bey, obtained the dean’s (Dr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln), leave to search for it with the divining or Mosaical* rods, he applied to Lilly for his assistance. Lilly,
In 1634, having procured a manuscript, with some alterations, of the “Ars Notoria
” of Cornelius Agrippa, he
became so infatuated by the doctrine of the magical circle,
and the invocation of spirits, as not only to make use of a
form of prayer prescribed there to the angel Salmonaeus,
and to fancy himself a favourite of great power and interest with that uncreated phantom, but even to claim a
knowledge of, and a familiar acquaintance with, the
partieular guardian angels of England, by name Salmael and
Malchidael. After this he treated the more common mystery of recovering stolen goods, &c. with great contempt,
claiming a supernatural sight, and the gift of prophetical
predictions, and seems to have known well how to profit
by the credulity of the times. Such indeed was his fame, as
to produce the following notable story. When one Ramsay,
the king’s clock maker, being informed that there was a great
treasure buried in the cloister of Westminster-abbey, obtained the dean’s (Dr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln), leave
to search for it with the divining or Mosaical* rods, he applied to Lilly for his assistance. Lilly, with one Scot,
who pretended to the use of the said rods, attended by
Ramsay and above thirty persons more, went into the
cloister by night, and, observing the rods to tumble over
one another on the West side of the cloister, concluded the
treasure lay hid under that spot; but, the ground being'
dug to the depth of six feet, and nothing found but a
coffin, which was not heavy enough for their purpose,
they proceeded, without opening it, into the abbey. Here
they were alarmed by a storm, which suddenly rose,
and increased to such a height, that they were afraid the
West end of the church would have been blown down
upon them; the rods moved not at all; the candles and
torches, all but one, were extinguished, or burned very
dimly. Scot was amazed, looked pale, and knew not what
to think or do; until Lilly gave directions to dismiss the
chcinons, which when done, all was quiet again, and each
man returned home. Lilly, however, took care not to expose his skill again in this manner, though he was cunning
enough to ascribe the miscarriage, not to any defect in the
art itself, but to the number of people who were present
at the operation and derided it; shrewdly laying it down
for a rule, that secrecy and intelligent operators, with a
strong confidence and knowledge of what they are doing,
are necessary requisites to succeed in this work.
received the pension two years, when he threw it up, with the employment, in disgust on some account or other. He read public lectures upon astrology, in 1648 and 1649,
All this while our astrologer continued true to his own interest, by serving that of the parliament party, from whom he received this year, 1648, fifty pounds in cash, and an order from the council of state for a pension of 100l. perann. which was granted to him for furnishing them with a perfect knowledge of the chief concernments of France. This he obtained by means of a secular priest, with whom he had been formerly acquainted, and who now was confessor to one of the French secretaries. Lilly received the pension two years, when he threw it up, with the employment, in disgust on some account or other. He read public lectures upon astrology, in 1648 and 1649, for the improvement of young students in that art and succeeded so well both as a practitioner and teacher, that we find him, in 1651 and 1652, laying out near 2000l. for lands and a house at Hersham. During the siege of Colchester, he and Booker were sent for thither, to encourage the soldiers, which they did by assuring them that the town would soon be taken, which proved true, and was perhaps not difficult to be foreseen. In 1650 he published that the parliament should not continue, but a new government arise, agreeably thereto; and in the almanack for 1653, he also asserted, that the parliament stood upon a ticklish foundation, and that the commonalty and soldiery would join together against them. On this he was called before the committee of plundered ministers; but, receiving notice before the arrival of the messenger, he applied to speaker Lenthal, always his friend, who pointed out the offensive passages, which he immediately altered; and attended the committee next morning with six copies printed, which six alone he acknowledged to be his. By this trick he escaped after having been only detained thirteen days in custody of the serjeant at arms. This year he was engaged in a dispute with Mr. Thomas Gataker, and, before the expiration of the year, he lost his second wife, to his great joy, and married a third in October following. In 1655 he was indicted at Hicks’s-hall, for giving judgment upon stolen goods, but acquitted: and, in 1659, he received, from the king of Sweden, a present of a gold chain and medal, worth above 50l. on account of his having mentioned that monarch with great respect in his almanacks of 1657 and 1658.
Coley, a tailor, for his son, by the name of Merlin Junior, and made him a present of the copyright, or good-will of his almanack, which had been printed six and thirty
Lilly, a little before his death, adopted one Henry Coley, a tailor, for his son, by the name of Merlin Junior, and made him a present of the copyright, or good-will of his almanack, which had been printed six and thirty years successively; and Coley carried it on for some time. Lilly bequeathed his estate at Hersham to one of the sons of his friend and patron Bulstrode Whitelock; and his magical utensils came all into the hands of Dr. Case, his successor, of facetious memory.
e World’s Catastrophe,” ib. 12. “The Prophecies of Ambrose Merlin, with a Key,” ib. 13. “Trithemius, or the Government of the World by presiding Angels.” See Cornelius
Lilly was author of many works. His “Observations on
the Life and Death of Charles late King of England,
” if
we overlook the astrological nonsense, may be read with
as much satisfaction as more celebrated histories, Lilly
being not only very well informed, but strictly impartial.
This work, with the Lives of Lilly and Ashmole, written
by themselves, were published in one volume, 8vo, in 1774.
His other works were principally as follow: 1. “Merlinus
Anglicus Junior.
” 2. “Supernatural Sight.
” 3. “The
white King’s Prophecy.
” 4. “England’s prophetical Merlin;
” all printed in The starry Messenger,
”
Collection of Prophecies,
” A
Comment on the white King’s Prophecy,
” ib. 8. “The
Nativities of archbishop Laud, and Thomas earl Strafford,
” ib. 9. “Christian Astrology,
” The third Book of Nativities,
” ib. 11.“The World’s
Catastrophe,
” ib. 12. “The Prophecies of Ambrose Merlin, with a Key,
” ib. 13. “Trithemius, or the Government of the World by presiding Angels.
” See Cornelius
Agrippa’s book with the same title. These three last were
printed together in one volume; the two first being
translated into English by Elias Ashmole, esq. 14. “A Treatise of the three Suns seen in the Winter of 1647,
” printed
in Monarchy or no Monarchy,
” Observations on the Life and Death of Charles, late
King of England,
” ib. and again in True History of King James and
King Charles I.
” &c. 17. “-Annus Tenebrosus or, the
black Year.
” This drew him into the dispute with Gataker,
which our author carried on in his almanack in 16.54.
ristians separately the same year atAmsterunice directa, Amst. 1686,"4to; the dam, 8vo, in Low Dutch or Flemish,
tatis ac Promotionem pacis Christians separately the same year atAmsterunice directa, Amst. 1686,"4to; the dam, 8vo, in Low Dutch or Flemish,
00 he published, in Dutch, at Amsterdam, a book of piety, containing instructions for dying persons, or means of preparing for death; with a discourse upon the death
In 1694 a young gentlewoman at Amsterdam, of twenty-two years of age, took a fancy to learn Hebrew of a Jew;
and was by frequent conversations with her tutor, induced
to quit the Christian religion for Judaism. As soon as her
mother understood this, she employed several divines, but
in vain; because they undertook to prove Christianity from
the Old Testament, omitting the authority of the New;
to which she, returning the common answers she had
learned from the Jews, received no reply that gave her
satisfaction. While the young lady was in the midst of
this perplexity, Dr. Veen, a physician, happened to be
sent for to the house; and, hearing her mother speak,
with great concern, of the doubts which disturbed her
daughter, he mentioned Limborch’s dispute with Orobio.
She immediately applied to Limborch, in hopes that he
would be able to remove her scruples, and bring her back
to the Christian religion. Limborch accordingly used the
same train of argument which he had pursued with Orobio,
and quickly recovered her to her former faith. In 1698 he
was accused of a calumny, in a book concerning the Xo'yog
in St. John’s gospel, by Vander Waeyen, professor of divinity at Franecker, because he had said, that Francis
Burman, a divine and professor at Leyden, had, in his
“Theologia Christiana,
” merely transcribed Spinoza without any judgment. Limborch, producing passages from
both, endeavoured to prove that he had said nothing which
was not strictly true; but when this was printed at Amsterdam in 1699, the two Burmans, one professor of history
and eloquence at Utrecht, and the other minister at Amsterdam, published a book in viiulication of their father’s
memory, entitled “Burmannorum Pietas,
” “The Piety
of the Burmans;
” to which Limborch made no reply. la
o that scarce any one could deceive him in that particular. In his manner he was grave withput pride or sullenness, affable without affectation, pleasant and facetious,
Having pursued the strictest temperance through life,
he preserved the vigour of his mind, and health of his
body, to a considerable age, but in the autumn of 1711
he was seized with the St. Anthony’s fire which, growing
more violent in the winter, carried him oft, April So, 1713.
His funeral oration was spoken by John Le Clerc, who
gives him the following character: “Mr, Limborch had
many friends among the learned, both at home and abroad,
especially in England, where he was much esteemed, particularly by archbishop Tillotson, to whom his history of
the inquisition was dedicated, and Mr. Locke. With Mr,
Locke he first became acquainted in Holland, and after->
wards held a correspondence by letters, in which, among
other things, he has explained the nature of human liberty,
a subject not exactly understood by Mr. Locke. He was
of an open sincere carriage, which was so well tempered
with humanity and discretion as to give no offence. In
his instructions, when professor, he observed the greatest
perspicuity and the justest order, to which his memory,
which retained whatever he had written, almost to a word,
contributed very much; and, though a long course of teaching had given him an authority with those about him, and
his advanced age had added a reverence to him, yet he
was never displeased with others for differing from him,
but would both censure, and be censured, without chagrin.
Though he never proposed the understanding of languages
as the end of his studies, yet he had made large advances
in them, and read over many of the ancient and modern
writers, and would have excelled in this part of literature,
if he bad not preferred that which was more important.
He bad all the qualifications suitable to the character of a
divine. Above all things, he had a love for truth, and
pursued the search of it, by reading the Scriptures with
the best commentators. As a preacher, his sermons were
methodical and solid, rather than eloquent. If he had
applied himself to the mathematics he would undoubtedly
have excelled therein; but he had no particular fondness
for that study, though he was an absolute master of arithmetic. He was so perfectly acquainted with the history of
his own country, especially for 150 years, that he even
retained the most minute circumstance?, and the very time
of each transaction; so that scarce any one could deceive
him in that particular. In his manner he was grave withput pride or sullenness, affable without affectation, pleasant and facetious, upon occasion, without sinking into a
vulgar lowness, or degenerating into malice or ill-nature.
By these qualifications he was agreeable to all who conversed with him; and his behaviour towards his neighbours
was such, that all who knew him, or had any dealings with
him, ever commended it.
”
by Wood and Knight that Linacre studied for some time. The endowment of both is the manor of Tracys, or Tracies, in Kent; but although he bequeathed these at his death
In the reign of Henry VIII. indeed, he appears to have Stood above all rivalship at the head of his profession; and he evinced his attachment to its interests, as well as to the public good, by various acts; but especially by founding two lectures on physic in the university of Oxford, and one in that of Cambridge. That at Oxford was left to Merton college, and the Cambridge lecture was given to St. John’s, at which college it is said by Wood and Knight that Linacre studied for some time. The endowment of both is the manor of Tracys, or Tracies, in Kent; but although he bequeathed these at his death in 1524, and the lectures were actually read even in his life-time, they were not established until December 1549, by Tunstall, bishop of Durham. Linacre also may be reputed the founder of the royal college of physicians in London. Regretting that there was no proper check upon illiterate monks and empirics, licences being easily obtained by improper persons, when the bishops were authorised to examine and license practitioners in an art of which they could not be competent judges, Linacre obtained letters patent in 1518 from Henry VIII. constituting a corporate body of regularly bred physicians in London, in whom was vested the sole right of examining and admitting persons to practise within the city, and seven miles round it; and also of licensing practitioners throughout the whole kingdom, except such as were graduates of Oxford or Cambridge, who by virtue of their degrees were independent of the college, except within London and its precincts. The college had likewise authority given to it to examine prescriptions and drugs in apothecaries’ shops. Linacre was the first president of the new college, and continued in the office during the remaining seven years of his life; and, at his death, he bequeathed to the college his house in Knight-rider-street, in which its meetings were held.
shed; as he was one of the first, in conjunction with Colet, Lily, Grocyn, and Latimer, who revived, or rather introduced, classical learning in this island. Translations
In his literary character, Linacre stands eminently distinguished; as he was one of the first, in conjunction
with Colet, Lily, Grocyn, and Latimer, who revived, or
rather introduced, classical learning in this island. Translations from the Greek authors into Latin were the chief
occupations of the literati of those times; and Linacre,
as we have already observed, conferred a benefit on his
profession, by translating several of the most valuable
pieces of Galen. These were the treatises, “De Sanitate
tuenda,
” in six books, which was printed at Cambridge in
De Morbis
curandis,
” in fourteen books, printed at Paris in De Temperamentis,
” and one “De inaequali Temperie,
” first printed at Cambridge in De naturalibus Facaltatibus,
” three books, together with
one book “De Pulsuum Usu,
” without date, but they were
reprinted by Colinaeus in 1528, as well as his posthumous
translation of the four books “De Morborum Symptomatibus.
” In these versions Linacre exhibited a Latin style so
pure and elegant, as ranked him among the finest writers
of his age. In the polish of his style he was rather fastidious, and his friend Erasmus describes him as “Vir non
exacti tantum, sed severi judicii;
” and Huet, in his learned
treatise “De claris Interpretatoribus,
” gives him the pra?se
of extraordinary elegance and chasteness of style, but intimates that he occasionally sacrifices fidelity to these qualities.
ve left in 1509. He then entered into the service of the court, where, in 1512, he was an attendant, or page of honour to James V. then an infant. In this situation
, an ancient
Scotch poet, descended from a noble family, was born in
1490, at Garmylton in Hadingtonshire, and received his
early education probably at the neighbouring school of
Coupar. In 1505 he was sent to the university of St. Andrew’s, which he is supposed to have left in 1509. He
then entered into the service of the court, where, in 1512,
he was an attendant, or page of honour to James V. then
an infant. In this situation he continued until 1524, when,
by the intrigues of the queen mother, the young king was
deprived of his servants, Bellenden, Lindsay, and others,
for whom he seems always to have entertained a just regard, and whom he dismissed with a pension, the payment
of which his majesty was studious to enforce, while his
means were few, and his power was little. From 1524 to
1528, Lindsay was a witness of the confusions and oppressions arising from the domination of the Douglasses over
both the prince and his people. From that thraldom the
king, at the age of sixteen, made his escape, by his own
address and vigour, in July of 1528, after every other
exertion had failed. Lindsay had now liberty and spirits
to support him in the cultivation of his muse, and about
the end of the year just mentioned, produced his “Dreme.
”
In the following year he presented his “Complaynt
” to
the king, and in The
Complaynt of the Papingo.
”
end of 1531, and not long after married. This marriage does not appear to have been either fruitful or happy. Sir David left no issue, and he every where speaks with
Sir David was soon employed in discharging the proper
functions of lion herald. In April 1531, he was sent with
Campbel and Panter, to Antwerp, to renew the ancient
treaty of commerce with the Netherlands, and they were
so well received by the emperor Charles V. as to insure
the success of their mission. Lindsay returned to Scotland
in the latter end of 1531, and not long after married. This
marriage does not appear to have been either fruitful or
happy. Sir David left no issue, and he every where speaks
with a sort of Turkish contempt of women. He was now
occupied upon a poem, which displays much of that sentiment, a drama of a very singular kind, which he called,
what he intended it to be, “A Satyre of the three Estatis.
”
Some of his biographers have affected to consider him as
the first dramatist of his country. But moralities existed in
Scotland before he was born; and were very common in
his time. In 1536, probably, he produced his “Answer
to the King’s Flyting,
” and his ' Complaynt of Basche,"
which shew the gloominess of his temperament.
house. The king, however, not being satisfied with the portraits of the princesses presented to him, or perhaps, as Mr. Chalmers thinks, being attracted by a more useful
In the mean time he was sent as lion king, with sir John
Campbel of Laudon, in 1535, to the emperor, to demand
in marriage one of the princesses of his house. The king,
however, not being satisfied with the portraits of the princesses presented to him, or perhaps, as Mr. Chalmers
thinks, being attracted by a more useful connection with
France, sent Lindsay, in 1536, to that country to demand
in marriage a daughter of the house of Vendome; but the
king himself, arriving the year following, made choice of
Magdalene of France, who died in about two months after
her marriage; and this lamentable event occasioned Lindsay’s next poem, the “Deploratioun of the Deith of quene
Magdalene.
” The king, however, married again in Tragedie of the late Cardinal,
”
to strengthen the prejudices of the public against that ecclesiastic.
tter of great uncertainty. His latest and best-informed biographer is inclined to place his death in or about 1557; but others say that he lived till 1567. It is rather
In 1548 he was sent, as lion herald, to Christian, king
of Denmark, to solicit ships, for protecting the Scottish
coasts against the English, and to negociate a free trade,
particularly in grain: the latter purpose only was accomplished, but at Copenhagen, Lindsay had an opportunity
of becoming acquainted with the literati of Denmark. He
at length returned to his usual occupations, and was probably no more employed in such distant embassies. About
this time he published the most pleasing of all his poems,
“The Historic and Testament of Squire Meldrum.
” In
The Monarchic.
” When he died, seems a matter of great uncertainty. His latest and best-informed biographer is inclined
to place his death in or about 1557; but others say that
he lived till 1567. It is rather singular that a man of so
much celebrity, a great public officer, one of the reformers,
or who at least contributed to the reformation, and the
most popular poet of his time, should have died in such
obscurity, without even a tradition as to when or where he
was buried. Little of his personal character can now be
known, but what is to be gleaned from his writings. Hfc
entered with great zeal into the religious disputes of his
time, but is supposed to lean rather to the Lutheran than
Calvinistic principles of reformation; his satires, however,
were powerfully assisting in exposing the vices of the
clergy, and produced a lasting etiect on the minds of the
people. We shall not enter very minutely into his character as a poet. In his works, says Mr. Ellis, we do not
often find either the splendid diction of Dunbar, or the
prolific imagination of Gawin Douglas. Perhaps, indeed,
the “Dream
” is his only composition which can be cited
as uniformly poetical; but his various learning, his good
sense, his perfect knowledge of courts, and of the world,
the facility of his versification, and above all, his peculiar
talent of adapting himself to readers of all denominations,
will continue to secure to him a considerable share of that
popularity, for which he was originally indebted to the
opinions he professed, no less than to his poetical merit.
The most ample information respecting Lindsay, his personal history, and works, may be found in the very accurate edition of the latter published in 1806, by George
Chalmers, esq. in 3 vols. 8vo. It has been justly remarked
that if the learned editor had executed no more than the
glossary prefixed to this edition, he would have been amply
entitled to the gratitude both of English and Scotch scholars. A more elaborate, learned, and satisfactory production of the kind has certainly not appeared since that of
Ruddiman.
, a Dutch painter, or at least one who painted much in the Dutch manner, was born
, a Dutch painter, or at least one who painted much in the Dutch manner, was born at Frankfort on the Maine, in 1625, and learned his art in Holland, but afterwards went to Koine, where he studiously observed every thing that was curious in art or nature, and continued at Rome till he was twenty-five years of age. His usual subjects are fairs, mountebanks, seaprospects, naval engagements, and landscapes. His landscapes are enriched with antiquities, ruins, animals, and elegant figures; his sea-fights are full of expression, exciting pity and terror; and all his objects are well-designed. His skies are generally light, and thinly clouded, and his management of the aerial perspective is extremely judicious; his keeping is usually good; his distances of a clear bluish tint; and the whole together is masterly, producing an agreeable effect. In painting figures or animals, he had uncommon readiness, and on that account he was employed by several eminent artists to adorn their landscapes with those objects; and whatever he inserted in the works of other masters, was always well adapted to the scene and the subject. His pencil is free, his touch clean and light, and his compositions are in general esteem. It may be observed, that he was particularly fond of introducing into most of his compositions, pieces of architecture, the remains of elegant buildings, or the gates of the sea-port towns of Italy; embellished with statues, placed sometimes on the pediments and cornices, and sometimes in niches. He also excelled in representing Italian fairs and markets, inserting in those subjects abundance of figures, well grouped and designed, in attitudes suitable to their different characters and occupations; and although )ie often repeated the same subjects, yet the liveliness of liis imagination, and the readiness of his invention, always enabled him to give them a remarkable variety. He died in 1687.
took with characters; and at one time twenty-four of his brethren at the bar, whether from jealousy or a better reason, determined that they would take no brief in
, a French advocate and political writer, was born at Rheims, July 14,
1736. His father was one of the professors of the college
of Beauvais, at Paris, and had his son educated under him,
v who made such proficiency in his studies as to gain the
three chief prizes of the college in 1751. This early celebrity was noticed by the duke de Deux-Pont, then at
Paris, who took him with him to the country; but Linguet
soon left this nobleman for the service of the prince de
Beavau, who employed him as his aide-de-camp in the war
in Portugal, on account of his skill in mathematics.
During his residence in that country, Linguet learned the
language so far as to be able to translate some Portuguese
dramas into French. Returning to France in 1762, he was
admitted to the bar, where his character was very various;
but amongst the reports both of enemies and friends, it
appears that of an hundred and thirty causes, he lost only
nine, and was allowed to shine both in oiatory and compo*sidon. He had the art, however, of making enemies by
the occasional liberties he took with characters; and at
one time twenty-four of his brethren at the bar, whether
from jealousy or a better reason, determined that they
would take no brief in any cause in which he was concerned, and the parliament of Paris approved this so far
as to interdict him from pleading. We are not sufficiently
acquainted with the circumstances of the case to be able to
form an opinion on the justice of this harsh measure. It
appears, however, to have thrown Linguet out of his profession, and he then began to employ his pen on his numerous political writings but these, while they added to
his reputation as a lively writer, added likewise to the
number of his enemies. The most pointed satire levelled
at him was the “Theory of Paradox,
” generally attributed
to the abbe Morellet, who collected all the absurd paradoxes to be found in Linguet’s productions, which it must
be allowed are sufficiently numerous, and deserve the castigation he received. Linguet endeavoured to reply, but
the laugh was against him, and all the wits of Paris enjoyed his mortification. His “Journal,
” likewise, in which
most of his effusions appeared, was suppressed by the minister of state, Maurepas; and Linguet, thinking his personal liberty was now in danger, came to London; but the
English not receiving him as he expected, he went to
Brussels, and in consequence of an application to the count
de Vergeunes, was allowed to return to France. He had not
been here long, before, fresh complaints having been made
of his conduct, he was, Sept. 27, 1780, sent to the Bastille,
where he remained twenty months. Of his imprisonment
and the causes he published a very interesting account,
which was translated into English, and printed here in
1783. He was, after being released, exiled to Rethel,
but in a short time returned to England. He had been
exiled on two other occasions, once to Chartres, and the
other to Nogent-le-Kotrou. At this last place, he seduced
a madame But, the wife of a manufacturer, who accompanied him to England. From England he went again to
Brussels, and resumed his journal, or “Annales politiques,
”
in which he endeavoured to pay his court to the emperor
Joseph, who was so much pleased with a paper he had
written on his favourite project of opening the Scheldt,
that he invited him to Vienna, and made him a present of
1000 ducats. Linguet, however, soon forfeited the emperor’s favour, by taking part with Varider Noot and the other
insurgents of Brabant. Obliged, therefore, to quit the
Netherlands, he came to Paris in 1791, and appeared at
the bar of the constituent assembly as advocate for the colonial assembly of St. Domingo and the cause of the blacks.
In February 1792, he appeared in the legislative assembly
to denounce Bertrand de Moleville, the minister of the
marine; but his manner was so absurd, that notwithstanding the unpopularity of that statesman, the assembly treated
it with contempt, and Linguet indignantly tore in pieces
his memorial, which he had been desired to leave on the
table. During the reign of terror, he withdrew into the
country, but was discovered and brought before the revolutionary tribunal, and condemned to death June 27, 1794,
for having in his works paid court to the despots of Vienna
and London. At the age of fifty-seven he went with serenity and courage to meet his fate. It is not very easy
to form an opinion of Linguet’s real character. His
being interrupted in his profession seems to have thrown
him upon the public, whose prejudices he alternately
opposed and flattered. His works abound in contradictions, but upon the whole it may be inferred that he was a
lover of liberty, and no inconsiderable promoter of those
opinions which precipitated the revolution. That he was
not one of the ferocious sect, appears from his escape, and
his death. His works are very numerous. The principal
are, 1. “Voyage au labyrinthe du jardin du roi,
” Hague,
(Paris,) Histoire du siecle d'Alexandre,
” Paris, Projet d‘un canal et
d’un pont sur les cotes de Picardie,
” Le Fanatisme de Philosophes,
” Necessit6 d‘une reforme dans l’administration de la justice
et des lois civiles de France,
” Amst. La
Dime royale,
” Histoire
des Revolutions de l'empire Remain,
” Theorie des Lois,
” Histoire impartiale des Jesuites,
” Hardion’s Universal History,
” vols. 19th and 20th. 11.
“Theatre Espagnole,
” Theorie
du Libelle,
” Amst. (Paris), Du plusheureux gouvernment,
” &c.
Essai philosophique sur le
Monachisme,
”
n amused himself in rowing, fishing, and sailing in a boat on a piece of water, in a squall of wind, or by some accident, the boat was overset, and this amiable and
, an eminent mnsic professor and organist, long resident at Bath, where he had served an apprenticeship under Chilcot, the organist of that city, was a
studious man, equally versed in the theory and practice
of his art. Having a large family of children, in whom he
found the seeds of genius had been planted by nature, and
the gift of voice, in order to cultivate this, he pointed
his studies to singing, and became the best singing-master
of his time, if we may judge by the specimens of “his
success in his own family. He was not only a masterly
player on the organ and harpsichord, but a good composer,
as his elegies and several compositions for Drury-lane
theatre evinced. His son Thomas, who was placed under
Nardini at Florence, the celebrated disciple of Tartini,
was a fine performer on the violin, with a talent for composition, which, if he had lived to develope, would have
given longevity to his fame. Being at Grimsthorpe, in
Lincolnshire, at the seat of the duke of Ancaster, where
he often amused himself in rowing, fishing, and sailing in a
boat on a piece of water, in a squall of wind, or by some accident, the boat was overset, and this amiable and promising
youth was drowned at an early age, to the great affliction
of his family and friends, particularly his matchless sister,
Mrs. Sheridan, whom this calamity rendered miserable for
a long time; during which, her affection and grief appeared in verses of the most sweet and affecting kind on
the sorrowful event. The beauty, talents, and mental
endowments of this
” Sancta Caecilia rediviva," will be
remembered to the last hour of all who heard, or even saw
and conversed with her. The tone of her voice and expressive manner of singing were as enchanting as her
countenance and conversation. In her singing, with a
mellifluous-toned voice, a perfect shake and intonation,
she was possessed of the double power of delighting an
audience equally in pathetic strains and songs of brilliant
execution, which is allowed to very tew singers. When
she had heard the Agujari and the Danzi, afterwards madame le Brun, she astonished all hearers by performing
their bravura airs, extending the natural compass of her
voice a fourth above the highest note of the harpsichord,
before additional keys were in fashion. Mrs. Sheridan
died at Bristol in 1792.
ish of Stenbrohult, to which the hamlet of Rashult belongs, and became in process of time its pastor or rector; having married Christina Broderson, the daughter of
, afterwards Von Linne', the most
eminent of modern naturalists, was born at Rashult, in
the province of Smaland, in Sweden, May 13th, 1707.
His father, Nicholas Linnæus, was assistant minister of the
parish of Stenbrohult, to which the hamlet of Rashult belongs, and became in process of time its pastor or rector;
having married Christina Broderson, the daughter of his
predecessor. The subject of our memoir was their first-born
child. The family of Linnæus had been peasants, but some
of them, early in the seventeenth century, had followed
literary pursuits. In the beginning of that century regular
and hereditary surnames were first adopted in Sweden, on
which occasion literary men often chose one of Latin or
Greek derivation and structure, retaining the termination
proper to the learned languages. A remarkable Lindentree, Tilia Europæa, growing near the place of their residence, is reported to have given origin to the names of
Lindelius and Tiliander, in some branches of this family
but the above-mentioned Nicholas, is said to have first
taken that of Linnæus, by which his son became so exlen--“sively known. Of the taste which laid the foundation of
his happiness, as well as his celebrity, this worthy father
was the primary cause. Residing in a delightful spot, on
the banks of a fine lake, surrounded by hills and valleys,
woods and cultivated ground, his garden and his fields
yielded him both amusement and profit, and his infant son
imbibed, under his auspices, that pure and ardent love of
nature for its own sake, with that habitual exercise of the
mind in observation and activity, which ever after marked
his character, and which were enhanced by a rectitude of
principle, an elevation of devotional taste, a warmth of
feeling, and an amiableness of manners, rarely united in
those who so transcendantly excel in any branch of philosophy or science, because the cultivation of the heart
does by no means so constantly as it ought keep pace with
that of the understanding. The maternal uncle of Nicholas
Linnæus, Sueno Tiliander, who had educated him with
his own children, was also fond of plants and of gardening,
so that these tastes were in some measure hereditary. From
his tutor he learned to avoid the error of the desultory
speculators of nature; and his memory, like his powers of
perception, was naturally good, and his sight was always
remarkably acute. He does not appear, however, to have
been very happy under this tutor, and at seven years of
age grammar had but an unequal contest with botany, in
the mind of the young student. Nor was he much more
fortunate when removed, in 1717, to the grammar-school
of Wexio, the master of which, as his disgusted pupil
relates,
” preferred stripes and punishments to admonitions and encouragements.“In 1722 he was admitted
to a higher form in the school, and his drier studies
were now allowed to be intermixed and sweetened with
the recreations of botany. In 1724, being seventeen
years of age, he was removed to the superior seminary or
Gymnasium, and his destination was fixed for the church;
but, having no taste for Greek or Hebrew, ethics, metaphysics, or theology, he devoted himself with success to
mathematics, natural philosophy,and a scientific pursuit
of his darling botany. The
” Chloris Gothica“of Bromelius, and
” Hortus Upsaliensis" of Rudbeck, which made
a part of his little library, were calculated rather to fire
than to satisfy his curiosity; while his Palmberg and Tillands might make him sensible how much still remained to
be done. His own copies of these books, used with the utmost care and neatness, are now in sir James Smith’s library.
Linnæus’ s literary reputation, therefore, made so little progress, that his tutors havino pronounced him a dunce, he
would probably have been put to some handicraft trade,
had not Dr. Hothmann, the lecturer on natural philosophy,
taken him into his own house, with a view to the studv of
physic, and given him a private course of instruction in
physiology. He first suggested to Linnæus the true principles upon which botany ought to be studied, founded on
the parts of fructification, and put the system of Tournefort into his hands, in the knowledge of which he made a
rapid progress.
shed mineralogist, and for whom he now procured, in opposition to Linnæus, the new place of adjunct, or assistant, in the medical faculty at Lund. But the basest action
Having learned the art of assaying metals during ten days’ residence at the mines of Biorknas, near Calix, in the course of his tour, he next year gave a private course of lectures on that subject, which had never been taught at Upsal before. The jealousy of Rosen, however, still pursued him; and this rival descended so low as to procure, partly by intreaties, partly by threats, the loan of his manuscript lectures on botany, which Linnæus detected him in surreptitiously copying. Rosen had taken by the hand a young man named Wallerius, who afterwards became a distinguished mineralogist, and for whom he now procured, in opposition to Linnæus, the new place of adjunct, or assistant, in the medical faculty at Lund. But the basest action of Rosen, and which proved envy to be the sole source of his conduct, was, he obtained, through the archbishop’s means, an order from the chancellor to prevent all private medical lectures in the university. Linnæus, deprived of his only means of subsistence, is said to have been so exasperated as to have drawn his sword upon Rosen, an affront with which the latter chose to put up and Linnæus, after having for some time indulged feelings of passionate resentment, entirely subdued these; and Rosen, towards the close of his life, was glad of the medical aid of the man he had in vain endeavoured to crush.
l mines of Sweden, and had been introduced to baron Reuterholm, governor of the province of Dalarne, or Dalecarlia, resident at Fahlun, at whose persuasion and expence
Disappointed in his views of medical advancement, Linnaeus turned his thoughts more immediately to the subject
of mineralogy. In the end of 1733, he had visited some
of the principal mines of Sweden, and had been introduced
to baron Reuterholm, governor of the province of Dalarne,
or Dalecarlia, resident at Fahlun, at whose persuasion and
expence he travelled through the pastern part of Dalecarlia, accompanied by seven of his ablest pupils, a journal
of which tour exists in his library. At Fahlun he gave a
course of lectures on the art of assaying, which was numerously attended; and here he first became acquainted with
Browallius, then chaplain to the governor, afterwards bishop
of Abo, who advised him to take his doctor’s degree, in
order to pursue the practice of physic, and further recommended him to aim at some advantageous matrimonial connection. In pursuit of the first part of this advice, Linnaeus, having scraped together about 15l. sterling, now
entered on his travels, with a view of obtaining his degree
at the cheapest university he could find, and of seeing as
much of the learned world as his chances and means might
enable him to do. In the beginning of 1735 he set out,
and after a short stay at Hamburgh and Amsterdam, he
proceeded to Harderwyck, where, having offered himself
*s a candidate, and undergone the requisite examinations,
ce obtained his degree June 23. On this occasion he published and defended a thesis, entitled “Hypothesis nova
de Febriuin Intermittentium Causâ,
” in the dedication of
which, to his “Mæceuates et Patrnes,
” it is remarkable
that, among the names of Rudbeck, Rothmann, StobacusV
Moraius, &c. we find that of Rosen. The hypothesis here
advanced, most correctly so denominated, is truly Boerhaavian. Intermitting fevers are supposed to be owing to
fine particles of clay, taken in with the food, and lodged
in the terminations of the arterial system, where they cause
the symptoms of the disorder in question.
nta Botanica,” a small 8vo, which contains the very essence of botany, and has never been superseded or refuted. After he had been a few months under Burmann’s roof,
In Holland Linnæus became acquainted with Dr. John
Frederick Gronovius, who assisted him in publishing the
first edition of the celebrated “Systema Naturie,
” consisting of eight large sheets, in the form of tables; which
edition is now a great bibliothecal curiosity. He also procured access to the illustrious Boerhaave, who encouraged
him to remain in Holland; but this advice could scarcely
have been followed, had he not met with a patron in Burmann, of Amsterdam, who was then preparing his “Thesaurus Zeylanicus,
” and who received Linnæus into his
house as his guest for some months, during which period
he printed his “Fundamenta Botanica,
” a small 8vo, which
contains the very essence of botany, and has never been
superseded or refuted. After he had been a few months
under Burmann’s roof, he was introduced by Boerhaave toi
Mr. George Clifford, an opulent banker, who had a capital
garden at Hartecamp, and invited Linnæus to superintend
it. This situation, which he accepted, appears to have
been in all respects agreeable and profitable to his studies,
and here he wrote and printed his “Flora Lapponica.
” In
Musa Cliffortiana,
” Linnaeus was sent by Mr. Clifford to England, and was introduced to the lovers and teachers of natural science at Oxford and London, Shaw, Martyn, Miller, and Collinson,
&c. They admired his genius, and valued his friendship,
and supplied him with books and plants, both for his own
herbarium, and the garden of his patron at Hartecamp.
ve country, “had he not been in love.” To this all-powerful deity, therefore, and not to his merits, or to the wisdom of his countrymen in discerning them, was Sweden,
After leaving Paris, Linnæus took his passage at Rouen
for Sweden, and landed at Helsingborg, from whence be
proceeded to Fahlun, visiting his father for a few days in
his way. His reception from the lady of his choice, the
daughter of Dr. Moraeus, a physician of the place, was
favourable, and they were formally betrothed to each other,
but it was necessary that some prospect of an advantageous
establishment should be discovered. The scientific merits
of Lmnseus were not overlooked, as he was unanimously
chosen a member of the Upsal academy, the only one then
in Sweden; yet the homage he had so lately received
abroad, seems to have made him a little unreasonable on
this head, and he declares that he would certainly have
quitted his native country, “had he not been in love.
” To
this all-powerful deity, therefore, and not to his merits, or
to the wisdom of his countrymen in discerning them, was
Sweden, in the first instance, indebted for the possession
of her Linnæus. After passing the winter of 1738 in Stockholm, he began to make his way in medical practice, so
that by the following March he had considerable employment. At this time a plan was formed for establishing a
literary society at Stockholm, which afterwards rose to
great eminence. Triewald, Hopken, and Alstroem (whose family was ennobled by the name of Alstroemer), were, with
Linnæus, the first members and the infant society, being
incorporated by royal authority, was augmented with all
the most learned men of the country.
works. Of this numerous editions have heeti published on the continent, but none with any additions or corrections from the author himself, though he left ber hind
In 1741 Linnæus received an order to travel through
Æland, Gothland, &c. for the purpose of investigating the
natural history and produce of those countries. On this
Jhe spent four months, accompanied by six of his pupils,
and published an account of it at Stockholm in 1745. Before he began his lectures at Upsal, to which place he removed in the autumn, he delivered a Latin oration “On
the benefit of travelling in one’s own country,
” which is
translated by Mr. Stillingfleet in his miscellaneous tracts.
In 1742 he undertook the reform of the Upsal garden,
which in the following year was put in a state to receive
those many exotics which his extensive foreign correspondence procured. In 1745 he published his “Flora Suecica,
and in 1746 his
” Fauna Suecica;“the second editions of
which valuable works were enriched with many additions.
His reputation was now followed by corresponding honours. He was chosen a member of the academy at Montpellier, and secretary to the Upsal academy; a medal of
him was struck in 1746, and soon after he received the
rank and title of Archiater from the king, and was the only
Swede chosen into the new-modelled academy of Berlin.
He also acquired about this time, what be perhaps valued as
highly as these honours, the herbarium made by Hermann
in Ceylon, now in the possession of sir Joseph Banks.
From this originated Linnæus’s
” Flora Zeylanica,“Stockholm, 1747. In 174U appeared his
” Materia Medica,“Written in. the same systematic and didactic style as-tlle?
rest of his works. Of this numerous editions have heeti
published on the continent, but none with any additions
or corrections from the author himself, though he left ber
hind him copious manuscript notes on the subject. In the
same year he had a violent attack of the gout, which en->
dangered his life; and such was his anxiety to promote
science, that he dictated from his bed-side, the manuscript
of his
” Philosophia Botanica," which afterwards received
his own corrections, and was published in 1751.
s employed in arranging her collection of insects and shells, in the country palace of Drotningholm, or Ulricksdahl, and was frequently honoured with the company and
About this period the queen of Sweden, Louisa Ulrica,
having a taste for natural history, which her- royal consort,
king Adolphus Frederick, also patronized, shewed much
favour to Linnæus. He was employed in arranging her
collection of insects and shells, in the country palace of
Drotningholm, or Ulricksdahl, and was frequently honoured
with the company and conversation of their majesties,
during his attendance there. The queen interested herself in the education of his son, and promised to send him
to travel through Europe at her own expence. She also
listened very graciously to any recommendation or petition,
of Linnæus, in the service of science. Linnæus devoted
some of his leisure time in winter, to the arragement of his
friend count Tessin’s collection of fossils, at Stockholm, of
which an account in Latin and Swedish, making a small
folio, with plates, came out in 1753. The result of his
labours at Drotningholm was not given to the public [until]
1764, when his “Museum Reginse
” appeared, in 8Vo, be-,
ing a sort of Prodromus of an intended more splendid work,
that was never executed. His most magnificent publication appeared in 1754, being a large folio, entitled “Museum Regis Adolphi Frederici,
” comprehending descripr:
tions of the rarer quadrupeds, birds, serpents, fishes, &c.
of the king’s museum, in Latin and Swedish, with plates,
and an excellent preface, which was translated by Dr. (now; sir James) Smith, and first printed in 1786; appearing,
again, in a volume of “Tracts relating to Natural History,
”
in Species Plantarum,
” of which the first editiqn was
primed in Pan Sueciciw,
”
a dissertation printed in Museum Tessinianum,
” and subsequently to all the departments of zoology, has perhaps rendered his works more
popular than any one of their merits besides. His specific
differences were intended to be used as names; but their
unavoidable length rendering this impracticable, and the
application of numeral figures to each species, in Haller’s
manner, being still more burthensome to the memory, all
natural science would have been ruined for want of a common language, were it not for this simple and happy invention. By this means we speak of every natural production in two words, its generic and its specific name. No
ambiguous comparisons or references are wanted, no presupposition of any thing already known. The philosophical tribe of naturalists, for so they are called by themselves
and their admirers, do not therefore depreciate Linnæus,
when they call him a nomenclator. Whatever may have
been thought of the Linnæun trivial names at their first
appearance, they are now in universal use, and their principle has been, with the greatest advantage, extended to
chemistry, of which the celebrated Bergman, the friend
of Linnæus, originally set the example.
wood strawberry as a specific for both disorders, and they never greatly interfered with his comfort or his duties. On the 27th of April, 1753, he received, from the
These Herculean literary labours, combined with the practice of physic, were more than the bodily constitution of Linnæus could support. He was attacked with the stone, and had also, from time-to time, returns of gout, but he considered the wood strawberry as a specific for both disorders, and they never greatly interfered with his comfort or his duties. On the 27th of April, 1753, he received, from the hand of his sovereign, the order of the Polar Star, an honour which had never before been conferred for literary merit. A still more remarkable compliment was paid him not long after by the king of Spain, who invited him to settle at Madrid, with the offer of nobility, the free exercise of his religion, and a splendid botanical appointment. This proposal, however, he declined, from an attachment to his own country, and in November 1756, he was raised to the rank of Swedish nobility, and took the name of Von Linné".
nder any justification of his moral character, and any elaborate display of his religious principles or feelings, alike superfluous. His apparent vanity, as displayed
Although, as a physician, Linnæus appears to advantage in his “Clavis Medicinae
” and his “Genera Morborum,
” his abilities are more striking in his classification
of natural objects. He excelled in a happy perception of
such technical characters as brought together things most
naturally allied. His lectures on the natural order of plants
were published long after his death in 1792, at Hamburgh,
and evince his deep consideration of a subject then in the
infancy of cultivation. In the zoological department, his
classification of birds and insects is the most original as
well as the best of the whole. The arrangement of fishes
was an original idea of Linnæus; and in the arrangement of
shells, he has succeeded at least as well as any of his fellow-labourers: though we are, says his biographer, by no
means inclined to justify some of his terms, which are borrowed from an anatomical analogy, not only false in itself,
but totally exceptionable. This leads us to consider a
charge, often brought against this great man, of pruriency
of phraseology in many parts of his works. The most attentive contemplation of his writings has satisfied us that
in such instances he meant purely to be anatomical and
physiological; and if his fondness for philosophical analogies sometimes led him astray, it was not in pursuit of any
thing to contaminate his own mind, much less that of others.
