When the duke of Marlborough was disgraced, and went abroad, he resigned all
When the duke of Marlborough was disgraced, and went abroad, he resigned all his employments, choosing, as he had a share in his grace’s prosperity, to be a partaker in his adversity; but first served the campaign, in 1712, under the duke of Ormond. At the accession of George I. on August 1, 1714, he was made master of the robes, and colonel of the second regiment of foot-guards; also envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States General. In 1715, he was appointed governor of the Isle of Wight; and having extinguished the remains of the rebellion in Scotland, he was elected a knight of the thistle in June 1716, and on the 30th of the same month was created a peer by the title of Lord Cadogan, baron of Reading. His lordship soon after was again sent ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States of Holland; and arriving at Brussels, on Sept. 15, 1716, signed, at the Hague, the treaty of defensive alliance between Great Britain, France,and the States General. He set out for Utrecht, on Jan. 28, 1716, to wait on the king, expected there that afternoon; who was pleased to command his attending him to Great Britain. And Mr. Leathes, his majesty’s secretary at Brusels, was appointed to reside at the Hague, during his lordship’s absence.
June 7 following; when the ratifications were accordingly exchanged with the minister of Spain. The duke of Marlborough departing this life on June 16, 1722, his lordship
On Feb, 2, 1720, his majesty’s full powers were dispatched to his lordship, for signing, in conjunction with the ministers of the several allies, the treaty of quadruple alliance, and with the ministers of the king of Spain, the proper instruments for receiving his catholic majesty’s acceptance of the terms of peace stipulated in the treaty; and for treating of a cessation of arms between the several powers engaged in the war; which was not brought to a conclusion till June 7 following; when the ratifications were accordingly exchanged with the minister of Spain. The duke of Marlborough departing this life on June 16, 1722, his lordship was, two days afterwards, constituted general and commander in chief of his majesty*s forces, master- general of the ordnance, and colonel of the first regiment of foot-guards, in room of his grace. Also, on June 23, 1723, he was declared one of the lords justices of Great Britain during his majesty’s absence.
, of Amsterdam; and by her left issue only two daughters; the lady Sarah, married to Charles, second duke of Richmond; and the lady Margaret, married to Charles John
His lordship married Margaretta- Cecilia Munter, daughter of William Munter, counsellor of the court of Holland, by his wife Cecilia Trip, of Amsterdam; and by her left issue only two daughters; the lady Sarah, married to Charles, second duke of Richmond; and the lady Margaret, married to Charles John count Bentinck, second son to William earl of Portland, by his second wife. His lordship dying on July 17, 1726, was buried in Westminsterabbey. Her ladyship survived him till August, 1749, when she departed this life at the Hague, from whence her corpse was brought the next month, and interred by his lordship’s in Westminster-abbey. As they left no male issue, the titles of viscount and earl became extinct, and the barony of Oakley devolved on Charles, his brother, second lord Cadogan, who died in 1776.
in the year 806, in the reign of Charles the Great. This Cæsar Adelmar’s mother was daughter to the duke de Cesarini, from whom he had the name of Cæsar which name Mary
, a learned civilian, was born near
Tottenham, in Middlesex, in 1557. His father was Cæsar
Adelmar, physician to queen Mary and queen Elizabeth
lineally descended from Adelmar count of Genoa, and admiral of France, in the year 806, in the reign of Charles
the Great. This Cæsar Adelmar’s mother was daughter to
the duke de Cesarini, from whom he had the name of
Cæsar which name Mary I. queen of England, ordered
to be continued to his posterity and his father was Peter
Maria Dalmarius, of the city of Trevigio in Italy, LL. D.
sprung from those of his name living at Cividad del Friuli.
Julius, who is the subject of this article, had his education in
the university of Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A.
May 17, 1575, as a member of Magdalen hall. Afterwards
he went and studied in the university of Paris where, in
the beginning of 1581, he was created D. C. L. and had
letters testimonial for it, under the seal of that university,
dated the 22d of April, 1531. He was admitted to the
same degree at Oxford, March the 5th, 1583; and also
became doctor of the canon law. In the reign of queen Elizabeth, he was master of requests, judge of the high court
of admiralty, and master of St. Catherine’s hospital near
the Tower. On the 22d of January, 1595, he was present
at the confirmation of Richard Vaughan, bishop of Bangor,
in the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, London. Upon kingJames’s accession to the throne, having before distinguished
himself by his merit and abilities, he was knighted by that
prince, at Greenwich, May 20, 1603. He was also constituted chancellor and under- treasurer of the exchequer
and on the 5th of July, 1607, sworn of his majesty’s privy
council. January 16th, in the eighth of king James I. he
obtained a reversionary grant of the office of master of the
rolls after sir Edward Phillips, knight; who, departing this
life September 11, 1614, was succeeded accordingly by
sir Julius, on the 1st of October following; and then he
resigned his place of chancellor of the exchequer. In
1613 he was one of the commissioners, or delegates employed in the business of the divorce between the earl of
Essex and his countess; and gave sentence for that divorce.
About the same time, he built a chapel at his house, <on
the north side of the Strand, in London, which was consecrated, May 8, 1614. As he had been privy-counsellor
to king James I. so was he also to his son king Charles I.;
and appears to have been custos rotulorum of the county
of Hertford. We are likewise informed by one author,
that he was chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. After
having thus passed through many honourable employments,
and continued in particular, master of the rolls for above
twenty years, he departed this life April 28, 1636, in the
seventy-ninth year of his age. He lies buried in the church
of Great St. Helen’s within Bishopgate, London, under
a fair, but uncommon monument, designed by himself;
being in form of a deed, and made to resemble a ruffled
parchment, in allusion to his office as master of the rolls.
With regard to his character, he was a man of great gravity and integrity, and remarkable for his extensive bounty
and charity to all persons of worth, or that were in want:
so that he might seem to be almoner-general of the nation.
Fuller gives the following instance of his uncommon charity
“A gentleman once borrowing his coach (which was as well known to poor people as any hospital in England)
was so rendezvouzed about with beggars in London, that
it cost him all the money in his purse to satisfy their importunity, so that he might have hired twenty coaches on
the same terms.
” He entertained for some time in hisr
house the most illustrious Francis lord Bacon, viscount
St. Alban’s. He made his grants to all persons double
kindnesses by expedition, and cloathed (as one expresses it) his very denials in such robes of courtship, that it was
not obviously discernible, whether the request or denial
were most decent. He had also this peculiar to himself,
that he was very cautious of promises, lest falling to an
incapacity of performance he might forfeit his reputation,
and multiply his certain enemies, by hisoiesign of creating
uncertain friends. Besides, he observed a sure principle
of rising, namely, that great persons esteem better of such
they have done great courtesies to, than those they have
received great civilities from; looking upon this as their
disparagement, the other as their glory.
e with great success. Having conic to France, he was a witness of the war between Charles the hardy, duke of Burgundy, and the Swiss, the history of which he was requested
, a modern
Latin poet of the fifteenth century, was a native of Naples,
and became preceptor to Frederic, the son of Ferdinand I.
king of Naples, whom he endeavoured to inspire with the
love of those virtues and principles of justice which would
dignify his high station. He did not approve of condemning malefactors to death. According to him, “thieves
should be obliged to restore what they had stolen, after
being beaten for the theft; homicides should be made
slaves; and other criminals be sent to the mines and the
gallies.
” He had also studied and practised agriculture
and horticulture with great success. Having conic to
France, he was a witness of the war between Charles the
hardy, duke of Burgundy, and the Swiss, the history of
which he was requested to write, but declined it, as he
thought it did not become him to speak ill of princes, or to
tell what was not true. It appears by his letters that he
married young, was extremely fond of his wife, and had
many children. Yet he was accused of illicit amours,
which it is said kept him poor. He is supposed to have
died about 1503. There have been three editions of his
works, two at Rome, one in 1503, fol. “Opuscula Elisii
Calentii, poetae clarissimi;
” and a third at Basil,
tabrigiam,” Lond. 1552, 4to, a Latin poem on the death of Henry and Charles Brandon, sons of Charles duke of Suffolk, who died of the sweating-sickness in the bishop
, a learned divine of
the sixteenth century, otherwise named Calfield, Cawfield,
Chalfhill, or Calfed, was born in Shropshire, in 1530.
Strype, however, says he was a Scotchman, and cousin to
Toby Malhew, afterwards archbishop of York. He received his education at Eton school, and from thence was
sent, in 1545, to King’s college in Cambridge, from which
he was removed, with many Other Cambridge men, in 1548,
to Christ Church in Oxford, newly founded by king Henry
VIII. Here be shewed himself to be a person of quick
wit and great capacity; being an excellent poet and author of a tragedy, with other theatrical performances. In
1549, he took his degree of bachelor of arts; and that of
master in 1552, being junior of the act celebrated in St.
Mary’s church, July 18. He was made, in 1560, canon of
the second canonry in Christ Church cathedral, Oxon; and,
On the 12th of December 1561, took the degree of bachelor
of divinity. In 1562 he was proctor for the clergy of London and the chapter of Oxford in the convocation that
made the XXXIX Articles and on the 16th of May, the
same year, was admitted to the rectory of St. Andrew
Wardrobe, London. The 4th of October following, he
was presented by the crown to the prebend of St. Pancras,
in the cathedral church of St. Paul; and May 4, 1565, was
collated by Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury, to
the rectory of Booking, in Essex; and on July 16th following, to the archdeaconry of Colchester in Essex, by
Edmund Grindal, bishop of London. The same year, December 17th, he took the degree of doctor in divinity. In
1568, he preached two sermpns in Bristol cathedral, on purpose to confute Dr. Cheney, who held that see in commendam, and who had spoken disrespectfully of certain opinions of Luther and Calvin. In 1569 he made application
to secretary Cecil, chancellor of the university of Cambridge, for the provostship of king’s college, but Dr.
Goad’s interest prevailed. Upon the translation of.Dr. Edwin Sandys from the bishopric of Worcester to that of
London in 1570, Dr. Calfhiil was nominated by queen
Elizabeth to succeed him 3 but before his consecration he
died, about the beginning of August (having a little before resigned his canonry of Christ Church, and rectory of St. Andrew Wardrobe), and was buried in the chancel of
Bocking church. His works were, 1. “Querela Oxoniensis Academise ad Cantabrigiam,
” Lond. Historia de exhumatione Catherines nuper
uxoris Pet. Martyris;
” or, The History of the digging up
the body of Catherine late wife of Peter Martyr, Lond.
1562, 8vo. The remains of this lady had been deposited
in the cathedral of Christ Church, near to the relics of St.
Frideswide, and in queen Mary’s reign were dug up and
buried in the dunghill near the stables belonging to the
dean; but on the accession of queen Elizabeth, an order
was given to replace them with suitable solemnity. This
order our author partly executed, and the remains of
Martyr’s wife were on this occasion purposely mixed with
those of St. Frideswide, that the superstitious worshippers
of the latter might never be able to distinguish or separate
them. 3. Answer to John Martiall’s “Treatise of the Cross,
gathered out of the Scriptures, Councils, and ancient Fathers of the primitive Church,
” Lond. Progne,
” a tragedy, in Latin; whichprobably was never
printed. It was acted before que^n Elizabeth at Oxford
in 1566, in Christ Church hall; but, says Wood, “it did
not take half so well as the much admired play of Palsemon
and Arcyte,
” written by Edwards. 5. “Poemata varia.
”
As to his character, we are informed, that he was in his
younger days a noted poet and comedian and in his elder,
an exact disputant, and had an excellent faculty in speaking and preaching. One who had heard him preach, gives
this account of him: “His excellent tongue, and rhetorical tale, tilled with good and wholesome doctrine, so
ravished the minds of the hearers, that they were all in
admiration of his eloquence.
” One John Calfhill, chaplain to Dr. Matthew, archbishop of York, a prebendary of
Durham, &c. who died in 1619, was probably son to our
author.
, and went with them to Florence. There he was taken under the protection of an officer of the great duke, who placed him to learn designing under Remigio Canta Gailina,
, a famous engraver, son of John. Callot, herald of arms in Lorrain, was descended from an ancient and noble family, and born at Nancy in 1593. He cherished almost from hig infancy a taste and spirit for the belles lettres, as well as for the fine arts. When he was only twelve years old he set off for Rome, without the knowledge of his parents, in order to see the many curiositjes there he had heard so much talk of; but his money failing, he joined himself to a party of Bohemians, who were going into Italy, and went with them to Florence. There he was taken under the protection of an officer of the great duke, who placed him to learn designing under Remigio Canta Gailina, a skilful painter and engraver. Afterwards he got to Rome, where he was known by a merchant of Nancy, and sent immediately home to his parents. When he was about 14 years of age he left home again, and directed his course towards Rome but being discovered by his elder*- brother, who was at Turin about business, he was brought buck a second time to Nancy. His passion, however, for seeing Rome being still ardent and irresistible, his father at length gave him leave to go in the train of a gentleman whom the duke of Lorrain sent to the pope.
ions to Callot, a disagreement took place, and our young artist removed to Florence, where the great duke employed him with several other excellent workmen. Callot at
When he arrived at Rome, he learned to design and engrave first with Giulio Parigii, and afterwards with Philip
Thomassin of Troyes in Champagne, who had settled in
that city; but this latter having a beautiful wife, who paid
some marked attentions to Callot, a disagreement took
place, and our young artist removed to Florence, where
the great duke employed him with several other excellent
workmen. Callot at that time began to design in miniature, and had so happy a genius for it, that he became incomparable in that way. He quitted his graver, and used
aquafortis, because this was both the quickest way of working, and gave more strength and spirit to the performance,
After the great duke’s death, he began to think of returning to his own country; and about that time, prince
Charles, coming through Florence, and being uncommonly
struck with some of his curious pieces, persuaded Callot
to go along with him to Lorrain, and promised him a good
salary from his father-in-law Henry, the reigning duke.
Callot attended him, and had a considerable pension settled upon him; and, being in his 32d year, he took a wife,
who was a woman of family. His reputation was now
spread all over Europe, and the infanta of Spain sent for
him to Brussels, when the marquis of Spinola was laying
siege to Breda, that he might first draw, and afterwards,
engrave, as he did, the s:ege of that town. He went to
France in 1628, when Louis XIII. made him design and
engrave the siege of Rochelle and the isle of Roe*. Aftec
he had been amply recompensed by that monarch, he returned to Nancy; where he continued to follow the business of engraving so assiduously, that he is said to have
left 1500 pieces of his own an incredible number for so
short a life as his! When the duke of Orleans, Gaston of
France, withdrew into Lorrain, he made him engrave several silver stamps, and went to his house two hours every
day to learn to draw. In 1031, when the king of France
had reduced Nancy, he sent for Callot to engrave that new
conquest, as he had done Rochelle; hut Callot begged to
be excused, because that being a Lorrainer he could not
do any thing so much against the honour of his prince and
country. The king was not displeased at his answer, but
said, “The duke of Lorrain was very happy in having
such faithful and affectionate subjects.
” Some of the
courtiers insinuated, that he ought to be forced to do it; to
which Callot, when it was told him, replied with great firmness, “That he would sooner disable his right hand than
be obliged to do any thing against his honour.
” The king
then, instead of forcing him, endeavoured to draw him into
France, by offering to settle upon him a pension of 3000
livres; to which Callot answered, “That he could not
leave his country and birth-place, but that there he would
always be ready to serve his majesty.
” Nevertheless, when
he afterwards found the ill condition Lorrain was reduced
to by the taking of Nancy, he projected a scheme of returning with his wife to Florence; but was hindered from
executing it by his death, which happened on the 28th of
March, 1636, when he was only 43 years of age. He was
buried in the cloister of the cordeliers at Nancy, where his
ancestors lay; and had an epitaph inscribed upon a piece
of black marble, on which was engraved a half portrait of
himself. He left an excellent moral character behind him,
and died with the universal esteem of men of taste.
friends, when he wrote an answer in Latin, which, however, was not at this time published. When the duke de Montausier was appointed by Louis XIV. to provide eminent
, a celebrated French philosopher, was
a native of Mesnil-Hubert, near Argenton, in the diocese
of Seez. About 165.5, he studied philosophy at Caen,
and afterwards divinity at Paris, but philosophy was his
favourite pursuit, and the foundation of his fame. In
1660 he taught in the college du Bois, in Caen, and became there acquainted with Huet, afterwards bishop of
Avranches, who acknowledged the assistance he derived
from Cally in his studies. Their intimacy, however, was
interrupted by Cally’s avowal of adherence to ttie Cartesian system. CaJly was the first in France who had the
courage to profess himself a Cartesian, in defiance of the
prejudices and numbers of those who adhered to the ancient philosophy. He first broached his Cartesianism in
the way of hypothesis, but afterwards taught it more
openly, which procured him many enemies. Huet, although then very young, ventured to censure him; and
father Valois, the Jesuit, who was a contemporary professor of philosophy, attacked both Cally and his opinions
in a work which he published under the name of Louis de
la Ville, in 1680, entitled “Sentimens de M. Descartes,
touchant Pessence et les proprietes des corps, opposes a la
doctrine de Peglise, et conformesaux erreurs de Calvin sur
I'eucharistie.
” Cally, not thinking there was much in this,
did not answer it until pressed by his friends, when he
wrote an answer in Latin, which, however, was not at
this time published. When the duke de Montausier was
appointed by Louis XIV. to provide eminent classical
scholars to write notes on the classics published for the use
of the Dauphin, Cally was selected for the edition of
“Boethius de Consolatione,
” which he published, accordingly, in Institutio philosophica,
” 4to, which he
afterwards greatly enlarged, and published in 1695 under
the title “Universae philosophise institutio,
” Caen, 4 vols.
4to. In 1675 he was appointed principal of the college of
arts in Caen, on which he began a new course of philosophical lectures, and laid out ten or twelve thousand francs
on rebuilding a part of the college which had fallen into
ruin. In 1684 he was appointed curate of the parish of
St. Martin, in Caen, and the Protestants who were then
very numerous in that city, flocked to his sermons, and he
held conferences once or twice a week in his vestry, which
they attended with much pleasure, and we are told he 'made
many converts to the Popish religion. But this success,
for which every Catholic ought to have been thankful, excited the envy of those who had quarrelled with him before
on account of his Cartesianism, and by false accusations,
they procured him to be exiled to Moulins in 1686, where
he remained for two years. Finding on his return that the
Protestants were still numerous in Caen, and that they
entertained the same respect for him as before, he wrote for
their use a work entitled “Durand cornmente, ou Paccord
de la philosophie avec la theologie, tonchaut la transubstantialion.
