended to be published; but the design
Dr. Chandler’s other works were: 1. “Reflections on
the Conduct of the Modern Deists, in their late writings
against Christianity,
” A Vindication of the
Antiquity and Authority of Daniel’s Prophecies,
” History of the Inquisition,
” A large
introduction, concerning the rise and progress of persecution, and the real and pretended causes of it.
” This
was attacked by Dr. Berriman, in a pamphlet entitled
“Brief Remarks on Mr. Chandler’s Introduction to the
History of the Inquisition.
” Our author published, in the
form of a letter, an answer to these “Remarks,
” which
engaged Dr. Berriman to write “A Review of his Remarks,
” to which Mr. Chandler replied in “A second
Letter to William Berriman, D. D. &c. in which his Review of his Hemarks on the Introduction to the History of
the Inquisition is considered, and the Characters of St.
Athanasius, and Martyr Laud, are farther stated and supported.
” This publication was soon followed by another,
entitled “A Vindication of a passage of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London, in his second Pastoral
Letter, against the misrepresentations of William Berriman, D. D. in a Letter to his Lordship;
” and here the
controversy ended. 4. “The Dispute better adjusted
about the proper time of applying for a repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts,
” &c.“1732, 8vo. 5.
” A Paraphrase and critical Commentary on the prophecy of Joel,“1735, 4to. This was part of a commentary on the whole
of the prophets, which he did not live to finish. 6.
” The
History of Persecution,“1736, 8vo. 7.
” A Vindication
of the History of the Old Testament,“in answer to Morgan’s
” Moral Philosopher,“1741, 8vo. 8.
” A Defence
of the Prime Ministry and Character of Joseph,“1742, 8vo.
9.
” The Witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
re-examined, and their Testimony proved consistent,“1744, 8vo. 10.
” The Case of Subscription to explanatory articles of faith, &c. calmly considered,“1748, 8vo.
11.
” A Letter to the rev. Mr. John Guyse, occasioned by
his two sermojis on Acts ix. 20. in which the scripture notion of preaching Christ is stated and defended, and Mr.
Guyse’s charges against his brethren are considered and
proved groundless,“1729, 8vo. 12.
” A second Letter
to the rev. Mr. John Guyse, in which Mr. Guyse’s latitude
and restrictive ways of preaching Christ are proved to be
entirely the same; the notion of preaching Christ is farther cleared and defended; the charge alledged against
'him of defaming his brethren is maintained and supported;
and his solemn arts in controversy are considered and exposed,“1730, 8vo. 13.
” A Letter to the right hon. the
Lord Mayor; occasioned by his lordship’s nomination of
five persons, disqualified by act of parliament, as fit and
proper persons to serve the office^ of Sheriffs, in which the
nature and design of the corporation act is impartially considered and stated,“1738, 8vo. 14.
” An Account of
the Conferences held in Nicholas-lane, Feb. 13, 1734,
between two Romish priests and some protestant divines;
with some remarks on a pamphlet entitled The Conferences, c. truly stated/ 7 1735, 8vo. 15. “Cassiodori
Senatoris Complexiones in Epistolas, Acta Apostolorum,
& Apocalypsin, e vetustissimis Canonicorum Veronensium
membranis nuper erutee. Editio altera ad Florentinam
fideliter expressa, opera & cura Samuelis Chandleri,
”
A short and plain Catechism, being
an explanation of the Creed, Ten Commandments, and
the Lord’s Prayer, by way of question and answer,
” Great Britain’s Memorial against the Pretender and Popery; to which is annexed, the method of
dragooning the French protestants after the revocation of
the edict of Nantes,
” Many occasional sermons.
”
Dr. Chandler also wrote about fifty papers in the weekly
publication called “The Old Whig, or Consistent Protestant.
” In A Paraphrase and Notes
on the Epistles of St. Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians,
with doctrinal and practical Observations; together with
a critical and practical Commentary on the two Epistles of
St. Paul to the Thessalonians.
” In this there are some
valuable criticisms, but all are not entitled to that praise.
Dr. Chandler also left in his interleaved Bible, a large
number of critical notes, chiefly in Latin, and which were
intended to be published; but the design has not yet been
executed, and the four gentlemen to whom they were intrusted, Dr. Kippis, Mr. Farmer, Dr. Price, and Dr. Savage, are all dead, nor have we heard in what manner they
disposed of the copy.
a translation of a poem into English, called “The amorous contention of Phillis and Flora,” written in Latin by a friar in 1400. The following year he published in
, a dramatic poet, and translator
of Homer, was born in 1557, as generally supposed, in
Kent, but we have no account at what school he was educated: he was, however, sent to the university when he
was about seventeen years of age, and spent about two
years at Trinity college, Oxford, where he paid little attention to logic or philosophy, but was eminently distinguished for his knowledge in the Greek and Roman classics. About the year 1576 he quitted the university, and
repaired to the metropolis, where he commenced a friendship with Shakspeare, Spenser, Daniel, Marlow, and other
celebrated wits. In 1595 he published, in 4to, a poem
entitled “Ovid’s Banquet of Sauce, a coronet for his
mistress philosophy, and his amorous zodiac:
” to which
he added, a translation of a poem into English, called
“The amorous contention of Phillis and Flora,
” written in
Latin by a friar in The Shield of Achilles,' 7 from Homer; and soon
after, in the same year, a translation of seven books of the
Iliad, in 4to. In 1600, fifteen books were printed in a
thin folio; and lastly, without date, an entire translation
of the Iliad, in folio, under the following title:
” The
Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets. Never before in any
language truly translated. With a comment upon some
of his chief places: done according to the Greek by
George Chapman. At London, printed by Nathaniel
Butter."
s.” In 1747, to Mr. Mounteney’s edition of some select orations of Demosthenes, Dr. Chapman prefixed in Latin, without his name, observations on the Commentaries commonly
, 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.
Scripture,” was printed afterwards in 1653. He left behind him also his own life, written by himself in Latin, which has been twice printed; first from a ms. in the
In 1638 his patrons, the earl of Strafford, and the archbishop of Canterbury, preferred him to the bishoprics of
Cork, Cloyne, and Ross; and he was consecrated at St.
Patrick’s, Dublin, Nov. 11, though he had done all he
could to avoid this honour. By the king’s command he
continued in his provostship till July 20, 1640; before
which time he had endeavoured to obtain a small bishopric
in England, that he might return to his native country, as
he tells us, and die in peace. But his endeavours were
fruitless; and he was left in Ireland to feel all the fury of
the storm, which he had long foreseen. He was attacked
in the house of commons with great bitterness by the puritan party, and obliged to come to Dublin from Cork,
and to put in sureties for his appearance. June 1641,
articles of impeachment were exhibited against him to the
house of peers, consisting of fourteen, though the substance
of them was reduced to two; the first, perjury, on a supposed breach of his oath as provost; the second, malice
towards the Irish, founded on discontinuing the Irish lecture during the time of his being provost. The prosecution was urged with great violence, and, as is supposed,
for no other reason but because he had enforced uniformity
and strict church discipline in the college. This divine’s
fate was somewhat peculiar, for although his conduct was
consistent, he was abused at Cambridge for being a puritan, and in Ireland for being a papist. Yet as we find the
name of archbishop Usher among his opponents in Ireland,
there seems reason to think that there was some foundation
for his unpopularity, independent of what was explicitly
stated. While, however, he laboured under these troubles,
he was exposed to still greater, by the breaking out of the
rebellion in the latter end of that year. He was under a
kind of confinement at Dublin, on account of the impeachment which was still depending; but at length obtained
leave to embark for England, for the sake of returning
thence to Cork, which, from Dublin, as things stood, he
could not safely do. He embarked Dec. 26, 1641, and
the next day landed at Milford-haven, after a double
escape, as himself phrases it, from the Irish wolves and
the Irish sea. He went from Milford-haven to Pembroke,
and thence to Tenby, where information was made of him
to the mayor, who committed him to gaol Jan. 25. After
lying there seven weeks, he was set at liberty by the interest of sir Hugh Owen, a member of parliament, upon
giving bond in 1000l. for his appearance; and March 16,
set out for Bristol. Here he learnt that the ship bound
from Cork to England, with a great part of his effects, was
lost near Minehead; and by this, among other things, he
lost his choice collection of books. After such a series of
misfortunes, and the civil confusions increasing, he withdrew to his native soil, where he spent the remainder of
his life in retirement and study; and died at Derby, where
he had some time resided, upon Whitsunday, 1649.
He published the year before his death, “Methodus
concionandi,
” that is, the method of preaching, which for
its usefulness was also translated into English. His “Use
of Holy Scripture,
” was printed afterwards in ’Tis
certain ‘The whole Duty of Man’ was written by one who
suffered by the troubles in Ireland; and some lines in this
piece give great grounds to conjecture that bishop Chappel
was the author. March 3, 1734.
” Thus we see this
prelate, as well as many other great and good persons,
comes in for part of the credit of that excellent book; yet
there is no explicit evidence of his having been the author
of it. It appears indeed to have been written before the
death of Charles I. although it was not published till 1657,
and the manner of it is agreeable enough to this prelate’s
plain and easy way of writing; but then there can be no
reason given why his name should be suppressed in the
title-page, when a posthumous work of his was actually
published with it but a few years before.
, in Latin Castellanus, a very learned French prelate, is said by
, in Latin Castellanus, a very
learned French prelate, is said by some to have been of
obscure birth, but his biographer Galland makes him of
an ancient family, and the son of a brave knight. Yet this
is doubtful, if what he said to king Francis I. be more than
a witticism. The king once asked him if he was a gentleman; to which Chatel answered “that there were three
in the ark, but he did not really know from which of them
he descended.
” He was, however, born at Arc, in Burgundy, and in the eleventh year of his age, before which
his parents died, he was sent to Dijon, for education,
where he made an astonishing progress, and before he had
been there six years, was appointed a teacher, in which
capacity he soon distinguished himself, and on one occasion made a public display of more than grammatical
talents. His master, Peter Turreau, was accused of being
an astrologer, and Chatel pleaded his cause so ably that
he was acquitted. He afterwards travelled, in order to
cultivate the acquaintance of the learned men of his time,
and particularly of Erasmus, whom he met at Basil, and
who conceived such a high opinion of his learning, as to
recommend him to Frobenius, to be corrector of the Greek
and Latin authors, printed at his celebrated press. While
here he had also an opportunity of correcting some of
Erasmus’s works; but they left Basil together, when the
popish religion was established there. Erasmus retired to
Fribourg, and Chatel returned to France, where he accepted the offer made him by some persons of distinction,
to be tutor to certain young men who were to study law at
Bourges, under the celebrated Alciat. As they were not
yet prepared to depart, he read public lectures on the
Greek text of St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans; and unfortunately for his reputation, was entrapped into an intrigue with a young woman, a circumstance on which
Bayle expatiates with his usual delight ~in what is indelicate. ChatePs scholars, however, being at length ready,
he accompanied them to Bourges, and studied law, filling
up his leisure hours with topics of polite literature. His
diligence was unremitting, as he slept scarcely three hours
in the night, and the moment he waked ran with eagerness
to his books. This method of study he preserved, even afterwards, when appointed reader to the king.
, in Latin, a Capite Fontium, a learned divine, fifty-fifth general
, in Latin, a Capite
Fontium, a learned divine, fifty-fifth general of the
cordeliers, was a native of Bretany, descended from a noble
and ancient family, and born in 1632. He was titular
archbishop of Csesarea, to exercise the episcopal office in
the diocese of Sens, in the absence of cardinal de Peleve.
He died May 26, 1595, at Rome, leaving several theological works; among them, “De necessaria Theologian
Scholasticse correctione,
” Paris, Confutation du Point d'Honneur,
” De Virgiuitate Marias et Josephi,
”
il, Horn, dean of Durham, Whitehead, and Grindal. Some account of these disputations is still extant in Latin, in the library of Mss. belonging to Bene't college, Cambridge
, a learned writer of the sixteenth
century, descended from an ancient family in the Isle of
Wight, was born at Cambridge, June 16, 1514, being the
son of Peter Cheke, gent, and Agnes, daughter of Mr.
Dufford of Cambridgeshire. After receiving his grammatical education under Mr. John Morgan, he was admitted
into St. John’s college, Cambridge, in 1531, where he
became very eminent for his knowledge in the learned
languages, particularly the Greek tongue, which was then
almost universally neglected. Being recommended as such,
by Dr. Butts, to king Henry VIII. he was soon after made
kind’s scholar, and supplied by his majesty with money
for his education, and for his charges in travelling into
foreign countries. While he continued in college he introduced a more substantial and useful kind of learning
than what had been received for some years; and encouraged especially the study of the Greek and Latin languages, and of divinity. After having taken his degrees
in arts he was chosen Greek lecturer of the university.
There was no salary belonging to tnat place: but king
Henry having founded, about the year 1540, a professorship of the Greek tongue in the university of Cambridge,
with a stipend oi forty pounds a year, Mr. Cheke, though
but twenty-six years of age, was chosen the first professor.
This place he held long after he left the university, namely,
till October 1551, and was highly instrumental in bringing
the Greek language into repute. He endeavoured
particularly to reform and restore the original pronunciation of
it, but met with great opposition from Stephen Gardiner,
bishop of Winchester, chancellor of the university, and
their correspondence on the subject was published. Cheke,
however, in the course of his lectures,- went through all
Homer, all Euripides, part of Herodotus, and through
Sophocles twice, to the advantage of his hearers and his
own credit. He was also at the same time universityorator. About the year 1543 he was incorporated master
of arts at Oxford, where he had studied some time. On
the 10th of July 1544 he was sent for to court, in order to
be school- master, or tutor, for the Latin tongue, jointly
with sir Anthony Cooke, to prince Edward and, about
the same time, as an encouragement, the king granted
him, being then, as it is supposed, in orders, one of the
canonries in his new- founded college at Oxford, now Christ
Church but that college being dissolved in the beginning
of 1545, a pension was allowed him in the room of his
canonry. While he was entrusted with the prince’s education, he made use of all the interest he had in promoting
men of learning and probity. He seems also to have
sometimes had the lady Elizabeth under his care. In
1547, he married Mary, daughter of Richard Hill, serjeant of the wine-cellar to king Henry VIII. When his
royal pupil, king Edward VI. came to the crown, he rewarded him for his care and pains with an annuity of one
hundred marks; and also made him a grant of several
lands and manors . He likewise caused him, by a mandamus, to be elected provost of King’s college, Cambridge,
vacant by the deprivation of George Day, bishop of Chichester. In May 1549, he retired to Cambridge, upon
some disgust he had taken at the court, but was the same
Summer appointed one of the king’s commissioners for
visiting that university. The October following, he was one
of the thirty-two commissioners appointed to examine the
old ecclesiastical law books, and to compile from thence a
body of ecclesiastical laws for the government of the
church; and again, three years after, he was put in a new
commission issued out for the same purpose. He returned
to court in the winter of 1549, but met there with great
uneasiness on account of some offence given by his wife
to Anne, duchess of Somerset, whose dependent she was.
Mr. Cheke himself was not exempt from trouble, being of
the number of those who were charged with having suggested bad counsels to the duke of Somerset, and afterwards betrayed him. But having recovered from these
imputations, his interest and authority daily increased, and
he became the liberal patron of religious and learned men,
both English and foreigners. In 1550 he was made chief
gentleman of the king’s privy -chamber, whose tutor he
still continued to be, and who made a wonderful progress
through his instructions. Mr. Cheke, to ground him well
in morality, read to him Cicero’s philosophical works, and
Aristotle’s Ethics; but what was of greater importance, instructed him in the general history, the state and interest,
the laws and customs of England. He likewise directed
him to keep a diary of all the remarkable occurrences that
happened, to which, probably, we are indebted for the
king’s Journal (printed from the original in the Cottonian library) in Burnett’s History of the Reformation. In October, 1551, his majesty conferred on him the honour of
knighthood; and to enuhle him the better to support that
rank, made him a grant, or gift in fee simple (upon consideration of his surrender of the hundred marks abovementioned), of the whole manor of Stoke, near Clare, exclusively of the college before granted him, and the appurtenances in Suffolk and Essex, with divers other lands,
tenements, &c. all to the yearly value of 145l. 19$. 3d.
And a pasture, with other premises, in Spalding; and the
rectory, and other premises, in Sandon. The same year
he held two private conferences with some other learned
persons upon the subject of the sacrament, or transubstantiation. The first on November the 25th, in -secretary
Cecil’s house, and the second December 3d the same year,
at sir Richard Morison’s. The auditors were, the lord
Russel, sir Thomas Wroth of the bed-chamber, sir Anthony Cooke, one of the king’s tutors, Throgmorton,
chamberlain of the exchequer, Mr. Knolles, and Mr. Harrington, with whom were joined the marquis of Northampton, and the earl of Rutland, in the second conference.
The popish disputants for the real presence were, Feckenham, afterwards dean of St. Paul’s, and Yong; and at the
second disputation, Watson. The disputants on the other
side were, sir John Cheke, sir William Cecil, Horn, dean
of Durham, Whitehead, and Grindal. Some account of
these disputations is still extant in Latin, in the library of
Mss. belonging to Bene't college, Cambridge and from
thence published in English by Mr. Strypein his interesting
Life of sir John Cheke. Sir John also procured Bucer’s
Mss. and the illustrious Leland’s valuable, collections for
the king’s library but either owing to sir John’s misfortunes, or through some other accident, they never reached
their destination. Four volumes of these collections were
given by his son Henry Cheke, to Humphrey Purefoy, esq.
one of queen Elizabeth’s council in the north, whose son,
Thomas Purefoy, of Barvvell in Leicestershire, gave them
to the famous antiquary, William Burton, in 1612 and he
made use of them in his description of Leicestershire.
Many years after, he presented them to the Bodleian library at Oxford, where they now are. Some other of these
collections, after Cheke’s death, came into the hands of
William lord Paget, and sir William Cecil. The original
of the “Itinerary,
” in five volumes, 4to, is in the Bodleian library; and two volumes of collections, relating to
Britain, are in the Cottonian.
ll, Cambridge, and died in 1735. Two copies of verses by Dr. Chetwood, one in English, and the other in Latin, are prefixed to lord Roscommon’s “Essay on translated
Jacob mentions that Dr. Chetwood had a claim to an
ancient English barony, which was fruitlessly prosecuted
by his son, and which accounts for his being styled “a
person of honour,
” in a translation which he published of
some of St. Evremont’s pieces. By the favour probably
of the earl of Dartmouth, he was nominated to the see of
Bristol by king James II. but soon after his nomination,
the king’s abdication took place. In April 1707, he was
installed dean of Gloucester, which preferment he enjoyed
till his death, which happened April 11, 1720, at Tempsford, in Bedfordshire, where he had an estate, and where
he was buried. He married a daughter of the celebrated
Samuel Shute, esq. sheriff of London in the time of
Charles II. by whom he left a son, John, who, was fellow
of Trinity-hall, Cambridge, and died in 1735. Two copies of verses by Dr. Chetwood, one in English, and the
other in Latin, are prefixed to lord Roscommon’s “Essay
on translated Verse,
” A Speech to the
Lower House of Convocation, May 20, 1715, against the
late riots.
”
hrown out against him by some persons of the medical profession. In 1726, he published the same work in Latin, enlarged', under the following title: “GeorgiL Cheynsei
In the mean time, our author continued to publish some
other medical works; particularly “An essay of the truk
nature and due method of treating the Gout, together with
an account of the nature and quality of Bath Waters, the
manner of using them, and the diseases in which they are
proper: jas also of the nature and cure of most Chronical
distempers.
” This passed through at least five editions;
and was followed by “An essay on Health and Long Life;
”
which was well received by the public, but occasioned
sundry reflections to be thrown out against him by some
persons of the medical profession. In 1726, he published
the same work in Latin, enlarged', under the following title:
“GeorgiL Cheynsei Tractatus de Infirmorum Sanitate
tuenda, Vitaque producenda, libro ejusdern argument! Anglice edito longe auctior et limatior; huic accessit de natura
fibrse ej usque laxae sive resolutae morbis tractatus mine primum editus.
” In The English Malady: or, a treatise of Nervous
diseases of all kinds; as Spleen, Vapours, Lowness of
Spirits, Hypochondriacal and Hysterical distempers, &c.
”
His next publication, which was printed in An essay on Regimen; together with five discourses, medical, moral, and philosophical: serving to
illustrate the principles and theory of philosophical Medicine, and point out some of its moral consequences.
” The
last work of our author, which he dedicated to the earl of
Chesterfield, was entitled “The natural method of curing
the Diseases of the Body, and the Disorders of the Mind
depending on the $ody; in three parts. Part I. General
reflections on the œconomy of nature in animal Life.
Part II. The means and methods for preserving life and
faculties; and also concerning the nature* and cure of
acute, contagious, and cephalic disorders. Part III. Heflections on the nature and cure of particular chronical
distempers.
”
, in Latin Claramontius, an eminent Italian astronomer and philosopher,
, in Latin Claramontius,
an eminent Italian astronomer and philosopher, was born
at Cesena in the province of Romagna in June 1565. His
father was a physician at Cesena. He studied at Perugia
and Ferrara, and became distinguished for his progress in
philosophy and mathematics;, the former of which he
taught for some time at Pisa. He passed, however, the
greater part of his long life at Cesena, and in his history
of that place, which he published in 1641, he informs us,
that for fifty -nine years he had served his country in a public capacity. He was, in particular, frequently deputed to
Rome, either to offer obedience to the pope in the name
of his countrymen, or on other affairs. He had married a
Jady whom he calls Virginia de Abbatibus, but becoming
a widower at the age of eighty, he went into the church,
received priest’s orders, and retired with the priests of the
congregation of the oratory, for whom he built a church at
Cesena, and there he died Oct. 3, 1652, in his eightyseventh year. He established at Cesena the academy of
the Oifuscati, over which he presided until his death. His
works, written partly in Italian and partly in Latin, are
very numerous, and filled a considerable space in the literary history of his time: 1. “Discorso della Cometa pogonare dell' anno 1618, &c.
” Venice, Anti-Tycho, in quo contra Tychonem Brahe,
et nonnullos alios, &.c. demonstrator Cometas esse sublunares,
” Venice, De conjectandis cuj usque moribus et
latitantibus animi affectibus semeiotice moralis, seu de signis libri decem,
” ibid. Notse in moralem suam
semeioticam, seu de signis,
” Cesena, Apologia pro Anti-Tychone suo adversus Hypcraspiten Joannis Kepleri,
” Venice, De tribus novis stellis, quse annis 1572, 1600, et 1604, comparuere,
” Cesena, Difesa di Scipioni
Chiaramonti, &c.
” Florence, Delia ‘ragione di stato libri tre, nel quale trattato da primi priticipii dedotto si suo prona la natura, le massime, e le specie
cle’ governi buoni, cattivi e mascherati,
” Florence, Examen ad censuram Joannis Camilli Gloriosi in hbrum
de tribus novis stellis,
” ibid. De sede
sublunari Cometarum, opuscula tria,
” Amst. 1636, 4to. If.
“Castigatio J. Camilli Gloriosi adversus Claramontium
castigata ab ipso Claramontio,
” Cesena, De methodo ad doctrinam spectante, libri quatuor, &c.
”
ibid. Csesense Historia libris sexdecim,
ab initio civitatis ad haec tempera,
” with a sketch of the
general history of Italy during the same period, Cesena,
1641, 4to. 14. “De atrabile, quoad mores attinet,
” Paris, Anti-Philolaus, in quo Philolaus redivivus de
terrse motu et solis ac fixarum quiete impugnalur,
” &c.
Cesena, Defensio ab oppugnationibus Fortunii Liceti de sede Cometarum,
” Cesena, De Universo, libri
sexdecim,
” Cologne, De altitudine Caucasi liber unus, cura Gab. Naudasi editus,
” Paris, Philosophia naturalis methodo resolutiva tradita, &c.
” Cesena,
Opuscula varia mathematica,
” Bologna,
Commentaria in Aristotelem de iri.de,
&c.
” ibid. In quatuor meteorum Aristotelis librum commentaria,
” Venice, Delle,
scene, e theatri opera posthuma,
” Cesena,
ordingly wrote his book entitled “Vindiciae Hispanicse,” against the French. He wrote several pieces in Latin, which were both ingenious and learned, and were collected
, a physician and politician,
was born at Besanon, a town of Franche Comte, in 1588.
He was descended from a family distinguished by literary
merit, as well as by the services it had done its country.
He was educated at Besanc/ni, and then travelled through
several parts of Europe, where he became acquainted with
all the men of letters, and in every place made his way
into the cabinets of the curious. At his return he applied
himself to the practice of physic; but being sent by the
town of Besan^on, where he had been consul, on an embassy to Elizabeth Clara Eugenia, archduchess of the Low
Countries, that princess was so pleased with him, that she
prevailed with him to continue with her in quality of physician in ordinary. Afterwards he became physician to
Philip IV. of Spain, who honoured him very highly, and
treated him with great kindness. Chifflet imagined, that
these bounties and honours obliged him to take up arms
against all who were at variance with his master; and accordingly wrote his book entitled “Vindiciae Hispanicse,
”
against the French. He wrote several pieces in Latin,
which were both ingenious and learned, and were collected
and published at Antwerp, 1659, fol.
but remained there through the interest of his friends, upon which he wrote the eulogy of Henry IV. in Latin, 1594, 8vo, which is also omitted in his works, as well
, an eminent lawyer, born 1537, at
Bailleul in Anjou, was counsellor to the parliament of
Paris, in which situation he pleaded with great reputation
a long time, and afterwards, confining himself to his study,
composed a considerable number of works, printed in 1663,
5 vols. folio; and there is a Latin edition of them in 4 vols.
He was consulted from all parts, and was ennobled by Henry
III. in 1578, for his treatise “De Domanio.
” What he
wrote on the custom of Anjou, is esteemed his best work,
and gained him the title and honours of sheriff of the city
of Angers. His books “De sacra Politia Monastica,
” and
“De Privilegiis Rusticorum,
” are also much valued. Chopin’s attachment to the league drew upon him a macaronic
satire, entitled “Anti-Chopinus,
” Oratio de Pontificio Gregorii XIV. ad Gallos Diplomate
a criticis notis vindicate,
” Paris, 1591, 4to, which is not
among Chopin’s works. On the day that the king entered
Paris, Chopin’s wife lost her senses, and he received orders
to leave the city; but remained there through the interest
of his friends, upon which he wrote the eulogy of Henry IV.
in Latin, 1594, 8vo, which is also omitted in his works, as
well as “Bellum Sacrum Gallicum, Poema,
”
hat republic. He died September 17, 1731, aged 89. His publications are, “An Introduction to Logic,” in Latin, 1672, 8vo; “Theses Physicae de varia Astrorum luce,”
, a learned philosopher, and
one of the most eminent magistrates of Geneva, was born
there in 1642. He was the first who taught the philosophy
of Descartes at Saumur. In 1669, he was recalled to Geneva, and gave lectures there with great applause. Chouet
became afterwards counsellor and secretary of state at Geneva, and wrote a history of that republic. He died September 17, 1731, aged 89. His publications are, “An
Introduction to Logic,
” in Latin, Theses
Physicae de varia Astrorum luce,
” Memoire
succinct sur la Reformation,
” Reponses a des
Questions de Milord Townsend sur Geneve ancienne fakes,
en 1696, et publiees en 1774.
” Besides these, he left in
ms. in 3 vols. folio, a work, entitled “Diverses Recherches
sur l'Hist. cle Geneve, sur son Gouvernement et sa Constitution.
”
Christopherson wrote also, about the year 1546, the tragedy of Jephtha, both in Latin and Greek, dedicated to Henry VIII. which was most probably
Christopherson wrote also, about the year 1546, the tragedy of Jephtha, both in Latin and Greek, dedicated to Henry VIII. which was most probably a Christmas play for Trinity college. It was said that he was buried in Christ Church, London, Dec. 28, 1558, but Tanner thinks he was buried in Trinity college chapel, as in his will, proved Feb. 9, 1562, he leaves his body to be buried on the south side of the altar of that chapel. Strype, however, in the Introduction to his Annals, p. 3 1, describes his pompous funeral at Christ Church. It is more certain that he joined his brethren in queen Mary’s reign in the measures adopted to check the reformation.
became the scholar of Philo the academic; studied logic with Diodorus the stoic; and declaimed daily in Latin and Greek with his fellow students M. Piso and Q. Pompeius,
The peace of Rome being now disturbed by a domestic war, which writers call the Italic, Social, or Marsic, Cicero served as a volunteer under Sylla. For though his natural inclination was not much bent on military renown, yet even those who applied themselves to studies and civil affairs at Rome, found it necessary to acquire a competent share of military skill, that they might be qualified to govern provinces and command armies, to which they all succeeded of course in the administration of the great offices of state. Cicero’s natural disposition, however, led him chiefly to improve himself in those studies which conduced eventually to the establishment of his high fame He was constant in his attendance upon orators and philosophers; resumed his oratorial studies under Molo the Rbodian, one of the ablest of that profession, and is supposed to have written those rhetorical pieces on the subject of invention, which he afterwards condemned in his advanced age, as unworthy of his maturer judgment. He also became the scholar of Philo the academic; studied logic with Diodorus the stoic; and declaimed daily in Latin and Greek with his fellow students M. Piso and Q. Pompeius, both somewhat older than himself, with whom he had contracted an intimate friendship. And that he might neglect nothing which could any ways contribute to his perfection, he spent the intervals of his leisure with such ladies as were remarkable for their politeness and knowledge of the fine arts, and in whose company his manners acquired a polish. Having now run through all his course of oratory, he offered himself to the bar at the age of twenty-six, and pleaded some causes in a manner which gained him the applause of the whole city, thus beginning his career at the same age in which Demosthenes first began to distinguish himself in Athens. Three years afterwards he travelled to Greece and Asia, then the fashionable tour either for curiosity or improvement. His first visit was to Athens, the seat of arts and sciences, where he met with his school-fellow T. Pomponius, who, from his love to and long residence in Athens, obtained the surname of Atticus: and here they revived and confirmed that memorable friendship which subsisted between them through life, with exemplary constancy. From Athens he passed into Asia, and after an excursion of two years, came back again to Italy.
Popery,” London, 1688, 4to. 17. “Several captious Queries concerning the English Reformation, first in Latin, and afterwards by T. W. in English, briefly and fully
, eldest son of the preceding,
was born at St. Edmundsbury, in Suffolk, September 14,
1646, and educated in the free-school there, under the
care of Dr. Thomas Stephens, author of the notes on Statius’s Sylvse, who took very early notice of the promising
parts of his scholar. Before he was full thirteen years of
age, he was admitted a pensioner in Emanuel-college, in
Cambridge, September 5, 1659, under the tuition of Mr.
Thomas Jackson, where he took his degree of A. B. 1663,
A.M. 1667, and commenced D. D. in 1683. He was
then chosen one of the preachers of St. Edmundsbury,
which office he discharged for seven years with universal
reputation. From thence, at the instance of some considerable men of the long robe, whose business at the assizes there gave them opportunities of being acquainted
with his great worth and abilities, he was thought worthy
by the society of Gray’s-inn, to succeed the eminent Dr.
Cradock, as their preacher, which he continued to be all
the remaining part of his life, much to the satisfaction of
the society. He was also presented by the lord keeper
North (who was his wife’s kinsman) to the rectory of Farnham-royal, in Buckinghamshire, into which he was instituted May 14, 1683; but what he most valued next to his
preacher’s place at Gray’s-inn, was the lectureship of St.
Michael Bassishaw, to which he was elected by that parish
about two years before his death. He was also chaplain in
ordinary to his majesty. He was cut off, however, in the
prime of life. He was seized with the small-pox on a
Sunday evening, March the 16th, after having preached
at St. Martin in the Fields, in his Lent course there; and
died March 28, 1638. He was buried in a vault under part
of the church of St. Michael Bassishaw, in the grave
with his wife, Mrs. Thornasin North, a most virtuous and
accomplished woman, who died eighteen days after him,
of the same disease. We are assured by the testimony of
Dr. Sharp, that no man of a private condition, in the last
age, died more lamented, and his private virtuesand
public services are spoken of by all his contemporaries in
the highest terms. Bishop Burnet ranks him among those
worthy and eminent men whose lives and labours in a great
measure rescued the church from those reproaches that
the follies of others drew upon it; nor ought it to be forgotten, that he was one of those excellent divines who
made that noble stand against popery in the reign of king
James II. which will redound to their immortal honour.
The several things published by Dr. Clagett, are as follows: 1. “A Discourse concerning the Operations of the
Holy Spirit; with a confutation of some part of Dr. Owen’s
book upon that subject,
” Part I. Lond. A Reply to a pamphlet called
The Mischief of Impositions, by Mr. Alsop, which pretends to answer the dean of St. Paul’s (Dr. Stillingfleet’s)
Sermon concerning the Mischief of Separation,
” Lond.
An Answer to the Dissenters’ Objections
against the Common Prayers, and some other parts of the
divine service prescribed in the Liturgy of the Church of
England,
” Lond. The Difference of the
Case between the Separation of Protestants fromthe
Church of Rome, and the Separation of Dissenters from
the Church of England,
” Lond. The
State of the Church of Rome when the Reformation began, as it appears by the advices given to pope Paul III.
and Julius III. by creatures of their own.
” 6. “A Discourse concerning the Invocation of the Blessed Virgin
and the Saints,
” Lond. A Paraphrase,
with notes, upon the sixth Chapter of St. John, shewing
that there is neither good reason, nor sufficient authority
to suppose that the Eucharist is discoursed of in that
chapter, much less to infer the doctrine of Transubstantiation from it.