That the mind of Linnæus was simple and chaste, as his
morals were confessedly pure, is evinced by his Lapland
Tour, written only for his own use, but which is now, as
we have already mentioned, before the public. This is
such a picture of his heart as will ever render any justification of his moral character, and any elaborate display of
his religious principles or feelings, alike superfluous. His
apparent vanity, as displayed in his diary,published in
Dr. Maton’s valuable edition of Dr. Pulteney’s “View of
his Writings,
” is perhaps far less justifiable. All we can
say for him is, that this paper was drawn up for the use of
his intimate friend Menander, as materials from which his
life was to be written. If it be unbecoming, and indeed
highly ridiculous in many instances, for a man to speak as
he does of himself, the justice and accuracy of his assertions, had they come from any other person, could in no
case be disputed.
spect were given to the merits of Linnæus in the different parts of Europe, even where rival systems or interests had heretofore triumphed at his expence. The celebrated
As the habits of Linnæus were temperate and regular, he retained his health and vigour in tolerable perfection, notwithstanding the immense labours of his mind, till beyond his sixtieth year, when his memory began in some degree to fail him. In 1774, at the age of sixty-seven, an attack of apoplexy greatly impaired his constitution. Two years afterwards a second attack rendered him paralytic on the right side, and materially affected his faculties. The immediate cause of his death, which happened January 10th, 1778, in the seventy-first year of his age, was an ukeration of the bladder. His remains were deposited in a vault near the west end of the cathedral of Upsal, where a monument of Swedish porphyry was erected by his pupils. His obsequies were performed, in the most respectful manner, by the whole university, the pall being supported by sixteen doctors of physic, all of whom had been his pupils. A general mourning took place on the occasion at Upsal. His sovereign, Gustavus III. commanded a medal to be struck, expressive of the public loss, and honoured the academy of sciences at Stockholm with his presence, when the eulogy of this celebrated man was pronounced there by his intimate friend Back. A still higher compliment was paid to his memory by the king in a speech from the throne, wherein his majesty publicly celebrated the talents of his deceased subject, and lamented the loss which his country had so recently sustained. Various testimonies of respect were given to the merits of Linnæus in the different parts of Europe, even where rival systems or interests had heretofore triumphed at his expence. The celebrated Condorcet delivered an oration in his praise to the Parisian academy of sciences, which is printed in its memoirs. We cannot wonder that his memory was cherished in England, where he had long had numerous correspondents, and where two of his most distinguished pupils, Solander and Dryander, have, in their own talents and character, conferred singular honour upon their preceptor. Ten years after his decease a new society of naturalists, distinguished by his name, was founded in London, and has since been incorporated by royal charter, whose publications, in ten quarto volumes of Transactions, sufficiently evince that its members are not idle venerators of the name they bear. This name, in imitation of them, has been adopted by several similar institutions in other parts of the world.
y to consult it, will readily be perceived. Nothing perhaps could have more contributed to raise up, or to improve, a taste for natural science, in any country.
The appellation of Limuean Society was, with the more propriety, chosen by this British institution, on account of the museum of Linnæus having fallen into the hands of sir James Smith, its original projector, and hitherto only president. This treasure, comprehending the library, herbarium, insects, shells, and all other natural curiosities, with all the manuscripts and whole correspondence of the illustrious Swede, were obtained by private purchase from his widow, after the death of his son in 1783. The authority which such an acquisition gave to the labours of the infant society, as well as to all botanical and zoological publications, the authors of which have ever been allowed freely to consult it, will readily be perceived. Nothing perhaps could have more contributed to raise up, or to improve, a taste for natural science, in any country.
, or Von Linne' (Charles), the oldest, and only surviving son of
, or Von Linne' (Charles), the oldest,
and only surviving son of the preceding, was born January
20, 1741, at the House of his maternal grandfather, at
Fahlun. His father was anxiously desirous of his excelling
in natural history, more particularly botany; and committed him, when about the age of nine or ten, t the
more particular care of some of his own most favourite
pupils. By them he was taught the names of the plants in
the Upsal garden, and such of the principles of natural
science as were suited to his period of life, as well as to
converse habitually in Latin. He appears to have given
satisfaction to his father, who procured for him, at the
age of eighteen, the appointment of Demonstrator in the
botanic garden, an office then first contrived on purpose
for him. Having learned to draw from nature, he became
an author at the age of twenty-one, publishing in 1762 his
first “Decas Plantarum Rariorum Horti Upsaliensis,
” the
plates of which, in outline only, were drawn by his own
hand, and are sufficiently faithful and useful, if not ornamental, while the descriptions are full and scientific. In
1763 another “Decas,
” or collection of ten species, came
out on the same plan, but, for whatever reason, he printed
no more numbers under this title. In 1767, however, he
published at Leipsic ten more plates and descriptions, like
the above, entitled “Plantarum Rariorum Horti Upsaliensis Fasciculus Primus,
” but no second fasciculus appeared. In
eputation and advancement. His father had already prepared great part of a third botanical appendix, or “Mantissa;” from the communications of Mutis, Kcenig, Sparmann,
His progress would probably have been happy, if not
brilliant, but for the conduct of his unnatural mother, who,
not content with dishonouring her husband’s bed, and
making his home as uncomfortable as she could, by the
meanest parsimony and disgusting petty tyranny, conceived
a hatred for her only son, which she displayed by every
affront and persecution that her situation gave her the
means of inflicting on his susceptible and naturally amiable
mind. According to Fabricius, she forced her husband,
who by such a concession surely partook largely of her
guilt and meanness, to procure the nomination of his pupil
Solander to be his future successor, in preference to his
own son; and it was a part of her plan that he should marry
her eldest daughter. Solander, however, disdained both
the usurpation and the bait, refusing to leave England;
and the misguided father recovered his senses and authority, causing his son, as we have said above, to receive this
truly honourable distinction. The mind and spirit of the
young man nevertheless still drooped; and even when he had
attained his thirtieth year, he would gladly have escaped
from his miseries and his hopes together. The authority
of the king was obliged to be exerted, at his father’s solicitation, to prevent his going into the army. This measure of the parent was happily followed up by kindness
and encouragement in his botanical pursuits, to which
treatment the son was ever sensible, and he revived from
his despondency before his father’s death, which happened
when he was thirty-seven years of age.
Though obliged by his mother to purchase, at her own
price, the library, manuscripts, herbarium, &c. which he
ought by every title to have inherited, he rose above every
impediment, and betook himself to the useful application
of the means now in his hands, for his own reputation and
advancement. His father had already prepared great part
of a third botanical appendix, or “Mantissa;
” from the
communications of Mutis, Kcenig, Sparmann, Forster, Pallas, and others. Hence originated the “Supplementum
Plantarum,
” printed at Brunswick, under the care of Ehrhart in 1781. The ingenious editor inserted his own new
characters of some genera of mosses; which Hedwig has
since confirmed, except that some of the names have been
justly rejected. This sheet was, in an evil hour, suppressed by the mandate of Linnæus from London, where,
at that period, the subject of generic characters of mosses
was neither studied nor understood, whatever superior
knowledge was displayed concerning their species. The
plants of the “Supplementum
” are admitted into the
fourteenth edition of the “Systema Vegetabilium
” by
Murray, and figures of some of the most curious have been
published by sir J. Smith, in his “Plantarum Icones ex
Herbario Linnæano.
” Three botanical dissertations also
appeared under the presidency of the younger Linnæus,
on grasses, on lavandula, and the celebrated Methodus
muscorum, which last was the work, and the inaugural
thesis, of the present professor Swartz of Stockholm.
These form a sequel to the 186 similar essays, which most
of them compose the seven volumes of the Amcenitates
Academicae, the rest being published by Schreber in three
additional ones.
uvenile herbarium, made from the Upsal garden, to his friend Alstroemer, for the loan of about fifty or sixty pounds. He arrived at London in May 1781, and was received
The subject of our memoir had always felt a strong desire to visit the chief countries of learned and civilized Europe. For this purpose he was obliged to pawn his juvenile herbarium, made from the Upsal garden, to his friend Alstroemer, for the loan of about fifty or sixty pounds. He arrived at London in May 1781, and was received with enthusiasm by the surviving friends and correspondents of his father, and was in a manner domesticated under the roof of sir Joseph Banks, whose friendship, kindness, and liberality could not be exceeded; neither could they have been by any one more gratefully received. Here the ardent Swedish visitor had every assistance for the preparation of several works on which he was intent, as a system of the mammalia, a botanical treatise on the lily and and palm tribes, ard new editions of several of his father’s standard books. None of these, however, have yet been printed. An attack of thfe jaundice rendered half his stay in England uncomfortable as well as useless to him. He proceeded to Paris in the latter end of August 1781, accompanied by the amiable and celebrated Broussonet, with whom he became acquainted at London. His reception in France was not less flattering than what he had experienced in England. The next place in which he made any stay was Hamburgh, where several of his own friends were already settled; and from hence he returned by Copenhagen and Stockholm, visiting his friend Fabricius at Kiel, and his patron baron Alstroemer at Gottenburgh, finally arriving at Upsalin Feb. 1783. But his career was cut short by a bilious fever, followed by apoplexy, Nov. 1, 1783, in the forty-second year of his age. He died very much respected and lamented. His museum and library reverted to his mother and sisters, as he had never been married, and were purchased by sir James Smith.
ct as to displease those who sat to him, for he never could conceive the absence of any imperfection or mark in the face that presented itself. Such a man could not
, a painter, called from his
dress “the Turk,
” was born at Geneva, in
, Plautus, Propertius, &c. His leisure hours he spent in inspecting the most remarkable antiquities, or in cultivating the acquaintance of the literati then residing
, a very learned critic, was born at
Isch, a country-seat of his father, between Brussels and
Louvain, Oct. 18, 1547. He was descended from ancestors who had been ranked among the principal inhabitants
of Brussels. At six years of age he was sent to the public
school at Brussels, and soon gave proofs of uncommon
parts. He tells as himself in one of his letters, that he
acquired the French language, without the assistance of a
master, so perfectly as to be able to write it before he was
eight years old. From Brussels he was sent, at ten years
old, to Aeth; and, two years after, to Cologne, where at
the Jesuits’ college he prosecuted his literary and philosophical studies. Among the ancients, he learned the precepts of morality from Epictetus and Seneca, and the
maxims of civil prudence from Tacitus. At sixteen, he
was sent to the university of Louvain; and having now
acquired a knowledge of the learned languages, applied
himself to the civil law; but his principal delight was in
belles lettres and ancient literature; and, therefore, losing
his parents, and becoming his own master before he was
eighteen, he projected a journey to Italy, for the sake of
cultivating them. Before, however, he set out, he published three books of various readings, “Variarum Lectionum Libri tres,
” which laid the foundation of his literary
fame; and his dedication of them to cardinal Perenettus,
a great patron of learned men, served to introduce him to
the cardinal, on his arrival in 1567, at Rome, where he
lived two years with him, was nominated his secretary,
and treated with the utmost kindness and generosity. His
time he used to employ in the Vatican, the Farnesian, the
Sfortian, and other principal libraries, which were open to
him, and where he carefully collated the manuscripts of
ancient authors, of Seneca, Tacitus, Plautus, Propertius,
&c. His leisure hours he spent in inspecting the most remarkable antiquities, or in cultivating the acquaintance
of the literati then residing at Rome, Antonius Muretus,
Paulus Manutius, Fulvius Ursinus, Hieronymus Mercurialis, Carolus Sigonius, Petrus Victorius, and others, from
whose conversation he could not fail to reap advantage and
encouragement in his studies.
emarks, that although the abrupt and antithetical style may obtain the applauses of unskilful youth, or an illiterate multude, it cannot be pleasing to ears which have
Lipsius died at Louvain, March 23, 1606, in his 59th
year, and left, says Joseph Scaliger, the learned world
and his friends to lament the loss of him. Lipsius is said
to have been so mean in his countenance, his dress, and
his conversation, that those who had accustomed themselves to judge of great men by their outward appearance,
asked, after having seen Lipsius, whether that was really
he. But the greatest blot in his character was his inconstancy with regard to religion. He was educated a Roman
Catholic, but professed the Lutheran religion while he
was professor at Jena. Afterwards returning to Brabant,
he appeared again a Roman Catholic; but when he accepted a professor’s chair in the university of Leyden, he
published what was called Calvinism. At last, he removed
from Leyden, and went again into the Low Countries,
where he adopted the extreme bigotry of the Roman communion. This is obvious from his credulous and absurd
accounts of the holy virgins, in his “Diva Virgo H aliensis,
” &c. and “Diva Schemiensis,
” &c. in both which he
admits the most trifling stories, and the most uncertain
traditions. Some of his friends endeavoured to represent
how greatly all this would diminish the reputation he had
acquired; but he was deaf to their expostulations. He
even went so far as to dedicate a silver pen to the Holy
Virgin of Hall; and on this occasion wrote some verses
which are very remarkable, both on account of the
elogies he bestows on himself, and of the extravagant
worship he pays to the Virgin. By his last will, he
left his gown, lined with fur, to the image of the same
lady. With these superstitions he joined an inconsistency
of a more serious nature; for when, as we have already
noticed, he lived at Leyden in an outward profession of
the reformed religion, he gave his public approbation of
the persecuting principles which were exerted, throughout
all Europe, against the professors of it, maintaining that no
state ought to suffer a plurality of religions, nor shew any
mercy towards those who disturbed the established worship,
but pursue them with fire and sword, it being better that
one member should perish rather than the whole body
“dementias non hie locus ure, seca, ut membrorum
potius aliquod quam totum corpus corrumpatur.
” When
attacked for these principles and expressions, he endeavoured to explain them in a very evasive manner, pretending that the words ure and seca were only terms borrowed from chirurgery, not literally, to signify fire and
sword, but only some effectual remedy. All these evasions
are to be met with in his treatise * f De una Religione,"
the worst of his writings. His works in general turn upon
subjects of antiquity and criticism. In his early pieces he
imitated, with tolerable success, the style of Cicero; but
afterwards chose rather to adopt the concise and pointed
manner of Seneca and Tacitus. For this corruption of taste
he was severely censured by Scioppius and Henry Stephens; but his example was followed by several contemporary writers. On this innovation Huet justly remarks,
that although the abrupt and antithetical style may obtain the applauses of unskilful youth, or an illiterate multude, it cannot be pleasing to ears which have been long
inured to genuine Ciceronian eloquence.
rticular use he drew up several works. De Lisle’s reputation was so great, that scarcely any history or travels came out without the embellishment of his maps. Nor
, son to the preceding, and a very learned French geographer, was born at Paris Feb. 2$, 1675. His father being much occupied in the same way, young Lisle began at nine years of age to draw maps, and soon made a great progress in this art. In 1699 he first distinguished himself by executing a map of the world, and other pieces, which procured him a place in the academy of sciences, 1702. He was afterwards appointed geographer to the king, with a pension, and had the honour of instructing the king himself in geography, for whose particular use he drew up several works. De Lisle’s reputation was so great, that scarcely any history or travels came out without the embellishment of his maps. Nor was his name less celebrated abroad than in his own country. Many sovereigns in vain attempted to draw him out of France. The Czar Peter, when at Paris on his travels, paid him a visit, to communicate to him some remarks upon Muscovy; but especially, says Fontenelle, to learn from him, better than he could anywhere else, the extent Niceron, vol. XXIV. Bibl. Belg. Blount’s Censura. Brueker. Bufiart’s Academie des Sciences, vol. II. Saxii Onomast. and situation of his own dominions. De Lisle died of an apoplexy Jan. 25, 1726, at 51 years of age. Besides the excellent maps he published, he wrote many pieces in the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences.
tland, and Sweden. In 1750 and 1753 he published “New charts of the Discoveries of admiral de Fonte, or Fuente, made in 1640, and those of other navigators, Spanish,
, younger brother of the
preceding, was born at Paris April 4, 1688, and at first
educated under his paternal roof. He then pursued his
studies at the Mazarine-college, where the eclipse of the sun
in 1706 seems to have directed his attention to astronomy,
for which he soon displayed so much genius, as to be admitted into the academy of sciences, to the memoirs of
which he contributed many valuable papers. In 1715 he
calculated the tables of the moon according to the theory
of sir Isaac Newton. He also, in the course of his pursuits, made many observations on the spots of the sun, and
from them formed a theory to determine the sun’s rotation
on his axis. In 1720 he delivered a proposal to the academy for ascertaining in France the figure of the earth, and
some years afterwards this was carried into execution. In
1724 he paid a visit to England, where he became acquainted with Newton and Halley, who shewed him every
mark of respect, and Halley in particular highly gratified
him by a present of a copy of his astronomical tables of
the sun, moon, and planets, which he had printed in
1719, but which were not published for many years after.
In. 1726 he was appointed astronomer royal in the imperial
academy of sciences at Petersburg, where for twenty- one
years he resided in the observatory-house built by Peter
the Great, incessantly occupied in the improvement of
astronomy and geography. During this period he published “Memoirs illustrative of the History of Astronomy,
”
2 vols. 4to; and an atlas of Russia, first published in the
Russian language, and afterwards in Latin. He constructed
also a thermometer, differently graduated from those in
use, the degrees beginning at the heat of boiling water,
and thence increasing to 150, which was the freezing point.
In 1747, after much ill-treatment on the part of the Russian government, he obtained his dismission, and arrived
in Paris in September of the same year. He was then appointed professor of the mathematics at the college royal,
in which situation he lived to render the greatest service to
the interests of science, by training up some learned pupils, among whom was the celebrated M. de la Lande. In
1743, his pupil, M. Monnier, took a voyage to Scotland to
observe an annular eclipse of the sun, and on this subject
De Lisle published a large advertisement, which was reckoned a complete treatise on annular eclipses. He afterwards entered more fully on the consideration of the theory
of eclipses, and he communicated a part of his researches
on the subject to the academy in 1749. He was so expert
in calculations, that he made many founded on the observations of Greenwich, Berlin, Scotland, and Sweden. In
1750 and 1753 he published “New charts of the Discoveries of admiral de Fonte, or Fuente, made in 1640, and
those of other navigators, Spanish, Portuguese, English,
Dutch, French, and Russian, in the Northern seas, with,
explications.
” In Mercure,
” for July of that year.
He was afterwards assiduously engaged on the transit of
Venus, expected in 1761, in order to correct the error of
Halley, and thus prevent persons from undertaking long
voyages unnecessarily for the sake of observing it. He
had, some years previously to this, been appointed astronomical geographer to the marine, and his business was to
collect and arrange the plans and journals of naval captains,
and to extract from them whatever might be found beneficial to the king’s service in this department. His majesty
now purchased, with a pension- for life, all M. de Lisle’s
rich astronomical and geographical collections, which were
added to the Mss. in the depot. In 1758, JDeginning to
decline, he withdrew as much as he could from public life,
leaving the care of his observations to M. Messier, while
M. de la Lamle was appointed his coadjutor at the college
royal. He went to reside at the abbey of St. Genevieve,
where he spent his time partly in devotional exercises, and
partly in study, devoting the greatest part of his income
to- acts of benevolence and charity. He died on the 11th
of July 1768, in the eighty-first year of his age. As a
man of science his merits are very great, and in private
life he was distinguished by unaffected piety, pure morals,
undeviating integrity, and most amiable manners.
rses, “by way of eclogue, imitating the fourth of Virgile.” To this is added a still longer preface, or address to the reader, containing some curious remarks on a
, an English antiquary, was educated
at Eton school, and admitted to King’s -college, Cambridge, in 1584, where he took his degree of M. A. and
became fellow, but quitted his fellowship on succeeding to
an estate at Wilbraham, in Cambridgeshire. He was afterwards appointed one of the esquires extraordinary of
the king’s body, and died in 1637. No farther particulars
of his life are upon record. He published “A Saxon treatise concerning the Old and New Testament; written
about the time of king Edgar, (700 years ago) by >Elfricus Abbas, thought to be the same that was afterwards archbishop of Canterbury,
” Treatise,
”
but the volume is incomplete without “A Testimony of
Antiquity, shewing the ancient faith in the church of England, touching the sacrament of the body and blood of our
Lord
” the “Words of CEilfric abbot of St. Alban’s, &c.
taken out of his epistles written to Wulfsine, bishop of
Scyrburne;
” and “The Lord’s prayer, the creed, and
ten commandments, in the Saxon and English tongue.
”
The work is dedicated to prince Charles, afterwards
Charles I. in a long copy of verses, “by way of eclogue,
imitating the fourth of Virgile.
” To this is added a still
longer preface, or address to the reader, containing some
curious remarks on a variety of topics relating to Saxon
literature, the Bible, the English language, &c. Mr. Lisle
also published Du Bartas’s “Ark, Babylon, Colonies,
and Columns,
” in French and English, The Fair Æthiopian,
”
there in 1770, under the care of Huddesford, keeper of the Ashmolean museum. This edition wants two or three of the plates belonging to the original; but to make up
In 1685 he published his “Historia sive Synopsis Conchyliorum,
” 2 vols. fol. containing very accurate figures
of all the shells known in his time, amounting to upwards
of a thousand; and what renders the book a singular curiosity is, that they were all drawn by his two daughters,
Susanna and Anne. The copper-plates of this work becoming the property of the university of Oxford, a new
edition was published there in 1770, under the care of
Huddesford, keeper of the Ashmolean museum. This
edition wants two or three of the plates belonging to the
original; but to make up for this deficiency, two or three
new plates have been added, and notwithstanding the progress which the study has since made, the work still retains its value, and is indispensable to the student of^conchology.
, 8vo, to which h added, 5.” Complicatio Radicum in primaeva Hebrseorurh Lingua.“6.” Solomon’s Gate, or an entrance into the Church,“&c. 1662, 8vo. Perhaps this title
He died June 30, 1694, aged sixty-seven years, and
was buried on the north side of the chancel of Chelsea
church, where there is a handsome monument, with an
epitaph to his memory. He was an excellent philologist
and grammarian, particularly in the Latin, as appears from
his Dictionary of that language; he appears also to have
studied the Greek with equal minuteness, a Lexicon of
which he had long been compiling, and left unfinished at
his death. He was also well skilled in the Oriental languages and in rabbinical learning; in prosecution of
which he exhausted great part of his fortune in purchasing
' books and manuscripts from all parts of Europe, Asia, and
Africa. The consequence of this improvidence, we are
sorry, however, to add, was his dying insolvent, and leaving his widow in very distressed circumstances. Some
time before his death, he made a small essay towards facilitating the knowledge of the Hebrew, Chaldee, and
Arabic tongues, which he intended to have brought into
a narrower compass. He was versed also in the abstruse
parts of the mathematics, and wrote a great many pieces
concerning mystical numeration, which came into the
hands of his brother-in-law Dr. Hockin. In private life
he was extremely charitable, easy of access, communicative, affable, facetious in conversation, free from passion,
of a strong constitution, and a venerable countenance.
Besides his “Latin Dictionary,
” which appeared first in
Tragicomcedia Oxoniensis,
” a Latin poem on the Parliament-Visitors,“1648,
a single sheet, 4to, which, however, was afterwards attributed to a Mr. John Carrick, a student of Christ-churdi.
2.
” Pasor metricus, sive voces omnes Nov. Test, primogenias hexametris versibus compreherusae,“1658, 4to,
Greek and Latin. 3.
” Diatriba in octo Tractatus distributa,“&c. printed with the former. 4.
” Elementa Religionis, sive quatuor Capita catechetica totidem Linguis
descripta, in usum Scholarum,“1658, 8vo, to which h
added, 5.
” Complicatio Radicum in primaeva Hebrseorurh
Lingua.“6.
” Solomon’s Gate, or an entrance into the
Church,“&c. 1662, 8vo. Perhaps this title was taken
from the north gate of Westminster-abbey, so called
7.
” Sixty-one Sermons,“1680, fol. 8.
” A Sermon at
a solemn meeting of the natives of the city and county of
Worcester, in Bow-church, London, 24th of June, 1680,“4to. 9.
” Preface to Cicero’s Works,“Lond. 1681, 2
vols.'fol. 10.
” A Translation of ‘ Selden’s Jani Anglorum Facies Altera,’ with Notes,“which for some unkuown
reason he published under the name of Redman Westcote,
1683, fol. With this were printed three other tracts of
Selden, viz. his
” Treatise of the Judicature of Parliaments,“&c.
” Of the original of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Testaments.“”Of the Disposition of Intestates
Goods.“11.
” The Life of Themistocles,“from the
Greek, in the first vol. of Plutarch’s Lives, by several
hands, 1687, 8vo. He also published
” Dissertatio epistolaris de Juramento Medicorum qui Ορκοσ Ἱπποκρατουσ
dicitur," &c. also A Latin Inscription, in prose and verse,
intended for the monument of the fire of London, in Sept.
1666. This is printed at the end of his Dictionary; with
an elegant epistle to Dr. Baldwin Hamey, M. D.
omas Westcote, of the county of Devon, esq. by Elizabeth, daughter and sole-heir of Thomas Littleton or Lyttleton, of Frankley in Worcestershire, in compliance with
, a celebrated English judge, descended of an ancient family, was
the eldest son of Thomas Westcote, of the county of Devon, esq. by Elizabeth, daughter and sole-heir of Thomas
Littleton or Lyttleton, of Frankley in Worcestershire, in
compliance with whom she consented that the issue, or at
least the eldest son, of that marriage should take the name
of Lyttleton, and bear the arms of that family. He was
born about the beginning of the fifteenth century at Frankley. Having laid a proper foundation of learning at one
of the universities, he removed to the Inner-Temple; and,
applying himself to the law, became very eminent in that
profession. The first notice we have of his distinguishing
himself is from his learned lectures on the statute of Westminster, “de donis conditionalibus,
” “of conditional
gifts.
” He was afterwards made, by Henry VI. steward
or judge of the court of the palace, or marshalsea of the
king’s household, and, in May 1455, king’s serjeant, in
which capacity he went the Northern circuit as a judge of
the assize. Upon the revolution of the crown, from the
house of Lancaster to that of York) in the time of Edward
IV. our judge, who was now made sheriff of Worcestershire, received a pardon from that prince; was continued
in his post of king’s serjeant, and also in that of justice of
assi/r for the same circuit. This pardon passed in 1462,
the second year of Edward IV.; and, in 1466, he was appointed one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas.
The same year, he obtained a writ to the commissioners of
the customs of London, Bristol, and Kingston-upon-Hull,
enjoining them to pay him a hundred and ten marks annually, for the better support of his dignity; a hundred and
six shillings and eleven pence farthing, to furnish him
whh a furred robe; and six shillings and six-pence more,
for another robe called Li num. In 1473, we find him residing near St. Sepulchre’s church, London, in a capital
mansion, the property of the abbot of Leicester, which he
held on lease at the yearly rent of 1 <'>.-. In 1475 he was
created, among others, knight of the Hath, to grace the
solemnity of conferring that order upon the king’s eldest
son, then prince of Wales, afterwards Edward V. He
continued to enjoy the esteem of his sovereign and the nation, on account of his profound knowledge of the laws of
England, till his death, Aug. 23, 1481, the day after the
date of his will. He was then said to be of a good old
age, but its precise length has not been ascertained. He
was honourably interred in the cathedral church of Worcester, where a marble tomb, with his statue, was erected
to his memory; his picture was also placed in the church
of Frankley; and another in that of Hides-Owen, where
his descendants purchased a good estate. He married,
and had three sons, William, Richard, and Thomas.
Kichard, bred to the law, became eminent in thut profession; and it was for his use that our judge drew up his
celebrated treatise on tenures or titles, which will probably hand his name down to the latest posterity. The
judge’s third son, Thomas, was knighted by Henry VII.
for taking Lambert Simnel, the pretended earl of Warwick. His eldest son and successor, sir William Littleton,
after living many years in great splendour, at Frankley,
died in 1508; and from this branch the late celebrated lord
Lyttelton of Frankley co. Worcester, who was created a
baron of Great Britain, Nov. 1756, derived his pedigree;
but who, owing to the alteration in the spelling of the
name (which, however, appears unnecessary) will occur in
a future part of this work.
t edition to have been that printed in French by Lettou and Machlima, near the church of All-Saints, or All-Hallows, in London, without date: and he thinks that it
The memory of judge Littleton is preserved by his
“Tenures
” and the various editions through which his
book has passed are the best evidence of its worth. Dr.
Middleton supposes the first edition to have been that
printed in French by Lettou and Machlima, near the
church of All-Saints, or All-Hallows, in London, without
date: and he thinks that it was put to press by the author
himself in 1481, the year he died; but lord Coke supposes the French edition in folio, printed without date, at
Rouen, by W. Le Tailleur, for R. Pinson, to have been
the first. The point however has not yet been settled;
and perhaps cannot now be settled with precision. The
various opinions on the subject may be found in our authorities. That it was often reprinted is a matter of less
doubt: the editions from 1539 to 1639 only, amount to
twenty-four. The original composition of this celebrated
work is justly esteemed as the principal pillar on which
the superstructure of the law of real property in this
kingdom is supported; and the valuable “Commentary
” of lord Coke has uniformly been considered, by the
most eminent lawyers, as the result and repository of all his
learning on the subjects there treated. Of this work a republication was made in folio, 1738, which, independent
of the valuable annotations of lord Hale and lord chancellor
Nottingham, has been greatly improved by the learning
and indefatigable labours of Mr. Hargrave and Mr. Butler.
There was a book written in the reign of Edward III.
which is called “Oki Tenures,
” to distinguish it from
Littleton’s book. It gives an account of the various tenures
by which land was holdeu, the nature of estates, and some
other incidents relating to landed property. It is a very
scanty tract, but has the merit of having led the way to
Littleton’s famous work.
that party; that there had lately been a consultation, whether, in case the king might send for him, or the great seal be taken from him, it were advisable to keep
In this station he preserved the esteem of both parties
for some time, and the two houses of parliament agreed to
return their thanks by him to the king, for passing the
triennial bill, and that of the subsidies; but, as he concurred in the votes for raising an army, and seizing the militia, in March 1641, measures very hostile to the royal
cause, the king sent an order from York to lord Falkland,
to demand the seal from him, and to consult about a successor with Hyde, afterwards earl of Clarendon; but this
last step prevented the former order from being put into
execution. Hyde, who always entertained a great regard
for the keeper, had, upon his late behaviour, paid him a
visit at Exeter-house, on which occasion the keeper freely
disclosed his mind, lamenting that he had been removed
from the common-pleas, of which court he was acquainted
with the business aud the persons with whom he had to
deal, to an higher office, which involved him with another
sort of men, and in affairs to which he was a stranger; and
this without his having one friend among them, to whom
he could confide any difficulty that occurred to him. Adverting likewise to the unhappy state of the king’s affairs,
he said that the party in hostility to the court “would
never have done what they had already, unless they had
been determined to do more: that he foresaw it would not
be long before a war would break out, and of what importance it was, in that season, that the great seal should be
with his majesty; that the prospect of this necessity had
made him comply to a certain degree with that party; that
there had lately been a consultation, whether, in case the
king might send for him, or the great seal be taken from
him, it were advisable to keep it in some secure place,
where the keeper should receive it upon occasion, they
having no mind to disoblige him: that the knowledge of
this had induced him to vote as he did in the late debates;
and by that compliance, which he knew would give the
king a bad impression of him, he had gained so much credit with them, that he should be able to preserve the
seal in his own hands till his majesty should demand it, and
then he would be ready to wait on the king with it, declaring that no man should be more willing to perish with
and for his majesty than himself.
” Mr. Hyde acquainted
lord Falkland with this conference; and, being confident
that the lord-keeper would keep his promise, recommended
to advise his majesty to write a kind invitation to the keeper
to come to York, and bring the seal with him, rather than,
think of giving it to any other person. The advice was
embraced by the king, who, though he still had his doubts
of Littleton’s sincerity, was influenced by the reasons assigned; and accordingly the seal was sent to York on the
f2d, and followed by the keeper on the 23d of May, 1642.
But, notwithstanding this piece of service and eminent
proof of his loyalty, at the risk of his life, he could never
totally regain the king’s confidence, or the esteem of the
court-party. He continued, however, to enjoy his post,
in which he attended his majesty to Oxford, was there
created doctor of laws, and made one of the king’s privycouncil, and colonel of a regiment of foot in the same
service, some time before his death, which happened Aug.
27, 1645, at Oxford. His body was interred in the cathedral of Christ church; uu which Qccasioa a funeral oration
was pronounced by the celebrated Dr. Hammond, then
orator to the university. In May 1683, a monument was
erected there to his memory, by his only daughter and
heiress, the lady Anne Lyttelton, widow of sir Thomas
Lyttelton; and the same year came out his “Reports,
” in
folio, which, however, Mr. Stevens, in his introduction
to lord Bacon’s Letters, edition 1702, p. 21, thinks were
not composed by him, many of the cases being the same
verbatim as in Hetley’s reports. Lord Clarendon says of
sir Edward Littleton, that “he was a man of great reputation in the profession of the law, for learning, and all other
advantages which attend the most eminent men. He was
of a very good extraction in Shropshire, and inherited a
fair fortune and inheritance from his father. He was a
handsome and a proper man, of a very graceful presence,
and notorious courage, which in his youth he had manifested with his sword. He had taken great pains in the
hardest and most knotty part of the law, as well as that
which was most customary; and was not only ready and
expert in the books, but exceedingly versed in records,
in studying and examining whereof he had kept Mr. Selden
company, with whom he had great friendship, and who had
much assisted him: so that he was looked upon as the best
antiquary of his profession, who gave himself up to practice; and, upon the mere strength of his abilities, he had
raised himself into the first of the practisers of the common
law courts, and was chosen recorder of London before he
was called to the bench, and grew presently into the
highest practice in all the other courts, as well as those of
the law.
” Whitelocke also observes, that he was a man of
courage, and of excellent parts and learning. But we fear
he cannot be altogether acquitted of unsteadiness in some
parts of his conduct, although it must at the same time be
owned that when he found he could no longer retain the
seal with credit, he delivered it, with his own hands, to
his unhappy sovereign, and died firmly attached to his
cause.
enant to king 'Charles II. a little before he landed in Scotland. In 1663, as he would not subscribe or take the oath of allegiance, he was banished out of the kingdom,
, a rigid but pious presbyter of
the church of Scotland, was born in 1603. In 1617, he
was sent to the college of Glasgow, where he remained
until he passed M. A. in 1621. After this, he exercised
the ministry in various places, as occasion oflered, till
1628, when he was, by the sentence of the general assembly, sent to Ancrum in Teviot-dale. He was twice
suspended by bishop Down, and was one of those who
tendered the covenant to king 'Charles II. a little before
he landed in Scotland. In 1663, as he would not subscribe or take the oath of allegiance, he was banished out
of the kingdom, and retired into Holland, where he
preached to the Scots’ congregation at Rotterdam till his
death, Aug. 9, 1672, His works are “Letters from Leith,
1663, to his Parishioners at Ancrum;
” “Memorable Characteristics of Divine Providence;
” and a “Latin Translation of the Old Testament,
” not published.
, the most celebrated of the Roman historians, was born at Patavium, or Padua, and descended from an illustrious family, which had given
, the most celebrated of the Roman
historians, was born at Patavium, or Padua, and descended
from an illustrious family, which had given several consuls
to Rome. Few circumstances of his life are known, as
none of the ancients have left any thing about it; and so
reserved has he been with regard to himself, that we should
be at a loss to determine the time when his history was
written, if it were not for one passage which seems to
prove that he was employed on it about the year of Rome
730. He was then at Rome, where he long resided; and
some have supposed that he was known to Augustus before,
by certain dialogues, which he had dedicated to him.
Seneca, without noticing the dedication, mentions these
dialogues, whjch he calls historical and philosophical; and
also some books, written purposely on the subject of philosophy. All this appears doubtful, but there is reason
to think that he began his history as soon as he was settled
at Rome; and he seems to have devoted himself entirely
to it. The tumults and distractions of that city frequently
obliged him to retire to Naples, not only that he might be
less interrupted in his historical labours, but enjoy that
tranquillity which he could not have at Rome. He appears
to have been much dissatisfied with the manners of his
age, and tells us, that “he should reap this reward of his
labour, in composing the Roman history, that it would
take his attention from the present numerous evils, at least
while he was employed upon the first and earliest ages.
”
as received with all imaginable honour and respect; and there died, A. D. 17, at the age of seventy, or seventy-six.
It is said that he used to read parts of his history, while he was composing it, to Mæcenas and Augustus; and that Livia conceived so high an opinion of him, as to intend to commit to him the education of young Claudius the brother of Germanicus, but his death prevented his enjoying this honour. On the demise of Augustus, he returned to Padua, where he was received with all imaginable honour and respect; and there died, A. D. 17, at the age of seventy, or seventy-six.
editions of this Dictionary, as well as in other accounts of Livy, took its rise from the ignorance or knavery of those who reported it; and having been refuted by
This ridiculous story, which has been repeated in the
former editions of this Dictionary, as well as in other accounts of Livy, took its rise from the ignorance or knavery
of those who reported it; and having been refuted by Gudius, and more fully by Morhof (“De Livii Patav.
” cap. iii.), ought long ago to have been displaced. The epitaph
at Padua was, when written without the contractions, “Vivus fecit Titus Livius, Livice Titi filise quartae, libertus
Halys, concordialis Patavi, sibi et suis omnibus;
” i. e. This
monument was erected by himself and his family by Titus
Livius Halys, the freedman of Livia, a daughter of one
Titus Livius, who probably lived many ages after the historian. Halys was his name, while he continued in servitude, and Titus Livius the name of his patron or master,
which he assumed, as was usual in those cases, when he
received his freedom. He had perhaps borne some office
in the temple of Concordia at Padua, which might possibly have stood in the place where the epitaph was discovered, and hence the title Concordialis. But the monks of
the fifteenth century, who valued themselves on having
discovered the bones of the celebrated historian, attended
only to the name of Titus Livius; never reflecting, that
this was a common name, and might have belonged to
twenty others; that in the Augustan age, dead bodies were
usually burnt, and not buried within the walls of cities;
and that, admitting Livy had been buried, it was very improbable that any of his bones should have remained unconsumed in the ground above 1400 years.
ust, if not a perfect, character. Lloyd has preserved many minutiae of eminent men, not to be found, or not easily, to be found, elsewhere. These remarks apply to his
Mr. Lloyd, even by Wood’s account, left an excellent
character behind him: “he was a very industrious and
zealous person, charitable to the poor, and ready to do
good offices in his neighbourhood; he commonly read the
service every day in his church at Northop, when he was
at home, and usually gave money to such poor children as
would come to him to be catechised.
” As an author, however, Wood appears to have been a little jealous of Lloyd;
speaks of him as being “a conceited and confident per*on;
” who “took too much upon him to transmit to posterity the memoirs of great personages;
” by which “he
obtained among knowing men not only the character of a
most impudent plagiary, but a false writer, and a mere
scribbler, especially upon the publication of his * Memoirs,'
wherein are almost as many errors as lines.
” “At length,
”
adds Wood, “having been sufficiently admonished of his
said errors, and brought into trouble for some extravagancies in his books, he left off writing, retired to Wales,
and there gave himself up to the gaining of riches.
” That
all this is not true, modern inquirers of reputation, who
have repeatedly referred to Lloyd, seem to be convinced:
he is in truth a compiler, like others of his contemporaries;
but, although he must rank greatly under, he certainly belongs to the same class with Fuller and Wood himself. la
his style he partakes more of the former than the latter, and
having titled the subject of his pen “Worthies,
” he is,
s, a little too anxious to support their claim, and
regardless- of those circumstances which form ajust, if not a
perfect, character. Lloyd has preserved many minutiae of
eminent men, not to be found, or not easily, to be found,
elsewhere. These remarks apply to his two principal works,
so often quoted by modern biographers, “The Statesmen
and favourites of England since the Reformation, &c.
”
Memoirs of the
Lives, &c.
” of persons who suffered for their loyalty during
the rebellion, Lond. 1668, folio. This last is the more valuable of the two, and is so far from deserving the character Wood has given, of containing as “many errors as
lines,
” that, while we admit it is not free from errors, we
have found it in general corroborated by contemporary
writers, and even by Wood himself. Of the first of these
works, an edition was published by Charles Whitworth,
esq. in 1766, 2 vols. 8vo, with additions from other writers,
with a view to restore the light and shade of character.
“Mr. Lloyd,
” says an anonymous critic, “is professedly
the white-washer of every character and personage that
falls under his brush, particularly of the loyalists of Charles
I. and II.; but his editor has seamed it with some sable
strokes, some drawn from lord Herbert, and some from his
own stores, which are supplied from Rapin, and other republican writers of little credit and less abilities. The true
merit of Lloyd is, that notwithstanding the sameness of
most of his characters, he serves them up to his readers so
differently dressed, that each seems to be a new dish, and
to have a peculiar relish.