” In this, which contained part of his answer
to father Valois, mentioned above, he revives the opinion
of the celebrated Durand, who said, if the church decided
that there was a transubstantiation in the eucharist, there
must remain something of what was bread, to make a difference between the creation and production of a thing
which was not, and annihilation or a thing reduced to
nothing. Cally sent this work in ms. to M. Basnage, who
had been one of his scholars, but received no answer. la
the mean time, unwilling to delay a work which he hoped
would contribute to the conversion of the Protestants, “he
engaged with a bookseller at Caen to print only sixty
copies, which he purposed to send to his friends at Paris,
and obtain their opinion as to a more extended publication.
The bookseller, however, having an eye only to his own
interest, undertook to assure Cally that the work would be
approved by the doctors of the Sorbonne, and he therefore
would print eight hundred. Cally unfortunately consented, and the work no sooner appeared, than he who
fondly hoped it would convert heretics, was himself treated
as a heretic. M. de Nesmond, then bishop of Bayeux,
condemned the work in a pastoral letter March 30, 1701,
and Cally in April following made his retractation, which
he not only read in his own church, but it was read in all
other churches; and he also destroyed the impression, so
that it is now classed among rare books. It was a small
vol. 12mo, 1700, printed at Cologne, under the name of
Pierre Marteau. Cally also published some of his sermons,
but they were too philosophical and dry for the closet, although he had contrived to give them a popular effect in
the pulpit. A work entitled
” Doctrine heretique, &c.
touchant la primauté du pape, enseignee par les Jesuites
dans leur college de Caen," is attributed to him, but as it
bears date 1644, he must have then been too young. He
died Dec. 31, 1709.
ood, and in Feb. 1619 he was appointed to be one of the principal secretaries of state. Thinking the duke of Buckingham had been the chief instrument of his preferment,
, descended from the ancient and noble house of Calvert, in the earldom of Flanders, and afterwards created lord Baltimore, was born at Kipling in Yorkshire, about 1582. In 1593 he became a commoner of Trinity college, Oxford, and in Feb. 1597 he took the degree of B. A. At his return from his travels he was made secretary to Robert Cecil, one of the principal secretaries of state to James I. who continued him in his service when he was raised to the office of lord high -treasurer. On Aug. 30, 1605, when king James was entertained by the university of Oxford, he was created M. A. with several noblemen and gentlemen. Afterwards he was made one of the clerks of the privy council, and in 1617 received the honour of knighthood, and in Feb. 1619 he was appointed to be one of the principal secretaries of state. Thinking the duke of Buckingham had been the chief instrument of his preferment, he presented him with a jewel of great value; but the duke returned it, acknowledging he had no hand in his advancement, for that his majesty alone had made choice of him on account of his great abilities. In May 1620 the king granted him a yearly pension of 1000l. out of the customs. After having held the seals about five years, he resigned them in 1624, frankly owning to the king, that he was become a Roman catholic. The king, nevertheless, continued him a privy counsellor all his reign; and in Feb. 1625 created him (by the name of sir George Calvert of Danbywiske in Yorkshire, knight) baron of Baltimore in the county of Longford in Ireland. He was at that time a representative in parliament for the university of Oxford.
f Maryland. After returning from his travels he married lady Diana Egerton, youngest daughter of the duke of Bridgwater. In 1768 he was indicted at the Kingston assizes
, Lord Baltimore, a descendant of the preceding, and eldest son of Charles, the sixth
lord, was born in 1731, and succeeded to the title on the
death of his father in 1751, and also to the proprietorship
of Maryland. After returning from his travels he married
lady Diana Egerton, youngest daughter of the duke of
Bridgwater. In 1768 he was indicted at the Kingston assizes for a rape, but acquitted. He went soon after to
reside on the continent, and died at Naples, Sept. 14, 1771,
without issue by marriage, leaving his fortune to his sister,
Mrs. Eden. In 1767, he published “A Tour to the East
in the years 1763 and 1764, with remarks on the city of
'Constantinople and the Turks. Also select pieces of Oriental wit, poetry, and wisdom,
” Lond. Gaudia Poetica, Latina, Anglica,
et Gallica, Lingua composita, anuo 1769. Augustse Litteris Spathianis, 1770.
” It is dedicated, in Latin, to LinIkeiis, and consists of various pieces in Latin, French, and
English, prose and verse, of very little merit. A copy,
the only one said to be known in this country , was sold
at Mr. Isaac Reed’s sale, who likewise had another performance of his lordship’s, equally rare, and valued only
for its rarity, entitled “Coelestes et Inferi,
” Venetiis,
ving brother Antony Calvin; but as the roads were not safe on account of the war, except through the duke of Savoy’s territories, he chose that road. “This was a particular
, one of the chief reformers of the
church, was born at Noyon in Picardy, July 10, 1509. He
was instructed in grammar at Paris under Maturinus Corderius, to whom he afterwards dedicated his Commentary
on the first epistle of the Thessalonians, and studied philosophy in the college of Montaigu under a Spanish professor. His father, uho discovered many marks of hitf
early piety, particularly in his reprehensions of the vices of
his companions, designed him for the church, and got him
presented, May 21, 1521, to the chapel of Notre Dame
de la Gesine, in the church of Noyon. In 1527 he was
presented to the rectory of Marteville, which he exchanged
in 1529 fortlie rectory of Pont I‘Eveque near Noyon. His
father afterwards changed his resolution, and would have
him study law; to which Calvin, who, by reading the
scriptures, had conceived a dislike to the superstitions of
popery, readily consented, and resigned the chapel of Gesine and the rectory of Pont l’Eveque in 1534. He had
never, it must here be observed, been in priest’s orders, and
belonged to the church only by having received the tonsure.
He was sent to study the law first under Peter de l'Etoile
(Petrus Stella) at Orleans, and afterwards under Andrew
Alciat at Bourges, and while he made a great progress in
that science, he improved no less in the knowledge of divinity by his private studies. At Bourges he applied to the
Greek tongue, under the direction of professor Wolmar.
His father’s death having called him back to Noyon, he
staid there a short time, and then went to Paris, where he
wrote a commentary on Seneca’s treatise “De dementia,
”
being at this time about twenty- four years of age. Having
put his name in Latin to this piece, he laid aside his surname Cauvin, for that of Calvin, styling himself in the
title-page “Lucius Calvinus civis Romanus.
” He soon
made himself known at Paris to such as had privately embraced the reformation, and by frequent intercourse with
them became more confirmed in his principles. A speech
of Nicholas Cop, rector of the university of Paris, of which
Calvin furnished the materials, having greatly displeased
the Sorbonne and the parliament, gave rise to a persecu^
tion against the protestants; and Calvin, who narrowly escaped being taken in the college of Forteret, was forced to
retire to Xaintonge, after having had the honour to be introduced to the queen of Navarre, who allayed this first storm
raised against the protestants. Calvin returned to Paris in
1534. This year the reformed met with severe treatment,
which determined him to leave France, after publishing a
treatise against those who believe that departed souls are
in a kind of sleep. He retired to Basil, where he studied
Hebrew; at this time he published his “Institutions of the
Christian Religion,
” a work well adapted to spread his fame,
though he himself was desirous of living in obscurity. It
is dedicated to the French king, Francis I. This prince
being solicitous, according to Beza, to gain the friendship
of the Protestants in Germany, and knowing that they
were highly incensed by the cruel persecutions which their
brethren suffered in France, he, by advice of William de
Bellay, represented to them that he had only punished
certain enthusiasts, who substituted their own imaginations
in the place of God’s word, and despised the civil magistrate. Calvin, stung with indignation at this wicked evasion, wrote this work as an apology for the Protestants who
were burnt for their religion in France. The dedication to
Francis I. is one of the three that have been highly admired: that of Thuanus to his history, and Casaubon’s to
Polybius, are the two others. But this treatise, when first
published in 1555, was only a sketch of a larger work.
The complete editions, both in Latin and in French, with
the author’s last additions and corrections, did not appear
till 1558. After the publication of this work, Calvin went
to Italy to pay a visit to the duchess of Ferrara, a lady of
eminent piety, by whom he was very kindly received.
Prom Italy he came back to France, and having settled his
private affairs, he purposed to go to Strasbourg, or Basil,
in company with his sole surviving brother Antony Calvin;
but as the roads were not safe on account of the war, except through the duke of Savoy’s territories, he chose that
road. “This was a particular direction of Providence,
”
says Bayle; “it was his destiny that he should settle at
Geneva, and when he was wholly intent on going farther,
he found himself detained by an order from heaven, if I
may so speak.
” William Farel, a man of a warm enthusiastic temper, who had in vain used many entreaties to
prevail with Calvin to be his fellow-labourer in that part of
the Lord’s vineyard, at last solemnly declared to him, in
the name of God, that if he would not stay, the curse of
God would attend him wherever he went, as seeking himself and not Christ. Calvin therefore was obliged to
comply with the choice which the consistory and magistrates of Geneva made of him, with the consent of the,
people, to be one of their ministers, and professor of divinity. It was his own wish to undertake only this last
office, but he was gbliged to take both upon him in August
1536. The year following he made all the people declare,
upon oath, their assent to a confession of faith, which contained a renunciation of Popery: and because this reformation in doctrine did not put an entire stop to the immoralities that prevailed at Geneva, nor banish that spirit of
faction which had set the principal families at variance,
Calvin, in concert with his colleagues, declared that they
could not celebrate the sacrament whilst they kept up their
animosities, and trampled on the discipline of the church.
He also intimated, that he could not submit to the regulation which the synod of the canton of Berne had lately
made *. On this, the syndics of Geneva summoned an assembly of the people; and it was ordered that Calvin,
Farel, and another minister, should leave the town in two
days, for refusing to administer the sacrament. Calvin'
retired to Strasbourg, and established a French church in
that city, of which he was the first minister; he was also
appointed to be professor of divinity there* During his
stay at Strasbourg, he continued to give many marks of
his affection for the church of Geneva; as appears, amongst
other things, by the answer which he wrote in 1539, to the
beautiful but artful letter of cardinal Sadolet, bishop of
Carpentras, inviting the people of Geneva to return into
the bosom of the Romish church. Two years after, the
divines of Strasbourg being very desirous that he should
assist at the diet which the emperor had appointed to be
held at Worms and at Ratisbon, for accommodating religious differences, he went thither with Bucer, and had a
conference with Melancthon. In the mean time the people
of Geneva (the syndics who promoted his banishment being now some of them executed, and others forced to fly their country for their crimes), entreated him so earnestly to
return to them, that at last he consented. He arrived at
Geneva, Sept. 13, 1541, to the great satisfaction both of
the people and the magistrates; and the first measure ha
adopted after his arrival, was to establish a form of church,
discipline, and a consistorial jurisdiction, invested with,
the power of inflicting censures and canonical punishments,
rg sent him to Tubingen, to restore the discipline and credit of that university and in 1541, Henry, duke of Saxony, and afterwards Maurice his son, invited him to Leipsic,
In 1525, when there was an insurrection among the common people through all Germany, commonly called the war of the peasants, Camerarius went into Prussia, but he returned very soon, and was made professor of the belies lettres in an university which the senate of Nuremberg had just founded under the direction and superintendency of Melancthon. In 1526, when the diet of Spires was held, Albert earl of Mansfelt was appointed ambassador to Charles V. of Spain, and Camerarius to attend him as his Latin interpreter; but this embassy being suspended, Camerarius went no farther than Sslirigen, whence he returned home, and was married the year after to Anne Truchses, a lady of an ancient and noble family, with whom he lived forty-six years very happily, and had four daughters and five sons by her, who all did honour to their family. In 1530, the Senate of Nuremberg sent him with some other persons to the diet of Augsburgh, and four years after offered him the place of secretary; but, preferring the ease and freedom of a studious life to all advantages of a pecuniary nature, he refused it. In 1538, Ulric prince of Wittemberg sent him to Tubingen, to restore the discipline and credit of that university and in 1541, Henry, duke of Saxony, and afterwards Maurice his son, invited him to Leipsic, to direct and assist in founding an university there.
of a college which they had established at Bergerac, for teaching Greek and Latin; and from this the duke de Bouillon removed him to the philosophical professorship at
, one of the most famous divines of
the seventeenth century, among the French Protestants,
was born at Glasgow, in Scotland, about the year 1580,
and educated at the university of his native city. After
reading lectures on the Greek language for a year, he began his travels in 1600, and at Bourdeaux evinced so much
ability and erudition, that the ministers of that city appointed him master of a college which they had established
at Bergerac, for teaching Greek and Latin; and from this
the duke de Bouillon removed him to the philosophical
professorship at Sedan, where he remained for two years.
He then went to Paris, and from Paris to Bourdeaux,
where he arrived in 1604, and began his divinity studies, and in 1608 was appointed one of the ministers
of Bourdeaux, and officiated there with such increasing
reputation, that the university of Saumur judged him worthy to succeed Gomarus in the divinity chair. Having
accepted this offer, he gave his lectures until 1620, when
the university was almost dispersed by the civil war. He
now came over to England with his family, and was recommended to king James, who appointed him professor
of divinity at Glasgow, in the room of Robert Boyd, of
Trochrig, (whom Bayle and his translators call Trochoregius), because he was supposed to be more attached to the
episcopal form of church government. This situation,
however, not suiting his taste, he returned to Saumur in
less than a year; but even there he met with opposition,
and the court having prohibited his public teaching, he was
obliged to read lectures in private. After a year passed in
this precarious state of toleration, he went in 1624 to Montauban, where he was chosen professor of divinity, but
having declared himself too openly against the party which
preached up the civil war, he created many enemies, and
among the rest an unknown miscreant who assaulted him
in the street, and wounded him so desperately as to occasion his death, which took place, after he had languished a
considerable time, in 1625. Bayle says, he was a man of
a great deal of wit and judgment, had a happy memory,
was very learned, a good philosopher, of a chcarful temper,
and ready to communicate not only his knowledge, but
even his money: he was a great talker, a long preacher,
little acquainted with the works of the fathers, obstinate
in his opinions, and somewhat troublesome. He frankly
owned to his friends, that he found several things still to
reform in the reformed churches. He took a delight in
publishing particular opinions, and in going out of the
beaten road; and he gave instances of this when he was a
youth, in his theses “De Tribus Frederibus,
” which he
published and maintained at Heidelberg, although yet
but a proposant, or candidate for the ministry. He also
mixed some novelties in all the theological questions
which he examined; and when in explaining some passages of the holy scripture, he met with great difficulties,
he took all opportunities to contradict the other divines,
and especially Beza; for he pretended that they had not
penetrated into the very marrow of that science. It was
from him that monsieur Amyraut adopted the doctrine of
universal grace, which occasioned so many disputes in
France, and will always be found, at least upon Amyraut’s
principles, to be too inconsistent for general belief. Cameron’s works are his “Theological Lectures,
” Saumur,
Myrothecium
Evangelicum.
”
etter reception in that city, he proceeded to Florence, and presented some of his works to the grand duke, Ferdinand I. the patron of learned men. After a short stay
, a celebrated Italian philosopher, was born at Stilo, a small village in Calabria, Sept. 5, 1568. At thirteen he understood the ancient orators and poets, and wrote discourses and verses on various subjects; and the year after, his father purposed to send him to Naples to study law: but young Campanella, having other views, entered himself into the order of the Dominicans. Whilst he was studying philosophy at San Giorgio, his professor was invited to dispute upon some theses which were to be maintained by the Franciscans; but finding himself indisposed, he sent Campanella in his room, who argued with so much subtilty and force, as to charm his auditory. When his course of philosophy was finished, he was sent to Cosenza to study divinity: but his inclination led him to philosophy. Having conceived a notion that the truth was not to be found in the peripatetic philosophy, he anxiously examined all the Greek, Latin, and Arabian commentators upon Aristotle, and began to hesitate more and more with regard to the doctrines of that sect. His doubts still remaining, he determined to peruse the writings of Plato, Pliny, Galen, the Stoics, the followers of Democritus, and especially those of Telesius; and he found the doctrine of his masters to be false in so many points, that he began to doubt even of uncontroverted matters of fact. At the age of twenty- two he began to commit his new system to writing, and in 1500 he went to Naples to get it printed. Some time after he was present at a disputation in divinity, and took occasion to commend what was spoken by an ancient professor of his order, as very judicious;but the old man, jealous, perhaps, of the glory which Campanella had gained, bade him, in a very contemptuous manner, be silent, since it did not belong to a young man, as he was, to interpose in questions of divinity. Campanella 'fired at this, and said, that, young as he was, he was able to teach him; and immediately confuted what the professor had advanced, tothe satisfaction of the audience. The professor conceived a mortal hatred to him on this account, and accused him to the inquisition, as if he had gained by magic that vast extent of learning which he had acquired without a master. His writings now made a great noise in the world, and the novelty of his opinions stirring up many enemies agaiast him at Naples, he removed to Rome; but not meeting with a better reception in that city, he proceeded to Florence, and presented some of his works to the grand duke, Ferdinand I. the patron of learned men. After a short stay there, as he was passing through Bologna, in his way to Padua, his writings were seized, and carried to the inquisition at Rome, which, however, gave him little disturbance, and he continued his journey. At Padua, he was employed in instructing some young Venetians in his doctrines, and composing some pieces. Returning afterwards to Rome, he met with a hetter reception than before, and was honoured with the friendship of several cardinals. In 1598 he went to Naples, where he staid but a short time, then visited his own country. Some expressions which he dropped, with regard to the government of the Spaniards, and the project of an insurrection, being reported to the Spaniards, he was seized and carried to Naples in 1599, as a criminal against the state, and put seven times to the rack, and afterwards condemned to perpetual imprisonment. At first he was not permitted to see any person, and denied the use of pen, ink, and paper; but, being afterwards indulged with these implements, he wrote several of his pieces in prison; some of which Tobias Adamus of Saxony procured from him, and published in Germany. Pope Urban VIII. who knew him from his writings, having obtained his liberty from Philip IV. of Spain in May 1626, Campanella went immediately to Rome, where he continued some years in the prisons of the inquisition, but was a prisoner only in name. In 1629 he was discharged, but the resentment of the Spaniards was not abated. The friendship shewn him by the pope, who settled a considerable pension, and conferred many other favours on him, excited their jealousy; and his correspondence with some of the French nation, gave them new suspicions of him. Being informed of their designs against him, he went out of Rome, disguised like a minim, in the French ambassador’s coach, and, embarking for France, landed at Marseilles in 1634. Mr. Peiresc, being informed of his arrival, sent a letter to bring him to Aix, where he entertained him some months. The year following he went to Paris, and was graciously received by Lewis XIII. and cardinal Richelieu; the latter procured him a pension of 2000 livres, and often consulted him on the affairs of Italy. He passed the remainder of his days in a monastery of the Dominicans at Paris, and died March 21, 1639.