” Lond. 1686, 4to. Reprinted in 1689,
8vo, at the end of his second volume of sermons. 8. “Of
the Humanity and Chanty of Christians. A Sermon
preached at the Suffolk Feast, at St. Michael, Cornhill,
London, November 30, 1686.
” 9. “A Discourse concerning the pretended Sacrament of Extreme Unction,
&.c.
” in three parts. “With a letter to the Vindicator of
the bishop of Condom,
” Lond. A second letter to the Vindicator of the bishop of Condom,
”
Lond. Authority of Councils, and the
Rule of Faith, with an answer to the Eight Theses laid
down for the Trial of the English Reformation.
” The first
part, about Councils, by Hutchinson, esq. the rest
by Dr. Clagett, 4to. 12. “Notion of Idolatry considered
and confuted,
” Lond. Cardinal Bellarmine’s
seventh note, of the Union of the Members among themselves, and with the Head.
” 14. “His twelfth note, Of
the Light of Prophecy, examined and confuted.
” 15. “A
View of the whole Controversy between the Representer
and the Answerer; in which are laid open some of the
methods by which Protestants are misrepresented by Papists,
” Lond. An Answer to the Representer’s Reflections upon the State and View of the Controversy. With a Reply to the Vindicator’s full Answer;
shewing that the Vindicator has utterly ruined the new
design of expounding and representing Popery,
” London,
Several captious Queries concerning
the English Reformation, first in Latin, and afterwards by
T. W. in English, briefly and fully answered,
” Lond.
A Preface concerning the Testimony of
Miracles, prefixed to The School of the Eucharist established upon the miraculous respects and acknowledgements,
which Beasts, Birds, and Insects, upon several occasions,
have rendered to the Sacrament of the Altar.
” Translated
by another hand, from the original French of F. Toussain
Bridoul, a Jesuit," Lond. 1687, 4to. Besides these, after
his decease, his brother, Mr. Nicolas Clagett, published
four volumes of his sermons: the first in 1689, contained seventeen sermons; one of which was greatly admired by
queen Mary, who desired to have it read more than once
during her last illness: Text, Job ii. 10. The second
volume, printed in 1693, contained eleven sermons; a Paraphrase and Notes upon the first, second, third, fourth, fifth,
seventh, and eighth Chapters of the Gospel of St. John.
The Paraphrase, and Notes on the sixth Chapter, which had
been published before: A Discourse of Church- Unity, with
Directions now, in this divided State of Christendom, to keep
within the Unity of the Church A Discourse of Humanity
and Charity And a Letter concerning Protestants Charity
to Papists published by Dr. Clagett. The third and fourth
volumes did not come out till 1720, at so great a distance
of tune from the two former volumes, that the booksellers
would not call them the third and fourth volumes, but the
first and second volumes, as well as the former; only notice was given, that they were never before published.
ristianity. He allows, however, that it is somewhat more extraordinary that Claudian should so excel in Latin verse, as to approach the best writers of the Augustan
In consequence of Orosius pronouncing him a heathen,
“an obstinate pagan,
” Cave thinks it may be reasonably
inferred that he had written against the Christian religion.
This Fabricius opposes, but Lardner says it may be
reckoned somewhat remarkable, that a learned man, a
devout worshipper of all the gods, a wit and a poet, and
author of many works, should never say any thing disrespectful of Christianity. He allows, however, that it is
somewhat more extraordinary that Claudian should so excel
in Latin verse, as to approach the best writers of the Augustan age in purity and elegance. Gibbon’s character
of Claudian, corresponding with this, is written with more
than usual care and discrimination. If, says this historian,
we fairly balance Claudian’s merits and defects, we shall
acknowledge that he does not either satisfy, or silence our
reason. It would not be easy to produce a passage that
deserves the epithet of sublime or pathetic; to select a
verse that melts the heart, or enlarges the imagination.
We should vainly seek in the poems of Claudian, the
happy invention and artificial conduct of an interesting
fable, or the just and lively representation of the characters
and situations of real life. For the service of his patron,
he published occasional panegyrics and invectives; and
the design of these slavish compositions encouraged his
propensity to exceed the limits of truth and nature. These
imperfections, however, are compensated in some degree
by the poetical virtues of Claudian. He was endowed with
the rare and precious talent of raising the meanest, of
adorning tjie most barren, and of diversifying the most similar topics; tys colouring, mere specially in descriptive
poetry, is soft and splendid; and he seldom fails to display, and even to abuse, the advantages of a cultivated
understanding, a copious fancy, an easy, and sometimes
forcible expression; and a perpetual flow of harmonious
versification. To these commendations, independent of
any accidents of time and place, we must add the peculiar
merit which Claudian derived from the unfavourable circumstances of his birth. In the decline of arts, and of empire, a native of Egypt, who had received the education
of a Greek, assumed in a mature age the familiar use and
absolute command of the Latin language, soared above the
heads of his feeble contemporaries, and placed himself, after
an interval of three hundred years, among the poets of ancient Rome. Strada, in his Prolusions, allows him to contend
with the five heroic poets, Lucretius, Virgil, Ovid, Lucan,
and Statius. His patron is the accomplished courtier, Balthazar Castiglione. His admirers are numerous and passionate. Yet the rigid critics reproach the exotic weeds,
or flowers, which spring too luxuriantly in his Latian soil,
and for which Dr. Warton, one probably ranked by Gibbon among these “rigid critics,
” places Claudian with
Statius and Seneca the tragedian, as authors into which no
youth of genius ought to be suffered to look.
nce, Spain, Portugal, and Africa, and died at Granada, 1542. He left some curious and scarce letters in Latin, concerning his travels, 1606, 8vo; a Greek grammar, which
, was a native of Diest, who, after teaching ethics at Louvaine, travelled into France, Spain, Portugal, and Africa, and died at Granada, 1542. He left some curious and scarce letters in Latin, concerning his travels, 1606, 8vo; a Greek grammar, which has been revised and corrected by several grammarians, and among others by Vossius, who published an edition of it at Amsterdam, 1650, 8vo, a Hebrew grammar, Louvain, 1529, and other works.
r to complete the course, were followed in 1695, by his “Natural Philosophy.” These were all written in Latin, and were reprinted, in a fourth edition, Amst. 1710,
In the same year, we find him better employed in writing
his “Bibliotheque universelle et historique,
” a literary
journal of great utility. The first eight and part of the
ninth volume he wrote in conjunction with de la Crose
the tenth is Le Clerc’s, and the 11th La Grose’s; the rest
to the 19th Le CHerc’s, and the remainder to the 25th,
which is the last, were written by Mr. Bernard. While
employed on this work, Le Clerc published various others.
In the years 1687 89, he published French translations
of bishop Burners “Reflections upon Varillas’s History,
”
&c. and of some of his sermons and in Lives of the Philosophers,
” translated into
Latin, with notes. The same year he revised and corrected the sixth edition of Moreri’s Dictionary; and wrote
a French letter to Jurieu, vindicating the character of Episcopius, whom Jurieu had classed among Socinians. Besides these labours, he continued to read regular lectures,
as professor of philosophy and the belles-lettres, at Amsterdam; and in 1691, published his “Logic, Ontology,
and Pneumatology,
” which, in order to complete the
course, were followed in 1695, by his “Natural Philosophy.
” These were all written in Latin, and were reprinted, in a fourth edition, Amst. 1710, 4 vols. 8vo, to
which was subjoined also in Latin, his life, written by
himself, 1711, which makes a fifth volume, and in 1712
was translated into English, and published at London. In
1693 he published the first volume of his “Commentary
on the Bible,
” a work he had long projected, and for which
he had been long collecting materials. He published the
remainder, at different times, until 1731, when the Commentary on the Prophets appeared, but it was still left incomplete, owing to that decay of his faculties which
interrupted all his labours in the latter part of his life.
any master. He was much assisted in his Latin studies by acting as an amanuensis, and sometimes read in^ Latin books, to Dr. Wright, who had the misfortune to be deprived
, an ingenious professor of the veterinary art, was born at Norwich, Aug. 12, 1725. His father was a blacksmith, in humble life, and could only afford to allow his son a short time for instruction, in the elements of reading, writing, and arithmetic. He was taken from school before he had made much progress in his education; and when he was seventeen years old, he was obliged, by the death of his father, to carry on the business for the benefit of his mother and her family, which consisted of four children. About the year 1750, he was first noticed by Dr. Kirwan Wright, an eminent physician, and a man of learning, who encouraged him to direct his mind to the investigation and treatment of the diseases of horses. To this pursuit he devoted his attention with great zeal and success. Through the same friend he was induced to acquire a knowledge of the Latin and French languages, in. order to make himself acquainted with the best authors on farriery and medicine, but particularly Vegetius and La Fosse. His Latin teacher was a Mr. Pagan, under whose tuition he made a rapid progress: and in French he instructed himself without the help of any master. He was much assisted in his Latin studies by acting as an amanuensis, and sometimes read in^ Latin books, to Dr. Wright, who had the misfortune to be deprived of his sight. During this time he was a hard worker as well as a hard student. He used to work at the forge, the regular hours, from sixo'clock in the morning until eight at night, and then frequently got ready the nails requisite for his men the next day. To his labours as a blacksmith, a veterinary practitioner, a student of Latin and French, he added others, as a student of mathematics. He became a member of a society established in Norwich, among men of original minds and small incomes, for improvement in mathematics and experimental philosophy, under the direction of Mr. Peter Bilby. Here ho associated with John Fransham, with Mr. Arderon, F. 11. S. a friend and correspondent of Baker, whose inquiries with the microscope excited general interestat that time, and with other working and thinking men. Mr. Clover had a greater quickness of apprehension, and excelled Fransham in mathematics; but the latter had made a greater proficiency in the classics, and was therefore qualified to become his master. After his return from his eccentric excursion to Newcastle, Mr. Clover employed Fransham occasionally to ride the horses home after they were shod, and whilst the iron was heating, they used both to be employed in Latin exer^ses and mathematical problems, worked upon a slate hung against the forge. Thus the tutor assisted in all the labours of his pupil, and, ' after correcting an exercise, or discussing the properties of a circle, he earned his frugal meal by conducting home the horses which his pupil had shod. Natural philosophy, natural history, and botany, engaged much of this little Bilbean society’s attention. Mr. Clover demonstrated at several of their meetings the origin and progress of the bots found in the stomach and intestines of horses, so early as 1753. He discovered the manner in which the larvae of these insects f&strus equij are conveyed from the coat of the horse, where they are deposited by the fly, into the animal’s stomach; and he illustrated, by many experiments, the whole progress of their transformation, which has been since so well described by Mr. B. Clarke, in the Linnean Transactions for 1796. In 1765, Mr. Clover’s reputation had increased so much that he relinquished working at the forge, and devoted himself wholly to the veterinary art. In this he was assisted by the most eminent medical practitioners of those days, particularly Mr. Gooch, who has inserted in the second volume of his surgical cases, a letter from Mr. Clover, giving a description and a drawing of an ingenious machine invented by him for the cure of ruptured tendons and fractured legs in horses. For many years Mr. Clover was severely afflicted with giddiness and pain in his head, which obliged him to decline business in 178!. He continued, however, to interest himself in every improvement that was made, and always took delight in recounting the results of his extensive experience. One of his greatest amusements was to talk with those who studied physic and surgery; and he continued to read the new medical publications, and to deliver short private lectures on the theory and practice of the healing art, with a lively interest, until the very day of his death. It is to be regretted that he never could be prevailed upon to extend the usefulness of his knowledge and experience in the diseases of animals, by any publication of his observations; but he felt a diffidence and fastidiousness in writing that could never be overcome, though his readiness to communicate information was universally acknowledged. The latter end of his life was cheered by the amusement of gardening, in which he excelled. He marked the gradual decay of his bodily organs with perfect tranquillity and composure, and watched his declining pulse when he expired Feb. 19, 1811, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. With an understanding vigorous and acute, and n. power of discrimination and discernment peculiar to himself, Mr. Clover possessed the external advantage of a strong muscular frame of body, which was tall and well proportioned.
yty of London, and free of the company and mistery of mercers.” Lower, there were other inscriptions in Latin. About 1680, when the church was taking down in order
These troubles and persecutions made him weary of the
world, so that he began to think of disposing of his effects,
and of retiring. Having therefore a very plentiful estate
without any near relations (for, numerous as his brethren were, he had outlived them all), he resolved, in the midst
of life and health, to consecrate the whole property of it
to some standing and perpetual benefaction. And this he
performed by founding St. Paul’s school, in London, of
which he appointed William Lilly first master in 1512. He
ordained, that there should be in this school an high master,
a surmaster, and a chaplain, who should teach gratis 153
children, divided into eight classes and he endowed it
with lands and houses, amounting then to 122l. 4s. 7½d
per annum, of which endowment he made the company of
mercers trustees. To further his scheme of retiring, he
built a convenient and handsome house near Richmond palace in Surrey, in which he intended to reside, but having
been seized by the sweating sickness twice, and relapsing
into it a third time, a consumption ensued, which proved
fatal September 16, 1519, in his fifty-third year. He was
buried in St. Paul’s choir, with an humble monument prepared for him several years before, and only inscribed with
his bare name. Afterwards a nobler was erected to his
honour by the company of mercers, which was destroyed
with the cathedral in 1666; but the representation of it
is preserved in sir William Dugdale’s “History of St.
Paul’s,
” and in Knight’s life of the dean. On the two
sides of the bust was this inscription: “John Colet, doctor
of divinity, dean of Paul’s, and the only founder of Paul’sschocrf, departed this life, anno 1519, the son of sir Henry Colet, knt. twise mayor of the cyty of London, and
free of the company and mistery of mercers.
” Lower,
there were other inscriptions in Latin. About 1680, when
the church was taking down in order to be rebuilt, his
leaden coffin was found inclosed in the wall, about two feet
and a half above the floor. At the top of it was a leaden
plate fastened, whereon was engraved the dean’s name,
his dignity, his benefactions, &c. Besides his dignities
and preferments already mentioned, he was rector of the
fraternity or gild of Jesus in St. Paul’s church, for which
he procured new statutes; and was chaplain and preacher
in ordinary-to Henry VIII; and, if Erasmus is not mistaken, one of the privy-council.
n 1638, leaving behind him many works of these the principal are, a “Japonese Grammar and Dictionary in Latin” “A continuation of Hyacinth Orfanels Hist. Ecclesiastica
, a Spanish Dominican of the sixteenth century, went as a missionary to Japan in 1621, but
his endeavours being obstructed, he made a second attempt in 1635, which was also unsuccessful, and he was
recalled by the king to Spain: in his voyage home he was
shipwrecked, and lost his life at Manilla in 1638, leaving
behind him many works of these the principal are, a
“Japonese Grammar and Dictionary in Latin
” “A continuation of Hyacinth Orfanels Hist. Ecclesiastica Japon.
”
“Dictionarium Linguae Sinensis, cum explicatione Latina
et Hispanica, charactere Sinensi et Latino.
”
here he resided. M. Collet published “A System of Moral Theology,” Is torn, which make 17 vols. 8vo, in Latin, because torn. 1, and torn. 13, are divided each into
, a voluminous French divine, was a
native of Ternay in Vendomois, doctor of divinity, and
priest of the mission of St. Lazare. He was born Sept. 6,
1693, and died at Paris Oct. 6, 1770, at the seminary des
Bons Enfans, where he resided. M. Collet published “A
System of Moral Theology,
” Is torn, which make 17 vols.
8vo, in Latin, because torn. 1, and torn. 13, are divided
each into two, 1744 et seqq. An abridgment of this work,
5 vols. 12mo a scholastic work in 2 vols. “Tr. des Dispenses,
” 3 vols. “Tr. des Saints Mysteres,
” 3 vols.; “Tr.
des Indulgences, et du Jubile,
” 2 vols. 12moj and some
books of devotion, which are very superficial; “Sermons,
”
2 vols. 12mo, an abridgment of Pontas, 2 vols. 4to, &c.
, in Latin Angelus Colotius, an elegant Italian scholar, descended
, in Latin Angelus Colotius, an elegant Italian scholar, descended of an ancient and noble family, was born at Jesi, in 1467. He obtained in his youth the honour of knighthood, which was conferred upon him by the hands of Andreas Palaeologus Despota, when, then a refugee at Rome, he was recognized as the legitimate heir to the imperial diadem of Constantinople. Colocci was a disciple of Georgius Valla, under whom he made great progress in philosophy, but particularly in polite literature. For political reasons, which are detailed J>y Ubaldinus, in his life of this illustrious scholar, the family of Colocci were obliged, in the pontificate of Innocent VIII. to abandon the city of Rome where they had taken up their residence. Angelo, in consequence, repaired to Naples, where he became a member of the Pontana academy, under the assumed name of Angelus Colotius Bassus, and acquired an intimacy with the most eminent poets and wits of his time. Six years afterwards, Raving been permitted to return to his country, he divided his time betwixt his literary pursuits and the official duties entrusted to him by his countrymen, who sent him as ambassador to Alexander VI. in 1498. He then took up his residence at Rome, where his hause became an elegant and liberal resort for men of learning and genius, and where the academy of Rome, which after the death of Pomponius Laetus had fallen into decay, was again revived under his care. Here also his extensive gardens, which, in addition to the most captivating scenery resulting from a happy combination of nature and art, were adorned with a profusion of statues, inscriptions, and other elegant remains of classic antiquity, revived Uie magnificence and amenity of the celebrated gardens of Saliust, of which they were supposed to occupy the actual site. On such objects, and on the patronage of learning and learned men, he employed his riches. The senate of Rome, struck with his liberality, bestowed on him the title of patrician, which extended to his family; and he was held in the highest estimation by the popes Leo X. Clement VII. and Paul III. Leo, independently of 4000 crowns with which he rewarded him for some verses in his praise, made him his secretary, and gave him the reversion of the bishopric of Nocera in 1521, Colocci having at that time survived two wives. This gift was afterwards confirmed to him by Clement VII. who also appointed him governor of Ascoli. These favours, however, were insufficient to secure him when Rome was sacked in 1527. On that occasion, his house was burnt, his gardens pillaged, and he was obliged to pay a large sum for his life and liberty. He then went for some time to his country, and on coming back to Rome, his first care was to invite together the members of the academy who had been dispersed. In 1537 he took possession of the bishopric of Nocera, and died at Rome in 1549. His Latin and Italian poems were published in 1772, but our authority does not mention where or in what shape. Most of them had, however, previously appeared in his life by Ubaldinus, Rome, 1673, 8vo.
Porta, Achillini, and Colonna, were some of its ornaments. 3. “A Dissertation on the Glossopetrae,” in Latin, to be found with a work of Augustine Sciila, on marine
, an eminent botanist, was born at Naples in 1567, the son of Jerome, who
was the natural son of the cardinal Pompeio Colonna. He
devoted himself from his youth to the pursuit of natural
history, and particularly to that of plants, which he studied
in the writings of the ancients; and, by indefatigable application, was enabled to correct the errata with which the
manuscripts of those authors abounded. The languages,
music, mathematics, drawing, painting, optics, the civil
and canon law, filled up the moments which he did not
bestow on botany, and the works he published in this last
science were considered as master-pieces previous to the
appearance of the labours of the latter botanists. He wrote,
1. “Plantarum aliquot ac piscium historia,
” Minus cognitarum rariorumque stirpium descriptio; itemque de aquatilibus,
aliisque nonnullis animalibus libellus,
” Rome, A Dissertation
on the Glossopetrae,
” in Latin, to be found with a work of
Augustine Sciila, on marine substances, Rome, 1647, 4to.
4. He was concerned in the American plants of Hernandez, Rome, 1651, fol. fig. 5. A Dissertation on the Porpura, in Latin; a piece much esteemed, but become
scarce, was reprinted at Kiel, 1675, 4to, with notes by
Daniel Major, a German physician. The first edition is of
1616, 4to.
torical tracts in relation to England. His most curious work is, “The history of the siege of Troy,” in Latin, Cologne 1477, 4to, and Strasbourg 1486, fol. These editions
, was a native of Messina in Sicily,
who followed Edward I. into England, on his return from
the Holy Land. About the year 1287 he compiled a chronicle in 36 books, and wrote several historical tracts in relation to England. His most curious work is, “The history of the siege of Troy,
” in Latin, Cologne
of the relaxed casuists. He died February 21, 1756, at Venice, aged 69. His works are numerous, both in Latin and Italian the latter are “The Lent of the litigious
, a very celebrated Dominican divine, of the congregation of St. James Salomoni, was born
about 1686 in Friuli, on one of the estates of the signiors
Savoriani, noble Venetians. He entered the Dominican
order 1708, preached, with great applause, in the prin^
pipal towns of Italy, gained the esteem of pope Clernent XII. and Benedict XIV. and wrote incessantly against
the opinions of the relaxed casuists. He died February 21,
1756, at Venice, aged 69. His works are numerous, both
in Latin and Italian the latter are “The Lent of the
litigious ecclesiastical Courts,
” Venice, The
Church discipline respecting the fast of Lent,
” &c. Venice, Dissertations theological, moral, and
critical, on the history of probability and rigourism,
” &c.
Venice, Explanation of the four paradoxes which
are in vogue in our age,
” Lucca, The dogma of
the Roman Church respecting Usury,
” Naples, Venice,
” Treatise on revealed Religion,
against atheists, deists, materialists, and indifte rents,
” Venice, Venice, 1753, 4to. The following are written in
Latin three volumes upon Usury, 4to three others on
” Monastic discipline and poverty“” Nine letters on relaxed morality.“But the most valuable of all his works is
his
” Theologia Christiana dogmatico-moralis," Rome,
1746, 12 vols. 4to.
t was increased by printing, during his residence at Oxford, some learned and accurate dissertations in Latin, under the following general title, “Dissertationes m
He staid some short time at London, and then went to
Oxford, where he read public lectures upon the animal ceconomy. In his travels through Italy, he had conversed with
Malpighi, Bellini, Redi, and other celebrated persons, of
whose abilities he availed himself; and he now explained
the new discoveries in anatomy, chemistry, and physic, in,
so clear and judicious a manner, that his reputation was
soon raised to a considerable height. It was increased by
printing, during his residence at Oxford, some learned and
accurate dissertations in Latin, under the following general
title, “Dissertationes medico-physicee.
” Many curious
questions are discussed, and curious facts related, in these
dissertations, which discover their author to have been a
man of much thought and observation, as well as of great
reading and general knowledge. He returned in the summer of 1695 to London, where he read lectures as he had
done at Oxford; and became soon after a member of the
Royal Society, and also of the college of physicians. In.
1696 he went to Cambridge, and read lectures there; and
upon his return to London was honoured with a letter from
the bishop of Pleskof, in which was contained the case of
his old master the king of Poland. His advice was desired
upon it; but before he could send it, the news came of
that monarch’s death.
tained some preferment, but of that, or of his subsequent history, we have no account. He published, in Latin, “Querela veritatis,”and “Epigrammata,” 1520, 4to. Like
, an English poet of the 16th
century, is said to have been born, or at least descended
from a family of that name, in Yorkshire, and was for some
time educated at Oxford, but took his bachelor’s degree at
St. John’s college, Cambridge, in 1579. Edmund Bolton,
in his “Hypercritica,
” says, “Noble Henry Constable
was a great master of the English tongue; nor had any
gentleman of our nation a more pure, quick, or higher delivery of conceit: witness, among all other, that sonnet of
his before his Majesty’s Lepanto.
” He was the author of
“Diana, or the excellent conceitful sonnets of H. C. augmented with divers quatorzains of honorable and learned
personages, divided into eight decads,
” the first sonneteer of his time.
” The most striking of his
productions is that entitled “The Shepheard’s song of Venus and Adonis,
” which is elegantly and harmoniously expressed. Mr. Malone, who reprinted it in the notes to the
10th volume of his Shakspeare, p. 74, thinks it preceded
Shakspeare’s poem on the same subject, which it far excels,
at least in taste and natural touches. Of his life, no memorials have been discovered. Dr. Birch, in his Memoirs of
queen Elizabeth, thought him to be the same Henry Constable, who was a zealous Roman Catholic, and whose religion seems to have obliged him to live in a state of banishment from England. Sir E. Brydges is inclined to the
same opinion. Constable afterwards came privately to
London, but was soon discovered, and imprisoned in the
Tower of London, whence he was released in the latter end
of the year 1604. There was another of the name in the
early part of the 16th century, a John Constable, the
son of Roger Constable, who was born in London, and
educated under the celebrated William Lilye. From
thence he was sent to Byham Hall, opposite Merlon college, Oxford, where, in 1515, he took the degree of M.A.
and was accounted at that time an excellent poet and rhetorician. He obtained some preferment, but of that, or of his
subsequent history, we have no account. He published, in
Latin, “Querela veritatis,
”and “Epigrammata,
”
d of his brother, air Philip Hobby, in one tomb together, which she adorned with large inscriptions, in Latin and English verse, of her own composition. She had by
, third daughter of sir Anthony Cooke, was born about the year 1529, and having enjoyed the same liberal education which was bestowed upon her sisters, was equally happy in improving it, and gained the applause of the most eminent scholars of the age. It was observed by sir John Harrington, that if Madam Vittoria, an Italian lady, deserved to have her name celebrated and transmitted to posterity by Ariosto, for writing some verses, in the manner of an epitaph, upon her husband, after his decease; no less commendation was due to the lady before us, who did as much and more, not only for two husbands, but for her son, daughter, brother, sister, and venerable old friend Mr. Noke of Shottesbrooke, in the Greek, Latin, and English tongues. She was married, first, to sir Thomas Hobby, and accompanied him to France, when he went there as ambassador from queen Elizabeth, and died there July 13, 1566. His disconsolate lady having erected a chapel in the chancel of the church at Bisham, in Berkshire, carefully deposited the remains of her husband, and of his brother, air Philip Hobby, in one tomb together, which she adorned with large inscriptions, in Latin and English verse, of her own composition. She had by sir Thomas Hobby four children, Edward, Elizabeth, Anne, and Thomas Posthumus. It does not appear that she had great comfort in either of her sons; and the youngest in particular, as is manifest from a letter written by her to lord treasurer Burleigh, was guilty of such extravagancies and undutifulness, as gave her much uneasiness. It is evident, from the letter, that she was a woman of uncommon spirit and sense, and an excellent economist. Some years after the decease of sir Thomas Hobby, she married John, lord Russel, son and heir to Francis Russel, earl of Bedford. Her husband dying before his father, in the year 1584, was buried in the abbey church of Westminster, where there is a noble monument erected to his memory, and embellished with inscriptions in Greek, Latin, and English, by this his surviving lady. Her children, by John lord Russel, were one son, who died young in 1580, and two daughters, Anne and Elizabeth. The last of them survived her father but a little time, and is said to have bled to death by the prick of a needle in the forefinger of her left hand. This story has been supported by the figure placed on her monument, which is in the same grate with that of her father; where, on a pedestal of black and white marble made column-wise, in imitation of a Roman altar, may be seen the statue of a young lady seated in a most curiously-wrought osier chair, of the finest polished alabaster, in a very melancholy posture, inclining her head to the right hand, and with the forefinger of her left only extended downwards, to direct us to behold the death’s head underneath her feet, and, as the tradition goes, to signify the disaster that brought her to her end. Mr. Ballard thinks, that if the fact be true, it must be attributed to some gangrene, or other dangerous symptom, occasioned perhaps at first by the pricking of an artery or nerve, which at last brought her to the grave. The matter, however, does not deserve to be reasoned upon; being, in truth, no other than an idle and groundless tale, which very well answers the purpose of amusing the crowd who go to visit the tombs in the Abbey.
evv was lamented in various epitaphs. Her sister, lady Russel, wrote one, partly in Greek and partly in Latin verse. Three others, in Latin verse, were written by Robert
The death of lady Killegrevv was lamented in various epitaphs. Her sister, lady Russel, wrote one, partly in Greek and partly in Latin verse. Three others, in Latin verse, were written by Robert Mason Format), minister of the reformed French church in London, by Andrew Melvin, and by William Chark. Such of our readers as are curious to see these productions, may find them in Ballard. It is generally understood that sir Anthony Cooke had only four daughters; but there is some reason to believe that he had, at least, one more. Camden, Fuller, Lloyd, Bohun, and Strype, concur in mentioning a fifth daughter, whose name, they say, is lost. Nevertheless, they all observe that she was married to sir Ralph Rowlet but this seems doubtful.
, 8vo. In 1741 he encreased his classical reputation by an edition of Virgil, with an interpretation in Latin, and notes in English. In 1742 he published a volume of
, a poet and miscellaneous writer,
was born at Braintree in Essex, in 1702 or 1703, where
his father was an inn-keeper, and as Pope used to say, a
Muggletonian. He was educated at Felsted school, where
he made considerable proficiency, but how long he remained here, or what was his destination in life is not
known. For some time he appears to have been domesticated in the family of lord Pembroke, who died in 1733,
and who probably suggested to him a translation of Hesiod,
to which his lordship contributed some notes. Before this
nobleman’s death, he came to London in 1722, and became a writer by profession, and a strenuous supporter
of revolution-principles, which formed a bond of union
between him and Tickell, Philips, Welsted, Steele, Dennis,
and others, whose political opinions agreed with his own.
He wrote in some of the weekly journals of the time, and
was considered as a man of learning and abilities. He is
supposed to have attacked Pope from political principles,
but it is fully as probable, that, as he was a good Greek
scholar, he wished to derive some reputation from proving
that Pope, in his translation of Homer, was deficient in
that language. In 1725 he published a poem entitled
“The Battle of the Poets,
” in which Pope, Swift, and
some others were treated with much freedom and translated and published in the Daily Journal, 1727, the episode
of Thersites, from the second book of the Iliad, to show
how much Pope had mistaken his author. For this attack
Pope gave him a place in the “Dunciad,
” and notices
him with equal contempt in his Epistle to Dr. Arbutlmot.
In a note likewise he informs us that Cooke “wrote letters
at the same time to him, protesting his innocence;
” but
Cooke’s late biographer, sir Joseph Mawbey, is inclined
to doubt this, and rather to believe that he was regardless
of Pope’s enmity. In a subsequent edition of “The Battle of the Poets
” Cooke notices the Dunciad with becoming spirit, and speaks with little respect of Pope’s
“philosophy or dignity of mind, who could be provoked
by what a boy writ concerning his translation of Homer,
and in verses which gave no long promise of duration.
”
In 1725 or 172G, Cooke published “The Knights of
the Bath,
” and “Philander and Cydippe,
” both poetical
tales; and several other pieces of poetry the former evidently meant to attract the public attention, on the revival,
about that time, of the order of the Bath. He wrote soon
after “The Triumphs of Love and Honour,
” a play; “The
Eunuch,
” a farce; and “The Mournful Nuptials,
” a tragedy; all performed at Drury-lane theatre, but with little
success. In 1726 he published an account of the “Life
and Writings of Andrew Marvell, esq.
” prefixed to an
edition of the poetical works of that celebrated politician,
2 vols. 12mo, and in 1728 his translation of “Hesiod.
”
In A Translation of Cicero on the Nature of the Gods,
” with philosophical, critical, and explanatory notes, to which is added
an examination into the astronomy of the ancients, 8vo.
In 1741 he encreased his classical reputation by an edition
of Virgil, with an interpretation in Latin, and notes in
English. In 1742 he published a volume of his original
“Poems,
” with imitations and translations, and in
, in Latin Corasitjs, was born at Toulouse, or rather at Realmont,
, in Latin Corasitjs, was born at
Toulouse, or rather at Realmont, 1513. He taught law at
Anger, Orleans, Paris, Padua, Ferrara, and Toulouse, with
universal applause, and was afterwards counsellor to the
parliament of Toulouse, and chancellor of Navarre; but,
turning protestant, was driven from Toulouse, 1562, and,
with difficulty, restored by the patronage of chancellor de
l'Hospital, his friend. This return, however, proved unfortunate; for he was murdered in that city, 1573, after
the massacre of St. Bartholomew was known there. He
left only a daughter. Coras wrote some excellent works
in Latin and French, the principal of which were printed,
1556 and 1558, 2 vols. fol. His “Miscellaneorum Juris
Civilis libri tres,
” is particularly valued. His life was
written by a descendant, James Coras, also a protestant,
and published in 1673, 4to.
, in Latin Corderius, lived in the sixteenth century, and was an
, in Latin Corderius, lived in
the sixteenth century, and was an eminent teacher. He
understood the Latin tongue critically, was a man of virtue, and performed his functions with the utmost diligence,
mixing moral with literary instruction. He spent his long
life in teaching children at Paris, Nevers, Bordeaux, Geneva, Neufchastel, Lausanne, and lastly again at Geneva,
where he died September the 8th, 1564, at the age of
eighty-five, having continued his labours until three or
four days before his death. He studied divinity for some
time at Paris in the college of Navarre, about the year 1528,
after he had taught a form in the same college but he left
off that study in order to apply himself to his former functions of a grammarian. He had taught at Nevers in 1534,
1535, and 1536. Calvin, who had been his scholar at
Paris in the college de la Marche, dedicated his Commentary on the 1st Epistle to the Thessalonians to him. It is
not exactly known of what province Mathurin Cordier was;
some say he was born in Normandy; others pretend he
was born in the earldom of Perche. He published several
books for the use of schools, among which were, 1. “Epistres Chrestiennes,
” Lyons, Sentences
extraictes de la Saincte Escriture pour Tinstruction des
Enfans,
” Latin and French, Cantiques spirituels en nombre 26,
” Le Miroir de la Jeunesse,
pour la former a bonnes mceurs, et civilite de la vie,
” Paris,
16to. 5. “L‘ Interpretation et construction en Francois
des distiques Latins, qu’on attribue a Caton,
” Lyons, 8vo,
and since, perhaps, above an hundred times. His “Colloquia
” have long been used in schools, and have been
printed, says Bayle, a thousand times.
t he served under the celebrated Venetian general, Bartholomew Coglioni, of whom he has left a life, in Latin, published by Burman. He left also a great many other
, an Italian poet, was born
at Placentia, and flourished in the fifteenth century, but
we have no dates of his birth or death. He passed some
part of his life at Milan, and afterwards travelled into
France; and on his return he went to Ferrara, where he
remained until his death, patronized by the duke Hercules
I. who had a high regard for him. Some of his biographers
inform us that he served under the celebrated Venetian
general, Bartholomew Coglioni, of whom he has left a life,
in Latin, published by Burman. He left also a great many
other works, the most considerable of which is an Italian
poem, in nine books, on the military art, with the Latin
title of “De Re Militari,
” Venice, Lyric poems,
” sonnets, canzoni, &c. were
published at Venice, 1502, 8vo, and Milan, 1519. In these
we find a little more spirit and vivacity, but they partake
of the poetical character of his time. Quadrio, however,
ranks them among the best in the Italian language.