”
Lloyd’s other publications were: 1. “Modern Policy compleated, or the public actions and councils, '&c. of General Monk,” Lond.
Lloyd’s other publications were: 1. “Modern Policy
compleated, or the public actions and councils, '&c. of General Monk,
” Lond. The Pourtraictuue
of his sacred Majesty Charles II. &c.
” ibid. 1660, 8vo. 3.
“The Countess of Bridgwater’s Ghost, &c.
” Lond. to make her a pattern for other women to imitate;
”
but we can scarcely credit what he adds, that “the earl
being much displeased that the memory of his lady should
be perpetuated under such a title, and by such an obscure
person, who did not do her the right that was <Jue, he
brought him into trouble, and caused him to suffer six
months imprisonment /
” We have not seen this work; but
had it been a libel instead of a panegyric, which last appears to have been the author’s honest intention, it could
not have been punished with more severity. 4. “Of Plots,
&c.
” Lond. 1664, 4to, published under the name of Oliver Foulis. 5. “The Worthies of the World, &c.
” an
abridgment of Plutarch, ibid. Dying and
Dead men’s Living Words; or a fair warning to a careless
world,
” Wonders no miracles; or Mr. Valentine Greatrack’s Gift of Healing examined, &c.
” ibid. Exposition of the Catechism and Liturgy, &c.
” 9. “A Treatise on Moderation,
”
a learned English writer in the seventeenth century, was son of Mr. George Lloyd, minister of Wonson or Wonsington near Winchester, and grandson of Mr. David Lloyd,
, a learned English writer in the
seventeenth century, was son of Mr. George Lloyd, minister of Wonson or Wonsington near Winchester, and grandson of Mr. David Lloyd, vicar of Lockford near Stockbridge in Hampshire. He was born at Hoi ton in Flintshire in 1634, and educated at Wykeham’s school near
Winchester, and admitted a scholar of Wadham college,
Oxford, from Hart-hall, October 20, 1653. He afterwards
became a fellow of Wadham, and July 6, 16.58, took the
degree of roaster of arts. In 1665, when Dr. Blandford,
warden of that college, became bishop of Oxford, our
author was appointed chaplain to him, being about that
time rector of St. Martin’s church in Oxford, and continued
with the bishop till he was translated to the see of Worcester in 1671. The year following, the rectory of St. Mary
Newington, in Surrey, falling void, the bishop of Worcester presented Mr. Lloyd to it, who kept it to his death,
which happened Nov. 27, 1680. He was interred in the
chancel of the church there, leaving behind him the character of an harmless quiet man, and an excellent philologist.
His “Dictionarium Historicum,
” &c. although now obsolete, was once reckoned a valuable work. The first edition
was published at Oxford in 1670, folio. The second edition was printed at London in 1686, folio, under the fMlowing title: “Dictionarium Historicum, geographicum,
poeticum, gentium, hominum, deorum gentilium, regionum, insularum, locorum, civitatum, aequorum, fluviorum,
sinuum, portuum, promontoriorum, ac montium, antiqua
recentioraque, ad sacras & profanas historias, poetarumque fabulas intelligendas nccessaria, Nomina, quo decet
erdine, complectens & illustrans. Opus admodum utile &
apprime necessarium; a Carolo Stephano inchoatum; ad
incudem vero revocatum, innumerisque pene locis auctum
& emaculatum per NicolaumV.Lloydium, Collegii Wadhami in celeberrima Academia Oxoniensi Socium. Editio
novissima.
” He left several unpublished Mss. consisting
principally of commentaries and translations. He had a
younger brother, John, somewhat of a poet, who appears
to have shared the friendship and esteem of Addison.
performed at Drury-lane theatre, in honour of their present majesties’ nuptials, entitled “Arcadia; or, The Shepherd’s Wedding.” The profit arising from these pieces
At what time he quitted the school, we are not told. In
1760 and 1761, he superintended the poetical department
of a short-lived periodical publication, entitled the “Library,
” of which the late Dr. Kippis was the editor. In
The Actor.
” It was recommended
by an easy and harmonious versification, and by the liberality of his censures, which were levelled at certain improprieties common to actors in general. By this poem,
Churchill is said to have been stimulated to write his *' Rosciad,“in which he descended from general to personal
criticism. The subjects, however, were so alike, that
Lloyd was for some time supposed to be the author of the
” llosciad,“which he took an early opportunity to deny,
and not only acknowledged his inferiority, but attached
himself more closely than ever to the fame and fortunes of
Churchill. In the same year, he attempted a small piece
of the musical kind, called
” The Tears and Triumphs of
Parnassus/' and the following season had another little
opera performed at Drury-lane theatre, in honour of their
present majesties’ nuptials, entitled “Arcadia; or, The
Shepherd’s Wedding.
” The profit arising from these
pieces was not great, but probably enough to induce him
to become an author by profession, although no man ever
ventured on that mode of life with fewer qualifications.
His poetical productions were of such a trifling cast as
to bring him very small supplies, and he had neither taste
nor industry for literary employment.
inued for some time longer by Dr. Kenrick. Lloyd’s imprudence and necessities were now beyond relief or forbearance, and his eretlitors confined him within the Fleet
In 1762, he attempted to establish a periodical work,
“The St. James’s Magazine,
” which was to be the depository of his own efVusions, aided by the contributions of
his friends. The latter, however, came in tardily;
Churchill, from whom he had great expectations, contributed nothing, although such of his poems as he published
during the sale of the magazine, were liberally praised.
Thornton gave a very few prose essays, and poetical pieces
were furnished by Denis and Emily, two versifiers of forgotten reputation. Lloyd himself had none of the steady
industry which a periodical work requires, and his magazine was often made up, partly from books, and partly
from the St. James’s Chronicle, of which Colman and
Thornton were proprietors, and regular contributors. Lloyd
also translated some of Marmontel’s tales for the Magazine,
and part of a French play, in order to fix upon Murphy the
charge of plagiarism. This magazine, after existing about
a year, was dropped for want of encouragement, as far as
Lloyd was concerned; but was continued for some time
longer by Dr. Kenrick. Lloyd’s imprudence and necessities were now beyond relief or forbearance, and his
eretlitors confined him within the Fleet prison, where he afforded a melancholy instance of the unstable friendship of
wits. Dr. Kenrick informs us that “even Thornton, though
his bosom friend from their infancy, refused to be his security for the liberty of the rules; a circumstance which,
giving rise to some ill-natured altercation, induced this
quondam friend to become an inveterate enemy, in the quality of his most inexorable creditor.
” It was probably
during his imprisonment, that he published a very indifferent translation of Klopstock’s “Death of Adam.
” After
that, his “Capricious Lovers,
” a comic opera, was acted
for a few nights at Drury-lane theatre. This is an adaptation of Favart’s Ninette a la Cour to the English stage, but
Lloyd had no original powers in dramatic composition.
Churchill and Wilkes are said to have afforded him a
weekly stipend from the commencement of his imprisonment until his final release. How this was paid we knownot. Wilkes had been long out of the kingdom, and
Churchill, who left Lloyd in a jail when he went to France,
bequeathed him a ring only as a remembrance*. It is
more probable that his father assisted him on this occasion,
although it might not be in his power to pay his debts. He
had in vain tried every means to reclaim him from idleness and intemperance, and had long borne “the drain or
burthen
” which he was to his family. The known abilities of this unhappy son, “rendered this blow the more
grievous to so good a father,
” who is characterized by
bishop Newton as a man that “with all his troubles and
disappointments, with all the sickness and distress in his
family, still preserved his calm, placid countenance, his
easy cheerful temper, and was at all times an agreeable
friend and companion, in all events a true Christian philosopher.
”
ixed some memoirs, written in a negligent manner, and without a single date of birth, death, events, or publications. His poems have been added to the works of the”
ap edition of his collected poems. Frqm 1763.
loved to associate. In his friendships he was warm, constant, and grateful, *' more sinned against than sinning;“and it would be difficult to find an apology for the conduct of those prosperous friends to whose reputation he
had contributed in no inconsiderable degree by his writings.
Among these, however, Hogarth appears to have been
unjustly ranked. An irreconcileable quarrel had long subsisted between this artist and Churchill’s friends; and, much
decayed in health, Hogarth languished for some time at
Chiswick, where he died nearly two months before Lloyd.
The news of Churchill’s death being announced somewhat abruptly to Lloyd, while he was sitting at dinner, he
was seized with a sudden sickness, and saying
” I shall
follow poor Charles,“took to his bed, from which he never
rose. He died December 1$, 1764, and his remains were
deposited, without ceremony t on the 19th, in the churchyard of St. Bride’s parish. Ten years afterwards his poetical works were published in two handsome volumes, by
Dr. Kenrick, who prefixed some memoirs, written in a
negligent manner, and without a single date of birth,
death, events, or publications. His poems have been added
to the works of the
” English Poets," although he certainly merits no very distinguished rank. His chief excellence was the facility with which he wrote a number of
smooth and pleasing lines, tinctured with gay humour, on
any topic which presented itself. But he has no where
attempted, or afforded m much reason to think that by
any diligence or effort he could have attained, the higher
species of his art. He has neither originality of thought,
or elegance of expression. It has been observed that
those poets who have been degraded by the licentiousness
of their lives, have rarely surpassed the excellence, of whatever degree, which first brought them into notice. Lloyd,
however, had not the excuse which has been advanced in
some recent instances. He was neither spoiled by patronage, nor flattered into indolence by injudicious praise
and extravagant hopes. The friends of his youth were
those of his mature years; and of the few whom he lost, he
had only the melancholy recollection that some of them
had quitted him from shame, and some from ingratitude.
, or L'Obel (Matthias de), a botanist, was born in 1538, at Lisle,
, or L'Obel (Matthias de), a botanist, was
born in 1538, at Lisle, in Flanders, where his father practised in the law. He bad an early taste for plants, and
had good opportunities of advancing his knowledge at
Montpelier, where he studied physic under the learned
Rondeletius, as well as by making some botanical excursions over the south of France. At Narbonne he became
acquainted with Pena, afterwards his fellow^labourer in
the “Adversaria,
” the first edition of which was published,
at London, in 1570, small folio, and dedicated to queen
Elizabeth. The few cuts dispersed through this volume
are mostly original, but inferior in style and accuracy, as
well as in size, to those of Clusius, with whom he was contemporary. Before the publication of the “Adversaria,
”
our author had extended his travels to Switzerland, the
Tyrol, some parts of Germany, and Italy; had settled as a
physician -at Antwerp, afterwards at Delft; and had been
appointed physician to the illustrious William prince of
Orange, and to the States of Holland. Dr. Pulteney has
not been able to ascertain the time of Lobel’s removal to
England, but justly concludes it to have been before 1570,
or most probably some years earlier. The aim of the authors of the “Adversaria
” was to investigate the botany
and materia medica of the ancients, and especially of Dioscorides. It was reprinted at Antwerp in 1576, the dedication being, of course, there suppressed, and new titlepages were printed to help the sale of the original in 1571
and 1572. Some copies of the Antwerp impression appear
to have been made up into a new edition at London in
1605, with an ample Pharmacopeia, and an appendix.
This volume is dedicated to Edward lord Zouch, whom
Lobel had attended on his embassy to Denmark in 1592,
and he calls himself, in the title, botanist to king James I.
Dr. Pulteney observes, after Haller, that this work exhibits
some traces of a natural distribution of plants, but without
any remarks, and with little precision. His work is much
more valuable for the accounts of new plants discovered
by himself in England or elsewhere, although Ray accuses
him of having made several mistakes, from having trusted
too much to his memory.
in 1657, during the interregnum, by the publication of his “little consort of three parts for viols or violins, consisting of pavans, ayres, corants, sarabands, in
He seems first to have appeared as an author in 1657,
during the interregnum, by the publication of his “little
consort of three parts for viols or violins, consisting of pavans, ayres, corants, sarabands, in two several varieties, the
first twenty of which are for two trebles and a base.
” Some
of his compositions appear in the second part of John Playford’s continuation of Hilton’s “Catch that catch can,
” in
Never trouble thyself about times or their
turnings,
” a glee for three voices. He was the first Who
attempted dramatic music for the English stage, if we except the masques that were performed at court, and at the
houses of the nobility, in the time of Charles I. and during
the reign of Charles II. When musical dramas were first
attempted, which Dryden calls heroic plays and dramatic
operas, Lock was employed to set most of them, particularly the semi-operas, as they were called, the Tempest,
Macbeth,] and Psyche, translated from the French of
Moliere, by Shadwell. The Tempest and Psyche were printed in 1675, and dedicated to James duke of Monmouth.
There is a preface of some length by Lock, which, like
his music, is rough and nervous, exactly corresponding
with the idea which is generated of his private character,
by the perusal of his controversy with Salmon, and the
sight of his picture in the music-school at Oxford. It is
written with that natural petulance which probably gave
birth to most of the quarrels in which he was involved. It
includes, however, a short history of these early attempts
at dramatic music on our stage, in which, as in the most
successful representations of this kind in later times, the
chief part of the dialogue was spoken, and recitative, or
musical declamation, which seems to be the true criterion
and characteristic of Italian operas, but seldom used, unless
merely to introduce some particular airs and choruses. Upon
examining this music, it appears to have been very much
composed on Lulli’s model. The melody is neither recitative nor air, but partaking of both, with a change of
measure as frequent as in any old French opera which we
ever saw.
Lock had genius and abilities in harmony sufficient to have surpassed his model, or to have casthis movements in a mould of his own making but such
Lock had genius and abilities in harmony sufficient to have surpassed his model, or to have casthis movements in a mould of his own making but such was the passion af Charles II. and consequently of his court, at this time, for every thing French, that in all probability Lock was instructed to imitate Cambert and Lulli. His music for the witches in Macbeth, which, when produced in 1674, was as smooth and airy as any of the time, has now obtained by age, that wild and savage cast which is admirably suited to the characters that are supposed to perform it.
This musician was of so irascible a disposition, that he seems never to have been without a quarrel or two on his hands. For his furious attack on Salmon, for proposing
In the third introductory music to the Tempest, which
is called a curtain tune, probably from the curtain being
first drawn up during the performance of this species of
overture, he has, for the first time that is come to one
knowledge, introduced the use of crescendo (louder by degrees), with diminuendo and lentando, under the words soft
and slow by degrees. No other instruments are mentioned
in the score of his opera of Psyche, than violins for the
ritornels; and yet, so slow was the progress of that instrument during the last century, that in a general catalogue of music in 1701, scarce any compositions appear to
have been printed for its use.
This musician was of so irascible a disposition, that he
seems never to have been without a quarrel or two on his
hands. For his furious attack on Salmon, for proposing to
reduce all the clefs in music to one, he had a quarrel with
the gentlemen of the chapel royal, early in Charles II.'s
reign. Being composer in ordinary to the king, he produced for the chapel royal a morning-service, in which he
set the prayer after each of the ten commandments to different music from that to which the singers had been long
accustomed, which was deemed an unpardonable innovation, and on the first day of April, 1666, at the performance of it before the king, there was a disturbance and
an obstruction for some time to the performance. To convince the public that it was not from the meanness or inaccuracy of the composition that this impediment to its
performance happened, Lock thought it necessary to print
the whole service; and it came abroad in score on a single
sheet, with a long and laboured vindication, by way of
preface, under the following title, “Modern church musick pre-accused, censured, and obstructed in its performance before his majesty.
” Lock was long suspected of
being a Roman catholic, and it is probable that this new
service, by leaning a little more towards the mass than
the service of the 1 protestant cathedral, may have given offence to some zealous members of the church of England.
were indebted to Lock for the first rules that were ever published in England, for a basso continuo, or thorough base; these rules he gave the world, in a book entitled
The public were indebted to Lock for the first rules
that were ever published in England, for a basso continuo,
or thorough base; these rules he gave the world, in a book
entitled “Melothesia,
” London, The Treasury of Music,
” “The
Theatre of Music,
” and other collections of songs. In
the 4atter of these is a dialogue, “When death shall part
us from these kids,
” which, with Dr. Blow’s “Go, perjured man,
” was ranked among the best vocal compositions of the time.
a market-town in Somersetshire, five miles from Bristol, by Anne his wife, daughter of Edmund Keen, or Ken, of Wrington, tanner. His father, who was first a clerk
, one of the greatest philosophers this country has produced, was the son of John Locke, of Pensford, a market-town in Somersetshire, five miles from Bristol, by Anne his wife, daughter of Edmund Keen, or Ken, of Wrington, tanner. His father, who was first a clerk only to a neighbouring justice of the peace, Francis Baber, of Chew Magna, was advanced by col. Alexander Popham, whose seat was near Pensford, to be a captain in the parliament’s service. After the restoration, he practised as an attorney, and was clerk of the sewers in Somersetshire *. Although our philosopher’s age is not to be found in the registers of Wrington, which is the parish church of Pensford, it has been ascertained that he wasborn there Aug. 29, 1632. By the interest of col, Popham, he was admitted a scholar at Westminster, whence in 1652 he was elected to Christ church, Oxford. Here he took the degree of B. A. in 1655, and that of M. A. in 1658; but although he made a considerable progress in the usual course of studies at that time, he often said that what he learned was of little use to enlighten and enlarge his mind. The first books which gave him a relish for the study of philosophy, were the writings of Des Cartes, whom he always found perspicuous, although he did not always approve of his sentiments.
. LXIX. p. Ul. leaving two sons, one who died in his his genius, and penetrating and exact judgment, or the purity of his morals, has scarce any superior, and few equals
* /But an intelligent writer, who ap- minority, and the other our celebrated pears to have had access to the best metaphysician. See Gent. Mag. vol. authorities, asserts that Mr. Locke’s LXII. See also a letter on the same father was killed at Bristol in 1645, subject, in vol. LXIX. p. Ul. leaving two sons, one who died in his his genius, and penetrating and exact judgment, or the purity of his morals, has scarce any superior, and few equals now living." Hence he was often saluted by his acquaintance with the title, though he never took the degree, of doctor, which we think would have been the case had he intended medicine as a profession, or had not been diverted from it by other studies and avocations f.
from Oxford at that time, desired his friend Mr. Locke to execute this commission. By some accident or neglect, the waters were not ready the day after lord Ashley’s
In 1664, sir William Swan being appointed envoy from the English court to the elector of Brandenburgh, and some other German princes, Mr. Locke attended him as his secretary, but returned to England within the year, and applied himself again with great vigour to his studies, and particularly to that of natural philosophy. While at Oxford, in 1666, he became acquainted with lord Ashley, afterwards earl of Shaftesbury, and that in the character of a medical practitioner. Lord Ashley by a fall had hurt his breast in such a manner, that there was an abscess formed in it, and being advised to drink the mineral waters at Astrop, wrote to Dr. Thomas, a physician at Oxford, to procure a quantity of those waters, which might be ready on his arrival. Dr. Thomas, being obliged to be absent from Oxford at that time, desired his friend Mr. Locke to execute this commission. By some accident or neglect, the waters were not ready the day after lord Ashley’s arrival, and Mr. Locke thought it his duty to wait on his lordship to make an apology, which he received with his usual civility, and was so pleased with Locke’s conversation as to detain him to supper, and engaged him to dine with him next day, that he might have the more of his company. And when his lordship left Oxford to go to Surinirig-hill, where he drank the waters, he made Mr. Locke promise to come thither, as he did in the summer of 1667. Lord Ashley afterwards returned, and obliged him to promise that he would come and lodge at his house. Mr. Locke accordingly went thither, and though not a regular practitioner, his lordship confided entirely in his advice, with regard to the operation, which was to be performed by opening the abscess in his breast, and which saved his life, though it never closed.
ed with his conversation, and more so, it appears, than he was sometimes with theirs. One day, three or four of these lords having met at lord Ashley’s when Mr. Locke
After this cure, his lordship, by frequent conversations,
discovered qualities in Locke, which made him regard his
medical skill as the least of his merits; and foreseeing the
bent of his talents, advised him to apply himself to the
study of political and religious topics, on which his lordship seems often to have consulted him. By his acquaintance with this nobleman, he was introduced to some persons of eminence, such as Villiers duke of Buckingham,
lord Halifax, and other noblemen of wit and parts, who
were all charmed with his conversation, and more so, it
appears, than he was sometimes with theirs. One day,
three or four of these lords having met at lord Ashley’s
when Mr. Locke was there, after some compliments, cards
were brought in, before scarce any conversation had passed
between them. Mr. Locke looked upon them for some
time while they were at play, and taking his pocket book
began to write with great attention. One of the lords
asked him what he was writing: “My lord,
” said he, “I
am endeavouring to profit as far as I am able, in your company; for having waited with impatience for the honour of
being in an assembly of the greatest geniuses of this age,
and at last having obtained the good fortune, I thought I
could not do better than write down your conversation;
and indeed I have set down the substance of what has
been said for this hour or two.
” This rebuke appears to
have been taken in good part; the company quitted their
play, and passed the rest of their time in a. manner more
suitable to the rational character.
not any man inthe college, however familiar with him, who had heard him speak a word either against or so much as concerning the government; and although very frequently,
During his residence in Holland, he was accused at
court of having written certain tracts against the government of his country, which were afterwards discovered to
be the production of another person; and upon that suspicion he was deprived of his studentship of Christ-church.
This part of Mr. Locke’s history requires some detail.
The writer of his life in the Biographia Britannica (Nicoll)
says that “being observed to join in company with several
English malcontents at the Hague, this conduct was communicated by our resident there to the earl of Sunderland,
then secretary of state; who acquainting the king therewith, his majesty ordered the proper methods to be taken
for expelling him from the college, and application to be
made for that purpose to bishop Fell, the dean; in obedience to this command, the necessary information was given
by his lordship, who at the same time wrote to our author, to
appear and answer for himself on the first of January ensuing,
but immediately receiving an express command to turn him
out, was obliged to comply therewith, and, accordingly,
Air. Locke was removed from his student’s place on the
15th of Nov. 1684.
” This account, however, is not correct. All that lord Sunderland did, was to impart his majesty’s displeasure to the dean, and to request his opinion
as to the proper method of removing Mr. Locke. The
dean’s answer, dated Nov. 8, contains the following particulars of Mr. Locke, and of his own advice and proceedings against him. “I have,
” says the dean, “for divers
years had an eye upon him; but so close has his guard
been on himself, that after several strict inquiries, I may
confidently affirm there is not any man inthe college,
however familiar with him, who had heard him speak a
word either against or so much as concerning the government; and although very frequently, both in public and
private, discourses have been purposely introduced to the
disparagement of his master, the earl of Shaftesbury, his
party and designs, he never could be provoked to take
any notice, or discover in word or look the least concern.
So that I believe there is not a man in the world so much
master of taciturnity and passion. He has here a physician’s place (he had taken the degree of B. M. in 1674)
which frees him from the exercise of the college, and the
obligations which others have to residence in it; and he is
now abroad for want of health.
”
all be enabled of course to proceed against him to expulsion. But if this method seems not effectual or speedy enough, and his majesty, our founder and visitor, shall
Thus far we might suppose the dean had advanced
enough in behalf of the innocence of Mr. Locke. What
follows, however, will be read with regret, that so good a
man as bishop Fell should have given such advice. “Notwithstanding this, I have summoned him to return home,
which is done with this prospect, that if he comes not
back, he will be liable to expulsion for contumacy; and
if he does, he will be answerable to the law for that which
he shall be found to have done amiss. It being probable
that, though he may have been thus cautious here, where
he knew himself suspected, he has laid himself more open
at London, where a general liberty of speaking was used,
and where the execrable designs against his majesty and
government were managed and pursued. If he don't r^turn by the first of January, which is the time limited to
him, I shall be enabled of course to proceed against him
to expulsion. But if this method seems not effectual or
speedy enough, and his majesty, our founder and visitor,
shall please to command his immediate remove, upon the
receipt thereof, directed to the dean and chapter, it shall
accordingly be executed.
” In consequence of this, a warrant came down to the dean and chapter, dated Nov. 12,
in these words: “Whereas we have received information
of the factious and disloyal behaviour of Locke, one of the
students of that our college; we have thought fit hereby to
signify our will and pleasure to you, that you forthwith
remove him from his student’s place, and deprive him of
all rights and advantages thereunto belonging, for which
this shall be your warrant,
” &c. And thus, on the 16th
following, one of the greatest men of his time was, expelled the college at the command of Charles II. without,
as far as ia known, any form of trial or inquiry. After the
death of Charles II. William Penn, the celebrated quaker,
who had known Mr. Locke at the university, used his interest with king James to procure a pardon for him) an J
would have obtained it, if Mr. Locke had not said, that he
had no occasion for a pardon, since he had not been guilty
of any crime.
ft to his choice whether he would be envoy at the court of the emperor, the elector of Brandenburgh, or any other, where he thought the air most suitable to him, but
He was now at full liberty to pursue his speculations,
and, accordingly, in 1689, published his celebrated “Essay on Human Understanding,
” and the same year his
“Two Treatises on Government,
” in which he fully vindicated the principles upon which the revolution was
founded. His writings had now procured him such high
reputation, and he had merited so much of the new government, that it would have been easy for him to have
obtained a very considerable place; but he contented himself with that of commissioner of appeals, worth about 200l.
per annum. He was offered to go abroad in a public character, and it was left to his choice whether he would be
envoy at the court of the emperor, the elector of Brandenburgh, or any other, where he thought the air most suitable to him, but he declined it on account of his bad health.
ious,” in which he endeavoured to prove, that there is nothing in the Christian religion contrary to or above reason; and in explaining some of his notions, used several
Some time before this, Toland published his “Christianity not. mysterious,
” in which he endeavoured to prove,
that there is nothing in the Christian religion contrary to
or above reason; and in explaining some of his notions,
used several arguments drawn from Locke’s “Essay on
Human Understanding.
” Some Socinians,also about this
time published several treatises, in which they affirmed,
that there was nothing in the Christian religion but what
was rational and intelligible; and Mr. Locke having
asserted in his writings that revelation delivers nothing
contrary to reason; all this induced Dr. Stillingfleet, the
learned bishop of Worcester, to publish a treatise, in
which he vindicated the doctrine of the Trinity against
Toland and the Socinians, and likewise opposed some of
Mr. Locke’s principles, as favourable to the above-mentioned writings. This produced a controversy, in the
course of which our author endeavoured to show the perfect agreement of his principles with the Christian religion,
and that he had advanced nothing which had the least tendency to scepticism, which the bishop had charged him
with. But Stillingfleet dying some time after, the dispute
ended, and ended as such disputes have frequently done,
each party claiming the victory. On whichever side it
lay, we may be permitted to add, that some of Mr. Locke’s
biographers have spoken of Stillingfleet’s writings with unpardonable arrogance and contempt.
im, and said he would be well pleased with his continuance in office, although he should give little or no attendance, and certainly would not wish him to remain in
In 1695, Mr. Locke was appointed one of the commissioners of trade and plantations, a place wprth 1000l. per annum. The duties of this post he discharged with great ability and diligence until 1700, when the increase of his asthmatic disorder, obliged him to resign it. On this occasion he acquainted no person with his intention, until he had given up his commission into the king’s hand. His majesty, who knew his worth, was very unwilling to part with him, and said he would be well pleased with his continuance in office, although he should give little or no attendance, and certainly would not wish him to remain in towji one day to the detriment of his health. But Mr. Locke told the king that he could not in conscience hold a place to which such a salary was annexed, without discharging the duties of it; and therefore he begged leave to resign it, which was accepted.
he had enjoyed a happy life but that, after all, he looked upon this life to be nothing but vanity,“ or, as he expresses a similar sentiment, in a letter which he left
From this time, which was the year 1700, he lived altogether at Oates, and applied himself, without interruption,
entirely to the study of the holy scriptures; and in this
employment he found so much pleasure, that he regretted
his not having devoted more of his time to it in the former
part of his life. On one occasion, in answer to a young
gentleman, who asked what was the shortest and surest
way for a person to attain a true knowledge of the Christian religion? he replied, “Let him study the holy scripture, especially the New Testament. It has God for its
author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.
” In that he was in perfect
charity with all men, and in a sincere communion with the
church of Christ, by what name soever it might be distinguished.
” He lived some months after this, which he
spent in acts of piety and devotion: when he was meditating on the wisdom and goodness of the Creator, he could
not forbear crying out, *' Oh the depth of the riches of the
goodness and knowledge of God:“what he felt himself on
this subject he was anxious to infuse into the hearts of
others. On the day previously to uis departure he said,
” he had lived long enough, and was thankful that he had
enjoyed a happy life but that, after all, he looked upon
this life to be nothing but vanity,“or, as he expresses a
similar sentiment, in a letter which he left behind him for
his friend Mr. Anthony Collins, one that
” affords no solid
satisfaction but in the consciousness of doing well, and in
the hopes of another life." He had no rest that night,
and begged in the morning to be carried into his study,;
where, being placed in an easy chair, he had a refreshing
sleep for a considerable time. He then requested lady
Masham to read aloud some of the psalms, to which he
appeared exceedingly attentive, till feeling, probably, the
approach of the last messenger, he begged her to desist,
and in a few minutes expired, on the 28th of October 1704,
in the 73d year of his age.
hen he perceived that it proceeded from ignorance; but when it was the effect of pride, ill- nature, or brutality, he detested it. He looked on civility not only as
Mr. Locke, says his latest biographer, had great knowledge of the world, and was prudent without cunning,
easy, affable, and condescending without any mean complaisance. If there was any thing he could not bear, it
was ill manners, and a rude behaviour. This was ever ungrateful to him, unless, when he perceived that it proceeded from ignorance; but when it was the effect of
pride, ill- nature, or brutality, he detested it. He looked
on civility not only as a duty of humanity, but Christianity;
and he thought that it ought to be more pressed and urged
upon men than it commonly is. He recommended on this
occasion a treatise in the moral essays written by the gentlemen of the Port Roval, *-' concerning the means of
preserving peace among men,“and was a great admirer of
Dr. Whichcote’s Sermons on the subject. He was exact
to his word, and religiously performed whatever he promised. He was very scrupulous of giving recommendations of persons whom he did not well know, and would
by no means commend those whom he thought not to deserve it. If he was told that his recommendation had not
produced the effect expected, he would say,
” the reason
was because he never deceived any person by saying more
than he knew; that he never passed his word for any but
such as he believed would answer the character he gave of
them; and that if he should do otherwise, his recommendations would be worth nothing."
book of the metaphysical kind that has been so generally read by those who understand the language, or that is more adapted to teach men to think with precision, and
Of all Mr. Locke’s works, his “Essay on Human Understanding,
” is that which has contributed most to his fame,
and the reputation which it had from the beginning, and
which it has gradually acquired abroad, is a sufficient testimony of its merit. There is perhaps no book of the metaphysical kind that has been so generally read by those who
understand the language, or that is more adapted to teach
men to think with precision, and to inspire them with that
candour and love of truth, which is the genuine spirit of
philosophy. He gave, Dr. Reid thinks, the first example
in the English language of writing on such abstract subjects, with a remarkable degree of simplicity and perspicuity; and in this he has been happily imitated by others
that came after him. No author has. more successfully
pointed out the danger of ambiguous words, and the importance of having distinct and determinate notions in
judging and reasoning. His observations on the various
powers of the human understanding, on the use and abuse
of words, and on the extent and limits of human knowledge, are drawn from attentive reflection on the operations of his own mind, the true source of all real knowledge on those subjects; and show an uncommon degree of
penetration and judgment Such is the opinion of the
learned and candid Dr. Reid, who says, “I mention these
things that when I have occasion to differ from him, I
may not be thought insensible of the merit of an author
whom I highly respect, and to whom I owe my first lights
in those studies, as well as my attachment to them.
” Dr.
Reid has ably pointed out what he thought defective in
Locke’s system, which indeed has been more or less the
subject of discussion in every work on metaphysics during
the last century. The late Mr. Home Tooke, in his “Diversions of Purley,
” differs from all others in advancing
one of those singular opinions which are peculiar to that
gentleman. He calls Locke’s Essay, merely “a grammatical treatise, or a treatise on words, or on language;
”
and says, that “it was a lucky mistake which Mr. Locke
made when he called his book an Essay on the Human
Understanding. For some part of the inestimable benefit
of that book has, merely on account of its title, reached
to thousands more than, I fear, it would have done, had
he called it a Grammatical Essay. The human mind, or
the human understanding, appears to be a grand and noble
theme, and all men, even the most insufficient, conceive
ttut to be a proper object for their contemplation, while
inquiries into the nature of language are supposed to be
beneath the concern of their exalted understanding.
”
son of Stephen Locker, esq. or Lockier (for that was the family name in the reign of Charles
son of Stephen Locker, esq. or Lockier (for that was the family name in the reign of Charles II. as appears by the signature pf one of their ancestors to a lease in that reign), was of a gentleman’s family in Middlesex, where they possessed a considerable property, which, it is said, they lost, as many others did, by their loyalty. He was bred at MerchantTaylors’ school, whence he went to Merton-college, Oxford; after which he travelled abroad with his friend Mr. Twisleton, who was probably of the same college. He was entered at Gray’s Inn, where he studied the law in the same chambers formerly occupied by his admired lord Bacon; and having been called to the bar, was afterwards clerk of the companies of leather-sellers and clock-makers, and a commissioner of bankrupts. He married (the families being before related) miss Elizabeth Stillingfleet, who was remarkable for her many excellent qualities as well as personal charms. She was grand-daughter to the eminent bishop of Worcester by his lordship’s first wife, and sister to Benjamin Stillingfleet, esq. much distinguished by his ingenious writings and worthy character. By this lady, who died August 12, 1759, he had nine children. Mr. Locker is noticed by Dr. Johnson , in his Life of Addison, as eminent for curiosity and literature; as he is by Dr. Ward, in his Lives of the Gresham Professors, as a gentleman much esteemed for his knowledge of polite literature. He was remarkable for his skill in the Greek language; and attained the modern, which he could write very well, in a very extraordinary manner. Coming home late one evening, he was addressed in that language by a poor Greek, from the Archipelago, who had lost his way in the streets of London. Mr. Locker took him home, where he was maintained, for some time, by the kindness of himself and Dr. Mead; and, by this accidental circumstance, Mr. Locker acquired his knowledge of modern Greek. He almost adored lord Bacon; and had collected from original manuscripts and other papers, many curious things of his lordship’s not mentioned by others, which it was his intention to publish, but his death prevented it; however, this fell into such good hands, that the public are now in possession of them, as is mentioned in the last edition of lord Bacon’s works, by Dr. Birch and Mr. Mallet, 1765. Mr. Locker also wrote the preface to Voltaire’s Life of Charles XII. of Sweden, and translated the two first books; and Dr. Jebb the rest. He died, very much regretted, in May 1760, not quite a year after the loss of his amiable lady, which it was thought accelerated his own death. They both were buried in St. Helen’s church, Bishopsgate-street, London. Their son William, bred to the naval service, but a man of some literary talents, died lieutenant-governor of Greenwich-hospital, on December 26, 1800, at the age of seventy. Some particulars of him are to be found in our authority.
ures of the Bodleian library. Yet his character in other respects does not correspond with his parts or learning. He was accounted, says Harris, an improvident and
Mr. Loftus’s greatest excellence lay in the knowledge
of various languages, especially the oriental; and it is
said, that when only twenty years of age, he was able to
translate as many languages into English. Among archbishop Usher’s letters is one from him to that prelate, which,
although short, shews his avidity to search out oriental
books and Mss.; as well as his high respect and gratitude
to Usher, who first directed his attention to the treasures of
the Bodleian library. Yet his character in other respects
does not correspond with his parts or learning. He was
accounted, says Harris, an improvident and unwise man,
and his many levities and want of conduct gave the world
too much reason to think so. The same biographer mentions “a great, but free-spoken prelate,
” who said of Mr.
Loftus, that “he never knew so much learning in the
keeping of a fool.
”
to. Harris mentions a few other translations from the Armenian, Arabic, and Syriac, but without date or place, and which probably were printed with some of the preceding.
His learning, indeed, and his industry appear very evident by his many writings. Besides the ^thiopic New
Testament which he translated into Latin, at the request of
Usher and Selden, for the Polyglot, and which procured
him from Walton the character of “vir doctissimus, tain
generis prosapia, quam linguaruoi orientalium scientia,
nobilis,
” he published, 1. “Logica Armeniaca in Latinam
traducta,
” Dublin, Introductio in totam
Aristotelis Philosophiam,
” ibid. 1657, 12mo. 3. “The
Proceedings observed in order to, and in the consecration
of, the twelve Bishops in St. Patrick’s Church in Dublin,
Jan. 27, 1660,
” Lond. Liber Psalmorum
Davidis ex Armeniaco idiotnate in Latinum traductus,
”
Dublin, Oratio funebris habita post
exuvias nuperi Rev. jbatris Joan. (Bramhall) archiepiscopi
Armacbani,
” ibid. The Speech of James
duke of Ormond, made in a parliament at Dublin, Sept.
17, 1662, translated into the Italian,
” ibid. Reductio litium de libero arbitrio, proedestinatione, et
reprobatione ad arbitrium boni viri,
” ibid. A, Book demonstrating that it was inconsistent with the
English government, that the Irish rebels should be admitted to their former condition with impunity, by topics
drawn from principles of law, policy, and conscience,
”
published under the name of Philo-Britannicus. 9. “Lettera esortatoria di mettere opera a fare sincera penitenza
mandata alia signora F. M. L. P. &c.
” The Vindication of an injured lady,
F. M. Lucretia Plunket, one of the ladies of the privy
chamber to the queen mother of England,
” Lond. Case of Ware and Shirley,
” a gentleman who married an heiress against her
will. 12. “A Speech delivered at the Visitation held in
the diocese of Clogher, se.de vacant e, Sept. 27, 1671,
”
Dublin, The first marriage of Katherine
Fitzgerald (now lady Decies), &c. asserted,
” Lond. Sponsa nondum uxor,
” Lond.
Several Chapters of Dionysius Syrus’s
Comment on St. John the Evangelist, concerning the Life
and Death of our Saviour,
” Dublin, 4 to. 15. “The
Commentary on the Four Evangelists, by Dionysius Syrus, out
of the Syriac tongue.
” 16. “Commentary on St. Paul’s
Epistles, by Moses Bar-Cepha, out of the Syriac.
” 17.
“Exposition of Dionysius Syrus, on St. Mark,
” Dublin,
History of the Eastern and Western Churches, by Gregory Maphrino, translated into Latin from the Syriac.
”
19. “Commentary on the general Epistles, and Acts of
the Apostles, by Gregory Maphrino.
” 20 “Praxis cultusdivini juxta ritus primoevorum Christianorum,
” containing various ancient liturgies, &c. Dublin, 1693, 4to. 21.
“A clear and learned Explication of the History of our
Blessed Saviour, taken out of above thirty Greek, Syriac,
and other oriental authors, by way of Catena, by Dionysius Syrus, translated into English,
” Dublin,
uncommon proficiency in the learned languages, but discovered no great inclination for mathematics, or metaphysics, although he took care not to be so deficient in
, a Scotch divine and poet, was born about the beginning of 1747-8, at Soutra, in the parish of Fala, on the southern extremity of Mid- Lothian, where his father rented a small farm. He appears to have been taught the first rudiments of learning at the school of Musselburgh, near Edinburgh; and here, as well as at home, was zealously instructed in the principles of the Calvinistic system of religion, as professed by the seceders, a species of dissenters from the established church of Scotland. In 1762, he entered on the usual courses of study at the university of Edinburgh, where he made uncommon proficiency in the learned languages, but discovered no great inclination for mathematics, or metaphysics, although he took care not to be so deficient in these branches as to incur any censure, or create any hindrance to his academical progress. His turn being originally to works of imagination, he found much that was congenial in a course of lectures then read by professor John Stevenson, on Aristotle’s Art of Poetry, and on Longinus; and while these directed his taste, he employed his leisure hours in acquiring a more perfect knowledge of Homer, whose beauties he relished with poetical enthusiasm. The writings of Milton, and other eminent poets of the English series, became likewise his favourite studies, and the discovery of
inburgh to attend the divinity lectures, with a view of entering into the church. Either by reading, or by the company he kept, he had already overcome the scruples
At what time he began to imitate his favourite models, is doubtful, but as an inclination to write poetry is generally precipitate, it is probable that he had produced many of his lesser pieces while at the university; and he had the advice and encouragement of Dr. John Main of Athelstoneford, a clergyman of classical taste, in pursuing a track which genius seemed to have pointed out. He had also acquired the friendship and patronage of lord Elibank, and of the celebrated Dr. Blair, who regarded him as a youth of promising talents, and unusual acumen in matters of criticism. By the recommendation of Dr. Blair, he was, in 1768, received into the family of Sinclair, as private tutor to the present baronet of Ulbster, the editor of those statistical reports which have done so much honour to the clerical character of Scotland. Here, however, Logan did not remain long, but returned to Edinburgh to attend the divinity lectures, with a view of entering into the church. Either by reading, or by the company he kept, he had already overcome the scruples which inclined his parents to dissent, and determined to take orders in the establishment.
ge at South Leith, which he accepted. His poems, which had been hitherto circulated only in private, or perhaps occasionally inserted in the literary journals, pointed
In 1770, he published a volume under the title of
“Poems on several occasions, by Michael Bruce,
” a youth
who died at the age of twenty-one, after exhibiting considerable talents for poetry. In this volume, however,
Logan chose to insert several pieces of his own, without
specifying them, a circumstance which has since given
rise to a controversy between the respective friends of
Bruce and Logan. In 1770, after going through the usual
probationary periods, Logan was admitted a preacher, and
in 1773 was invited to the pastoral charge at South Leith,
which he accepted. His poems, which had been hitherto
circulated only in private, or perhaps occasionally inserted
in the literary journals, pointed him out as a proper person
to assist in a scheme for revising the psalmody of the church.