, second duke of Argyle, and duke of Greenwich and baron of Chatham, grandson
, second duke of Argyle, and duke of Greenwich and baron of Chatham, grandson to the unfortunate earl of Argyle, was born on the 10th of October, 1678. He was son to Archibald, duke of Argyle, by Elizabeth, daughter of sir Lionel Talmash, of Helmingham, in the county of Suffolk. He very early -gave signs of spirit and capacity, and at the age of fifteen, made considerable progress in classical learning, and in some branches of philosophy, under the tuition of Mr. Walter Campbell, afterwards minister of Dunoon, in Argyleshire. It soon, however, appeared, that his disposition was towards a military life; and being introduced at the court of king William, under the title of Lord Lorn, he was preferred by that prince to the command of a regiment of foot in 1694, when he was not quite seventeen years of age; and in that station he gave signal proofs of courage and military capacity during the remainder of king William’s reign, and till the death of his father, the first duke of Argyle, 28th of September, 1703, whom he succeeded in his honours and estate and was soon after sworn of queen Anne’s privy council, appointed captain of the Scotch horseguards, and one of the extraordinary lords of session. He was likewise made one of the knights of the order of the thistle the following year, on the restoration of that order.
land, by the title of Baron of Chatham, and Earl of Greenwich. In 1706, he made a campaign under the duke of Marlborough; and greatly distinguished himself by his courage
In 1705, he was nominated her majesty’s lord high commissioner to the Scottish parliament, though he was then
only twenty-three years of age, an appointment which gave
much satisfaction to that nation, where, on his arrival, he
was received with unusual ceremony. On the 28th of
June, his grace opened the parliament by a speech, and
was so well convinced of the advantages which would result to both kingdoms from an union between England and
Scotland, that he employed his whole interest in the promotion of that measure; for which, on his arrival in England, her majesty created him a peer of England, by the
title of Baron of Chatham, and Earl of Greenwich. In
1706, he made a campaign under the duke of Marlborough;
and greatly distinguished himself by his courage and conduct in the battle of Ramillies, in which he acted as a brigadier-general; and also at the siege of Ostend, and in the
attack of Menin, of which his grace took possession on the
25th of August. After that event, he returned to Scotland, in order to be present in the parliament of that kingdom, when the treaty for the union was agitated; and was,
as before, very active in the promotion of it, though he
declined being one of the commissioners. When a riotous
multitude came to the parliament-close, demanding, with
loud clamours, “That the treaty of union should be rejected,
” his grace went out of the house, and appeased the
people who were assembled, by the calmness and strength
of reason with which he addressed them; but his zeal in
this affair diminished his popularity, though even his enemies did justice to the rectitude of his intentions. In
1708, he commanded twenty battalions at the battle of
Oudenarde; and the troops under his command were the
first of the infantry that engaged the enemy, a*nd they
maintained their post against unequal numbers. He likewise assisted at the siege of Lisle and commanded as
major-general at the siege of Ghent, taking possession of
the town and citadel on the 3d or' January, 1703-9. He
was afterwards raised to the rank of lieutenant-general, and
commanded in chief under general Schuyiemberg, at the
attack of Tournay. He had also a considerable share, on
the llth of September, 1709, in the victory a Malplaquet, where he was much exposed, and gained great honour. On the 20th of December, 1710, he was installed a
knight of the garter; and about this time took some part
in the debates in parliament, relative to the inquiry which
was set on foot concerning the management of affairs in
Spain, when he spoke and voted with the tofies, and joined
in the censure that was passed on the conduct of the late
whig ministry.
’s forces in that kingdom. Dr. Smollett observes, that his grace “had long been at variance with the duke of Marlborough, a circumstance which recommended him the more
On the 18th of January, 1710-11, he was appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Charles the
Third, king of Spain, and commander in chief of her
majesty’s forces in that kingdom. Dr. Smollett observes,
that his grace “had long been at variance with the duke of
Marlborough, a circumstance which recommended him the
more strongly to the ministry.
” But it is intimated, that
some of his friends were averse to his acceptance of these
employments, being sensible, from the state of our affairs
in Spain, how extremely difficult it would be for him to
gain any ground in that kingdom. However, he set out
for Barcelona, and in his way thither arrived at the Hague
ou the 4th of April. He made a visit to the grand pensionary, and another to lord Townshend, the British plenipotentiary at the Hague: but though the duke of Marlborough was there at that time, he did not visit him.
When he arrived at Barcelona, on the 29th of May, he
found the troops in so wretched a condition, and the affairs
of the allies at so low an ebb, by the losses sustained the
preceding year at the battle of Almanza, and in other
actions, that he was not able to undertake any thing of consequence. The British troops were in the utmost distress
for want of subsistence, though the ministry had promised
to supply him liberally, and the parliament had granted
1,500,000l. for that service. The duke of Argyle wrote
pressing letters to the ministry, and loudly complained
that he was altogether unsupported: but no remittances
arrived, and he was obliged to raise money on his own
credit, to defray part of the subsistence of the troops. He
had the misfortune also to be seized with a violent fever,
which rendered it necessary for him to quit the camp, and
retire to the town of Barcelona; but his health being reestablished, he quitted Spain, without having been able
to attempt any enterprise of importance. Before his return to England, he went to Minorca, of which he had
been appointed governor; but made no long stay there.
should be resolved, that the protestarit succession was in danger under the then administration, the duke of Argyle maintained the affirmative; and also declared his
In June 1712, the queen appointed him general and
commander in chief of all the land forces in Scotland, and
captain of the company of foot in Edinburgh castle. But
he did not long continue upon good terms with the ministry; and spoke against a bill which was brought in by the
administration, appointing commissioners to examine the
value of all the grants of crown lands made since the revolution, by which a general resumption was intended to
have been made. In 1714, when it was debated in the
house of peers, whether it should be resolved, that the
protestarit succession was in danger under the then administration, the duke of Argyle maintained the affirmative;
and also declared his disapprobation of the proceedings of
the ministry, relative to the peace of Utrecht. His grace
likewise zealously opposed the extension of the malt- tax to
Scotland and was appointed with the earl of Mar, and
two Scotch members of the house of commons, to attend
the queen, and make a remonstrance to her majesty on this
subject. He also supported the motion that was made by
the earl of Seafield, for leave to bring in a bill for dissolving the union. In his speech in parliament upon this subject, he admitted, “that he had a great hand in making
the union, and that the chief reason that moved him to it
was the securing the protestant succession; but that he
was satisfied that might be done as well now, if the union
were dissolved.
” He added, “that he believed in his conscience, it was as much for the interest of England, as of
Scotland, to have it dissolved: and if it were not, he did
not expect long to have either property left in Scotland,
or liberty in England.
” This conduct, which was certainly
not very consistent, having given great offence to the
ministry, he was about this time deprived of all the employments he held under the crown; and continued to oppose the administration to the end of this reign. But when
queen Anne’s life was despaired of, he attended the
council-chamber at Kensington, without being summoned;
and his attendance on this occasion, was considered as
highly serviceable to the interests of the house of Hanover.
On the demise of the queen, the duke of Argyle was
appointed one of the lords justices for the government of
the kingdom, till George I. should arrive in England, and
on the 27th of September, 1714, he was again. constituted
general and commander in chief of the forces in Scotland;
and, on the 1st of October following, he was sworn a member of the new privy council. On the 5th of the same
month, he was appointed governor of Minorca; and on
the 15th of June, 1715, made colonel of the royal regiment of horse-guards in England. He was also one of the
commissioners for establishing the household of the prince
and princess of Wales, and was made groom of the stole
to the prince.
When the rebellion of 1715 was raised in Scotland in favour of the pretender, the duke of Argyle was sent to take the command of the forces there,
When the rebellion of 1715 was raised in Scotland in favour of the pretender, the duke of Argyle was sent to take the command of the forces there, and on the 13th of November he engaged the rebel army, commanded by the earl of Mar, at Dumblain. The duke’s troops did not consist of more than three thousand five hundred, while those of the earl of Mar amounted to nine thousand. Notwithstanding this inequality of numbers, the rebels were worsted, though the victory was not complete, and was, indeed, claimed by both sides. His grace behaved in the action with great gallantry; and was congratulated, on account of the advantage that he had obtained, in a letter from the town -council of Edinburgh. Soon after, the duke was joined by some dragoons from England, and by six thousand Dutch troops under general Cadogan; and being thus reinforced, he compelled the rebels to abandon Perth, on the 30th of January, 1716; and the pretender was soon afterwards obliged to retire to France with the utmost precipitation. The duke of Argyle now repaired to Edinburgh, where he arrived on the 'J7th of February, and after being magnificently entertained by the magistrates of Edinburgh, in gratitude for the signal services he had rendered to that city and kingdom in the suppression of the rebellion, set out for England, and arrived on the 6th of March in London, where he was very graciously received by his majesty.
ued to do for many years afterwards. On the 30th of April, 1718, he was advanced to the dignity of a duke of Great Britain, by the title of duke of Greenwich. His grace
On the 10th and 16th of April he spoke in the house of
peers in defence of the bill for repealing the triennial act,
and rendering parliaments septennial. But soon after this
his grace seems to have conceived some disgust against the
court, or some dislike was taken at his conduct there, for
in June following he resigned all his places. The particular grounds of his dissatisfaction, or of his being removed
from his offices, are not mentioned; but we now find him
in several instances voting against the ministry. In February 1717-18, he spoke against the mutiny-bill, and
endeavoured to shew, by several instances drawn from the
history of Great Britain, that “a standing army, in the
time of peace, was ever fatal, either to the prince or the
nation.
” But on the 6th of February 1718-19, he was
made lord-steward of the household; and, after that event,
we again find his lordship voting with administration;
which he generally continued to do for many years afterwards. On the 30th of April, 1718, he was advanced to
the dignity of a duke of Great Britain, by the title of duke
of Greenwich. His grace opposed, in 1722, the bill “for
securing the Freedom of election of Members to serve for
the Commons in Parliament:
” and promoted the resolution of the house for expunging the reasons that were
urged by some of the lords in their protest against the rejection of the bill. He also supported a motion made by
the earl of Sunderland, for limiting the time for entering
protests: and he spoke in favour of the bill for suspending
the habeas corpus act for a year, on occasion of the discovery of Layer’s plot; as he did likewise, with great zeal
and warmth, for the bill of pains and penalties against
bishop Atterbury. In 1724, he defended the mutiny-bill;
and, it appears, that his grace had not the same fears of a
standing army now, as when he was out of place a few
years before.
city of Edinburgh, relative to the affair of Porteus, came to be agitated in parliament in 1737, the duke of Argyle exerted himself vigorously in favour of that city;
When the case of the city of Edinburgh, relative to the affair of Porteus, came to be agitated in parliament in 1737, the duke of Argyle exerted himself vigorously in favour of that city; and in 1739, from whatever cause it proceeded, he repeatedly voted against administration. He spoke against the Spanish convention with great spirit, and against the motion made by the duke of Newcastle, for an unlimited vote of credit. About this time he was removed from all his places, and engaged vigorously in the opposition against sir Robert Walpole. After the removal of that minister in 1741, he was again made master-general of the ordnance, colonel of his majesty’s royal regiment of horse-guards, and field marshal and commander in chief of all the forces in England. But in less than a month he resigned his employments for the last time, being, probably, dissatisfied with some of the political arrangements that took place after the removal of Walpole. About this time he is said fo have received a letter from the pretender, which some of his enemies are supposed to have procured to be written to him, with a view of injuring him; but he prevented any ill effects from it, by immediately communicating it to his majesty’s ministers. He had been for some years afflicted with a paralytic disorder, which now began to increase: and towards the close of his life he was somewhat melancholy and reserved. He died on the 3d of September, 1743, and was interred in Westminster-abbey, where one of the finest monuments in that place, by Roubiliiac, was afterwards erected to his memory. The titles of duke and earl of Greenwich, and baron of Chatham, became extinct at his death; but in his other titles he was succeeded by his brother Archibald earl of Ila.
ieth year, he gave to the publick, in 2 vols. folio, “The military history of prince Eugene, and the duke of Marlborough; comprehending the history of both those illustrious
honour of claiming a descent from the poet Waller. Our
anthor was their fourth son; and at the age of five years,
was brought to Windsor from Scotland, which country he
never saw afterwards. At a proper age he was placed out
as clerk to an attorney, being intended for the law; but
whether it was that his genius could not be confined to that
dry study, or to whatever causes besides it might be owing,
it is certain that he did not pursue his original designation:
neither did he engage in any other profession, unless that
of an author, in which he did not spend his time in idleness
and dissipation, but in such a close application to the acquisition of knowledge of various kinds, as soon enabled
him to appear with great advantage in the literary world.
What smaller pieces might be written by Mr. Campbell in
the early part of his life, we are not capable of ascertaining,
but, in 1736, before he had completed his thirtieth year,
he gave to the publick, in 2 vols. folio, “The military
history of prince Eugene, and the duke of Marlborough;
comprehending the history of both those illustrious persons to the time of their decease.
” This performance was
enriched with maps, plans, and cuts, by the best hands,
and particularly by the ingenious Claude de Bosc. The
reputation hence acquired by our author, occasioned him
soon after to be solicited to take a part in the “Ancient
Universal History.
” In this work Dr. Kippis says he wrote
on the Cosmogony; but Dr. Johnson assigns him the history of the Persians, and of the Constantinopolitan empire.
Whilst employed in this capital work, Mr. Campbell found
leisure to entertain the world with other productions. In
1739 he published the “Travels and adventures of Edward Brown, esq.
” 8vo. In the same year appeared his
“Memoirs of the bashaw duke de Rippercla,
” 8vo, reprinted, with improvements, in Concise history of Spanish America,
” 8vo. In A
letter to a friend in the country, on the publication of
Thurloe’s State papers;
” giving an account of their discovery, importance, and utility. The same year was distinguished by the appearance of the 1st and 2d volumes of
his “Lives of the English Admirals, and other ^eminent
Britisii ^eamen.
” The two remaining volumes were completed in Hermippus Revived
” a second edition of which, much improved and
enlarged, came out in 1749, under the following title
“Hermippus Redivivus or, the sage’s triumph over old
age and the grave. Wherein a method is laid down for
prolonging the life and vigour of man. Including a commentary upon an ancient inscription, in which this great
secret is revealed; supported by numerous authorities.
The whole interspersed with a great variety of remarkable
and well-attested relations.
” This extraordinary tract had
its origin in a foreign publication, under the title of “Hermippus Redivivus,
” Coblentz, great secret
” is no other than
inhaling the breath of young females, by which, we learn
from an inscription in Reinesius’s Supplement to Gruter,
one Hermippus prolonged his life to the age of 115. Mr.
Campbell, in 1744, gave to the public in 2 vols. fol. his
“Voyages and Travels,
” on Dr. Harris’s plan, being a
very distinguished improvement of that collection, which
had appeared in 1705. The work contains all the circumnavigators from the time of Columbus to lord Anson; a
complete history of the East Indies; historical details of
the several attempts made for the discovery of the northeast and north-west passages; the commercial history of
Corea and Japan; the Russian discoveries by land and,
sea; a distnct account of the Spanish, Portuguese,
British, French, Dutch, and Danish settlements in America; with other pieces not to be found in any former
collection. The whole was conducted wijh eminent skill
and judgment, and the preface is acknowledged to be a
master-piece of composition and information. The time
and care employed by Mr. Campbell in this important undertaking did not prevent his engaging in another great
work, the Biographia Britannica, which began to be published in weekly numbers in 1745, and the first volume
of which was completed in 1746, as was the second in
1748.
ent of her picture, drawn in the robes rom in that country in the days of Ivan Vassiilievitch, grand duke of Russia, who was contemporary with queen Elizabeth. To manifest
In 1749, he printed, 4. “Occasional thoughts on moral,
serious, and religious subjects,
” 8vo. In The Rational Amusement, comprehending a collection of letters on a great variety of subjects, interspersed with essays, and some little
pieces of humour,
” 8vo. 6. “An exact and authentic
account of the greatest white-herring-fishery in Scotland,
carried on yearly in the island of Zetland, by the Dutch
only,
” The Highland Gentleman’s Magazine, for Jan. 1751,
” 8vo. 8. “A Letter from the
Prince of the infernal legions, to a spiritual lord on this
side the great gulph, in answer to a late invective epistle
levelled at his highness,
” The naturalization bill confuted, as most pernicious to these united
kingdoms,
” His royal highness Frederick late prince of Wales deciphered: or a full and particular description of his character, from his juvenile years
until his death,
” A Vade Mecum: or
companion for the unmarried ladies: wherein are laid
down some examples whereby to direct them in the choice
of husbands,
” A particular but melancholy account of the great hardships, difficulties, and miseries, that those unhappy and much to be pitied creatures, the common women of the town, are plunged into
at this juncture,
” A full and particular
description of the Highlands of Scotland,
” The case of the publicans, both in town and country, laid open,
” The Shepherd of Banbury’s rules,
” a favourite pamphlet with the common people; and “The history of the war in the East-Indies,
”
which appeared in
the drama, was not inattentive to promote the fortune of the young* poet. Having proposed him to the duke de Vendome for the composition of the heroic pastoral of “Acis
, was born at Toulouse
in 1656, and shewed an early taste for poetry, whichwas
improved by a good education, and when he came to
Paris, he took Racine for his guide in the dramatic career.
But, though it may be allowed that Campistron approached
his merit in the conduct of his pieces, yet he could never
equal him in the beauties of composition, nor in his enchanting versification. Too feeble to avoid the defects of
Racine, and unable like him to atone for them by beautiful strokes of the sublime, he copied him in his soft manner of delineating the love of his heroes, of whom, it must
be confessed, he sometimes made inamoratos fitter for the
most comic scenes than for tragedy, in which passion
ought always to assume an elevated style. Racine, while
he was forming Campistron for the drama, was not inattentive to promote the fortune of the young* poet. Having
proposed him to the duke de Vendome for the composition
of the heroic pastoral of “Acis and Galatea,
” which he designed should be represented at his chateau of Anet, that
prince, well satisfied both with his character and his talents, first made him secretary of his orders, and then secretary general of the gallies. He afterwards got him
made knight of the military order of St. James in Spain,
commandant of Chimene, and marquis of Penange in Italy.
The poet, now become necessary to the prince, by the
cheerfulness of his temper and the vivacity of his imagination, attended him on his travels into various countries.