. His works are, 1. “An Epistle to the pastors of the Flemish church at Antwerp,” originally written in Latin, Lond. 1570, 8vo. 2. “Tabulae Divinorum operum, de humani
, the son of
Ant. Corranus, LL.D. was born at Seville, in Spain, in
1527, and educated for the Roman Catholic church; but
being afterwards desirous of embracing the reformed religion, became to England in 1570, and being admitted
into the English church, became a frequent preacher. In
1571 he was made reader of divinity in the Temple, by the
interest of Dr. Edwin Sandys, bishop of London, and continued in that office about three years. In the beginning of
March 1575, he was recommended to the university of Oxford for a doctor’s degree, by their chancellor, the earl of
Leicester; but doubts being raised as to the soundness of
his principles on certain contested points, his degree was
refused until he should give full satisfaction, which he probably did, although the matter is not upon record. At
Oxford he became reader of divinity to the students in
Gloucester, St. Mary’s, and Hart-hail, and resided as a
student of Christchurch, holding at the same time the prebend of Harleston in St. Paul’s. He died at London in
March 1591, and was buried either at St. Andrew’s, Hoiborn, or St. Andrew Wardrobe. His works are, 1. “An
Epistle to the pastors of the Flemish church at Antwerp,
”
originally written in Latin, Lond. Tabulae Divinorum operum, de humani generis creatione,
”
Dialogus Theologicus,
” an explanation of St. Paul’s Epistle
to the Romans, collected from his lectures, 1574, 8vo;
also translated, 1579. 4. “Supplication to the king of
Spain,
” respecting the protestants in the Low Countries,
Notsc in concionem Solomonis
” i. e. Ecclesiastes,
Sermons on Ecclesiastes,
” abridged by Thomas Pitt,
Oxon. A Spanish grammar, with certain rules for
teaching both the Spanish and French tongues,
” translated
into English by Thorius. Lond.
chancel of the church of Odcombe. George Cory ate was much commended in his time for his fine fancy in Latin poetry; and for certain pieces which he had written was
, a Latin poet of some note in
his day, was born in the parish of St. Thomas, in Salisbury.
He received his education at Winchester-school, and in
the year 1562 was admitted perpetual fellow of New college, Oxford. In the year 1566, on queen Elizabeth’s
visiting the university, he, together with W. Reynolds,
bachelor of arts, received her majesty and her train at New
college; on which occasion he pronounced an oration, for
which he received great praises and a handsome purse of
gold. He afterwards took his degree in arts, and, in June
1570, became rector of Odcombe on the death of Thomas
Reade, and some time after, bachelor of divinity. In the
year 1594, he was appointed prebendary of Warthill, in
the cathedral church of York, and also held some other
dignity, but what we are not informed. He died at the
parsonage-house at Odcombe, on the 4th of March, 1606.
It is asserted that his son, the celebrated traveller, agreeably to his whimsical character, entertained a design of
preserving his body from stench and putrefaction, and with
that view caused it to be kept above ground until the 14th
of April following, when it was buried in the chancel of
the church of Odcombe. George Cory ate was much commended in his time for his fine fancy in Latin poetry; and
for certain pieces which he had written was honourably
quoted by several eminent writers. The only pieces Mr.
Wood had seen of his composition were, 1. “Poemata
varia Latina,
” London, Posthuxna fragmenta
Poematum Georgii Coryate.
” 2. “Descriptio Anglise,
Scotiæ, et Hiberniæ,
” written in Latin verse, and dedicated
to queen Elizabeth, but it does not appear that this piece
was ever printed. In 1763, James Liunley Kingston, esq.
of Dorchester, published, from a ms. found amongst the
papers belonging to a considerable family in one of the
western counties, a Latin poem, which appears to have
been written in the reign of queen Elizabeth, entitled
“Descriptio Angli.se et Descriptio Londini,
” being two
poems in Latin verse, supposed to be written in the
fifteenth century. This pamphlet Mr. Gough thinks may
be part of the poem noticed by Mr. Wood. The mention
of only fifteen colleges at Oxford, fixes the date of the
verses before the year 1571. Mr. Coryate’s wife, Gertrude,
outlived her husband and son many years, and resided at
Odcombe or near it until her death. Dr. Humphry Hody,
a native of that place, informed Mr. Wood, that she was
buried near the remains of her husband on the 3d of April,
1645. It appears that after her husband’s death she married a second time.
t the end of Smith’s Life of bishop Cosin. 4.” The History of Popish Transubstantiation,“&c. written in Latin by the author at Paris, for the use of some of his countrymen,
Dr. Cosin wrote a great number of books, from all which
he has sufficiently confuted the calumny of his being a
papist, or popishly affected. Besides his “Collection of
Private Devotions,
” mentioned above, he published “A
Scholastical History of the Canon of the Holy Scripture; or,
the certain and indubitable books thereof, as they are received in the Church of England,
” Condon, A Letter to Dr. Collins, concerning the
Sabbath,
” dated from Peterhouse, Jan. 24, 1635, printed
in the “Bibliotheca Literaria,
” A
Letter from our author to Mr. Cordel, dated Paris, Feb. 7,
165O,
” printed at the end of a pamphlet entitled “The
Judgment of the Church of England, in the case of
Laybaptism, and of Dissenters baptism,' 1 a second edition of
which was published in 1712, 8vo. 3.
” Regni Anglise
Religio Catholica, prisca, casta, defoecata: omnibus
Christianis monarchis, principibus, ordinibus, ostensa,
anno MDCLII.“i. e. A short scheme of the ancient and
pure doctrine and discipline of the Church of England.
Written at the request of sir Edward Hyde, afterwards earl
of Clarendon, and printed at the end of Smith’s Life of
bishop Cosin. 4.
” The History of Popish Transubstantiation,“&c. written in Latin by the author at Paris, for
the use of some of his countrymen, who were frequently
attacked upon that point by the papists. It was published
by Dr. Durrell, at London, 1675, 8vo, and translated into
English in 1676, by Luke de Beaulieu, 8vo. There is a
second part still in manuscript. 5.
” The differences in the
chief points of religion between the Roman Catholics and
us of the Church of England; together with the agreements which we, for our parts, profess, and are ready to
embrace, if they, for theirs, were as ready to accord with
us in the same. Written to the countess of Peterborough, “printed at the end of bishop Bull’s
” Corruptions of the
Church of Rome.“6.
” Notes on the Book of CommonPrayer.“Published by Dr. William Nicholls, at the end
of his Comment on the Book of Common-Prayer, Lond.
171O, fol. 7.
” Account of a Conference in Paris, between Cyril, archbishop of Trapezond, and Dr. John Cosin;“printed in the same book. 8.
” A Letter from Dr.
Cosin to bishop Moreton his predecessor, giving an account of his studies and employment when an exile
abroad;“and,
” A Memorial of his, against what the Romanists call the Great General Council of Lateran under
Innocent III. in 1215,“both published by Des Maizeaux
in vol. VI. of
” The Present State of the Republic of Letters,“1730. 9.
” An Apology of Dr. John Cosin,“in
answer to Fuller’s misrepresentations of him in that author’s Church History, printed at the end of the first part
of Heylin’s
” Examen Historicum.“The following pieces
were also written by bishop Cosin, but never primed:
I.
” An Answer to a Popish pamphlet pretending that
St. Cyprian was a Papist.“2.
” An Answer to four queries
of a Roman Catholic, about the Protestant Religion.“3. ti An Answer to a paper delivered by a Popish BifUop
to the lord Inchiquin. ' 4.
” Annales Ecclesiastic!,“imperfect. 5.
” An Answer to Father Robinson’s Papers
concerning the validity of the Ordinations of the Church
of England.“6.
” Historia Conciliorum,“imperfect.
7.
” Against the foraakers of the Church of England, and
their seducers in this time of her tryal.“8.
” Chronologia Sacra,“imperfect. 9.
” A Treatise concerning the
abuse of auricular confession in the Church of Rome."
Some few of Dr. Cosin’s letters are extant among Dr.
Birch’s collections in the British Museum.
ond voyage, he died on his passage in 1693. He composed some works in the Chinese language, and many in Latin; of which are: 1. “Confucius Sinarum philosophus; sive
, a Jesuit, born at Malines, went
to China in quality of missionary in 1659, and returned in
1680. Being embarked in the intention of making a second voyage, he died on his passage in 1693. He composed some works in the Chinese language, and many in
Latin; of which are: 1. “Confucius Sinarum philosophus; sive Scientia Sinica Latine exposita,
” Paris, Historia Candidue Hiu, Christianas Sinensis,
” translated into
French at Paris The catalogue (in Latin, Paris, 1688) of the Jesuits that have gone as missionaries
to China.
”
e public act that year, and made a speech there upon the occasion, which was afterwards printed both in Latin and English. In 1726 he published at London, in two vols.
He was well received in England: the marquis of Blandford made him a present of fifty pounds, and he obtained
a pension of one hundred pounds a year from the court.
In 1729 he published, at Amsterdam, in two vols. 12mo,
“Relation Historique et Apologetique des sentimens et de
la conduite du P. le Courayer, chanoine regulier de Ste.
Genevieve: avec les preuves justificatives des faits avancez
dans l'ouvrage.
” In this work he entered into a farther
justification of his sentiments and of his conduct, and
shewed the necessity that he was under of quitting France,
from the virulence and power of his enemies. In 1733 he
was at Oxford, and was present in the theatre at the public
act that year, and made a speech there upon the occasion,
which was afterwards printed both in Latin and English.
In 1726 he published at London, in two vols. folio, a translation, in French, of “Father Paul’s History of the Council
of Trent;
” with notes critical, historical, and theological.
He dedicated this work to queen Caroline, and speaks of
it as having been undertaken by her command; and he expresses, in the strongest terms, his gratitude to her majesty for her patronage, and for the liberality which she
liad manifested towards him. A list of subscribers is prefixed, in which are found the names of the prince of Wales,
the duke of Cumberland, the prince and princess of Orange,
the princesses Amelia and Caroline, the archbishop of
Canterbury, the lord Chancellor, lord Hardwicke, then
chief Justice of the King’s Bench, sir Robert Walpole,
and many of the nobility, andother persons of distinction.
By the sale of this work he is said to have gained fifteen
hundred pounds, and the queen also raised his pension to
two hundred pounds per annum. He gave sixteen hundred
pounds to lord Feversham, for an annuity of one hundred
pounds per annum, which he enjoyed forty years. By
these means he came into very easy circumstances, which
were rendered still more so by the reception which his
agreeable and instructive conversation procured him, among
persons of rank and fortune, with many of whom it was his
custom to live for several months at a time. He wrote
some other works in French, besides those that have been
mentioned; and, in particular, he translated into that language Sleidan’s “History of the Reformation.
” His exile
from his own country was probably no diminution of his
happiness upon the whole; for he appears to have passed
his time in England very agreeably, and he lived to an
uncommon age. Even in his latter years, he was distinguished for the cheerfulness of his temper and the sprightliness of his conversation. He died in Downingstreet,
Westminster, after two days illness, on the 17th of October, 1776, at the age of ninety-five. Agreeably to his
own desire, he was buried m the cloister of Westminsterabbey, by Dr. Bell, chaplain to the princess Amelia. In
his will, which was dated Feb. 3, 1774,* he declared,
“That he died a member of the Catholic church, but without approving of many of the opinions and superstitions
which have been introduced into the Romish church, and
taught in their schools and seminaries, and which they have
insisted on as articles of faith, though to him they appeared
to be not only not founded in truth, but also to be highly
improbable.
” It is said, that soon after he came to England, he went to a priest of the Romish church for confession, and acquainted him who he was. The priest would
not venture to take his confession, because he was excommunicated, but advised him to consult his superior of Genevieve. Whether he made any such application, or what
was the result, we are not informed bat it is certain that,
when in London, he made it his practice to go to mass;
and when in the country, at Ealing, he constantly attended
the service of the parish-church, declaring, at all times,
that he had great satisfaction in the prayers of the church
of England. In discoursing on religious subjects he was
reserved and cautious, avoiding controversy as much as
possible. He left 500l. to the parish of St. Martin; and
gave, in his life-time, his books to the library there,
founded by archbishop Tenison. He bequeathed 200l. to
the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster, and a handsome
sum of money to the poor of Vernon, in Normandy; and,
after many legacies to his friends in England, the remainder
to two nephews of his name at Vernon. During his lifetime, he was occasionally generous to some of his relations
in France, and in England was very liberal to the poor.
He had two sisters, who were nuns; and a brother at
Paris, in the profession of the law, to whom he gave a
handsome gold snuff-box, which had been presented to
him by queen Caroline.
, in Latin, Cognatus, a learned writer of the sixteenth century,
, in Latin, Cognatus, a learned
writer of the sixteenth century, was born at Nozeret, in
Franche-Comte, Jan. 21, 1506. Having a turn for the
law, he went to study at Dole in 1526, but not relishing it
after six months application, he entered upon a course of
divinity, and being introduced to Erasmus, was employed
by him as an amanuensis or copyist. Erasmus also instructed him in the learned languages and in polite literature. In 1535 the prince of Orange conferred on him a
canonry of St. Antony at Nozeret, in consequence of which
preferment, he was obliged to leave Erasmus, who expressed a very high regard for him in several of his letters.
When established at Nozeret, he appears to have taught
school. In 1553, he accompanied the archbishop of Besancon on a tour into Italy; but being soon after suspected
of heresy, he was arrested by order of pope Pius V. and
thrown into prison, in which he died in 1567. It is generally agreed that he inclined in some measure to the sentiments of the reformers. His works, of which a collection
was published in 1562, 3 ' vols. folio, at Basle, consist of
translations from various authors, a treatise on grammar,
erroneously ascribed to St. Basil Latin dissertations letters historical and critical treatises, &c. Niceron has an
elaborate article on this author; and in 1775 was published
at Altorf, “Commentatio de vita Gilberti Cognati, et
Commentatio de scriptis,
” by Schwartz, 4to. Cousin’s
notes upon Lucian are in Bourdelot’s edition of that classic,
1615, folio, but had been published before by himself, in
an edition printed at Basil, 1563, and reprinted in 1602,
and 1619, 4 vols. 8vo.
on of Dr. Tresham and others with Peter Martyr.” 2. “An Oration at the conclusion of the same;” both in Latin, and printed in 1549, 4to, and afterwards among Peter
His works, chiefly published after his decease, are, 1.
“An Oration at the beginning of the Disputation of Dr.
Tresham and others with Peter Martyr.
” 2. “An Oration
at the conclusion of the same;
” both in Latin, and printed
in Resolutions of some
Questions concerning the Sacraments;
” in the collection
of records at the end of Dr. Burnet’s History of the Reformation. 7. He had a hand in the “Declaration concerning the functions and divine institution of Bishops and
Priests,
” and in the “Answers to the Queries concerning some abuses of the Mass.
” 8. Several letters, and
small pieces of his have been published by the industrious
Strype, in his Annals of the Reformation, and Lives of the
four Archbishops; and he is said to have had a hand in
Lilly’s Grammar. A letter written by him in 1569, directed to the Parson of Downham, and found in the parish
chest of that place, was some years ago published in the
Gentleman’s Magazine. It relates chiefly to the state and
condition of the poor, before the statutes of the 14th and
43d of queen Elizabeth were enacted and shews that the
bishop was animated with a very laudable zeal for engaging
persons of wealth and substance to contribute liberally,
chearfully, and charitably, to their indigent neighbours.
His attainments were various and considerable. He wrote elegantly in Latin verse, as may be seen in three specimens in the “Carmina
His attainments were various and considerable. He
wrote elegantly in Latin verse, as may be seen in three
specimens in the “Carmina Quadragesimal ia,
” for the year
he remained here until Oct. 5, 1637, on which day he died, in his sixty-ninth year. His works, both in Latin and German, are very numerous. Freher has given a complete
, a learned protestant divine, was
born at Retz in the new march of Brandenburgh, Jan. 20,
1568, where his father was pastor of the church, and for
some time superintended his education. In 1531 he was
sent to Lansberg, where he was educated in Greek and
Latin by J. M. Capito, and afterwards pursued his studies
at other seminaries, particularly Rostock, where he applied to philosophy and mathematics under Dr. Duncan
Liddel, a learned native of Scotland, and Gotschovius.
Under the presidentship of Dr. Liddel he defended a thesis
on the organon of Aristotle with great applause, and lectured on the ethics to some of his fellow-students. About
this time, 1590, the son of the prime minister of Denmark,
Rosenkranz, being at Rostock for his education, Cramer
was appointed his tutor, and afterwards accompanied him
to Denmark, and to the university of Whtemberg; here
he was appointed professor of logic, and superintendant of
the scholars who were exhibitioners. From hence, being
invited to Stettin, he was made first dean, and professor,
and assessor of the consistory. In 1597 he was appointed
pastor at Marienkirk, and inspector of the college. In
1598 he received the degree of doctor of divinity at Wittemberg, where Moreri, blunderingly, makes him die in
the following year: on the contrary, after refusing many
preferments, he remained here until Oct. 5, 1637, on which
day he died, in his sixty-ninth year. His works, both in
Latin and German, are very numerous. Freher has given
a complete list, in which we find several treatises on Aristotle, “Emblematum Sacrorum Decades X.
” with plates,
and Latin, German, Italian and French verses,“8vo.
”Isagoge ad libros Propheticos et Apostolicos,“8vo;
” Arbor hsereticse consanguinitatis," a history of heresies, divided into four classes, 4to; and various controversial works
in favour of the Lutheran opinions.
“De nonnullis Antichrist! characteribus,” 1729, 4to. He published, also, various other dissertations in Latin and German, and after his death appeared, “Meditatio sacra
, a learned protestant
divine, was born at Elcau, Feb. 14, 1678, and was first
instructed in classical learning by his father, who was a
pastor of the reformed church, and who intended him for
the medical profession, but by the advice of his brother,
professor of the oriental languages at Zurich, he studied
divinity, after the death of his father, in 1693, and was
admitted into the ministry in 1699. The same year he accompanied his brother to Herborn, where the latter had
been appointed professor of divinity, and pursued his
studies in that place for two years, under the ablest professors. He then removed to Leyden, and having made
great progress in Hebrew antiquities, he published there,
in 1702, his “Seven Dissertations on the Hilcoth Biccurim.
” His brother dying at Zurich the same year, he
was unanimously chosen to succeed him as Hebrew professor, and on Sept. 18, he opened his lectures with a discourse “de philologis a reformatione in schola Tigurina
claris.
” In 1705 he was appointed to teach sacred and
profane history, and the year following succeeded to the
Hebrew professorship in the superior college. In 1725 he
succeeded John James Lavater, the elder, as professor of
theology, and after some other preferments, the duties of
which appear to have affected his health, he died July 14,
1737. His works are very numerous: 1. “Decas Thesium
Theologicarum,
” Constitutiones de primitivis R. Mosis F. Maimonis, &c. cum versione et notis
philologicis,
” Leyden, De Summa pryedicationis apostolicae, quod Jesus sit Christus,
” De genuina indole fidei Jesum ceu Christum recipientis,
” two parts, Dissertationes Theolog. VII. de benedictione Mosis in tribum
Levi enunciata,
” 1725, 1736, 4to. 6. “Positiones theolog. ex pastorali instructione sancti Pauli ad Titum data,
”
Demonstratio quibus in rebus S'erae religionis prsestantia ponenda sit,
” 172H. 8. “De nonnullis
Antichrist! characteribus,
” Meditatio sacra in verba S. Pauli,
quee beatitudinem in Domino morientium veram ac certam
demonstrat,
” Zurich,
a complete system of the Epicurean philosophy. Creech had published in 1695 an edition of Lucretius in Latin, with notes, which were afterwards printed at the end
The following is a list of his translations; for we do not
find him to have been the author of any original works.
1. A translation of “Lucretius,
” printed in 8vo, at Oxford, Miscellany
Poems,
” which were published by him, speaks of this
translation in the highest terms of approbation, calling
Creech “the ingenious and learned translator of Lucretius
” and every body else entertained the same opinion of
it.' In the edition of 1714, in 2 vols. 8vo, all the verses of
the text, which Creech had left untranslated, particularly
those in the fourth book about the nature of love, are supplied; and many new notes added and intermixed by another hand, by way of forming a complete system of the
Epicurean philosophy. Creech had published in 1695 an
edition of Lucretius in Latin, with notes, which were
afterwards printed at the end of the English translation.
Another edition of this, much enlarged, but very incorrect,
was published in 1717 in 8vo. The best is that of Glasow, 1759, 12 mo. He will perhaps be far longer rememred as the editor than the translator of Lucretius. 2. In
1684 he published a translation of “Horace
” in which,
however, he has omitted some few odes. As to the satires,
he was advised, as he tells us in the preface, “to turn them
to our own time; since Rome was now rivalled in her vices;
and parallels for hypocrisy, profaneness, avarice, and the
like, were easy to be found.
” But those crimes,“he declares,
” were out of his acquaintance; and since the character is the same whoever the person is, he was not so
fond of being hated, as to make any disobliging application.
Such pains,“says he,
” would look like an impertinent
labour to find a dunghill.“3. The
” Idylliums“of Theocritus, with Rapin’s discourse of pastorals, 1684,- 8vo. 4.
The second elegy of Ovid’s first book of elegies the sixth,
seventh, eighth, and twelfth of the second book; the story
of Lucretia, out of the Fasti; and the second and third of
Virgil’s eclogues; printed in a collection of miscellany
poems, 1684. 5. The thirteenth satire of Juvenal, with
notes. Printed in the English translation of the satires,
1693, in folio. 6. A translation into English of the verses
prefixed to Quintinie’s Complete Gardener. 7. The Lives
of Solon, Pelopidas, and Cleomenes, from Plutarch. 8.
The Life of Pelopidas, from Cornelius Nepos. 9. Laconic apophthegms, or remarkable sayings of the Spartans, from Plutarch. 10. A discourse concerning Socrates’s da3mon, and the two first books of the Symposiacs,
from Plutarch. These translations from Plutarch were
published in the English translations of his
” Lives“and
” Morals.“11. A translation of Manilius’s Astronomicon,
dated from All-Souls, Oct. 10, 1696. On his father’s
monument he is called
” the learned, much admired, and
much envied Mr. Creech.“By whom he could have been
envied, we know not, yet there is a ridiculous story that
Dryden became so jealous of him, as to incite him to
translate Horace that he might lose as much reputation by
that poet, as he had gained by Lucretius. His poetry will
scarcely at present be deemed an object which calls for
much criticism, as he is rather a good scholar than a
good poet; and in the instance of Lucretius, a most judicious editor. Dr. Warton, however, who will be allowed
Jto be an admirable judge, has spoken of him in terms of
applause.
” Creech,“says the doctor,
” in truth, is a
much better translator than he is usually supposed and
allowed to be. He is a nervous and vigorous writer: and
many parts, not only of his Lucretius, but of his
Theocritus and Horace (though now decried) have not been
excelled by other translators. One of his pieces may be
pronounced excellent; his translation of the thirteenth
satire of Juvenal; equal to any that Dryden has given us
of that author.“Pope certainly paid him no small compliment by beginning his epistle to Mr. Murray (afterwards lord Mansfield) with two lines from Creech’s Horace. Pope
used to say that
” he hurt his translation of Lucretius very
much by imitating Cowley, and bringing in turns even
into some of the most grand parts. He has done more
justice to Manilius."
nts happened, in four large volumes, collected from our ancient historians; but, as this was written in Latin, he judged that it was less suited to the wants of common
After the restoration, and the marriage of king Charles II.
queen Catharine appointed our author, who was then become one of the mission in England, her chaplain, and
from that time he resided in Somerset-house, in the Strand.
The great regularity of his life, his sincere and unaffected
piety, his modest and mild behaviour, his respectful deportment to persons of distinction, with whom he was formerly acquainted when a protestant, and the care he took
to avoid all concern in political affairs or intrigues of state,
preserved him in quiet and safety, even in the most troublesome times- He was, however, a very zealous champion in the cause of the church of Rome, and was continually writing in defence of her doctrines, or in answer
to the books of controversy written by protestants of distinguished learning or figure; and as this engaged him in
a variety of disputes, he had the good fortune to acquire
great reputation with both parties, the papists looking
upon him to be one of their ablest advocates, and the protestants allowing that he was a grave, a sensible, and a
candid writer. Among the works he published after his
return to England, were: 1. “A non est inventus returned to Mr. Edward Bagshaw’s enquiry and vainly boasted
discovery of weakness in the Grounds of the Church’s Infallibility,
” A Letter to an English gentleman, dated July 6th, 1662, wherein bishop Morley is
concerned, printed amongst some of the treatises of that
reverend prelate,
” 3. “Roman Catholic Doctrines no Novelties; or, an answer to Dr. Pierce’s court-sermon, miscalled The primitive rule of Reformation,
” The Church History of
Britanny,
” Roan, upon account of some nice controversies between the
see of Rome, and some of our English kings, which might
give offence.
” While engaged on this work, he found leisure to interfere in all the controversies of the times, as
will presently be noticed. His last dispute was in reference
to a book written by the learned Dr. Stillingfleet, afterwards bishop of Worcester, to which, though several answers were given by the ablest of the popish writers, there
was none that seemed to merit reply, excepting that
penned by father Cressey, and this procured him the honour of a very illustrious antagonist, his old friend and
acquaintance at Oxford, Edward earl of Clarendon. Being
now grown far in years, and having no very promising scene
before his eyes, from the warm spirit that appeared against
popery amongst all ranks of people, and the many excellent books written to confute it by the most learned of the
clergy, he was the more willing to seek for peace in the
silence of a country retirement; and accordingly withdrew
for some time to the house of Richard Caryll, esq. a gentleman of an ancient family and affluent fortune, at East
Grinstead, co. Sussex, and dying upon the 10th of August 1674, being then near the seventieth year of his age,
was buried in the parish church there. His loss was much
regretted by those of his communion, as being one of their
ablest champions, ready to draw his pen in their defence
on every occasion, and sure of having his pieces read with
singular favour and attention. His memory also was revered by the protestants, as well on account of the purity
of his manners, and his mild and humble deportment, as
for the plainness, candour, and decency with which he
had managed all the controversies that he had been engaged in, and which had procured him, in return, much
more of kindness and respect, than almost any other of
his party had met with, or indeed deserved. It is very remarkable, however, that he thought it necessary to apologize to his popish readers for the respectful mention he
made of the prelates of our church. Why this should require an apology, we shall not Inquire, but that his candour and politeness deserve the highest commendation will
appear from what he says of archbishop Usher: “As for
B. Usher, his admirable abilities in ‘chronological and historical erudition,’ as also his faithfulness and ingenuous
sincerity in delivering without any provoking reflection*,
what with great labour he has observed, ought certainly at
least to exempt him from being treated by any one rudely
and contemptuously, especially by me, who am moreover
always obliged to preserve a just remembrance of very
many kind effects of friendship, which I received from,
him.
”
We have already taken notice of his inclination to the
mystic divinity, which led him to take so much pains about
the works of father Baker, and from the same disposition
he also published “Sixteen revelations of divine love,
shewed to a devout servant of our Lord, called mother Juliana, an anchorete of Norwich, who lived in the days of
king Edward Hi.
” He left also in ms. “An Abridgment
of the book called The cloud of unknowing, and of the
counsel referring to the same.
” His next performance,
was in answer to a famous treatise, written by Dr. Stillingfleet, against the church of Rome, which made a very
great noise in those days, and put for some time a stop to
the encroachments their missionaries were daily making,
which highly provoked those of the Roman communion.
This was entitled “Answer to part of Dr. Stillingfleet’s
book, entitled Idolatry practised in the church of Rome,
”
Fanaticism fanatically
imputed to the Catholic Church by Dr. Stillingfleet, and
the imputation refuted and retorted,
” &c. Question, Why are you a Catholic? Question, Why
are you a Protestant?
” Animadversions
” upon our author’s answer; in which he very plainly
tells him and the world, that it was not devotion, but necessity and want of a subsistence, which drove him first
out of the church of England, and then into a monastery.
As this noble peer knew him well at Oxford, it may be
very easily imagined that what he said made a very strong
impression, and it was to efface this, that our author thought
tit to send abroad an answer under the title of “Epistle
apologetical to a person of honour, touching his vindication of Dr. Stillingfleet,' 1 1674, 8vo. In this work he
gives a large relation of the state and condition of his affairs, at the time of what he styles his conversion, in order
to remove the imputation of quitting his faith to obtain
bread. The last work that he published was entitled
” Remarks upon the Oath of Supremacy."
, in Latin Crocus, one of the revivers of classical learning, was
, in Latin Crocus, one of the revivers of classical learning, was a native of London, educated at Eton, and admitted scholar of King’s college, Cambridge, April 4, 1506. During the time of his scholarship he went to Oxford, and was instructed in the Greek language by Grocyn. He then went to Paris and some other parts of Europe for further improvement, and continued abroad about twelve years, supported chiefly by the liberality of Warham, archbishop of Canterbury. During his residence there he received a very high honour, that of being chosen Greek professor at Leipsic, being the fiirt that ever taught Greek in that university. Camerarius was one of his pupils here. He resided at Leipsic from 1514 to 1517, and afterwards for some time at Louvain in the same capacity. But as now the study of the Greek language began to be encouraged in our own universities, and as they could ill spare a scholar of Croke’s accomplishments, he was invited home, and in 1519, by the interest of Fisher, bishop of Rochester, was chosen public orator, and lecturer or teacher of Greek in that university. Here, likewise, as well as at Leipsic, he was the first who publicly and by authority taught Greek, Erasmus, who preceded him, having only made some private attempts; yet, in some respect he may be said to have succeeded that eminent scholar, as in his oration in praise of Greek learning, he makes honourable mention of Erasmus, and speaks modestly of himself as unworthy to succeed him. Erasmus had so good an opinion of him, that knowing he was poor, he desired dean Colet to assist him. In 1524, having proceeded in divinity, he became doctor in that faculty, and Henry VIII. being informed of his abilities, employed him as tutor to his natural son, the duke of Richmond. This promotion led to higher; for, being introduced at court when the question respecting the king’s divorce was agitated, Dr. Croke was thought a proper person to be sent abroad, in order to influence the university of Padua to the king’s side; which he successfully accomplished, although the enemies of that divorce say, not in the most honourable manner. From Collier we learn that Croke owns, in a letter to his royal master, that he had paid various sums to at least five of the members of the universities of Padua and Bologna, in order to keep them steady to the cause. But Burnet appears to explain this matter more to Croke’s honour.
he 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
, 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.
, 3 vols. 12mo; in 1725, in 4 vols. and in 1741, in 6 vols. In 1724 he published an abridgment of it in Latin, at Geneva, “Systema Logicæ, juxta principia ab autore
, an eminent philosopher
and mathematician, descended from a noble family, was
born at Lausanne, April 13, 1663. His father was Abraham de Crousaz, colonel of a regiment of fusileers: in his
youth being of a very delicate habit, he was not too closely
confined to his studies, yet left school at the age of thirteen with the reputation of a good scholar. His father,
who intended him for the army, had him educated in the
branches of knowledge necessary for that profession; but
finding him averse to any pursuit unless that of literature, he
allowed him to follow his inclination. In his fifteenth year
he completed his course of philosophy, and distinguished
himself by his theses, but being dissatisfied with the philosophy then taught, he had recourse to the writings of
Des Cartes, which he studied with avidity, and applied at
the same time to mathematics, but scholastic theology had
no more charms for him than the philosophy he had been
taught. In his sixteenth year, however, he entered as a
student of divinity, attended the best professors, both at
Geneva and Lausanne, and read the opinions of other
eminent divines on the subjects most involved in controversy. In March 1682 he went to Lcyden, made himself
acquainted with the theological disputes, and endeavoured
to investigate how far they could be determined by the
sacred scriptures. Leaving Holland, he entered France,
became acquainted with those celebrated protestant divines Claude and Menard, at Charenton, and fathers
Malebranche and le Vassor at Paris, who in vain endeavoured to bring him over to the Roman catholic church,
which Vassor himself forsook some years after. On his
return to his native country, in J 684, Crousaz married the
daughter of John Lewis Loys, comptroller-general, and
soon after was ordained, and made honorary professor.