For this purpose he was, in 1775, appointed one of the
committee ordered by the General Assembly (the highest ecclesiastical authority in Scotland), and took a very active
part in their proceedings, not only revising and improving
some of the old versions, but adding others of his own composition. This collection of “Translations and Paraphrases
” was published in
d talents been the criterion) must have excluded all competition. Whether owing to this appointment, or to the decay of public curiosity, Logan’s lectures were no longer
Here, however, an obstacle presented itself, which he
had not foreseen, and which his friends could not remove.
It had been the invariable practice of the patrons to present to this office a member of the faculty of advocates,
and in the present instance their choice fell upon Mr. FrazerTytler, the late lord Woodhouselee, a gentleman whose
talents (had talents been the criterion) must have excluded
all competition. Whether owing to this appointment, or
to the decay of public curiosity, Logan’s lectures were no
longer encouraged; but in 1781, he published an analysis
of them, entitled “Elements of the Philosophy of History,
”
and soon after one entire lecture in the form of an “Essayon the Manners of Asia.
” Both were favourably received,
yet without those decisive proofs of encouragement which
could justify his publishing the whole course, as he probably intended. In the same year appeared his volume of
“Poems,
” which were so eagerly bought up, that a second
edition became necessary within a few months. Such popularity induced him to complete a tragedy which he had
been for some time preparing, entitled “Kunamede,
” and
founded upon the history of the great charter. This tragedy was accepted by the manager of Covent-garden
theatre, but was interdicted by the licenser of the stage as
containing political allusions that were improper. It was
printed, however, in 1783, and afterwards acted on the
Edinburgh theatre, but met with no extraordinary applause
either in the closet or on the stage. In this attempt, indeed, the author seems to have mistaken his talents. In
Scotland, his biographer informs us, he had to encounter
the general prejudices of that country against the interference of the clergy in theatrical concerns.
his profession a profession which he had voluntarily chosen, and in which he was liberally settled; or of irregularities which unfitted him to perform its duties,
These disappointments, we are told, “preyed with pungent keenness upon a mind uncommonly susceptible. His
temper,
” it is added, “was still further fretted by the umbrage which some of his parish had unjustly taken at his
engaging in studies foreign to his profession, and which
others, with more reason, had conceived, on account of
certain deviations from the propriety and decorum of his
clerical character; though not a few of them were sufficiently liberal in their allowances for irregularities which
could only be attributed to inequality of spirits and irritability of nerves.
” This vindication is specious, but will
not bear examination. There could surely be no great
injustice in complaining of studies which diverted him from
his profession a profession which he had voluntarily chosen, and in which he was liberally settled; or of irregularities which unfitted him to perform its duties, and obliged
him at last to compound for his inability or neglect by retiring upon a small annuity. Yet such was the case; and
with this annuity, or with the promise of it, he came to
London in 1786, and for some time subsisted by furnishing articles for the “English Review,
” and perhaps other
periodical publications. He wrote also a pamphlet, entitled “A Review of the Principal Charges against Mr.
Hastings,
” which was a very able and eloquent vindication
of that gentleman; and probably appeared in that light to
the public at large, for the publisher, against whom the
friends of the impeachment directed a prosecution, was
acquitted by the verdict of a jury. This last consequence,
Logan did not live to witness. His health had been for
some time broken, and he died at his apartments in Marlborough-street, Dec. 28, 1738, in the fortieth year of his
age.
cripts, which were once intended for publication. Among these are his Lectures on History, and three or four tragedies. In 1805 a new edition of his poems was published
Dr. Robertson accordingly prepared a volume of his Sermons, which was published in 1790, and a second in the
following year. They are in general elegant and perspicuous, but occasionally burst into passages of the declamatory kind, which, however, are perhaps not unsuitable
to the warmth of pulpit oratory. They have been uncommonly successful, the fifth edition having made its appearance in 1807. He left several other manuscripts, which
were once intended for publication. Among these are his
Lectures on History, and three or four tragedies. In
1805 a new edition of his poems was published at Edinburgh and London, to which a life is prefixed by an anonymous writer. From this the facts contained in the present more succinct sketch have been borrowed. Logan
deserves a very high rank among our minor poets. The
chief character of his poetry is the pathetic, and it will
not, perhaps, be easy to produce any pieces from the
whole range of English poetry more exquisitely tender
and pathetic than “The Braes of Yarrow,
” *f The Ode
on the Death of a Young Lady,“or
” A Visit to the
Country in Autumn.“” The Lovers“seems to assume a higher character; the opening lines, spoken by
Harrietj rise to sublimity by noble gradations of terror,
and an accumulation of images, which are, with peculiar
felicity, made to vanish on the appearance of her lover.
In the whole of Logan’s poems are passages of true poetic
spirit and sensibility. With a fancy so various and regulated, it is to be regretted he did not more frequently cultivate his talents. The episode of
” Levina," among the
pieces attributed to him, indicates powers that might have
appeared to advantage in a regular poem of narration
and description. His sacred pieces are allowed to be of
the inferior kind, but they are inferior only as they are ixot
original he strives to throw an air of modern elegance
over the simple language of the East, consecrated by use
and devotional spirit; and he fails where Watts and others
have failed before him, and where Cowper only has escaped
without injury to his general character.
Loggan died in Leicester-fields, where he had resided in the latter part of his days, either in 1693 or 1700, for Vertue gives both dates in different places.
, a very useful, if not an eminent
engraver, was a native of Dantzic, and born probably in
1635. He is said to have received some instructions from
Simon Pass, in Denmark. Passing through Holland, he
studied under Hondius, and came to England before the
restoration. Being at Oxford, and making a drawing for
himself of All-souls college, he was taken notice of, and
invited to undertake plates of all the colleges and public
buildings of that university, which he executed, and by
which he first distinguished himself. He afterwards performed the same for Cambridge, where he is said to have
hurt his eye-sight in delineating the fine chapel of King’s
college. He also engraved on eleven folio plates, the academical habits of Oxford, from the doctor to the lowest
servant. At Oxford he was much caressed, obtained a licence for vending his “Oxonia Illustrata,
” for fifteen
years, and on July 9, 1672, was matriculated as universityengraver, by the name of “David Loggan, Gedanensis.
”
He was the most considerable engraver of heads in his
time, but their merit as work* of art has not been rated
very high. His “Oxonia
” and “Cantabrigia illustrata,
”
however, will perpetuate his name, and his correctness may
still be traced in those colleges which have not undergone
alterations. He married a Mrs. Jordan, of a good family
near Witney, in Oxfordshire, and left at least one son,
who was fellow of Magdalen-college, Oxford, and B. D.
in 1707. Loggan died in Leicester-fields, where he had
resided in the latter part of his days, either in 1693 or
1700, for Vertue gives both dates in different places.
, sometimes called Abre Anam, or father of Anam, was a philosopher of great account among the
, sometimes called
Abre Anam, or father of Anam, was a philosopher of great
account among the Easterns, but his personal history is
involved in much obscurity, and what we have is probably
fabulous. Some say he was an Abyssinian of Ethiopia or
Nubia, and was sold as a slave among the Israelites, in
the reigns of David and Solomon. According to the Arabians, he was tlje son of Baura, son or grandson of a sister
or aunt of Job. Some say he worked as a carpenter, others
as a tailor, while a third sort will have him to be a shepherd; however that be, he was certainly an extraordinary
person, endowed with great wisdom and eloquence, and
we have an account of the particular manner in which he
received these divine gifts; being one day asleep about
noon, the angels saluted Lokman without making themselves visible, in these terms: “We are the messengers
of God, thy creator and ours; and he has sent us to declare to thee that he will make thee a monarch, and his
vice-gerent upon earth.
” Lokman replied, “If it is by
an absolute command of God that I am to become such a
one as you say, his will be done in all things; and I hope
if this should happen, that he will bestow on me all the
grace necessary for enabling me to execute his commands
faithfully; however, if he would grant me the liberty to
chuse my condition of life, I had rather continue in my
present state, and be kept from offending him; otherwise,
all the grandeur and splendours of the world would be
troublesome to me.
” This answer, we are told, was so
pleasing to God, that he immediately bestowed on him the
gift of wisdom in an eminent degree; and he was able to
instruct all men, by a multitude of maxims, sentences,
and parables, amounting to ten thousand in number, every
one of which his admirers reckon greater than the whole
world in value.
” Accordingly, we find inscribed to him this apophthegm: “Be a learned man, disciple of the learned, or an auditor of the learned; at least be a lover of knowledge,
This story is evidently of the same cast with that of Solomon, and was perhaps taken from it; but Lokman himself gives a different account of his perfections. Being
seated in the midst of a number of people who were listening to him, a man of eminence among the Jews, seeing so
great a crowd of auditors round him, asked him, “Whether he was not the black slave who a little before looked
after the sheep of a person he named?
” To which Lokman
assenting; “How has it been possible,
” continued the Jew,
“for thee to attain so exalted a pitch of wisdom and virtue
” Lokman replied, “It was by the following means
by always speaking the truth, by keeping my word Inviolably, and by never intermeddling in affairs that did
not concern me.
” Accordingly, we find inscribed to him
this apophthegm: “Be a learned man, disciple of the
learned, or an auditor of the learned; at least be a lover
of knowledge, and desirous of improvement.
” Lokman,
it is said, hud not only consummate knowledge, but was
equally good and virtuous; and so many admirable qualifies could not always be held in slavery. His master
giving him a bitter melon to eat, Lokman ate it all; when
his master, surprised at his exact obedience, says, “Hovr
was it possible for you to eat so nauseous a fruit?
” Lokman replied, “I have received so many favours from you,
that it is no wonder I should once in my life eat a bitter
melon from your hand.
” This generous answer struck the
master to such a degree, that he immediately gave him his
liberty.
, well known by the title of Master or“the Sentences, was born at Novara, in Lombardy, whence he took
, well known by the title of Master
or“the Sentences, was born at Novara, in Lombardy, whence
he took his surname. He was educated at Bologna, and
Rheims, under St. Bernard, and afterwards removed to
Paris, where, as one of the professors in that university,
he distinguished himself so much, that the canonry of
Chartres was conferred upon him. He was some time
tutor to Philip, son of king Lewis le Gros, and brother of
Lewis the young; and was so much esteemed by him,
that upon the vacancy of the bishopric of Paris, that noble
personage, being intended for the see, declined it for the
sake of Lombard, who was accordingly promoted to it
about 1160, and died in 1164. He was interred in the
church of Marcellus, in the suburb of that name, where
his epitaph is still to be seen. His work of the Sentences,
divided into four books, contains an illustration of the doctrines of the church, in a collection of sentences or passages taken from the fathers. This was so favourably received, that in a short time it was the only work taught in
the schools, and the author was, by way of eminence,
called the
” Master of the Sentences,“and was accounted
the chief of the scholastic divines. His work was first
printed at Venice, 1477, fol. and innumerable commentaries have been written on it. In our own universities the
being admitted
” to read the Sentences“was, as may be
frequently seen in Wood’s Athenae, a mark of great progress in study, for a greater veneration was paid to Lombard’s work than to the Scriptures. Bacon, in a letter to
Clement IV. mentions this preference as an absurdity.
” The bachelor,“says he,
” who reads the Scriptures,
gives place to the reader of the * Sentences,' who everywhere is honoured and preferred. The reader of the Sentences has his choice of the most eligible time, and holds
a call and society with the religious; but the biblical
reader has neither; and must beg for such an hour as the
reader of the Sentences is pleased to assign him. He who
reads the Lombardine thesis, may anywhere dispute and
be esteemed a master; but he who reads the text of Scripture is admitted to no such honour: the absurdity of this
conduct is evident," &C.
t, who was director of the religious at Estampes. After he had been taught grammar and Latin for two or three years under this ecclesiastic, his father sent him to
, an eminent French historian and
bibliographer, was born at Paris, April 19, 1665. His
mother dying while he was very young, his father married
again, and entrusted his education to one of his relations,
a priest, who was director of the religious at Estampes.
After he had been taught grammar and Latin for two or
three years under this ecclesiastic, his father sent him to
Malta, with a view to procure him admission among the
clerks of the order of St. John of Jerusalem. He had
scarcely arrived here when the plague broke out, to which
he incautiously exposed himself; but although he escaped
the contagion, he fancied that the air of Malta did not
agree with him, and obtained leave of his superiors to return to Paris, where he might prosecute his studies in the
classics, philosophy, and divinity. As he had not taken
the vows in the order of St. John, he had no sooner completed his studies at home, than he entered into the congregation of the oratory. His year of probation being
passed, he was sent to the college of Jully, where he
taught mathematics, and went afterwards to the seminary
of Notre Dame des Vertus, where he employed his leisure
time in study, particularly of philosophy, which brought
him acquainted with father Malbranche. On his return
to Paris he was appointed to the care of the library belonging to the fathers of the oratory, a place for which he was
admirably qualified, as he was not only acquainted with
Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and the Chaldean, but with the
Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and English languages, and
had a very extensive knowledge of literary history, of books,
editions, and printing. The continual pains, however,
which he bestowed on this library, and on his own publications, undermined his constitution, which was originally
delicate, and brought on a complaint in the chest, which
proved fatal, Aug. 13, 1721, in the fifty. sixth year of his
life. His time for many years had been divided between
devotion and study; he allowed very little to sleep, and
less to the table. Although a man of extensive knowledge,
and often consulted, he was equally modest and unaffected.
In all his researches he shewed much acuteness and judgment, but the course of his studies had alienated him from
works of taste and imagination, for which he had little relish. His principal object was the ascertaining of truth in
matters of literary history; and the recovery of dates and
other minutiae, on which he was frequently obliged to
bestow the time that seemed disproportionate, was to him
a matter of great importance, nor was he to be diverted
from such accuracy by his friend Malbranche, who did not
think philosophy concerned in such matters. “Truth,
”
said Le Long, “is so valuable, that we ought not to
neglect it even in trifles.
” His works are, 1. “Methode
Hebraique du P. Renou,
” Bibliotheca
Sacra, sive syllabus omnium ferme Sacrse Scripture eclitionum ac versionum,
” Paris, Discours historique sur les principales Editions des Bibles
Polyglottes,
” Paris, Histoire des demelez du pape Boniface VIII. avec Philippe Le Bel, roi de France,
” 1718, 12mo, a posthumous
work of M. Baillet, to which Le Long added some documents illustrating that period of French history. 5. “Bibliotheque Historique de France,
”
church in that county. Besides his “History of Jamaica,” Mr. Long contributed to public information or amusement by a variety of lesser productions. Early in life
, author of a valuable History of Jamaica, was the fourth son of Samuel Long, esq. of Longville, in the island of Jamaica, and Tredudwell in the
county of Cornwall, by his wife Mary, second daughter of
Bartholomew Tate, of Delapre in the county of Northampton, esq. He was born Aug. 23, 1734, at Rosilian, in the
parish of St. Blaize, in Cornwall. He was placed first at
Bury school, under Dr. Kinnesman, and was removed
thence about 1746, probably on account of his father’s
residence in the country, to a school at Liskeard, in Cornwall, under the management of the Rev. Mr. Haydon. In
1752 he left this place, and after two years private instruction in London, he was entered at Gray’s Inn, and fixed
with Mr. Wflmot. His father dying, in 1757, in Jamaica,
he resolved to embark for that Island; but, not having
completed his terms, he obtained an ex gratia call to the
bar before he sailed. On his arrival in Jamaica, he at first
filled the post of private secretary to his brother-in-law,
sir Henry Moore, bart. then lieutenant-governor of the
island; and was afterwards appointed judge of the vice-admiralty court. On Aug. 12, 1758, he married Mary, second daughter, and at length sole heiress, of Thomas
Beckford, esq. Mr. Long’s ill health compelled him to
leave the island in 1769; and he never returned to it, but
passed the remainder of his life in retirement, devoting his
leisure to literary pursuits, and particularly to the com 7
pletion of his “History of Jamaica,
” which was published
in History of Jamaica,
” Mr. Long contributed to public information or amusement by a variety of
lesser productions. Early in life he wrote some essays in
“The Prater, by Nicholas Babble, esq.
” The
Antigallican, or the History and Adventures of Harry Cobham, esq.
” The Trial of farmer Carter’s Dog Porter, for murder,
” Reflections on the Negro Cause,
” The Sentimental Exhibition, or Portraits and Sketches of the Times,
”
Letters on the Colonies,
” English Humanity no Paradox,
” The Sugar Trade, 1782, 8vo. He was likewise
editor of
” Memoirs of the Reign of Bossa Ahaclee, king
of Dahomy, with a short account of the African slave
trade, by Robert Norris," 1789, v 8vo.
e; the lower part of the sphere, so much of it as is invisible in England, is cut off; and the lower or southern ends of the meridians, or truncated semi-circles, terminate
, an English divine and astronomer, was
born about 1680, and was educated at Pembroke hall,
Cambridge, of which he was A. B. in 1700, A.M. 1704,
and S. T. P. in 1728. In 1733 he was elected master of
Pembroke hall, and in 1749 Lowndes’s professor of astronomy. He is chiefly known as an author by a “Treatise
on Astronomy,
” in two volumes 4to; the first of which was
published in 1742, and the second in 1764. He was the
inventor of a curious astronomical machine, erected in a
room at Pembroke hail, of which he has himself given the
following description: “I have, in a room lately built in
Pembroke hall, erected a sphere of 18 feet diameter,
wherein above thirty persons may sit conveniently; the
entrance into it is over the south pole by six steps; the
frame of the sphere consists of a number of iron meridians,
not complete semi-circles, the northern ends of which are
screwed to a large plate of brass, with a hole in the centre
of it; through this hole, from a beam in the cieling, comes
the north pole, a round iron rod, about three inches long,
and supports the upper parts of the sphere to its proper
elvation for the latitude of Cambridge; the lower part of
the sphere, so much of it as is invisible in England, is cut
off; and the lower or southern ends of the meridians, or
truncated semi-circles, terminate on, and are screwed down
to, a strong circle of oak, of about thirteen feet diameter,
which, when the sphere is put into motion, runs upon
large rollers of lignum vitae, in the manner that the tops of
some wind-mills are made to turn round. Upon the iron
meridians is fixed a zodiac of tin painted blue, whereon
the ecliptic and heliocentric orbits of the planets are
drawn, and the constellations and stars traced; the great
and little Bear and Draco are already painted in their
places round the north pole; the rest of the constellations
are proposed to follow; the whole is turned with a small
winch, with as little labour as it takes to wind up a jack,
though the weight of the iron, tin^ and wooden circle, is
about a thousand pounds. When it is made use of, a
planetarium will be placed in the middle thereof. The
whole, with the floor, is well-supported by a frame of large
timber.
” Thus far Dr. Long, before this curious piece of
mechanism was perfected. Since the above was written,
the sphere has been completely finished; all the constellations and stars of the northern hemisphere, visible at
Cambridge, are painted in their proper places upon plates
of iron joined together, which form one concave surface.
he has left off eating flesh-meats; in the room thereof, puddings, vegetables, &c. Sometimes a glass or two of wine.”
“I could recollect several other ingenious repartees if
there were occasion. One thing is remarkable. He never
was a hale and hearty man; always of a tender and delicate
constitution, yet took care of it. His common drink, water.
He always dines with the fellows in the hall. Of late
years, he has left off eating flesh-meats; in the room
thereof, puddings, vegetables, &c. Sometimes a glass or
two of wine.
”
also to have made himself master of all the controversies of his time in which subjects of political or ecclesiastical government were concerned, and took a very active
, a learned divine of the church of
England, was born at Exeter in 1621, and became a servitor of Exeter college, Oxford, in 1638. In 1642 he took
the degree of B. A. but soon after left the university, and
obtained the vicarage of St. Lawrence Clist, near Exeter.
After the restoration he was, per literas regias, created
B. D. and made prebendary of Exeter, which he held
until the revolution, when refusing to take the oaths to the
new government, he was ejected. He died in 1700. Wood
characterizes him as “well read in the fathers, Jewish and
other ancient writings,
” and he appears also to have made
himself master of all the controversies of his time in which
subjects of political or ecclesiastical government were concerned, and took a very active part against the various
classes of separatists, particularly those whose cause Mr,
Baxter pleaded.
nts advanced by the celebrated Dr. John Owen in his “Vindicise Evangelicae.” 2. “Calvinus redivivus, or Conformity to the Church of England, in doctrine, government,
His principal work^ are, 1. “An Exercitation
concerning the use of the Lord’s Prayer in the public worship of
God,
” Lond. 1658, 8vo, partly in answer to some sentiments advanced by the celebrated Dr. John Owen in his
“Vindicise Evangelicae.
” 2. “Calvinus redivivus, or Conformity to the Church of England, in doctrine, government, and worship, persuaded by Mr. Calvin,
” ibid. History of the Donatists,
” ibid. The Character of a Separatist or sensuality the ground
of separation,
” ibid. Mr. Hales’s Treatise
of Schism examined and censured,
” ibid. Posthumous Miscellanies.
” 6. “The Nonconformist’s
Plea for Peace impleaded, in answer to several late writings of Mr. Baxter, and others,
” &c. ibid. Unreasonableness of Separation,
” &c. begun by Stillingfleet, with remarks on the life and actions of Baxter,“ibid.
1681, 4to and 8vo. 8.
” No Protestant, but the Dissenters’ Plot, discovered and defeated;. being an answer to
the late writings of several eminent dissenters,“ibid. 1682,
8vo. 9.
” Vindication of the Primitive Christians in point
of obedience to their prince, against the calumnies of a
book entitled * The Life of Julian the Apostate,' “ibid.
1683, 8vo. 10.
” History of all the popish and fanatical
Plots, &c. against the established government in Church
and State,“&c. ibid. 1684, 8vo. 11.
” The Letter for
Toleration decyphered,“&c. ibid, 1689, in answer to
Locke. 12.
” Vox Cleri; or the sense of the Clergy concerning the making of alterations in the Liturgy,“ibid.
1690. 13.
” An Answer to a Socinian Treatise, called the
Naked Gospel,“ibid. 1691. 14.
” Dr. Walker’s true, modest, and faithful account of the author of Eikon Basilike,*'
&c. proving this work to have come from the pen of Charles
I. 15. Several single Sermons.
he was allied to Plutarch. We know nothing of the employment of his parents, their station in life, or the beginning of his education; but from a fragment of his it
, the author of an admired work “On the Sublime,
” was a Grecian, and probably an Athenian, though some authors fancy him a Syrian. He was born in the third century. His father’s
name is entirely unknown; by his mother Frontonis he
was allied to Plutarch. We know nothing of the employment of his parents, their station in life, or the beginning of his education; but from a fragment of his it appears, that his youth was spent in travelling with them,
which gave him an opportunity to increase his knowledge
and improve his mind. Wherever men of learning were
to be found, he was present, and lost no opportunity of
forming a familiarity and intimacy with them. Ammonius
and Origen, philosophers of great reputation in that age,
were two of those whom he visited, and heard with the
greatest attention. The travels of Longinus ended with
his arrival at Athens, where he fixed his residence. Here
he pursued the studies of humanity and philosophy with
the greatest application. Here also he published hit
“Treatise on the Sublime,
” which raised his reputation to
such a height, as no critic either before or since could
ever reach. His contemporaries there had so great an
opinion of his judgment and taste, that they appointed
him sovereign judge of all authors; and every thing was
received or rejected by the public according to the decision of Longinus.
is lost in the declamation of the florid rhetorician. Instead of shewing for what reason a sentiment or image is sublime, and discovering the secret power by which
But this last line, so often quoted, forms the great objection which modern critics have advanced against this
celebrated treatise, viz. his exemplifying rather than explaining the sublime. His taste and sensibility were exquisite, but his observations are too general, and his method too loose. The precision of the true philosophical
critic, says Warton, is lost in the declamation of the florid
rhetorician. Instead of shewing for what reason a sentiment or image is sublime, and discovering the secret
power by which they affect a reader with pleasure, he is
ever intent on producing something sublime himself. It
has likewise been objected, that although he defines the
sublime with precision, he frequently departs from his own
rule, and includes whatever, in any composition, pleases
highly. Some, therefore, of his instances of the sublime
are mere elegancies, without the most distant relation to
sublimity. His work, however, in other respects, is one
of the most valuable relics of antiquity, and is admirably
calculated to give excellent general ideas of beauty in writing. Brurker remarks that Longinus must have seen the
Jewish scriptur.es, as he quotes a passage from the writings
of Moses, as an example of the sublime (Gen. i. 3) “And
God said, Let there be light, and there was light.
”
of the university fo sanction his memorable divorce. It is said, indeed, that when Henry’s scruples, or, as we agree with the catholic historian, his pretended scruples,
After becoming a fellow of his college, he was in 1505 chosen principal of Magdalen-hall, which he resigned in 1507. In 1510 he was admitted to the reading of the sentences, and took his degree of B. D. and that of D. D. in the following year. In 1514 he was promoted to be dean of Salisbury, and in 1519 had the additional preferment of a canonry of Windsor. At this time he was in such favour with Henry VIII. as to be appointed his confessor, and upon the death of Atwater, bishop of Lincoln, he was by papal provision advanced to this see in 1520, and was consecrated May 3, 1521. In the same year (1520) we find him at Oxford assisting in drawing up the privileges for the new statutes of the university. In 1523 he was at the same place as one of those whom. Wolsey consulted in the establishment of his new college; and when the foundation was laid on July 15, 1525, Longland preached a sermon, which, with two others on the same occasion, he dedicated to archbishop Warham. He was afterwards employed at Oxford by the king, to gain over the learned men of the university fo sanction his memorable divorce. It is said, indeed, that when Henry’s scruples, or, as we agree with the catholic historian, his pretended scruples, began to be started, bishop Longland was the first that suggested the measure of a divorce. The excuse made for him is, that he was himself over-persuaded to what was not consistent with his usual character by Wolsey, who thought that Longland’s authority would add great weight to the cause; and it is said that he expressed to his chancellor, Dr. Draycot, his sorrow for being concerned in that affair. In 1533 he was chosen chancellor of the university of Oxford, to which he proved in many respects a liberal benefactor, and to poor students a generous patron. The libraries of Brazenose, Magdalen, and Oriel colleges, he enriched with many valuable books; and in 1540 he recovered the salary of the lady Margaret professorship, which had almost been lost, owing to the abbey from which it issued being dissolved. It must not be disguised, however, that he was inflexible in his pursuit and persecution of what he termed heresy. In 1531, we find him giving a commission to the infamous Dr. London, warden of New college, and others, to search for certain heretical books commonly sold at St. Frideswyde’s fair near Oxford. He died May 7, 1547, at Wooburn in Bedfordshire, where his bowels were interred; while his heart was carried to Lincoln cathedral, and his body deposited in Eton-college chapel, where it is thought he once had some preferment. He built a curious chapel in Lincoln cathedral in the east part, in imitation of bishop Russel’s chapel, with a tomb, &c. He also gave the second bell at Wooburn church, and built almshouses at Henley, his birth-place.
In the introduction to the vision, the poet (shadowed by the name and character of Peter or Pierse, a plowman) represents himself as weary of wandering,
In the introduction to the vision, the poet (shadowed by the name and character of Peter or Pierse, a plowman)
represents himself as weary of wandering, on a May-morning, and at last laid down to sleep by the side of a brook;
where, in a vision, he sees a stately tower upon a hill,
with a dungeon, and dark dismal ditches belonging to it,
and a very deep dale under the hill. Before the tower a
large field or plain is supposed, filled with men of every
rank or occupation, all being respectively engaged in their
several pursuits; when suddenly a beautiful lady appears
to him, and unravels to him the mystery of what he had
seen. Before every vision the manner and circumstances
of his falling asleep are distinctly described; before one
of them in particular, P. Plowman is supposed, with equal
humour and satire, to fall asleep while he is bidding his
beads. In the course of the poem, the satire is carried on
by means of several allegorical personages, such as Avarice,
Simony, Conscience, Sloth, &c. Selden mentions this
author with honour; and by Hickes he is frequently styled,
“Celeberrimus il-le Satyrographus, morum vindex acerrimus,
” Sue. Chaucer, in the “Plowman’s Tale,
” seems to
have copied from our author. Spenser, in his Pastorals,
seems to have attempted an imitation of his visions; and
Milton is considered as under some obligations to him.
The memory of this satire has been of late years revived
by Percy, Warton, and Ellis, in whose works more ample
information may be found than it is necessary to admit in
a work professedly biographical. Perhaps indeed it does
not belong to our department, since some of the most profound of our poetical critics have considered it as
anonymous; Mr Tycwhitt remarks that in the best Mss. the author is called William, without any surname, and the
name of Robert Longland, or Langlande, rests upon the
authority only of Crowley, its earliest editor. Three of
Crowley’s editions were published in 1550, doubtless owing
to its justifying the Reformation then begun under king
Edward, by exposing the abuses of the Romish church.
There is also an edition printed in 1561, by Owen Rogers,
to which is sometimes annexed a poem of nearly the same
tendency, and written in the same metre, called “Pierce
the Plowman’s Crede,
” the first edition of which, however, was printed by Wolfe in 1553. Of both these works,
new editions have recently been announced.
, or Longolius, a very elegant scholar, was born in 1490, at Mechlin,
, or Longolius, a very elegant scholar, was born in 1490, at Mechlin, although some have called him a Parisian, and Erasmus makes him a native of Schoohhoven in Holland. He was the natural son of Antony de Longueil, bishop of Leon, who being on some occasion in the Netherlands, had an intrigue with a female of Mechlin, of which this son was the issue. He remained with his mother until eight or aine years old; when he was brought to Paris for education, in the course of which he fur exceeded his fellowscholars, and was able at a very early age to read and understand the most difficult authors. He had also an extraordinary memory, although he did not trust entirely to it, but made extracts from whatever he read, and showed great discrimination in the selection of these. His taste led him chiefly to the study of the belles lettres, but his friends wished to direct his attention to the bar, and accordingly he went to Valence in Dauphiny, where he studied civil law under professor Philip Decius, for six years, and returning then to Paris, made so distinguished a figure at the bar, that in less than two years, he was appointed counsellor of the parliament of Paris, according to his biographer, cardinal Pole, but this has been questioned on account of its never having been customary to appoint persons so young to that office; Pole has likewise made another mistake, about which there can be less doubt, in asserting that the king of Spain, Philip, appointed Longueil his secretary of state, for Philip died in 1506, when our author was only sixteen years of age.
tion of the bad taste which had infected Italian poetry. He is said to have excelled in melo-dramas, or pieces on religious subjects, adapted to being sung, written
, an
eminent Italian poet, was born at Home, Oct. 12, 1680.
He was in his twenty-second year received into the society
of the Jesuits, among whom he had been educated, but
owing to bad health, was obliged to quit them, and after
much consideration, and a conflict with his taste, which was
decide.ily for polite literature, he studied and practised the
law for some time, until iiis inclination for more favourite
studies returning, he entered, in 1705, into the academy
of the Arcadi, the chief object of which was the reformation of the bad taste which had infected Italian poetry.
He is said to have excelled in melo-dramas, or pieces on
religious subjects, adapted to being sung, written in the
Latin language; and has been denominated the Michael
Angelo of Italian poets, on account of the boldness and
energy of his expressions. In 1728, on the death of Crescembini, he was chosen president of the academy, and besides founding five academical colonies in the neighbouring
towns, instituted a private weekly meeting of the Arcadi,
at which the plays of Plautus or Terence, in the original
language, were performed by youths trained for the purpose But the want of a regular profession, and his constant attendance to these pursuits, often deranged his
finances; and he appears not to have acquired permanent
patronage until cardinal Borghese enrolled him among his
noble domestics, and paid him liberally. In 1741, he took
up his residence in the Borghese palace, where he died in
June 1743. His Italian poems, which are much admired,
have been printed at Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples, &c.
and in many of the collections. His Latin “Sacred Dramas
”
were separately published at Rome; and his other Latin
poetry, among those of the academicians of the Arcadi.
Ronsard, the poet, out of envy, published a satire, or satirical sonnet, against him, under the title of “LaTruelle
Ronsard, the poet, out of envy, published a satire, or
satirical sonnet, against him, under the title of “LaTruelle
crosse'e,
” the Trowel crosier'd. De Lorme revenged himself, by causing the garden-door of the Thuilleries, of
which he was governor, to be shut against the poet; and
Ronsard, with a pencil, wrote upon the gate these three
words: “Fort, reverent, habe.
” De Lorme, who understood little Latin, complained of this inscription, as levelled
at him, to queen Catharine de Medicis, who, inquiring
into the matter, was told by Ronsard, that, by a harmless
irony, he had made that inscription for the architect when
read in French; but that it suited him still better in Latin,
these being the first words abbreviated of a Latin epigram
of Ausonius, which begins thus: “Fortunam reverenter
habe.
” Ronsard added that he only meant that De Lorme
should reflect on his primitive grovelling fortune, and not
to shut the gate against the Muses. De Lorme died in
1557; leaving several books of architecture, greatly esteemed. These are, 1. “Nouvelles Inventions pour bien
bastir & a petit frais,
” Paris, Ten Books of Architecture,
”
, with so much truth, and a delicacy so admirable, that his chisel seemed to be directed by Corregio or Parmegiano.
The pieces in the episcopal palace of Saverne, which are all of his composition, are much admired. He was a learned designer, with a great deal of genius, and succeeded in his heads, especially those of the young nymphs, with so much truth, and a delicacy so admirable, that his chisel seemed to be directed by Corregio or Parmegiano.
y Expositor.” Mr. Nichols has printed, from the pen of Dr. Lort, a curious “Inquiry into the author, or rather who was not the author, of The Whole Duty of Man.” The
Dr. Lort was well known to the learned of this and other
countries, as a man of extensive literary information, and
a collector of curious and valuable books, at a time when
such articles were less known and in less request than at
present. He was very generally and deservedly esteemed
by his numerous acquaintance. An artless simplicity
formed the basis of his character, united to much kindness
and liberality. With talents and learning that might have
appeared to great advantage from the press, Dr. Lort was
rather anxious to assist the labours of others than ambitious
of appearing as the author of separate publications. Except
a few occasional sermons, a poem on the peace of Aix-laChapelle among the Cambridge congratulations, and some
anonymous contributions to the Gentleman’s Magazine,
and other literary journals and newspapers, we can only
mention, as an original work, “A Short Commentary on
the Lord’s Prayer; in which an allusion to the principal
circumstances of our Lord’s temptation is attempted to be
shewn;
” printed in 8vo, Family Expositor.
” Mr. Nichols has printed, from the pen of Dr. Lort, a curious
“Inquiry into the author, or rather who was not the author,
of The Whole Duty of Man.
” The same gentleman acknowledges his obligations to Dr. Lort for assistance in
some of his valuable labours. To Grander also Dr. Lort
communicated much information. Biography had been
always his study, and most of his books were filled with
notes, corrections, and references of the biographical
kind. He had likewise compiled many ms lives, which
were dispersed at his death. Of some of these the editor
of this Dictionary has been enabled to avail himself. His
library was not remarkable for external splendour, but it
contained a great number of rare and valuable articles, and
formed a sale of twenty-five days, at Messrs. Leigh and
Sotheby’s, in 1791. The produce was 1269/1; and his
prints sold for 40 1l.
life, and was known at the time by the name of Love’s plot, either because he was a principal agent, or a principal sufferer. Mr. Love, we have already noticed, was
He was next appointed one of the Assembly of Divines,
and minister of St. Lawrence Jury, and is said also to have
been chosen minister of St. Anne’s, Aldersgate-street. He
was one of the London ministers who signed a declaration
against the king’s death. He was afterwards engaged in a
plot, which cost him his life, and was known at the time by
the name of Love’s plot, either because he was a principal
agent, or a principal sufferer. Mr. Love, we have already
noticed, was a presbyterian, and when he found that the
independents were gaining the ascendancy, he united with
various gentlemen and ministers of his own way of thinking to assist the Scotch (before whom Charles II. had taken the covenant, and by whom he had been crowned,) in
their endeavours to advance that sovereign to the crown of
England. Cromwell, howev&r, was too watchful for the
success of such a design in London; and the chief conspirators being apprehended, Mr. Love and a Mr. Gibbons
were tried and executed, the rest escaping by interest, or
servile submission. Mr. Love appears on his trial to have
used every means to defeat its purpose, and was certainly
more tenacious of life, than might have been expected
from the boldness of his former professions. Great intercessions were made to the parliament for a pardon: his
wife presented one petition, and himself four; several
parishes also, and a great number of his brethren interceded with great fervour; but all that could be obtained
was the respite of a month. It is said that the affairs of
the commonwealth being now at a crisis, and Charles II.
having entered England with 16,000 Scots, it was thought
necessary to strike terror in the presbyterian party, by
making an example of one of their favourite ministers.
Some historians say that Cromwell, then in the north, sent
a letter of reprieve and pardon for Mr. Love, but that the
post-boy was stopped on the road by some persons belonging to the late king’s army, who opened the mail, and
finding this letter, tore it in pieces, exclaiming that “he
who had been so great a firebrand at Uxbridge, was not
fit to live.
” Whatever truth may be in this, he was executed, by beheading, on Tower-hill, Aug. 22, 1651. He
was accompanied at his death by the three eminent nonconformists, Simeon Ashe, Edmund Calamy, and Dr. Manton. The latter preached a funeral sermon for him, in
which, while he avoids any particular notice of the cause
of his death, he considers him, as the whole of his party
did, in the light of a saint and martyr. The piety of his
life, indeed, ereated a sympathy in his favour which did
no little harm to the power of Cromwell. Thousands began to see that the tyranny of the republic would equal all
they had been taught to hate in the mo larchv. The government, we are told, expressed some displeasure at Dr.
Manton’s intention of preaching a funeral sermon, and their
creatures among the soldiers threatened violence, but he
persisted in his resolution, and not only preached, but
printed the sermon. The loyalists, on the other hand,
considered Love’s death as an instance of retributive justice. Clarendon says that he “was guilty of as much treason as the pulpit could contain;
” and his biographers have
so weakly defended the violence of his conduct during the
early period of the rebellion, as to leave this fact almost
indisputable. His works consist of sermons and pious
tracts, on various subjects, mostly printed after his death,
and included in three volumes, 8vo. They were all accompanied by prefaces from his brethren, of high commendation.
s by no means answered his expectations. He died about the beginning of 1774. He neither as an actor or author attained any great degree of excellence. His performance
, an actor and dramatic writer, assumed
this name (from his wife’s, De L'Amour) when he first attached himself to the stage. He was one of the sons of
Mr. Dance the city surveyor, whose memory will be transmitted to posterity on account of the clumsy edifice which
he erected for the residence of the city’s chief magistrate.
Our author received, it is said, his education at Westminster school, whence he removed to Cambridge, which,
it is believed, he lett without taking any degree. About
that time a severe poetical satire against sir Robert Waipole, then minister, appeared under the title of “Are
these things so?
” which, though written by Mr. Miller,
was ascribed to Pope. To this Mr Love immediately
wrote a reply called “Yes, they are, what then?
” which
proved so satisfactory to Walpole that he made him a
handsome present, and gave him expectations of preferment. Elated with this distinction, with the vanity of a
young author, and the credulity of a young man, he considered his fortune as established, and, neglecting every
other pursuit, became an attendant at the minister’s levees,
where he contracted habits of indolence and expence,
without obtaining any advantage. The stage now offered
itself as an asylum from the difficulties he had involved
himself in, and, therefore, changing his name to Love, he
made!is first essays ID strolling companies. He afterwards
performed both at Dublin and Edinburgh, and at the latter place resided some years as manager. At length he
received, in 1762, an invitation to Drury-lane theatre,
where he continued during the remainder of his life. In
1765, with the assistance of his brother, he erected a new
theatre at Richmond, and obtained a licence for performing in it; but did not receive any benefit from it, as the
success by no means answered his expectations. He
died about the beginning of 1774. He neither as an actor
or author attained any great degree of excellence. His
performance of Falstaff was by much the best, but the
little reputation which he acquired by it was entirely
eclipsed by the superiority of gen;iis which his successor,
Mr. Henderson, di-splayed in the representation of the
same character As an author, he has given the world
“Pamela, a Comedy,
” Biographia Dramatica.
”
In 1774- he was ordained minister of Birsay and Haray, a parish in Pomona, or main-land of Orkney, and from this time devoted himself to the
In 1774- he was ordained minister of Birsay and Haray,
a parish in Pomona, or main-land of Orkney, and from
this time devoted himself to the duties of his charge, which
he continued to fulfil for the remainder of his lite. He
employed his leisure chiefly in the study of nature, and his
success was highly creditable, considering the many disadvantage-; of a remote situation. Sir Joseph Banks, with
his accrstouied zeal for the promotion of science, introduced him to Mr. Pennant, by whose advice he engaged
to un n nake a “Fauna Orcadensis,
” and a “Flora Orcadensi.s,
” ti.e Hrst of which was published in Flora
” iias not been discovered. A tour through the islands of Orkney and Shetland,
Containing hints relating to their ancient, modern, and
natural history, was also prepared by Mr. Low for the
press, and previous to his decease, he made a translation
of Torfeus’s “-History of Orkney.
” The Mss. of the
“Fauna,
” the tour and the translation just mentioned,
with his zoological collections, came into the possession of
Mr. George Paton, an eminent antiquary of Edinburgh,
after whose decease they were purchased by different persons. Mr. Low died in 1795. His “Fauna
” forms a very
interesting and valuable addition to the natural history of
the British islands.
ays which he wrote. The titles of his dramatic works are, 1. “Phoenix in her Flames.” 2. “Polyeuctes or, The Martyr.” 3. “Horatius.” 4. “Inchanted Lovers.” 5. “Noble
, was a noted cavalier in
the reign of king Charles I. He was born at a place called
Tremare in Cornwall. During the heat of the civil wars
he took refuge in Holland, where, being strongly attached
to the Muses, he had an opportunity of enjoying their society, and pursuing his study in peace and privacy. He
died in 1662. He was a very great admirer of the French
poets, particularly Corneille and Quinault, on whose works
he has built the plans of four out of the six plays which he
wrote. The titles of his dramatic works are, 1. “Phoenix
in her Flames.
” 2. “Polyeuctes or, The Martyr.