Campistron, some time after his return, retired to his own
country; where he married mademoiselle de Maniban,
sister of the first president of Toulouse, and of the bishop
of Mirepoix, afterwards archbishop of Bourdeaux; and
there he died May 11, 1723, of an apoplexy, at the age
of 67. This stroke was brought on by a fit of passion excited by two chairmen who refused to carry him on account of his great weight. Campistron kept good company, loved good cheer, and had all the indolence of a
man of pleasure. While secretary to the duke de Vendome, he found it a more expeditious way to burn the letters that were written to that prince than to answer them.
Accordingly, the duke, seeing him one day before a large
fire, in which he was casting a heap of papers: “There
its Campistron,
” said he, “employed in answering my
correspondents.
” He followed the duke even to the field
of battle. At the battle of Steinkerque, the duke seeing
him always beside him, said, “What do you do here,
Campistron?
” “Mon seigneur,
” answered he, “I am
waiting to go back with you.
” This sedateness of mind in
a moment of so much danger was highly pleasing to the
bero. His plays, 1750, 3 vols. 12mo. have been nearly
as often printed as those of Corneille, Racine, Crebillon,
and Voltaire. The most popular of them are his “Andronicus,
” “Alcibiades,
” “Acis and Galatea,
” “Phocion,
”
“Adrian,
” “Tiridates,
” “Phraates,
” and “Jaloux Desabuseé.
”
conjunction with Vasari at the pope’s palace in Rome, and was also employed at Florence by the grand duke; ia both places affording competent proofs of his skill, and
, was an artist, whose real name was De Witte (or White), although Sandrart calls him Candido, as also does De Piles, on account of that name being inscribed on some of the prints engraved after the designs of this artist. Some authors affirm that he was born at Munich; but Descamps asserts, that he was born at Bruges, in Flanders, in 1548, although he probably might have resided for several years at Munich, and perhaps have died there. He painted with equal success in fresco and in oil, and had an excellent genius for modelling. He worked in conjunction with Vasari at the pope’s palace in Rome, and was also employed at Florence by the grand duke; ia both places affording competent proofs of his skill, and gaining reputation; till at last he was taken into the service of the elector Maximilian of Bavaria, and spent the remainder of his life in the court of that prince. Several prints are published by Sadeler, after his designs and paintings particularly the Hermits, and the Four Doctors of the Church.
all the Byzantine historians. A Latin translation of this history, from the Greek manuscript in the duke of Bavaria’s library, was published by Pontanus at Ingolstadt
How long he lived in this retirement, and when he died, is not very certain; but it is agreed by all, that he lived a very long time in it, and it is supposed by some, that he did not die till 1411, when he was 100 years of age, or upwards. Others, with considerable probability, place his death on Nov. 20, 1411. In this place, however, he wrote a history of his own times, in four books, or rather of the times in which he was engaged in worldly affairs; since the period it includes is only from 1320 to 1355. He was a very proper person to relate the transactions within this period, because he was not only an eye-witness of what was done, but himself the orderer and doer of a great part: upon which account Vossius has not scrupled to prefer him to all the Byzantine historians. A Latin translation of this history, from the Greek manuscript in the duke of Bavaria’s library, was published by Pontanus at Ingolstadt in 1603; and afterwards at Paris, 1645, a splendid edition in three volumes folio of the Greek from the ms. of M. Scguier, chancellor of France, with Pontanus’s Latin version, and the notes of him and Gretscr.
d provoked by arrogance or invective, with the mortification of having failed in the portrait of the duke, impaired his health and drove him to Verona, where he died
, a painter and engraver, called
often from his native place Da Pesaro, was born in 1612,
and was a pupil of Pandolfi. After proving himself, by
the picture of St. Peter at Fano, less an imitator of Guido
than his equal, he entered his school at Bologna more as a
rival than as a pupil: the humility which he had affected
at his entrance, soon dissolved in a proud display of his
powers; and the modest student became the supercilious
censor of his companions, and of the master himself. From
the general disgust, which the insolence of this conduct
had excited, Cantarini fled to Rome, and for some time
studied Raffaello and the antiques. When he returned to
Bologna, where he taught, and from thence to the court
of Mantua, his powers seemed to smooth the road to new
success; but fear of those whom he had provoked by
arrogance or invective, with the mortification of having
failed in the portrait of the duke, impaired his health and
drove him to Verona, where he died in 1648, in his thirtysixth year, not without suspicion of having being poisoned
by a painter of Mantua, whom he had reviled. Cantarini
is not equal to Guido, because the most perfect imitator of
a style cannot be called equal to its inventor: but the original beauties which he added, of conception and execution, raise him above all the pupils of that school. If his
ideas have less dignity, they are, perhaps, more graceful
than those of Guido: if he has less compass of knowledge,
he has more accuracy, and no rival in the finish of the
extremities. The heads of his saints have been called prodigies of beauty and expression. Sir Robert Strange had
a picture of Cantarini’s, “Our Saviour standing on the
Globe, attended by Cherubims,
” which, he says, is nothing inferior to Guido, inimitably coloured; the composition extremely agreeable, and the whole apparently
painted with great facility. Cantarini etched with great
spirit. Strutt enumerates some of his works in this manner.
of those that had the greatest share in setting up the academy of the Otiosi. Francis de la Rovere, duke of Urbino, employed him in the education of the prince his son;
, a historian of the seventeenth century, was born in Campagnia, in the kingdom of
Naples, of an obscure family, which was afterwards raised
by Capaccio’s merits. He studied at Naples the civil and
canon law, and afterwards read over the poets and historians. Being a person of note for his learning and parts,
he was made secretary to the town of Naples. He was
one of those that had the greatest share in setting up the
academy of the Otiosi. Francis de la Rovere, duke of
Urbino, employed him in the education of the prince his
son; and while he was employed in this business he wrote
most of his works. He died in 1631. His works are:
“Tratato de'l imprese
” “II secretario, prediche quadragecimali
” “II principe
” “Historia Puteolana
” “Historia Napolitana,
” &c. the latter are in Grgevius’s Thesaurus, but the separate editions of these, as well as of his
“Illustrium mulierum et virorum historia,
” Naples,
of Hertford, on July 7, 1660; and lord lieutenant of the county of Wilts, during the minority of the duke of Somerset, on April 2, 1668. In the year 1670, he was sent
, eldest son and heir of the preceding, became his successor, and notwithstanding the sufferings of his father, his estate was under sequestration; but
at the restoration, he was, by Charles II. advanced to the
title and dignity of viscount Maiden, and earl of Essex,
on April 20, 1661. He also was constituted lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county of Hertford, on
July 7, 1660; and lord lieutenant of the county of Wilts,
during the minority of the duke of Somerset, on April 2,
1668. In the year 1670, he was sent ambassador to Christian V. king of Denmark, whence he returned with high,
favour for having vindicated the honour of the British flag:
and upon testimonies of his courage, prudence, and
abilities, was sworn of the privy- council in 1672, and
made lord-lieutenant of the kingdom of Ireland which
high office he exercised in that kingdom to the general
satisfaction of the people. After his return, he, in 1678,
with Halifax, and the duke of Buckingham, had the chief
political influence among the lords; yet, when they moved
an address to the king to send the duke of York from
court, the majority was against them. In 1679, he was
appointed first and chief commissioner of the treasury:
and his majesty choosing a new council, he ordered sir
William Temple to propose it to the lord chancellor Finch,
the earl of Sunderland, and the earl of Essex, but to one
after another; on which, when he communicated it to the
earl of Essex, he said, “It would leave the parliament
and nation in the dispositions to the king, that he found at
his coming in.
” Accordingly he was sworn of that privycouncil on April 21, 1679, being then first lord commissioner of the treasury; and his majesty valued himself on
it so, that the next day he communicated it by a speech
to the parliament, which was agreeable to both houses:
but not concurring with the duke of York in his measures,
his majesty, on November 19 following, declared in council, that he had given leave to the earl of Essex to resign
his place of first commissioner of the treasury; yet intended that he should continue of his privy-council. Nevertheless, soon after, being a great opposer of the court
measures, and on Jan. 25, 1680-1, delivering a petition
against the parliament’s sitting at Oxford, he was accused,
with the lord Russel, of the fanatic plot, and sent prisoner to the Tower in the beginning of July, 1683. Bishop Burnet says, that a party of horse was sent to bring
him up from his seat in Hertfordshire, where he had been
for some time, and seemed so little apprehensive of danger, that his lady did not imagine he had any concern
on his mind. He' was offered to be conveyed away, but
he would not stir: his tenderness for lord Russel was the
cause of this, thinking his disappearing might incline the
jury to believe the evidence the more. Soon after his
commitment, he was found with his throat cut, on July
13, 1683. The cause of this is variously represented,
some imputing it to himself in a fit of despondency, and
some to the contrivance of his enemies. From the evidence examined in the Biog. Britannica, a decision seems
difficult. See “Bp. Burnet’s late History charged with
great partiality,
” by Mr. Braddon,
at the school of St. Edmund’s Bury. In the dedication of his edition of Shakspeare, in 1768, to the duke of Grafton, he observes, that “his father and the grandfather
, a gentleman well known by his
indefatigable attention to the works of Shakspeare, was
born at Troston, near Bury, Suffolk, June 11, 1713, and
received his education at the school of St. Edmund’s Bury.
In the dedication of his edition of Shakspeare, in 1768, to
the duke of Grafton, he observes, that “his father and the
grandfather of his grace were friends, and to the patronage
of the deceased nobleman he owed the leisure which enabled him to bestow the attention of twenty years on that
work.
” The office which his grace bestowed on Mr. Capell was that of deputy inspector of the plays, to which a
salary is annexed of 200l. a year. So early as the year
1745, as Capell himself informs us, shocked at the licentiousness of Hanmer’s plan, he first projected an edition of
Shakspeare, of the strictest accuracy, to be collated and
published, in due time, “ex fide codicum.
” He immediately proceeded to collect and compare the oldest and
scarcest copies; noting the original excellencies and defects of the rarest quartos, and distinguishing the improvements or variations of the first, second, and third folios.
But while all this mass of profound criticism was tempering
in the forge, he appeared at last a self-armed Aristarchus,
almost as lawless as any of his predecessors, vindicating
his claim to public notice by his established reputation, the
authoritative air of his notes, and the shrewd observations,
as well as majesty, of his preface. His edition, however,
was the effort of a poet, rather than of a critic; and Mr.
Capell lay fortified and secure in his strong holds, entrenched in the black letter. Three years after (to use his own language) he “set out his own edition, in ten volumes, small octavo, with an introduction,
” 1768, printed
at the expence of the principal booksellers of London, who
gave him 300l. for his labours. There is not, among the
various publications of the present literary aera, a more
singular composition than that “Introduction.
” In style
and manner it is more obsolete, and antique, than the age
of which it treats. It is lord Herbert of Cherbury walking
the new pavement in all the trappings of romance; but,
like lord Herbert, it displays many valuable qualities accompanying this air of extravagance, much sound sense,
and appropriate erudition. It has since been added to the
prolegomena of Johnson and Steevens’s edition. In the
title-page of this work was also announced, “Whereunto
will be added, in some other volumes, notes, critical and
explanatory, and a body of various readings entire.
” The
introduction likewise declared, that these “notes and various readings
” would be accompanied with another work,
disclosing the sources from which Shakspeare “drew the
greater part of his knowledge in mythological and classical
matters, his fable, his history, and even the seeming peculiarities of his language to which,
” says Mr. Capell,
“we have given for title, The School of Shakspeare.
” Nothing surely could be more properly conceived than such
designs, nor have we ever met with any thing better
grounded on the subject of “the learning of Shakspeare
”
than what may be found in the. long note to this part of
Mr. Capell’s introduction. It is more solid than even the
popular essay on this topic. Such were the meditated
achievements of the critical knight-errant, Edward Capell.
But, alas! art is long, and life is short. Three-andtvventy years had elapsed, in collection, collation, compilation, and transcription, between the conception and production of his projected edition: and it then came, like
human births, naked into the world, without notes or commentary, save the critical matter dispersed through the
introduction, and a brief account of the origin of the fables
of the several plays, and a table of the different editions.
Cenain quaintnesses of style, and peculiarities of printing
and punctuation, attended the whole of this publication.
The outline, however, was correct. The critic, with unremitting toil, proceeded in his undertaking. But while
he was diving into the classics of Caxton, and working his
way under ground, like the river Mole, in order to emerge
with all his glories; while he was looking forward to his
triumphs; certain other active spirits went to work upon
his plan, and, digging out the promised treasures, laid
them prematurely before the public, defeating the effect
of our critic’s discoveries by anticipation. Steevens, Malone, Farmer, Percy, Reed, and a whole host of literary
ferrets, burrowed into every hole and corner of the warren
of modern antiquity, and overran all the country, whose
map had been delineated by Edward Capell. Such a contingency nearly staggered the steady and unshaken perseverance of our critic, at the very eve of the completion
of his labours, and, as his editor informs us for, alas! at
the end of near forty years, the publication was posthumous, and the critic himself no more! we say then, as
his editor relates, he was almost determined to lay the
work wholly aside. He persevered, however (as we learn from the rev. editor, Mr. Collins), by the encouragement
of some noble and worthy persons: and to such their Cih
couragement, and his perseverance, the public was, in
1783, indebted for three large volumes in 4to, under the
title of “Notes and various readings of Shakspeare; together with the School of Shakspeare, or extracts from
divers English books, that were in print in the author’s
time; evidently shewing from whence his several fables
were taken, and some parcel of his dialogue. Also
farther extracts, which contribute to a due understanding
of his writings, or give a light to the history of his life, or
to the dramatic history of his time.
”
nese gallery; but the brothers not rightly agreeing, the cardinal sent Augustine to the court of the duke of Parma, in whose service he died in 1602, being only forty-five
The fame of the Caracci reaching Rome, the cardinal
Farnese sent for Hannibal thither, to paint the gallery of
his palace. Hannibal was the more willing to go, because
he had a great desire to see Raphael’s works, with the antique statues and bas-reliefs. The gusto which he took
there from the ancient sculpture, made him change his
Bolognian manner for one more learned, but less natural
in the design and in the colouring. Augustine followed
Hannibal, to assist him in his undertaking of the Farnese
gallery; but the brothers not rightly agreeing, the cardinal sent Augustine to the court of the duke of Parma,
in whose service he died in 1602, being only forty-five
years of age. His most celebrated piece of painting is
that of the Communion of St. Jerom, in Bologna: “a
piece,
” says a connoisseur, “so complete in all its parts,
that it was much to be lamented the excellent author
should withdraw himself from the practice of an art, in
which his abilities were so very extraordinary, to follow
the inferior profession of a graver.
” Augustine had a natural son, called Antonio, who was brought up a painter
under his uncle Hannibal; and who applied himself with
so much success to the study of all the capital pieces in
Home, that it is thought he would have surpassed even
Hannibal himself, if he had lived hut he died at the age
of thirty- five, in 1618.
an at Home, with whom he quarrelled at tennis, and fled, though sorely wounded, to Zagaroles, to the duke Maria Colonna, from thence to Naples, and afterwards to Malta.
His vindictive temper allowed him to gain but few friends, excepting Civoli and Pomeranci. He lived in continual strife with Caracci, and particularly with Josehino. On the latter’s refusing to fight with him, as he was not a knight, he took the resolution to go to Malta, and cause himself to be admitted cavaliero serviente, in order to compel Josehino to give up all farther evasion. He killed a young man at Home, with whom he quarrelled at tennis, and fled, though sorely wounded, to Zagaroles, to the duke Maria Colonna, from thence to Naples, and afterwards to Malta. As his reputation had now made its way into all parts, he was never permitted to be idle, especially at Malta, where he finished several pieces for the church of St. John and the grand master. The grand master made him a cavaliero serviente, presented him with a golden chain, and gave him two slaves for his attendants.
and music, but soon became exclusively attached to his particular art. He was employed by the grand duke in the palace Pitti, and afterwards at Rome and Florence exhibited
, called also Cigoli and Civolt, an eminent painter, was born in 1559, at the castle of Cigoli, in Tuscany, and became the scholar of Santi di Titi, but after travelling into Lombardy, studied the works of the first masters, and particularly Correggio. He had some taste, also, for poetry and music, but soon became exclusively attached to his particular art. He was employed by the grand duke in the palace Pitti, and afterwards at Rome and Florence exhibited some excellent specimens of his genius. He gave a new style to the Florentine school; but to say that perhaps he was superior to all his contemporaries, that he approached nearer than any other the style of Correggio, are expressions of Baldinucci, which none will believe who has seen the imitations of that master by Baroccio, the Caracci, or Schidone. Cardi, to judge from his pictures as they are now, availed himself with success of Correggio’s chiaroscuro, joined it to learning in design, and set it off by judicious perspective and a far livelier colour than that of the Tuscan school; but his pictures do not exhibit that contrast of tints, that impasto, that splendour, that graceful air, those bold fore-shortenings, which constitute the character of the. heads of Lombard art. In short, he was the inventor of an original but not a steady style; that which he adopted at Rome differs from his former one. If the general tone of his colour be Lembardesque, his draperies resemble those of Paolo Veronese, and sometimes he approaches the depth of Guercino.
Besides the many pictures which the grand duke and the Pecori family possess of this master, a few are dispersed
Besides the many pictures which the grand duke and
the Pecori family possess of this master, a few are dispersed
through private collections at Florence. Excellent are his
“Trinity
” in the church of St. Croce, his “St. Albert
” in
that of S. Maria Maggiore, and the “Martyrdom of Stephen
” at the Sisters of Monte Domini, which Pietro da
Cortona ranked with the principal pictures of Florence.
*' St. Anthony converting a Heretic,“at Cortona, is considered as superior to any other pencil at Cortona. His
” St. Peter healing the Cripple,“in the Vatican at Rome,
Andrea Sacchi placed next the
” Transfiguration“of Raphael, and the
” St. Jerom“of Domenichino; but this
master-piece, by the humidity of the place, the bad
priming, and the brutality of the cleaner, is entirely destroyed. Its merit procured him the-
” title of Cavaliere.
Another work of his, the fresco of the dome in S. Maria
Maggiore, still remains: in this, by some error in perspective, he appeared inferior to himself; it displeased,
and he was not suffered to correct it, notwithstanding his
eager supplications; but had this perished, and the picture in the Vatican survived, the fame of Cigoli would rest
on a firmer basis, and the assertions of Baldinucci deserve
more credit. It is supposed that chagrin at not succeeding
in painting the dome, hastened his death, which happened
in 1613. He also engraved a few plates in a slight, neat
stylej which, however, evinces the hand of the master.