He officiated as pastor in the church of Lausanne for fourteen years. During this time, in 1691, he was appointed
to dispute for the professorship of Hebrew at Berne, which
he performed with great credit. In 1699 he was made
professor of Greek and philosophy, and although also nominated to the chair of divinity in 1700, he preferred that
of philosophy. In 1706 he was appointed rector of the
college, which office he held three years, and was again
appointed in 1722, but held it then only two years, as it
interfered too much with his literary engagements. It was
during this second rectorate, that contests arose at Lausanne respecting the obligation of signing the Consensus,
a formulary of faith and doctrine maintained in the protestant churches of Swisserland, an account of which may
be seen in “Memoires pour servir a l‘histoire des troubles
arrives en Suisse a I’occasion du Consensus,
” Amst. Systeme de reflexions qui peuvent coutribuer a la netteté et a Petude de
nos connoissances,
” Amst. 2 vols. 8vo, reprinted there in
1720, 3 vols. 12mo; in 1725, in 4 vols. and in 1741, in
6 vols. In 1724 he published an abridgment of it in Latin,
at Geneva, “Systema Logicæ, juxta principia ab autore
in Gallico opere posita.
” Some conversations on the subject of beauty in art, led him to an investigation of the
subject, and produced in 1715, his “Traité du Beau, ou
Ton montre en quoi consiste ce que l'on nomnie ainsi, par
des examples tirés de la plupart des arts et des sciences,
”
reprinted at Amst. 2 vols. 12mo. In 1718, he published
an ironical work, “Nouvelles maximes sur l'Education des
enfans,
” Amst. 8vo; but in Examen du traite de la Hberté
de penser,
” Amst. 8vo. In the same year he published
his first mathematical work, “Geometric des lignes et des
surfaces rectilignes et circulaires,
” Arnst. 2 vols. 8vo.
ed religion. He had always on his table the Hebrew Psalter, the Greek Testament, and Thomas a Kempis in Latin: the latter he almost had by heart, as well as Buchanan’s
, a learned French writer, was born at Nantes, Dec. 4, 1661. His father, who was a merchant, was also a man of letters, and bestowed much pains on the education of his son, who answered his expectations by the proficiency he made in classical studies. He had, however, provided him with a private tutor, who happened to disgust him by the severity of his manners, and upon this account partly, at the age of fourteen, he desired to take a voyage to some of the West India islands, to which his father traded; but his principal inducement was what he had read in books of voyages, and the conversation of persons who had been in America, all which raised his curiosity to visit the new world. He embarked on board a French ship, with no other books than Erasmus’s Colloquies, and the Gradus ad Parnassum. His passage was not unpleasant, and during his residence at Guadeloupe he borrowed all the Latin books he could discover, and read them with avidity; but the chief advantage he seems to have derived here was an opportunity to learn the English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese San^uasres. To these he afterwards added an acquaintance with the German, Sclavonic, and AngloSaxon; and studied with much attention the ancient and modern Greek, the Hebrew, Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Hebrew, Arabic, and even the Chinese. On his return to Nantes in 1677, he found his father’s affairs somewhat deranged, and was obliged to take a part in the business. Medicine appears to have been first suggested to him as a profession, but he found little inclination for that study; and some conferences he happened to have with the Benedictines of the congregation of St. Maur determined him to enter their society. He accordingly made his noviciate in 1673, and applied himself to the study of theology. In 1682 he formally became a member of the congregation. His residence at Paris, in the abbey of St. Germain des Pres, the vast number of books within his reach, and particularly of manuscripts, increased his knowledge and his thirst for knowledge, and some of his earliest labours were bestowed in preparing materials, collecting Mss. &c. for new editions of the works of St. Clement of Alexandria, and St. Gregory Nazianzen. But these were interrupted by certain differences which occurred in the abbey to which he belonged, and of which we have various accounts. The prior of St. Germain, father Loo, had a great aversion to the study of classical and polite literature, and was for confining the members to the strict religious duties of the house. This could not fail to be disgusting to a man of La Croze’s taste: but, according to other accounts, which seem more prohable, he began to entertain religious scruples about this time (lr.96), which induced him to withdraw himself. It is said that his superiors found among his papers a treatise against transubstantiation in his hand-writing, and which they believed to be his composition; but they discovered afterwards that it uas a translation from the English of Stillingfleet. Some other manuscripts, however, sufficiently proved that he had changed his opinion on religious matters; and the dread of persecution obliged him to make his escape to Basil, which he successfully accomplished in May 1696. Here he renounced the Roman catholic religion, and as his intention was to take up his residence, he was matriculated as a student of the college of Basil. He remained in this place, however, only till September, when he departed, provided with the most honourable testimonies of his learning and character from Buxtorf, the Hebrew professor, and Werenfels, dean of the faculty of theology. He then went to Berlin, where his object was to secure a iixed residence, devote himself to study, and endeavour to forget France. In order to introduce himself, he began with offering to educate young men, the sons of protestant parents, which appears to have answered his purpose, as in 1697 we find him appointed librarian to the king of Prussia; but his biographers are not agreed upon the terms. To this place a pension was attached, but not sufficient to enable him to live without continuing his school; and some assert that he was very poor at this time. The probability is, that his circumstances were improved as he became better known, and his reputation among the learned was already extensive. In June of 1697 he went to Francfort to visit the literati of that place, and their fine library, and visited also Brandenburgh for the same purpose. In November 1697 (or, as Chaufepie says, in 1702), he married Elizabeth Rose, a lady originally of Dauphiny, and thus, adds one of his Roman catholic biographers, completed the abjuration of the true religion. In 1698 he first commenced author, and from time to time published those works on which his fame rests. Soon after he became acquainted with the celebrated Leibnitz, with whom he carried on an intimate correspondence. In 17 13 he went to Hamburgh, where he paid many visits to the learned Fabricius, and in his letters speaks with great warmth of the pleasure this journey afforded; but this year, 17 J 3, was not in other respects a vei'y fortunate one to La Croze, and he formed the design of quitting Germany. He had been appointed tutor to the margrave of Schwel, and this employment terminating in 1714, he lost the pension annexed to it, and was reduced to considerable difficulties, of which he wrote to Leibnitz, as to a friend in whom he could confide. Leibnitz, by way of answer, sent him a copy of a letter which he had written to M. BernsdorfT, prime minister to the elector of Hanover, in his behalf. The object likely to be attained by this interest was a professorship at Helmstadt; but as it required subscription to the articles of the Lutheran church, M. la Croze, notwithstanding the persuasions Leibnitz employed, declined accepting it. His affairs, however, soon after wore a more promising aspect, partly in consequence of a prize he gained in the Dutch lottery. In 1717 he had the honour to be engaged as private tutor to the princess royal of Prussia, afterwards margravine of Bareoth. In 1724, for several months his studies were interrupted by a violent fit of the gravel; and on his recovery, the queen of Prussia, who always patronized La Croze, obtained for him the professorship of philosophy in the French college at Berlin, vacant by the death of M. Chauvin. This imposed on him the necessity of drawing up a course of philosophy, but as he never intended to print it, it is said not to have been executed with the care he bestowed on his other works. In 1713 father Bernard Pez, the Benedictine, made him liberal offers if he would return to the church he had forsaken, but this he declined with politeness, offering the arguments which influenced his mind to remain in the protestant church. In 1739 an inflammation appeared on his leg, which inApril put on appearances of mortification, hut did not prove fatal until May 21. About a quarter of an bour before his death he desired his servant to read the 51st and 77th psalms, during which he expired, in the seventy -first year of his age. He was reckoned one of the most learned men of his time, and was frequently called a living library. So extensive was his reading, and so vast iiis memory, that no one ever consulted him without obtaining prompt information. In dates, facts, and references he was correct and ready. We have already noticed how many languages he had learned, but it appears that he made the least progress in the Chinese, to which Leihnitz, in his letters, is perpetuiiy iirging him. The greater part of his life was employed in study, and he had no other pleasures. There was scarcely a book in his library whicli he had not perused, and he wrote ms notes on most of them. His conversation could not fail to be acceptable to men of literary research, as his memory was stored with anecdotes, which he told in a very agreeable manner. He was conscientiously attached to the principles of the reformed religion. He had always on his table the Hebrew Psalter, the Greek Testament, and Thomas a Kempis in Latin: the latter he almost had by heart, as well as Buchanan’s Psalms. His consistent piety and charity are noticed by all his biographers.
been accustomed to write in the church the sermons of the preachers of Tubingen, which he did first in Latin, but when professor of Greek, he thought it his duty to
, a learned German
scholar and antiquary, was born at Grebern, in the bishopric of Bamberg, Sept. 19, 1526, and after some elementary instruction from his father, a minister of the
Lutheran church, was sent to Dim, where he studied
Greek and Latin under Gregory Leonard, and by his diligence and progress obtained a pension from the senators
of UJm, which enabled him to pursue his studies without
expense to his father. In 1545 he went to Strasburgh,
where, after applying for some time to polite literature,
he learned Hebrew, and went through a course of divinity,
Still liberally maintained by the city of Ulm; and in 1547
was appointed tutor to a person of rank. Some years after,
he presided over the school at Memmingen, and raised its
reputation very considerably. In 1559 he was chosen professor of moral philosophy and Greek at Tubingen; but
in 1566 was obliged to leave it on account of the plague,
and did not return, along with the other professors, until
1568. At the age of eighty -one, perceiving that he was
near his end, he assembled the whole university, with the
rector at its head, and after entertaining them sumptuously, gave them a goblet worth an hundred florins.
He died Feb. 25, 1607, leaving a library which was valued
at 2000 florins. Besides the learned languages, he was a
good French scholar, but was most distinguished for his
acquairt nee with the modern Greek, and was the first
who taught it in Germany. Of his numerous works, the
following are the most important: 1. “Turco-Graecias
libri octo, utraque lingua edita. Quibus Graecorum status
sub imperio Turcico, in politia et ecclesia, ceconomia et
scholis, jam hide ab amissa Constantinopoli, ad haec usque
tempora, luculenter describitur,
” Basil, Acta et Scripta Theologorum Wirtembergensium, et
Patriarchs Constantinopolitani D. Hieremiae quas utrique
ab anno 1576 usque ad annum 1581 de Augustana Confessione inter se miserunt,
” Gr. & Lat.
Germano-Graeciae libri sex > in quorum prioribus tribus, Orationes, in reliquis Carmina, Gr. & Lat. continentur,
” fol.
without date, but from the dedication, probably 1585.
4. “Annales Suevici, sive Chronica rerum gestarum antiquissimae et inclytae Suevicas Gentis quibus quicquid fere
de ea haberi potuit, ex Lat. & Graec. aliarumque linguarum auctoribus, scriptisque plurimis, non editis, comprehenditur, &c.
” Corona Anni, hoc est, explicatio
Evangeliorum et Epistolarum quae diebus dominicis et
festis in ecclesia proponuntur; e Tubingeiisium, et aliorum
Theologorum eonckmibus, conscripta,
” Wittemberg,
f the best treatises; he worked all his propositions, and formed all his minutes, even his thoughts, in Latin, and thereby acquired advantages superior to some of the
Richard, the subject of this article, was born Feb. 19,
1732, under the roof of his grandfather Bentley, in the
master’s lodge in Trinity college. When turned of six years
of age, he was sent to the school at Bury St. Edmund’s,
then under the mastership of the reverend Arthur Kinsman. For some time he made but little progress in his
learning; till Kinsman, having observed his low station in
the school, publicly reproved him; and thus roused in
him a spirit of emulation. While he continued in this
school, his grandfather Bentley died; and the affectionate
manner in which Kinsman imparted the melancholy event
to him, with the kind regard he evinced for his improvement, wrought so much upon his mind, that his task became his delight. In his exercises, however, he describes
himself, in his “Memoirs,
” as aiming at something like
fancy and invention, and as being too frequently betrayed into grammatical errors, which did him no credit
with his master, who commented on his blunders in
one instance with great severity, producing so great an
effect on his sensibility, that he never perfectly recovered
it. It was about this time that he made his first attempt
in English verse; the subject of which was an excursion
he had made with his family in the summer holidays to visit
a relation in Hampshire, which engaged him in a description of the docks at Portsmouth, and of the races at Winchester, where he had been present. This little poem he
exhibited to his father, who received it with unreserved
commendation, and persisted in reciting it to his intimates,
when its author had gained experience enough to wish it
had been consigned to oblivion. In the intervals from,
school his mother began to form both his taste and his ear
for poetry, of which art she was a very able mistress, by
employing him every evening to read to her. Their readings were, with few exceptions, confined to Shakspeare,
whom she both admired and understood in the true spirit
and sense of the author. Under her instruction he became
passionately fond of these evening entertainments, and the
effect was several attempts on his part towards the drama.
He was then head-boy of Bury school, though only in his
12th year. He fitted and compiled a kind of cento,
eiititled “Shakspeare in the Shades,
” in one act, in which
the characters of Hamlet and Ophelia, Romeo and Juliet,
Lear and Cordelia, were introduced, and Ariel as an attendant spirit on Shakspeare, who is present through the
piece: some extracts from this juvenile production are
printed in his “Memoirs.
” Mr. Kinsman intimating his
purpose of retiring from Bury school, young Cumberland
was transplanted to Westminster, and admitted under Dr.
Nichols, where he remained about a year and a half; and
particularly profited there in point of composition. When
only in his fourteenth year, he was admitted of Trinity
college, Cambridge, where he had two tutors, who took
little care of him; but the inconvenience of this being soon
felt, the master of the college, Dr. Smith, in the last year of
his being under-graduate, recommended him to lose no time
in preparing for his degree, and to apply closely to his
academical studies for the remainder of the year. During
the year of trial, he determined to use every effort for redeeming lost time; he began a course of study so apportioned as to allow himself but six hours’ sleep, to which he
strictly adhered, living almost entirely upon milk, and
using the cold bath very frequently. In the several branches
of mechanics, hydrostatics, optics, and astronomy, he made
himself master of the best treatises; he worked all his propositions, and formed all his minutes, even his thoughts,
in Latin, and thereby acquired advantages superior to
some of the best of his contemporaries in public disputations; for, so long as his knowledge of a question could
supply matter for argument, he never felt any want of
terms for explanation. In consequence of this diligence,
he was enabled to go through his scholastic exercises four
times in the course of the year, keeping two acts and two
first opponencies, and acquitted himself with great credit.
On being cited to the senate -house for examination for
the bachelor’s degree, he was kept perpetually at the table
under the process of question and answer. His constitution, considerablv impaired by the intense application he
had given, just held him up to the expiration of the scrutiny; and on hastening to his father’s, he soon fell ill of a
rheumatic fever, from which, after six months’ care and
attention, he was recovered. While in this state of extreme indisposition, a high station was adjudged to him
amongst the wranglers of his year.
te several ingenious treatises; one of which, under the title of “Urania Propitia,” printed in 1650, in Latin and German, she dedicated to Ferdinand III. emperor of
, a lady of great genius and learning, was born in Silesia about the beginning
of the seventeenth century, and became celebrated for her
extensive knowledge in many branches of learning, particularly in mathematics and astronomy, upon which she
wrote several ingenious treatises; one of which, under the
title of “Urania Propitia,
” printed in
the accession of George I. was published in two vols. 4to, in 1787. It was written by Mr. Cunningham in Latin, but was translated into English by the rev. Dr. William
His History of Great Britain, from the revolution in
1688 to the accession of George I. was published in
two vols. 4to, in 1787. It was written by Mr. Cunningham in Latin, but was translated into English by the rev.
Dr. William Thomson. The original manuscript came
into the possession of the rev, Dr. Hollingberry,
archdeacon of Chichester, some of whose relations had been connected with the author. He communicated it to the late
earl of Hardwicke, and to Dr. Douglas, the late bishop of
Salisbury, both of whom recommended the publication.
In a short preface to the work, the archdeacon says: “My
first design was to have produced it in the original; but,
knowing how few are sufficiently learned to understand,
and how many are indisposed to read two quarto volumes in
Latin, however interesting and entertaining the subject
may be, I altered my purpose, and intended to have sent
it into the world in a translation. A nervous fever depriving me of the power, defeated the scheme.
” Accordingly, he afterwards transferred the undertaking to Dr.
Thomson; and, we are told by Dr. Hollingberry that this
gentleman “has expressed the sense of the author with
fidelity.
” The work was undoubtedly well deserving of
publication. It contains the history of a very interesting
period, written by a man who had a considerable degree
of authentic information, and his book contains many curious particulars not to be found in other histories. His
characters are often drawn with judgment and impartiality:
at other times they are somewhat tinctured with prejudice.
This is particularly the case with respect to general Stanhope and bishop Burnet, against whom he appears to have
conceived a strong personal dislike. He sometimes also
indulges himself in severe sarcasms on the clergy, and on
the female sex. But he was manifestly a very attentive
observer of the transactions of his own time; his works
abound in just political remarks; and the facts which he
relates are exhibited with great perspicuity, and often
with much animation. Throughout his book he frequently
intersperses some account of the literature and of the most
eminent persons of the age concerning which he writes;
and he has also adorned his work with many allusions to
the classics and to ancient history.
nsis,” containing six folio plates, with a page or more of letter-press, consisting of a description in Latin and English, with synonyms of each plant, and copious
The celebrity which these publications procured for their
author, was soon altogether eclipsed by what arose from
his botanical labours, which have placed him in the very
first rank of English writers in that department of science.
In 1777 appeared the first number of his “Flora Londinensis,
” containing six folio plates, with a page or more
of letter-press, consisting of a description in Latin and
English, with synonyms of each plant, and copious remarks
on its history, uses, qualities, and the insects it nourishes.
Each number was sold at half a crown plain, five shillings
coloured; and some copie?, finished with extraordinary
care, were sold at seven shillings and six-pence. The
first artist employed in making the drawings for this work,
was Mr. Kilburn, who used a camera obscura for the purpose; his sketches were shaded with Indian ink, before
the colours were laid on. The performances of this artist
have not been excelled in any similar work. When from
other engagements, Mr. Kilburn was obliged to relinquish
his task, Mr. Sowerby was employed, and maintained uridiminished the perfection of the figures. After him, Mr.
Sydenham Edwards was engaged by Mr. Curtis, with no
less credit, both in this publication and the “Botanical Magazine
” hereafter mentioned. Of the plates of the “Flora
Londineosis
” too much cannot be said; their beauty and
botanical accuracy are alike eminent, and it is only to be
regretted that the manufactory of paper, as well as the typographical art, were in so degraded a state when this
book first appeared. For this its author cannot be responsible, nor are these defects of any moment in the eyes of
learned or scientific readers, to whom the work in question, independent of its excellent figures, ranks next to
Ray’s Synopsis, in original merit and authority upon
English plants. It may be added, that the works of Curtis
have tended, more than any other publications of their day,
to give that tone of urbanity and liberality to the science,
which every subsequent writer of good character has observed. Wherever their author swerved in any degree
from this candour, which was very seldom, and not perhaps without provocation, it was always to his own loss;
and he was thus led into some of the very few mistakes
that he has committed.
e but little known. But his principal performance in this branch was an universal history of plants, in Latin, with above two thousand five hundred wooden cuts, besides
, a learned French physician
and indefatigable botanist, was born at Caen in 1513, studied
medicine and botany at Montpelier, xvas admitted doctor in
medicine in 1547, and died at Lyons, where he had long
practised physic, in 1538. He published several elaborate
translations, particularly of the fifteen books of Athenseus
into Latin, in 1552, in 2 vols. fol. illustrated with notes
and figures; and some of the works of Galen and Paul
Egineta into French. In 1556 he published a translation
of “Ccelius Aurelianus de Morbis acutis
” and in Chirurgie Franchise, avec plusieurs figures d'instrumens,
”
8vo, which has been several times reprinted. He principally followed the practice of Paree, from whose work he
borrowed the figures of the instruments; but he has added
a translation into French of the seventh book ol' Paree, with
annotations, and some curious cases occurring in his own
practice. He was also the editor of an edition of Pliny
with notes, published in 1537. His first work, according
to Ilaller, was an 8vo edition of Iluellius’s Commentary on
Dioscorides, which appeared at Lyons in 1552, enriched
by Dalechamp with thirty small figures of plants, at that
time but little known. But his principal performance in
this branch was an universal history of plants, in Latin,
with above two thousand five hundred wooden cuts, besides repetitions, published after his death in two folio volumes. The publisher, William Uouille, seems to take
upon himself the chief credit of collecting and arranging
the materials of this great work, though he allows that
Dalechamp laid its first foundations. Haller says the latter
was engaged in it for thirty years; his aim being to collect
together all the botanical knowledge of his predecessors,
and enrich it with his own discoveries. He employed John
Bauhin, then a young man, and resident at Lyons, to assist him; but Bauhin being obliged on account of his
religion to leave France for Switzerland, like many other
good and great men of that and the following century, the
work in question was undertaken by Des Moulins, and
soon afterwards Dalechamp died. It is often quoted by
the title of“Historia Lugdunensis,
” and hence the merits
of its original projector are overlooked, as well as the faults
arising from its mode of compilation, which are in many
instances so great as to render it useless. A French translation was published in 1615, and again in 1653. Besides
these Dalechamp published, 1. “Caelius Aurelianus de
morbis chronicis,
” Lond.
anslate, off hand, some of the odes of Horace; so that he was, for his years, a tolerable proficient in Latin: but going abroad, entirely his own master, before he
, an eminent hydrographer, F. R. S. and F. S. A. was born July 24, 1737, at New Hailes, near Edinburgh, the seat of his fattier sir James Dalrymple, bait, of Hailes. His mother, lady Christian, daughter of the earl of Haddington, a very amiable and accomplished woman, bore sixteen children, all of whom Alexander, who was the seventh son, survived. He was educated at the school of Haddington, under Mr. David Young; but as he left school before he was fourteen years of age, and never was at the university, his scholastic endowments were very limited. At school he had the credit of being a good scholar; and, after he left school, his eldest hrother was wont to make him translate, off hand, some of the odes of Horace; so that he was, for his years, a tolerable proficient in Latin: but going abroad, entirely his own master, before he was sixteen years of age, he neglected his Latin; and, as he says, never found so much use for it as to induce him to take any pains to recover it.
er the titles of “Collectanea Minora,” and “Collectanea Majora.” He added to each volume short notes in Latin, explanatory of the difficult places, and the text was
, M. A. F. R. S. Edin. Greek
professor in the university of Edinburgh, keeper of the
university library, &c. was born in 1750, in the parish of
Rathos near Edinburgh, and was educated partly at the
parish school, but principally at Edinburgh, where his
learning and moral conduct induced the late earl of
Lautierdale to appoint him tutor to his eldest son, lord
Maitland, the present earl. With this young nobleman, he
attended a course of the lectures of the celebrated professor
Millar at Glasgow, and afterwards accompanied his lordship to Paris. On his return from the continent, Mr. Dalzcll, at the recommendation of the late earl of Landerdale,
was appointed to the professorship of Greek at Edinburgh,
an office which he rilled for many years with the highest
reputation and advantage to the university. He has thfe
credit indeed of reviving a taste for that language, which
from various causes, had been disused at Edinburgh, or
studied very superficially. To enable his pupils to prosecute this accomplishment with the more effect, and imbibe
a taste for what was elegant in the language, he compiled
and printed, at a great expence, a series of collections out
of the Greek authors, including all those passages which
he wished to explain in the course of his teaching. These
were printed in several 8vo volumes, under the titles of
“Collectanea Minora,
” and “Collectanea Majora.
” He
added to each volume short notes in Latin, explanatory of
the difficult places, and the text was printed with great
accuracy. The notes, which are in elegant Latin, are admirable for brevity, perspicuity, and judgment. He at
the same time composed and read to the students a series
of lectures on the language and antiquities, the philosophy
and history, the literature, eloquence, poetry, and fine arts
of the Greeks. By these means he became eminently successful in disseminating a taste for classical literature in the
university, nor was he less happy in the art of engaging
the affections and fixing the attention of his pupils on the
objects which he considered as the fundamentals of all
genuine scholarship.
author. The abbe Lenglet du Fresnoi attributes to P. Danes, two Apologies for king Henry II. printed in Latin in 1542, 4to. One publication of Danes’s merits particular
, born in 1497, at Paris, of a noble
family, studied at the college of Navarre, and was the
pupil of Budeus and of John Lascaris. Being appointed
by Francis I. to open the Greek school at the college-royal,
he was professor there for five years, and had scholars that
afterwards signalized themselves. He next became preceptor and confessor to the dauphin, afterwards Francis If.
He was sent to the council of Trent, where he delivered a
very celebrated speech in 1546, which was afterwards published; and during the session of this council he was made
bishop of Lavaur. Sponde and de Thou have handed down
to us an ingenious answer of this prelate. Nicholas
Pseaume, bishop of Verdun, speaking very freely one day
in the council, the bishop of Orvietta looking at the
French, said to them with a sarcastic smile, “Gallus cantat,
” (the cock crows), “Utinam,
” replied Danes, “ad
istud Gallicinium Petrus resipisceret!
” (I wish that Peter would repent at this cock’s crowing.) This prelate died at
Paris the 23d of April, 1577, at the age of 80. He had
been married. When news was brought him of the death
of his only son, he retired for a moment into his closet;
and, on rejoining the company, “Let us be comforted,
”
said he, “the poor have gained their cause,
” alluding to
his being wont to distribute a part of his revenues among
the poor, which he now thought he might increase. With
the erudition of a true scholar he had the talent of speaking
well, integrity of character, and a great simplicity of manners. His custom was to write much, and almost always
to conceal his name. It has been suspected by some
critics that the tenth book of the history of France, by
Paulus Æmilius, is his. At least it was Danes who sent it
from Venice to the printer Vascosan. His “Opuscula
”
were collected and printed in Disquisitiones Pliniani,
” is to be found amongour author’s
“Opuscula.
” This edition is so rare on the continent that
Rezzonicus was able to find only two copies of it in Spain,
and not a single one in Italy; and Ernesti pronounces it
as valuable as it is rare.
ceritas Scriptuvae Vet. Test, prevalente Keri vacillans,” Jena, 1713, 4to; and various dissertations in Latin, in controversy with the Jews, or on topics of Jewish
, a learned German divine of the Lutheran church, and whose talents
contributed greatly to raise the reputation of the university
of Jena, was born Feb. 1, 1654, at Sandhusen, a village
near Gotha. He appears to have obtained the patronage
of the duke Frederick, who defrayed the expence of his
education, both at school, and at the university of Wittemberg, where he took his master’s degree in 1676.
Having devoted much of his attention to the Hebrew language and antiquities, he went to Hamburgh, where he
profited by the assistance of Esdras Edzardi and other
learned Jews, and was enabled to read the rabbinical writings with facility. From Hamburgh he went to Leipsic,
and thence to Jena, from which in 1683 he visited Holland and England, acquiring in both countries the acquaintance of men of learning. On his return, having determined to settle at Jena, he was appointed professor extraordinary of the oriental languages, and on the death of
the learned Frischmuth, was advanced to be professorordinary. In these offices he acquired great reputation,
and attracted a number of foreign students. Some time
after, he was appointed professor of divinity, in which he
was no less popular. He died of a stroke of apoplexy,
Dec. 20, 1727. He wrote, among many other works,
“Sinceritas sacrae Scripturae veteris testamenti triumphans,
cujus prodromus Sinceritas Scriptuvae Vet. Test, prevalente
Keri vacillans,
” Jena, Divina Elohim inter
coaequales de primo homine condendo deliberatio,
” Inauguratio Christi haud obscurior Mosaica, decem dissert, asserta,
” Jena, Davidis in Ammonitas devictos mitigata crudelitas,
”
he once preached during Lent. He was also much employed in pronouncing harangues on public occasions in Latin, many of which are among his works. Nor were his talents
, a learned Italian writer, the son of
a lawyer at Sienna, was born at that place in 1420, and
after acquiring some knowledge of the Latin language,
was put under the care of Francis Philelphus, an eminent
teacher at Sienna, who at the end of two years declared
he was his best scholar. Dati, however, at this time suffered not a little from the ridicule of his schoolfellows,
owing to a hesitation in his speech, which he is said to
have cured by the means which Demosthenes adopted, that
of speaking with small pebbles in his mouth. After
finishing his classical studies, he learned Hebrew of some
Jews, and then entered on a course of philosophy, jurisprudence, and theology. During his application to these
branches, Odo Anthony, duke of Urbino, from the very
favourable account he had of him, invited him to Urbino
to teach the belles lettres. Dati accordingly set out for
that city in April 1442, where he was received with every
mark of honour and friendship by the duke, but this prosperity was not of long duration. He had not enjoyed it
above a year and a half, when the duke, whose excesses
and tyranny had rendered him odious, was assassinated in
a public tumult, with two of his favourites; and Dati, who
was hated by the populace merely because he was respected
by the duke, was obliged to take refuge for his life in a
church, while the mob pillaged his house. The successor
of Odo, prince Frederick, endeavoured to console Dati for
this misfortune, and offered him a pension, besides recompense for all he had lost; but Dati could not be reconciled
to a residence so liable to interruption, and in 1444 returned to Sienna. Here, after refusing the place of secretary of the briefs, offered to him by pope Nicholas V. he
opened a school for rhetoric and the classics, and acquired
so much reputation, that the cardinal of Sienna, Francis
Piccolomini, formally granted him permission to lecture on
the Holy Scriptures, although he was a married man; and
at the same time gave him a similar licence to teach and
lecture on any subject, not only in his college, but in all
public places, and even in the church, where, his son informs us, he once preached during Lent. He was also
much employed in pronouncing harangues on public
occasions in Latin, many of which are among his works.
Nor were his talents confined to literature, but were the
means of advancing him to the first offices of the magistracy, and the republic of Sienna entrusted him with the
negociation of various affairs of importance at Rome and
elsewhere. In 1 J-57 he was appointed secretary to the republic, which he held for two years. Towards the close
of his life he laid aside the study of profane authors for
that of the Scriptures and ecclesiastical historians. He
died of the plague at Sienna, April 6, 1478. His son
Nicolas collected his works for publication, “Augustini
Dathi, Senensis, opera,
” of which there are two editions,
that printed at Sienna, 1503, fol. and an inferior in correctness, printed at Venice, 1516. They consist of treatises on the immortality of the soul letters; three books
on the history of Sienna; a history of Piombinoj on grammar, &c. &c.
styled “The Progress of Science.” He has many poems in Dodsley’s and Nichols’s collections, and one, in Latin, preserved in the “Alumni Etonenses.” Mr. Pennant also,
, the son of a physician who practised
in Wales, was born at Shrewsbury, and educated at Eton,
whence he removed to King’s college, Cambridge, and
regularly took the degrees of A. B. 1732, A. M. 1737, and
D. D. 175y. He was early noticed by his school-fellow,
Cornwallis, archbishop of Canterbury, when bishop of
Lichfield and Coventry, who appointed him his chaplain,
and collated him to a canonry of Lithfield, and in 1751
presented him to the mastership of St. John’s hospital,
Lichfield. He was also archdeacon of Derby, and rector
of Kingsland, in Herefordshire, in the gift of his family.
He died Feb. 6, 1769, much esteemed for his learning and
amiable disposition; and his numerous poems, both printed
and manuscript, bear ample testimony to his talents. He
wrote several of the anonymous imitations of Horace in
Buncombe’s edition, 1767, and at the end of vol. IV. is
given the character of the ancient Romans from a poem
by him, styled “The Progress of Science.
” He has many
poems in Dodsley’s and Nichols’s collections, and one, in
Latin, preserved in the “Alumni Etonenses.
” Mr. Pennant also, in his “Tour in Wales,
” vol. II. p. 422, has
preserved some animated lines by Dr. Davies on Caractacus,
which he says were delivered almost extempore at one of
the annual meetings held on Caer Caradoc some years
ago by gentlemen from different parts, to celebrate the
name of that renowned British chieftain, in prose or verse.
lu, in whose favour he resigned his place of regius professor of Greek. He wrote a great many verses in Latin, Greek, and French, in some of which he attacked the
, an.
eminent French poet, was born near the head of the
Vienne, in the Limousin, about 1507. Removing to the
capital of the kingdom to finish his studies, he distinguished
himself in such a manner by his skill in Greek, and his
talent at poetry, that he became one of the professors of
the university of Paris. In 1560 he succeeded John Stracellus in the post of king’s reader and professor of Greek;
but before this he had been principal of the college of
Coqueret, and tutor to John Antony de Baif, in the house
of his father Lazarus de Baif, who was master of the requests. He continued to instruct this young pupil in the
college of Coqueret; and he had also the famous Ronsard
for his scholar there, during the space of seven years. His
highest praise is, that his school produced a great number of
able men; but imprudent generosity and want of management reduced him to poverty, and procured him a place in
the list of those learned men, whose talents have been of
little benefit to themselves. In the reign of Henry II. he had
been preceptor to the king’s pages and Charles IX. honoured him with the title of his poet, took great delight in
conversing with him, and endeavoured to support him in his
old age. It will not now be thought much in his favour that
Daurat had an uncommon partiality for anagrams, of which
he was the first restorer. It is pretended, that he found the
model of them in Lycophron, and brought them so much into
vogue, that several illustrious persons gave him their names
to anagrammatise. He undertook also to explain the centuries of Nostradamus, and with such imposing plausibility
as to be considered in the light of his interpreter or subprophet. When he was near 80, having lost his first wife,
he married a young girl; and by her had a son, for whom
he shewed his fondness by a thousand ridiculous actions.