” 3.
“Horatius.
” 4. “Inchanted Lovers.
” 5. “Noble Ingratitude.
” 6. “Amorous Phantasm.
” All those, except
the first, were written during the usurpation. He translated from the French the first and third volumes of “The
Innocent Lady, or Illustrious Innocents.
” But the most
considerable of his translations, was “A Relation in form
of a Journal of the voyage and residence of Charles II. in
Holland from May 25, to June 2, 1660,
” fol. finely printed,
with good engravings of the ceremonies, and several copies
of bad verses by the translator.
ter, he acquired an uncommon share of critical learning. There is scarcely any ancient author, Greek or Latin, profane or ecclesiastical, especially the latter, whose
, a distinguished divine, was the
son of William Lowth, apothecary and citizen of London,
and was born in the parish of St. Martin’s Ludgate, Sept.H,
1661. His grandfather Mr. Simon Lowth, rector of Tylehurst in Berks, took great care of his education, ad initiated him early in letters. He was afterwards sent to
Merchant-Taylors’ school, where he made so great a progress that he was elected thence into St. John’s-college in
Oxford in 1675, before he was fourteen. Here he regularly took the degrees of master of arts, and bachelor in
divinity. His eminent worth and learning recommended
him to Dr. Mew, bishop of Winchester, who made him his
chaplain, and in 1696 conferred upon him a prebend in
the cathedral-church of Winchester, and in 1699 presented
him to the rectory of Buriton, with the chapel of Petersfield, Hants. His studies were strictly confined within
his own province, and solely applied to the duties of his
function; yet, that he might acquit himself the better, he
acquired an uncommon share of critical learning. There
is scarcely any ancient author, Greek or Latin, profane or
ecclesiastical, especially the latter, whose works he had
not read with accuracy, constantly accompanying his reading with critical and philological remarks. Of his collections in this way, he was, upon all occasions, very communicative. His valuable notes on “Clemens Alexandrinus
” are to be met with in Potter’s edition of that father; and his remarks on “Josephus,
” communicated to
Hudson for his edition, are acknowledged in his preface;
as also those larger and more numerous annotations on
the “Ecclesiastical Historians,
” inserted in Reading’s edition of them at Cambridge. The author also of the “BibJiotheca Biblica
” was indebted to him for the same kind
of assistance. Chandler, late bishop of Durham, while engaged in his defence of Christianity from the prophecies
o the Old Testament, against Collins’s discourse of the
“Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion,
” and in
his vindication of the “Defence,
” in answer to “The Scheme
of Literal Prophecy considered,
” held a constant correspondence with him, and consulted him upon many difficulties that occurred in the course of that work. But the most
valuable part of his character was that which least appeared in the eyes of the world, the private and retired
part, that of the good Christian, and the useful parishpriest. His piety, his diligence, his hospitality, and beneficence, rendered his life highly exemplary, and greatly
enforced his public exhortations. He married Margaret
daughter of Robert Pitt, esq. of Blandford, by whom he
had three daughters and two sons, one of whom was the
learned subject of our next article. He died May 17, 1732,
and was buried, by his own orders, in the church-yard at
Buriton, near the South side of the chancel; and on the inside wall is a plain monument with an inscription.
es of the original Hebrew, which he has occasion to introduce, in order either to express the sense, or correct the words of k, is a pattern for that kind of sacred
ID this last mentioned year he published his Poetrylectures, under the title of “De Sacra Poesi Hebraeorum
Praelectiones academicc,
” 4to, of which he gave the public an enlarged edition in 1763, 2 vols. 8vo. The second
volume consists of additions made by the celebrated Michaelis. To this work, as we have already noticed, the
duties of his professoiship gave occasion; and the choice
of his subject, which lay out of the beaten paths ol criticism,
and which was highly interesting, not only in a literary, but
a religious view, afforded ample scope for the poetical,
critical, and theological talents of the author. In these
prelections, the true spirit and distinguishing character of
the poetry of the Old Testament are more thoroughly entered into, and developed more perfectly, than ever had
been done before Select parts of this poetry are expressed
in Latin composition with the greatest elegance and force;
the general criticism which pervades the whole work is
such as might be expected from a writer of acknowledged
poetical genius and literary judgment; and the particular
criticism applied to those passages of the original Hebrew,
which he has occasion to introduce, in order either to express the sense, or correct the words of k, is a pattern for
that kind of sacred literature: nor are the theological subjects which occur in the course of the work, and are necessarily connected with it, treated with less ability. To
the “Prelections
” is subjoined a “Short Confutation of
bishop Hare’s system of Hebrew Metre,
” in which he
shows it to be founded on laUe reasoning, on apetitio princigiiy that would equally prove a different and contrary
system true This produced the fir>t and most creditable
controversy in which Mr Lowth was engaged. The Harian
metre was defended by Dr. Thomas Edwards, of Cambridge,
(see his life,) who published a Latin letter to Mr. Lowth,
to which the latter replied in a “Larger Confutation,
” addressed to Dr. Edwards in Larger
Confutation,
” which from the subject may be supposed dry and
uninteresting to the majority of readers, is yet, as a piece
of reasoning, extremely curious; for" there never was a
fallacy more accurately investigated, or a system more
complete!) refuted, than that of bisnop Hare.
ersity of Oxford,” 8vo. Few pamphlets of the controversial kind were ever written with more ability, or more deeply interested the public than this. What we regret
In 1765 Dr. Lowih was elected a fellow of the royal
societies of London and Gottingen; and in the same year
was involved in a controversy with bishop Warburton. On
this subject we shall be brief, but we cannot altogether
agree with former biographers of Lowth and Warburton, in
considering them as equally blameable, and that the contest reflected equal disgrace on both. In all contests the
provoking party has more to answer for than the provoked.
We lament that it was possible for Warburton to discover
in the amiable mind of Lowth that irritability which has in
some measure tainted the controversy on the part of the
latter and we lament that Lowth was not superior to the
coarse attack of his antagonist; but all must allow that the
attack was coarse, insolently contemptuous, and almost intolerable to any man who valued his own character. Lowth
bad advanced in his Prelections an opinion respecting the
Book of Job, which Warburton considered as aimed at his
own peculiar opinions. This produced a private correspondence between them in 1756, and after some explanations the parties seem to have retired well satisfied with
each other. This, however, was not the case with Warburton, who at the end of the last volume of a new edition
of his “Divine Legation,
” added “An appendix concerning
the Book of Job,
” in which he treated Dr. Lowth with
every expression of sneer and contempt, and in language
most grossly illiberal and insolent. This provocation must
account for the memorable letter Dr. Lowth published
entitled “A Letter to the right rev. author of the Divine
Legation of Moses demonstrated, in answer to the Appendix to the fifth volume of that work; with an appendix,
containing a former literary correspondence. By a laic
professor in the university of Oxford,
” 8vo. Few pamphlets of the controversial kind were ever written with more
ability, or more deeply interested the public than this.
What we regret is the strong tendency to personal satire;
but the public at the time found an apology even for that
in the overbearing character of Warburton, and the contemptuous manner in which he, and his under-writers, as
Hard and others were called, chose to treat a man in all
respects their equal at least. It was, therefore, we think,
with great justice, that one of the monthly critics introduced an account of this memorable letter, by observing,
that “when a person of gentle and amiable manners, of
unblemished character, and eminent abilities, is calumniated and treated in the most injurious manner by a
haughty and over-bearing colossus, it must give pleasure
to every generous mind to see a person vindicating himself
with manly freedom, resenting the insult with proper spirit,
attacking the imperious aggressor in his turn, and taking
ample vengeance for the injury done him. Such is the
pleasure which every impartial reader, every true republican in literature, will receive from the publication of the
letter now before us.
” 1
* " The real merit of Warburton was is seldom candid or impartial. A late
* " The real merit of Warburton was is seldom candid or impartial. A late
mercy or moderation; and his servile the merits of an insignificant
mercy or moderation; and his servile the merits of an insignificant controflatterers exalted the master-critic far versy, his victory was clearly estaabove Aristotle and Longinus, as- blished by the silent confession of Warsaulted every modern dissenter who burton and his slaves." Gibbon’s Merefused to consult the oracle, and to enoirs, 4to, p. 136.
Testament. In this instance the translation of the evangelical prophet, who is almost always sublime or elegant, yet often obscure notwithstanding all the aids of criticism,
opposition, and the zeal of opposition Lowth; ampng these was Richard
CumIn June 17 66 Dr. Lowth was promote* to the see of St.
David’s, and about four mouths after was translated to that
of Oxford. In this high office he remained till 1777, when
he succeeded Dr. Terrick in the see of London. In 1778
he published the last of his literary labours, entitled “Isaiah:
a new Translation, with a preliminary dissertation, and
notes, critical, philological, and explanatory,
” His design in this work was not only to give an exact and faithful representation of the words and sense of the prophet,
by adhering closely to the letter of the text, and treading
as nearly as may be in his footsteps; but to imitate the
air and manner of the author, to express the form and
fashion of the composition, and to give the English reader
some notion of the peculiar turn and cast of the original.
For this he was eminently qualified, by his critical knowledge of the original language, by his understanding more
perfectly than any other writer of his time the character
and spirit of its poetry, and by his general erudition, both
literary and theological. In the preliminary dissertation
the form and construction of the poetical compositions of
the Old Testament are examined more particularly, and
at large, than even in the “Prelections
” themselves; and
such principles of criticism are established as must be the
foundation of all improved translations of the different,
and especially of the poetical books of the Old Testament.
In this instance the translation of the evangelical prophet,
who is almost always sublime or elegant, yet often obscure
notwithstanding all the aids of criticism, was executed in a
manner adequate to the superior qualifications of the
learned prelate who undertook it; and marked out the way
for other attempts of a like kind, at a time when the hopes
of an improved version was cherished by many, and when
sacred criticism was cultivated with ardour. In our account of Michael Dodson we have mentioned an attempt
to censure some part of this admired translation, which
was ably repelled by the bishop’s relative, Dr. Sturges.
so good an account, that were we di- Monthly Review, or Gentleman’s Mato flatter him, no language of giuuut. tormented
so good an account, that were we di- Monthly Review, or Gentleman’s Mato flatter him, no language of giuuut. tormented by a cruel and painful disorder, the stone, and had recently experienced some severe strokes of domestic calamity. Mary, his eldest daughter, of whom he was passionately fond, died in 1768, aged thirteen. On her mausoleum the doctor placed the following exquisitely beautiful and pathetic epitaph:
ntleman’s Magazine, &c. With such various abilities, equally applicable either to elegant literature or professional studies, bishop Lowth possessed a mind that felt
Several occasional discourses, which the bishop was by
his station at different times called upon to deliver, were of
course published, and are all worthy of his pen. That
“On the Kingdom of God,
” preached at a visitation at
Durham, was most admired for liberality of sentiment, and
went through several editions. Some of his poetical effusions have been already mentioned, and others appear in
podsley’s and Nichols’s Collections, the Gentleman’s Magazine, &c. With such various abilities, equally applicable
either to elegant literature or professional studies, bishop
Lowth possessed a mind that felt its own strength, and
decided on whatever came before it with promptitude and
firmness a mind fitted fur the high station in which he
was placed. He had a temper, which, in private and domestic life, endeared him in the greatest degree to those
who were most nearly connected with him, and towards
others produced an habitual complacency and agreeableness of manners; but which, as we have seen, was susceptible of considerable warmth, when it was roused by
unjust provocation or improper conduct.
d the statute requiring that the dean should be at least a bachelor of divinity. The bishop in a day or two discovering that he had been too precipitate, dispatched
, an English clergyman, was born iir
Northamptonshire about 1630, and is supposed to have
been the son of Simon Lowth, a native of Thurcaston in
Leicestershire, who was rector of Dingley in that county in
1631, and was afterwards ejected by the usurping powers.
This, his son, was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge,
where be took his master’s degree in 1660. He was afterwards rector of St. Michael Harbledown in 1670, and vicar
of St. Co.Miius and Damian on the Blean in 1679, both in,
Kent. On Nov. 12, 1688, king James nominated him,
and he was instituted by bishop Sprat, to the deanery of
Rochester, on the death of Dr. Castillon, but never obtained possession, owing to the following circumstances.
The mandate of installation bad issued in course, the
bishop not having allowed himself time to examine whether
the king’s presentee was legally qualified; which happened
not to be the case, Mr. Lowth being only a master of arts,
and the statute requiring that the dean should be at least
a bachelor of divinity. The bishop in a day or two discovering that he had been too precipitate, dispatched letters
to the chapter clerk, and one of the prebendaries, earnestly
soliciting that Mr. Lowth might not be installed; and afterwards in form revoked the institution till he should have
taken the proper degree. On Nov. 27 Mr. Lowth attended
the chapter, and produced his instruments, but the prebendaries present refused to obey them. He was admitted
to the degree of D.D.Jan. 18 following, and on March
19 again claimed instalment, but did not obtain possession,
for which, in August of this year, another reason appeared,
viz. his refusing to take the oaths of allegiance; in consequence of which he was first suspended from his function,
and afterwards deprived of both his livings in Kent. He
lived very long after this, probably in London, as his death
is recorded to have happened there on July 3, 1720, when
he was buried in the new cemetery belonging to the parish
of St. George the Martyr, Queen Square. He published,
1. “Letters between Dr. Gilbert Burnet and Mr. Simon.
Lowth,
” History of the Reformation.
” 2. “The subject
of Church Power, in whom it resides,
” &c. A Letter to Edward Stillingfleet, D. D. in answer to the
Dedicatory Epistle before, his ordination-sermon, preached
at St. Peter’s Cornhill, March 15, 1684, with reflections.
on some of Dr. Burnet’s letters on the same subject,
” an honour,
” bishop
Nicolson says, “which he (Lowth) had no right to expect;
”
Lowth had submitted this letter both to Stillingfleet and
Tillotson, who was then dean of Canterbury, but, according to Birch, “the latter did not think proper to take the
least public notice of so confused and unintelligible a
writer.
” Dr. Hickes, however, a suffering nonjuror like
himself, calls Lowfeh “a very orthodox and learned divine,
”
and his book an excellent one. His only other publication,
was “Historical Collections concerning Deposing of Bishops,
”
the old romances; though some have denied that Loyola knew the use of letters. But whether he read, or had these things read to him, he certainly conceived an ardour
, the founder of the order of Jesuits, was born in 1491, of a considerable family, at the castle of Loyola, in the province of Guipuscoa in Spain. He was educated in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, and entered very early into the military profession. He was addicted to all the excesses too common in that line of life, but was at the same time a good officer, and one who sought occasions to distinguish himself. His valour was conspicuous at Pampeluna in 1521, when it was besiege,d by the French, and there he had his leg broken by a cannon-shot. During the confinement occasioned by this wound, he formed a resolution of renouncing the world, of travelling to JtTUS;de and dedicating his life to the service ol Go.,. He is said to have imbibed his ardour of zeal by reading the legends of the saints, as Don Quixote began his errantry l<\ reading the old romances; though some have denied that Loyola knew the use of letters. But whether he read, or had these things read to him, he certainly conceived an ardour of religious activity, which has not otten bem equalled.
hat he should write.” Perhaps the truth was, that Loyola either took his materials from other works, or was assisted in composing his book, by some other person.
He had no sooner been restored to health than he went
to bang up his arms over the altar of the blessed virgin at
Montst rrat, to whom he devoted his services on March
24, 1522; for he carried the laws of chivalry to his religious observances. In his way he disputed with a Moor on
the perpetual virginity of the blessed virgin, and after his
antagonist left him, was seized with such a fit of enthusiasm as to pursue the Moor in order to put him to death,
but could not find him. Having watched all night at
Montserrat, sometimes standing, and sometimes kneeling,
and having devoted himself most earnestly to the virgin^,
he set out before day-b eak in a pilgrim’s habit to Manresa.
Here he took his lodging among the poor of the town hospital, and he practised mortifications of every kind for
above a year. He suffered his hair and nails to grow
begged from door to door; fasted six days in the week
whipped himself thrice a day was seven hours every day
in vocal prayer lay without any bedding upon the ground,
and all to prepare himself for his adventures to Jerusalem.
It was here also that he wrote his book of “Spiritual Exercises,
” in Spanish; a Latin translation of which, by
Andrew Frusius, he published at Rome in 1548, when it
was favoured with the approbation of pope Paul III. As
it has been commonly reported that Loyola could not read,
which, however, we think improbable, as he was of a
good family, educated at court, and an officer in the
army, Allegambe, in his lives of the Jesuits, gives the
following solution: “Lewis de Ponte, a person of undoubted credit, relates how faithful tradition had handed it
down to father Lainez, general of the Jesuits, that these
exercises were revealed to our holy father (Ignatius of Loyola) by God himself; and that Gabriel the archangel
had declared to a certain person, in the name of the
blessed virgin, how she had been their patroness, their
founder, and helper; had prompted Loyola to begin this
work, and had dictated to him what he should write.
”
Perhaps the truth was, that Loyola either took his materials
from other works, or was assisted in composing his book,
by some other person.
uld be so required; that the professed of their society should possess nothing, either in particular or in common; but that in the universities they might have colleges
Ignatius, Faber, and Laynez, came to Rome about the
end of 1537, and at their first arrival had an audience of
his holiness Paul III. They offered him their service; and
Loyola undertook, under his apostolical authority, the reformation of manners, by means of his spiritual exercises,
and of Christian instructions. Being dismissed for the
present, with* some degree of encouragement, Loyola proposed soon after to his companions the founding of a new
order; and, after conferring with Faber and Laynez about
it, sent for the rest of his companions, who were dispersed
through Italy, The general scheme being agreed on, he
next conferred with his companions about his institute;
and at several assemblies it was resolved, that to the vows
of poverty and chastity, which they had already taken, they
should add that of obedience; that they should elect a
superior general, whom they must obey as God himself;
that this superior should be perpetual, and his authority
absolute; that wheresoever they should he sent, they
should instantly and cheerfully go, even without any viaticum, and living upon alms, if it should be so required;
that the professed of their society should possess nothing,
either in particular or in common; but that in the universities they might have colleges with revenues and rents, for
the subsistence of the students. A persecution in the mean
time was raised against Loyola at Rome, who, however,
went on with his great work, in spite of all opposition.
Some of his companions were employed upon great occasions by the pope; and two of them, Simon Kodriguez and
Francis Xavier, were sent to the Indies, with no less than
the title of “Apostles of the new world.
”
ts were not unlikely to succeed in these employments, whether we consider their manners, discipline, or policy. They carried a great appearance of holiness, and observed
But whatever honours might be paid to Loyola, nothing can be more surprising in his history, than the prodigious power which his order acquired, in so few years, in the old world, as well as in America, and the rapidity with whic, it multiplied after it was once established. In 1545, t suits were but eighty in all; in 1545, they had ten houses; in 1549, they had two provinces, one in Spain, another in Portugal, and twenty-two houses. In 1556, when Loyola died, they had twelve great provinces; in 1608, Ribacleneira reckons twenty-nine provinces, two vice-provinces, twenty-one professed houses, 293 colleges, thirty-three houses of probation, ninety-three other residences, and 1Q>5 81 Jesuits. But in the last catalogue, which was printed at Rome in 1679, they reckoned thirty-five provinces, two vice-provinces, thirty-three professed houses, *78 colleges, forty-eight houses of probation, eighty-eight seminaries, 160 residences, 106 missions, and in all 17,655 Jesuits, of whom 7870 were priests. What contributed chiefly to the prodigious increase of this order, in so short a time, wafr the great encouragement they received from the popes, as well as from the kings of Spain and Portugal, on account of the service it was supposed they might render to these several powers. Various sects of religion were at that time combining against popery; in Germany especially, where Lutheranism was prevailing. The Jesuits were thought a proper order to oppose these incursions; and so far might be useful to the pope. The Spaniard found his account in sending them to the Indies, where, by planting Christianity, and inculcating good manners, they might reduce barbarous nations into a more nvili/ed form, and by such means make them better subjects; and the Jesuits were not unlikely to succeed in these employments, whether we consider their manners, discipline, or policy. They carried a great appearance of holiness, and observed a regularity of conduct in their lives and conversations, which gave them great influence over the people; who, on this account, and especially as they took upon them the education of youth without pay or reward, conceived the highest opinion of, and reverence for them. Their policy, too, within themselves, was wisely contrived, and firmly established. They admitted none into their society thai were not perfectly qualified in every respect. Their discipline was rigid, their government absolute, their obedience most submissive and implicit.
” an elaborate work, containing a minute historical account of every single comet that had been seen or recorded. On the subject of comets, it appears he had corresponded
Lubienietski was composing his History of the Reformation of Poland at the time of his death, and nil that was
found among his manuscripts Whs printed in Holland, in
1685, 8vo, with an account of his life prefixed, whence
the materials of this memoir are taken. He wrote several
books, the greater part of which, however, have not been
printed: the titles of them may be seen in “Bibliotheca
Antitrinitariorum,
” p. Theatrum Cometicum,
”
printed at Amsterdam, History of Comets from the flood to
1665,
” an elaborate work, containing a minute historical
account of every single comet that had been seen or recorded. On the subject of comets, it appears he had corresponded with the most celebrated astronomers in Europe.
They who had the care of the impression committed so
many rogueries, that he was obliged to take a journey to
Holland on the occasion.
“”A history of the French Abbeys;“” The present state of the Abbeys of Italy;“” Orbis Augustinianus, or an account of all the houses of his order;“with a great number
, an Augustine friar, and geographer to the French king, was born at Paris, Jan. 29, 1624,
took the monk’s habit early, passed through all the offices
of his order, became provincial-general of the province of
France, and at last assistant- general of the Augustine
monks of France at Rome. He applied himself particularly to the subject of the benefices of France, and of the
abbies of Italy, and acquired that exact knowledge which
enabled him to compose, both in France and at Rome,
' The Geographical Mercury;“” Notes upon the Roman
Martyrology, describing the places marked in it;“”A
history of the French Abbeys;“” The present state of the
Abbeys of Italy;“” Orbis Augustinianus, or an account
of all the houses of his order;“with a great number of
maps and designs, engraved by himself, a very curious
work in oblong quarto. He also wrote notes upon
” Plutarch’s Lives -,“and we have geographical tables of his,
printed with the French translation of Plutarch by the
abbe* Tallemant. He also prepared for the press notes to
archbishop
” Usher’s Chronology;“”A Description of Lapland;“and several other works; especially
” A Geography of all the places mentioned in the Bible,“which is
prefixed to
” Usher’s Annalsi“He likewise wrote notes
upon.
” Stephanas de urbibus." He died in the convent of
the Augustine fathers in St. Germain, at Paris, March
17, 1695, aged seventy-one.
hysicus,” &c. printed at Rostock in 1596, and reprinted there in 8vo and 12mo, in 1600. “Phosphorus; or an hypermetaphysical treatise concerning the origin and nature
But that which attracted most attention, though not very
deservedly, was his, 11. “Phosphorus, de prima causa et
natura mali, tractatus hypermetaphysicus,
” &c. printed at
Rostock in Phosphorus; or an hypermetaphysical treatise
concerning the origin and nature of Sin.
” In this piece he
established two co-eternal principles (not matter and a vacuum, or void, as Epicurus did, but) God and the nihilum,
or nothing. God, he supposed, is the good principle, and
nothing the evil principle. He added, that sin was nothing
else but a tendency towards nothing; and that sin had
been necessary in order to make known the nature of good;
and he applied to this nothing all that Aristotle says of the
first matter. This being answered by Grawer in his “AntiLubinus,
” in Apologeticus quo Alb. Graw. calumniis respondetur, &c.
” printed at Rostock, and reprinted there
in Anti-Lubinus.
” Lubin likewise published the next year, 13. “Tractatus de causa peccati, ad
theologos Augustinae confessionis in Germania.
” But, notwithstanding all these works, posterity has justly considered
him as better acquainted with polite literature than with
divinity.
sputed by those critics, who, from the examples of Homer and Virgil, have maintained that machinery, or the intervention of supernatural agency, is essential to that
, a celebrated Roman poet, was a native of Cordova, in Spain, where he was born Nov. lh> in the year 37. His father Annseus Mela, a Roman knight, a man of distinguished merit and interest in his country, was the youngest brother of Seneca the philosopher; and his mother, Acilia, was daughter of Acilius Lucanus, an eminent orator, from which our author took his name. When only eight months old he was carried to Rome and carefully educated under the ablest masters in grammar and rhetoric, a circumstance which renders it singular that critics have endeavoured to impute the defects in his style to his being a Spaniard; but it is certain that his whole education was Roman. His first masters were Palaemon, the grammarian, and Flavius Virginius, the rhetorician. He then studied under Cornutus, from whom he imbibed the sentiments of the stoic school, and probably derived the lofty and free strain by which he is so much distinguished. It is said he completed his education at Athens. Seneca, then tutor to the emperor Nero, obtained for him the office of quaestor: he was soon after admitted to the college of augurs, and considered to be in the full career of honour and opulence. He gave proofs of poetical talents at a very early age, and acquired reputation by several compositions; a circumstance peculiarly unfortunate for him, as it clashed with the vanity of the emperor, who valued himself on his powers as a poet and musician. On one occasion Lucan was so imprudent as to recite one of his own pieces, in competition with Nero; and as the judges honestly decided in favour of Lucan, Nero forbad him to repeat any more of his verses in public, and treated him with so much indignity that Lucan no more looked up to him with the respect due to a patron and a sovereign, but took a part in the conspiracy of Piso and others against the tyrant; which being discovered, he was apprehended among the other conspirators. Tacitus and other authors have accused him of endeavouring to free himself from punishment by accusing his own mother, and involving her in the crime of which he was guilty. Mr. Hayley has endeavoured to rescue his name from so terrible a charge; and it is more likely that it was a calumny raised by Nero’s party to ruin his reputation. Be this as it may, his confessions were ofno avail, and no favour was granted him but the choice of the death he would die; and he chose the same which had terminated the life of his uncle Seneca. His veins were accordingly opened; and when he found himself growing cold and faint through loss of blood, he repeated some of his own lines, describing a wounded soldier sinking in a similar manner. He died in the year 65, and in the twentyseventh year of his age. Of the various poems of Lucan, none but his Pharsalia remain, which is an account of the civil wars between Caesar and Pompey, but is come down to us in an unfinished state. Its title to the name of an epic poem has been disputed by those critics, who, from the examples of Homer and Virgil, have maintained that machinery, or the intervention of supernatural agency, is essential to that species of composition. Others, however, have thought it rather too fastidious to refuse the epic name to a poem because not exactly conformable to those celebrated examples. Blair objects, tliat although Lucan’s subject is abundantly heroic, he cannot be reckoned happy in the choice of it, because it has two defects, the one its being too near the times in which he lived, which deprived him of the assistance of fiction and machinery; the other that civil wars, especially when as fierce and cruel as those of the Romans, present too many shocking objects to be fit for epic poetry, gallant and honourable achievements being a more proper theme for the epic muse. But Lucan’s genius seems to delight in savage scenes, and he even goes out of his way to introduce a long episode of Marius and Sylla’s proscriptions, which abounds with all the forms of atrocious cruelty. On the merits of the poetry itself there are various opinions. Considered as a school book, Dr. Warton has classed it with Statins, Claudian, and Seneca the tragedian, authors into whose works no youth of genius should ever be suffered to look, because, by their forced conceits, by their violent metaphors, by their swelling epithets, by their want of a just decorum, they have a strong tendency to dazzle and to mislead inexperienced minds, and tastes unformed, from the true relish of possibility, propriety, simplicity and nature. On the other hand it has been said, that although Lucan certainly possesses neither the fire of Homer, nor the melodious numbers of Virgil, yet if he had lived to a maturer age, his judgment as well as his genius would have been improved, and he might have claimed a more exalted rank among the poets of the Augustan age. His expressions are bold and animated; his poetry entertaining; and it has been asserted that he was never perused without the warmest emotions, by any whose minds were in unison with his own.
t totally about this time. He died in June 1715, and was interred in Westminster-abbey; but no stone or monument marks his grave. He was greatly esteemed for his piety
, a learned English divine, of Welch
extraction, was son of Mr. Richard Lucas of Presteign in
Radnorshire, and born in that county in 1648. After a
proper foundation of school learning, he was sent to Oxford, and entered of Jesus college, in 1664. Having taken
both his degrees in arts, he entered into holy orders about
1672, and was for some time master of the free-school at
Abergavenny; but being much esteemed for his talents in
the pulpit, he was chosen vicar of St. Stephen’s, Coiemanstreet, London, and lecturer of St. Olave, Southwark, in,
1683. He took the degree of doctor in divinity afterwards,
and was installed prebendary of Westminster in 1696.
His sight began to tail him in his youth, but he lost it
totally about this time. He died in June 1715, and was
interred in Westminster-abbey; but no stone or monument marks his grave. He was greatly esteemed for his
piety and learning, and his writings will preserve his fame.
He wrote “Practical Christianity;
” “An Enquiry after
Happiness;
” “The Morality of the Gospel;
” “Christian
Thoughts for. every Day of the Week;
” “A Guide to
Heaven;
” “The Duty of Servants;
” and several other
“Sermons,
” in five volumes. He also wrote a Latin translation of the “Whole Duty of Man,
” which was published
in
iness,' especially the second volume of it.” Orton speaks of his reading the latter work for a fifth or sixth time. The “Practical Christianity” is earnestly recommended
Of Dr. Lucas, Mr. Orton has given the following character from Dr. Doddridge’s Mss. “His style is very
peculiar; sometimes exceedingly fine, nearly approaching
conversation; sometimes grand and sublime; generally
very expressive. His method not clear, but thoughts excellent; many taken from attentive observation of life; he
wrote as entirely devoted to God, and superior to the
world. His < Practical Christianity‘ most valuable and
’ Enquiry after Happiness,' especially the second volume
of it.
” Orton speaks of his reading the latter work for a
fifth or sixth time. The “Practical Christianity
” is
earnestly recommended by sir Richard Steele in No. 63 of
“The Guardian.
”
bject admits of elevated sentiment and descriptive beauty, no Roman poet has taken a loftier flight, or exhibited more spirit and sublimity; the same animated strain
, a celebrated Roman poet
and philosopher, born about the year 96 B. C. was sent at
an early age to Athens, where, under Zeno and Pheodrus,
he imbibed the philosophical tenets of Epicurus and Empedocles, and afterwards explained and elucidated them in
his celebrated work, entitled “De Rerum Natura.
” In
inis poem the writer has not only controverted all the popular notions of heathenism, but even those points which
are fundamental in every system of religious faith, the
existence of a first cause, by whose power all things were
and are created, and by whose providence they are supported and governed. His merits, however, as a poet,
have procured him in all ages, the warmest admirers; and
undoubtedly where the subject admits of elevated sentiment and descriptive beauty, no Roman poet has taken a
loftier flight, or exhibited more spirit and sublimity; the
same animated strain is supported almost throughout entire
books. His poem was written and finished while he laboured under a violent delirium, occasioned by a philtre,
which the jealousy of his mistress or his wife had administered. The morality of Lucretius is generally pure,
but many of his descriptions are grossly licentious. The
best editions are those of Creech, Oxon. 1695, 8vo; of
Havercamp, Lugd. Bat. 1725, 4to, and of the celebrated
Gilbert Wakefield, Lond. 3 vols. 4to, which last is exceedingly rare, on account of the v fire which destroyed the
greater part of the impression. Mr. Good, the author of
the best translation of Lucretius, published in 1805, has
reprinted Waketield’s text, and has given, besides elaborate
annotations, a critical account of the principal editions and
translations of his author, a history of the poet, a vindication of his character and philosophy, and a comparative
statement of the rival systems of philosophy that flourished
in the time of Lucretius, to whom Mr. Good traces the inductive method of the illustrious Bacon, part of the sublime physics of sir Isaac Newton, and various chemical
discoveries of our own days, perhaps a little too fancifully,
but with great ingenuity and display of recondite learning.
new modelling the army, he was dismissed with Waller, and was not employed again in any post, civil or military, till 1645, when he was chosen in parliament for Wiltshire
, one of the chiefs of the republican party during the civil wars, was descended of an ancient and good family, originally of Shropshire, and thence removed into Wiltshire, in which county he wag born, at Maiden- Bradley, about 1620. After a proper foundation in grammar, he was sent to Trinity-college in Oxford, where he took the degree of batchelor of arts in 1636, but removed to the Temple, to study the law, as a qualification for serving his country in parliament, his ancestors having frequently represented the county of Wiltshire. His father, sir Henry Ludlow, who was a member of the long parliament and an enemy to the measures of the court, encouraged his son to engage as a volunteer in the earl of Essex’s life-guard. In this station he appeared against the king, at the battle of Edge-hill, in '1642; and, having raised a troop of horse the next summer, 1643, he joined sir Edward Hungerford in besieging Wardour-castle. This being taken, he was made governor of it; but being retaken the following year, 1644, by the king’s forces, he was carried prisoner to Oxford. After remaining here some time, he was released by exchange, went to London, and was appointed high-sheriff of Wiltshire by the parliament. He then appears to have declined a command under the earl of Essex, but accepted the post of major in sir Arthur Haslerig’s regiment of horse, in the army of sir William Waller, and marched to form the blockade of Oxford. From Oxford, however, he was immediately sent, with a commission from sir William, to raise and command a regiment of horse, and was so successful as to be able to join Waller with about five hundred horse, and was engaged in the second battle fought at Newbury. Upon new modelling the army, he was dismissed with Waller, and was not employed again in any post, civil or military, till 1645, when he was chosen in parliament for Wiltshire in the room of his father, who died in 1643.
omwell, of whose ambitious views be constantly expressed a jealousy, as constantly found one pretext or other to keep from being conferred on him; and in the following
When Cromwell succeeded Fairfax, as captain-general
of the army, and lord-lieutenant of Ireland, he, as an artful stroke of policy, nominated Ludlow lieutenant-general
of horse in that kingdom, which being confirmed by the
parliament, Ludlow went thither, and discharged the office
with diligence and success, till the death of Ireton, lorddeputy, Nov. 1651, whom, in his “Memoirs,
” he laments
as a staunch republican. He now acted as general, by an
appointment from the parliament commissioners, but without that title, which Cromwell, of whose ambitious views
be constantly expressed a jealousy, as constantly found
one pretext or other to keep from being conferred on him;
and in the following year, 1652, Fleetwood went thither
with the chief command. Soon after this, the rebellion
being suppressed, a considerable part of the army was
disbanded, the pay of the general and other officers reduced, and necessary steps taken for satisfying the arrears
due to them, which Ludlow says fell heavier upon him
than others, as in supporting the dignity of the station he
had spent upwards of 4500l. in the four years of his service
here, out of his own estate, over and above his pay.
At home, in the mean time, Cromwell was become sovereign, under the title of protector. This being esteemed
by Ludlow an usurpation, he endeavoured by every means
in his power to hinder the proclamation from being read in
Ireland; and being defeated in that attempt, he dispersed
a paper against Cromwell, called “The Memento:
” for
which he was dismissed from his post in the army, and
ordered not to go to London by Fleetwood, now deputy of
Ireland. Soon after, being less narrowly watched by
Henry Cromwell, who succeeded in that office, he found
means to escape and cross the water to Beaumaris; but was
there seized and detained till he subscribed an engagement, never to act against the government then established.
But this subscription being made with some reserve, he
was pressed, on his arrival in London, Dec. 1655, to make
it absolute; which he refused to do, and endeavoured to
draw major-general Harrison, and Hugh Peters, into the
same opinion. Cromwell, therefore, after trying in vain,
in a private conference, to prevail upon him to subscribe,
sent him an order from the council of state, to give security in the sum of 5000l. not to act against the new government, within three days, on pain of being taken into
custody. Not obeying the order, he was apprehended by
the president’s warrant; but the security being given by
his brother Thomas Ludlow, though, as he says, without
his consent, he went into Essex, where he continued till
Oliver died. He was then returned in the new parliament
called upon Richard’s accession to the protectorate; and,
either from connivance or cowardice on the part of the
government, was suffered to sit in the house without taking the oath required of every member, not to act or contrive any thing against the protector. He was afterwards
very active in procuring the restoration of the Rump parliament; in which, with the rest, he took possession of
his seat again, and the same day was appointed one of the
committee of safety. Soon after this, he obtained a regiment, by the interest of sir Arthur Haslerig; and in a little time was nominated one of the council of state, every
member of which took an oath to be true and faithful to the
commonwealth, in opposition to Charles Stuart, or any
single person. He was likewise appointed by parliament
one of the commissioners for naming and approving officers
in the army.
before he left London, that it was at last carried to restore the old parliament, which was done two or three- days after. In Ireland, however, he was far from being
But the Wallingford-house party, to remove him out of the way, recommended him to the parliament, for the post of commander in chief of the forces in Ireland, in the room of Henry Cromwell, and he accordingly arrived, with that command, at Dublin, in August 1659; but in September, receiving Lambert’s petition to parliament, for settling the government under a representative and select senate, he procured a counter petition to be signed by the officers of the army near Dublin, declaring their resolution of- adhering closely to the parliament and soon after, with the Consent of Fieetwood, set out for England. On his arrival at Beaumaris, hearing that the army had turned the parliament oat of the house, and resumed the supreme power, he hesitated for some time about proceeding on his journey, but at length resolved upon it; and on his arrival at Chester, finding an addition made to the army’s scheme of government, by which all the officers were to receive new commissions from Fleetwood, and that a committee of safety was appointed, consisting of twenty-one members, of which he was one, and that he was also continued one of the committee for nomination of officers, he set out for London the next day, and arrived there Oct. 29, 1659. The Wallingford-house p;irty prevailing to have a new parliament called, Ludlow opposed it with great fervour, in defence of the Hump, and proposed to qualify the power of the army by a council of twenty-one under the denomination of the Conservators of liberty; but being defeated in this, by the influence of the Wallingford-house party, he resolved to return to his post in Ireland, and had the satisfaction to know, before he left London, that it was at last carried to restore the old parliament, which was done two or three- days after. In Ireland, however, he was far from being well received. Dublin was barred against him, and landing at Duncannon, he was blockaded there by a party of horse, pursuant to an order of the council of officers, who likewise charged him with several crimes and misdemeanors against the army. He wrote an answer to this charge; but, before he sent it away, received an account, that the parliament had confirmed the proceedings of the council of officers at Dublin against him; and, about a week after, he received a letter from them, signed William Lenthall, recalling him home.
settled at last at Vevay , in Switzerland, though not without several attempts made to destroy him, or deliver him to Charles II. There he continued under the protection
Soon after his departure, a proclamation was published, for apprehending and securing him, with a reward of 300l.; one of these coming to his hands, in a packet of letters, in which his friends earnestly desired he would remove to some place more distant from England, he went first to Geneva; and after a short stay there, passing to Lausanne, settled at last at Vevay , in Switzerland, though not without several attempts made to destroy him, or deliver him to Charles II. There he continued under the protection of those States till the Revolution in 1688, in which some thought he might have been usefully employed to recover Ireland from the Papists. With this design he came to England, and appeared so openly at London, that an address was presented by king William, from the House of Commons, Nov. 7, 1689, that his majesty would be pleased to put out a proclamation for the apprehending of colonel Ludlow, attainted for the murder of Charles I. upon which he returned to Vevay, where he died in 1693, in his 73d year. Some of his last words were wishes for the prosperity, peace, and glory of his country. His body was interred in the best church of the town, in which his lady erected a monument of her conjugal affection to his memory.
ver taken for any other than he professed himself to be; Cromwell valued himself upon acting a part, or rather several parts, and all of them equally well: and when
The friends of Ludlow have endeavoured to exalt his
character by contrasting him with his antagonist Cromwell;
and undoubtedly, in point of honesty, he has the advantage.
“Ludlow,
” it has been said, “was sincerely and steadily
& republican Cromwell not attached to any kind of government, but of all kinds liked that the least. Ludlow
spoke his mind plainly, and was never taken for any other
than he professed himself to be; Cromwell valued himself
upon acting a part, or rather several parts, and all of them
equally well: and when he performed that of a Commonwealth’s-man, he performed it so admirably, that though
Ludlow knew him to be a player by profession, yet he now
thought he had thrown off the mask, and appeared what he
really was. Ludlow was entirely devoted to the parliament,
and would have implicitly obeyed their orders upon any
occasion whatsoever, especially after it was reduced to the
Rump; Cromwell never undertook any business for them,
but with a view to his own interest.
” Warburton says of
Ludlow, “he was a furious, mad, but I think apparently
honest, republican and independent.
” After his death, came
out the “Memoirs of Edmund Ludlow, esq.
” &c. Switzerland, printed at Vevay, in the canton of Bern, 1698, in
2 vols. 8vo, and there was a third volume, with a collection
of original papers, published in 1691), 8vo. The same year
a French translation of the first two volumes was printed in
the same size at Amsterdam. Another edition of the whole
was printed in folio, at London, 1751. The first edition was
attacked in 1698, in a pamphlet, entitled, “A modest vindication of Oliver Cromwell;
” the author of which published another piece, entitled, “Regicides not Saints,
”
and, in A letter from major-general Ludlow to
E. S. (Edward Seymour), &c. Amsterdam.
” Mr. Wood
observes, this was printed at London, and was written by
way of preface of a larger work to come, to justify the
murder of king Charles I. not by Ludlow, but by some
malevolent person in England: in answer to which, there
came out, “The Plagiary exposed, &c.
” Lond.
from the fruit. The generic distinctions are derived from the herbage, flower, smell, taste, colour, or any thing that came in the author’s way; certainly with no advantage
Ludwig published in 1737 his “DefinitionesPlantarum,
”
in 8vo, for the use of his pupils. In this the genera of
plants are arranged in a method supposed to be natural,
founded ou the corolla in the first place, the subordinate
characters being taken from the fruit. The generic distinctions are derived from the herbage, flower, smell, taste,
colour, or any thing that came in the author’s way; certainly with no advantage whatever over the laws and practice of Linnæus, but rather evincing, at every step, the
superiority of the latter to the vague scheme of his opponent. In another little volume of Ludwig, the “A^horismi Botanici,
” published in a Linnsean in disguise
” is strongly justified. In
vain does the writer try to forget the “Philosophia Botanica,
” and to seek originality, at any rate, by wandering
from its light. In vain does he extol the system of Rivinus in preference to all others. He is brought back by
his own judgment, in spite of himself, at every step; and
as he could never give the least degree of popularity to the
system he extolled, the slightest study of his works will
show it to have been a mill-stone about his own neck.