Strutt mentions his engraving of “Mary Magdalen washing
the feet of Christ,
” as containing heads of great beauty.
rned into French verse by a friend of Regan. Bishop Nicolson describes this history as extant in the duke of Chandos’s library, under the title of “Mauritii Regani, servi
* In a biographical account of the Carew, which was without his knowfamily placed on the back of a picture ledge and consent, and intended to
of lord Totness, in the possession of disinherit her but, upon an accidental
his descendant, the late Boothby Clop- conversation with captain Carew, found
ton, esq. this lady’s name is Anne, and him a gentleman of superior genius
not Joyce: and it is added, that Mr. and fine address, *nd settled his estate,
Clopton was extremely displeased with which was very considerable, upon him
his daughter’s marriage with captain and his dmjghter.
library: and made collections, notes, and extracts for writing The History of the reign of king Henry V. which were
inserted in J. Speed’s Chronicle. Sir James Ware says, that
the earl of Totness translated into English “A History of
the affairs of Ireland,
” written by Maurice Regan, servant
and interpreter to Dermot, son of Murchard king of Leinster, in 1171, and which had been turned into French
verse by a friend of Regan. Bishop Nicolson describes
this history as extant in the duke of Chandos’s library,
under the title of “Mauritii Regani, servi et interpretis
Dermitii, filii Murchardi, &c. Historian de Hibernia fragmentum Anglice redditum a D. Georgio Carew, Memoniae preside sub Elizabetha;
” and Mr. Harris mentions
another ms copy among the bishop of Clogher’s Mss. in
the college library, Dublin. Nicolson also informs us that
this learned nobleman wrote forty-two volumes relating to
the affairs of Ireland, which are in the Lambeth library,
and four more of collections from the originals in the Cotton library.
nd on his arrival found all ministerial power and favour centered in sir George Villiers, afterwards duke of Buckingham. Soon after, on the recommendation of sir Ralph
, Lord Dorchester, an
eminent statesman in the beginning of the seventeenth
century, the eldest surviving son of Anthony Carleton, esq.
of Baldwin Briglitweli, near Watlington,Oxon. was born at his
father’s seat, March 10, 1573. He was educated at Westminster school, and at Oxford, where he became a student
of Christ church about 1591, and distinguished as a young
man of parts. From hence, after taking a bachelor’s degree in 15L<5, he set out on his travels, and on his return
to Oxford, was created master of arts in July loOO. In
the same year we find him appointed secretary to sir Thomas Parry, our ambassador in France and in 1603 he served
in the same capacity in the house of Henry earl of Northumberland. He probably became afterwards a courtier,
as he speaks in one of his letters of holding the place of
gentleman usher. In the first parliament of James I. he
represented the borough of St. Mawes in Cornwall, and
was considered as an active member and an able speaker.
In April 1605, he accompanied lord Norris intoSpain, but
in the latter end of that year was summoned to England,
and on his arrival imprisoned, as being implicated in the
gunpowder treason but his innocence being proved, he
was honourably discharged. In 1607 he married a niece
of sir Maurice Carey, with whom he resided some time in
Chancery- lane, and afterwards in Little St. Bartholomew’s,
near West Smitlitield. At this period he appears to have
been unprovided for, as in one of his letters he complains
of an “army of difficulties, a dear year, a plaguy town, a
growing w if e and a poor purse.
” After being disappointed,
from political reasons, in two prospects, that of going to
Ireland, and that of going to Brussels, in an official capacity, he was nominated to the embassy at Venice, and
before setting out, in Sept. 1610, received the honour of
knighthood. The functions of this appointment he discharged with great ability, and soon proved that he was
qualified for diplomatic affairs. In 1615, he returned to
England, sir Henry Wotton being appointed in his room,
and on his arrival found all ministerial power and favour
centered in sir George Villiers, afterwards duke of Buckingham. Soon after, on the recommendation of sir Ralph
Win wood, one of the secretaries of state, he was employed
in what was then one of the most important embassiesin
the gift of the crown, that to the States General of Holland
and in this he continued from 1616 to 1628, and was the
last English minister who had the honour of sitting in the
council of state for the United Provinces, a privilege which
queen Elizabeth had wisely obtained, when she undertook
the protection of these provinces, and which was annexed
to the possession of the cautionary towns.
ievelt, sir Dudley took the part of prince Maurice. His situation here, owing to the politics of the duke of Buckingham and other events, which belong to the history
On his arrival in Holland, he was soon involved in the disputes which then raged between the Arminians and Galvinists; and as the French supported the pensionary Banievelt, sir Dudley took the part of prince Maurice. His situation here, owing to the politics of the duke of Buckingham and other events, which belong to the history of the times, was one of peculiar delicacy and difficulty; yet he appears to have conducted himself as ambassador from England, with great wisdom, firmness, and prudence. Thinking that such services merited some reward, and as every thing of that kind depended on the duke of Buckingham, sir Dudley addressed his grace on the subject in a strain of servility and adulation, which might diminish our respect for his character, if we were to forget the relative state of the parties. We do not find, however, that his application was at this time successful.
Hastings in Sussex, endeavoured to mitigate the violence of the commons in their impeachment of the duke of Buckingham; but his arguments, although not well suited to
In December 1625, soon after his return to England, he was appointed vice chamberlain of his majesty’s household, and at the same time was joined with earl Holland in an embassy to France, respecting the restitution of the ships, which had been lent to Louis XIII. and were employed against the Rochellers; to obtain a peace for the French protestants agreeably to former edicts, and to obtain the French accession to the treaty of the Hague. Although all these objects were not attained in the fullest intention, yet the ambassadors were thought entitled to commendation for their firm and prudent management of the various conferences. On their return in March 1625-6, they found the parliament sitting, and the nation inflamed to the highest degree at the mismanagement of public affairs. At this crisis, sir Dudley Carleton, who represented Hastings in Sussex, endeavoured to mitigate the violence of the commons in their impeachment of the duke of Buckingham; but his arguments, although not well suited to the humour of the time, were acceptable at court, and immediately after he was called up to the house of peers by the style and title of Baron Carleton of Imbercourt in the county of Surrey: and his next employment was more fully adapted to his talents. This was an embassy-extraordinary to France to justify the sending away of the queen of England’s French servants, which he managed with his usual skill.
vice chamberlain, and was employed in foreign affairs of the most secret nature, as assistant to the duke of Buckingham. When that minister set out for Portsmouth to
In March 1626-7, he was ordered to resume his character of ambassador in Holland, where our interest, from various causes, was on the decline, and required all his address and knowledge to revive it. He had many conversations with the states on the existing differences, his conduct in all which received the approbation of his’royal master, but he had not the same influence with the States as on former occasions; and returned in May or June 1628, leaving as his deputy, Mr. Dudley Carleton, his nephew, who had discharged that trust before during his absence, with diligence and capacity. Soon after his arrival in England, king Charles bestowed an additional mark of his approbation, by creating him viscount Dorchester; and in the mean time he continued to attend the court in his office of vice chamberlain, and was employed in foreign affairs of the most secret nature, as assistant to the duke of Buckingham. When that minister set out for Portsmouth to take the command of the fleet and army, which was preparing for the relief of Rochelle, lord Dorchester accompanied him, and was entrusted by Contarini, the Venetian Ambassador here, to manage the first overtures of an accommodation with France, which was interrupted by the murder of the duke of Buckingham. King Charles, then declared he would, for the future, be his own first minister, and leave the executive part of the administration to every man within the compass of his province. The first question.of importance which came before the council was, whether the parliament should sit on the day appointed, the 20th of October. Some were of opinion, that it would be the most probable method of restoring a happy union between the king and his people; but his majesty declared his pleasure for a further prorogation till the 20th of January, 1628-9, which lord Dorchester says he thought the wisest course.
Various Letters in the “Cabala, or Scrinia sacra,” London, 1663, fol. 4. Various Letters to George, duke of Buckingham, in “Cabala, or Mysteries of State,” London, 1654,
With regard to the general abilities and character of
lord Dorchester, it appears from alt his political remains,
that he was a judicious, faithful, and diligent minister, and
better qualified for his department than any who were his
immediate predecessors or successors in the same office.
King Charles himself, who was a good judge of his servants’ abilities, used to say, as sir P. Warwick relates in
his Memoirs, “that he had two secretaries of state, the
lords Dorchester and Falkland; one of whom was a dull
man in comparison of the other, and yet pleased him the
best for he always brought him his own thoughts in his
own woreds: the latter cloathed them in so fine a dress, that
he did not always know them again.
” Allowing for some
defects of stiffness and circumlocution, which are common
to all the writings of that time, lord Dorchester’s dispatches
are drawn up in that plain, perspicuous, and unaffected
stile which was fittest for business. Domestic concerns
were no part of his province, but entirely managed by the
lord treasurer Weston and archbishop Laud. He held the
pen singly in foreign affairs, and was regretted by those
who were used to receive the instructions of government
from a secretary of state, upon whom they could depend
that he would make a just report of their services, and that
he would not mislead or misrepresent the ministers with
whom he corresponded. That he died much lamented by
the public in general, and with the reputation of an honest
and well-deserving statesman, is declared by sir Thomas
Roe, in a manuscript letter to a friend in Holland. The
earl of Clarendon’s assertion, that lord Dorchester was
unacquainted with the government, laws, and customs of
his own country, and the nature of the people, is disputed
by Dr. Birch, in his “Review of the Negociations,
” who
considers it as absolutely incompatible with the experience
which he must have acquired in the house of commons.
But, not to mention that the noble historian, who had no
prejudice against his lordship, could not well be deceived
in the fact, it is, we think, confirmed by the figure he
made in the parliament of 1626, and by his acquiescence
in all the obnoxious measures of Buckingham, Weston,
and Laud. The following articles are attributed to his
pen, by Anthony Wood and lord Orford: 1. “Balance
pour peser en toute equite & droicture la Harangue fait
vagueres en L'Assemblee des illustres & puissans Seignoures
Messeigneurs les Estats generaux des Provinces Unies du
Pais has, &c.
” Harangue fait au Counseile
de Mess, les Estats generaux des Provinces Unies, touchant le Discord & le Troubles de PEglise & la Police,
causes par la Doctrine d'Arminius,
” 6 Oct. 1617, printed
with the former. 3. Various Letters in the “Cabala, or
Scrinia sacra,
” London, Cabala, or Mysteries of
State,
” London, Ger. Jo. Vossii
& clarorum Virorum ad.eum Epistoiae,
” London, Sir Ralph Winwood’s Memorials,
” published at
London, in folio, Howard’s Collection.
” 9. Memoirs
for Dispatches of political Affairs relating to Holland and
England, arm. 1618; with several Propositions made to the
States. Manuscript. 10. Particular Observations of the
military Affairs in the Palatinate, and the Low Countries,
annis 1621, 1622. Manuscript. 11. Letters relating to
State Affairs, written to the king and viscount Rochester,
from Venice, ann. 1613. Manuscript. The manuscript
pieces here mentioned, are probably no more than parts of
the collections preserved in the Paper office. The letters
from and to sir Dudley Carleton, during his embassy in
Holland, from January 1615-16, to December 1620, properly selected, and as occasion required, abridged, or only
noted, were published by the late earl of Hardwicke, in
1757, in one vol. 4to, with an historical preface. The second edition of the same work, with large additions to the
historical preface, appeared in 1775, and has been twice
reprinted since. These letters, if some allowances be made
for party violences and prejudices, contain more clear,
accurate, and interesting accounts of that remarkable period of Dutch history to which they relate, than are anj
where extant. There are, likewise, discussed in the
course of them, many points of great importance, at that
time, to the English commerce. Lord Hardwicke’s excellent preface has furnished the materials of the present
sketch.
V. After the death of his patron Peter Lewis Farnese, the cardinals Alexander and Kanutius, and the duke Octavius Farnese, vied with each other in presenting him with
, an Italian poet, was born in 1507,
at Civita Nova, in the march of Ancona, of poor parents.
After his first studies he obtained the patronage of the
illustrious house of Gaddi in Florence, a branch of which,
John Gaddi, legate of Romania, appointed him secretary
of legation, and retained him in his service, with some
interval, until his death. On this event Caro determined
on a life of independence; but unable to resist the liberal
offers of Peter Louis Farnese, accepted the place of confidential secretary in 1543. While with him, Caro had an
opportunity of forming a very fine collection of medals,
and wrote a treatise on the subject. Such was his reputation at this time that Onufrius Pauvinius dedicated his
work “De Antiquis Romanorum nominibus
” to him, as the
ablest antiquary in Italy. With the study of medals, Caro
united that of the sciences, the belles lettres, languages,
and the Italian particularly, which owes great obligations to
him. He composed in that language several works of the
light kind, such as the “Ficheide del P. Siceo (i. e Francis Maria Molza) col Commento dr Ser Agresto (Annibal Caro)
sopra la prima Ficata,
” La diceria de nasi;
”
and a prose comedy, “Gli Straccioni,
” Venice, Letters
” were reprinted at Padua, with a life
of the author, by Alexander Zalioli, and notes by the
editor, 2 vols. 8vo; but the most complete edition is in 6 vols.
Padua, 1765. Caro also translated the Pastorals of Longus, of which Bodoni printed a fine edition at Parma in
1786, 4to. Among his unpublished works are a translation
of Aristotle’s “History of Animals,
” and his treatise above
mentioned on medals.
pery. In 1519, he held a disputation at Leipsic with Eckius, on free will, in the presence of George duke of Saxony, Luther, and Melancthon, and acquitted himself with
, one of the reformers, was born at Carlolostadt, a town in Franconia, founded by Charles the Bald in the year 875. The time of his birth is not stated. He was partly educated at home, but studied afterwards in various celebrated schools, and after going through his divinity course at Rome, was admitted doctor of divinity at Wittemberg in 1502, and was appointed professor of the same, and held a canonry and archdeaconry. In 1512, while he was dean of the college, Luther was admitted to his doctor’s degree, which appears to have led to their intimacy, as in 1517, we find Carolostadt one of Luther’s most zealous adherents in opposing the corruptions of popery. In 1519, he held a disputation at Leipsic with Eckius, on free will, in the presence of George duke of Saxony, Luther, and Melancthon, and acquitted himself with so much credit, that Eckius could think of no other retaliation than by applying to the court of Rome, which suspended Carolostadt from all communion with the church.
ed by Argyle, and the other Scots patriots, in treating with the English, who were for excluding the duke of York from succession to the crown. Towards the close of 1682,
, a political character of considerable fame in Scotland, was the descendant of an ancient family, and born in 1649 at Cathcart in Glasgow.
He was educated in divinity and philosophy at Edinburgh
and Utrecht, to which his father sent him that he might
avoid the political contests which disturbed the reign of
Charles II. but he had a zeal which prompted him to interfere in what regarded his country, although removed
from it, and he must have given some proofs of a talent
for political affairs at a very early period. When England
was alarmed about the popish succession, Carstares was
introduced to the pensionary Fagel, and afterwards to the
prince of Orange, and entrusted with his designs relating
to British affairs. During his residence in Holland, his
principles both in religion and politics, were strongly confirmed; and upon his return to his native country he entered with zeal into the counsels and schemes of those noblemen and gentlemen who opposed the tyrannical measures of government; and although about this time he took
orders in the Scotch church, his mind seemed to have acquired such a decided bias towards towards politics, that
he determined to revisit Holland. On his way thither he
passed through London, and was employed by Argyle, and
the other Scots patriots, in treating with the English, who
were for excluding the duke of York from succession to the
crown. Towards the close of 1682, he held various conferences with the heads of that party, which terminated in
his being privy to what has been called the “Rye-house
plot.
” Accordingly, he was committed to close custody
in the Gate-house, Westminster. After several examinations before the privy council, he was sent for trial to Scotland; and as he refused to give any information respecting
the authors of the exclusion scheme, he was put to the
torture, which he endured with invincible firmness, but
yielded to milder methods of a more insidious nature, and
when a pardon was proposed, with an assurance that no
advantage should be taken of his answers as evidence
against any person, he consented to answer their interrogatories. The privy-council immediately caused to be
printed a paper, entitled, “Mr. Carstares’s Confession,
”
which contained, as he said, a false and mutilated account
of the whole transaction; and in direct violation of their
promise, they produced this evidence in open court against
one of his most intimate friends. This treachery and its conquences very deeply affected him; but as soon as he was
cleared, he obtained permission to retire to Holland, towards the close of 1684, or the beginning of 1685, where
he was kindly received by the prince of Orange, who appointed him one of his chaplains, caused him to be elected
minister of the English protestant congregation at Leyden;
and when the prince determined to transport an army to
England, Carstares accompanied him as his chaplain, and
continued about his person till the settlement of the crown.
During the whole of this reign he was the chief agent between the church of Scotland and the court, and contributed by his influence with the king to the establishment
of presbytery in Scotland, to which his majesty was disinclined, and to a degree of coalescence or accommodation
on the part of the presbyterian clergy with the episcopalians. When an act was passed in 1693, by the Scots
parliament, obliging all officers, civil and ecclesiastical, to
take an oath of allegiance, and also to sign an assurance
(as it was called) declaring William to be king dejure, as
well as de facto, the ministers refused to sign the declaration,
and appealed to the privy council, who recommended to
the king to enforce the obligation. Accordingly, measures were adopted for this purpose; and the body of the
clergy applied to Carstares, requesting his interference in
their favour. The king persisted in his resolution; orders
were renewed in peremptory terms, and dispatches were
actually delivered to the messenger to be forwarded next
morning. In these critical circumstances Carstares hastened to the messenger at night, demanded the dispatches,
which had been delivered to him in the king’s name, and
instantly repaired to Kensington, where he found his
majesty gone to bed. Having obtained admission into his
chamber, he gently waked him, fell on his knees, and asked
pardon for the intrusion, and the daring act of disobedience of which he had been guilty. The king at first
expressed his displeasure; but when Carstares further
stated the case, his majesty caused the dispatches to be
thrown into the fire, and directed him to send such instructions to the royal commissioners of the general assembly as he thought most conducive to the public good.