In excuse for this marriage, he said that he would rather
die by a bright sword than a rusty one. He had by his
first wife, among other children, a son, who was the author
of some French verses, printed in a collection of his own
poems; and a daughter, whom he married to a learned
man, named Nicolas Goulu, in whose favour he resigned
his place of regius professor of Greek. He wrote a great
many verses in Latin, Greek, and French, in some of which
he attacked the protestants; and no book was printed, nor
did any person of consequence die, without his producing
some verses on the subject; as if he had been poet in
ordinary to the kingdom, or his muse had been a general
mourner. The odes, epigrams, hymns, and other poems
in Greek and Latin, composed by Daurat, have been estimated at the gross sum of 50,000 verses; Scaliger had
such an opinion of him as a critic, that he said he knew
none but him and Cujacius, who had abilities sufficient to
restore ancient authors; but he has presented the public
with no specimen of that talent, except some remarks on
the Sybilline verses in Opsopseus’s edition. Scaliger tells
us, with some ridicule, however, that he spent the latter
part of his life in endeavouring to find all the Bible in
Homer. He died at Paris, Nov. 1, 1588, aged Si. His
principal collection of verses is entitled “Joannis Aurati,
Lemovicis, Poetse et interprets regii, Poematia, hoc est,
Poematum libri quinque; Epigrammatum libri tres; Anagrammatum liber unus; Funerum liber unus; Odarum libri
duo; Epithalamiorum liber unus; Eclogarum libri duo;
Variarum rerum liber unus,
” Paris, 1586, 8vo, a very singular collection, although of no great merit as to taste or
versification. He deserves more praise as one of the revivers of Greek literature in France, and in that character
his memory was honoured, in 1775, hy an eloge, written
by the abbe Vitrac, professor of humanity at Limoges.
set forth, and it was seen of the university, a Greek comedy of Aristophanes, named in Greek Eijpwij in Latin, Pax; with the performance of the scarabaeus, or beetle,
, a great mathematician, and greater enthusiast, the son of Rowland Dee, gentleman sewer to
Henry VIII. and grandson of Bedo Dee, standard bearer
to lord de Ferrars at the battle of Tournay, was born at
London, July 13, 1527; and, after some time spent at
school there, and at Chelmsford in Essex, sent to John’s
college in Cambridge, where he informs us of his progress
in the following words: “Anno 1542, I was sent, by my
father Rowland Dee, to the university of Cambridge, there
to begin with logic, and so to proceed in the learning of
good arts and sciences; for I had before been meetly well
furnished with understanding of the Latin tongue, I being
then somewhat above 15 years old. In the years 1543,
1544, 1545, I was so vehemently bent to study, that for
those years I did inviolably keep this order, only to sleep
four hours every night; to allow to meat and drink, and
some refreshing after, two hours every day; and of the
other eighteen hours, all, except the time of going to, and
being at, the divine service, was spent in my studies and
learning.
” In 1547 he went into the Low Countries, on.
purpose to converse with Frisius, Mercator, &c. and other
learned men, particularly mathematicians; and in about
eight months alter returned to Cambridge, where, upon
the founding of Trinity college by Henry VIII. he was
chosen one of the fellows, but his bias was to the study of
mathematics and astronomy. He brought over with him
from the Low Countries several instruments “made by the
direction of Frisius, together with a pair of large globes
made by Mercator; and his reputation was very high. His
assiduity, however, in making astronomical observations,
which in those days were always understood to be connected with the desire of penetrating into futurity, brought
some suspicion upon him; which was so far increased by a
very singular accident that befel him, as to draw upon him
the imputation of a necromancer, which he deserved afterwards rather mre than now. This affair happened soon
after his removal from St. John’s-college, and being chosen
one of the fellows of Trinity, where he
” was assigned to
he the under-reader of the Greek tongue, Mr. Pember
being the chief Greek reader then in Trinity-college.
Hereupon,“says he,
” I did set forth, and it was seen of
the university, a Greek comedy of Aristophanes, named in
Greek Eijpwij in Latin, Pax; with the performance of the
scarabaeus, or beetle, his flying up to Jupiter’s palace with
a man and his basket of victuals on his back; whereat was
great wondering, and many vain reports spread abroad of
the means how that was effected."
5. “A Typographical History of Vienna from the year 1482 to 1560,” ibid. 1782, 4to. 6. A publication in Latin, “8. Augustini Sermones inediti, admixtis quibusdarn dubiis,”
, an eminent German bibliographer,
and principal librarian of the imperial library of Vienna,
was born at Sclarden, in Bavaria, in 1729, and died at
Vienna in 1800, in the seventy -first year of his age. He
published several works on subjects of philology, bibliography, literary, and even natural history, and poetry.
The principal of these are, 1. A translation into German of “Ossian’s poems,
” Vienna, The Songs
of the Bard Sined,
” (Denis) with a preliminary dissertation on the ancient poetry of the North, Vienna, 1772,
8vo. 3. “A systematic catalogue of Butterflies in the
environs of Vienna,
” ibid. An
Introduction to the knowledge of Books,
” 2 vols. 4to,
1777 — 1778. This, which like most of his works, is written in German, contains a division of Bibliography into
three periods. The first relates to the state of book-writing,
previous to Christianity; the second comprehends the
state of Bibliography from the introduction of Christianity
to the restoration of letters, or the invention of printing;
and the third extends from this latter period to the present times. Each of these periods contains an historical
and mechanical account of book-making. The historical
account of the first period exhibits the origin, progress,
and decline of the art of writing and preserving books in
different nations; and the other part of this same period
contains a description of the alphabets, paper, and instruments employed in writing, and the form of books in these
early times. In the second period is the history of printing; and in the third, an account of the most celebrated
libraries of that time in Italy, England, France, Holland,
Spain, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Germany, and Vienna,
comprehending printed books and manuscripts. In this
exhibition, the books are reduced, like the sciences, under
the distinct classes of theology, law, philosophy, physic,
mathematics, history, and philology, and are considered
with respect to their number, their qualities, their rarity,
&c. and the manuscripts, whether Hebrew, Greek, Latin,
Gothic, Lombard, French, or Anglo-Saxon, are enumerated, though without many critical illustrations. 5. “A
Typographical History of Vienna from the year 1482 to
1560,
” ibid. 8.
Augustini Sermones inediti, admixtis quibusdarn dubiis,
”
ibid. 1792, fol. These were copied from a manuscript of
the twelfth century in the imperial library. 7. “Codices
manuscripti theologici Latiui aliarumque occidentis linguarum bibliothecae Palatinse Vindobon.
” vol. I. Carmina qusedam,
” Vienna,
pute with Guarini about pastoral tragi-comedies, and published a great number of his own works; some in Latin, some in Italian. Possevin esteems his rhetoric. His Italian
, was born at Nicosia, in the island of
Cyprus, of one of the principal families in that country,
and which, according to his account, was originally from
Normandy. When Cyprus was taken by the Turks in
1570, he lost all his property, and retired into Italy, where
he had before made some stay; and, settling at Padua,
was appointed professor of moral philosophy, 1577. He
died in that city, 1590, of grief, occasioned by the banishment of his only son, who had killed a noble Venetian
in a quarrel. Denores was well acquainted with the peripatetic philosophy, and had a superstitious veneration
for Aristotle. He engaged in a dispute with Guarini about
pastoral tragi-comedies, and published a great number of
his own works; some in Latin, some in Italian. Possevin
esteems his rhetoric. His Italian works are, “Poetica,
”
Padua, Dell'ottima republica,
” Venice, Del Mondo,
”
Venice, Delia Retorica,
” Venice, Institutio in Philosuphiam
Ciceronis,
” Patavii, De arte dicendi,
”
Venetiis,“1553, 8vo; Parisiis, 1554, 8vo.
” De Constitutione Philosophise Aristotelis,“Patavii, 1584, 4to and
” In Epistolam Q. Horatii de Avte Poetica," Venice, 1553,
8vo Paris, 1554, 8vo, the first and preferable edition,
but both are very rare.
and notes, Manheim, 1786, 8vo, and an edition of Thomas a Kempis. He wrote also some dramatic pieces in Latin, and a history of the Latin language, which is still in
, an elegant Latin poet, was a native of France, and born at
Chateauneuf, in Berri, Jan. 25, 1711, and entered the
order of the Jesuits, in whose schools he taught rhetoric
for some years. When invited to Paris, to the college of
Louis-le-Grand, he acquired great fame by his Latin poetry,
which was thought so pure, that he was usually styled ultimus Romanorum. On the abolition of the order of the
Jesuits in France, Desbillons found an honourable asylum
with the elector palatine, who gave him a pension of a
thousand crowns, and a place in the college of Manheim,
where he died March 19, 1789. He wrote Latin Iambics
with great ease, and even wrote his will in that measure,
in which he bequeathed his valuable library to the Lazarists. His works are: 1. “Fabulae libri XV.
” Paris,
1775, and 1778, elegantly printed by Barbou; but it is
rather singular that the first five books of these fables were
originally printed at Glasgow in 1754, and a second edition at Paris, in 1756; at which time the author acknowledged the work, and added five more books, the whole
then containing about three hundred and fifty fables. The
greater part are translated or paraphrased from the writings
of the most eminent fabulists, ancient and modern, particularly among the moderns, La Fontaine; but there is a
considerable number of originals. He afterwards increased
the number of books to fifteen, as in the edition first mentioned. They have been also reprinted in Germany, and
the author himself translated them into French, with the
Latin text added, which edition, usually reckoned the best,
was published at Manheim, 1769, 2 vols. 8vo. His Latin
style is peculiarly chaste and unaffected. 2. “Nouveaux
eclaircissemens sur la vie et les ouvrages de Guillaume
Postel,
” Histoire de la vie et des exploits militaires de madame de St. Balmont,
” Ars bene valendi,
” Phaxlrus,
” with three dissertations on
the life, fables, and editions of Phacdrus, and notes, Manheim, 1786, 8vo, and an edition of Thomas a Kempis.
He wrote also some dramatic pieces in Latin, and a history of the Latin language, which is still in manuscript.
In 1792 his “Miscellanea Posthuma
” were published at
Manheim, 8vo, containing a fifteenth and sixteenth book
of Fables; “Monita Philosophica,
” against the modern
French philosophers; and a Latin comedy, “Schola Patrum, sive Patrum et Liberorum indoles emendata.
”
rments of reflection by hanging himself. A particular history of the whole transaction was published in Latin under the name of Claude Senarclaeus, 8vo, which is very
, one of the early martyrs
to the protestant religion, was born at Cnenza, in Spain,
in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and studied
theology at Paris, where, from reading the books of Luther
and his disciples, he soon embraced his doctrines. This
circumstance rendering it necessary to quit Paris, he went
to Calvin at Geneva, with whom, and with Budeus and
Crispinus, he studied for some time. He then went to
Strasburgh, and became known to Bucer, who, perceiving
his promising talents, obtained leave of the council of that
town to take him with him to the conference at Ratisbon.
Diaz was no sooner arrived there, than he found out Malvenda, whom he had known at Paris, who employed the
strongest arguments he could muster to induce him to return into the bosom of the church; but Diaz persevered
in his opinions. Soon after, having got\e to Nenbnrg, to
attend the correcting of a book of Bucer’s which was then
at press, he was surprised to see arrive at that place one of
his brothers named Alfonsus, an advocate at the court of
Rome, who, having heard of his apostacy, as he termed
it, immediately set out in hopes to reclaim him, but was
not more successful than Malvenda. Instead, however, of
lamenting what he might term the obduracy of his brother,
he laid a plan against his life; to execute which base purpose, he feigned to return home, and went as far as
Augsburg; but the day following he returned, accom.panied by a guide, and at break of day was again at Neuburg. His first business was to seek his brother accordingly he went straight to his lodgings with his companion,
who was disguised as a courier, and waited at the foot of
the staircase, while the accomplice went up to the apartment of Diaz, for whom he pretended he had letters to
deliver from his brother. Dia/ being roused from sleep,
the pretended messenger delivered lam the letters, and
while he read them, made a fatal stroke at his head with
an axe which he had concealed under his cloak, and fled
with his instigator Alfonsus. The report of this murder,
which happened March 27, 1546, excited great indignation at Augsburg and elsewhere; the assassins were vigorously pursued, were taken, and imprisoned atlnspruck;
but the emperor Charles V. put a stop to the proceedings
under pretext that he would take cognizance himself of the
affair at the approaching diet. This did not, however,
appease the conscience of Alfonsus, the fratricide, who
put an end to the torments of reflection by hanging himself. A particular history of the whole transaction was
published in Latin under the name of Claude Senarclaeus,
8vo, which is very scarce. Jt was addressed to Bucer,
under the title “Historia vera de morte J. Diazii.
” Diaz
was the author of a “Summary of the Christian Religion,
”
of which a French translation was published at Lyons,
1562, 8vo.
s reign, and that of his successor James, who continued him in both his places. In 1636 he published in Latin his epistle to Theodore Mundanus, and also his answer,
On the death of Dr. Willis, which happened in 1684,
Dickinson removed to London, and took his house in St.
Martin’s- lane where, soon after recovering Henry Bennet, earl of Arlington, lord chamberlain to Charles II.
when all hopes of recovery were past, that nobleman
introcluced him to the king, who made him one of his physicians
in ordinary, and physician to his household. As that
prince was a lover of chemistry, and a considerable proficient, Dickinson grew into great favour at court; which
favour lasted to the end of Charles’s reign, and that of his
successor James, who continued him in both his places.
In 1636 he published in Latin his epistle to Theodore
Mundanus, and also his answer, translated from the French
into Latin: for, in 1679, this chemist had paid him a
second visit, and renewed his acquaintance. The title of
it in English is, “An Epistle of E. D. to T. M. an adept,
concerning the quintessence of the philosophers, and the
true system of physics, together with certain queries concerning the materials of alchemy. To which are annexed
the answers of Mundanus,
” 8vo. After the abdication of
his unfortunate master, he retired from practice, being old,
and much afflicted with the stone, but continued his studies.
He had long meditated a system of philosophy, not founded
on hypothesis, or even experiment, but, chiefly deduced
from principles collected from the Mosaic history. Part of
this laborious work, when he had almost finished it, was
burnt; but, not discouraged by this accident, he began it
a second time, and did not discontinue it, till he had completed the whole. It came out in 1702 under the title of
“Physica vetus et vera sive tractatus de naturali veritate
hexoemeri Mosaici, &c.
” In this he attempts, from the
scriptural account of the creation, to explain the manner
in which the world was formed. Assuming, as the ground
of his theory, the atomic doctrine, and the existence
of an immaterial cause of the concourse of indivisible
atoms, he supposes the particles of matter agitated by a
double motion; one gentle and transverse, of the particles
among themselves, whence elementary corpuscles are
formed; the other circular, by which the whole mass is
revolved, and the regions of heaven and earth are produced. By the motion of the elementary corpuscles of
different magnitude and form, he supposes the different
bodies of nature to have been produced, and attempts,
upon this plan, to describe the process of creation through
each of the six days. He explains at large the formation
of human nature, shewing in what manner, by means of a
plastic seminal virtue, man became an animated being.
This theory, though founded upon conjecture, and loaded
with unphilosophical fictions, the author not only pretends
to derive from the Mosaic narrative, but maintains to have
been consonant to the most ancient Hebrew traditions.
The use which this theorist makes of the doctrine of atoms,
shews him to have been wholly unacquainted with the true
notion of the ancients on this subject; and indeed the
whole work seems to have ben the offspring of a confused imagination, rather than of a sound judgment. Burnet, who attempted the same design afterwards, discovered far more learning and ability. This work, however,
was in such demand as to be printed again at Rotterdam
in 1703, in 4to, and at Leoburg, 1705, 12mo.
nity, on that book, the heads of which lectures were afterwards published, as he had delivered them, in Latin, under the title “Prelectiones in Confessionem Fidei,”
, an eminent divine of the church of
Scotland, the son of John Dickson, a merchant in Glasgow, was born about 1583, and educated at the university
of his native city. After taking the degree of M. A. he
was admitted regent, or professor of philosophy, an office
which, at that time, somewhat after the manner of the
foreign universities, was held only for a term of years (in this case, of eight years) after which these regents received ordination. Accordingly, in 1618, Mr. Dickson
was ordained minister of the town of Irvine, which preferment he held about twenty-three years, and became a very
popular preacher. Although always inclined to the presbyterian form of church-government, he had shewn no
great reluctance to the episcopal forms until the passing of
what are known, in the ecclesiastical history of Scotland,
by the name of the Perth articles; five articles, which enjoined kneeling at the sacrament; private adtninistratioa
of it in extreme sickness; private baptism, if necessary;
episcopal confirmation; and the observation of Epiphany,
Christmas, &c. These, however harmless they may appear to an English reader, were matters not only of objection, but abhorrence to a great proportion of the Scotch
clergy; and Mr. Dickson having expressed his dislike in
strong terms, and probably in the pulpit, was suspended
from his pastoral charge, and ordered to remove to Turriff,
in the north of Scotland, within twenty days. After much
interest, however, had been employed, for he had many
friends among persons of rank, who respected his talents
and piety, he was allowed in 1623 to return to Irvine.
As during the progress of the rebellion in England, the
power of the established church decayed also in Scotland,
Dickson exerted himself with considerable effect in the
restoration of the presbyterian form of church-government,
and there being a reluctance to this change on the part
of the learned divines of Aberdeen, he went thither in
1637, and held solemn disputations with Doctors Forbes,
Barron, Sibbald, &c. of that city, which were afterwards published. In 1641 he was removed from Irvine
to be professor of divinity in the university of Glasgow;
and in 1643 he assisted in drawing up some of those
formularies which are contained in the “Confession of
Faith,
” a book which is still subscribed by the clergy of
Scotland. The “Directory for public worship,
” and
“The sum of saving knowledge,
” were from his pen, assisted, in the former, by Henderson and Calderwood and
in the latter, by Durham. Some years after, probably
about 1645, he was invited to the elmir of professor of divinity at Edinburgh, which he held until the restoration,
when he was ejected for refusing the oath of supremacy.
He did not survive this long, dying in 1662. He was esteemed one of the ablest and most useful men of his time,
in the promotion of the church of Scotland as now established, and his writings have been accounted standard
books with those who adhere to her principles as originally
laid down. His principal works are, I. “A Commentary
on the Hebrews,
” 8vo. 2. “On Matthew,
” 4to. 3. “On
the Psalms,
” On the Epistles,
”
Latin and English, folio and 4to. 5. “Therapeutica Sacra, or Cases of Conscience resolved,
” Latin 4to, English
8vo. 6. “A treatise on the Promises,
” Dublin, Confession of
Faith,
” he lectured, when professor of divinity, on that
book, the heads of which lectures were afterwards published, as he had delivered them, in Latin, under the title
“Prelectiones in Confessionem Fidei,
” folio but they
have been since translated and often reprinted, under the
title of “Truth’s Victory over Error,
” one of the most
useful, and now, we believe, the only one of his works
which continues still popular in Scotland. Prefixed is a
life of the author by Woodrow, the ecclesiastical historian, from which we have extracted the above particulars.
tise against the Manichees, in the original Greek, and “Enarrations upon the seven catholic epistles in Latin,” and in the Greek Chains are fragments of some of his
, of Alexandria, was an ecclesiastical writer
of the fourth century, who supplied a very important defect by dint of genius and application. Jerome and Ruffinus assure us that though he lost his eyes at five years of
age, when he had scarcely learned to read, yet he applied
himself so earnestly to study, that he not only attained in
a high degree grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, music,
and the other arts, but even was able to comprehend some
of the most difficult theorems in mathematics. He was
particularly attached to the study of the Scriptures; and
was selected as the most proper person to fill the chair in
the famous divinity-school at Alexandria. His high reputation drew a great number of scholars to him; among
the principal of whom were Jerome, Ruffinus, Palladius,
and Isidorus. He read lectures with wonderful facility,
answered upon the spot all questions and difficulties relating to the Holy Scriptures, and refuted the objections
which were raised against the orthodox faith. He was the
author of a great number of works of which Jerome has
preserved the titles in his catalogue of ecclesiastical writers;
and of many more whose titles are not known. We have
yet remaining a Latin translation of his book upon the Holy
Spirit, to be found in the works of Jerome, who was the
translator; and which is perhaps the best treatise the
Christian world ever saw upon the subject. Whatever has
been said since that time, in defence of the divinity and
personality of the Holy Ghost, seems, in substance, to be
foand in this book. His other works extant are, a treatise
against the Manichees, in the original Greek, and “Enarrations upon the seven catholic epistles in Latin,
” and in
the Greek Chains are fragments of some of his commentaries. J. C. Wolff, of Hamburgh, published a large collection of notes and observations of Didymus upon the Acts
of the Apostles, taken from a manuscript Greek chain, at
Oxford. See Wolfii Anecdot. Graec. 1724. Didymus
also wrote commentaries upon Origen’s books of Principles, which he defended very strenuously against all
opposers. He was a great admirer of Origen, used to consider him as his master, and adopted many of his
sentiments; on which account he was condemned by the fifth
general council. He died in the year 395, aged eightyfive years.
t this time a bishop, and far advanced in years. By this Dr. Hall, whoever he was, he was instructed in Latin; and, without learning the common rules of grammar, which
, an English poet, was born in Ireland about 1633, while the government of that kingdom was under the first earl of Strafford, to whom he was nephew; his father, sir James Dillon, third earl of Roscommon, having married Elizabeth the youngest daughter of sir William Wentworth, of Wentworth-Woodhouse, in the county of York, sister to the earl of Stratford. Hence lord Roscommon was christened Wentworth. He was educated in the protestant religion, his father (who died at Limerick in 1619) having been converted by archbishop Usher from the communion of the church of Rome; and passed the years of his infancy in Ireland. He was brought over to England by his uncle, on his return from the government of Ireland*, and placed at that nobleman’s seat in Yorkshire, under the tuition of Dr. Hall, erroneously* said to have been afterwards bishop of Norwich. The celebrated Hall was at this time a bishop, and far advanced in years. By this Dr. Hall, whoever he was, he was instructed in Latin; and, without learning the common rules of grammar, which he could never remember, attained to write that language with classical elegance and propriety. When the cloud began to gather over England, and the earl of Strafford was singled out for an impeachment, he was, by the advice of Usher, sent to finish his education at Caen in Normandy, where the protestants had then an university, and studied under the direction of the learned Bochart; but at this time he could not have been more than nine years old. After some years he travelled to Rome, where he grew familiar with the most valuable remains of antiquity, applying himself particularly to the knowledge of medals, which he gained to perfection; and he spoke Italian with so much grace and fluency, that he was frequently mistaken there for a native.
er work, and has been translated into nearly all the modern languages. Heister gave an edition of it in Latin, with notes, and it still retains a certain degree of
, an eminent French surgeon and writer, was born at Paris, and became surgeon in ordinary to
Maria Teresa of Austria, queen of France, and to the
dauphinesses and the royal family. These honours were
bestowed in consequence of the fame which he acquired as
lecturer in surgery and anatomy in the royal gardens at
Paris, an office founded by Louis XIV. He retained this
and his other offices with increasing reputation, until his
death, Dec. 11, 1718. His first publication was “Histoire
anatomique d'une matrice extraordinaire,
” Anatomic de l'homme suivant la circulation
du sang, et les nouvelles decouvertes,
” 8vo, an useful epitome, containing all that was then known on the subject.
It was well received, frequently reprinted, and was translated in 1718, into the Tartar language, by order of
Cam-hi, the emperor of China, for the benefit of his subjects. His next work, which first appeared in 1707, was
“Cours d'Operations de Chirurgie demontree, au Jardin
Royal de Paris,
” 8vo. This has been reprinted still more
frequently than the former work, and has been translated
into nearly all the modern languages. Heister gave an
edition of it in Latin, with notes, and it still retains a certain degree of credit. In 1709, he gave “Dissertation sur
la mort subite, avec l‘histoire d’une fille cataleptique,
”
12mo; and in Traite general des Accouchmens,
”
8vo. This also has been translated into most modern languages, though it contains little more than an abridgment
of the practice of Mauriceau, and is now almost entirely
unnoticed.
in translation, 1478, fol.io, and ia the original by Aldus, 1495, folio. It was afterwards published in Latin by Hermolaus Barbartis, and Ruellius, 1516; by Vergilius,
Besides these five books, there are a sixth and a seventh
mentioned by Photius; but the genuineness of them is
justly doubted, since Galen takes no notice of them in several places where he could hardly be supposed to overlook
them. There are also two other books “upon simple and
compound medicines easy to be come at,
” which have been
attributed to Dioscorides; but these are supposed to be
spurious, though they seem to have borne his name when
Ætius read them. Several manuscripts of this author’s
works with figures are extant, which have often been cited
by his commentators. Of these the most celebrated is in
the imperial library at Vienna, the figures of which were
partly engraved in the reign of the empress Maria Theresa,
under the inspection of Jacquin. Two impressions only
of these plates, as far as we can learn, have ever been
taken off, as the work was not prosecuted. Of these, one
was sent to Linnæus, with notes by Jacquin, and is now in
the valuable library of Dr. Smith the other was given, out
of professor Jacquin’s own library, to Dr. Sibthorp, to assist his inquiries in Greece, and remains at Oxford. The
LimiEcan copy consists of 142 plates, in oblong quarto, in
alphabetical order; but nothing can be more rude than
these figures; and they scarcely afford any information
that is not familiar to botanists versed in the subject. Haller asserts, that perhaps a third part of the plants of Dioscorides is still unknown, and it is to be feared they will
never be entirely determined. The inquiry, indeed, at
present, is rather a matter of curiosity than of any considerable medical importance. Dioscorides was first published at Cologn, in a Latin translation, 1478, fol.io, and ia
the original by Aldus, 1495, folio. It was afterwards published in Latin by Hermolaus Barbartis, and Ruellius,
1516; by Vergilius, 1518; and by Cornarus, 1529, all in.
folio. There are many other editions, but the learned prefer that with a translation by Saracenus, Lyons, 1598, and
Francfort, 1620, folio.
; and his “Admonition to Foreigners, concerning the late Schism in England.” This, which was written in Latin, regarded the deprivation of the nonjuring bishops. When
Mr. Dodwell came the same year to England, and resjded at Oxford for the sake of the public library. Thence
he returned to his native country, and in 1672 published,
at Dublin, in 8vo, a posthumous treatise of his late learned
tutor John Steam, M. D. to which he put a preface of his
own. He entitled this book, “De Obstinatione: Opus
posthumum Pietatem Chrisdano-Stoicam scholastico more
suadens:
” and his own preface, “prolegomena Apologetica, de usu Dogmatum Philosophicorum,
” &c. in which
he apologizes for his tutor; who, by quoting so often and
setting a high value upon the writings and maxims of
the heathen philosophers, might seem to depreciate the
Holy Scriptures. Mr. Dodwell therefore premises first,
that the author’s design in that work is only to recommend
moral duties, and enforce the practice of them by the authority of the ancient philosophers; and that he does not
meddle with the great mysteries of Christianity, which are
discoverable only by divine revelation. His second work
was, “Two letters of advice. 1. For the Susception of
Holy Orders. 2. For Studies Theological, especially such
as are rational.
” To the second edition of which, in
1681, was added, “A Discourse concerning the Phoenician History of Sanchoniathon,
” in which he considers
Philo-Byblius as the author of that history. In 1673, he
wrote a preface, without his name, to “An introduction
to a Devout Life,
” by Francis de Sales, the last bishop
and prince of Geneva; which was published at Dublin, in
English, this same year, in 12mo. He came over again
to England in 1674, and settled in London; where he became acquainted with several learned men; particularly,
in 1675, with Dr. William Lloyd, afterwards successively
bishop of St. Asaph, Litchfield and Coventry, and Worcester . With that eminent divine he contracted so great
a friendship and intimacy, that he attended him to Holland,
when he was appointed chaplain to the princess of Orange.
He was also with him at Salisbury, when he kept his residence there as canon of that church; and spent afterwards
a good deal of time with him at St. Asaph. In 1675 he published “Some Considerations of present Concernment;
how far the Romanists may be trusted by princes of another persuasion,
” in 8vo, levelled against the persons concerned in the Irish remonstrance, which occasioned a kind
of schism among the Irish Roman catholics. The year
following he published “Two short Discourses against the
Romanists. 1. An Account of the fundamental Principle
of Popery, and of the insufficiency of the proofs which
they have for it. 2. An Answer to six Queries proposed
to a gentlewoman of the Church of England, by an emissary of the Church of Rome,
” 12mo, but reprinted in
A new preface relating to the bishop of
Meaux, and other modern complainers of misrepresentation.
” In Separation of
Churches from episcopal government, as practised by the
present non-conformists, proved schismatical, from such
principles as are least controverted, and do withal most
popularly explain the sinfulness and mischief of schism.
”
This, being animadverted upon by R. Baxter, was vindicated, in 1681, by Mr. Dodwell, in “A Reply to Mr.
Baxter’s pretended confutation of a book, entitled,
Sepafration of Churches,
” &c. To which were added, “Three
Letters to Mr. Baxter, written in 1673, concerning the
Possibility of Discipline under a Diocesan Government,
”
&c. 8vo. In Dissertations on St. Cyprian,
” composed at the reqviest of Dr. Fell, bishop of Oxford, when he was about to publish his edition of that
father. They were printed in the same size, but reprinted
at Oxford in 1684, 8vo, under the title “Dissertationes
Cyprianse.
” The eleventh dissertation, in which he endeavours to lessen the number of the early Christian martyrs, brought upon him the censure of bishop Burnet, and
not altogether unjustly. The year following, he published
“A Discovirse concerning the One Altar, and the One
Priesthood, insisted on by the ancients in the disputes
against Schism ,
” Lond. 8vo. In 1684, a dissertation of
his on a passage of Lactantius, was inserted in the new
edition of that author at Oxford, by Thomas Spark, in
8vo. His treatise “Of the Priesthood of Laicks,
” appeared in De jure Laicorum,
” &c. It was written in answer to a book published
by William Baxter, the antiquary, and entitled “AntiDodwellism, being two curious tracts formerly written by
H. Grotius, concerning a solution of the question, whether
the eucharist may be administered in the absence of, or
want of pastors.
” About the same time he was preparing
for the press the posthumous works of the learned Dr. John
Pearson, bishop of Chester, Lond. 1688, 4to. He published also,“Dissertations on Irenseus,
” A cautionary discourse of Schism, with a
particular regard to the case of the bishops, who are suspended for refusing to take the new oath,
” London, 8vo.
And when those bishops were actually deprived, and others
put in their sees, he joined the former, looking upon the
new bishops, and their adherents, as schismatics. He
wrote likewise “A Vindication of the deprived Bishops:
”
and “A Defence of the same,
” Unreasonableness of Separation,
” &c.
After having lost his professorship, he continued for some
time in Oxford, and then retired to Cookham, a village
near Maidenhead, about an equal distance between Oxford and London; and therefore convenient to maintain a
correspondence in each place, and to consult friends and
books, as he should have occasion. While he lived there,
he became acquainted with Mr. Francis Cherry of Shottesbrooke, a person of great learning and virtue, for the sake
of whose conversation he removed to Shottesbrooke, where
he chiefly spent the remainder of his days. In 1692, he
published his Camdenian lectures read at Oxford; and, in
1694, “An Invitation to Gentlemen to acquaint themselves
with ancient History
” being a preface to Degory Whear’s
“Method of reading history,
” translated into English by
Mr. Bohun. About this time having lost one or more of
the Dodwells, his kinsmen, whom he designed for his
heirs, he married on the 24th of June, 1694, in the 52d
year of his age, a person, in whose father’s house at Cookham he had boarded several times, and by her had ten
children . In 1696 he drew up the annals of Thucydides
and Xenophon, to accompany the editions of those two
authors by Dr. John Hudson and Mr. Edward Wells. Having likewise compiled the annals of Velleius Paterculus,
and of Quintilian, and Statius, he published them altogether in 1698, in one volume, 8vo. About the same time
he wrote an account of tUe lesser Geographers, published
by Dr. Hudson; and “A Treatise concerning the lawfulness of instrumental music in holy offices:
” occasioned by
an organ being set up at Tiverton in 1696: with some other
things on chronology, inserted in “Grabe’s Spicilegium.
”
In Canon of the New Testament,
” &c.
concerning Mr. Toland’s disingenuous treatment of him.
The year following appeared “A Discourse [of his] concerning the obligation to marry within the true communion, following from their style of being called a Holy
Seed;
” and “An Apology for the philosophical writings
of Cicero,
” against the objections of Mr. Petit; prefixed
to Tally’s five books De Finibus, or, of Moral Ends, translated into English by Samuel Parker, gent, as also the
annals of Thucydides and Xenophon, Oxoa. 4to. In 1703
he published “A Letter concerning the Immortality of the
Soul, against Mr. Henry Layton’s Hypothesis,
” 4to and,
“A Letter to Dr. Tillotson about Schism,
” 8vo, written
in Chronology
of DionX'Sius Halicarnasseus,
” in the Oxford edition of
that historian by Dr. Hudson, folio; his “Two Dissertations on the age of Phalaris and Pythagoras,
” occasioned
by the dispute between Bentley and Boyle; and his “Admonition to Foreigners, concerning the late Schism in
England.
” This, which was written in Latin, regarded
the deprivation of the nonjuring bishops. When the bill
for preventing occasional conformity was depending in
parliament, he wrote a treatise, entitled, “Occasional
Communion fundamentally destructive of the discipline of
the primitive catholic Church, and contrary to the doctrine of the latest Scriptures concerning Church Communion;
” London, A Case in View considered in a
Discourse, proving that (in case our present invalidly deprived fathers shall leave all their sees vacant, either by death or resignation) we shall not then be obliged to keep
up our separation from those bishops, who are as yet involved in the guilt of the present unhappy schism,
” Lond.