Boehmer gave a new and improved edition of the “Definitiones Plantarum
” in
publish impressions, chiefly of medicinal plants, taken from the dried specimen with printer’s ink, or with smoked paper, in folio, under the title of “Ectypa Vegetabilium,”
In 1742, and again in 1757, our author published his
“Institutiones Historico-Physicse Regni Vegetabilis,
” in
8vo. In this work, which shews him still in pursuit of novelty rather than of truth, even the disguise of a Linnjean
is almost laid aside, a system of arrangement being proposed in which the stamens and styles make an essential,
if not a leading, feature. The favourite old system of
vinus still takes precedence, though it serves only as
additional impediment in the way of natural affinities, which
defect is in some measure concealed by the primary
characters not being strictly followed. This volume may
therefore be considered as a tacit tribute of respect to the
illustrious Swede, arising from its author’s progress in
judgment and experience. He had no motive to withhold
this tribute, as Linnæus never resented nor repelled hi>
attacks. Ludwig began, in 1760, to publish impressions,
chiefly of medicinal plants, taken from the dried specimen
with printer’s ink, or with smoked paper, in folio, under
the title of “Ectypa Vegetabilium,
” which he continued
from time to time. Such impressions give undoubtedly a
correct outline, at least if the plant be fully displayed, but
the rest is a mass of confusion; especially as the more elevated parts, which should be light, are necessarily the
darkest. He wrote also occasionally on medico-botanical
subjects, as on the effects of extract of Stramonium, and
of the Belladonna, or deadly nightshade, in the epilepsy.
His opinion seems not to have been favourable to cither.
He died at Leipsic in 1773, aged sixty-four. He left a
son named Christian Frederick, born in 1751, who became professor of natural history in the same university,
and is the author of various tracts on botany, anatomy, and
physiology.
ome for twenty years, and attended wholly to that employ, without making his court to the cardinals, or visiting any ambassadors.
, a Spanish Jesuit and cardinal, was born Nov. 28, 1583, at Madrid. His talents began to appear so early, that it is said he was able, at three years of age, to read not only printed books, but manuscripts. He maintained theses at fourteen, and was sent to study the taw, soon after, at Salamanca; where he entered into the order f the Jesuits in 1603, against his father’s wish. After finishing his course of philosophy among the Jesuits of Pampeluna, and of divinity at Salamanca, he was sent to Seville by his superiors, on his father’s death, to take possession of his patrimony, which was very considerable, and Which he divided among the Jesuits of Salamanca. He then taught philosophy five years after which, he was professor of divinity at Valladolid. The success with which he filled this chair, convinced his superiors that he was worthy of one more eminent: accordingly he received orders, in the fifth year of his professorship, to go to Rome, to teach divinity there. He set out in March 1621, and arrived at Rome in June the same year, having met with Bjanv dangers in travelling through the provinces of France. He taught divinity at Rome for twenty years, and attended wholly to that employ, without making his court to the cardinals, or visiting any ambassadors.
time so highly respected, that Urban made him a cardinal, in Dec. 1643, without any previous notice or solicitation. To this promotion, however, he is said to have
The publication of his works was in consequence of an
order which his vow of obedience would not suffer him to
refuse: he published accordingly, seven large volumes in
folio , the fourth of which he dedicated to Urban VIII.
Upon this occasion he went for the first time to pay his
respects to the pope, by whom he was very graciously received; and from that time so highly respected, that Urban made him a cardinal, in Dec. 1643, without any previous notice or solicitation. To this promotion, however,
he is said to have shown the greatest repugnance, and
would not permit the Jesuits’ college to discover any signs
of joy, or grant the scholars a holiday. He looked upon
the coach, which cardinal Barberifli sent him, as his coffin;
and when he was in the pope’s palace, he told the officers
who were going to put on his cardinal’s robes, that he was
resolved to represent first to his holiness, that the vows he
had made as a Jesuit would not permit him to accept of a
cardinal’s hat. He was answered, that the pope had dispensed with those vows. “Dispensations,
” replied he,
“leave a man to his natural liberty and, if I am permitted
to enjoy mine, I will never accept of the purple.
” Being
introduced to the pope, he asked whether his holiness, by
virtue of holy obedience, commanded him to accept the
dignity ' to which the pontiff answering, that he did;
Lugo acquiesced, and bowed his head to receive the hat.
Yet he constantly kept a Jesuit near his person, to be a
perpetual witness of his actions. He continued to dress
and undress himself; he would not suffer any hangings to
be put up in his palace; and established so excellent an
order in it, that it was considered as an useful seminary.
He died Aug. 20, 1660, leaving his whole estate to the
Jesuits’ college at Rome; and was interred, by his own
directions, at the feet of Ignatius Loyola, the founder of
the order.
eater space than before, without acquiring any new matter; our cardinal applied this to a corpuscle, or atom, without parts or extension, which he supposes may swell
While he was cardinal, he was very charitable and bestowed tlu> Jesuits’ bark, which then sold for its weight in gold, very liberally to persons afflicted with agues. He was iiic first that brought this febrifuge specific into France in 1650, when it was called cardinal de Lugo’s powder. He was undeniably a learned man, and had all that subtlety of genius which is the characteristic quality of the Spanish divines; and is said to be the first that discovered the philosophical sin, and the justice of punishing it eternally. His solution of this difficulty is somewhat extraordinary; for, having asserted that the savages might be ignorant of God inculpably, he observes that the Deity gave them, before their death, so much knowledge of himself as was necessary to be capable of sinning theologically, and prolonged their life till they had committed such sin, and thereby justly incurred eternal damnation. Among his other scholastic absurdities he has also the reputation of inventing the doctrine of inflated points, in order to remove the difficulties in accounting for the infinite divisibility of quantity, and the existence of mathematical points. It was a received opinion, that a rarefied body takes up a greater space than before, without acquiring any new matter; our cardinal applied this to a corpuscle, or atom, without parts or extension, which he supposes may swell itself in such a manner as to fill several parts of space.
brother was made a cardinal, he went back into Spain where he was appointed rector of two colleges, or of a college or school consisting of two divisions, as is that
, elder brother of the preceding, was
born at Madrid in 1580, and became a Jesuit at Salamanca
in 1600, where he first employed himself in teaching the
rudiments of grammar: but he afterwards was professor of
philosophy, and was sent to the Indies. There he filled
the divinity-chair in the town of Mexico, and also in Santa
Fe. These posts, however, not being agreeable to tfhe
Retirement in which he desired to live, he returned to
Spain. In the voyage he lost the best part of his commentaries upon the “Summit
” of T. Aquinas, and narrowly escaped being taken prisoner by the Dutch. He
was afterwards deputed to Rome by the province of Castile,
to assist at the eighth general assembly of the Jesuits; and,
upon the conclusion of it, he was detained there by two
employments, that of censor of the books published by the
Jesuits, and that of Theologue general. But finding himselt to be courted more and more, from the time that his
brother was made a cardinal, he went back into Spain
where he was appointed rector of two colleges, or of a
college or school consisting of two divisions, as is that of
Westminster. He died in 1652, after writing several books,
the chief of which are, 1. Commentarii in primam partem
S. Thomae de Deo, trinitate, & angelis,“Lyons, 1647, 2
vols, folio. 2.
” De sacramentis in genere, &c.“Venice,
1652, 4to. 3.
” Discursus praevius ad theologiam moralem, &c.“Madrid, 1643, 4to. 4.
” Quasstiones morales
de sacramentis," Grenada, 1644, 4to.
r as regards the reputation of the performer, it is of small moment whether he plays very well on it or not: but the performance on the violin is a delicate and an
Being for some offence dismissed from the princess’s
service, he got himself entered among the king’s violins;
and in a little time became able to compose. Some of his
airs being noticed by the king, he called for the author;
and was so struck with his performance of them on the
violin, of which Lulli was now become A master, that in
1660 he created a new band, called “Les Petits Violons,
”
and placed him at the head of it. He was afterwards appointed sur-intendant de la musique de la chambre du Roy;
and upon this associated himself with Quinault, who was
appointed to write the operas; and being now become
composer and joint director of the opera, he not only detached himsek' from the former band, and instituted one of
his own, but, what is more extraordinary, neglected the
violin so much, that he had not even one in his house, and
never played upon it afterwards^ except to very few, and
in private. On the other hand, to the guitar, a trifling
instrument, he retained throughout life such a propensity,
that for his amusement he resorted to it voluntarily; and to
perform on it even before strangers, needed no incentive.
The reason of this seeming perverseness of temper has
been thus assigned: “The guitar is an instrument of small
estimation among persons skilled in music, the power of
performing on it being attained without much difficulty;
and, so far as regards the reputation of the performer, it is
of small moment whether he plays very well on it or not:
but the performance on the violin is a delicate and an arduous energy; which Lulli knowing, set too high a value
on the reputation he had acquired when in constant practice, to risk the losing of it.
”
er biographical collection said to be by Lupton is a 4to volume, entitled” The Glory of their Times, or the Lives of the Primitive Fathers,“&c. London, printed by J.
, whom Granger, by mistake, calls
Dr. Lupton, was one of the earliest publishers of biographical collections in English, but with his own history we
are almost totally unacquainted. We can only gather from
one of his dedications that he had served in the army several years, and from the contents of his two principal publications, that he was a man of piety, and an admirer of the
characters of those eminent fathers and divines who made
the greatest figure in the church from the earliest periods
to the reformation. The first of these is entitled “The
History of the Moderne Protestant Divines, &c. faithfully
translated out of Latin,
” Lond. farmers of the
custom-house.
” It contains twenty-two foreign lives, and
twenty-three English, translated from Holland’s “Heroologia, and Verheiden’s
” Effigies,“with each an engraved
head dopied, in small, from those in Holland and Verheiden. Mr. Churton has made particular mention of this
curious and very scarce volume in the preface to his elaborate life of dean Newell, and an account has since been
published in the Bibliographer. The other biographical
collection said to be by Lupton is a 4to volume, entitled
” The Glory of their Times, or the Lives of the Primitive
Fathers,“&c. London, printed by J. Okes, 1640. This
contains forty four lives, with heads of the same scale as.
the other, but of less value, as being mostly imaginary.
We know not on what authority this work is attributed to
Lupton, >as there is no mention of his name in any part of
the copy now before us, and the preface, or address to
the reader, is signed Typographies. From internal evidence,
however, we should be inclined to think it was his compilation. Lupton’s other productions werte,
” London and the
countrey carbonadoed and quartered into several chafacters,“1632, 8vo
” ObjectorUm reductio; or daily employment for the soule,“1634, 8vo
” Emblems of Rarities; or choice Observations out of worthy Histories, &c.“1636, l&tTio; and
” England’s command of the Seas; or
the English Seas guarded," 1653, 12mo.
ded tolerably well with the help of M. Ignatius Lewis de la Serre, sieur de Langlade (author of nine or ten operas,) who was her intimate friend, after having been
, a female writer, very much admired in France for the romances which she produced, was
the daughter of a coachman belonging to cardinal Fleury,
and was born about 1682. Some have said that she was
the daughter of prince Thomas of Savoy, the prince de
Carignano’s elder brother, because prince Eugene shewed
her much kindness. She had, however, an education much
above her birth, which enabled her to compose the various
works which she has left us. M. Huet, to whom she accidentally became known, advised her to write romances, in
which she succeeded tolerably well with the help of M. Ignatius Lewis de la Serre, sieur de Langlade (author of nine or ten operas,) who was her intimate friend, after having
been her lover. This gentleman inherited an income of
25,000 livres, which he consumed by gaming, and died in
1756. Mademoiselle de Lussan was more admired for her
mental than for her personal qualities, for she squinted, and
bad a very brown skin, with a masculine voice and gait;
but she was gay, lively, extremely humane, constant in her
friendships, liable to anger, but never to hatred. She
died in 1758, aged seventy-five, in consequence of bathing
during an indigestion. Her works are, “La Comtesse de
Gondez,
” 2 vols. 12mo; “Anecdotes de Philippe Auguste,
”
6 vols. 12m<>, attributed to the abb de Boismorand. “Memoires de Charles VII.
” 12mo; “Anecdotes
” of Francis I.
3 vols. 12mo; of Henry II. 2 vols. 12mo; of Mary of England, 12mo; “La Vie de Crillon,
” 2 vols. 12mo. She
published also under her name a “History of Charles VI.
”
9 vols. 12mo; of Louis XI. 6 vols. and “L'Hist. de la derniere Revolution de Naples,
” 4 vols. but these three were
written by M. Baudot de Juilly, as we have mentioned in
his life. Mademoiselle de Lussan gave this gentleman half
of what she gained from these works, and half of her pension of 2000 livres.
, an illustrious German divine and reformer of the church, was the son of John Letter, or Lauther, which our reformer changed to Luther, and of Margaret
, an illustrious German divine and
reformer of the church, was the son of John Letter, or
Lauther, which our reformer changed to Luther, and of
Margaret Lindeman, and born at Isleben, a town of Saxony,
in the county of Mansfelt, November 10, 1483. His father’s extraction and condition were originally but mean,
and his occupation that of a miner; it is probable, however,
that by his application and industry he improved the circumstances of his family, for we find him afterwards raised
to the magistracy of a considerable rank and dignity in his
province. Luther was initiated very early into letters;
and, having learned the rudiments of grammar while he
continued at home with his parents, was, at the age of
thirteen, sent to a school at Magdeburg. Here, however,
he remained only one year, for the circumstances of his
parents were at that time so very low, and so insufficient to
maintain him, that he was forced, as Melchior Adam relates, “Mendicato vivere pane,
” to beg his bread for support. From Magdeburg he was removed to a school at
Eysenach, a city of Thuringia, for the sake of being among
his mother’s relations; for his mother was descended from
an ancient and reputable family in that town. Here he
applied himself diligently to study for four years; and
began to discover all that force and strength of parts, that
acuteness and penetration, that warm and rapid eloquence,
which afterwards produced such wonderful effects.
ticularly excited by the writings of Erasmus; who, though he always remained in appearance a papist, or at least had nothing decided in his character, yet contributed
He continued in the university of Wittemberg, where,
as professor of divinity, he employed himself in the business of his calling. The university, as we have observed,
had been lately founded by Frederic, elector of Saxony,
who was one of the richest and most powerful princes at
that time in Germany, as well as one of the most magnificent and bountiful; and who brought a great many
learned men thither, by large pensions and other encouragements, and amongst the rest Luther. Here then he
feegan in the most earnest manner to read lectures upon
the sacred books: he explained the epistle to the Romans,
and the Psalms, which he cleared up and illustrated in a
manner so entirely new, and so different from what had
been pursued by former commentators, that “there seemed,
after a long and dark night, a new day to arise, in the
judgment of all pious and prudent men.
” He settled the
precise difference between the law and gospel, which before had been confounded; refuted many errors, commonly
received both in "he church and the schools; and brought
many necessary truths to light, which might have bee
vainly sought in Scotus and Aquinas. The better to qualify himself for the task he had undertaken, he applied
himself attentively to the Greek and Hebrew languages;
to which, we are told, he was particularly excited by the
writings of Erasmus; who, though he always remained in
appearance a papist, or at least had nothing decided in
his character, yet contributed much to the impelling of
monkish ignorance, and overthrowing the kingdom of darkness. In the mean time, Luther, while he was active in
propagating truth and instruction by his lectures and
sermons, maintained an exemplary severity in his life and
conversation, and was a most rigid observer of that discipline
which he enjoined to others. This gained him vast credit
and authority, and made all he delivered, however new or
unusual, more readily accepted by. those who heard him.
is upon indulgences; in the beginning of which he challenged any one to oppose it, either by writing or disputation. This thesis contained ninetyfive propositions;
These strange proceedings gave great offence at Wittemberg, and particularly inflamed the pious zeal of Luther, who, being naturally warm and active, and in the. present case unable to repress his indignation, was determined to declare against them, whatever might be the consequence*. Upon the eve of All Saints, therefore, in 1517, he publicly fixed up, at the church next to the castle of that town, a thesis upon indulgences; in the beginning of which he challenged any one to oppose it, either by writing or disputation. This thesis contained ninetyfive propositions; in which, however, he did not directly oppose indulgences in themselves, nor the power of the church to grant them, but only maintained, " That the pope could release no punishments but what he inflicted, and indulgences could be nothing but a relaxation of eccle* It has been said by F. Paul, in his century before Luther, viz. from 1450
Saxony and that Luther was prompt- about obtaining for himself or his order,
Saxony and that Luther was prompt- about obtaining for himself or his order,
a short time before the present period: from resentment or envy, either in the
a short time before the present period: from resentment or envy, either in the
the promulgation of them, at three edicts of tke pontiffs of his time, or in
the promulgation of them, at three edicts of tke pontiffs of his time, or in
arity to the poor, than to purchase a pardon; and that it is a matter of indifference either to buy, or not to buy, an indulgence; that indulgences are not to be trusted
aad it is remarkable, that for half a subject Mosheim, and Robertson. siastical penalties; that they affected only the living; that the dead were not subject to canonical penances, and so could receive no benefit by indulgences; and that such as were in purgatory could not by them be delivered from the punishment of their sins; that indeed the pope did root grant indulgences to the souls of the dead, by virtue of the power of the keys[?], but by way of suffrage; that indulgences seldom remit all punishment; that those who believe they shall be saved by indulgences only, shall be damned with their masters; that contrition can procure remission of the fault and punishment without indulgences, but that indulgences can do nothing without contrition; that, however, the pope’s indulgence ia not to be contemned, because it is the declaration of a pardon obtained of God, but only to be preached up with caution, lest the people should think it preferable to good works; that Christians should be instructed, how much better it is to abound in works of mercy and charity to the poor, than to purchase a pardon; and that it is a matter of indifference either to buy, or not to buy, an indulgence; that indulgences are not to be trusted to; that it is hard to say what that treasure of the church is, which is said to be the foundation of indulgences; that it is not the merits of Christ or his saints, because they produce grace in the inner man, and crucify the outward man, without the pope’s interposing; thai this treasure can be nothing but the power of the keys, or the gospel of the glory and grace of God; that indulgences cannot remit the most venial sin in respect of the guilt; that they remit nothing to them who by a sincere contrition have a right to a perfect remission; and that Christians are to be exhorted to seek pardon of their sins by the pains and labour of penance, rather than to get them discharged without reason."
which he affirms them guilty, as for example, “The reserving ecclesiastical penances for purgatory, or commuting them into the pains of purgatory; teaching that indulgences
This is the doctrine of Luther’s thesis; in which, if he
does not attack indulgences directly, he certainly represents them as useless and ineffectual. He also condemns
in it several propositions which he attributes to his adversaries, and inveighs against several abuses of which he
affirms them guilty, as for example, “The reserving ecclesiastical penances for purgatory, or commuting them into
the pains of purgatory; teaching that indulgences free men
from all the guilt and punishment of sin; preaching that
the soul, which they please to release out of purgatory,
flies immediately to heaven when the money is cast into
the chest; maintaining, that these indulgences are an
inestimable gift, by which man is reconciled to God; exacting from the poor, contrary to the pope’s intentions;
causing the preaching the word of God to cease in other
churches that they may have a greater concourse of people
in those where indulgences are preached; advancing this
scandalous assertion, that the pope’s indulgences hare
such a virtue, as to be able to absolve a man though he
has ravished the mother of God, which is a thing impossible; publishing, that the cross with the arms of the
pope, is equal to the cross of Christ, &c. Such positions
as these,
” says he, “have made people ask, and justly,
why the pope, out of charity, does not deliver all souls tfut
of purgatory, since he can deliver so great a number for
a little money, given for the building of a church? Whv
he suffers prayers and anniversaries for the dead, which
are certainly delivered out of purgatory by indulgences?
Why the pope, who is richer than several Croesuses, cannot build the church of St. Peter with his own money, but
at the expence of the poor r
” &c. In thus attacking indulgences, and the commissioners appointed to publish them,
Luther seemed to attack Albert, the archbishop of Ment7,
under whose name and authority they were published. Of
this he was himself aware; and, therefore, the very eve
on which he fixed up his thesis, he wrote a letter to him,
in which, after humbly representing to him the grievances
just recited, he besought him to remedy and correct them;
and concluded with imploring pardon for the freedom he
had taken, protesting that what he did was out of duty,
and with a faithful and submissive temper of mind.
what he had written to that bishop’s judgment. He entreated him either to scratch out with his pen, or commit to the flames, whatever should teem to him unsound; to
Luther’s propositions concerning indulgences were no
sooner published, than Tetzel, the Dominican friar and
commissioner for selling them, maintained and published
at Franc fort, a thesis containing a set of propositions directly contrary to them. He also stirred up the clergy of
his order against Luther; anathematized him from the
pulpit as a most damnable heretic; and burnt his thesis
publicly at Francfort. Eight hundred copies of Tetzel’s
thesis were also burnt in return by some persons at Wittemberg; but Luther himself disowned having had any
hand in that procedure, and in a letter to Jodocus, a professor at Isenac, who had formerly been his master, asked
him “If he thought Luther ao void of common sense as to
do a thing of that kind in a place where he had not any
jurisdiction, and against a divine of so great authority as
Tetzel?
” Luther, indeed, although he perceived that his
propositions were very well liked, and entertained as perfectly sound and orthodox, yet behaved himself at first
with great calmness and submission. He proposed them
to be discussed only in the way of disputation, till the
church should determine what was to be thought of indulgences. He wrote to Jerom of Brandenburg, under whose
jurisdiction he was, and submitted what he had written to
that bishop’s judgment. He entreated him either to scratch
out with his pen, or commit to the flames, whatever should
teem to him unsound; to which, however, the bishop replied, that he only begged him to defer the publication
of his propositions; and added, that be wished no discourse had been started about indulgences. Luther complied with the bishop’s request; and declared that “it gave
him more pleasure to be obedient, than it would to work
miracles, if he was ever so able.
” And so much justice
must be done to Luther, even by those who are not of his
party, as to acknowledge that he was willing to be silent,
and to say nothing more of indulgences, provided the same
conditions might be imposed upon his adversaries.
ngoUtadt, who wrote notes upon his thesis, which Luther answered by other notes; Sylvester Prierius, or Prierio, a Dominican, and master of the holy palace; and one
But the spirit of peace deserted the church for a season;
and a quarrel begun by two private monks, ended as we
shall see, in a mighty revolution. Luther was now attacked by adversaries innumerable from all sides; three of
the principal of whom were, John Eckius, divinity -professor
and vice-chancellor of the university of IngoUtadt, who
wrote notes upon his thesis, which Luther answered by
other notes; Sylvester Prierius, or Prierio, a Dominican,
and master of the holy palace; and one Jacob Hugostratus, a friar-preacher, who singled out some of his propositions, and advised the pope to condemn and burn him, if
he would not immediately retract them. Luther contented
himself with publishing a kind of manifesto against Hogostratus, in which he reproaches him with cruelty and ignorance; but as Prierius had drawn up his animadversions
in the form of a dialogue, to which was prefixed a dedication to the pope; and built all he had advanced against
Luther upon the principles of Thomas Aquinas, Luther,
in an epistle to the reader, opposed Holy Scripture to the
authority of this saint; and declared, among other things,
that “if the pope and the cardinals were, like this Dominican, to set up any authority against that of Scripture, it
could no longer be doubted that Rome was itself the very
seat of antichrist; and then happy would Bohemia and all
other countries be, who should separate themselves from it
as soon as possible.
”
he following words: “I cast myself, holy father, at your feet, with all I am and have. Give me life, or put me to death; confirm or revoke, approve or disapprove, as
In the mean time, the zeal of his adversaries grew every
day more active against him; and he was at length accused
to Leo X. as an heretic. As soon as he returned therefore
from Heidelberg, he wrote a letter to that pope, in the most
submissive terms; and sent him at the same time an explication of his propositions about indulgences. He tells his holiness in this letter, that “he was greatly troubled at being
represented to him as a person who opposed the authority
and power of the keys and pope; that this accusation amazed him, but that he trusted to his own innocency.
” Then
he sets forth the matter of fact, and says, that the “preachers of the jubilee thought all things lawful for them under
the pope’s name, and taught heretical and impious propositions, to the scandal and contempt of the ecclesiastical
power, and as if the decretals against the abuses of collectors did not concern them; that they had published
books, in which they taught the same impieties and heresies, not to mention their avarice and exactions; that they
had found out no other way to quiet the offence their il!
conduct had given, than by terrifying men with the name
of pope, and by threatening with fire, as heretics, all those
who did not approve and submit to their exorbitances;
that being animated with a zeal for Jesus Christ, and
pushed on by the heat of youth, he had given notice of
these abuses to the superior powers; whose not regarding
it had induced him to oppose them with lenity, by publishing a position which he invited the most learned to dispute with him. This,
” says he, “is the flame which they
say has set the whole world on fire. Is it that I have not
a right, as a doctor of divinity, to dispute in the public
schools upon these matters? These theses were made only
for my own country; and I am surprised to see them
spread into all parts of the world. They were rather disputable points than decisions; some of them obscure, and
in need of being cleared. What shall I do? I cannot,
draw them back, and yet I see I am made odious. It is a
trouble to me to appear in public, yet I am constrained
to do it. It is to appease my adversaries, and give satisfaction to several persons, that I have published explications of the disputes I have engaged in; which I now do
under your holiness’s protection, that it may be known how
sincerely I honour the power of the keys, and with what
injustice my adversaries have represented me. If I were
such a one as they give out, the elector of Saxony woirld
not have tolerated me in his university thus long.
” He
concludes in the following words: “I cast myself, holy
father, at your feet, with all I am and have. Give me
life, or put me to death; confirm or revoke, approve or
disapprove, as you please. I own your voice as that of
Jesus Christ, who rules and speaks by you; and if I have
deserved death I refuse not to die.
” This letter is dated
on Trinity Sunday, he did not pretend to advance or defend any thing contrary to the Holy
Scripture, or to the doctrine of the fathers, received and
observed by the church of Rome, or to the canons and decretals of the popes; nevertheless, he thought he had the
liberty, either to approve or disapprove the opinions of St.
Thomas, Bonaventure, and other schoolmen and canonists,
which are not grounded upon any text.
”
atever his holiness should enjoin. The pope on his part ordered Jerom de Genutiis, bishop of Ascula, or Ascoli, auditor of the apostolic chamber, to cite Luther to
The emperor Maximilian was equally solicitous with the pope, about putting a stop to the propagation of Luther’s opinions in Saxony; since the great number of his followers, and the resolution with which he defended them, made it evident beyond dispute that if he were not immediately checked he would become troublesome both to the church and empire. Maximilian therefore applied to Leo in a letter dated Aug. 5, 1518, and begged him to forbid by his authority, these useless, rash, and dangerous disputes; assuring him also that he would strictly execute in the empire whatever his holiness should enjoin. The pope on his part ordered Jerom de Genutiis, bishop of Ascula, or Ascoli, auditor of the apostolic chamber, to cite Luther to appear at Rome within sijcty days, that he might give an account of his doctrine to the auditor and master of the palace, to whom he had committed the judgment of the cause. He wrote at the same time to Frederick the elector of Saxony, to pray him not to protect Luther and let him know that he had cited him, and had given cardinal Cajetan, his legate in Germany, the necessary instructions upon that occasion. He exhorts the elector to put Luther into the hands of this legate, that he might be carried to Rome; assuring him that, if he were innocent, he would send him back absolved, and if he were guilty, would pardon him upon his repentance. This letter to Frederic was dated Aug. 23, 1518, and it was by no means unnecessary; for though Luther had nothing to trust to at first but his own personal qualities, his parts, his learning, and his courage, yet he was afterwards countenanced and supported by this elector, a prince of great personal worth. At the same time also the pope sent a brief to cardinal Cajetan, in which he ordered him to bring Luther before him as soon as possible; and to hinder the princes from being any impediment to the execution of this order, he denounced the punishments of excommunication, interdiction, and privation of goods against all who should receive Luther, and give him protection; and promised a plenary indulgence to those who should assist in delivering him up.
thing new or extraordinary here," says society, than to retract what I have
thing new or extraordinary here," says society, than to retract what I have
he, " except that I am become the already justly asserted, or to be the
he, " except that I am become the already justly asserted, or to be the
declared that “he honoured and would obey the holy church of Rome in all things; that if he had said or done any thing contrary to its decisions, he desired it might
of such a conflagration. You will act Rescue’s Leo.
him a protestation, in which he declared that “he honoured and would obey the holy church of Rome in all
things; that if he had said or done any thing contrary to
its decisions, he desired it might be looked upon as never
said or done;
” and for the three propositions made to him
by the legate, he declared, “That, having sought only the
truth, he had committed no fault, and could not retract
errors of which he had not been convinced, nor even heard;
that he was firmly persuaded of his having advanced nothing contrary to Scripture and the doctrines of the fathers;
that, nevertheless, being a man, and subject to error, he
would submit himself to the lawful determination of the
church; and that he offered, further, to give reasons in
this place, and elsewhere, of what he had asserted, answer
the objections, and hear the opinions of the doctors of the
famous universities of Basil, Friburg, Louvain,
” &c. The
legate only repeated what he had said the day before about
the authority of the pope, and exhorted Luther again to
retract. Luther answered nothing, but presented a writing
to the legate, which, he said, contained all he had to answer. The legate received the writing, but paid no regard
to it; he pressed Luther to retract, threatening him with
the censures of the church, if he did not; and commanded
him not to appear any more; in his presence, unless he
brought his recantation with him. Luther was now convinced that he had more to fear from the cardinal’s power
than from disputations of any kind; and therefore, apprehensive of being seized if he did not submit, withdrew
from Augsburg upon the 20th. But, before his departure,
he published a formal appeal to the pope, in which he declared, that “though he had submitted to be tried by cardinal Cajetan, as his legate, yet he had been so borne
down and injured by him, that he was constrained at length
to appeal to the judgment of his holiness.
” He wrote likewise a letter to the cardinal, and told him that “he did
not think himself bound to continue any longer at Augsburg; that he would retire after he had made his appeal;
that he would always submit himself to the judgment of
the church; but for his censures, that as he had not deserved, so he did not value them.
”
onscience, and to keep unspotted the honour of his illustrious house, by either sending him to Rome, or banishing him from his dominions. He assured him that this matter
Though Luther was a man of invincible courage, jet
he was animated in some measure to these firm and vigorous proceedings by an assurance of protection from Frederic of Saxony; being persuaded, as he says in his letter
to the legate, that an appeal would be more agreeable to
that elector, than a recantation. On this account, the
first thing which the legate did, after Luther’s departure,
was to send an account to the elector of what had passed
at Augsburg. He complained that Luther left him without taking leave, and without his knowledge; and although
he had given him hopes that he would retract and submit,
yet had retired without affording him the least satisfaction.
He acquainted the elector that Luther had advanced and
maintained several propositions of a most damnable nature,
and contrary to the doctrine of the holy see. He prays
him to discharge his conscience, and to keep unspotted
the honour of his illustrious house, by either sending him
to Rome, or banishing him from his dominions. He assured him that this matter could not continue long as it
was at present, but would soon be prosecuted at Rome;
and that, to get it out of his own hands, he had written
to the pope about it. When this letter, Oct. 25, 1518,
was delivered to the elector, he communicated it to Luther,
who immediately drew up a defence of himself against it.
In this defence he offers to the elector to leave his country,
if his highness thought proper, that he might be more at
liberty to defend himself against the papal authority, without bringing any inconveniences upon his highness by that
means. But his friends advised him very wisely to remain
in Saxony; and the university of Whtemberg presented
an address to the elector, praying him to afford Luther so
much favour and protection, that he might not be obliged
to recant his opinions, till it was made appear that they
ought to be condemned. But this address was needless;
the elector was resolved not to desert Luther, and told the
legate in an answer, Dec. the 18th, that he “hoped he
would have dealt with Luther in another manner, and not
have obliged him to recant before his cause was heard
and judged; and that there were several men in his own
and in mher universities, who did not think Luther’s doctrine either impious or heretical; that if he had believed
it such, there would have been no need of admonishing
him not to tolerate it; that Luther not being convicted of
heresy, he could not banish him from his states, nor send
him to Rome; and that, since Luther offered to submit
himself to the judgment of the universities, he thought
they ought to hear him, or at least shew him the errors
which he taught in his writings.
” Luther, seeing himself
thus supported, continued to teach the same doctrines at
Wittemberg, and sent a challenge to all the inquisitors to
come and dispute with him; offering them not only a safe
conduct from his prince, but assuring them also of good
entertainment, and that their charges should be borne so
long as they remained in Wittemberg.
bless every year, and send to several princes, as marks of his particular favour to them. Miltitius, or Miltitz, his chamberlain, who was a German, was intrusted with
While these things passed in Germany, Leo attempted
to put an end to these disputes about indulgences, by a decision of his own; and for that purpose, November the
9th, published a brief, directed to cardinal Cajetan, in
which he declared, that “the pope, the successor of St.
Peter, and vicar of Jesus Christ upon earth, hath power to
pardon, by virtue of the keys, the guilt and punishment
of sin, the guilt by the sacrament of penance, and the
temporal punishments due for actual sins by indulgences;
that these indulgences are taken from the overplus of the
merits of Jesus Christ and his saints, a treasure at the pope’s
own disposal, as well by way of absolution as suffrage; and
that the dead and the living, who properly and truly obtain these indulgences, are immediately freed from the
punishment due to their actual sins, according to the divine justice, which allows these indulgences to be granted
and obtained.
” This brief ordains, that “all the world
shall hold and preach this doctrine, under the pain of excommunication reserved to the pope; and enjoins cardinal
Cajetan to send it to all the archbishops and bishops of
Germany, and c:iuse it to be put into execution by them.
”
Luther knew very well that after this judgment made by
the pope, he could not possibly escape being proceeded
against, and condemned at Rome; and therefore, upon
the 28th of the same month, published a new appeal from
the pope to a general council, in which he asserts the superior authority of the latter over the former. The pope,
foreseeing that he should not easily manage Luther so long
as the elector of Saxony continued to support and protect
him, sent the elector a golden rose, such an one as he
used to bless every year, and send to several princes, as
marks of his particular favour to them. Miltitius, or Miltitz, his chamberlain, who was a German, was intrusted
with this commission; by whom the pope sent also letters
in Jan. 1519, to the elector’s counsellor and secretary, in
which he prayed those ministers to use all possible interest
with their master, that he would stop the progress of Luther’s errors, and imitate therein the piety of his ancestors.
It appears by Sectendorf 's account of Miltitz’s negotiation,
that Frederick had long solicited for this bauble from the
pope; and that three or four years before, when his electoral highness was a bigot to the court of Rome, it had
probably been a most welcome present. Bat it was now
too late: Luther’s contests with the see of Rome had
opened the elector’s eyes, and enlarged his mind; and
therefore, when Miltitz delivered his letters, and discharged
his commission, he was received but coldly by the elector,
who valued not the consecrated rose, nor would receive it
publicly and in form, but only privately, and by his proctor; and to the remonstrances of Miltitz respecting Luther, answered that he would not act as a judge, nor oppress a man whom he had hitherto considered as innocent.
It is thought that the death of the emperor Maximilian,
who expired on the 12th of this month, greatly altered the
face of affairs, and made the elector more able to determine Luther’s fate. Miltitz thought it best, therefore, to
try what could be done by fair and gentle means, and to
that end came to a conference with Luther. He poured
forth many commendations upon him, and earnestly intreated him that he would himself appease that tempest
which could not but be destructive to the church. He
blamed at the same time the behaviour and conduct of
Tetzel; whom he called before him, and reproved with so
much sharpness, that he died of melancholy a short time
after. Luther, amazed at all this civil treatment, which
he had never before experienced, commended Miltitz
highly, owned that, if they had behaved to him so at lirst,
all the troubles occasioned by these disputes, had been
avoided; and did not forgt-t to cast the blame upon Albert
archbishop of Mentz, who had increased these troubles by
his severity. Miltitz also made some concessions; as, that
the people had been seduced by false opinions about indulgences, that Tetzel had given the occasion, that the
archbishop had employed Tetzel to get money, that Tetzel
had exceeded the bounds of his commission, &c. This
mildness and seeming candour on the part of Miltitz gained
so wonderfully upon Luther, that he wrote a most submissive letter to the pope, on March 13, 1519. Miltitz,
however, taking for granted that they would not be contented at Rome with this letter of Luther’s, written, as it
was, in general terms only, proposed to refer the matter
to some othec judgment; and it was agreed between them
that the elector of Triers should be the judge, and Coblentz the place of conference; but this came to nothing;
for Luther afterwards gave some reasons for not going to
Coblentz, and the pope would not refer the matter to the
elector of Triers.
his society who preaches Christ, the rest being attentive either to the fabulous traditions of men, or to their own profit. I have written to Melarrcthon. The Lord
But Erasmus, whatever he might think of Luther’s opinions, had neither his impetuosity,' nor his courage. He
contented himself, therefore, with acting and speaking in
his usual strain of moderation, and wrote a letter to the
elector Frederic, in which he declared “his dislike of the
'arts which were employed to make Luther odious; that he
did not know Luther, and so could neither approve nor
condemn his writings, because indeed he had not read
them; that however he condemned the railing at him with
so much violence, because he had submitted himself to the
judgment of those whose office it was to determine, and
man had endeavoured to convince him of his error that
his antagonists seemed rather to seek his death, than his
salvation; that they mistook the matter in supposing, that
all error is heresy; that there are errors in all the writings
of both ancients and moderns; that divines are of different
opinions; that it is more prudent to use moderate, than
violent means; that the elector ought to protect innocency,
and that this was the intent of Leo X.
” Erasmus wrote
also a friendly letter in answer to Luther’s, and told him,
that “his books had raised such an uproar at Louvain, as
it was not possible for him to describe; that he could not
have believed divines could have been such madmen, if he
had not been present, and seen them with his eyes; that,
by defending him, he had rendered himself suspected; that
many abused him as the leader of this faction, so they call
it; that there were many in England, and some at Louvain,
no inconsiderable persons, who highly approved his opinions; that, for his own part, he endeavoured to carry
himself as evenly as he could with all parties, that he might
more effectually serve the interests of learning and religion; that, however, he thought more might be done by
civil and modest means than by intemperate heat and passion;
that it would be better to inveigh against those who abuse
the pope’s authority, than against the popes themselves;
that new opinions should rather be promoted in the way of
proposing doubts and difficulties, than by affirming and deciding peremptorily; that nothing should be delivered with
faction and arrogance; but that the mind, in these cases,
should be kept entirely free from anger, hatred, and vainglory. I say not this,
” says Erasmus, “as if you wanted
any admonitions of this kind, bat only that you may not
want them hereafter, any more than you do at present.
”
When this letter was written, Erasmus and Luther ha<i
never seen each other: it is dated from Louvain, May 30,
151 y; and it is hardly possible to read it without suspecting, that Erasmus was entirely in Luther’s sentiments, if he
had possessed the courage to declare it. He concludes in
these words, which seem to imply as much: “I have dipped
into your commentaries upon the Psalms; they please
me prodigiously, and I hope will be read with great advantage. There is a prior of the monastery of Antwerp, who
says he was formerly your pupil, and loves you most affectionately. He is a truly Christian man, and almost the
only one of his society who preaches Christ, the rest being
attentive either to the fabulous traditions of men, or to their
own profit. I have written to Melarrcthon. The Lord Jesus
pour upon you his spirit, that you may abound more and
more every day, to his glory in the service of the church.
Farewell.
”
on this rock will I build my church.” Luther asserted, That by rock is to be understood either power or faith: if power, then our Saviour hath added to no purpose,
In 1519 Luther had a famous dispute at Leipsic with
John Eckius. Eckius, as we have observed, wrote notes
upon Luther’s theses, which Luther first, and afterwards
Carolostadius, answered. The dispute thus depending, a
conference was proposed at Leipsic, with the consent of
George duke of Saxony, who was cousin-german to Frederic the elector; and accordingly Luther went thither at
the end of June, accompanied by Carolostadius and Melancthon. Melchior Adam relates that Luther could not
obtain leave to dispute for some time, but was only a spectator of what passed between Carolostadius and Eckius,
till Eckius got at last a protection for him from the duke.
It is certain, however, that they disputed upon the most
delicate points upon purgatory, upon indulgences; and
especially upon the authority of the pope. Luther objected to this last, as being an invidjous and unnecessary
subject; and that he would not have meddled with it, if
Eckius had not put it among the propositions which they
were to argue. Eckius answered, and it must be owned
with some reason, that Luther had first given occasion to
that question, by touching upon it himself, and teaching
several things contrary to the authority of the holy see. In
this dispute, after many texts of scripture, and many passages from the fathers, had been cited and canvassed by
both sides, they came to settle the sense of the famous
words, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build
my church.
” Luther asserted, That by rock is to be understood either power or faith: if power, then our Saviour
hath added to no purpose, “and I will give thee the keys,
&c.
” if faith, as it ought, then it is also common to all
other churches, and not peculiar to that of Rome. Eckius
replied, That these words settled a supremacy upon St.