In consequence of this seasonable interposition, the oath
and assurance were dispensed with on the part of the
clergy. By this timely service Carstares acquired the
confidence of the presbyterian party to such a degree, and
so successfully cultivated the friendship of the earl of Portland, and other men of influence about the court, that he
was regarded in the management of Scotch affairs, as a kind
of viceroy for Scotland, though he possessed no public
character. All applications passed through his hands, all
employments, honours, and offices of state, were left to his
disposal; and without public responsibility, he engrossed
the secret direction of public affairs. Few Scotchmen obtained access to the king, unless through his intervention;
and in his correspondence with every department, says a
late historian, it is curious to remark how the haughty nobility condescended to stoop and truckle to a presbyterianx
clergyman, whom their predecessors in office had tortured
and deceived. His moderation, secrecy, and a prudence
apparently disinterested, recommended him to king William, who once said of him, in the presence of several of
his courtiers, “that he had long known Mr. Carstares;
that he knew him well, and knew him to be an honest man
”
He is represented on the other hand, as a cunning, subtle,
insinuating priest, whose dissimulation was impenetrable;
an useful friend when sincere; but, from an air of smiling
sincerity, a dangerous enemy.
untry before he engaged in one of the most important of his works, “The history of the life of James duke of Ormonde, from his birth, in 1610, to his death, in 1688,”
In 1712 be made the tour of Europe with a nobleman,
and on his return entered into orders, and was appointed
render of the Abbey-church at Bath; where he preached
a sermon on Jan. 30, 171 J-, in which he took occasion to
vindicate Charles I. from aspersions cast upon his memory
with regard to the Irish rebellion. This drew Mr. Carte
into a controversy with Mr. (afterwards the celebrated Dr.)
Chandler, and gave rise to our historian’s first publication,
entitled “The Irish Massacre sot in a clear light,
” &c.
which is inserted in lord Sotners’s Tracts. ‘ Upon the accession of George I. Mr. Carte’s principles not permitting
him to take the oaths to the new government, he assumed a
lay-habit, and at one time assisted the celebrated Jeremiah
Collier, who preached to a non’} tiring congregation in a
house in Broad-street, London, and on a Sunday he used
to put on his gown and cassock, and perform divine service
in his own family. What particular concern he had in the
rebellion of 1715 does not appear; but that he had some
degree of guilt in this respect, or, at least, that he was
strongly suspected of it by administration, is evident, from
the king’s troops having orders to discover and apprehend
him. He had the good fortune to elude their search, by
concealing himself at Coleshili, Warwickshire, in the house
of Mr. Badger, then curate of that town. Mr. Carte himself officiated for a time as curate of the same place;
after which, he was some time secretary to bishop Atterbury. This connexion threw him into fresh difficulties:
so deeply was he thought to he engaged in the conspiracy
ascribed to that eminent prelate, that a charge of high
treason was brought against him; and a proclamation was
issued, Aug. 13, 1722, offering a reward of 1000l. for
seizing his person. He was again successful in making his
escape, and fled into France, where he resided several
years, under the borrowed name of Philips. Whilst Mr.
Carte continued in that country, he was introduced to the
principal men of learning and family, and gained access to
the most eminent libraries, public and private, by which
means he was enabled to collect large materials for illustrating an English edition of Thuanus. The collection was
in such forwardness in 1724, that he consulted Dr. Mead r
at that time the great patron of literary undertakings, on the
mode of publication. The doctor, who perceived that the
plan might he rendered more extensively useful, obtained
Mr. Carte’s materials at a very considerable price, and engaged Mr. Buckley in the noble edition completed in 17^3,
in 7 vols. fol. Mr. Carte would probably himself have
been the principal editor, if he had not been an exile
at the time the undertaking commenced, but we find that
the Latin address to Dr. Mead, prefixed to that work, and
dated from the Inner-temple, Jan. 1733, is signed Thomas
Carte. Whilst this grand work was carrying on, queen
Caroline, whose regard to men of letters is well known,
received such favourable impressions of Mr. Carte, that
she obtained permission for his returning to England in
security; which he did some time between the years 1728
and 1730. He had not long been restored to his own country
before he engaged in one of the most important of his
works, “The history of the life of James duke of Ormonde,
from his birth, in 1610, to his death, in 1688,
” 3 vols. fol.
The third volume, which was published first, came out in
1735, and the first and second volumes in 1736. From a
letter of Mr. Carte’s to Dr. Swift, dated Aug. 11, 1736, it
appears, that in writing the life of the duke of Ormonde,
he had availed himself of some instructions which he had
derived from the dean . In the same letter he mentions
his design of composing a general history of England and
finds great fault, not only with Rapin, but with Ilymer’s
Fcedera; but his accusations of that noble collection are in
several respects erroneous and groundless.
his time to Dr. Z. Grey by our author, that he laid a great stress upon that part of his Life of the duke of Ormonde which vindicated Charles I. in his transactions with
It is highly probable that the success and popularity of
Kapin’s History gave considerable disgust to Mr. Carte,
and other gentlemen of the same principles, and suggested
the scheme of a new undertaking. It is evident, from
some letters written about this time to Dr. Z. Grey by
our author, that he laid a great stress upon that part of his
Life of the duke of Ormonde which vindicated Charles I.
in his transactions with the earl of Glamorgan, and which
brought a charge of forgery against that nobleman, but in
this it has since been proved he was mistaken. Some booksellers of Dublin having formed a design of printing in Ireland a piratical edition of the “History of the duke of
Ormonde,
” Mr. Carte recollected an order of the house of
lords, made in 1721, which was full to his purpose. By
this order, which had been issued upon occasion of Curll’s
publication of the duke of Buckingham’s writings, it was
declared that whoever should presume to print any account
of the life, the letters, or other works of any deceased
peer, without the consent of his heirs or executors, should
be punished as guilty of a breach of privilege of that house.
An attested copy of the order was carried by our historian
to the earl of Arran, and his lordship sent it to his agent
in Dublin, to serve upon the booksellers concerned in the
pirated impression, and to discharge them in his name from
proceeding in the design. But as this was a remedy only
in Mr. Carte’s case, and arising from the particular naiure
of his work, he was very solicitous that a new act of parliament should be passed, to secure the property of authors in their writings, and. drew up a paper recommending
such an act. Lord Cornbury, at the instance of the university of Oxford, had procured the draught of a bill to
be prepared, which was approved by the speaker of the
house of commons but we do not find that any farther
measures were pursued in the affair. In April 1738, Mr.
Carte published on a separate sheet, “A general account
of the necessary materials for a history of England, of the
society and subscriptions proposed for defraying the expences of it, and the method in which he intended to proceed in carrying on the work.
” In the following October
he had obtained subscriptions, or the promise of subscriptions, to the amount of 600l. a year. Not long after, he
was at Cambridge, collecting materials for his history, from
the university and other libraries. Whilst he was thus
employed, his head quarters were at Madingly, the seat
of sir John Hinde Cotton, bart. whose large collection of
old pamphlets and journals, published during the civil war
between 1639 and 1660, he methodized, and procured to
be bound in a great number of volumes now in the library
there. March 8, 1744, a cause in chancery was determined in his favour against his brother Samuel and his
sister Sarah, with regard to a doubt concerning their father’s will. Not many weeks after, our author fell under
the suspicions of administration, and was taken into custody, together with a Mr. Garth, at a time when the
habeas-corpus act was suspended, in consequence of some
apprehended designs in favour of the pretender. It is certain that nothing material was discovered against him, for
he was soon discharged out of custody, May 9, 1744- *. This
event did not detract from his popularity, or prevent his
receiving such encouragement in his historical design, as
never before or since has been afforded, or expected in
any literary undertaking. On July 18, the court of common-council of the city of London agreed to subscribe 5()l.
a year for seven years to Mr, Carte, towards defraying the
expence of his writing the history of England. In the
next month was printed, in an 8vo pamphlet, “A collection of the several papers that had been published by him
relative to his rgreat work.
” Oct. 18, the company of
goldsmiths voted 2 5l. a year for seven years, towards de* Whilst under examination, the walking in a heavy shower, he wa
duke of Newcastle asked him if he was plied with “A Coach, your Revenot
duke of Newcastle asked him if he was plied with “A Coach, your Revenot a bishop?
” No, my Lord Duke,“rence!
” “No, honest friend,
” anreplied Mr. Carte, “there are no hi- swered Carte,
” this is not a reign for
hat kingdom to the year 1567, with letters of sir Robert Southwell, during his embassy there, to the duke of Ormonde; giving a particular account of the deposing don
Besides the works mentioned, he was the author of the
following publications: 1. “A collection of original letters
and papers, concerning the affairs of England, from 1641
to 1660,
” The History of the Revolutions of Portugal, from the foundation of that kingdom
to the year 1567, with letters of sir Robert Southwell,
during his embassy there, to the duke of Ormonde; giving
a particular account of the deposing don Alphonso, and
placing don Pedro on the throne,
” A full
Answer to the Letter from a bystander,
” a pamphlet, A full and clear vindication of the full answer
to a Letter from a bystander,
” ditto, Catalogue des rolles Gascons, Normans, et
Francois, conserves dans les archives de la Tour de Londres;
tire* d‘apres celui du Garde* desdites archives; & contenant
la precis & le sommaire de tous les titres qui s’y trouvent
concernant la Guienne, la Normandie, & les autres provinces de la France, sujettes autres fois auX rois d’Angleterre, &c.
” Paris, A preface to a translation, by Mrs. Thompson, of the
history of the memorable and extraordinary calamities of
Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, &c. by the chevalier
Michael Baudier,
” London, Advice of
a Mother to her son and daughter,
” translated from the
French of the marchioness de Lambert. This has gone
through several editions. 8. “Farther reasons, addressed
to parliament, for rendering more effectual an act of queen
Anne, relating to the vesting in authors the right of copies,
for the encouragement of learning, by R. H.
” about The case of the royal martyr considered with candour,
” in 2 vols. 8vo, the author of which acknowledges
his obligations to Mr. Carte. It was written by the rev.
J. Boswell, M. A. a clergyman and a schoolmaster, at
Taunton, in Somersetshire, and the author of a “Method
of Study, or a useful library,
” printed in Remarks on the Free and Candid Disquisitions,
”
which appeared in
ied lord Keith’s house in the Isle of Thanet, she called on Mrs. Carter at her house at Deal and the duke of Cumberland, when attending his regiment at Deal, also paid
In 1782 an event occurred, which once more disturbed the uniformity of Mrs. Carter’s life: she had been under great obligations to sir William Pulteney, who very liberally settled on her an annuity of 150l. a year, which it had been expected by her friends that lord Bath would have done. She therefore complied with his wishes to accompany his daughter to Paris, though she was now in her sixty-fifth year. She was only absent sixteen days, of which one week was spent at Paris. Mrs. Carter was not insensible to the fatigues and inconveniencies of her journey, but her sense of them yielded to her friendship. At home, however, she was able to enjoy summer tours, which doubtless contributed to her health and amusement. In 1791, she had the honour, by the queen’s express desire, of being introduced to her majesty at lord Cremorne’s house at Chelsea, an incident which naturally reminds us of a similar honour paid to her friends, Dr. Johnson at Buckingham-house, and Dr. Beattie at Kew. Afterwards, when the princess of Wales occupied lord Keith’s house in the Isle of Thanet, she called on Mrs. Carter at her house at Deal and the duke of Cumberland, when attending his regiment at Deal, also paid her a visit. Such was her reputation many years after she had ceased to attract public notice as an author, and when the common mass of readers scarcely knew whether such a person existed.
g Charles I. ascended the throne. This circumstance recommending him to the notice and esteem of the duke of Buckingham, he was appointed, in 1626, joint governor of
, a loyalist in the time of
Charles f. of uncommon firmness and bravery, the descendant of an ancient family, originally from Normandy,
but afterwards settled at Guernsey and Jersey, was born
at Jersey in 1599, his father Ilelier Carteret, esq. being
at that time deputy governor of the island. He entered
early into the sea service, and had acquired the character
of an experienced officer, when king Charles I. ascended
the throne. This circumstance recommending him to the
notice and esteem of the duke of Buckingham, he was
appointed, in 1626, joint governor of Jersey, with Henry,
afterwards lord Jermyn and, in 1C '6 9, he obtained a grant
of the office and place of comptroller of all his Majesty’s
ships. At the commencement of the civil war, when the
parliament resolved to send out the earl of Warwick as
admiral of the fleet, they also resolved, that captain Carteret should be vice-ad miral. But he, thinking that he
ought not to accept the command without knowing the
royal pleasure, addressed himself to the king for direction,
who ordered him to decline the employment; and captain,
Batten, surveyor-general, was substituted in his place.
His Majesty was probably mistaken in this advice; for, if
captain Carteret had accepted of the charge, he might
probably have prevented the greater part of the fleet from
engaging in the cause of the parliament. Captain Carteret, however, likewise quitted the post of comptroller, and
retired, with his family, to the island of Jersey, the inhabitants of which were confirmed by him in their adherence
to the king; and desirous of more active service, he transported himself into Cornwall, with the purpose of raising a
troop of horse. When he arrived in that country, finding
there was a great want of powder, he went into France to
procure that and other necessary supplies; and was so successful, that, through the remainder of the war, the Cornish army was never destitute of ammunition. This was so
important and seasonable a service, that the king acknowledged it by particular approbation; and by conferring
upon him, at Oxford, the honour of knighthood, which
was speedily followed by his being advanced, on the 9th
of May 1645, to the dignity, of a baronet. Returning the
same year into Jersey, he found that several of the inhabitants had been induced to embrace the cause of the parliament, on which account he threw some of them into
confinement. This was so alarming and offensive to the
members at Westminster, that an order was made, that if,
for the future, he should put to death any of the island
whom he should take prisoners, for every one so slain,
three of the king’s men should be hung up. From the
words here used, it seems implied that sir George Carteret
had actually executed some one or more of the people of
Jersey who had appeared for the Parliament; a step highly
injudicious, whence, in all the subsequent propositions for
peace with the king, sir George was excepted from pardon.
When the prince of Wales, and many persons of distinction with him, came into Jersey in 1646, and brought with
them very little for their subsistence, they were all chear
fully entertained, and at a large expence, by sir George
Carteret who, being sensible how much it behoved him
to take care for supplies, equipped about half a score small
frigates and privateers, which soon struck a terror through
the whole channel, and made a number of captures. Upon
the prince’s leaving the island, at the positive command of
the queen, several of the council chose to stay with sir
George; au<=! the chancellor of the exchequer (afterwards earl of Clarendon) resided with him above two years.
After the death of the king, sir George Carteret, though
the republican party was completely triumphant, and
though Charles II. was at the Hague in a very destitute condition, immediately proclaimed him at Jersey, with all
his titles. Some months afterwards his Majesty determined
to pay a second visit to the island of Jersey, and arrived
in the latter end of September 1649, accompanied by his
brother the duke of York, with several of the nobility.
Here they were supplied by sir George with all necessaries.
The king, when prince of Wales, had procured his father’s
leave for making sir George Carteret his vice-chamberlain,
and he now appointed him treasurer of his navy; which however, at this time, chiefly consisted of the privateers that sir
George hue! provided, and of the men of war with prince Rupert. Charles II. staid in the island till the latter end of March
1650, when he embarked for Holland, in order to be more
commodiously situated for treating with the Scots, who had
invited him into that kingdom. This defiance of sir George
Carteret in harbouring the king, and taking many of their
trading vessels, enraged the republicans so much, that they
determined to exert every nerve for the reduction of Jersey.
A formidable armament being prepared, it put to sea in
October 1651, under the command of admiral Blake, and
major-general Holmes, to the last of whom the charge of
the forces for the descent was committed. In this crisis,
sir George Carteret prevented the landing of the republican army as long as possible; and when that was effected,
and the remaining forts of the island were taken, he retired
into Elizabeth castle, resolving to hold it out to the last extremity. The king being safely arrived in France, after the,
fatal battle of Worcester, sir George informed him of the
state of the garrison, but the king not being able to assist
him, he advised sir George Carteret, rather to accept of a
reasonable composition, than, by too obstinate a defence,
to bring himself and the loyal gentlemen who were with
him into danger of being made prisoners of war. Sir
George was ambitious that Elizabeth castle should be the
last of the king’s garrisons (as was in fact the case) which
should yield to the prevailing powers. He determined,
therefore, to conceal his majesty’s permission to treat, that
the knowledge of it might not renew the cry for a surrender. But, at length, provisions growing scarce, the
number of defenders lessening daily by death and desertion, and there being no possibility of supplies or recruits,
Elizabeth castle was surrendered in the? latter end of December, and sir George went first to St. Maloes, and
afterwards travelled through several parts of Europe. To
facilitate his reception at the different courts and places he
might be disposed to visit, he obtained from his royal
master a very honourable and remarkable certificate of recommendation. In 1657, sir George had given such offence
to Oliver Cromwell, by some hostile design or attempt
against the English vessels trading to the French ports,
that, by the Protector’s interest with cardinal Mazarine, he
was committed prisoner to the Bastile from which he was,
after some time, released by the intercession of his friends,
upon condition of his quitting France. In 1659, however,
we find him at Rheims, from whence, he repaired to the
king at Brussels, and followed him to Breda. Upon his
majesty’s being restored to his kingdoms, sir George Carteret rode, with him in his triumphant entry into the city of
London, on the 2<nh of May 1660, and next day he was
declared vice-chamberlain of the hoiishold, an-d sworn of
the privy council. He was also constituted treasurer of
the navy; and at the coronation of the king, he had the
honour of being almoner for the day. In the first parliament called by Charles II. in May, 1661, sir George Carteret
was elected representative for the corporation of Portsmouth; and it appears, that he was au active member of
the house. When the duke of York, 1673, resigned the
office of high admiral of England, sir George was constituted one of the commissioners of the admiralty; and“in
1676, he was appointed one of the lords of the committee
of trade. He was also vice-treasurer of Ireland, and
treasurer of the military forces there. At length, in consequence of his merit and services, the king determined
to raise him to the dignity of a peerage; but before the
design could be accomplished, he departed this life, on the
14th of January, 1679, being nearly eighty years of age.
On the 11th of February following, a royal warrant was
issued, in which it is recited,
” That whereas sir George
Carteret died before his patent for his barony was sued out,
liis Majesty authorizes Elizabeth, his widow, and her
youngest children, James Carteret, Caroline, wife of sir
Thomas S<:ot, kut. and Louisa, wife of sir Robert Atkins,
knt. to enjoy their precedency and pre-eminency, as if the
said sir George Carterei hail actually been created a baron."
Sir George’s rldest son, by his jady Elizabeth, who was his
cousin-gr nnan, being the daughter of sir PhiUp Carteret,
was ijained Philip after his grandfather. This gentleman
eminently distinguished himself in the civil wars, and was
khighted by Charles II on his arrival in Jersey. After the
king’s restoration, sir Philip Carteret married Jemima,
daughter of Edward Montague, the first earl of Sandwich,
and perished with that illustrious nobleman, in the great
sea-fight with the Dutch, in Solbay, on the 28th of May,
1672. Sir Philip determined, whilst many others left the
ship, to share the fate of his father-in-law. His eldest son
George was the first lord Carteret, and father to the subject
of the following article.
the famous debate on the bill for lengthening the duration of Parliaments, in which he supported the duke of Devonshire’s motion for the repeal of the triennial act.