1705, 8vo. Some time after, he published “A farther
prospect of the Case in View, in answer to some new objections not then considered,
” Lond. An Epistolary Discourse, proving, from the scriptures and the first fathers,
that the soul is a principle naturally mortal; but immortalized actually by the pleasure of God, to punishment, or
to reward, by its union with the divine baptismal spirit.
Wherein is proved, that none have the power of giving
this divine immortalizing spirit, since the apostles, but
only the bishops,
” Lond. that
Sacerdotal Absolution is necessary for the Remission of
Sins, even of those who are truly penitent.
” This discourse being attacked by several persons, particularly Chishull, Clarke, Norris, and Mills afterwards bishop of Waterford, our author endeavoured to vindicate himself in the
three following pieces: 1. “A Preliminary Defence of the
Epistolary Discourse, concerning the distinction between
Soul and Spirit: in two parts. I. Against the charge of
favouring Impiety. II. Against the charge of favouring
Heresy,
” Lond. 1707, 8vo. 2. “The Scripture account
of the Eternal Rewards or Punishments of all that hear of
the Gospel, without an immortality necessarily resulting
from the nature of the souls themselves that are concerned in those rewards or punishments. Shewing particularly, I. How much of this account was discovered by the
best philosophers. II. How far the accounts of those philosophers were corrected, and improved, by the Hellenistical Jews, assisted by the Revelations of the Old
Testament. III. How far the discoveries fore-mentioned were
improved by the revelations of the Gospel. Wherein the
testimonies also of S. Irenaens and Tertullian are occasionally considered,
” Lond. 1708, 8vo. And, 3. “An
Explication of a famous passage in the Dialogue of S.
Justin Martyr with Tryphon, concerning the immortality
of human souls. With an Appendix, consisting of a letter to the rev. Mr. John Norris, of Bemerton; and an expostulation relating to the late insults of Mr. Clarke and
Mr. Chishull,
” Lond. The case in view
now in fact. Proving, that the continuance of a separate
communion, without substitutes in any of the late invalidlydeprived sees, since the death of William late lord bishop
of Norwich, is schismatical. With an Appendix, proving,
that our late invalidly-deprived fathers had no right to substitute successors, who might legitimate the separation,
after that the schism had been concluded by the decease
of the last survivor of those same fathers,
” Lond.
nem celebriorem a Gallis gestam noscas, ab anno 1513 ad annum 1539,” Lyons, 1539, 4to. This which is in Latin verse, was translated by the author into French prose,
After residing for some time at Lyons, Dolet came to
Paris in October 1534, and published some new works;
and was about to have returned to Lyons in 1536, but was
obliged to abscond for a time, having killed a person who
had attacked him. He then came to Paris, and presented
himself to Francis L who received him graciously, and
granted him a pardon, by which he was enabled to return
to Lyons. All these incidents he has introduced in his
poems. It appears to have been on his return to Lyons at
this time that he commenced the business of printer, and the
first work which came from his press in 1538, was the four
books of his Latin poems. He also married about the
same time, and had a son, Claude, born to him in 1539.
whose birth he celebrates in a Latin poem printed the same
year. From some parts of his poems in his “Second
Enfer,
” it would appear that the imprisonment we have
mentioned, was not all he suffered, and that he was imprisoned twice at Lyons, and once at Paris, before that
final imprisonment which ended in his death. For all these
we are unable to account; his being confined at Paris
appears to have been for his religious opinions, but after
fifteen months he was released by the interest of Peter
Castellanus, or Du Chatel, then bishop of Tulles. He
was not, however, long at large, being arrested at Lyons,
Jan. 1, 1544, from which he contrived to make his escape,
and took refuge in Piemont, when he wrote the nine
epistles which form his “Deuxieme Enfer.
” We are not
told whether he ever returned to Lyons publicly, but only
that he was again apprehended in 1545, and condemned
to be burnt as a heretic, or rather as an atheist, which
sentence was executed at Paris, Aug. 3, 1516. On this
occasion it is said by some that he made profession of the
catholic faith by invoking the saints but others doubt this
fact. Whether pursuant to his sentence, or as a remission
of the most horrible part of it, we know not, but he was
first strangled, and then burnt. Authors diii'er much as to
the real cause of his death; some attributing it to the frequent attacks he had made on the superstitions and licentious lives of the ecclesiastics; others to his being a heretic,
or Lutheran; and others to his impiety, or atheism. Jortin, in his Life of Erasmus, and in his “Tracts,
” contends
for the latter, and seems disinclined to do justice to Dolec
in any respect. Dolet certainly had the art of making
enemies; he was presumptuous, indiscreet, and violent in
his resentments, but we have no direct proof of the cause
for which he suffered. On one occasion a solemn censure
was pronounced against him by the assembly of divines at
Paris, for having inserted the following words in a translation of Plato VAxiochus, from the Latin version into I'Yench
“Apres la mort tu tie seras rien clu tout,
” and this is said
to have produced his condemnation but, barbarous as the
times then were, we should be inclined to doubt whether
the persecutors would have condemned a man of acknowledged learning and genius for a single expression, and
that merely a translation. On the other hand, we know
not how to admit Dolet among the protestant martyrs, as
Calvin, and others who lived at the time, and must have
known his character, represent him as a man of no religion.
Dolet contributed not a little to the restoration of classical literature in France, and particularly to the reformation
of the Latin style, to which he, had applied most of his
attention. He appears to have known little of Greek literature but through the medium of translations, and his
own Latin style is by some thought very laboured, and
composed of expressions and half sentences, a sort of
cento, borrowed from his favourite Cicero and otber
authors. He wrote much, considering that his life was
short, and much of it spent in vexatious removals and in
active employments. His works are: l.“S. Doleti orationes diue in Tholosam; ejusdem epistolarum hbri duo;
ejusdem canninum libri duo; ad eundem epistolarum amicorum liber,
” 8vo, without date, but most probably in
Dialogus de imitutione
Ciceroniana, adversus Desiderium Erasmum pro Christophoro Longolio,
” Lyons, O ratio pro Cicerone
contra Erasmum.
” 3. “Commentariorum linguce Latinse
tomi duo,
” Lyons, De re navali liber ad Lazarum
Bayfium,
” Lyons, S. Doleti Galli
Aurelii Carminum libri quatuor,
” printed by himself at
Lyons, Genethliacon
Claudii Doleti, Stephani Doleti nlii; liber vitae communi
in primis utilis et necessarius; autore patre, Lugduni, apud
eundem Doletum,
” Formulas
Latinarum locutionum illustriorum in tres partes divisae,
”
Lyons, Francisci Valesii, Gallorum regis, fata, ubi rein omnem celebriorem a
Gallis gestam noscas, ab anno 1513 ad annum 1539,
” Lyons, Observationes
in Terentii Andriam et Eunuchum,
” Lyons, La maniere de bien traduire d'une langue en une
autre de la ponctuation Francoise, &c.
” Lyons, Liber de imitatione Ciceroniana adversus Floridum Sabinum Responsio ad convitia ejusdem Sabini;
Epigrammata in eundem,
” Lyons, Libri tres de legato, de immunitate legatorum, et de Joannis Langiachi Lemovicensis episcopi Legationibus,
” Lyons, Les epitres et evangiles des cinquante-deux dimanches, &,c. avec brieve exposition,
” Lyons, Miles Christianus,
” Lyons, Claudii Cotersei Turonensis de jure et privilegiismilitum
libri tres, et de officio imperatoris liber unus,
” Lyons,
On Confession,
” translated from Erasmus, ibid. Discotirs contenant le seul
et vrai moyen, par lequel un serviteur favorise et constitue
”
au service d'un prince, peut conserver sa felicite eternelle
et temporelle, &c.“Lyons, 1542, 8vo. 18.
” Exhortation,
a la lecture des saintes lettres,“ibid. 1542, 16rno. 19.
” La
paraphrase de Jean Campensis sur les psalmes de David,
&c. faite Frangoise,“ibid. 1542. 20.
” Bref discours de
la republique Fran^oise, desirant la lecture des livres de
la sainte ecriture lui etre loisible en sa langue vulgaire,“in verse, Lyons, 1544, 16mo. 21. A translation of Plato’s
Axiochus and Hipparchus, Lyons, 1544, I6mo. This was
addressed to Francis I. in a prose epistle, in which the
author promises a translation of all the works of Plato, accuses his country of ingratitude, and supplicates the king
to permit him to return to Lyons, being now imprisoned.
22.
” Second Enfer d'Etienne Dolet,“in French verse,
Lyons, 1544, 8vo. This consists of nine poetical letters
addressed to Francis I. the duke of Orleans, the duchess
d'Estampes, the queen of Navarre, the cardinal Lorraine,
cardinal Tournon, the parliament of Paris, the judges of
Lyons, and his friends. The whole is a defence of the
conduct for which he was imprisoned at Lyons in the beginning of 1544. He had written a first
” Enfer," consisting of memorials respecting his imprisonment at Paris,
and was about to have published it when he was arrested
at Lyons, but it never appeared. Besides these, he published translations into French of Cicero’s Tusculan Questions and his Familiar Epistles, which went through several
editions. Almost all Dolet’s works are scarce, owing to
, in Latin Donellus, one of the most learned civilians of the sixteenth
, in Latin Donellus, one of the most
learned civilians of the sixteenth century, was born at
Chalons on the Saone, in 1537. His school-master had
so disheartened him by severity, that neither threats nor
promises could make him remain in school. But at last,
being afraid he should be placed in a menial situation, he
applied more diligently to his studies. He learned civil
law at Toulouse, under the professors John Corrasius and
Arnold du Ferrier, who had no less than four thousand
auditors. He was admitted to the degree of D. C. L. at
Bourges, in 1551, and professed that science in the same
city with Duaren, Hotman, and Cujacius, and afterwards
at Orleans. He was very near being killed in the massacre of 1572, because he was a protestant; and could
not have escaped the violence of the murtherers, if some
of his scholars, who were Germans by nation, had not
saved him by disguising him in a German dress, as one of
their domestics. He had embraced the reformation whea
rery young, at the instigation of his sister. He staid some
time at Geneva, and afterwards he went into the palatinate, where he taught the civil law in the university of
Heidelbergh. He was invited to Leyden in 1575, to take
upon him the same employment, which he accepted and
discharged in a worthy manner, but baring imprudently
engaged himself in some political disputes, he was forced
to leave Holland in 1588. He returned to Germany, and
was professor of law at Altorf until his death, May 4, 1591.
He had so happy a memory, that he knew the whole Corpus Juris by heart. His works, most of which had been
published separately, were collected under the title of
“Commentaria de jure civili,
” 5 vols. folio, reprinted at
Lucca, 12 vols. folio, of which the last appeared in 1770.
2. “Opera Posthuma,
” 8vo. The most valuable of his
writings, is his book on the subject of last wills and testaments, which he is said to have treated with great learning and precision.
hich like ignes fatui, lead us into new and greater obscurity. The treatises which he published both in Latin and Italian, on the music of the Greeks, being well written
There was another DoNi, whose name was John BapTist, a writer on Music, and who left behind him at his
death, about 1650, many printed works upon ancient music, as “Compend. del. Trat. de‘ Generi e de’ Modi della
Musica.
” “De praestantia Musicse Veteris,
” and particularly
his “Discorso sopra le Consonanze,
” with a great number
of unfinished essays and tracts relative to that subject, and
the titles of many more. Few men had indeed considered
the subject with greater attention. He saw the difficulties,
though he was unable to solve them. The titles of his
chapters, as well as many of those of father Mersennus,
and others, are often the most interesting and seducing
imaginable. But they are false lights, which like ignes
fatui, lead us into new and greater obscurity. The
treatises which he published both in Latin and Italian,
on the music of the Greeks, being well written in
point of language, obtained him the favour and eulogies
of men of the highest class in literature. He has been
much extolled by Heinsius, Gassendi, Pietro della
Valle, and others. Apostolo Zeno, in his learned notes
to the Biblioteca Italiana of Fontanini, speaks of him
in the following terms: “We had reason to hope that
the works of Doni -would have completed our knowledge
of the musical system of the ancients; as he united
in himself a vast erudition, a profound knowledge in the
Greek language, in mathematics, in the theory of modern
music, in poetry, and history, with access to all the precious Mss. and treasures of antiquity.
” Doni invented an
instrument which he denominated the “Lyra Barberini,
”
or “Amphichordon,
” which he has described in an express
treatise, but we hear of it no where else. He was a declared foe to learned music, particularly vocal in fugue,
where the several performers are uttering different words at
the same time, and certainly manifests good taste, and
enlarged views, with respect to theatrical music and the
improvement of the musical drama or opera; but his objections to modern music, and proposals of reform, not
only manifest his ignorance of the laws of harmony, but a
bad ear, as he recommends such wild, impracticable, and
intolerable expedients of improvement, as no ear well
constructed, however uncultivated, can bear.
. “The Life of queen Joan, foundress of the Annonciades,” 8vo. 3. “The Life of cardinal de Berulle,” in Latin, 8vo. 4. “The History of the Cardinals,” in Latin, 1660,
, was born in 1596, of a
noble family, originally of Florence, and entered himself
of the Minims. Cardinal Richelieu, who became acquainted with him during his retirement at Avignon, was
so struck with his modesty and learning, that he gave him
the bishopric of Itiez, in which diocese he did much good.
From the see of Uiez he was translated to that of Autun,
and died in 1664, at the age of sixty-eight. He published,
1. “A History of the Minims,
” 4to.' 2. “The Life of
queen Joan, foundress of the Annonciades,
” 8vo. 3. “The
Life of cardinal de Berulle,
” in Latin, 8vo. 4. “The History of the Cardinals,
” in Latin,
He was certainly not ignorant or unskilled in the higher attributes of style, for he wrote elegantly in Latin, and displays considerable taste in some of his smaller
Dr. Donne’s reputation as a poet, was higher in his own
time than it has been since. Dryden fixed his character
with his usual judgment; as “the greatest wit, though
not the best poet of our nation.
” He says afterwards ,
that “he affects the metaphysics, not only in his satires,
but in his amorous verses, where Nature only should
reign, and perplexes the minds of the fair sex with nice
speculations of philosophy, when he should engage their
hearts, and entertain them with the softnesses of love.
”
Dryden has also pronounced that if his satires were to be
translated into numbers, they would yet be wanting in dignity of expression. From comparing the originals and
translations in Pope’s works, the reader will probably
think that Pope has made them so much his own, as to
throw very little lighten Donne’s powers. He every where
elevates the expression, and in very few instances retains
a whole line. Pope, in his classification of poets, places
Donne at the head of a school, that school from which
Dr. Johnson has given so many remarkable specimens of
absurdity, in his life of Covyley, and which, following
Dryden, he terms the metaphysical school. Gray, in the
sketch which he sent to Mr. Warton, considers it as a
third Italian school, full of conceit, begun in queen
Elizabeth’s reign, continued under James and Charles I. by
Donne, Crashaw, Cleiveland, carried to its height by
CowJey, and ending perhaps in Sprat. Donne’s numbers,
if they may be so called, are certainly the most rugged
and uncouth of any of our poets. He appears either to
have had no ear, or to have been utterly regardless of harmony. Yet Spenser preceded him, and Drummond, the
first polished versifier, was his contemporary; but it must
be allowed that before Drummond appeared, Donne had
relinquished his pursuit of the Muses, nor would it be just
to include the whole of his poetry under the general censure which has been usually passed. Dr. Warton seems
to think that if he had taken pains, he might not have
proved so inferior to his contemporaries; but what inducement could he have to take pains, as he published nothing,
and seems not desirous of public fame? He was certainly
not ignorant or unskilled in the higher attributes of style,
for he wrote elegantly in Latin, and displays considerable
taste in some of his smaller pieces and epigrams. At what
time he wrote his poems has not been ascertained; but of
a few the dates may be recovered by the corresponding
events of his life. Ben Jonson affirmed that he wrote all
his best pieces before he was twenty-five years of age.
His satires, in which there are some strokes levelled at the
reformation, must have been written very early, as he was
but a young man when he renounced the errors of popery.
His poems were first published in 4to, 1633, and 12mo,
1635, 1651, 1669, and 1719. His son was the editor of
the early editions.
His works, in German, on astronomy, geography, and mathematics, are numerous. He also published some in Latin: “Nova Methodus parandi Sciaterica Solaria/' 1720.” Physica
, a German mathematician, was born at Nuremberg in 1677, and was first
intended by his family for the bar, but soon relinquished
the study of the law for that of mathematics, in which he
was far more qualified to excel. He became professor of
mathematics at Nuremberg, after having travelled into
Holland and England to profit by the instructions of the
most eminent scholars in that science. In England he became acquainted with Flamstead, Wallis, and Gregory,
and in 1733, long after he returned home, was elected a
fellow of the royal society as he was also of the societies
of Petersburgh and Berlin. His works, in German, on
astronomy, geography, and mathematics, are numerous.
He also published some in Latin: “Nova Methodus parandi Sciaterica Solaria/' 1720.
” Physica experimentis
illustrata,“4to;
” Atlas Ccelestis," 1742, fol. Doppelmaier made some curious experiments in electricity, at the
latter part of his life, which he also published; and translated the astronomical tables of Stretius, French and
English, into Latin.
royal college, and of the faculty of law. He had an extensive knowledge of languages, wrote fluently in Latin and French, and spoke Italian, Spanish, Greek, Hebrew,
, a learned French advocate and classical scholar, was born in 1609 at Toulouse, of a family
distinguished by their talents. After having studied classics and philosophy with great success, he went through a
course of law, and was admitted an advocate of the parliament of Toulouse in 1637. Removing afterwards with a
view to settle in Paris, he was admitted to the same rank
in the parliament of that city in 1639. Here his reputation
for knowledge and eloquence became soon acknowledged,
and in 1650, on the death of Balthazar Baro, he was chosen
into the French academy in his place. The following
year, according to the “Menagiana,
” he went to Bourges
as candidate for a law professorship, but we are not told
whether he succeeded; in the same year, however, he
was appointed professor of the canon law in the royal college; and four years after, in 1655, had the appointment
of regent doctor of the faculty of the law, and filled both
offices with the highest reputation, nor did their laborious
duties prevent him from finding sufficient leisure to write
many of his published works. He was also appointed preceptor to the dauphin in history, and became one of the
learned editors of the Dauphin classics. He died Oct. 27,
1688, in his 79th year, being then dean of the French
academy, of the royal college, and of the faculty of law.
He had an extensive knowledge of languages, wrote fluently in Latin and French, and spoke Italian, Spanish,
Greek, Hebrew, and even the Turkish, and understood
English, German, and Sclavonic. With all these accomplishments, he was a man of singular modesty, probity,
and disinterestedness. His talents having procured him
what he thought a competent maintenance, he had no ambition for riches, and employed what was not necessary for
his own moderate wants, upon the poor.
His works are numerous, and justify the fame he acquired. 1. “Dictionnaire de la' langue Toulousaine,
”
lt)38, 8vo. This, which is without Doujat’s name, was
printed at the end of Goudelin’s works, which are in that
language. 2. “Grammaire Espagnole abregee,
” Paris,
Moyen aise
d'apprendre les langues mis en pratique sur la langue
Espagnole,
” ibid. Joannis Dartis opera
Canonica, edente J. Doujatio,
” ibid. De
Pace a Ludovico XIV. constituta, oratio panegyrica,
” ibid.
1660, 12mo. 6. “Historica juris Pontificii Synopsis,
”
added afterwards to his edition of Lancelot’s Institutions,
ibid. 1670, 12mo. 7. “Synopsis Conciliorum et Chrono*
logia Patrum, Pontificum, Imperatorum,
” &c. ibid. Panegyrique duRoy,
” by M. Pellison, ibid. La Clef du
grand Pouille de France,
” ibid. Specimen Juris Canonici apud Gallos usu recepti,
”
&c. ibid. Histoire du droit Canonique,
” ibid. Historia Juris Civilis Romanorum,
” ibid. Francisci Florentii
opera Canonica et Juridica,
” with additions, ibid. Livy,
” ibid. Theophili Antecessoris Institutionum lib. quatuor,
” with notes, &c. ibid. Institutiones Juris Canonici a J. P. Lancelotto Perusino conscriptae,
” with notes, ibid. Pra?notionum canonicarum libri quinque,
” ibid. Paris, Eloges des personnes illustres de l‘Ancient
Testament^ pour donner quelque teinture de l’Histoire Sacree, a I‘usage de monseigneur le due de Bourgogne,’
”
ibid. Reponse a M. Furetiere,
” Hague, Lettre
touchant un passage conteste de Tite Live,
” printed in the
Journal des Savans, Dec. Martini Bracarensis
episcopi Collectio Canonum Orientalium.
” This Doujat
revised and corrected, for insertion in the “Bibl. Juris
Canon, veteris,
” by Justell, Paris, Supplementa Lacunarum Livianarum,
” 4to, without date, and
probably part of his edition of Livy.
ut to sea, the ambassador of his catholic majesty had the confidence to propound to queen Elizabeth, in Latin verse, the terms iipon which she might hope for peace;
In the mean time it must not be dissembled, concerning the expedition in general, that, through an oversight of Drake, the admiral ran the utmost hazard of being taken by the enemy. For Drake being appointed, the first night of the engagement, to carry lights for the direction of the English fleet, was led to pursue some hulks belonging to the Hansetowns, and so neglected this orh'ce; which occasioned the admiral’s following the Spanish lights, and remaining almost in the centre of their fleet till morning. However, his succeeding services sufficiently atoned for this mistake, the greatest execution done on the flying Spaniards being performed by the squadron under his command. It is remarkable, that the Spaniards, notwithstanding their loss was so great, and their defeat so notorious, took great pains to propagate false stories, which in some places gained so much credit as to hide their shame. A little before this formidable Spanish armament put to sea, the ambassador of his catholic majesty had the confidence to propound to queen Elizabeth, in Latin verse, the terms iipon which she might hope for peace; which, with an English translation of a very homely kind, by Dr. Fuller, we will insert in this place, because Drake’s expedition to the West Indies makes a part of this message. The verses are these:
he wrote extempore, in verse and prose, after the manner of the Jews. At seventeen he made a speech in Latin to our James I. in the midst of his court, and was admired
His wife is supposed to have died in 1599. He had three children by her; a daughter born at Leyden in 1582, and married in 1604 to Abel Curiander, who wrote the life of his father-in-law, from which this account is taken. He had another daughter, born at Franeker in 1587, who died at Ghent, whither she had taken a journey about business. A priest, knowing her to be dangerously ill, went to confess her, and to give her extreme unction; but she immediately sent him away, and her husband (for she was married) threatened to resent his offer. It was with great cxpence and danger that her body was removed into Zealand, for at Ghent it would have been denied burial. He had also a son, John, who, if he had lived longer, would have been a prodigy of learning. He was born at Franeker in 3588, and began at five years old to learn the Latin and Hebrew tongues; at seven he explained the Hebrew psalter with great exactness; at nine he could read the Hebrew without points, and add the points where they were wanting, according to the rules of grammar. He spoke Latin as readily as his mother-tongue; and could make himself understood in English. At twelve he wrote extempore, in verse and prose, after the manner of the Jews. At seventeen he made a speech in Latin to our James I. in the midst of his court, and was admired by all that were present. He had a lively genius, a solid judgment, a strong memory, and an indefatigable ardour for study. He was likewise of an agreeable temper, which made him greatly beloved, and had a singular turn for piety. He died in 1609, of the stone, in England, at the house of Dr. William Thomas, dean of Chichester, who allowed him a very considerable salary. He left several works; a great many letters in Hebrew, verses in the same language, and notes on the Proverbs of Solomon. He had begun to translate into Latin the Itinerary of Benjamin Tudelensisj and the Chronicle of the second Temple; and digested into an alphabetical order the Nomenclature of Elias Levita; to which he added the Greek words which were not in the first edition.
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
, 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.
”
“Chronicle of Prussia” contains the history of that kingdom from 1226 to 1325, is written in Latin, und tinued by an anonymous hand, to 1426. Hartknock,
“Chronicle of Prussia
” contains the history of that kingdom from
, in Latin Duroeus, was a divine of Scotland, in the seventeenth
, in Latin Duroeus, was a divine of Scotland, in the seventeenth century, who laboured with great
zeal to unite the Lutherans and Calvinists. He was bora
educated for the ministry in Scotland. In 1624 he
came to Oxford for the sake of the public library. Hovr
long he remained there is uncertain; for his strong inclination for his great work, and his sanguine hopes of success
in it, induced him to let his superiors know, that he could
employ his talents better by travelling through the world,
than if he was confined to the care of one flock. They
agreed to his proposals, and permitted him to go from
place to place, to negociate an accommodation between
the protestant churches. He obtained likewise the approbation and recommendation of Laud archbishop of Canterbury; and was assisted by Bedell bishop of Kilmore, and
also by Dr. Joseph Hall, bishop of Exeter, as he acknowledges in the preface to his “Prodromus.
” He began by
publishing his plan of union in Johannis Dursei irenicorum tractatuum prodromus, &c.
” The preface of this
book is dated at Amsterdam, October 1, 1661.
at Sailers’-hall meeting, a “Treatise on the Sacrament,” 1707, 8vo, and a small collection of poems, in Latin and English. His chief excellence, as a scholar, was in
, a dissenting minister of considerable
note, was born about 1676, and educated among the dissenters. Of his personal history we have little information.
He officiated in the meetings in London between sixty and
seventy years, and died in 1768. During this long life, he
had never experienced a moment’s ill health. He would
scarcely have known what pain was, had he not once broke
his arm. He preached to the last Sunday of his life, and
died suddenly in his chair, without a ^roan or sigh. All
his faculties continued in great perfection, excepting his
eye-sight, which failed him some time before his death.
He was remarkable for a vivacity and cheerfulness of temper, which never forsook him to his latest breath; and he
abounded in pleasant stories. He had published in his
earlier days several occasional sermons, some of them
preached at Sailers’-hall meeting, a “Treatise on the Sacrament,
”
, in Latin Clusius, an eminent botanist, was born at Arras, in French
, in Latin Clusius, an eminent botanist, was born at Arras, in French Flanders, on Feb. 19, 1526, and was educated at Ghent and Louvain, in the languages, jurisprudence, and medicine, in which last faculty he took a degree, but without any view to practice. At the age of twenty-three he began his travels, and pursued in them all the study of botany, to which he was extremely partial. He visited England three times, and in all his journeys cultivated the acquaintance of the learned in his favourite science. He also not only collected and described a number of uew plants, but made drawings of several with his own hand. In 1573 he was invited to Vienna, by the emperor Maximilian II. with whom, as well as with his son, afterwards the emperor Rodolphus II. he was in great favour, and was honoured by the former with the rank of nobility. In 1593, the sixty-eighth year of his age, he was chosen professor of botany at Leyden, where he resided in great reputation till his death, April 4, 1609. At his funeral, in St. Mary’s church, Leyden, a Latin oration in his praise was delivered by the rector of the university. With respect to hodily health, Ecluse was unfortunate beyond the usual lot of humanity. In his youth he was afflicted with dangerous fevers, and afterwards with a dropsy. He broke his right arm and leg by a fall from his horse in Spain, and dislocated, as well as fractured his left ankle at Vienna/ In his sixty-third year he dislocated his right thigh, which, being at first neglected, could never afterwards be reduced, and he became totally unable to walk. Calculous disorders, in consequence of his sedentary life, accompanied with colic and a hernia, close the catalogue of his afflictions. Yet his cheerful temper and ardour for science never forsook him, nor did any man ever enjoy more respect and esteem from those who knew him.
notes from the lectures or sermons he heard, but composed a comedy, entitled “The Whore of Babylon,” in Latin. It is more certain, howevar, that he wrote “The Sum of
Many authors have preserved accounts of this prince’s
writings. Cardan talks much of his parts and learning.
Holland affirms that he not only wrote notes from the lectures or sermons he heard, but composed a comedy, entitled “The Whore of Babylon,
” in Latin. It is more
certain, howevar, that he wrote “The Sum of a conference
with the Lord Admiral,
” which, in his own hand, is extant
among the Ashmolean Mss.; “A method for the proceedings in the council,
” in the Cottonian library; and
“King Edward VIth’s own arguments against the pope’s
supremacy, &c.
” translated out of the original, written
with the king’s own hand in French, and still preserved.
To which are added some remarks upon his life and reign,
in vindication of his memory from Dr. Heylin’s severe and
unjust censure, Lond. 1682. He drew himself the rough
draught of a sumptuary law, which is preserved by Strype;
and an account of a progress he made, which he sent to
one of his particular favourites, called Barnahy Fiupatrick,
then in France. The same author has given some specimens of his Latin epistles and orations, and an account of
two books written by him; the first before he was twelve
years of age, called “L'Encontre les Abus du Monde,
” a
tract of thirty-seven leaves in French, against the abuses
of popery; it is dedicated to the protector, his uncle; is
corrected by his French tutor, and attested by him to be of
the king’s own composition. An original copy of this
tract is noiv in the British Museum. The other, preserved
in the library of Trinity college, Cambridge, is, “A Translation into French of several passages of Scripture, which
forbid idolatry, or worshipping of false gods.
” Tanner
giresa list of Edward’s letters that are extant; and there is
a large folio ms. in the British Museum, containing his
exercises in Greek, Latin, and English, with his signature
to each of them, as king of England. Cardan says that at
die age of fifteen, our prince had learned seven languages,
and was perfect in English, French, and Latin. Cardan
adds, " he spoke Latin with as much readiness and elegance as myself. He was a pretty good logician; he understood natural philosophy and music, and played upon
the lute. The good and the learned had formed the highest
expectations of him, from the sweetness of his disposition,
and the excellence of his talents. He had begun to favour
learning before he was a great scholar himself, and to be
acquainted with it before he could make use of it. Alas!
how prophetically did he once repeat to me,
an English sermon at the commencement, and a Concio ad Clerum; besides which he made a determination in Latin, in the schools, on a theological question. In 1701, Dr.
Soon after Mr. Edwards’s marriage, his friend sir Robert Carr, generously offered him the presentation of two considerable benefices then vacant in Norfolk, which he as generously declined, being willing that those livings should be bestowed upon some other person or persons who needed them. About the same time he accepted a preferment less valuable, that of St. Peter’s church in Colchester, merely from the prospect of extensive usefulness. Thither he accordingly removed with his family, and was highly acceptable to his parishioners, but quitted the place at the end of three years, and removed to Cambridgeshire. To this he was induced by the unkind usage which (as he thought) he met with from the clergy of the town, by the sickly habit of his wife, and by an apoplectic and convulsive fit with which he was himself visited. Upon his removal into the county of Cambridge, being afflicted with bodily pains and weaknesses, and especially the gout, which prevented him from appearing in public, he employed himself in presenting a succession of publications to the world. About 1697, he removed with his family to Cambridge, for the convenience of the university library. Our author had often been solicited by his friends to take his degree of D. D. but he did not comply with their motion till 1699. Upon this occasion he had not the opportunity of keeping an act, there being none, on account of the illness of the divinity professor, to moderate and determine. He only preached an English sermon at the commencement, and a Concio ad Clerum; besides which he made a determination in Latin, in the schools, on a theological question. In 1701, Dr. Edwards lost his lady, and, after a decent time, married again, a niece of alderman Lane, who had been brought up several years under Mrs. Edwards before her marriage to the doctor. It is remarkable, that, notwithstanding his numerous; publications, he was never possessed of a library; some bibles, lexicons, dictionaries, and other works of a similar nature and constant use, excepted. The university and college libraries furnished him with all the classic authors, and Greek and Latin fathers, and indeed with whatever related to ancient learning. These he either perused in the places where they were kept, or had them brought to his chamber; and his method was, from the early part of his life, to make adversaria and collections out of the books which he read, and all along to frame notes, observations, inferences, and reflections, from and on them, and to reduce them to the particular heads and subjects on which he designed to treat. He never had a commonplace book. With regard to modern authors, his practice was to procure the loan of them from the booksellers, at the price of sixpence for an 8vo, a shilling for a 4to, and two shillings for a folio. By this good husbandry, he was forced to read the works which he borrowed within the time prefixed; whereas, otherwise he might perhaps never have perused them thoroughly. Dr. Edwards continued in his course of diligent study and repeated publications till near the period of his decease, April 16, 1716, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.
d critical knowledge of the evangelical and apostolical writings. Dr. Edwards’s next publication was in Latin, being “Duae Dissertationes: in quarum priore probatur,
In 1766, Mr. Edwards was admitted to the degree of
doctor in divinity not long after which (early in 1767) he
published “Two Dissertations the first, on the absurdity
and injustice of religious bigotry and persecution their
utter contrariety to the temper and conduct of Christ and
his Apostles; and their mischievous and fatal consequences:
the second, on the principal qualifications and canons, necessary for the right and accurate interpretation of the
New Testament,
” 8vo. These dissertations reflect just
credit on our author’s reputation. The first of them shows
him to have been possessed of an enlarged and liberal
mind; and the second contains a variety of judicious and
useful directions to theological students, and to such persons in general as are desirous of attaining an exact und
critical knowledge of the evangelical and apostolical writings. Dr. Edwards’s next publication was in Latin, being
“Duae Dissertationes: in quarum priore probatur, variantes lectiones et menda, quae in Sac ram Scripturam
irrepserunt, non labefactare ejus auctoritatem in rebus
quae ad fidem et mores pertinent: in posteriore vero, praedestinationem Paulinam ad Gentilium vocationern totam
spectare,
”
nce to young persons, for whom the book was principally intended. Having written the notes sometimes in Latin, and sometimes in English, as chance or inclination directed,
In 1770, he was presented by the crown to the valuable
vicarage of Nuneaton in Warwickshire; which preferment
he is understood to have obtained through the interest of
the corporation of Coventry, and some private friends,
with the earl of Hertford, lord lieutenant of the county.