Peter; that they ought to be understood of his person, according to the explication of the fathers; that the contrary
opinion was one of the errors of Wicklitf and John Hass,
which were condemned; and that he followed the opinion
of the Bohemians. Luther was not to be silenced with this,
but said, That although all the fathers had understood that
passage of St. Peter in the sense of Eckius, yet he would
oppose them with the authority of St. Paul and St. Peter
himself; who say, that Jesus Christ is the only foundation
and corner-stone of his church; and as to his following the
opinion of the Bohemians, in' maintaining a proposition
condemned with John Huss, that “the dignity of the pope
was established by the emperor,
” though he did not, he
said, approve of the schism of the Bohemians, yet he
should make no scruple to affirm, that, among the articles
condemned with John Huss, there were some very sound
and orthodox. This dispute ended at length like all others,
the parties not the least nearer in opinions, but more at
enmity with each other’s persons. It seems, however,
granted on all sides, that while Eckius made the best possible defence for his party, Luther did not acquire in this
dispute that success and applause which he expected;
and it is agreed also, that he made a concession to Eckius,
which he afterwards retracted, that the pope was head of
the church by human though not by divine right; which
made George duke of Saxony say, after the dispute was
over, “Sive Jure divino, siye hurnano sit papa, est tamen
papa:
” " Whether he be pope by divine right or human,
he is nevertheless pope/'
elf and his opinions; adding, that he did not desire to be defended, if he were convicted of impiety or heresy, but only that he might not be condemned without a hearing.
This same year 1519, Luther’s books concerning indulgences were formally censured by the divines of Louvain and Cologne. The former having consulted with the cardinal of Tortosa, afterwards Adrian VI. passed their censure on the 7th of November; and the censure of the lakter, which was made at the request of the divines of Louvain, was dated on the 30th of August. Luther wrote immediately against these censures, and declared that be valued them not: that several great and good men, such as Occam, Picus Mirandula, Laurentius Valla, and others, had been condemned in the same unjust manner; nay, he would venture to add to the list, Jerom of Prague and John Huss. He charged those universities with rashness, in being the first that declared against him; and accused them of want of proper respect and deference to the holy see, in condemning a book presented to the pope, on which judgment had not yet been passed. About the end of this year, Luther published a book, in which be contended for the communion being celebrated in both kinds. This was condemned by the bishop of Misnia, Jan. 24, 1520. Lnther, seeing himself so beset with adversaries’, wrote a letter to the new emperor, Charles V. of Spain, who was not yet come into Germany, and another to the elector of Mentz; in both which he humhly implores protection, till he should be able to give an account of himself and his opinions; adding, that he did not desire to be defended, if he were convicted of impiety or heresy, but only that he might not be condemned without a hearing. The former of these letters is dated Jan. 15, 1520; the latter, Feb. 4. The elector Frederic fell about this time into a dangerous illness, which threw the whole party into great consternation, and occasioned some apprehensions at Wittemberg: but of this he happily recovered.
same time a copy of a bull, in which he was required “either to oblige Luther to retract his errors, or to imprison him for the disposal of the pope.” This peremptory
While Luther was labouring to excuse himself to the
emperor and the bishops of Germany, Eckius had gone to
Rome, to solicit his condemnation: which, it may easily
be conceived, was not now very difficult to be obtained, as
he and his whole party were had in abhorrence, and the
elector Frederic wajs out of favour, on account of the protection which he afforded Luther. The elector excused
himself to the pope, in a letter dated April 1; which the
pope answered, and sent him at the same time a copy of a
bull, in which he was required “either to oblige Luther
to retract his errors, or to imprison him for the disposal of
the pope.
” This peremptory proceeding alarmed at first
the court of the elector, and many German nobles who
were of Luther’s party, but their final resolution was, to
protect and defend him. In the mean time, though
Luther’s condemnation was determined at Rome, Miltitz
did not cease to treat in Germany, and to propose means
of accommodation. To this end he applied to the chapter
of the Augustine friars there, and prayed them to interpose
their authority, and to beg of Luther that he would endeavour to conciliate the pope by a letter, full of submission
and respect. Luther consented to write, and his letter
bears date April the 6th; but matters had been carried too
far on both sides, ever to admit of a reconciliation. The
mischief Luther had done, and continued to do, to the
papal authority, was irreparable; and the rough usage and
persecutions he had received from the pope’s party had
now inflamed his active spirit to that degree, that it was
not possible to appease it, but by measures which the
pope and the court of Rome could never be expected to
adopt. At all events, the letter he wrote at this juncture
could not be attended with any healing ednsequences; the
style and sentiments were too irritating for a less degree of
pride than that which presided at Rome. In this epistle
Luther says, “that among the monsters of the age, with
whom be had been engaged for three years past, he had often
called to mind the blessed father Leo: that now he began
to triumph over his enemies, and to despise them: that,
though he had been obliged to appeal from his holiness to
a general council, yet he had no aversion to him: that he
had always wished and prayed for all sorts of blessings
upon his person and see: that his design was only to defend the truth: that he had never spoken dishonourably of
his holiness, but had called him a Daniel in the midst of
Babylon, to denote the innocence and purity he had preserved among so many corrupt men: that the court of
Rome was visibly more corrupt than either Babylon or
Sodom; and that his holiness was as a lamb among wolves,
a Daniel among lions, and an Ezekiel ampng scorpions:
that there were not above three or four cardinals of any
learning or piety: that it was against these disorders of
the court of Rome he was obliged to appear: that cardinal
Cajftan, who was ordered by his holiness to treat with
him, bad shewn no inclinations to peace: that his nuncio JVliltitz had indeed come to two conferences with
him, and that he had promised JVliltitz to be silent, and
submit to the decision of the archbishop of Triers; but
that the dispute at Leipsic had hindered the execution of
this project, and put things into greater confusion: that
Milt it/ hud applied a third time to the chapter of his order,
at whose instigation he had written to his holiness: and
that he now threw himself at his feet, praying him to impose silence upon his enemies: but that, as for a recantation on his part, be must not insist upon it, unless he
would increase the troubles; nor prescribe him rules for
the interpretation of the word of God, because it ought
not to be limited. Then he admonishes the pope not to
suffer himself to be seduced, by his flatterers, into a persuasion that he can command and require all things, that
he is above a council and the universal church, that he
alone has a right to interpret scripture; but to believe
those rather who debase, than those who exalt him.
”
e errors in Germany; errors, either already condemned by the councils and constitutions of the pope, or new propositions heretical, false, scandalous, apt to offend
The continual importunities of Luther’s adversaries with Leo caused him at length to publish a formal condemnation of him, in a bull dated June 15, 1520. In the beginning of this bujl, the pope directs his bpeech to Jesus Christ, to St. Peler, St. Paul, and all the saints, invoking their aid, in the most solemn expressions against the new errors and heresies, and for the preservation of the faith, peace, and unity of the church. Then he expresses hi? great grief for the late propagation of these errors in Germany; errors, either already condemned by the councils and constitutions of the pope, or new propositions heretical, false, scandalous, apt to offend and seduce the faithful. Then, after enumerating forty-one propositions collected from Luther’s writings, he does, by the advice of his cardinals, and after mature deliberation, condemn them as respectively heretical; and forbids all Christians, under the pain of excommunication, and deprivation of all their dignities, which they should incur ipso facto, to hold, defend, or preach any of these propositions^ or to suffer others to preach them. As to Luther, after accusing him of disobedience and obstinacy, because he had appealed from his citation to a council, though he thought he might at that instant condemn him as a notorious heretic, yet be gave him sixty days to consider; assuring him, that if in that time he would revoke his errors, and return to his duty, and give him real proofs that he did so by public acts, and by burning his books, he should find in him a true paternal affection: otherwise he declares, that he should incur the punishment due to heretics.
w perceiving that all hopes of an accommodation were at an end, no longer observed the least reserve or moderation. Hitherto he had treated his adversaries with some
Luther, now perceiving that all hopes of an accommodation were at an end, no longer observed the least reserve
or moderation. Hitherto he had treated his adversaries
with some degree of ceremony, paid them some regard;
and, not being openly separated from the church, did not
quite abandon the discipline of it. But now he kept no
measures with them, broke off all his engagements to the
church, and publicly declared, that he would no longer
communicate in it. The first step he took, after the publication of the pope’s bull, was to write against it; which
he did in very severe terms, calling it, “The execrable
bull of antichrist.
” He published likewise a book called
“The Captivity of Babylon
” in which he begins with a
protestation, “That he became every day more knowing:
that he was ashamed and repented of what he had written
about indulgences two years before, when he was a slave
to the superstitions of Rome: that he did not indeed then
reject indulgences, but had since discovered, tliat they
are nothing but impostures, fit to raise money, and to destroy the faith: that he was then content with denying the
papacy to be jure divino, but had lately been convinced
that it was the kingdom of Babylon: that he then wished a
general council would settle the communion in both kinds,
but npw plainly saw, that it was commanded by scripture:
that he did absolutely deny the seven sacraments, owning
no more than three, baptism, penance, and the Lord’s
supper,
” &c. About the same time also, he published
another treatise in the German language, to make the
court of Rome odious to the Germans; in which “he gives
a history of the wars raised by the popes against the emperors, and represents the miseries Germany had suffered
by them. He strives to engage the emperor and princes of
Germany to espouse his party against the pope,' by maintaining, that they had the same power over the clergy as
they had over the laity, and that there was no appeal from
their jurisdiction. He advised the whole nation to shake
off the pope’s power; and proposes a reformation, by
which he subjects the pope and bishops to the power of
the emperor, &c.
” Lastly, that he might not be wanting
in any thing which should testify his abhorrence of the proceedings in the court of Rome, Luther determined to treat
the pope’s bull and decretals in the same manner as they
had ordered his writings to be treated: and therefore, calling the students at Wittemberg together, he flung them
into a fire prepared for that purpose; saying, “Because
thou hast troubled the holy one of God, let eternal fire
trouble thee.
” This ceremony was performed, Dec. 10,
1520.
would cause all Luther’s books to be burnt; and, secondly, that he would either put Luther to death, or imprison him, or send him to the pope.” The pope sent also a
The bull of Luther’s condemnation was carried into Germany, and published there by Eckius, who had solicited
it at Rome; and who, together with Jerom Aleander, a
person eminent for his learning and eloquence, was intrusted by the pope with the execution of it. In the mean
time, Charles V. of Spain, after he had adjusted the affairs
of the Low Countries, went into Germany, and was
crowned emperor, Oct. the 21st, at Aix-la-Chapelle. The
plague preventing his remaining long in that city, he went
to Cologne, and appointed a diet at Worms, to meet Jan.
the 6tb, 1521. Frederic, elector of Saxony, could not be
present at the coronation, but was left sick at Cologne,
where Aleander, who accompanied the emperor, presented
him with a brief, which the pope had sent by him, and by
which his holiness gave him notice of the decree he had
made against the errors of Luther. Aleander told the
elector, that the pope had intrusted himself and Eckius
with the affair of Luther, which was of the utmost consequence to the whole Christian world, and, it' there were
not a speedy stop put to it, would undo the empire: that
he did not doubt, but that the elector woifld imitate the
emperor, and other princes of the empire, who had received the pope’s judgment respectfully. He informed his
highness also, that he had two things to request of him in
the name of the pope: “First, That he would cause all
Luther’s books to be burnt; and, secondly, that he would
either put Luther to death, or imprison him, or send him
to the pope.
” The pope sent also a brief to the university of Wittemberg, to exhort them to put his bull in execution against Luther; but neither the elector nor the
university paid any regard to his briefs. Luther, at the
same time, renewed his appeal to a future council, in terms
very severe upon the pope, calling him tyrant, heretic,
apostate, antichrist, and blasphemer; and in it prays the
emperor, electors, princes, and lords of the empire, to
favour his appeal, nor suffer the execution of the bull, till
he should be lawfully summoned, heard, and convicted,
before impartial judges. This appeal is dated Nov. 17.
Erasmus, indeed, and other German divines, were of opinion that things ought not to be carried to this extremity,
foreseeing, that the fire which consumed Luther’s books
would soon put all Germany into a flame. They proposed,
therefore, to agree upon arbitrators, or to refer the whole
cause to the first general council. But these pacific proposals came too late; and Eckius and Aleander pressed
the matter so vigorously both to the emperor and the other
German princes, that Luther’s books were burnt in several
cities of Germany. Aleander also earnestly importuned
the emperor for an edict against Luther; but he found
many and great obstacles. Luther’s party was very powerful; and Charles V. was not willing to give so public an
offence to the elector of Saxony, who had lately refused
the empire, that he might have it.
in which he summoned him to appear at the diet, and assured him, that he need not fear any violence or ill treatment. Nevertheless, Luther’s friends were much against
To overcome these difficulties, Aleander gained a new
bull from Rome, which declared, that Luther had incurred,
by obstinacy, the penalty denounced in the first. He also
wrote to the court of Rome for the assistance of money
and friends, to be used at the diet of Worms: and, because the Lutherans insisted that the contest was chiefly
about the jurisdiction of the pope, and the abuses of the
court of Rome, and that they were only persecuted for the
sake of delivering up Germany to the tyranny of that court;
he undertook t.> shew, That Luther had broached many
errors relating to the mysteries of religion, and revived the
heresies of Wickliff and John Huss. The diet of Worms
was held in the beginning of 1521 where Aleandtrr, in
the absence of Luther, employed his eloquence and interest so successfully, that the emperor and princes of the
empire were about to execute the pope’s bull against
Luther with severity, and without delay The only way
wfhich the elector of Saxony and Luther’s friends could
invent to ward off the blow, was to say, “That it was not
evident, that the propositions objected tp were his that
his adversaries might attribute them to him falsely that
the books from which they were taken might be forged
and, above all, that it was not just to condemn him without summoning and hearing him.
” The emperor, therefore, with the consent of the princes of the diet, sent
Sturmius, an orh'cer, from Worms to Wittemberg, to conduct Luther safely to the diet. Sturmius carried w.th him
a “safe-conduct
” to Luther, signed by the emperor and
princes of the diet; and also a letter from the emperor,
dated March 21, 1521, and directed “To the honourable,
beloved, devout doctor, Martin Luther, of the order of St.
Augustine;
” in which he summoned him to appear at the
diet, and assured him, that he need not fear any violence
or ill treatment. Nevertheless, Luther’s friends were much
against his going; some telling him, that, by burning his
books, he might easily know what censure would be passed
on himself; others reminding him of the treatment they
had, upon a like occasion, shewn to John Huss. But
Luther despised all dangers; and, in a strain which is extremely characteristic of him, declared, that “If he knew
there were as many devils at Worms as tiles upon the
houses, he would go.
”
h$ owned those books for his that went under his name; and, secondly, Whether he intended to retract or defend what was contained in them.” These queries produced an
He arrived accordingly at Worms April 16, where a
prodigious multitude of people were assembled, for the
sake of seeing a man of whom so much had no.w been
heard. When he appeared before the diet, he had two
questions put to him by John Eckius: “First, whether h$
owned those books for his that went under his name; and,
secondly, Whether he intended to retract or defend what
was contained in them.
” These queries produced an altercation, which lasted some days; but which ended at length
in this single and peremptory declaration of Luther, that
“unless he was convinced by texts of scripture or evident
reason (for he did not think himself obliged to submit to the pope or his councils), he neither could nor would retract any thing, because it was not lawful for him to act
against nis conscience.
” This being Luther’s final resolution, the emperor declared to the diet, That he was determined to proceed against him as a notorious heretic; but
that he intended, nevertheless, he should return to Wittemberg, according to the conditions laid down in his
“safe-conduct.
” Luther left Worms April the 26th, conducted by Sturmius, who had brought him and being arrived at Friburg, he wrote letters to the emperor and
princes of the diet, to commend his cause to them, and to
excuse himself for not submitting to a recantation. These
letters wt re conveyed by Sturmius, whom he sent back,
on pretence that he was then out of danger; but in reality,
as it is supposed, that Sturmius might not be present at
the execution of a scheme which had been concerted befofe
Luther set out from Worms; for, the elector of Satfony,
foreseeing that the emperor was going to make a bloody
edict against Luther, and finding it impossible to support
and protect him any longer without involving himself in
difficulties, resolved to have him taken away, and concealed. This was proposed to Luther, and accordingly
when he went from Eysenac, May the 3d, through a wood,
in his way to Wittemberg, he was suddenly set upon by
some horsemen in disguise, deputed for that purpose, who
pretended to take him by force, and carried him secretly
into the castle of Wittemberg. Melchior Adam relates,
that there were only eight nobles privy to this expedition,
which was executed with so much address and fidelity, that
no man knew what was become of him, or where he was.
This contrivance produced two advantages to Luther: as,
first, it caused people to believe that he was taken away by
the intrigues of his enemies, which made them dious, and
exasperated men’s minds against them; and, secondly, it
secured him against the pr isecution which the pope and
the empe or were making against him.
er the penalty of high treason, loss of goods, and being put under the ban of the empire, to receive or defend, maintain or protect him, either in conversation or in
Before the diet of Worms was dissolved, Charles V. caused an edict to be drawn up, which was dated the 8th of May, and solemnly published on the 2oth in the assembly of the electors and princes held in his palace. In this edict, after declaring it to be the duty of an emperor, not only to defend the limits of the empire, but to maintain religion and the true faith, and to extinguish heresies in their original, he commands, That Martin Luther be, agreeably to the sentence of the pope, henceforward looked upon as a member separated from the church, a schismatic, and an obstinate and notorious heretic. He forbids all persons, under the penalty of high treason, loss of goods, and being put under the ban of the empire, to receive or defend, maintain or protect him, either in conversation or in writing; and he orders, that, after the twenty-one days allowed in his safe-conduct, he should be proceeded against according to the form of the ban of the empire, in what place soever he should be: or, at least, that he should be seized and imprisoned, till his imperial majesty’s pleasure should be further known. The same punishments are denounced against all the accomplices, adherents, followers, or favourers of Luther; and also all persons are forbidden to print, sell, buy, or read any of his books: and, because there had been published several books concerning the same doctrines, without his name, and several pictures dispersed that were injurious to the pope, cardinal, and bishops, he commands the magistrates to seize and burn them, uod to punish the authors and printers of those pictures and libels. Lastly, it forbids in general the printing of any book concerning matters of faith, which hath not the approbation of the ordinary, and some neighbouring university.
lf, but that he frequently made excursions into the neighbourhood, though always under some disguise or other. One day he assumed the title and appearance of a nobleman:
While the bull of Leo X. executed by Charles V. was
thundering throughout the empire, Luther was safely shut
up in his castle, which he afterwards called his Hermitage,
and his Patmos. Here he held a constant correspondence
with his friends at Wittemberg, and was employed in composing books in favour of his own cause, and against his
adversaries. He did not however so closely confine himself, but that he frequently made excursions into the
neighbourhood, though always under some disguise or
other. One day he assumed the title and appearance of a
nobleman: but it may be supposed that he did not act his
part very gracefully; for a gentleman who attended him
under that character, to an inn upon the road, was, it
seems, so fearful of a discovery, that he thought it necessary to caution him against that absence of mind peculiar
to literary men; bidding him “keep close to his sword,
without taking the least notice of books, if by chance any
should fall in his way.
” He used sometimes even to go
out a hunting with those few who were in his secret;
which, however, we may imagine, he did more for health
than for pleasure, as indeed may be collected from his
own curious account of it. “I was,
” says he, “lately
two days a hunting, in which amusement I found both
pleasure and pain. We killed a brace of hares, and took
some unhappy partridges; a very pretty employment,
truly, for an idle man! However, I could not forbear
theologizing amidst dogs and nets; for, thought I to myself, do not we, in hunting innocent animals to death with
dogs, very much resemble the devil, who, by crafty wiles
and the instruments of wicked priests, is perpetually seeking whom he may devour? Again: We happened to
take a leveret alive, which I put into my pocket, with an
intent to preserve it; yet we were not gone far, before
the dogs seized upon it, as it was in my pocket, and worried it. Just so the pope and the devil rage furiously to
destroy the souls that I have saved, in spite of all my endeavours to prevent them. In short, I am tired of hunting these little innocent beasts; and had rather be employed, as I have been for some time, in spearing bears,
wolves, tigers, and foxes; that is, in opposing and confounding wicked and impious divines, who resemble those
savage animals in their qualities.
”
m a letter, to prevent his being offended. The diet of Charles V. severe as it was, had given little or no check to Luther’s doctrine; for the emperor was no sooner
Weary at length of his retirement, he appeared publicly
again at Wittemberg, March 6, 1522, after he had been
absent about ten months. He appeared indeed without
the elector’s leave, but immediately wrote him a letter, to
prevent his being offended. The diet of Charles V. severe
as it was, had given little or no check to Luther’s doctrine;
for the emperor was no sooner gone into Flanders, than
his edict was neglected and despised, and the doctrine
seemed to spread even faster than before. Carolostadius,
in Luther’s absence, had acted with even more vigour than
his leader, and had attempted to abolish the use of mass,
to remove images out of the churches, to set aside auricular confession, invocation of saints, the abstaining from
meats; had allowed the monks to leave their monasteries,
to neglect their vows and to marry, and thus had quite
changed the doctrine and discipline of the church at Wittemberg: all which, though not against Luther’s sentiments, was yet blamed by him, as being rashly and nnseasonably done. The reformation was still confined to
Germany; it had not extended to France; and Henry V11I.
of England made the most rigorous acts to prevent its entering his realm; and to shew his zeal for the holy see,
wrote a treatise “Of the seven Sacraments,
” against Luther’s book “Of the captivity of Babylon;
” winch he presented to Leo X. in Oct. Defender of the Faith.
” Luther, however, paid no
regard to his dignity, but treated both his person and
performance in the most contemptuous manner. Henry
complained of this rude usage to the princes of Saxony;
and Fisher, bishop of Rochester, replied, in hehall'
of Henry’s treatise: but neither the king’s complaint,
nor the bishop’s reply, were attended with any visible
effects.
ress its publication, and forbade all the subjects of his imperial majesty to have any copies of it, or of Luther’s other books. Some other princes followed his example,
Luther now made open war with the pope and bishops;
and, that he might make the people despise their authority
as much us possible, he wrote one book against the pope’s
bull, and another against the order falsely culled “the
order of bishops.
” The same year, New
Testament
” in the German tongue, which was afterwards
corrected by himself and Melancthon. This translation
having been printed several times, and in general circulation, Ferdinand, archduke of Austria, the emperor’s brother, made a very severe edict, to suppress its publication,
and forbade all the subjects of his imperial majesty to have
any copies of it, or of Luther’s other books. Some other
princes followed his example, which provoked Luther to
write a treatise “Of the secular power,
” in which he accuses them of tyranny and impiety. The diet of the empire was held at Nuremberg, at the end of the year; to
which Adrian VI. sent his brier', dated Nov. the 25th; for
Leo X, died Dec. 2, 1521, and Adrian bad been elected
pope the 9th of Jan. following. In this brief, among other
things, he informs the diet, that he had heard, with grief,
that Martin Luther, after the sentence of Leo X. which
was ordered to be executed by the edict of Worms, continued to teach the same errors, and daily to publish books
full of heresies: that it appeared strange to him, that so
large and so religious a nation could be seduced by a
wretched apostate friar: that nothing, however, could be
more pernicious to Christendom: and that, therefore, he
e.thorts them to use their utmost endeavours to make Luther, and the authors of these tumults, return to their
duty; or, if they refuse and continue obstinate, to proceed against them according to the laws of the empire, and
the severity of the last edict.
een highly pleased. He sent, about the same time, a writing in the German language to the Waldenses, or Picards, in Bohemia and Moravia, who had applied to him “about
The resolution of this diet was published in the form of
an edict, March 6, 1523; but it had no effect in checking
the Lutherans, who still went on in the same triumphant
wanner. This year Luther wrote a great many tracts:
among the rest, one upon the dignity and office of the supreme magistrate; with which Frederic elector of Saxony
is said to have been highly pleased. He sent, about the
same time, a writing in the German language to the Waldenses, or Picards, in Bohemia and Moravia, who had applied to him “about worshipping the body of' Christ in the
eucharist.
” He wrote also another book, which he dedicated to the senate and people of Prague, “concerning
the institution of ministers of the church.
” He drew up a
form of saying mass. He wrote a piece entitled " Ad
Example of Popish Doctrine and Divinity;: ' which Dnpin calls a satire against nuns, and those who profess a
monastic life. He wrote also against the vows of virginity,
in his preface to his commentary on 1 Cor. vii.: and his exhortations here were, it seems, followed with effects; for,
soon after, nine nuns eloped from a nunnery, and were
brought to Wittemberg. Whatever offence this proceeding might give to the papists, it was highly extolled by
Luther; who, in a book written in the German language,
compares the deliverance of these nuns from the slavery of
a monastic life, to that of the souls whichJesus Christ has;
delivered by his death. This year he had occasion to lament the death of two of his followers, who were burnt ar
Brussels, and were the first who suffered martyrdom for
his doctrine. He wrote also a consolatory epistle to three
noble ladies at Misnia, who were banished from the duke
of Saxony’s court at Friburg, for reading his books.
was with some reluctance; and he chose free-will for the subject. His book was entitled “A diatriba, or Conference about Free-will,” and was wriuen with much moderation,
In the beginning of 1524, Clement VII. sent a legate
into Germany to the diet which was to be held at Nuremberg. This pope had succeeded Adrian, who died in Oct.
1523, and had, a little before his death, canonized Benno,
who Was bishop of Meissen in the time of Gregory VII.
and one of the most zealous defenders of the holy se.
Luther, imagining that this was done directly to oppose
him, drew up a piece with this title, “Against the new
Idol and Devil set up at Meissen;
” in which he treats the
memory of Gregory with great freedom, and does not spare
even Adrian. Clement VII.'s legate, therefore, represented to the diet at Nuremberg the necessity of enforcing the
execution of the edict of Worms, which had been strangely
neglected by the princes of the empire; but, notwithstanding the legate’s solicitations, which were very pressing, the
decrees of that diet were thought so ineffectual, that they
were condemned at Rome, and rejected by the emperor.
It was in this year that the dispute between Luther and
Erasmus began about free-will. Erasmus had been much
courted by the papists to write against Luther; but had
hitherto avoided the task, by saying, “that Luther was
too great a man for him to write against, and that he had
learned more from one short page of Luther, than from all
the large books of Thomas Aquinas.
” Besides, Erasmus
was all along of opinion, that writing would not be found
an effectual way to end the differences, and establish the
peace of the church. Tired out, however, at length with
the importunities of the pope and the catholic princes, and
desirous at the same time to clear himself from the suspicion
of favouring a cause which he would not seem to favour,
he resolved to write against Luther, though, as he tells
Melancthon, it was with some reluctance; and he chose
free-will for the subject. His book was entitled “A diatriba, or Conference about Free-will,
” and was wriuen
with much moderation, and without personal reflections.
He tells Luther in the preface, “that he ought not to take
his differing from him in opinion ill, because he had allowed
himself the liberty of differing from the judgment of popes,
councils, universities and doctors of the church.
” Luther
was some time before he answered Erasmus’s book, but
at last published a treatise “De servo arbitrio, or, Of the
Servitude of Man’s Will;
” and though Melancthon had
promised Krasmus, that Luther should answer him with
civility and moderation, yet Luther had so little regard to
Melancthon’s promise, that he never wrote any thing more
severe. He accused Erasmus of being carelrsn about religion, and little solicitous what became of it, provided the
world continued in peace; and that his notions were rather
philosophical than Christian. Erasmus immediately
replied to Luther,- in a piece called “Hyperaspistes
”. in
the first part of which he answers his arguments, and in the
second his personal reflections.
. “I took a wife,” says he, “in obedience to my father’s commands, and hastened the consummation, in or 1 r to prevent impediments, and stop the tongues of slanderers.”
In October 1524, Luther threw off the monastic habit;
which, though not premeditated and designed, was yet a
very proper preparative to a step he took the year after;
we mean, his marriage with Catherine de Bore. Catherine cie Bore was a gentleman’s daughter, who had been a
nun, and was one of those whom we mentioned as escaping
from tue nunnery in 1523. Luther had a design to marry
her to Glacius, a minister of Ortamuncien; but she did not
like Glacius, and Luther married her himself, June 13,
1525. This conduct of his was blamed not only by the
catholics, but, as Melancthon says, by those of his own
party. He was even for some time ashamed of it himself;
aud owns, “that his marriage had made him so despicable,
that he hoped his humiliation would rejoice the angels,
and vex the devils.
” Melancthon found him so afflicted
with what he had done, that he wrote some letters of consolation to him: he adds, however, that “this accident
may possibly not be without its use, as it tends to humble
him a little: for it is dangerous,
” says he, “not only for a
priest, but for any man, to be too much elated and puffed
up; great success giving occasion to the sin of a high
mind, not only, as the orator says, in fools, but sometimes
even in wise men.
” It was not so much the marriage, as
the circumstances of the time, and the precipitation with
which it was done, that occasioned the censures passed
upon Luther. He married very suddenly, and at a time
when Germany was groaning under the miseries of war,
which was said at least to be owing to Lutheranism. It
was thought also an indecent thing in a man of forty-two
years of age, who was then, as he declared, restoring the
gospel and reforming mankind, to involve himself in marriage with a woman of six and twenty, upon any pretext.
But Luther, as soon as he had recovered himself a little
from this abashment, assumed his former air of intrepidity,
and boldly supported what he had done with reasons. “I
took a wife,
” says he, “in obedience to my father’s commands, and hastened the consummation, in or 1 r to prevent impediments, and stop the tongues of slanderers.
” It
appears from his own confessions, that,this reformer was
very fond of Mrs. de Bore, and used to call her his Catherine; which occasioned some slanderous reflections and
therefore, says he, “I married of a sudden, not only that J
might not be obliged to hear the clamours which I knew
would be raised against me, but to stop the mouths of those
who reproached me with Catherine de Bore.
” Luther
also gives us to understand, that he did it partly as concurring with his grand scheme of opposing the catholics.
“See,
” says he, “because they are thus mad, I have so
prepared myself, that, before I die, I may be found by
God in the state in which I was created, and, if possible,
retain nothing of my former popish life. Therefore let
them rave yet more, and this will be their last farewell;
for my mind presages, that I shall soon be called by God
unto his grace: therefore, at my father’s commands, I have
taken a xtife.
” In another letter he speaks thus: “1 hope
I shall live a little longer, and I would not deny this last
obedience to my father, who required it in hopes of issue,
and also to confirm the doctrines I have taught.
”
s will chiefly slander us, we must take heed lest that disturb us: for perhaps there is some secret, or something divine couched under it, concerning which it does
Luther, notwithstanding, was not himself altogether satisfied with these reasons. He did not think the step he
bad taken could be sufficiently justified upon the principles
of human prudence; and therefore we find him, in other
places, endeavouring to account for it from a supernatural
impulse. “The wise men amongst us are greatly proyoked,
” says he; “they are forced to own the thing to be
of God, but the disguise of the persons under which it is
transacted, namely, of the young woman and myself,
makes them think and say every thing that is wicked.
”
And elsewhere: “The Lord brought me suddenly, when
I was thinking of other matters, to a marriage with Catherine (le Bore, the nun.
” His party seem also to have favoured this supposition. Thus says Melancthon: “As for the* unreasonableness and want of consideration in this marriage, on which account our adversaries will chiefly slander us, we must take heed lest that disturb us: for perhaps there is some secret, or something divine couched under it, concerning which it does not become us to inquire too curiously; nor ought we to regard the scoffs of those who exercise neither piety towards God, nor virtue towards men.
” Bnt whether there was any thing divine in
it or not, Luther found himself extremely happy in his
new state, and especially after his wife had brought him a
son. “My rib Kate,
” says he in the joy of his heart, “desires her compliments to you, and thanks you for the favour of your kind letter. She is very well, through God’s
mercy. She is obedient and complying with me in all
things, and more agreeable, I thank God, than I could
have expected; so tuat I would not change my p iverty for
the wealth of Croesus.
” He was heard to say, Seckeiulorf
tells us, “that he would not exchange his wile for the
kingdom of France, nor for the riches of the Venetians,
and that for three reasons: first, because she had been
given him by God, at the time when he implored the assistance of the Holy Ghost in finding a good wife: secondly,
because, though she was not without faults, yet she had
fewer than other women: and, thirdly, because she religiously observed the conjugal fidelity she owed him.
”
There was at first a report, that Catherine de Bore was
brought to bed soon after her marriage with Luther; but
Erasmus, who wrote that news to one of his friends, acknowledged the falsehood of it a little after, in one of his
letters, dated the 13th of March, 1526: “Luther’s marriage is certain; the report of his wife’s being so speedily
brought to bed is false; but I hear she is now with child.
If the common story be true, that antichrist shall be born
of a monk and a nun, as some pretended, how many thousands of antichrists are there in the world already? I was
in hopes that a wife would have made Luther a little
tamer: but he, contrary to all expectation, has published,
indeed, a most elaborate, but as virulent a book against
me, as ever he wrote. What will become of the pacific
Erasmus, to be obliged to descend upon the stage, at a
time of life when gladiators are usually dismissed from the
service; and not only to fight, but to fight with beasts!
”
necessary, for the wel fart- m religion and the public peace, to call a national council in Germany, or a general one in Christendom, which should be opened within
In the mean time the disturbances in Germany increased
everyday; and the war with the Turks, which brought
the empire into danger, forced Charles V. at length to call
a diet at Spires by his letters, May 24, 1525. After he
had given the reasons why the diet was not held the year
before, as it was appointed, he said, “That it was not because he thought that the imperial diets ought not to meddle
with matters of religion; for he acknowledged, that, on
the contrary, it was his duty to protect the Christian religion, to maintain the rights settled by their ancestors, and
to prevent novelties and pernicious doctrines from arising
and spreading but that, being certified that th<- edict of
Worms was not executed in some parts of Germany, that
there had been commotions and rebellions in some places,
that the princes and members of the empire had many
quarrels among themselves, that the Turk was ready to
break in upon the territories of the empire, and that there
were many disorders which needed a reformation, he had
therefore appointed an imperial diet to meet at Augsburg
upon the 1st of October.
” Few of the princes, however,
being able to meet at Augsburg, on account of the popular
tumults which prevailed, the diet was prorogued, and fixed
again at Spires, where it was held in June 1526. The
emperor was not present in person: but Ferdinand his
brother, and six other deputies, acted in his name. The
elector of Saxony, and the landgrave of Hesse, who were
of Luther’s party, came to it. At the opening of it, upon
the 25th, the emperor’s deputies proposed such things as
were to be the subject of consultation, and said, “That it
was the emperor’s design, that the members of this diet
should prescribe the means of securing the Christian religion, and the ancient discipline of the church derived to
us by tradition; the punishments they should suffer, who
did any thing contrary; and how the popish princes might
assist each other best, in executing the edict of Worms.
”
The deputies nominated to debate this matter, were, among
others, the landgrave of Hesse, Sturmius deputy of Strasburg, and Cressy deputy of Nuremberg, who embraced
Luther’s doctrine; so that they could form no resolution
conformable to the edict of Worms, but disputes ensued,
and things were likely to end in a rupture. The elector
of Saxony, landgrave of Hesse, and their party, were
ready to withdraw; but Ferdinand, and the emperor’s deputies, foreseeing that if the diet broke up with these animosities, and came to no conclusion, all Germany would
be in danger of falling into quarrels, took pains to pacify
them, and brought them at last to make the following resolution viz. “That it being necessary, for the wel fart- m
religion and the public peace, to call a national council in
Germany, or a general one in Christendom, which should
be opened within a year, deputies should be sent to the
emperor, to desire him to return to Germany as soon as
he could, and to hold a council; and that, in the mean
time, the princes and states should so demean themselves
concerning the edict of Worms, as to be able to give an
account of their carriage to God and the emperor.
”
e of the diet, but yet would do nothing that should be blame- worthy, till a council, either general or national, should be held." Fourteen cities, viz. Strasburg,
The elector John of Saxony (for Frederic was dead), the elector of Brandenburg, Ernest and Francisdukes of Lunenburg, the landgrave of Hesse, and the prince of Anhalt, protested against this decree of the diet. Their reasons were, 4t Ttiat they ought not to do any thing to infringe upon the determination of the former diet, which had granted liberty in religion, till the holding of the council; that that resolution, having been taken by the unanimous consent of all the members of the empire, could not be repealed but by the like consent; that, in the diet of Nuremberg, the original cause of all the differences in religion was searched into, and that, to allay them, they had offered to the pope eighty articles, to which his holiness had given no answer; that the effect of their consultations had always been, that the best way to end disputes and reform abuses was to hold a council; that they could not suffer opinions to be forced from them, which th^y judged true and agreeable to the word of God, before the council was held; that their ministers had proved, by invincible arguments taken out of Scripture, that the popish mass was contrary to the institution of Jesus Christ, and the practice of the apostles, so that they could not agree to what uas ordered in the diet; that they knew the judgment of their churches concerning the presence of the body and blood of Christ in the eucharist; but that they ought not to make a decree against those who were of a contrary opinion, because they were neither summoned nor heard: that they could indeed venture to approve of the clause about preaching the gospel according to the interpretation received in the church, since that did not determine the matter, it being yet in dispute what was the true church; that there was nothing more certain than the word of Go4 itself, which explains itself, and therefore they would take care, that nothing else should be taught but the Old and New Testament in their purity; that they are the only infallible rule, and that all human traditions are uncertain; that the decree of the former diet was made for the preservation of peace, but that this last would infallibly beget wars and troubles. For these reasons they could not approve of the decree of the diet, but yet would do nothing that should be blame- worthy, till a council, either general or national, should be held." Fourteen cities, viz. Strasburg, Nuremberg, Ulm, Constance, Retlingen, Windsheim, Memmingen, Lindow, Ketnpten, Hailbron, Isny, Weissemburg, Nortlingen, S. Gal, joined in this protestation, which was put into writing, and published the 19th of April, 1529, by an instrument, in which they appealed from all that should be done, to the emperor, a future council, either general or national, or to unsuspected judges; and accordingly they appointed deputies to send to the emperor, to* petition that this decree might be revoked. This was the famous protestation, which gave the name of Protestants to the reformers in Germany.
her’s doctrine, that he obliged his subjects to take an oath that they would never embrace it. Sixty or seventy citizens of Leipsic, however, were found to have deviated
In 1533 Luther wrote a consolatory epistle to the citizens of Oschatz, who had suffered some hardships for adhering to the Augsburg confession of faith; in which, among other things, he says, " The devil is the host, and the world is his inn, so that wherever you come, you shall be sure to find this ugly host.' 1 He had also about this time a warm controversy with George duke of Saxony, who had such an aversion to Luther’s doctrine, that he obliged his subjects to take an oath that they would never embrace it. Sixty or seventy citizens of Leipsic, however, were found to have deviated a little from the catholic doctrine, in some point or other, and they were known previously to have consulted Luther about it on which George complained to the elector John, that, Luther had not only abused his person, but also preached up rebellion among his subjects. The elector ordered Luther to be acquainted with this, and to be told at tle same time, that if be did not clear himself of the charge, he could not possibly escape punishment. Luther, however, easily refuted the accusation, by proving that he had been so fur from stirring up his subjects against him on the score of religion, that, on the contrary, he had exhorted them rather to undergo the greatest hardships, and even to suffer themselves to be banished.
be drowned” When he entered the territories of the earl of Mansfelt, he was received by 100 horsemen or more, and conducted in a very honourable manner; but was at
In this manner he was employed till his death, which
happened in 1546. That year, accompanied by Melancthon, he paid a visit to his own country, which he had not
seen for many years, and returned again in safety. But
soon after he was called thither again by the earls of Mansfelt, to compose some differences which had arisen about
their boundaries. He had not been used to such matters;
but because he was born at Isleben, a town in the territory
of Mansfelt, he was willing to do his country what service
he could, even in this way. Preaching his last sermon,
therefore, at Wittemberg, Jan. 17, he set off the 23d;
and at Hall in Saxony lodged with Justus Jonas, with
whom he stayed three days, because the waters were out.
The 28th he passed over the river with his three sons, and
Jonas and being in some danger, he said to the doctor,
“Do not you think it would rejoice the deril exceedingly,
if I and you, and my three sons, should be drowned
”
When he entered the territories of the earl of Mansfelt, he
was received by 100 horsemen or more, and conducted in
a very honourable manner; but was at the same time so
very ill that it was feared he would die. He said that these
fits of sickness often came upon him when he had any great
business to undertake: of this, however, he did not recover, but died Feb. 18, in his sixty-third year. A little
before he expired he admonished those that were about
him to pray to God for the propagation of the gospel
“because,
” said he, “the council of Trent, which had sat
once or twice, and the pope, will devise strange things
against it.
” Soon after, his body was put into a leaden
coffin, and carried with funeral pomp to the church at
Isleben, when Jonas preached a sermon upon the occasion.
The earls of Mansfelt desired that his body should be interred in their territories; but the elector of Saxony intsted upon his being brought back to Wittemberg, which
was accordingly done; and there he was buried with the
greatest pomp that perhaps ever happened to any private
mail. Princes, earls, nobles, aad students without
number, attended the procession; and Melancthon made his
funeral oration.
out Luther; in which, as Bayle observes very truly, they have shewn no regard either to probability, or to the rules of the art of slandering, but have assumed all
A thousand falsehoods were invented by the papists
about his death. Some said that he died suddenly; others,
that he killed himself; others, that the devil strangled
him; others, that his corpse stunk so abominably that they
were forced to leave it in the way as it was carried to be
interred. Similar slanders were even invented about his
death, while he was yet alive for a pamphlet was published at Naples, and in other places of Italy, the year
before, wherein was given the following account: “Luther, being dangerously sick, desired to communicate, and
died as soon as he had received the viaticum. As he was
dying, he desired his body might be laid upon the altar,
to be adored; but that request being neglected, he was
buried. When, lo! at his interment there arose a furious
tempest, as if the world was at an end; and the terror was
universal. Some, in lifting their hands up to heaven, perceived that the host, which the deceased had presumed to
take, was suspended in the air; upon which it was gathered
up with great veneration, and laid in a sacred place, and
the tempest ceased for the present; but it arose the night
following with greater fury, and filled the whole town with
consternation; and the next day Luther’s sepulchre was
found open and empty, and a sulphureous stench proceeded from it, which nobody could bear. The assistants fell sick of it, and many of them repented, and returned to the catholic church.