, earl Granville, one of the most distinguished orators and statesmen of the last century, was born on the 22d of April, 1690. His father was George lord Carteret, baron Carteret, of Hawnes in the county of Bedford, having been so created on the 19th of October 1681, when he was only fifteen years of age and his mother was lady Grace, youngest daughter of John earl of Bath. He succeeded his father when only in his fifth year. He was educated at Westminster school, from which he was removed to Christ-church Oxford in both which places he made such extraordinary improvements, that he became one of the most learned young noblemen of his time; and he retained to the last his knowledge and love of literature. Dr. Swift humorously asserts, that he carried away from Oxford, with a singularity scarcely to be justified, more Greek, Latin, and philosophy, than properly became a person of his rank; indeed, much more of each, than most of those who are forced to live by their learning will be at the unnecessary pains to load their heads with. Being thus accomplished, lord Carteret was qualified to make an early figure in life. As soon as he was introduced into the house of peers, which was on the 25th of May, 1711, he distinguished himself by his ardent zeal for the protestant succession, which procured him the eariy notice of king George 1. by whom he was appointed, in 1714, one of the lords of the bed-chamber in 1715, bailiff of the island of Jersey and in 1716, lord lieutenant and custis rotulorum of the county of Devon which last office he held till August 1721, when he resigned it in favour of Hugh lord Clinton. His mother also, lady Grace, was created viscountess Carteret and countess Grai>ville, by letters patent, bearing date on the first of January, 1714-15, with limitation of these honours to her son John lord Carteret. His lordship, though still young, became, from the ea.ly part of king George the First’s reign, an eminent speaker in the house of peers. The first instance of the display of his eloquence, was in the famous debate on the bill for lengthening the duration of Parliaments, in which he supported the duke of Devonshire’s motion for the repeal of the triennial act. On the 18th of February, 17 t 7- 18, he spoke in behalf of the bill for punishing mutiny and desertion; and in the session of parliament which met on the llth of November following, he moved, for the address of thanks to the king, to congratulate his majesty on the seasonable success of his naval forces; and to assume him, that the house would support him in the pursuit of those prudent and necessary measures he had taken to secure the trade and quiet of his dominions, and the tranquillity of Europe. In Jan. 1718-19 he was appointed ambassador extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the queen of Sweden, with whom his first business was to, remove the difficulties which the British subjects had met with* Jo their commerce in the Baltic, and to procure satisfaction for the losses they had sustained; and in both he completely succeeded. On the 6th of November, 1719, lord Carteret first took upon him the character of ambassador extraordinary ana plenipotentiary; at which time, in a private audience, he offered his royal master’s mediation t<v make peace between Sweden and Denmark, and between Sweden and the Czar; both of which were readily accepted by the queen. A peace between Sweden, Prussia, and Hanover, having been concluded by lord Carteret, it was proclaimed at Stockholm on the 9th of March, 1719-L'O. This was the prelude to a reconciliation between Sweden and Denmark, which he also effected, and the treaty was signed July 3, 1720. In August his lordship was appointed, together with earl Stanhope and sir Robert Siutcm, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary at the congress of Cambray but whether he acted in this capacity does not appear. From Denmark, however, he arrived in England Dec. 5, and a few weeks after took a share in the debates on the state of the national credit, occasioned by the unfortunate and iniquitous effects of the South-Sea scheme, maintaining that the estates of the criminals, whether directors or not directors, ought to be confiscated. Whilst this affair was in agitation, he was appointed ambassador extraordinary to the court of France, and was on the point of setting out, when the death of secretary Craggs induced his majesty to appoint lord Carteret his successor, May 4, 1721, and next day he was admitted into office, and sworn of his majesty’s most honourable privy council. Whilst lord Carteret was secretary of state, he not only discharged the general duties of his employment to the satisfaction of his royal master, but ably defended in parliament the measures of administration. This he did in the debate concerning Mr. Law, the famous projector of the Mississippi scheme, whose arrival in England, in 1721, by the connivance, as it was thought, and even under the sanction of the ministry, excited no small degree of disgust; and he also took a part on the side of government, in th debate on the navy debt, and with regard to the various other motions and bills of the session. In the new parliament, which met on the llth of October, 1722, his lordship, on occasion of Layer’s plot, spoke in favour of suspending the habeas corpus act for one year; acquainted the house with the bishop of Rochester’s, lord NortU and Grey’s, and the earl of Orrery’s commitment to the Tower; and defended the motion for the imprisonment of the duke of Norfolk. In all the debates concerning this conspiracy, and particularly with regard to Atterbury, lord Carteret vindicated the proceedings of the tectart; as he did, likewise, in the case of the act for laying an extraordinary tax upon papists. On the 26th of May, 1723, when the king’s affairs called him abroad, his lordship was appointed one of the lords justices of the kingdom; but notwithstanding this, he went to Hanover, in conjunction with lord Townshend, the other secretary; and both these noblemen, in their return to England, had several conferences at the Hague, with the principal persons of the Dutch administration, on subjects of importance. In the session of parliament, January, 1723-4, lord Carteret, in the debate on the mutiny bill, supported the necessity of eighteen thousand men being kept up, as the number of land- forces, in opposition to lord Trevor, who had moved that the four thousand additional men, who had been raised the year before, should be discontinued., Not many days after this debate, several alterations took place at court. Lord Carteret quitted the office of secretary of state, in which he was succeeded by the duke of Newcastle; and on the same day, being the third of April, 1724, he was constituted lord -lieutenant of Ireland, and in October arrived at Dublin, where he was received with the usual solemnity. The Irish were at that time in a great ferment about the patent for Wood’s halfpence, which makes so signal a figure in the life and writings of Dr. Swift. One of the first things done by the lord-lieutenant was to publish a proclamation, offering a reward of three hundred pounds for a discovery of the author of the Drapier’s Letters. When he was asked, by Dr. Swift, howhe could concur in the prosecution of a poor honest fellow, who had been guilty of no other crime than that of writing three or four letters for the good of his country, his excellency replied, in the words of Virgil,
g continued the usual time allotted to his high office, quitted it in 1730, and was succeeded by the duke of Dorset.
His lordship, however, kept on good terms with Swift,
and obliged him by conferring preferment on Dr. Sheridan,
and others of his friends. Even in the Drapier’s Letters,
the dean expressed a very high opinion of the lord- lieutenant. Besides revoking Wood’s patent, lord Carteret’s
administration was, in other respects, very acceptable and
beneficial to the Irish. He discharged the duties of his
high station, in general, with wisdom and fidelity, and the
people were happy under his government. After the close
of the session in March, 1725-6, his lordship having constituted lords justices during his absence, embarked for
England, where he arrived in May, 1726, and received
his majesty’s approbation of his prudent conduct. On the
24th of January, 1726-7, lord Carteret ably defended
the king’s speech, which had been warmly animadverted
upon by the opposition. On the 31st of May, 1727, he
was appointed one of the chief justices during his majesty’s
absence, and upon the decease of George I. who died
suddenly at Osnabrug, in his way to Hanover, on the
llth of June, 1727, lord Carteret was one of the old
privy council who assembled at Leicester house, where the
new king was proclaimed. This was on the 14th of June,
and the same day he was sworn of his majesty’s privy
council. On the 29th of July following, he was again appointed lord lieutenant and chief governor of the kingdom
of Ireland, and having arrived there, the parliament was
opened, by his excellency, Nov. 28, and the session continued till the 6th of May, 1728, when he gave the royal
assent to twenty public acts, and concluded with a speech,
expressive of his high regard for the welfare of the kingdom. After this, he embarked for England, but in 1729,
returned again to Ireland, and held another session of parliament, which began on the 23d of September, and
on the 15th of April, 1730. His lordship’s second
vicegerency over the Irish nation was as popular, if not
more so, as the first. His polite and sociable manners
were highly acceptable to all ranks of people. What particularly recommended him was, his being above the little
distinctions of party. He maintained a good correspondence with several of those who were called or reputed
tories, and occasionally distributed a few preferments, of
no great significance, in that line. This having excited
the complaint of some of the bigotted whigs, gave occasion to a facetious and sensible tract of Dr. Swift’s, entitled, “A Vindication of his excellency John lord Carteret,
from the charge of favouring none but Tories, Highchurch-men, and Jacobites.
” With Dr. Swift the lordlieutenant appears to have maintained a strict friendship;
and he was solicitous to act agreeably to the dean’s views
of the interest of the kingdom. In one of his letters,
written to the dean some years afterwards, he thus expresses himself; “When people ask me how I governed
Ireland? I say, that I pleased Dr. Swift.
” The preferments which his excellency bestowed, at the instance of
the dean of St. Patrick’s, were conferred on learned and
worthy men, who did not disgrace their recommender;
and whatever may be thought of the pride, petulance, and
peculiarities of Swift} it cannot rationally be denied, that
he was sincerely devoted to the welfare of the Irish nation.
His lordship, having continued the usual time allotted to
his high office, quitted it in 1730, and was succeeded by
the duke of Dorset.
his lordship made the motion for an address to the king, to know who had advised the removal of the duke of Bolton and lord Cobham from their regiments; and took the
We now come to a part of lord Carteret’s life, including
nearly twelve years, from 1730 to 1742, during which he
engaged in the grand opposition, that was carried on so
long, and with so much pertinacity, against sir Robert
Walpole. In this opposition he took a very distinguished
part, and was one of its ablest and most spirited leaders.
There was scarcely any motion or question on which his
eloquence was not displayed. His powers of oratory are
allowed to have been eminently great; and it is highly
probable, that they were invigorated and increased by
that superior ardour which naturally accompanies an attack
upon the measures of government. In the session of parliament, 1730-1, he supported the bill against pensioners
being permitted to sit in that house; and the motion for
discharging the twelve thousand Hessian forces in the pay
of Great Britain. In the subsequent session, which opened
on the 13th of January, 1731-2, besides speaking in
favour of the pension bill, lord Carteret exerted his whole
ability against the passing of the act for reviving the salt
duty. This tax he asserted to be grievous, pernicious,
and insupportable; oppressive to the lower part of the
people; and dangerous to public liberty, by the numerous
dependents it would create upon the crown. In the next
year, the grand objects that engaged the attention of the
minority were, the motion for the reduction of the land
forces; the produce of the forfeited estates of the SouthSea directors in 1720; and the bill for granting eightythousand pounds for the princess-royal’s marriage settlement, and a sum out of the sinking fund; on which occasions lord Carteret displayed his usual energy and eloquence. In the session which began on the 17th of January, 1733-4, his lordship made the motion for an address
to the king, to know who had advised the removal of the
duke of Bolton and lord Cobham from their regiments;
and took the lead in the memorable debate which arose
upon that question, and an, active part in the other matters that were agitated in this and the following sessions.
It is observable that, about this time, Dr. Swift had some
doubts concerning lord Carteret’s steadiness in the cause
of opposition, yet, in the session>f parliament which
opened on the 1st of February, 1736-7, his lordship distinguished himself greatly in the several question-s concerning the riots at Edinburgh, and the affair of captain
Porteus; and he was the mover, in the house of peers,
for the settlement of an hundred thousand pounds a year,
out of the civil list, upon the prince of Wales; a matter
which excited a very long and violent debate. He exercised the same vigour with regard to all the motions and
questions of that busy session; and it is evident, from the
records of the times, that he was the prime leader of opposition in the upper house. This character was preserved
by lord Carteret in the parliament which met on the 15th
of November, 1739; and in the following session, when
the minority exerted their whole strength to overturn the
administration, he made the motion in the house of peers,
Feb. 13, 1740-1, to address his majesty, that he would
graciously be pleased to remove sir Robert Walpole from
his presence and councils for ever, and prefaced his proposal with the longest, as well as the ablest speech that, he
ever appears to have delivered. A year after, when
views of opposition were attained, so far as related to the
displacing of sir Robert Walpole, lord Carteret, Feb. 12>
1741-42, was appointed one of his majesty’s principal secretaries of state, and then began to change his parliamentary language, opposing the motion for the commitment of the pension -bill, and the bill to indemnify
evidences against Robert earl of Orford, not consistently,
although with some reason. In September 1742, he was
sent to the States General, to concert measures with them,
for the maintenance of the liberties of the United Provinces, and the benefit of the common cause and soon
after his return, he opposed the motion for discharging the
Hanoverian troops in British pay and distinguished himself in favour of the bill for retailing spirituous liquors. In
1743 he waited upon his majesty at Hanover, and attended
him through the whole interesting campaign of that year;
and the king placed the greatest confidence in his counsels,
to which he was the more entitled, as he was eminently
^killed in foreign affairs. On the death of his mother,
upon the 18th of October, 1744, he succeeded to the titles
of viscount Carteret and earl Granville, and, a few weeks
after, resigned the seals as secretary of state, unable to
oppose the patriotic party, whom he had suddenly forsaken, and the duke of Newcastle and his brother, Mr.
Pelham, who formed analliance with them against him.
George II. however, with reluctance parted with a minister who had gained his personal affection by his great
knowledge of the affairs of Europe, by his enterprizing
genius, and, above all, by his ready compliance with the
king’s favourite views. In the beginning of 1746, his
lordship made an effort to retrieve his influence in the cabinet, but the duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pelham, who
knew his aspiring disposition, refused to admit him into
administration, yet mismanaged their intrigues so much,
that at first they were themselves obliged to resign, and
earl Granvilie was appointed secretary of state, and resumed the reins of administration, in February 1745-6:
finding, however, that he could not counteract the accumulated opposition that preponderated against him, he resigned the seals four days after they had' been put into his
hands. Still lord Granville’s political antagonists were not
able to prevent his receiving,. personal marks of royal favour. On the 22d of June, 1749J he was elected at Kensington, one of the knights companions of the most noble
order of the garter, and next year was again brought into
the ministry, in connection with the very men by whom
he had been so long and so warmly opposed. He was
then constituted president of the council, and notwithstanding the various revolutions of administration, was continued in this high post till his decease. When his majesty went to Hanover, in 17- r >2, earl Granville was appointed
one of the lords justices of the kingdom and he was in
the commissions for opening and concluding the session of
parliament, which began on the 31st of May, 1754, and
ended on the 5th of June following. The Ifist time in
which he spoke in the house of peers, was in opposition to
the third reading of the militia-bill, on the 24th of May,
1756, but not with his usual effect. When, in October
1761, Mr. Pitt proposed in council, an immediate declaration of war with Spain, and urged the measure with his
usual energy, threatening a resignation, if his advice should
not be adopted; lord Granville is said to have replied to
him in terms both pointed and personal. Mr. Wood, in
the preface to his “Essay on the original Genius and
Writings of Homer,
” informs us, that “being directed to
wait upon his lordship, a few days before he died, with
the preliminary articles of the treaty of Paris, he found
him so languid, that he proposed postponing his business
for another time; but earl Granville insisted that he should
stay, saying, it could not prolong his life to neglect his
duty; and repeating a passage out of Sarpedon’s speech
in Homer, he dwelled with particular emphasis on one of
the lines which recalled to his mind the distinguishing part
he had taken in public affairs.
” After a pause he desired
to hear the treaty read and gave it the approbation of a
“dying statesman (his own words) on the most glorious
war, and most honourable peace, this nation ever saw.
”
In other respects, lord Granville so much retained his vivacity to the close of his life, as to be able to break out
into sallies of wit and humour. He died Jan. 2, 1763, in.
the seventy-third year of his age. He was twice married;
first at Long-Leat, on the 17th of October, 1710, to
Frances, only daughter of sir Robert Worsley, bart.; and
secondly, on the 14th of April, 1744, to lady Sophia,
daughter of Thomas earl of Pomfret. By his former wife
he had three sons and five daughters; by the latter, only
one daughter.
Lord Granville’s character has been drawn as follows,
by the late earl of Chesterfield: “Lord Granville had
great parts, and a most uncommon share of learning for a
man of quality. He was one of the best speakers in the
house of lords, both in the declamatory and the argumentative way. He had a wonderful quickness and precision
in seizing the stress of a question, which no art, no sophistry, could disguise in him. In business he was bold,
enterprizing, and overbearing. He had been bred up in
high monarchical, that is, tyrannical principles of government, which his ardent and impetuous temper made him
think were the only rational and practicable ones. He
would have been a great first minister in France, little inferior, perhaps, to Richelieu; in this government, which is
yet free, he would have been a dangerous one, little less
so, perhaps, than lord Strafford. He was neither ill-natured nor vindictive, and had a great contempt for money.
His ideas were all above it. In social life he was an agreeable, good-humoured, and instructive companion; a great
but entertaining talker. He degraded himself by the vice
of drinking, which, together with a great stock of Greek
and Latin, he brought away with him from Oxford, and
retained and practised ever afterwards. By his own industry, he had made himself master of all the modern languages, and had acquired a great knowledge of the law.
His political knowledge of the interest of princes and of
commerce was extensive, and his notions were just and
great. His character may be summed up, in nice precision, quick decision, and unbounded presumption.
”
The late duke of Newcastle used to say of lord Granville, that he was a man
The late duke of Newcastle used to say of lord Granville, that he was a man who never doubted. From his lordship’s acknowledged literature, it may naturally be supposed that he patronized learned men and learned undertakings. His regard for Dr. Swift, and his attention to the dean’s recommendations, we have already mentioned. He assisted and encouraged Mr. Lye, in his edition of Junius’s Etymologicon, and the learned Mrs. Grierson of Dublin, when he was lord lieutenant of Ireland. Of Dr. Taylor, the celebrated Grecian, he was the particular patron. The doctor owed his principal preferments to lord Granville; and has testified his gratitude, in the dedication of his Demosthenes, by warmly celebrating his lordship’s excellencies, and especially his eloquence, and his eminent skill in the ancient and modern languages. Our learned peer engaged Dr. Bentley to undertake an edition of Homer, and was very active in procuring the doctor the use of manuscripts, and- other necessary aids, for that purpose. Dr, Bentley, when he came to town, was accustomed, in his visits to lord Carteret, sometimes to spend the evenings with his lordship. One day ojjl lady Granville reproached her son with keeping the country tler^yman, who was with him the night before, till he was intoxicated. Lord Carteret denied the charge; upon which the lady replied, that the clergyman could not have sung in so ridiculous a manner, unless he had been in liquor. The truth was, that the singing thus mistaken by her ladyship, was Dr. Bentley’s endeavour to instruct and entertain his noble friend, by reciting Terence according to the? true cantilena of the ancients.
ecommended himself so powerfully by professions of loyalty, as to be made domestic chaplain to Henry duke of Gloucester, prebendary of Twyford, in the church of St. Paul;
, bishop of Chester, and
supposed to be grandson to the preceding, was born at
Northampton, Sept. 1, 1634. His father was for some
time master of the endowed school of Brentwood, in Essex,
and he appears to have been educated in the religious principles which prevailed among the anti-episcopal party.