Our author, in 1773,. published a sermon, entitled “The
indispensable Duty of contending for the Faith which was
once delivered to the Saints,
” preached before the
university of Cambridge, on the 29th of June, 1766, being commencement Sunday. In 1779, he resigned the mastership
of the free grammar-school of Coventry, and the rectory
of St. John’s, and retired to Nuneaton, where he resided
during the remainder of his life. His last publication was
given to the world in the same year. The title of it is
“Selecta quaedam Theocrki Idyllia. Recensuit, variorum
notas adjecit, suasque animadversiones, partim Latine,
partim Anglice, scriptas immiscuit, Thomas Edwards,
S. T. P.
” 8vo. This work reflects honour on the accuracy
and extent of our author’s classical literature. Though,
the original text of what is selected from Theocritus consists only of about three hundred and fifty lines, the notes
are extended through upwards of two hundred and fifty
pages, besides more than twenty pages, consisting of addenda, corrigenda, collationes, &c. Dr. Ed wards’ s reason
for his being so minute and particular in many of his animadversions, was, that he might- give every possible kind
of assistance to young persons, for whom the book was
principally intended. Having written the notes sometimes
in Latin, and sometimes in English, as chance or inclination directed, he thought proper to publish them in that
promiscuous form. It would, however, undoubtedly have
been preferable uniformly to have composed them in the
Latin language. There are two appendiculae at the end of
the volume; one containing the editor’s reasons for not
prefixing the accentual marks to his own and Mr. Warton’s
notes; and the other affording hints of a new method which
he had discovered, of scanning Greek and Latin hexameters, the usual mode of doing it being, as he thought,
erroneous. A fuller explanation of his system was intended to be given by him in avork which he had in contemplation, designed to be entitled “Miscellanea Critica,
”
but which was not carried into execution. He had also
made collections for an edition of Quintus Curtius.
1 In May 1784, Dr. Edwards lost his wife, a lady of distinguished good sense, and of the most engaging manners;
and he, who had passed his life in his study, and was totally unacquainted with domestic concerns, and indeed
with worldly affairs of every kind, never enjoyed himself
after this event. What aggravated his distress was, that,
previously to Mrs. Edwards’s death, he had been afflicted
with a stroke of the palsy, from which, however, he so far
recovered as to be capable of discharging part of his
parochial duties. But, within a few months after her decease",
he had a second stroke, for which he was advised to go to
Bath, but received no benefit from his journey. He departed this life at Nuneaton, on the 30th of June, 1785,
in the fifty -sixth year of his age; and on the 7th of July,
was interred in the church-yard belonging to the parish of
Foleshill, in the same grave with his wife. An inscription
on a mural marble, contains nothing of moment excepting
the dates already specified.
, in Latin Elichius, lived at the beginning of the seventeenth century,
, in Latin Elichius, lived at the
beginning of the seventeenth century, and probably was
born at Marpurg. He there maintained a public dispute
on diabolical magic, in which he implicitly believed, and
would have printed a book on the same subject, if the
magistrates had not taken care to prevent it; who, on
searching his house, found several books on which he had
written immoral and impious notes. The books were confiscated, and he was cited before the judges; to whom he
promised upon oath and in writing, that he would renounce
such frivolous studies for the future; yet he published his
book at Francfort in 1607, under the title of ' De dapmoijomagia, de daemonis cacurgia, et lamiarum c-ner-gia,“with a very angry preface against the academical senate of
Marpurg. In this work he arrogantly contends against
those who doubt of the truth of what is related of witches,
hd of their being really conveyed through the air to their
meetings. He particularly attacks Tobias Tandler, professor of medicine at Wirtemberg, who had published an
oration
” De fascino et incantatione,“in 1606. This
Tandler reprinted in 1607, with some other tracts of the
same nature, and added a short reply to the calumnies of
Elichius,
” Repulsio calumniarum Elichii,“from which
Bayle took the materials of this article. Elichius, being
informed that he was to be called to account for his book,
made his escape, and turned Roman catholic. He is said
by Bayle to have published at Francfort, in 1609, another
book, entitled
” Innocentius; sive de miseria hominis, libri
tres, in ignominiam et confusionem superborum editi.“But Moreri thinks he was only the editor, and that it is the
same which is attributed to Innocent III. and of which
there is a Paris edition of 1645, entitled
” D. Innocentiae
papre, de contemptu mundi, sive de miseria humans conditionis, libri tres."
tion to be made, which was probably done by the anonymous editor of the volume; and they are written in Latin with a view to appear on the continent, where biblical
Besides his literary friends at home, sir Richard appears
to have corresponded with, and to have been highly
respected by many eminent scholars on the continent. He
was a munificent patron of men of learning, and frequently
contributed to the publication of their works, at a time
when the risks of publication were more terrible than in
our days. It was not unfrequent, therefore, to honour him
by dedications. The Weuteins dedicated to him the best
edition of Suicer’s “Thesaurus Ecclesiast.
” to which he
bad contributed the use of a manuscript of Suicer’s in his
own possession, and Ab. Gronovius dedicated to him his
edition of Ælian (Leyden, 1731). Horsley’s “Britannia
Romana
” was also dedicated to him. He was the steady
friend and patron of Michael Maittaire, who, in his “Seoilia,
” addresses many verses to him, from some of which
we learn that sir Richard had travelled much abroad, that
his pursuits were literary, and that he collected a curious
and valuable library . The only work by which his merits
as a scholar and critic can now be ascertained, was published at Rotterdam, in 1728, 8vo, under the title “Fortuita Sacra, quibus subjicitur Commentarius de Cymbalis.
” The epithet fortuita is used as denoting that the
explanation of the several passages in the New Testament,
of which the volume partly consists, casually offered themselves. The whole indeed was written in the course of
his private studies, and without any view to publication,
until some friends, conceiving that they would form an
acceptable present to the literary world, prevailed on him
to allow a selection to be made, which was probably done
by the anonymous editor of the volume; and they are
written in Latin with a view to appear on the continent,
where biblical criticism, although not perhaps at that lime
more an object of curiosity than at home, required to be
conveyed in a language common to the learned. Subjoined
to these critical essays on various difficult texts, which the
author illustrates from the Misnah and other books of Jewish
traditions, is a curious dissertation on the cymbals of the
ancients, which not being noticed by Dr. Burney in his
History of Music, has probably escaped the researches of
that able writer. In all these sir Richard Ellys shows a
vast compass of ancient learning, and a coolness of judgment in criticism, which very considerably advanced his
fame abroad. We know but of one answer to any of his
positions, entitled “A Dissertation on 1 Cor. xv. 29; or
an Inquiry into the Apostle’s meaning there, of being
`baptized for the dead,' occasioned by the honourable and
learned author of the Fortuita Sacra his interpretation
thereof.
” This Inquiry is conveyed in a letter to the author
ef the Republic of Letters, vol. V. (1730).
ished a small volume of divine poems, and another in 1658. The same year he published “Miscellanea,” in Latin and English verse, and several short essays in Latin prose.
, or Eliseus, as he calls himself in his
“Miscellanea,
” the son of a clergyman in Devonshire,
was educated at Baliol-college, Oxford. In 1655, about
the time when he took the degree of B. A. being then fellow of the college, he published a small volume of divine
poems, and another in 1658. The same year he published
“Miscellanea,
” in Latin and English verse, and several
short essays in Latin prose. This book was reprinted in
1662. In the preface, and again in the body of the work,
he speaks with great sensibility of some persons who had
decried his performances, and aspersed his character on
account of some levities and follies of youth. In 1659 he
succeeded his father in the rectory of East Allington, in
Devonshire. His conduct appears to have been irreproachable after he entered into orders. By his writings he has
given sufficient testimony of his parts, industry, and learning. The most remarkable of his numerous works, which
are mentioned by Wood, is the pamphlet he published
against Dr. Tillotson’s sermons on the incarnation; and the
most estimable is his volume of Letters, &c. as some of
them are written to eminent persons, particularly Dr. Sherlock and Dr. Bentley. There are also letters from Dr.
Henry More, Dr. Barlow, and others, to Edmund Elys.
He was living, and in studious retirement, in 1633, at
which time he was a non-juror.
tion in Italy, that Stephen Poncher, bishop of Paris, advised king Lewis XII. to engage him to write in Latin a history of the kings of France. He was accordingly invited
, or Emili, a famous historian, was
a native of Verona, and acquired so much reputation in
Italy, that Stephen Poncher, bishop of Paris, advised king
Lewis XII. to engage him to write in Latin a history of
the kings of France. He was accordingly invited to Paris,
and a canonry in the cathedral church was given him. He
retired to the college of Navarre, to compose this work;
yet after about thirty years of application to this his only
employment, it was not completed at his death. The
tenth book, which contained the beginning of the reign of
Charles VIII. was left unfinished. But the history was
continued by Arnoldus Feronius, who added nine books,
which include the supplement to the former reign, and
end at the death of Francis I. This continuation was
published at Paris in 1650; but the best edition of the
whole is that entitled “Emilii Pauli,'de Gestis Francorum,
libri decem, cum Arnoldi Feroni libris novem.
” Paris,
2 vols. fol.
, and wrote an abridgment of the life and errors of David George, the enthusiast, in German, and not in Latin, as Clement has proved in his Bibl. Curieuse. When he
Emmius died at Groningen, Dec. 9, 1625, leaving a
family behind him; for he had been twice married. Til
the last years of his life he composed the three volumes o
his “Vetus Grsecia illustrata,
” or ancient Greece illustrated the first of which contains a geographical description of Greece the second, the history of it; the third,
the particular form of government in every state. This
work was committed to the press in his life-time; bur,
through the delays of the printers, not published till after
his death, in 1626, 3 vols. 8vo. He had published several
considerable works before this; as, his “Opus Chronologicum novum,
” Groningen, Decades rerum Frisicarum,
” in which we do not find
him unreasonably prepossessed in favour of his native
country: on the contrary, he confuted vigorously the idle
tales related by the historians of Friesland, concerning the
antiquities of their nation; and this love of truth raised
him a great many enemies. This work was printed at
Leyden, 16 1C, fol. an edition of great rarity. He wrote
also a History of William Lewis count of Nassau, governor of Friesland; in which we meet, not only with a panegyric on that prince, but also a short history of thf
United Provinces, from 1577 to 1614. This was printed
at Groningen, 1621, 4to. He had theological controversies
with Daniel Hoffman, and wrote an abridgment of the life
and errors of David George, the enthusiast, in German,
and not in Latin, as Clement has proved in his Bibl.
Curieuse. When he died, he was about composing the
history of Philip of Macedon; in order to shew the United
Provinces by what fraudulent and indirect means Philip
had oppressed the liberty of Greece, and had already carried this history to the 15th year of Philip’s reign.
He published, in 1545, “A History of the State of the Low Countries, and of the religion of Spain,” in Latin, which was afterwards translated into French, and forms
is a Spanish writer, who among
biographers is classed under different names. In Moreri,
we find him under that of Dryander, by which, perhaps,
he is most generally known; but in France he took the
name of Du Chesne, and by the Germans was called
Evck, Eycken, or Eyckman. Referring to Marchand
for a dissertation on these different names, it may suffice
here to notice that Enzinas was of a distinguished family
of Burgos, the capital of Old Castille, where he was probably born, or where at least he began his studies. He
appears afterwards to have gone into Germany, and was the
pupil of the celebrated Melancthon for some years, and thence
into the Netherlands to some relations, where he settled.
Having become a convert to the reformed religion, which
was there established, he translated the New Testament
into Spanish, and dedicated it to Charles V. It was published at Antwerp in 1543. He had met with much discouragement when he communicated this design to his
friends in Spain, and was now to suffer yet more severely
for his attempt to present his countrymen with a part of
the scriptures in their own tongue. The publication had
scarcely made its appearance, when he was thrown into
prison at Brussels, where he remained from November
1543 to Feb. I, 1545, on which day finding the doors of
his prison open, he made his escape, and went to his relations at Antwerp. About three years after, he went to England, as we learn from a letter of introduction which Melancthon gave him to archbishop Cranmer. About 1552
Melancthon gave him a similar letter to Calvin. The time
of his death is not known. He published, in 1545, “A
History of the State of the Low Countries, and of the
religion of Spain,
” in Latin, which was afterwards translated
into French, and forms part of the “Protestant TYIartyrology,
” printed in Germany. Mavchand points out a few
other writings by him, but which were not published separately. Enzinas had two brothers, James and John. Of
the former little is recorded of much consequence; but
John, who resided a considerable time at Rome, and likewise became a convert to the protestant religion, was setting out for Germany to join his brother,' when some expressions which he dropped, relative to the corruptions
and disorders of the church, occasioned his being accused
of heresy, and thrown into prison. The terrors of a dungeon, and the prospect of a cruel death, did not daunt his
noble sou), but when brought before the pope and cardinals to be examined, he refused to retract what he had
said, and boldly avowed and justified his opinions, for
which he was condemned to be burnt alive, a sentence
which was put into execution at Rome in 1545.
Catharine. He was called Gerard, after his father, and afterwards took the name of Desiderius, which in Latin, and the surname of Erasmus, which in Greek, signify much
, one of the most illustrious of
the revivers of learning, was born at Rotterdam, October
28, 1467. His father Gerard, who was of Tergou, in that
neighbourhood, fell in love with Margaret, the daughter
of one Peter, a physician of Sevenbergen; and after promises of marriage, as Erasmus himself suggests, connected
himself with her, though the nuptial ceremonies were not
performed. From this intercourse Gerard had a son, whom
Erasmus calls Anthony, in a letter to Lambert Grunnius,
secretary to pope Julius II. and whose death, in another letter
he tells us, he bore better than he did the death of his friend
Frobenius. About two years after, Margaret proved with
child again; and then Gerard’s father and brethren (for he was the youngest of ten children) beginning to be uneasy at this attachment, resolved to make him an ecclesiastic. Gerard, aware of this, secretly withdrew into Italy,
and went to Rome; he left, however, a letter behind him,
in which he bade his relations a final farewell; and assured
them that they should never see his face more while they
continued in those resolutions. At Rome he maintained
himself decently by transcribing ancient authors, which,
printing being not yet commonly used, was no unprofitable
employment. In the mean time, Margaret, far advanced
in her pregnancy, was conveyed to Rotterdam to lie in,
privately; and was there delivered of Erasmus. He took
his name from this city, and always called himself Roterodamus, though, as Dr. Jortin, the writer of his life, intimates, he should rather have said Roterodamius, or Roterodamensis. The city, however, was not in the least
offended at the inaccuracy, but made proper returns of
gratitude to a name by which she was so much ennobled;
and perpetuated her acknowledgments by inscriptions,
and medals, and by a statue erected and placed at first
near the principal church, but afterwards removed to a
Station on one of the bridges.
Gerard’s relations, long ignorant what was become of
him, at last discovered that he was at Rome and now resolved to attempt by stratagem what they could not effect
by solicitation and importunity. They sent him word,
therefore, that his beloved Margaret was dead; and he
lamented the supposed misfortune with such extremity of
grief, as to determine to leave the world, and become a
priest. And even when upon his return to Tergou, which
happened soon after, he found Margaret alive, he adhered
to his ecclesiastical engagements; and though he always
retained the tenderest affection for her, never more lived
with her in any other manner than what was allowable by
the laws of his profession. She also observed on her part
the strictest celibacy ever after. During the absence of
his father, Erasmus was under the care and management
of his grandmother, Gerard’s mother, Catharine. He was
called Gerard, after his father, and afterwards took the
name of Desiderius, which in Latin, and the surname of
Erasmus, which in Greek, signify much the same as Gerard
among the Hollanders, that is, “amabilis,
” or amiable.
Afterwards he was sensible that he should in grammatical
propriety have called himself Erasmius, and in fact, he
gave this name to his godson, Joannes Erasmius Frobenius.
As soon as Gerard was settled in his own country again,
he applied himself with all imaginable care to the education of Erasmus, whom he was determined to bring up to
letters, though in low repute at that time, because he discovered in him early a very uncommon capacity. There
prevails indeed a notion in Holland, that Erasmus was at
first of so heavy and sl9w an understanding, that it was
many years before they could make him learn any thing;
and this, they think, appears from a passage in the life
written by himself, where he says, that “in his first years
he made but little progress in those unpleasant studies, for
which he was not born; in literis ill is inamoenis, quibus
non natus erat.
” When he was nine years old, he was
sent to Dav enter, in Guelderland, at that time one of the
best schools in the Netherlands, and the most free from
the barbarism of the age; and here his parts very soon
shone 'out. He apprehended in an instant whatever was
taught him, and retained it so perfectly, that he infinitely
surpassed all his companions. Rhenanus tells us that Zinthius, one of the best masters in the college of Daventer,
was so well satisfied with Erasmus’s progress, and so
thoroughly convinced of his great abilities, as to have foretold
what afterwards came to pa>s, that “he would some time
prove the envy and wonder of all Germany.
” His memory
is said to have b~?en so prodigious, that he was able to repeat all Terence and Horace by heart. We must nojt
forget to observe, that pope Adrian VI. was his schoolfellow, and ever after his friend, and the encourager of his
studies.
en Latin history in the manner of Sallust Erasmus desired a conversation with him, and addressed him in Latin: but the Florentine obstinately refused to speak any thingexcept
He left Italy soon after his pupil, without understanding
the language of that country, which made his journey less
advantageous as well as pleasant to him. It is said that
when he was at Venice, he met Bernard Ocricularius of
Florence, who had written Latin history in the manner of
Sallust Erasmus desired a conversation with him, and
addressed him in Latin: but the Florentine obstinately
refused to speak any thingexcept Italian; which Erasmus not
understanding, they separated without edification on either
part. Why Erasmus should not understand Italian, it is.
not difficult to conceive; but it is somewhat singular that
he should be ignorant of French, which was in a great
measure the case, though he had spent so much time in that
country. In his way from Italy to England, he passed
first to Curia, then to Constance, and so through the Martian forest by Brisgau to Strasburgh, and from thence by
the Rhine to Holland; whence, after making some little
stay at Antwerp and Louvain, he took shipping for England. Some of his friends and patrons, whom he visited
as he came along, made him great offers, and wished him
to settle among them; but his heart was at this time entirely fixed upon spending the remainder of his days in
England, not only upon account of his former connections
and friendships, which were very dear to him, bxit the great
hopes that had lately been held out to him, of ample preferment, provided he would settle there. Henry VII. died
in April 1509; and Henry VIII. his son and successor,
was Erasmus’s professed friend and patron, and had for
some time held a correspondence with him by letters.
That prince was no sooner upon the throne, than Montjoy wrote to Erasmus to hasten him into England, promising him great things on the part of the king, and of
Warham archbishop of Canterbury, though indeed he had
no particular commission to that end from either the one
or the other. More, and some other friends, wrote him
also letters to the same purpose. But he had no sooner
arrived in the beginning of 1510, than he perceived that
liis expectations had been raised too high, and began secretly to wish that he had not quitted Rome. However,
he took no notice of the disappointment, but pursued his
studies with his usual assiduity.
At his arrival in England he lodged with More; and
while he was there, to divert himself and his friend, he
wrote, within the compass of a week, “Encomium Moriæ,
”
or “The praise of Folly,
” a copy of which was sent to
France, and printed there, but with abundance of faults;
yet it became so popular, that in a few months it went
through seven editions. The general design of this ludicrous piece is to shew, that there are fools in all stations,
and more particularly to expose the errors and follies of
the court of Rome, not sparing the pope himself; so that
he was never after regarded as a true son of that church.
It was highly acceptable to persons of quality, but as
highly offensive to dissolute monks, who disapproved especially of the Commentary which Lystrius wrote upon it,
and which is printed with it, because it unveiled several
things from whose obscurity they drew much profit. Soon
after he came to England he published a translation of the
Hecuba of Euripides into Latin verse; and, adding some
poems to it, dedicated it to archbishop Warham. The
prelate received the dedication courteously, yet made the
poet only a small present. As he was returning from
Lambeth, his friend Grocyn, who had accompanied him,
asked, “what present he had received
” Erasmus replied,
laughing, “A very considerable sum
” which Grocyn
would not believe. Having told him what it was, Grocyn
observed, that the prelate was rich and generous enough
to have made him a much handsomer present; but certainly suspected that he had presented to him a book
already dedicated elsewhere. Erasmus asked, “how such
a suspicion could enter his head
” “Because,
” said Grocyn, “such hungry scholars as you, who stroll about the
world, and dedicate books to noblemen, are apt to be
guilty of such tricks.
”
to that kingdom to explain certain Arabic inscriptions. Gerard John Vossius made his funeral oration in Latin, which was printed at Leyden, 1625, in 4to; and the same
After four years spent in his travels, he returned to
Leyden in July 1612, about which time there was a design to invite him to England, and to settle a liberal stipend on him; but in the February following, he was chosen
by the curators of that university, professor of the Arabic.
and other oriental tongues, except the Hebrew, of which
there was already a professor. He filled this chair with,
great applause, and soon after set up, at an extraordinary
expence, a press for the eastern languages, at which he
printed a great many excellent works. October 1616, he
married a daughter of a counsellor in the court of Holland,
by whom he had seven children, three of whom survived
him. In 1619 the curators of the university erected a second chair for the Hebrew language, of which they appointed him professor. In 1620 he was sent by the prince
of Orange and the states of Holland into France, to solicit
Peter du Moulin, or Andrew Rivet, to undertake the professorship of divinity at Leyden but, not prevailing then,
he was sent again the year following, and after six months
stay in France, procured Rivet, with the consent of the
French churches, to remove to Leyden. Some time after his
return the states of Holland appointed him their interpreter,
and employed him to translate the letters they received
from the several princes of Africa and Asia, and also to
write letters in the -oriental languages; and the emperor of
Morocco was so pleased with the purity of his Arabic style,
that he shewed his letters to his nobles, as a great curiosity, for their elegance and propriety. In the midst, of
these employments, he was seized with a contagious disease, then epidemical, of which he died Nov. 13, 1621,
aged only forty years. The learned of his time lamented
him, and wrote the highest eulogiums upon him, as indeed he well deserved, for he was not only most eminent
as a scholar, but as a man of great piety and benevolence.
Besides the advantageous ofler made him in Italy, he rejected another from the king of Spain and the archbishop
of Seville, who invited him into that kingdom to explain
certain Arabic inscriptions. Gerard John Vossius made
his funeral oration in Latin, which was printed at Leyden,
1625, in 4to; and the same year were published at the
same place, in 4to, Peter Scriverius’s “Manes Erpeniani,
cum epicediis variorum.
”
him several manuscripts, elucidating difficult passages in scripture; but these having been written in Latin, none of them were ever published.
, a Scotch divine, was one of the younger of the thirty- three children of Ralph Erskine, of Shieltield, a family of considerable antiquity in the county of Merse, and descended from the noble family of Marr. He was born at Dryburgh, still the family-seat of the Buchan family, in 1624, where he received the rudiments of his education, and in 1650 took the degree of M. A. in the university of Edinburgh. He was ordained to the ministry by the presbyterians in England, to the Jiving of Cornhill, in Durham, but soon after was ejected by the act of uniformity, on which he returned to his own country; but the persecution carried on at that time in Scotland against the presbyterians, obliged Mr. Erskine to take refuge in Holland, whence the want of the common necessaries of life induced him again to return to his native country, where he was apprehended and committed prisoner to the Bass, a strong fort in the mouth of the Forth. There he continued near three years till, through the interest of the then earl of Marr, his kinsman, he was set at liberty but such was the violence of the times, that he was again driven from Scotland. In 1687, when king James’s toleration, was proclaimed, Mr. Erskine embraced it; and on the re-establishment of presbytery in 1690, he was appointed minister of Churnside in the county of Berwick. He died August 10, 1696, aged sixty-eight, much respected by all who knew him, and left behind him several manuscripts, elucidating difficult passages in scripture; but these having been written in Latin, none of them were ever published.
e was well versed in the sciences, both ecclesiastical and profane. His works are almost all written in Latin, with an elegance scarcely known to the theologians of
, a learned French divine, was
born at Chalons-sur-Marne in 1511, of noble parents,
became a doctor of the Sorbonne, and was rector of the university of Paris. He preached with considerable applause;
but having in one of his sermons called the “Légende
Doreée
” the “Légende Ferrée,
” it was concluded that he
did not believe in the worship of the saints; especially
from his doubting of certain facts related by the legendary
writers in the “Golden Legend,
” of which he ventured to
speak thus disrespectfully. The faculty of Paris was about
to pass a censure on him; but he explained himself in
another discourse, and the transient storm was succeeded
by a calm. The cardinal de Lorraine, who was well aware
of his merit, employed him in several affairs of importance.
D‘Espence attended him to Flanders in 1544, for the purpose of ratifying the peace between Charles V. and
Francis I. His eminence took him afterwards to Rome in
1555, where he made so conspicuous a figure, that Paul
IV. would have honoured him with the purple, in order
to retain him. But his intention was set aside (says fatrjer, Berthier) as being apparently contrary to the interests of
France. The imperialists requested the hat for three
monks; and therefore the cardinal de Lorraine, who IV
voured the design of getting D’Espence into the sacred
college, relinquished the idea. “I rather chose,
” says he
in a letter to the king, “that he should not be there, than
that three monks should get in; accordingly I entreated
his holiness to think no more of it, and, by that means, I
kept out the whole crew.
” D'Espence, liking far less to
live at Rome than at Paris, returned to France, and appeared with consequence at the assembly of the states of
Orleans in 1560, and at the conference of Poissy in 1561,
where he attached himself to the Calvinists, which gave
much offence to his popish brethren. He died of the
stone at Paris, Oct. 5, 1571, in the sixtieth year of his age.
He was one of the most moderate and judicious doctors of
the age in which he lived, and with all his attachment to
popery, was the declared enemy of all violent measures,
and disapproved of persecutions. He was well versed in
the sciences, both ecclesiastical and profane. His works
are almost all written in Latin, with an elegance scarcely
known to the theologians of that period. The principal
of them are, 1. “A treatise on Clandestine Marriages;
” in
which he proves that the sons of distinguished families cannot validiy contract marriage, without the consent of their
relations. 2. “Commentaries on the Epistles of St. Paul
to Timothy and Titus,
” full of long digressions on the hierarchy and the ecclesiastical discipline. 3. Several
controversial tracts, some in Latin and others in French. Ah
his Latin works were collected at Paris in 1619, folio.
, or Etheridge, or, as in Latin he writes himself, Edrycus, probably an ancestor of the
, or Etheridge, or, as in Latin he
writes himself, Edrycus, probably an ancestor of the preceding, was born at Thame in Oxfordshire, and admitted
of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, in 1534; of which he
was made probationer fellow in 1539. In 1543 he was
licensed to proceed in arts; and, two years after, admitted
to read any of the books of Hippocrates’s aphorisms. At
length, being esteemed an excellent Grecian, he was
made the king’s professor of that language about 1553,
and so continued till some time after Elizabeth came to the
crown, when, on account of his joining in the persecution
of the protestants in Mary’s reign, was forced to leave it.
He practised medicine with great success in Oxford, where
he mostly lived; and also took under his care the sons of
many popish gentlemen, to be instructed in the several
arts and sciences; among whom was William Gifford, afterwards archbishop of Rheims. He was reckoned a very
sincere man, and adhered to the last to the catholic religion, though he suffered exceedingly by it. Wood tells
us, that he was living an ancient man in 1588; but does
not know when he died. He was a great mathematician,
skilled in vocal and instrumental music, eminent for his
knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages, a poet,
and, above all, a physician. There are musical compositions and Latin poems of his still extant in manuscript. In
manuscript also he presented to queen Elizabeth, when she
was at Oxford in 1566, “Acta Henrici Octavi, carmine
Graeco.
” He also turned the psalms into a short form of
Hebrew verse; and translated the works of Justin Martyn
into Latin. In 1588 was published by him in 8vo, “Hypomnemata quasdam in aliquot libros Pauli Æginetae, seu
observationes medicamentorum qui hue aetate in usu sunt.
”
The antiquary Leland was his intimate friend, and in his
life-time celebrated his praises in these lines:
ever been. The title of our author’s little treatise was, 1. “Of gardens, four books, first written in Latin verse, by Renatus Rapinus; and now made English by John
, third son of the former, was born at his
father’s house at Sayes-court, near Deptford, January 14,
1654-5, and was there very tenderly educated in his infancy, being considered (after the death of his brother Richard Evelyn, January 27, 1657, who, though but five years of age, was esteemed a kind of prodigy) as the heir
of the family. He was likewise universally admired for
the pregnancy of his parts, of which he gave a pleasing
proof in a Latin letter written to his father in Dec. 1665,
and which induced his father to send him in 1666 to Oxford, where he remained in the house of the ingenious and
learned Dr. Ralph Bathurst, then president of Trinity-college, before he was admitted a gentleman-commoner, which
was in Easter term 1663. It is not clear at what time he
left Oxford; but Mr. Wood seems to be positive that he took
no degree there, but returned to his father’s house, where
he prosecuted his studies under the directions of that great
man. There is, however, good reason to believe that it
was during his residence in Trinity-college, and when he
was not above fifteen years of age, that he wrote that elegant Greek poem which is prefixed to the second edition
of the Sylva, and is a noble proof of the strength of his
genius, and wonderful progress in learning in the early
part of his life. In Nov. 1675, he set out for Paris with
lord Berkley, ambassador to the French court; and in May
1676, returned to England. He discovered his proficiency
soon afterwards, both in the learned and modern languages,
by his elegant translations, as well as his intimate acquaintance with the muses, in some original poems which were
very justly admired. If we consider the father’s turn of
mind, we need not wonder that he should employ his pen
first upon gardening, especially in the easy way of translation, and from a book so justly as well as generally admired as the French Jesuit’s has ever been. The title of
our author’s little treatise was, 1. “Of gardens, four
books, first written in Latin verse, by Renatus Rapinus;
and now made English by John Evelyn, esq.
” Sylva,
” and it must be allowed that the sense is very
faithfully rendered, and the poetry is more easy and harmonious than could have been expected from a youth of
his age. 2. “The life of Alexander the great,
” translated from the Greek of Plutarch, printed in the fourth
volume of Plutarch’s lives by several hands. 3. “The history of the grand visiers, Mahomet and Achmet Coprogli;
of the three last grand signiors, their sultanas, and chief
favourites; with the most secret intrigues of the seraglio,
”
&c. Lond. 1677, 8vo. This was a translation from the
French, and has been esteemed an entertaining and instructive history. Our author wrote also several poems
occasionally, of which two are printed in Dryden’s Miscellanies, and more are in Nichols’s Collection of Poems.
The one entitled “On virtue,
” has been esteemed excellent in its kind by the best judges and the other, styled
“The remedy of love,
” has been also much admired. On
Feb. 24, 1679-80, he married Martha, daughter and coheiress of Richard Spenser, esq. Turkey merchant, whose
widow married sir John Stonehouse, of Radley, in Berks,
bart. Mr. Evelyn, who had a turn for business as well as
study, and had been introduced to the prince of Orange
in 1688, was in 1690 made one of the chief clerks of the
treasury, and quitting that situation in 1691, became one
of the commissioners of the revenue in Ireland, which
country he visited in 1692. He would probably have been
advanced to higher employments if he had not been cut
off in thd flower of his age, dying at his house in Berkeleystreet, London, March 24, 1698, in the forty-fifth year of
his age. He had by his wife two sons and three daughters.
His eldest son, Richard, -died an infant at Sayes-court, as
did his eldest daughter Martha Mary. His second daughter, Elizabeth, married Simon Harcourt, esq. eldest son
and heir of Simon lord viscount Harcourt, lord high chancellor of Great Britain, by whom she became mother to
the first earl Harcourt. Jane, his third daughter, died an
infant at his house in the parish of St. Martin’s in the fields,
and was interred at Kensington. John Evelyn, his second
and only surviving son, born at Sayes-court, March 2,
1681, succeeded to his grandfather’s estate. He was married at Lambeth chapel, September 18,- 1705, to Anne,
daughter of Edward Boscawen, of Worthivil, co. Cornwall, esq. He was by letters-patent bearing date July 30,
1713, created a baronet. This worthy gentleman, who inherited the virtue and learning as well as the patrimony of
his ancestors, made several alterations and additions to the
family-seat at Wotton, in 1717, one of which was the
erecting a beautiful library, forty-five feet long, fourteen
feet broad, and as many high, for the reception of that
large ajtd curious collection of books made by his grandfather, his father, and himself, and where they still remain. He was long one of the commissioners of the
customs, a fellow of the royal society, and was succeeded by
his eldest son, John, who dying in 1767, was succeeded
by sir Frederick Evelyn, on whose death, in 1812, the
title descended to Mr. John Evelyn, the grandson of
Charles, a younger son of the first baronet of the Wotton
branch.
scriptions of a great number of instruments of his invention. His collected treatises were published in Latin, at Francfort in 1646, and again in 1682, in folio, under
, an eminent surgeon and physician, was known also by his surname of Hildanus, from
Hilden, a village of Switzerland, where he was born, July
25 t 1560. Like his predecessor of the same name, Fabricius of Aquapendunte, he became one of the most
eminent surgeons of his age, and contributed not a. little
to the improvement of the art. He repaired to Lausanne
in 1586, where he completed himself in the art of surgery,
under the instruction of Griffon, an intelligent teacher in
that city. Here he pursued his researches with indefatigable industry, and undertook the cure of many difficult
cases, in which he was singularly successful. He combined aknowledge of medicine with that of his own art,
and began to practise both at Payerne in 1605, where he
remained ten years, and in 1615 settled himself at Berne,
in consequence of an invitation from the senate, who
granted him a pension. Here he enjoyed the universal
esteem of the inhabitants. But in the latter period of his
life he was prevented by severe and frequent attacks of
the gout from rendering his services to his fellow-citizens
with his accustomed assiduity. At length, liowever, this
malady left him, and he was seized with an asthma, of
which he died on the 14th of February, 1634, at the age
of seventy-four. His works were written in the German
language, but most of them have been translated into the
Latin. He published five “Centuries of Observations,
”
which were collected after his death, and printed at Lyons
in 1641, and at Strasburgh in 1713 and 1716. These
“Observations
” present a considerable number of curious
facts, as well as descriptions of a great number of instruments of his invention. His collected treatises were published in Latin, at Francfort in 1646, and again in 1682,
in folio, under the title of “Opera Omnia.