” We have related this as a
specimen of the innumerable falsehoods that the papists
have invented about Luther; in which, as Bayle observes
very truly, they have shewn no regard either to probability,
or to the rules of the art of slandering, but have assumed all
the confidence of those who fully believe that the public will
blindly and implicitly receive their stories, be they ever so
absurd and incredible. Luther, however, to give the most
effectual refutation of this account of his death, published
an advertisement of his being alive; and wrote a book at
the same time to prove that “Papacy was founded by the
devil.
” Amidst all this malice of the papists towards Luther, we must not forget a generous action of the emperor
Charles V. which is an exception to it. While Charles’s
troops quartered at Wittemberg in 1547, which was one
year after Luther’s death, a soldier gave Luther’s effigies,
in the church of the castle, two stabs with his dagger; and
the Spaniards earnestly desired that his tomb might be
pulled down, and his bones dug up and burnt: but the
emperor wisely answered, “I have nothing farther to do
with Luther; he has henceforth another judge, whose jurisdiction it is not lawful fur me to usurp. Know, that I
make not war with the dead, but with the living, who still
make war with me.
” He would not therefore suffer his
tomb to be demolished; and he forbad any attempt of that
nature upon pain of death.
hstanding this review, the most learned protestants of that time could not approve of either the one or the other, and several of them took the liberty to mark the
After this long, but we trust, not uninteresting account
of the great founder of the Reformation, we shall select
only, on the part of the Roman catholics, the opinion of
father Simon, respecting his talents as an interpreter of
scripture, for this is a part of his character which must
appear very important, as he was the first who boldly undertook to reform an overgrown system of idolatry and
superstition by the pure word of God. “Luther,
” says this
critical author, “was the first protestant who ventured to
translate the dible into the vulgar tongue from the Hebrewtext, although he understood Hebrew but very indifferently. As he was of a free and bold spirit, he accuses
St. Jerom of ignorance in the Hebrew tongue; but he had
more reason to accuse himself of this fault, and for having
so precipitately undertaken a work of this nature, which
required more time than he employed about it. Thus we
find that he was obliged to review his translation, and make
a second edition; but, notwithstanding this review, the
most learned protestants of that time could not approve of
either the one or the other, and several of them took the
liberty to mark the faults, which were very numerous.
”
In another place he speaks of him not as a translator, but
as a commentator, in the following manner: “Luther, the
German protestant’s patriarch, was not satisfied with making a translation of the whole Bible, both from the Hebrew
and Greek, into his mother tongue, but thought he ought
to explain the word of God according to his own method,
for the better fixing of their minds whom he had drawn to
his party. But this patriarch could succeed no better in his
commentaries upon the Bible than in his translation. He
made both the one and the other with too little consideration; and he very often consults only his own prejudices.
That he might be thought a learned man, he spends time to
no purpose in confuting of other people’s opinions, which
he fancies ridiculous. He mixes very improperly
theological questions and several other things with his commentaries, so that they may rather be called lectures, and
disputes in divinity, than real commentaries. This may
be seen in his exposition on Genesis, where there are
many idle digressions. He thought, that by reading of
morality, and bawling against those who were not of nis
opinion, he might very much illustrate the word of God;
yet one may easily see by his own books, that he was a
turbulent and passionate man, who had only a little flashy
wit and quickness of invention. There is nothing great or
learned in his commentaries upon the Bible; every thing
low and mean: and as he had studied divinity, he has
rather composed a rhapsody of theological questions, than
a commentary upon the scripture text: to which we may
add, that he wanted understanding, and usually followed
his senses instead of his reason.
”
moderation; for the generality allow him neither parts nor learning, nor any attainment intellectual or moral. They tell you that he was not only no divine, but even
This is the language of those in the church of Rome who speak of Luther with any degree of moderation; for the generality allow him neither parts nor learning, nor any attainment intellectual or moral. They tell you that he was not only no divine, but even an outrageous enemy and calumniator of all kinds of science; and that he committed gross, stupid, and abominable errors against the principles of divinity and philosophy. They accuse him of having confessed, that after struggling for ten years together with his conscience, he at last became a perfect master of it, and fell into Atheism; and add, that he frequently said he would renounce his portion in heaven, provided God would allow him a pleasant life for 100 years upon earth. And, lest we should wonder that so monstrous and much unheard-of impiety should be found in a mere human creature, they make no scruple to say that an Incubus begat him. These, and many more such scandalous imputations, Bayle has been at the pains to collect, and has treated them with all the contempt and just indignation they deserve.
h rage, when they saw with what a daring hand he overturned everything which they held to be sacred, or valued as beneficial, imputed to him not only the defects and
On the protestant side, the character given of Luther
by Dr. Robertson, seems, on the whole, the most just and
impartial that has yet appeared. “As he was raised by
Providence,
” says this excellent historian, " to be the author of one of the greatest and most interesting revolutions
recorded in history, there is not any person, perhaps,
whose character has been drawn with such opposite colours.
In his own age, one party, struck with horror aud inflamed
with rage, when they saw with what a daring hand he overturned everything which they held to be sacred, or valued
as beneficial, imputed to him not only the defects and
vices of a man, but the qualities of a demon. The other,
warmed with the admiration and gratitude which they thought
he merited, as the restorer of light and liberty to the
Christian church, ascribed to hiui perfections above the
condition of humanity, and viewed all his actions with a
veneration bordering on that which should be paid only to
those who are guided by the immediate inspiration of heaven. It is his own conduct, not the undistinguishing censure or the extravagant praise of his contemporaries, that
ought to regulate the opinions of the present age concerning him. Zeal for what he regarded as truth; undaunted
intrepidity to maintain his own system; abilities, both natural and acquired, to defend his principles; and unwearied
industry in propagating them; are virtues which shine so
conspicuously in every part of his behaviour, that even his
enemies must allow him to have possessed them in an eminent degree. To these may be added, with equal justice,
such purity and even austerity of manners, as became one
who assumed the character of a reformer; such sanctity of
life as suited the doctrine which he delivered; and such
perfect disinterestedness, as affords no slight presumption
of his sincerity. Superior to all selfish considerations, a
stranger to the elegancies of life, and despising its pleasures, he left the honours and emoluments of the church
to his disciples, remaining satisfied himself in his original
state of professor in the university, and pastor of the town
of Wittemberg, with the moderate appointments annexed
to these offices. His extraordinary qualities were allayed
by no inconsiderable mixture of human frailties and human
passions. These, however, were of such a nature, that
they cannot be imputed to malevolence or corruption of
heart, but seem to have taken their rise from the same
source with many of his virtues. His mind, forcible and
vehement in all its operations, roused by great objects, or
agitated by violent passions, broke out, on many occasions,
with an impetuosity which astonishes men of feebler
spirits, or such as are placed in a more tranquil situation.
By carrying some praise-worthy dispositions to excess, he
bordered sometimes on what was culpable, and was often
betrayed into actions which exposed him to censure. His
confidence that his own opinions were well-founded,
appreached to arrogance; his courage in asserting them, to
rashness; his firmness in adhering to them, to obstinacy;
and his zeal in confuting his adversaries, to rage and scurrility. Accustomed himself to consider every thing as subordinate to truth, he expected the same deference for it
from other men; and, without making any allowances for
their timidity or prejudices, he poured forth against such
as disappointed him in this particular, a torrent of invective
mingled with contempt. Regardless of any distinction of
rank or character when his doctrines were attacked, he
chastised all his adversaries indiscriminately, with the same
rough hand: neither the royal dignity of Henry VIII, nor
the eminent learning and abilities of Erasmus, screened
them from the same gross abuse with which he treated
Tetzel or Eckius.
d were managed with heat, and strong emotions were uttered in their natural language without reserve or delicacy. At the same time, the works of learned men were all
"But these indecencies of which Luther was guilty, must not be imputed wholly to the violence of his temper. They ought to be charged in part on the manners of the age. Among a rude people, unacquainted with those maxims, which, by putting constraint on the passions of individuals, have polished society, and rendered it agreeable, disputes of every kind were managed with heat, and strong emotions were uttered in their natural language without reserve or delicacy. At the same time, the works of learned men were all composed in Latin; and they were not only authorized, by the example of eminent writers in that language, to use their antagonists with the most illiberal scurrility; but, in a dead tongue, indecencies of every kind appear less shocking than in a living language, whose idioms and phrases seem gross, because they are familiar.
e was fitted for accomplishing the great work he undertook. To rouse mankind, when sunk in ignorance or superstition, and to encounter the rage of bigotry armed with
“In passing judgment upou the characters of men, we
ought to try them by the principles and maxims of their
own age, not by those of another. For, although virtue
and vice are at all times the same, manners and customs
vary continually. Some parts of Luther’s behaviour
which to us appear most culpable, gave no disgust to his
contemporaries. It was even by some of those qualities
which we are now apt to blame, that he was fitted for accomplishing the great work he undertook. To rouse mankind, when sunk in ignorance or superstition, and to encounter the rage of bigotry armed with power, required
the utmost vehemence of zeal, as well as a temper daring
to excess. A gentle call would neither have reached, nor
have excited those to whom it was addressed. A spirit
more amiable, but less vigorous than Luther’s, would have
shrunk back from the dangers which he braved and surmounted. Toward the close of Luther’s life, though without any perceptible diminution of his zeal or abilities, the
infirmities of his temper increased upon him, so that he
grew daily more peevish, more irascible, and more impatient of contradiction. Having lived to be a witness of
his own amazing success; to see a great part of Europe
embrace his doctrines; and to shake the foundation of the
papal throne, before which the mightiest monarchs had
trembled, he discovered, on some occasions, symptoms of
vanity and self- applause. He must have been, indeed,
more than man, if, upon contemplating all that he actually
accomplished, he had never felt any sentiments of this
kind rising in his breast.
”
ed the numher of sacraments to two, viz. baptism, and the eucharist; but he believed the impanation, or consubstantiation: that is, that the matter of the bread and
Lutheiamsi has undergone some alteration since the time of its founder. Luther rejected the epistle of St. James, as inconsistent with the doctrine of St. Paul, in relation to justification; he also set aside the Apocalypse; both which are now received as canonical in the Lutheran church. Luther reduced the numher of sacraments to two, viz. baptism, and the eucharist; but he believed the impanation, or consubstantiation: that is, that the matter of the bread and wine remain with the body and blood of Christ; and it is in this article, that the main difference between the Lutheran and English churches consists. Luther maintained the mass to be no sacrifice; he exploded the adoration of the host, auricular confession, meritorious works, indulgences, purgatories, the worship of images, &c. which had been introduced in the corrupt times of the Romish church. He also opposed the doctrine of free-will; maintained predestination; asserted that we are necessitated in all we do; that all our actions done in a state of sin, and even the virtues themselves of heathens, are crimes; that we are justified only by the merits and satisfaction of Christ. He also opposed the fastings in the Roman church, monastical vows, the celibacy of the clergy, &c.
t with an arrow. He flourished about 304 years before Christ, and wrote a poem entitled “Alexandra,” or Cassandra, containing a long course of predictions, which he
, a Greek poet and grammarian, was a
native of Chalcis, in Eubcea, and according to Ovid, was
killed by a shot with an arrow. He flourished about 304
years before Christ, and wrote a poem entitled “Alexandra,
” or Cassandra, containing a long course of predictions, which he supposes to be made by Cassandra, daughter of Priam, king of Troy. This poem has created a great
deal of trouble to the learned, on account of its obscurity,
which procured him the title of “the tenebrous poet.
”
Suidas has preserved the titles of twenty tragedies of his
composing; and he is reckoned in the number of the poets
who were called the Pleiades, and who flourished under
Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt. The best edition
of “Lycophron,
” is that at Oxford, Remarks
” on the “Cassandra,
” which are highly judicious, and his conjectures in illustration of the obscurities
of Lycophron, plausible and happy.
sovereign power in trust only, in case the child should prove a son, and took the title of Prodicus or Protector, instead of that of king. It is added, that he had
, the celebrated lawgiver of Sparta, flourished, according to the most judicious modern chronologers, about 898 years before the Christian aera. Plutarch seems to think that he was the fifth in descent from Procles, and the tenth from Hercules. When the sceptre devolved to him by the death of his brother Polydectes, the widow of that prince was pregnant. He was no sooner assured of this, than he determined to hold the sovereign power in trust only, in case the child should prove a son, and took the title of Prodicus or Protector, instead of that of king. It is added, that he had the virtue to resist the offers of the queen, who would have married him, with the dreadful promise that no son should be born to intercept his views. A son at length was born, and publicly presented by him to the people, from whose joy on the occasion he named the infant Charilaus, i. e. the people’s joy. Lycurgus was at this time a young man, and the state of Sparta was too turbulent and licentious for him to introduce any system of regulation, without being armed with some more express authority. How long he continued to administer the government is uncertain; probably till his nephew was of age to take it into his own hands. After resigning it, howeyer, he did not long remain in Sparta, but went as a traveller to visit other countries and study their laws, particularly those of Crete, which were highly renowned for their excellence, and had been instituted by Rhadamanthus and Minos, two illustrious legislators, who pretended to have received their laws from Jupiter. Lycurgus passed some years in this useful employment, but he had left behind him such a reputation for wisdom and justice, that when the corruption and confusion of the state became intolerable, he was recalled by a public invitation to assume the quality of legislator, and to new model the government.
ice of the age, and his relics, pursuant to his own request, scattered in the sea; lest if his bones or ashes had ever been carried to Sparta, the Lacedemonians might
Lycurgus willingly returned to undertake the task thus devolved upon him, and, having obtained, after various difficulties, the co-operation of the kings, and of the various orders of the people, he formed that extraordinary system of government which has been the wonder of all subsequent ages, but which has been too much detailed by various authors, for us to enter into the particulars. When with invincible courage, unwearied perseverance, and a judgment and penetration still more extraordinary, he had formed and executed the most singular plan that ever was devised, he waited for a time to see his great machine in motion; and finding it proceed to his wish, he had now no other object but to secure its duration. For this purpose he convened the kings, senate, and people, told them that he wished to visit Delphi, to consult the oracle on the constitution he had formed, and engaged them all to bind themselves by a most solemn oath, that nothing should be altered before his return. The approbation of the oracle he received, but he returned no more, being determined to bind his countrymen indissolubly to the observance of his laws, and thinking his life, according to the enthusiastic patriotism of those times, a small sacrifice to secure the welfare of his country. Different accounts are given of the place and manner of his death. According to some authors, he died by voluntary abstinence. One tradition says, that he lived to a good old age in Crete, and dying a natural death, his body was burned, according to the practice of the age, and his relics, pursuant to his own request, scattered in the sea; lest if his bones or ashes had ever been carried to Sparta, the Lacedemonians might have thought themselves free from the obligation of their oath, to preserve his laws unaltered. He is supposed to have died after the year 873 B. C. His laws were abrogated by Philopaemen in the year 188 B. C.; but the Romans very soon re-established them.
r, contemporary with Demosthenes, was born about 408 years before the Christian acra, and died about or after 328. He was an Athenian, and the son of a person named
, an Athenian orator, contemporary with Demosthenes, was born about 408 years before the Christian acra, and died about or after 328. He was an Athenian, and the son of a person named Lycophron. He studied philosophy under Plato, and rhetoric under Isocrates. He was of the most exalted character for integrity, in which he was severely scrupulous; a strenuous defender of liberty, a perpetual opposer of Philip and Alexander, and a firm friend of Demosthenes. As a magistrate, he proceeded with severity against criminals, but kept a register of all his proceedings, which, on quitting his office, he submitted to public inspection. When he was about to die, he publicly offered his actions to examination, and refuted the only accuser who appeared against him. He was one of the thirty orators whom the Athenians refused to give up to Alexander. One oration of his, against Leocrates, is still extant, and has been published in the collections of Aldus, Taylor, and Reiske. His eloquence partook of the manly severity and truth of his character.
Troy.” The first is printed by Speght in his edition of Ghaucer; the second, the “Fall of Princes,” or “Boke of Johan Bochas,” (first printed by Pinson in 1494, and
Lydgate’s pieces are very numerous. Ritson has given
a list of two hundred and fifty-one, some of which he admits may not be Lydgate’s, but he supposes, on the other
hand, that he may be the author of many others that are
anonymous. His most esteemed works are his “Story of
Thebes,
” his “Fall of Princes,
” and his “History, Siege,
and Destruction of Troy.
” The first is printed by Speght
in his edition of Ghaucer; the second, the “Fall of
Princes,
” or “Boke of Johan Bochas,
” (first printed by Pinson in De casibus Virorum et Feminarum illustrium.
” The
“History, &c. of Troy
” was first printed by Pinson in
The Life and Death of Hector,
”
, an eminent English scholar, was born at Alkrington or Okerton, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, in 1572. His father, observing
, an eminent English scholar, was
born at Alkrington or Okerton, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, in 1572. His father, observing his natural talents,
sent him to Winchester school, where he was admitted a
scholar on the foundation, at thirteen; and, being elected
thence to New-college in Oxford, was put under the tuition
of Dr. (afterwards sir) Henry Martin, who became so well
known during the rebellion. Mr. Lydiat was made probationer fellow in 1591, and two years after, actual fellow.
Then taking his degree in arts, he applied himself to
astronomy, mathematics, and divinity, in the last of which
studies he was very desirous of continuing; but, finding a
great defect in his memory and utterance, he chose rather
to resign his fellowship, which he could not hold without
entering the church, and live upon his small patrimony.
This was in 1603; and he spent seven years after in finishing and printing such books as he had begun when in college. He first appeared as an author in 1605, by publishing his “Tractatus de variis annorum formis.
” Of this
he published a defence in Emendatio Temporum ab initio mundi hue usque compendio facta, contra Scaligerum et alios,
”
s unable to pay, he was successively imprisoned at Oxford, the King’s-bench, and elsewhere, in 1629, or 1630, and remained a prisoner till sir William Boswell, a great
When he came to England, which appears to have been in 1611, he is supposed to have been married, and to Usher’s sister; but for either supposition there seems very little foundation. Soon after his return, however, the rectory of Okerton becoming void, was offered to him; and though while he was fellow of New-college, he had refused the offer of it by his father, who was the patron, yet he now accepted it, and was instituted in 1612. Here he seems to have lived happily for many years: but being imprudently security for the debts of a near relation, which he was unable to pay, he was successively imprisoned at Oxford, the King’s-bench, and elsewhere, in 1629, or 1630, and remained a prisoner till sir William Boswell, a great patron of learned men, joining with Dr. Pink, warden of New-college, and Dr. Usher, paid the debt, and released him; and archbishop Laud also, at the request of sir Henry Martin, gave his assistance on this occasion . He had no sooner got his liberty, than, out of an ardent zeal to promote literature and the honour of his country, he petitioned Charles I for his protection and encouragement to travel into Turkey, Ethiopia, and the Abyssinian empire, in searcli of manuscripts relating to civil or ecclesiastical history, or any other branch of learning, and to print them in England. For the farther advancement of this design, he also requested the king would apply, by his ambassadors and ministers, to such princes as were in alliance with him, for a similar privilege to be granted to Lydiat and his assigns: this was a spirited design, but it was impossible for the king at that unhappy period to pay attention to it.
aptism,” ibid. 1652, 1653, 4 to. 3. “The plain man’s senses exercised to discern both good and evil; or a discovery of the errors, heresies, and blasphemies of these
Although he took no active part in the disputes of the
nation, he gave his opinion on some subjects arising out
of them, respecting toleration, in a work entitled “Cases
of conscience propounded in the time of Rebellion,
”
which bishop Kennet in his “Chronicle
” says is written,
with plainness, modesty, and impartiality. His other works
are, 1. “Principles of Faith and of a good Conscience,
”
Lond. An Apology for our
public Ministry and infant Baptism,
” ibid. The plain man’s senses exercised to discern
both good and evil; or a discovery of the errors, heresies,
and blasphemies of these times,
” ibid.
mburgh, 1753, 8vo. 2. A translation of Seneca on “The Shortness of Life,” 1754. 3. “Der Sonderling,” or “The Singular Man,” Hanover, 1761, 8vo, and in French, Copenhagen,
In 1757 he had an opportunity again of rendering himself conspicuous in a political capacity, by the part which
he took in the famous convention of Closter-seven, entered into between the duke of Richelieu, commander of
the French forces, and the duke of Cumberland, who was
then at the head of the allied army. In this, however, he
met with many difficulties, as the history of that convention
shows; and the king of France and his Britannic majesty
at last refused their ratification. In March 1763 he was
invested with the order of the elephant by Frederic V. the
highest honour his sovereign could bestow; but some
complaints being made against him on account of his administration, which were not altogether groundless, he
resigned in Oct. 1765. The remainder of his life he passed
in retirement at Lubennau, where he died of a dropsy of
the breast, Nov. 1781, in the seventy-third year of his
age. He was a man of considerable learning, elegant address, and various accomplishments. His works are, I.
A translation of “Seneca de Beneficiis,
” Hamburgh, The Shortness of
Life,
” Der Sonderling,
” or “The Singular
Man,
” Hanover, Historical, Political, and Moral Miscellanies,
” in four parts, The Epistles,
” printed at various
times, The real state of Europe in the
year 1737,
” and several other articles in Busching’s Magazine for History and Geography.
by Papists,” &c. 3. “Via devia, the by-way,” &c. 1630 and 1632, 8vo. 4. “A Case for the Spectacles; or, a Defence of the Via tuta,” in answer to a book written by
His works are, 1. “Ancient characters of the visible
Church, 1625.
” 2. “Via tuta, the safe way, &c.
” reprinted several times, and translated into Latin, Dutch,
and French, printed at Paris, 1647, from the sixth edition
published in 1636, 12mo, under the title of “Popery confuted by Papists,
” &c. 3. “Via devia, the by-way,
” &c.
A Case for the Spectacles;
or, a Defence of the Via tuta,
” in answer to a book written
by J. R. called “A pair of Spectacles,
” &c. with a supplement in Vindication of sir Humphrey, by the publisher,
Dr. Daniel Featly. A book entitled “A pair of Spectacles
for sir Humphrey Lynde,
” was printed at Roan, An
account of Bertram, with observations concerning the censures upon his Tract De corpore et sanguine Christi,
”
prefixed to an edition of it at London, 1623, 8vo, and reprinted there in 1686, 8vo, by Dr. Matthew Brian.
ster of Trinity-college, offered to put him to school at his own expence, he would go only for a day or two, saying, “he could learn more by himself in an hour than
, son of a Polish Jew, who was a silversmith, and teacher of Hebrew at Cambridge, was born
there, in 1739. He displayed wonderful talents as a young
man; and shewed very early a great inclination to learning, particularly mathematics; but though Dr. Smith, then
master of Trinity-college, offered to put him to school at
his own expence, he would go only for a day or two, saying, “he could learn more by himself in an hour than in
a day with his master.
” He began the study of botany in.
1755, which he continued to his death; and could remember, not only the Linniean names of almost all the English
plants, but even the synonyma of the old botanists, which
form a strange and barbarous farrago of great bulk; and
had collected large materials for a “Flora Cantabrigiensis,
” describing fully every part of each plant from the life,
without being obliged to consult, or being liable to be
misled by, former authors. In 1758 he obtained much celebrity by publishing a treatise “on Fluxions,
” dedicated
to his patron, Dr. Smith; and in 1763 a work entitled
“Fasciculus plantaruui circa Cantabrigiam nascentium, quae
post Raium observatae fuere,
” 8vo. Mr. Banks (now sir Joseph Banks, bart. and president of the royal society),
whom he first instructed in this science, sent for him to
Oxford, about 1762 or 1763, to read lectures; which he
did with great applause, to at least sixty pupils; but could
not be induced to make a long absence from Cambridge.
He had a salary of a hundred pounds per annum for calculating the “Nautical Almanack,
” and frequently received
presents from the board of longitude for his inventions.
He could read Latin and French with ease; but wrote the
former ill; had studied the English history, and could quote
whole passages from the Monkish writers verbatim. He
was appointed by the board of longitude to go with captain Phipps (afterwards lord Mulgrave) to the North pote
in 1773, and made the astronomical and other mathematical calculations, printed in the account of that voyage.
After his return he married and settled in London, where,
on May 1, 1775, he died of the measles. He was then
engaged in publishing a complete edition of all the works
of Dr. Halley. His “Calculations in Spherical Trigonometry abridged,
” were printed in “Philosophical Transactions,*' vol. LXI. art. 46. After his death his name appeWed in the title-page of
” A Geographical Dictionary,“of
which the astronomical parts were said to be
” taken from
the papers of the late Mr. Israel Lyons, of Cambridge, author of several valuable mathematical productions, and
astronomer in lord Mnlgrave’s voyage to the Northern hemisphere.“It remains to be noticed, that a work entitled
” The Scholar’s Instructor, or Hebrew Grammar, by Israel
Lyons, Teacher of the Hebrew Tongue in the University
of Cambridge: the second edition, with many Additions
and Emendations which the Author has found necessary in
his long course of teaching Hebrew,“Cambridge, 1757,
8vo, was the production of his father; as was a treatise
printed at the Cambridge press, under the title of
” Observations and Enquiries relating to various parts of Scripture
History, 1761," published by subscription at two shillings
and six-pence. He died in August 1770, and was buried, agreeably to his own desire, although contrary to
the Jewish principles, in Great St. Mary’s Church-yard,
Cambridge. He was on this occasion carried through the
church, and his daughter Judith read some form of interment-service over his grave. He had resided near forty
years at Cambridge.
, or Lyranus, a celebrated Franciscan, in the 14th century, and one
, or Lyranus, a celebrated
Franciscan, in the 14th century, and one of the most
learned men of his time, was born of Jewish parents at
Lyre, a town in Normandy, in the diocese of Evreux.
After having been instructed in rabbinical learning, he embraced Christianity, entered among the Franciscans at
Verneuil, 1291, and taught afterwards at Paris with great
credit. He rose by his merit to the highest offices in his
order, and also gained the esteem of the great; queen
Jane, countess of Burgundy, and wife of Philip the Long,
appointed him one of her executors in 1325. He died at
a very advanced age, October 23, 1340, leaving some
“Postils,
” or short Commentaries on the whole Bible,
which were formerly in considerable reputation the most
scarce edition of them is that of Rome, 1472, seven vols,
folio; and the best that of Antwerp, 1634, six vols. folio.
These commentaries are incorporated in the “Biblia Maxima,
” Paris, A Disputation against the
Jews,
” in 8vo, a treatise against a particular rabbi, who
made use of the New Testament to combat Christianity.
These, and his other works not printed, show the author
to have had a much more perfect knowledge of the Holy
Scriptures than was common at that time.
r of works, both in German and Latin. The principal are, 1. “Explanations of Genesis,” in six parts, or six volumes, 4to, each of which bears the name of the patriarch
, a learned Protestant theologian,
was born at Winendeen in the territory of Wittemberg, in
the year 1552. He was educated at Tubingen, at the expence of the duke of Saxony, and became a minister of
the church of Wittemberg in 1577. He was one of the
first to sign the “Concord,
” and was deputed, with James
Andreas, to procure the signature of the divines and ministers in the electorate of Saxony. He died at Dresden,
where he was then minister, February 14, 1601, aged 50,
leaving a great number of works, both in German and Latin. The principal are, 1. “Explanations of Genesis,
” in
six parts, or six volumes, 4to, each of which bears the
name of the patriarch whose history it explains. 2.
“Comraentaries on the two first chapters of Daniel,
” 2 vols. 4to.
3. “A Paraphrase on the History of the Passion,
” 4to, or
12mo. 4. “Explanation of Psalm CI,
” 8vo. 5. “Commentaries on the Minor Prophets,
” 4to, published at Leipsic, Commentaries on the Epistle to the
Hebrews.
” 7. “Centuria qutestionum de articulis libri
Christiana; Concordia?,
” 4to. 8. “Christianismus, Papismus, Calvinismus,
” 8vo. 9. “Harmonia Calvinianorum et
Photinianorum in Doctrina de Sacra Cena,
” 4to. 10. “Vindiciae Lyserianse, an sincretismus in rebus fidei cum Calvinianis coli prodest,
” 4to. II. “Disputationes IX. Anti Steiniance quibus examinatur defensio concionis Irenicse
Pauli Steinii,
” 4to. 12. “Harmonia Evangelistarum continuata ad Christianam Harmoniam et ejusdem Epitome,
”
8vo. 13. “Disput. de Deo patre Creatore coeli et terrae,
”
4to. 14. “De seternitate Filii Dei,
” 4to. 15. “De sacramentis decades duae,
” 4to. He published also the
“History of the Jesuits,
” written by Elias Hasenmuller,
who having quitted that society, and turned Lutheran, retired to Wittemberg, and died there before his work was
printed. Father Gretser attacked this history, and Lyserus
answered him by “Strena ad Gretserum pro honorario
ejus,
” 8vo.
ut does not appear to have been a pleader. Of his orations, which are said to have amounted to three or four hundred, only thirty-four remain. He died in the eighty-first
, an eminent Greek orator, was born at Syracuse, about the year 459 B. C. He was educated at Athens,
and became a teacher of rhetoric, and composed orations
for others, but does not appear to have been a pleader. Of
his orations, which are said to have amounted to three or
four hundred, only thirty-four remain. He died in the
eighty-first year of his age, and in the 378th year B.C.
Cicero and Quintilian give him a very high character, and
suppose that there is nothing of their kind more perfect
than his orations. Lysias lived at a somewhat earlier period
than Isocrates; and exhibits a model of that manner which
the ancients call the “tenuis vel subtilis.
” He has none
of the pomp of Isocrates. He is every where pure and
attic in the highest degree; simple and unaffected; but
wants force, and is sometimes frigid in his compositions. In
the judicious comparison which Dionysius of Halicarnassus makes of the merits of Lysias and Isocrates, he
ascribes to Lysias, as the distinguishing character of
his manner, a certain grace or elegance arising from simplicity: “the style of Lysias has gracefulness for its nature; that of Isocrates seems to have it.
” In the art of
narration, as distinct, probable, and persuasive, he holdsf
Lysias to be superior to all orators; at the same time he
admits, that his composition is more adapted to private
litigation than to great subjects. He convinces, but he
does not elevate nor animate. The magnificence and splendour of Isocrates are more suited to great occasions. He
is more agreeable than Lysias; and in dignity of sentiment far excels him. The first edition of Lysias is that
by Aldus, folio, 1513, in the first part of the “Rhetorum
Gnecorum orationes.
” The best modern editions are that
of Taylor, beautifully and correctly printed by Bowyer, in
1739, 4to; of Reiske, at Leipsic, 1772, 8vo and of
Auger at Paris, 1782. Auger also published an excellent
French translation of Lysias in 1783.
worn never to love a man more, since the sorrow it cost me to have loved so many now dead, banished, or unfortunate, I mean Mr. Lyttelton, one of the worthiest of the
, an elegant English writer,
was the eldest son of sir Thomas Lyttelton, of Hagley, in
Worcestershire, bart. and was born in 1709. He came into
the world two months before the usual time, and was
imagined by the nurse to be dead, but upon closer
inspiection was found alive, and with some difficulty reared. At
Eton school, where he was educated, he was so much distinguished that his exercises were recommended as models
to his school-fellows. From Eton he went to Christ Church,
where he retained the same reputation of superiority, and
displayed his abilities to the public in a poem on Blenheim.
He was a very early writer, both in verse and prose; his
“Progress of Love,
” and his “Persian Letters,
” having both been written when he was very young. After
a short residence at Oxford, he began his travels in
1728, and visited France and Italy. From Rome he
sent those elegant verses which are prefixed to the works
of Pope, whom he consulted in 1730 respecting his four
pastorals. Pope made some alterations in them, which
may be seen in Bowles’s late edition of that poet’s works
(vol. IV. p. 139). We find Pope, a few years afterwards,
in a letter to Swift, speak thus of him: He is “one of
those whom his own merit has forced me to contract an
intimacy with, after I had sworn never to love a man
more, since the sorrow it cost me to have loved so many
now dead, banished, or unfortunate, I mean Mr. Lyttelton, one of the worthiest of the rising generation,
” &c.
In another letter Mr. Lyttelton is mentioned in a manner
with which Dr. Warton says he was displeased .
ts of the truth of Christianity; but he thought the time now come when it was no longer fit to doubt or believe by chance, and applied hiniself seriously to the great
When, after a long struggle, Wai pole gave way, and
honour and profit were distributed among his conquerors,
Lyttelton was made in (1744) one of the lords of the treasury; and from that time was engaged in supporting the
schemes of ministry. Politics did not, however, so much
engage him as to withhold his thoughts from things of more
importance. He had, in the pride of juvenile confidence,
with the help of corrupt conversation, entertained doubts
of the truth of Christianity; but he thought the time now
come when it was no longer fit to doubt or believe by
chance, and applied hiniself seriously to the great question.
His studies being honest, ended in conviction. He found
that Religion was true, and what he had learned he endeavoured to teach, by “Observations on the Conversion and
Apostleship of St. Paul,
” printed in I have read your
religious treatise with infinite pleasure and satisfaction.
The style is fine and clear, the arguments close, cogent,
and irresistible. May the King of kings, whose glorious
cause you have so well defended, reward your pious labours, and grant that I may be found worthy, through the
merits of Jesus Christ, to be an eye-witness of that happiness which I don't doubt He will bountifully bestow upon
you! In the mean time, I shall never cease glorifying
God, for having endowed you with such useful talents, and
given me so good a son. Your affectionate father, Thomas Lyttelton.
” When the university of Oxford conferred the degree of LL. D. on Mr. West for his excellent
work on the “Resurrection,
” the same honour is said to
have been offered to our author for the above piece, but he
declined it in a handsome manner, by saying that he chose
not to be under any particular attachments, that, if he
should happen to write any thing of the like kind for the
future, it might not appear to proceed from any other motive whatsoever, but a pure desire of doing good.
rkable. The whole work was printed twice over, greatest part of it three times, and many sheets four or five times . The booksellers paid for the first impression ;
A few years afterwards, in 1751, by the death of his
father, he inherited the title of baronet, with a large estate, which, though perhaps he did not augment, he was
careful to adorn, by a house of great elegance and expence, and by much attention to the decoration of his
park at Hagley. As he continued his exertions in parliament, he was gradually advancing his claim to profit and
preferment; and accordingly was made in 1754 cofferer
and privy-counsellor. This place he exchanged next year
for that of chancellor of the exchequer, an office, however,
that required some qualifications which he soon perceived
himself to want. It is an anecdote no less remarkable than
true, that he never could comprehend the commonest rules
of arithmetic. The year after, his curiosity led him into
Wales; of which he has given an account, perhaps rather
with too much affectation of delight, to Archibald Bower,
a man of whom he had conceived an opinion more favourable than he seems to have deserved, and whom, having
once espoused his interest and fame, he never was persuaded to disown. It must indeed have proceeded from a
strong conviction of Bower’s innocence, however acquired,
that such a man as Lyttelton adhered to him to the very last.
About 1758, he prevented Garrick from bringing Bower
on the stage in the character of a mock convert, to be
shewn in various attitudes, in which the profligacy of his
conduct was to be exposed: and a very few years before
his own death, he declared to the celebrated Dr. Lardner
his opinion of Bower in these words, “I have no more
doubt of his having continued a firm protestant to the last
hour of his life, than I have of my not being a papist myself.
”
About this time he published his “Dialogues of the
Dead,
” which were very eagerly read, though the production rather, as it seems, of leisure than of study, rather
effusions than compositions. When, in the latter part of
the last reign, the inauspicious commencement of the war
made the dissolution of the ministry unavoidable, sir
George Lyttelton, losing his employment with the rest,
was raised to the peerage, Nov. 19, 1157, by the title of
lord Lyttelton, baron of Frankley, in the county of Worcester. His last literary production was, “The History of
Henry the Second,
” Henry the Second,
” as
if, said Johnson once in conversation, “another man could
point his sense better than himself.
” The book, however,
was at last pointed and printed, and sent into the world.
His lordship took money for his copy, of which, when he
had paid the pointer, he probably gave the rest away; for
he was very liberal to the indigent. When time brought
the history to a third edition, Reid was either dead or discarded; and the superintendence of typography and punctuation was committed to a man originally a comb -maker,
but then known by the style of Dr. Saunders. Something
uncommon was probably expected, and something uncommon was at last done; for to the edition of Dr. Saunders is
appended, what the world had hardly seen before, a list of
errors of nineteen pages.
Lord Lyttelton had never the appearance of a strong or a healthy man; he had a slender uncompacted frame, and a meagre
Lord Lyttelton had never the appearance of a strong or
a healthy man; he had a slender uncompacted frame, and
a meagre face : he lived, however, above sixty years,
and then was seized with his last illness. Of his death this
very affecting and instructive account has been given by
his physician, Dr. Johnstone of Kidderminster. “On Sunday evening the symptoms of his lordship’s disorder, which
for a week past had alarmed us, put on a fatal appearance,
and his lordship believed himself to be a dying man. From
this time he suffered by restlessness rather than pain; and
though his nerves were apparently much fluttered, his
mental faculties never seemed stronger, when he was thoroughly awake. His lordship’s bilious and hepatic complaints seemed alone not equal to the expected mournful
event; his Iqng want of sleep, whether the consequence
of the irritatton in the bowels, or, which is more probable,
of causes of a different kind, accounts for his loss of
strength, and for his death, very sufficiently. Though his
lordship wished his approaching dissolution not to be lingering, he waited for it with resignation. He said, ‘ It is
a folly, a keeping me in misery, now to attempt to prolong
life;’ yet he was easily persuaded, for the satisfaction of
others, to do or take any thing thought proper for him.
On Saturday he had been remarkably better, and we were
not without some hopes of his recovery. On Sunday, about
eleven in the forenoon, his lordship sent for me, and said
he felt a great hurry, and wished to have a little conversartion with me in order to divert it. He then proceeded to
open the fountain of that heart, from whence goodness had
so long flowed as from a copious spring. `Doctor,‘ said
he, `you shall be my confessor: When I first set out in
the world, I had friends who endeavoured to shake my
belief in the Christian religion. I saw difficulties which
staggered me; but I kept my mind open to conviction.
The evidences and doctrines of Christianity, studied with
attention, made me a most firm and persuaded believer of
the Christian religion. I have made it the rule of my life,
and it is the ground of my future hopes. I have erred
and sinned; but have repented, and never indulged any
vicious habit. In politics, and public life, I have made
the public good the rule of my conduct. I never gave
counsels which I did not at the time think the best. I
have seen that I was sometimes in the wrong, but I did
not err designedly. I have endeavoured, in private life,
to do all the good in my power, and never for a moment
could indulge malicious or unjust designs upon any person
whatsoever.’ At another time he said, `I must leave my
soul in the same state it was in before this illness; I find
this a very inconvenient time for solicitude about any
thing.‘ On the evening when the symptoms of death
came on him, he said, `I shall die; but it will not be your
fault.’ When lord and lady Valentia came to see his lordship, he gave them this solemn benediction, and said, `Be
good, be virtuous, my lord. You must come to this.‘ Thus
he continued giving his dying benediction to all arourvd
him. On Monday morning a lucid interval gave some
small hopes, but these vanished in the evening; and he
continued dying, but with very little uneasiness, till Tuesday morning, August 22, when between seven and eight
o’clock he expired, almost without a groan.
” His lordship was buried at Hagley; with an inscription cut on the
side of his lady’s monument.
amiable qualities, as that of the late lord Lyttelton. Whether we consider this great man in public or private life, we are justified in affirming, that he abounded
We have more pleasure, however, in returning to the character of George lord Lyttelton, which has been uniformly
delineated by those who knew him best, in favourable
colours. Of the various sketches which we have seen, we
are inclined to give a place to the following, which,
although somewhat long, is less known than those to be
found in the accounts of his biographers, and appears to
have been written by a near observer “Few chapters,
”
says the writer, “recorded in the annals of this country,
ever united so many rare, valuable, and amiable qualities,
as that of the late lord Lyttelton. Whether we consider
this great man in public or private life, we are justified in
affirming, that he abounded in virtues not barely sufficient
to create reverence and esteem, but to insure him the love
and admiration of all who knew him. Look upon him as a
statesman, and a public man; where shall we find another,
who always thought right and meant well, and who so seldom acted wrong, or was misled or mistaken in his ministerial, or senatorial conduct? Look upon his lordship in
the humbler scene of private and domestic life; and if
thou hadst the pleasure of knowing him, gentle reader,
point out the breast warm or cold, that so copiously
abounded with every gift and acquirement which indulgent
nature could bestow, or the tutored mind improve and refine, to win and captivate mankind.
y the Graces drest.' His affability and condescension to those below him, was not the effect of art, or constrained politeness, dictated by the hackneyed sterile rules
“His personal accomplishments, and the sweetness and pliability of his temper, which accompanied and swayed them, always recalled to my memory, that line of his own, only varying the sex his * Wit was Nature by the Graces drest.' His affability and condescension to those below him, was not the effect of art, or constrained politeness, dictated by the hackneyed sterile rules of decorum and good breeding: no, the benevolence of his heart pervaded the whole man; it illuminated his countenance, it softened his accents, it mixed itself with his demeanour, and gave evidence at once of the goodness of his heart, and the soundness of his understanding.
the present rude outline is proud of ranking himself, and is happy in recollecting, that he obeyed, or rather anticipated, the wishes of his noble friend, as far as
“To such as were honoured with his friendship and his intimacy, his kindness was beyond example he shared at once his affections and his interests among his friends, and towards the latter part of his life, when his ability to serve them ceased, he felt only for those who depended on him for their future advancement in life. The unbounded authority he possessed over them was established in parental dominion, not in the cold, haughty, supercilious superiority of a mere patron. Among this latter description, the author of the present rude outline is proud of ranking himself, and is happy in recollecting, that he obeyed, or rather anticipated, the wishes of his noble friend, as far as lay in his power, with more chearfulness and alacrity than he would in executing even the confidential mandates of the greatest monarch or minister in Christendom.