” And a German edition appeared at Stutgard in
ent, unless he has an ancient author for his model. Out of the hundred fables which Faerno published in Latin verse, there are but five that had been treated by Phsedrus
, an elegant Latin poet and philologist, was born at Cremona in the early part of the sixteenth century, and by his accomplishments in polite
literature, gained the esteem and friendship of the cardinal de Medicis, afterwards pope Pius IV. and of his nephew the cardinal Borromeo. Having acquired a critical
knowledge of the Latin language, he was enabled to display much judgment in the correction of the Roman classics, and in the collation of ancient manuscripts on which
he was frequently employed, and indeed had an office of
that kind in the Vatican library. Ghilini says that he was
equally learned in the Greek language, but Muret asserts
that he was quite unacquainted with the Greek. That he
was a very elegant Latin poet, however, is amply proved
by his “Fables,
” and perhaps his being accused of stealing from Phgedrus may be regarded as a compliment to his
style. Thuanus appears to have first suggested this
accusation. He says that the learned world was greatly obliged
to him, yet had been more so, if, instead of suppressing,
he had been content with imitating the Fables of Phaedrus,
and asserts that Faeruo dealt unfairly with the public concerning Phoedrus, who was then unknown; having a manuscript of that author, which he concealed from the world
for fear of lessening the value of the Latin fables he had
made in imitation of Æsop. Perrault, however, who published a translation of Faerno’s Fables into French verse at
Paris in 1699, has defended his author from Thuanus’s
imputation. His words in the preface are as follow
“Faerno has been called a second Phsedrus, by reason of
the excellent style of his Fables, though he never saw
Phaedrus, who did not come to our knowledge till above
thirty years after his death; for Pithoeus, having found
that manuscript in the dust of an old library, published it
in the beginning of this century, Thuanus, who makes
very honourable mention of our author in his history, pretends, that Phcedrus was not unknown to him; and even
blames him for having suppressed that author, to conceal
what he had stolen from him. But there is no ground for
what he says; and it is only the effect of the strong persuasion of all those who are so great admirers of antiquity
as to think that a modern author can do nothing that is
excellent, unless he has an ancient author for his model.
Out of the hundred fables which Faerno published in Latin
verse, there are but five that had been treated by Phsedrus $
and out of those five there are but one or two that have
been managed nearly in the same manner: which happened only because it is impossible that two men, who
treat on the same subject, should not agree sometimes in
the same thoughts, or in the same expressions.
”
ared to have lost his senses. He left sereral works on literature, philosophy, and mathematics; some in Latin, others in Italian. The principal are, “Universae Philosophise
, a celebrated professor of astronomy and natural history at Padua, was born in
1650, of a noble family, at Tripani in Sicily. He entered
the third order of St. Francis; taught mathematics at Messina, and theology at Rome, where he had taken a doctor’s’
degree in the college della Sapienza. Francis II. duke of
Modena made him professor of philosophy and geometry
in his capital; but he gave up that situation to go to Venice, where he quitted the Franciscan habit in 1693, by
permission of the pope, and took that of a secular priest.
He was afterwards appointed professor of astronomy and
physic in the university of Padua, and died at Naples, from
a second attack of an apoplexy, January 2, 1718. Fardella had a lively genius and fertile imagination, but became 50 absent, by a habit of profound thought, that he
sometimes appeared to have lost his senses. He left sereral works on literature, philosophy, and mathematics;
some in Latin, others in Italian. The principal are, “Universae Philosophise Systema,
” Venice, 16iU, 12mo; “Universae Usualis Mathematics Theoria,
” 12mo; “Animoe
humanae Natura ab Augustino detecta,
”
have the credit of such a conquest. Pibrac published, besides his letter on the massacre, which was in Latin, pleadings and speeches, “Les plaisirs de la vie rustique,”
, lord of Pibrac, by which name he is
much better known, was born at Toulouse in 1528, and
distinguished himself at the bar in that city. He perfected
his knowledge of jurisprudence in Italy, and then returned
to be advanced to honours in his own country. In 1560 he
was deputed by his native city to the states-general held
at Orleans, and there presented to the king its petition of
grievances, which he had himself drawn up. By Charles
IX. he was sent as one of his ambassadors to the council of
Trent, where he eloquently supported the interests of the
crown, and the liberties of the Gallican church. In 1565
the chancellor de PHopital, appointed him advocate-general in the parliament of Paris, where he revived the influence of reason and eloquence. In 1570, he was, made
a counsellor of state, and two years afterwards, probably
constrained by his superiors, wrote his defence of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, published in 4to, and entitled
“Ornatissimi cujusdam viri, de rebus Gallicis, epistola, et
ad hanc de iisdem rebus responsio
” but this barbarous
measure was too repugnant to the mildness of Pibrac’s character to be approved by him. For this, after the accession of Henry III. he made the best amends in his power,
by proposing and bringing to a conclusion, a treaty of
peace between the court and the protestants. While that
prince was duke of Anjou, and was elected king of Poland, he attended him as minister in that country; but
when the succession to the crown of France, on the death
of his brother, tempted Henry to quit that kingdom
clandestinely, Pibrac was in danger of falling a sacrifice to
the resentment of the people. He afterwards tried in vain
to preserve that crown to his master. His services were
rewarded by being created one of the chief presidents of
the courts of law. He died in 1584, at the age of fifty-six.
The story of his falling in love with Margaret wife of
Henry IV. is supposed to be chiefly owing to the vanity of
that lady, who wished to have the credit of such a conquest. Pibrac published, besides his letter on the massacre, which was in Latin, pleadings and speeches, “Les
plaisirs de la vie rustique,
” Paris, Quatrains,
” or moral
stanzas of four lines, which were first published in 1574.
The last edition we know of, is that of 1746. They have
been extravagantly admired, and translated into almost all
languages, even Greek, Turkish, Arabic, and Persian.
They were rendered into English by Sylvester, the translator of du Bartas, in a manner not likely to give an advantageous notion of the original, which, though now antiquated, stiil preserves graces that recommend it to readers
of taste. Pibrac was a classical scholar; and to the taste
he drew from that source, his “Quatrains
” owe much of
their excellence. The subjects of some of them he took
from the book of Proverbs, which he used to say contained
all the good sense in the world.
, in Latin Faber, was a profound lawyer and an author; in a few instances,
, in Latin Faber, was a profound lawyer and an author; in a few instances, a poet, for some
quatrains by him remain among those of Pi brae, and there
is a tragedy of his e.ytant, entitled “The Gortlians, or
ambition.
” He was born in
,” 12mo; “Remarks on Homer, Virgil, and the poetical style of Scripture,” 2 vols. 12mo; a collection in Latin verse, and French prose, entitled, “Tombeau de M. de Santeuil,”
, a priest of Riom, once well known by
his singular opinions, entered the congregation of the oratory in 1662, but was obliged to quit it in 1671, being a
friend to Cartesianism, which was then a heresy. He
preached against the conduct of Innocent XI. towards
France, and published a treatise on the Trinity 1696, in
which appearing to favour tritheisnr, he was confined at St.
Lazare in Paris, but afterwards received orders from the
king to retire to his country, where he died 1709. He
left “a life of St. Amable,
” 12mo; “Remarks on Homer,
Virgil, and the poetical style of Scripture,
” 2 vols. 12mo;
a collection in Latin verse, and French prose, entitled,
“Tombeau de M. de Santeuil,
” 12mo; '“La Telemacomanie, ou Critique du Telemaque de M. Fenelon,
” 12mo,
a foolish attack on Fenelon’s celebrated performance. All
his works contain singular opinions, great reading and
learning, but little taste or judgment. “Le Moines emprunte*s,
” 2 vols. 12mo, have been attributed to him, but
they are by Haitze.
at office in 1570. He wrote many works, but the most considerable was a “History of Sicily,” written in Latin in two decades, which first appeared in Palermo in 1558,
, the historian of Sicily, was born
at Sacca, a town of Palermo, in 1498. He was entered in
the order of Dominican monks, and was their provincial,
but from modesty declined the honour of being elected
general of the order. He was ten times chosen prior of
the monastery at Palermo, and died in possession of that
office in 1570. He wrote many works, but the most considerable was a “History of Sicily,
” written in Latin in
two decades, which first appeared in Palermo in 1558, foL
and which has passed through several editions, and was
translated into the Italian language.
, of Brisgaw, a celebrated Lutheran divine and historian, author of several learned works in Latin and in German, who was settled first at Dourlach, and
, of Brisgaw, a celebrated Lutheran divine and historian, author of several
learned works in Latin and in German, who was settled first
at Dourlach, and afterwards at Rostock, was born in 1636,
and died in 1716. Among his works are a “History of
Cain and Abel,
” with notes critical, philological, historical,
and theological, published at Rostock, in 8vo a “Treatise on the Religion of the modern Greeks
” another
against the “Superstitions of the Mass,
” &c.
ire in his youth he was for some time a chorister, which gave him an opportunity of being instructed in Latin as well as music. Being afterwards sent to Winchester
, an eminent scholar and translator, was
born at Montacute, in Somersetshire in his youth he was
for some time a chorister, which gave him an opportunity
of being instructed in Latin as well as music. Being
afterwards sent to Winchester school for academical education, he was admitted of New college, Oxford, and
chosen fellow in 1552, studying chiefly the civil law. In
queen Mary’s reign he was made chief master of a noted
free-school at St. Edmundsbury, in Suffolk, where he acquired great reputation as a teacher. This station he retained for some part of queen Elizabeth’s reign, but an
information having been laid against him, as unqualified
by the laws of the reformation, he was obliged to quit it.
Some time after he went to Flanders, and afterwards to
Rome, where he was admitted into the English college,
studied theology for four years, and took orders. Returning afterwards to Flanders, he became confessor to
the English nuns at Louvain, where he lived forty years,
employing his leisure hours in translating several books favourable to the Roman catholic religion. He died at an
advanced age, Dec. 27, 1615, with an excellent character
from those of his persuasion, for learning and piety. His
publications are, 1. “Vitae quorundam martyrum in Anglia,
”
which is inserted in Bridgwater’s “Concertatio Ecclesise Catholicae in Anglia.
” 2. Several of bishop Fisher’s English
works, translated into Latin. 3. “Catechismus Tridentinus,
”
translated into English. 4. Osorius’s treatise against Walter Haddon, translated into English, Louvain, 1568, 8vo.
5. “The Life of St. Catherine of Sienna,
” from the Italian,
A Treatise on Tribulation,
” from the
Italian of Caccia Guerra. 7. “Mysteries of the Rosary,
”
from Caspar Loartes. Fuller says that he proceeded Bachelor of Laws at New college, till (in 1562) for his popish
activity, he was ejected by the queen’s commissioners.
Wood, who mentions this in his Annals, although not in
his “Athens,
” leaves it doubtful whether he did not resign it of his own accord.
on, but not remarkable for brilliancy or clearness. They are, 1. “A large Commentary on the Psalms,” in Latin, 1683, 4to. 2. “Reflections on the Christian Religion,”
, a French lawyer, born at Toulon,
in 1645, became an advocate in the parliament of Paris,
and died in that city, in 1699. Though a layman, he
lived with the rigour of a strict ecclesiastic; and though a
lawyer, his works turn chiefly upon subjects of sacred
learning. They are full of erudition, but not remarkable
for brilliancy or clearness. They are, 1. “A large Commentary on the Psalms,
” in Latin, Reflections on the Christian Religion,
” A Psalter,
” in French and Latin. 4. Some controversial writings against the Calvinists, and others. 5. “A
Letter and Discourse to prove that St. Augustin was a
Monk,
” an opinion which several learned men have rejected.
In 1598 he was sent to Euborn school, where in Latin, Greek, and logic, he soon became the first scholar of
In 1598 he was sent to Euborn school, where in Latin, Greek, and logic, he soon became the first scholar of his years. He strengthened his memory by daily exercise; he was a great proficient in writing and arithmetic, and attained such excellence in short-hand as to be able to take accurately a sermon or speech on any occasion. He was also well skilled both in the theory and practice of vocal and instrumental music. Thus accomplished, in his fourteenth year, his master, Mr. Brooks, prevailed with his parents to send him to Cambridge, whither he himself attended him, and admitted him of Clare-hall, presenting him, with due commendation of his uncommon abilities, to Mr. Augustin Lindsell, the tutor, and Dr. William Smith, then master of the college. His parents thought proper, notwithstanding the remonstrance of some friends against it, to admit him a pensioner for the first year, as they conceived it more for his good to rise by 'merit gradually to honour. In this situation, by excellent demeanour and diligent application to his studies, he gained the affections and applause of all who knew him, performing all his exercises with distinguished approbation. His attention and diligence were such, that it was observed his chamber might be known by the candle that was last put out at night, and the first lighted in the morning. Nor was he less diligent In his attendance at chapel, so that his piety and learning went on hand in hand together. In his second year he became fellow-commoner. In 1610 he took his degree of B. A. At this time he was appointed to make the speech on the king’s coronation day, (July 25) in the college hall; and the same year he was elected fellow of that society, His constitution was of a feminine delicacy, and he was very subject to aguish disorders; yet he bore them out in a great measure by his temperance, and by a peculiar courageousness of spirit which was natural to him. His favourite sister, married to Mr. Collet, lived at Bourn Bridge, near Cambridge, and as the air of Cambridge was found not well to agree with him, he made frequent exctirsioas to her house, where he passed his time in the pursuit of his studies, and in the instruction of his sister’s children. But his tutor, Mr. Lindsell, Mr. Ruggle (author of the Latin comedy called Ignoramus), and others of the fellows, having now apprehension of his health, carried him to Dr. Butler, the celebrated physician of Cambridge, who conceived a great affection for him, but finding the disorder baffled all his skill, could only recommend a spare diet and great temperance; and upon his relapsing, in the autumn of 1612, the doctor prescribed as the last re^ medy, that in the spring he should travel.
, in Latin Ferrettus, one of the learned civilians in the sixteenth
, in Latin Ferrettus, one of the
learned civilians in the sixteenth century, was born at Castello Franco in Tuscany, Nov. 14th, 1489. At twelve years
old he was sent to Pisa, where he studied the civil and
canon law for three years; he spent two other years in the
university of Sienna, after which he went to Rome, and
was made secretary to cardinal Salviati. He was admitted
an advocate at the age of nineteen years, after a public disputation before a numerous audience of cardinals and
bishops. He then left his Christian name of Dominicus,
and took that of Æmilius, according to a custom very prevalent among the literati of Italy. Having accepted of the
chair of law-professor, he explained so learnedly the law de
Rebus creditis (of things with which persons are trusted)
that it gained him the title of secretary to Leo the Xth.
He exercised that office for some years, after which he regigned it voluntarily, and retired into his native country.
He left it again at the end of two years, his father having
been killed there, and went to Tridino in the dukedom of
Montferrat, where he married; and having continued there
four years, he attended the marquis of Montferrat to Rome
and to Naples, that marquis commanding part of the French
army. This expedition of, the French proving unsuccessful, Ferreti endeavoured to return into his native country,
but he was taken by the Spaniards, and could not obtain
his liberty but by paying a ransom. He went into France,
and taught the law at Valencewith so much reputation,
that Francis I. made him counsellor in the parliament of
Paris, and sent him as envoy to the Venetians, and to the
Florentines. He acquitted himself so well of that employment, that it determined the marquis of Montferrat to send
him to the court of Charles V. after he had obtained Francis I.'s consent for that journey. Ferreti attended the emperor in the expedition of Africa; and as soon as he was
returned into France, the king sent him to the Florentines
during the war in which they were engaged against the
emperor. He went back to France when they were subdued, and followed the court to Nice, where the pope,
Charles V. and the king of France had an interview: having afterwards resigned the post of counsellor in the parliament, he went to Lyons, and thence to Florence, where
he was admitted a citizen. He was sent for to Avignon
to teach the law there. His yearly stipend was at first 550
crowns, then 800, and then 1000; a sum that had never
been given to any professor in that university. He gained
the love both of the inhabitants and of the students, who
shewed it in a very remarkable manner after his death; for
when his successor Craveta began his lectures by strictures
upon Ferreti, the scholars shewed their attachment to their
old master by hissing and driving him from the place. He
died at Avignon July 14, 1552. Ferreti was a man of general learning, and well acquainted with classical literature.
He gave an edition of the principal orations of Cicero,
printed at Lyons by Gryphius, 8vo, “M. T. Ciceronis Orationes Verrinae ac Philippics,
” dedicated to cardinal Salviati. His “Opera Juridica
” were published in
, in Latin Ferrius, a most learned divine of Germany, was born of
, in Latin Ferrius, a most learned divine of Germany, was born of a considerable family at
Metz, in 1591. He was sent to study divinity at Montaban, and made so uncommon a progress, that he was
admitted a minister at Metz in 1610. Though he was
but nineteen, he had then published a book of poems; the
advertisement to which he finished in these words, “sat
ludo nugisque datum.
” He had eminent talents for preaching: his graceful presence, his venerable countenance,
and fine delivery, adding great force to his eloquence,
which was very powerful and moving. His enemies reported, falsely, that he was one of the ministers whom
cardinal Richelieu had bribed to procure a coalition of the
two religions; however, it is certain that he was grieved
at the division of the p'otestants, and hoped that he could
contribute somewhat to forward a re-union; and it is
supposed that with this view he kept a correspondence
with Dury (See Dury). His death happened in 1669,
when above fourscore stones were found in his bladder,
which had occasioned it. He had a very fine library,
which he increased by several works of his own. In 1616
he published “Scholastic} Orthodox! Specimen,
” in which
he shews, that the protestant doctrine of grace has been
taught by the schoolmen. This treatise gained him the
esteem of Du Plessis Mornay, who wrote him a letter upon
it, in which he advised him about another work he was
upon, entitled “Le dernier desespoir de la Tradition,
”
&c. In Vindiciae pro
Scholastico Orthodoxo,
” against Perinus, an eminent Jesuit, who had published in 1619 a book entitled “Thrasonica Pauli Ferrii Calvinistae.
” In General Catechisme de la Reformation,
” which was
answered by Bossuet; and left behind him collections for a
history of Metz, which are referred to by Calmet, as
abounding in curious researches; and a vast number of
sermons, of which about eleven hundred are on the epistle
to the Hebrews.
yer, was born in 1515, and was a counsellor of the parliament of Bourdeaux. He was an elegant writer in Latin, an imitator of the style of Terence, admired by Scaliger,
, a French lawyer, was born
in 1515, and was a counsellor of the parliament of Bourdeaux. He was an elegant writer in Latin, an imitator of
the style of Terence, admired by Scaliger, and honoured
by him with the name of Atticus. --He continued the history of France in Latin (which Paulus Æmilius, a writer of Verona, had given from the reign of Pharamond to 1488) as far as the end of the reign of Francis I. This
work was published at Paris, by Vascosan, in 1554, fol.
and 1555, 8vo. It is copious, but not too long, and
abounds with curious anecdotes and very exact details.
He wrote also “Observations sur la Coutume de Bourdeaux,
” Lyons,
Magrio’s work “on the Agreement of the seeming Contradictions in Holy Scripture,” Paris, 1685, 12mo, in Latin, &c. He died July I, 1716, at Paris.
, a celebrated doctor of the Sorbonne, archdeacon of Lisieux, and grand vicar of Bourges,
was born at Coutance, of a family which produced several
persons of merit and learning. He gained great reputation by his works, which are, “Motifs invincibles pour
convaincre ceux die la Religion pretendue Reformee,
”
12mo, which, like all his works, is much esteemed by
those of his communion. This was followed by some pieces
in favour of the “Motifs invincibles,
” against M. Arnauld,who had attacked some parts of them; which dispute did
not, however, prevent the doctors from being friends. He
wrote also, I. “Nouvelle Conference avec un Ministre,
touchant les Causes de la Separation des Protestans,
”
Recueil de tout ce qui s’est fait pour et contre
les Protestans en France,
” 4to. 3. “Instructions pour
confirmer les nouveaux Convertis dans la Foi de PEglise.
”
4. “L'Anti-Journal des Assemblies de Sorbonne:
” this
work, his admirers says, is full of wit and subtile criticism.
He published also a new edition of Dominico Magrio’s
work “on the Agreement of the seeming Contradictions
in Holy Scripture,
” Paris, 1685, 12mo, in Latin, &c. He
died July I, 1716, at Paris.
small volume, 4to. They consist of biblical criticism, questions on morals, and philological pieces in Latin and French.
Though he laboured intensely all his life, he was one of those learned men who are not ambitious of the character of author, but content with studying for themselves and their friends. He applied himself in his youth to the belles lettres and history, which he never neglected. Civil law, philosophy, and morality, were afterwards his occu^ jnition: and at the latter part of life, he spent his time chiefly among ecclesiastical antiquities. As he kept up a correspondence with all the learned of Europe, when he heard of any person about to publish an author, or to compose a work of his own, he was ever ready to assist him with Mss. and to furnish him with memoirs, but without suffering any mention to be made of his name, though his injunctions upon this point were not always observed. His own works, which were but few, were collected after his death by John le Begue, his friend, and printed at Paris, 1614, in a small volume, 4to. They consist of biblical criticism, questions on morals, and philological pieces in Latin and French.
ons, 1736, in two volumes, folio. He made an excellent translation of Pibrac’s (See Faur) Quatrains, in Latin verses, printed at Lyons, 1667, with a commentary under
He published in 1645, a small Latin treatise entitled
<c De claris Fori Burgundici Oratoribus,“and his
” Traité
de l'Abus“in 1653, which last celebrated work was written
at the solicitation of the second Lewis de Bourbon prince
of Conde. He enlarged it afterwards by one half, which
occasioned a second edition of it after his death, in 1667.
It was reprinted a third time ten years after; but the best
edition is that of Lyons, 1736, in two volumes, folio. He
made an excellent translation of Pibrac’s (See Faur)
Quatrains, in Latin verses, printed at Lyons, 1667, with
a commentary under this title,
” De officiis vitas humanae,
give, in Pibraci Tetrasticha Commentarius." Several authors have mentioned him and his works in a very honourable manner. He had a son Peter, also a man of learning,
who died in 1706, and left his fine library to the Jesuits
of Dijon, with funds for increasing it. In. 1708, a catalogue of it was published in 4to, with a preface by father
Oudin.
ral very learned works, the principal of which are, “A Treatise on the sacred Authority of Bishops,” in Latin, Paris, 1606, 8vo another “on Lent;” a treatise on the
, was a native of Paris, who taught
ethics, and afterwards philosophy, at the college de la
Marche, and was rector of the university in 1.586. He
took his doctor’s degree, April 9, 1590, and became curate of St. John en Greve. Filesac, who was eminent
among his contemporaries for his firmness, learning, and
piety, died at Paris, senior of the Sorbonne, and dean of
the faculty of theology, May 27, 1638, leaving several
very learned works, the principal of which are, “A Treatise on the sacred Authority of Bishops,
” in Latin, Paris,
on Lent;
” a treatise on the “Origin of Parishes
” treatises on “Auricular Confession;
” on
“Idolatry,
” and on “the Origin of the ancient Statutes
of the Faculty of Paris.
” They are united under the title
of “Opera Pieraque,
” Paris,
or his wife, against whom it was complained that she had refused to let the friars say their gospels in Latin at her house. The chancellor appears to have made some
, a man who deserves some notice on account of his zeal for the reformation, was born in Kent,
and, after an education at Oxford, went about 1525 to
Gray’s Inn, to study the law. A play was then written
by one Roo, or Roe, in which cardinal Wolsey was severely
reflected on; and Fish undertook to act the part in which
he was ridiculed, after every body else had refused to venture upon it. The cardinal issued his orders against him
the same night, but he escaped, and went into Germany,
where he found out, and associated himself with, William
Tyndale. The year following he wrote a little piece,
called, “The Supplication of Beggars;
” a satire upon
bishops, abbots, priors, monks, friars, and indeed the popish
clergy in gejieral. About 1527 or 1528, after it had been
printed, a copy was sent to Anne Boleyne, and by her
given to the king, who was not displeased with it, and
Wolsey being now disgraced, Fish was recalled home,
and graciously countenanced by the king for what he had
done. Sir Thomas More, who, when chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster, had answered Fish’s pamphlet, in
another, entitled “The Supplication of Souls in Purgatory,
” being advanced to the rank of chancellor in the
room of Wolsey, the king ordered sir Thomas not to meddle with Fish, and sent a message to this purpose, with his
signet, by the Jiands of Fish. On his delivering the message, sir Thomas told him, all this was sufficient for himself, but not for his wife, against whom it was complained
that she had refused to let the friars say their gospels in
Latin at her house. The chancellor appears to have made
some attempt to prosecute the wife, but how far he succeeded is not known. Fish himself died about half a year
after this of the plague, about 1531, and was buried in the
church of St. Dunstan in the West. In one of the lives of
sir Thomas More, it is reported that he turned papist before his death, but this circumstance is not mentioned by
Fox. The “Supplication
” was one of the publications
afterwards prohibited by Cuthbert Tonstall, when bishop
of London. Tanner ascribes to Fish two works called
“The Boke of merchants rightly necessary to all folkes,
newly made by the lord Pantapole
” and “The Spiritual
Nosegay.
” He also published about The Summ
of the Scriptures,
” translated from the Dutch. His widow
married James Bainham, afterwards one of the martyrs.
ere he was soon distinguished as a man of genius, and an able preacher. A description of a carousal, in Latin verse, which, notwithstanding the difficulty of a subject
, the celebrated bishop of Nismes,
distinguished equally for elegant learning, abilities, and
exemplary piety, was born June 10, 1632, at Perne, near
Avignon, in Provence, and educated in the study of literature and virtue under his uncle Hercules AudifiTret.
After the death of this relation, who was principal of the
congregation styled De la Doctrine Chretienne, he appeared at Paris, about 1659, where he was soon distinguished as a man of genius, and an able preacher. A description of a carousal, in Latin verse, which, notwithstanding the difficulty of a subject unknown to the ancients, was
pure and classical, first attracted the public admiration.
It was published in 1669, in folio, and entitled “Cursus
Regius,
” and has since been included in his miscellaneous
works. His funeral orations completed the fame which
his sermons had begun. He had pronounced one at Narbonne, in 1659, when professor of rhetoric there, on the
bishop of that city, but this is not extant. The first of
those that are published, was delivered in 1672, at the
funeral of madam de Montausier, whose husband had become his patron and friend. He soon rose to be the rival
of Bossuet in this species of eloquence. His oration on
mareschal Turenne, pronounced in 1676, is esteemed the
most perfect of these productions; it excited at once the
liveliest regret for the deceased hero, and the highest admiration of the orator. The last oration in the collection
must have agitated his feelings as well as exercised his
talents, for it was in honour of his well-tried friend the
duke of Montausier, who died in 1690. In 1679 he published his history of the emperor Theodosius the Great, the
ouly part that was ever executed, of a plan to instruct the
dauphin, by writing for him the lives of the greatest Christian princes. The king, after having testified his regard
for him by giving him the abbey of S. iSeverin, and the office
of almoner in ordinary to the dauphin, promoted him in
1685 to the see of Lavaur, saying to him at the same time,
< Be not surprised that I so Jong delayed to reward your
merit; I was afraid of losing the pleasure of hearing your
discourses.“Two years after, he was made bishop of
Nismes. In his diocese he was no less remarkable for the
mildness and indulgence by which he drew hack several
protestants to his church, than for his general charity, and
attention to the necessities of the unfortunate of all descriptions. At the time of a famine, in 1709, his charity was
unbounded, and was extended to persons of all persuasions;
and his modesty was at all times equal to his benevolence.
Numbers were relieved by him, without knowing the source
of their good fortune. His father had been a tallowchandler; but Flechier had too much real greatness of
mind to conceal the humbleness of his origin: and, being
once insolently reproached on that subject, he had the
spirit to reply,
” I fancy, sir, from your sentiments, if
you had been so born, you would, have made candles still.“It is said that he had a presentiment of his death by means
of a dream; in consequence of which, he employed an
artist to design a monument for him, wishing to have one
that was modest and plain, not such as vanity or gratitude
might think it necessary to erect. He urged the artist to
execute this design before his death, which happened Feb.
16, 1710.
” He died,“says d'Alembert,
” lamented by
the catholics, regretted by the protestants, having always
exhibited to his brethren an excellent model of zeal and
charity, simplicity and eloquence."
the end is his “Fable of Hermes.” Among some other pieces he Englished many celebrated books written in Latin about the fifteenth century and at the restoration of
, a miscellaneous writer in the
sixteenth century, and a classical translator, was a native
of London. In 1575 he published a version of the “Bucolics of Virgil,
” with notes, a plain and literal translation
verse for verse. In 589 he published a new version, both
of the “Bucolics and Georgics
” with notes, dedicated to
John Whitgift, archbishop of Canterbury. This is in the
regular Alexandrine verse, without rhyme. He supervised, corrected, and enlarged the second edition of Holinshed’s Chronicle in 1585. He translated “Ælian’s Various History
” into English in 1576, which he dedicated to
Goodman, dean of Westminster, und^r the title of “Ælian’s Registre of Hystories,
” 4to. He published also “Certaine select Epistles of Cicero into English,
” Lond. Panoplie of Epistles from Tully, Isocrates, Pliny, and
others,
” Lond. 4to. He translated Synesius’s Greek “Panegyric on Baldness,
” which had been brought into vogue
by Erasmus’s “Moriae Encomium,
” Lond. Fable of Hermes.
” Among some
other pieces he Englished many celebrated books written in Latin about the fifteenth century and at the restoration of learning, which was a frequent practice, after
it became fashionable to compose in English, and our
writers had begun to find the force and use of their own
tongue. Among his original pieces are, 1. “A memorial
of the charitable almes deedes of William Lambe, gentleman of the chapel under Henry VIII. and citizen of London,
” Lond. 1580, 8vo. 2. “The Battel between the
Virtues and Vices,
” ibid. The Diamant
of Devotion, in six parts,
” ibid. The
Cundyt of Comfort,
” Spicilegium of
the Greek Tongue,
” &c. Lond.
6, but afterwards became a voluminous writer, being the author of about twenty works, mostly written in Latin, and as dark and mysterious in their language, as in their
, or de Fluctibus, an English philosopher, was the son of sir Thomas Fludd, knight, sometime treasurer of war to queen Elizabeth in France and the
Low Countries; and was born at Milgate, in the parish of
Bearsted, in Kent, in 1574. He was admitted of St.
John’s-college, Oxford, in 1591; and having taken both
the degrees in arts, applied himself to physic. He then
spent six years in travelling through France, Spain, Italy,
and Germany: in most of which countries he not only became acquainted with several of the nobility, but read
lectures to them. After his return, being in high repute
for his chemical knowledge, he accumulated the degrees
of bachelor and doctor of physic. This was in 1605;
about which time he practised in London, and became fellow of the college of physicians. He did not begin to
publish till 1616, but afterwards became a voluminous
writer, being the author of about twenty works, mostly
written in Latin, and as dark and mysterious in their language, as in their matter. Some of his productions were
aimed against Kepler and Mersennus; and he had the
honour of replies from both those philosophers. He wrote
two books against Mersennus; the first entitled “Sophias
cum Moria certamen, in quo lapis Lydius, a falso structore
Patre Marino Mersenno Monacho reprobatus, celeberrima
voluminis sui Babylonici in Genesim figmenta accuratæ
examinat.
” Franc. Summum
Bonorum, quod est verum Magiae, Cabalae, Alchymije,
Fratrum Roseug Crucis Verorum, subjectum: in dictarum
scientiarum laudem, in insignis calumniatoris Fr. Mar.
Mersenni dedecus publicatum, per Joachim. Frizium,
”
Sophiae cum Moria certamen
”
and the third against “Summum Bonorum,
” &c. This
answer, called “Examen Fluddanae Philosophise,
” is
dated Feb. 4, 1629, and is printed in the third volume of
Gassendus’s works in folio. In the dedication to Merseniius, this antagonist fairly allows Fludd the merit of extensive learning. His other works were: 1. “Utriusque
Cosmi, majoris et minoris, Technica Historia,
” Oppenheim, Tractatus Apologeticus integritatena societatis de Rosea cruce defendens,
”
Leyden, Monochordon mundi symphoniacum,
eu Replicatio ad Apologiam Joannis Kepleri,
” Francfort,
Anatomise Theatrum triplici effigie designatum,
” ibid. Philosophia Sacra et vere Christiana, seu Meteorologia Cosmica,
” ibid, Mediclna Cathotica, sen, Mysticum artis Medicandi Sacrarium,
” ibid. Integrum Morborum Mysterium,
”
ibid. De Morborum Signis,
” ibid. Clavis Philosophise et Alchyrniae Fluddanse,
” ibid.
Philosophia Mosa'ica,
” Goudae, Pathologia Daemoniaca,
” ibid.