He was entered of Magdalen hall, Oxford, but was soon
removed to Queen’s college by the power of the parliamentary visitors in 1649; and after taking orders, became
chaplain of that college, and vicar of Walthamstow in
Essex. In 1659, he was preacher at St. Mary Magdalen’s,
Fish-street. After the restoration, he recommended himself so powerfully by professions of loyalty, as to be made
domestic chaplain to Henry duke of Gloucester, prebendary of Twyford, in the church of St. Paul; of Chalford,
in the church of Wells; a chaplain in ordinary to the
king, and rector of St. Thomas Apostle, London, and was
created D. D. although not of standing for it. To these,
in 1672, was added a prebend of Durham; and in 1677,
he was made dean of Rippon. He had likewise a hard
struggle with Dr. Womack for the bishopric of St. David’s;
but in the reign of James II. in 1686, he succeeded to
that of Chester, for boldly asserting in one of his sermons,
that the king’s promises to parliament were not binding.
The most remarkable event of his life, was his acting as
one of the commissioners in the memorable attempt which
his infatuated master made to controul the president and
fellows of Magdalen college, Oxford, when they rejected
a popish president intruded upon them by the king. Upon
the revolution he fled to France, where he officiated as
minister to the protestant part of the king’s household;
and upon the death of Dr. Seth Ward, became titular
bishop of Salisbury. He afterwards accompanied the abdicated monarch to Ireland, where he died of a dysentery,
April 15, 1689, and was sumptuously interred in the choir
of Christ-church, Dublin. The report by Richardson, in
his edition of Godwin, of his having died in the communion of the church of Rome, seems doubtful; but on his
death-bed his expressions were certainly equivocal. His
“Speech spoken to the society of Magdalen college,
” his
examination of Dr. Hough, and several occasional sermons,
enumerated by Wood, are in print. He appears to have
been a man too subservient to the will of James, to act
with more prudence or principle than his master, who, it
is said, looked upon him as neither protestant nor papist,
and had little or no esteem for him.
ed in the “Cabala.” In the Harl. ms. 1581, there are four original letters from lord Falkland to the duke of Buckingham.
, afterwards created viscount Falkland,
and descended from the family of the Gary’s, of Cockington, in Devonshire, was the son of sir Edward Gary, of
Betkhamsted and Aldenham, in the county of Hertford,
knight, master of the Jewel-office to queen Elizabeth and
king James I. by Catherine his wife, daughter of sir Henry
Knevet, knight, and widow of Henry lord Paget. He was
born at Aldenham; and, when about sixteen years of age,
was sent to Exeter-college in Oxford, where it does not
appear he took any degree: but when he quitted the university, he left behind a celebrated name. Soon after, he
was introduced to court; and in 1608, made one of the
knights of the bath at the creation of Henry prince of
Wales. In 1617, he was sworn in comptroller of his majesty’s houshold, and one of his privy-council: and on
the 10th of November, 1620, was created viscount of Falkland, in the county of Fife, in Scotland. King James I.
knowing his great abilities and experience, constituted
him lord deputy of Ireland; into which high office he was
sworn, September 18, 1622; and continued in it till 1629.
During his administration, he kept a strict hand over. the
Roman catholics in that kingdom; who sent frequent complaints to the court of England against him, and though
he proceeded very honourably and justly, yet by the clamour of the Irish, and the prevailing power of his Popish
enemies, he was removed in disgrace; but his innocence
being afterwards vindicated, this affront was in some measure atoned for by the subsequent t'avour of the king. At
his return to England, he lived in honour and esteem, till
1633; when having the misfortune to break one of his
legs, on a stand in TheobaldVpark, he died in September and was buried at Aldenham. He married Elizabeth,
sole daughter andheir of sir Laurence Tanfield, chief
baron of the exchequer, with whom he had the manor of
Great Tew, Burford, and other estates in Oxfordshire.
He is said to have written many things, which never were
published, except, 1. “The History of the most unfortunate prince, king Edward II.
” found among his papers,
and printed in 1680, fol. and 8vo, with a preface of sir
James Harrington; at a time, says Wood, “when the
press was open for all books that could make any thing
against the then government.
” 2. “A Letter to James I.
”
and an “Epitaph on Elizabeth countess of Huntingdon,
”
which is in Wilford’s Memorials. The letter to the king
was in behalf of his son, the subject of the following article; who, for challenging sir Francis Willoughby, had
been thrown into the Meet. It was printed in the “Cabala.
” In the Harl. ms. 1581, there are four original
letters from lord Falkland to the duke of Buckingham.
tor of divinity, born at Nismes in 1633, was son of Michael Cassagnes, master of the requests to the duke of Orleans, afterwards treasurer to the demesne of the Seneschally
, a doctor of divinity, born at Nismes in 1633, was son of Michael Cassagnes, master of the requests to the duke of Orleans, afterwards treasurer to the demesne of the Seneschally of Nismes. He was admitted into the French academy at the age of twenty-seven, in consequence of an ode written in its praise, 1660; and the poem he published the year following, in which he introduces Henry IV. giving instructions to Louis XIV. gained him the friendship of M. Colbert. This minister procured him a pension from the court, appointed him keeper of the king’s library, and nominated him one of the first four academicians, who originally composed the academy of inscriptions. The abbe Cassagnes was preparing to preach at court, when Boileau placed his name by that of Cotin in his third satire: this satirical stroke made him renounce the pulpit, and preyed on a mind probably vain and weak. Imagining, afterwards, that he had entirely lost the esteem of the public, he thought to recover his reputation by publishing a multiplicity of works; but too great application, joined to a morose temper, and many disappointments, impaired his understanding, and his friends were obliged to place him at St. Lazare, where he died, May 19, 1675, aged 46. He left odes, which are printed separately, and in collections a translation of Cicero’s Rhetoric, 12mo, and of Sallust, 12mo, and other forgotten works.
ting by Bernardino Strozzi, and under his direction became an eminent portraiupainter; and the grand duke of Tuscany invited him to his court, where he painted the portraits
, called Nicoletto, a Venetian, artist, was born at Venice in 1659, and was the eldest son, and disciple of John Francis Cassana, a Genoese, who had been taught the art of painting by Bernardino Strozzi, and under his direction became an eminent portraiupainter; and the grand duke of Tuscany invited him to his court, where he painted the portraits of that prince and the princess Violante his consort. Of the historical subjects painted by this master while he resided at Florence, perhaps the most considerable was the Conspiracy of Catiline it consisted of nine figures as large as life, down to the knees; and the two principal figures were represented, as with one hand joined in the presence of their companions, and in their other hand holding a cup of blood. Nicoletto was invited to England, with strong assurances of a generous reception; and on his arrival, painted the portrait of queen Anne, in which he succeeded so happily, that the queen distinguished him by many marks of favour and of honour; but he had not the happiness to enjoy his good fortune for any length of time, dying in London, universally regretted, in the year 1713. He had a younger brother, G. Augustine Cassana, who, though a good portrait- painter, preferred the representation of animals and various fruits his pictures of that class are frequent in the collections of Italy, and sometimes ascribed to Castiglione. He had a sister, Maria Vittoria Cassana, who painted images of devotion for private amateurs, and died at Venice in the beginning of the last century.
ath the business was for some time suspended but it was afterwards revived under the auspices of the duke of Richmond, master-general of the ordnance, and the execution
A tour which our author made in Flanders, in company
with the king, about 1741, gave rise to the particular
chart of France, at the instance of the king. Cassini
published different works relative to these charts, and a great
number of the sheets of the charts themselves. In 1761,
Cassini undertook an expedition into Germany; for the
purpose of continuing to Vienna the perpendicular of the
Paris meridian; to unite the triangles of the chart of France
with the points taken in Germany; to prepare the means
of extending into this country the same plan as in France;
and thus to establish successively for all Europe a most
useful uniformity. Our author was at Vienna the 6th of
June, 1761, the day of the transit of the planet Venus over
the sun, of which he observed as much as the state of the
weather would permit him to do, and published the account
of it in his “Voyage en Allemagne.
” M. Cassini, always
meditating the perfection of his grand design, profited of
the peace of 1762, to propose the joining of certain points
taken upon the English coast with those which had been
determined on the coast of France, and thus to connect
the general chart of the latter with that of the British isles,
like as he had before united it with those of Flanders and
Germany. The proposal was favourably received by the
English government, and presently carried into effect,
under the direction of the royal society, the execution
being committed to the late general Roy after whose
death the business was for some time suspended but it
was afterwards revived under the auspices of the duke
of Richmond, master-general of the ordnance, and the
execution committed to the care of col. Edward Williams
and capt. William Mudge, both respectable officers of the
artillery, and Mr. Isaac Dalby, who had before accompanied and assisted general Roy.
He deeply lamented the death of this great man, and it is supposed to have hastened his own in 1644. Duke Leopold ordered his bust to be placed beside that of Galileo.
, an Italian mathematician, the
particular friend of Galileo, was born of an ancient and
noble family at Brescia, in the year 1577. In 1595, he
entered into a monastery of the order of St. Benedict in his
native city, but afterwards studied at Padua and at Florence,
where he became a disciple of Galileo, and assisted him in
his astronomical observations, and afterwards maintained a
regular correspondence with him. Galileo, not only had
the highest esteem for his talents, but reposed the utmost
confidence in his friendship. Under his name the apology
of Galileo against the censures of Ludovico delle Colombe
and Vincent di Grazia appeared, though it was principally
written by Galileo himself. From 1615 to 1625, he occupied the mathematical chair at Pisa. In 1625, Castelli
was invited to Rome by pope Urban VIII. and made mathematical professor in the college della Sapienza. The
subject of his particular attention, and in the investigation
of which he chiefly excelled, was the motion of water, on
which subject as connected with the health of the cities of
Venice, &c. he was frequently consulted, and suggested
many important improvements. In 1628, he published on
the mensuration of running waters, “Delia misura dell'
acque correnti,
” Rome, 4to, and “Dimostrazioni geometriche clella misura dell acque correnti,
” ibid. 4to. These
have been inserted in the collection of the author’s works
on similar topics, printed at Florence, with other treatises,
on the laguna of Venice, on the improvement of the Pontine, Bolognese, Ferrarese, and Romagnese marshes, &c.
in 1766. Guglielrnini, though in other things he impugns
Castelli, allows him the honour of having first applied geometry to the motion of water; and Montucla calls him
“The Creator of a new part of Hydraulics.
” His defence of
Galileo, “Riposta alle opposizioni del Sig. Ludovico delle
Colombe, &c.
” was published at Florence,
ibed as a noble composition, was painted by this master; and at Florence, in the palace of the grand duke, there is another excellent painting, the Rape of the Sabines.
, son of the preceding, was born, at Genoa, in 1625, and studied in the school of Doineniqo Fiasella; but he owed his principal knowledge in the art of painting to studying the works of the most celebrated masters at Milan and Parma, by which he improved his taste of design, composition, and colouring. His reputation for drawing, colouring, and the elegant turn of his figures, placed him in a rank far superior to his father. His most favourite subjects were battles, which he composed with spirit, and executed with a pleasing variety; and his horses are drawn in an admirable style, full of motion, action, and life. In this style of painting he is said to have united the fire of Tintoretto with the fine taste and composition of Paolo Veronese. With respect to historical subjects, he possessed great merit both in easel pictures and in those of larger dimensions; and his works, although not frequent, are held in great estimation. Among those of the great style, the cupola of the church, and the Annunciation at Genoa, which is described as a noble composition, was painted by this master; and at Florence, in the palace of the grand duke, there is another excellent painting, the Rape of the Sabines. His pictifre, representing Christ taken down from the cross, is in the collection of the earl of Pembroke at Wilton; and it is said that more of the easel pictures of Castelli are to be found in the collections of England than in any other part of Europe. His health was injured by his assiduous labour; and he died at Genoa at the early age of 34, in 1659.
When Castiglione was eighteen years of age, he went into military service, under Lewis Sforza, duke of Milan; but his father dying soon after, and some disastrous
When Castiglione was eighteen years of age, he went
into military service, under Lewis Sforza, duke of Milan;
but his father dying soon after, and some disastrous circumstances overtaking that state, he was obliged to quit
the camp, and return to Mantua. He engaged a second
time in the service of the duke, and distinguished himself
much by his bravery and conduct; but returning soon
after, and being desirous to see other courts, particularly
that of Rome, he went thither at the very time that Julius II. obtained the popedom. His fame was not unknown
to this pontiff; and the high opinion he had of his abilities
and merit, made him write to Guido Ubaldo, duke of Urbino, his cousin, that if he would send him to the court
of Rome, in his own name, with the character of a public
minister, he should take it as a singular obligation. Castiglione was twenty-six years of age; and Guido Ubaldo
sent him ambassador to pope Julius, to transact affairs of
the highest importance. He was sent upon a second embassy to Lewis XII. of France, and upon a third to Henry
VII. of England; whither he went to be invested with the
order of the garter, as proxy for the duke his master. On
his arrival in England he was received with every mark of
honour and esteem, being met at the port where he landed
by the earl of Huntingdon, who was then lord of the bedchamber, accompanied by many other lords, and a king at
arms. After he had dispatched his business here, and was
returned home, to gratify the importunities of Alfonso
Ariosto, his particular friend, he began his celebrated
work, “The Courtier,
” which in a small space of time he
completed at Rome, in March 1516. From this work we
may perceive how intimate he was with the Greek and
Latin authors, having here gleaned together the first flowers
of their wit, and treasured up, as it were, in a single cabinet, the richest jewels of antiquity. The book has been
universally well received, both in Italy, and abroad; often
reprinted, and translated into several languages. It is lull
of moral and political instructions; and, it' we wish to
study the Italian tongue, it is said that it can no where be
found in more purity.
Castiglione was highly esteemed and favoured by the duke Francisco Maria, who constituted him his first minister of state,
Castiglione was highly esteemed and favoured by the duke Francisco Maria, who constituted him his first minister of state, as well in civil as military affairs; and for his services, particularly at the siege of Mirandola, at which pope Julius was present, made him a free gift of the castle of Nuvolara, in the county of Pesaro, with the most ample privileges to himself, and to his heirs and successors for ever. This was in 1513. Not long after, Leo X. confirmed it to him by two briefs; the one written to him by Peter Bembo, and dated March 14, 1514; the other by Jacomus Sadolet, in May following. Having now reached his thirty-sixth year, he married a noble lady, who was the daughter of the famous Bentivoglio, and very remarkable for her wit and beauty. She brought him a son and two daughters, and then died; having lived no more than four years with him.
al to his reputation. He found liberal patrons, however, in the Venetian senator Sacredo, and in the duke of Mantua, in whose service he lived and died in 1670.
He painted a considerable time at Rome, Naples, Florence, Parma, and Venice, in which cities, although he left very striking instances of his skill, his fortune was not equal to his reputation. He found liberal patrons, however, in the Venetian senator Sacredo, and in the duke of Mantua, in whose service he lived and died in 1670.
en of England, and fifth wife of Henry VIII. was daughter of lord Edmund Howard (third son of Thomas duke of Norfolk, and grandson of John first duke of Norfolk), by
, queen of England, and fifth wife of Henry VIII. was daughter of lord Edmund Howard (third son of Thomas duke of Norfolk, and grandson of John first duke of Norfolk), by Joyce, daughter of sir Richard Culpepper, of Holingbourne in Kent, knight. Her mother dying while she was young, she was educated under the care of her grandmother, the duchess dowager of Norfolk; and when she grew up, the charms of her person soon captivated the affections of Henry VIII, who, upon his divorce from Anne of Cleves, married her, and shewed her publicly as queen, Aug. 8, 1540, But this marriage proved of the utmost prejudice to the cause of the reformation, which had begun to spread itself in the kingdom. ' The queen being absolutely guided by the counsels of the duke of Norfolk, her uncle, and Gardiner bishop of Winchester, used all the power she had over the king to support the credit of the enemies of the protestants, In the summer of 1541, she attended his majesty to York, to meet his nephew the king of Scotland, who had promised to give him an interview in that city, but was diverted by his clergy, and a message from the court of France, from that resolution; and during that progress she gained so entire an ascendant over the king’s heart, that at his return to London, on All-Saints day, when he received the sacrament, he gave public thanks to God for the happiness which he enjoyed by her means and desired his confessor, the bishop of Lincoln, to join with him in the like thanksgiving. But this proved a very short-lived satisfaction, for the jiext clay, archbishop Cranmer came to him with information that the queen had been unfaithful to his bed. By the advice of the lord chancellor and other privy counsellors, the archbishop wrote the particulars on a paper, which he delivered to the king, being at a loss how to open so delicate a matter in conversation. When the king read it, he was much confounded, and his attachment to the queen made him at first consider the story as a forgery, but having full proof, the persons with whom the queen Jiad been guilty, Dierham and Mannoch, two of the duchess dowager of Norfolk’s domestics, were apprehended, and not only confessed what was laid to their charge, but revealed some other circumstances, which placed the guilt of the queen in a most heinous light. The report of this struck the king so forcibly, that he lamented his misfortune with a flood of tears. The archbishop and some other counsellors were sent to examine the queen, who at first denied every thing, but finding that her crime was known, confessed all, and subscribed the paper. It appeared likewise, that she had intended to continue in that scandalous course of life; for as she had brought Dierham into her service, she had also retained one of the women, who had formerly been privy to their familiarities, to attend upon her in her bed-chamber; and while the king was at Lincoln, by the lady Rochford’s means, one Culpepper was brought to her at eleven at night, and stayed with her till four next morning; and at his departure received from her a gold chain. Culpepper being examined, confessed the crime: for which he, with Dierham, suffered death on the 1 Oth of December.
e affair occasioned a new parliament to be summoned on Jan. 16, 1541-2, in which the archbishop, the duke of Suffolk, the earl of Southampton, and the bishop of Winchester,
This unfortunate affair occasioned a new parliament to be summoned on Jan. 16, 1541-2, in which the archbishop, the duke of Suffolk, the earl of Southampton, and the bishop of Winchester, were appointed to examine the queen; which they did on the 28th of that month. Their report is recorded only in general, that she confessed; but no particulars are mentioned. Upon this the parliament passed an act in the form of a petition, in which, after desiring the king not to be grieved at this misfortune, they requested, that the queen and her accomplices, with her procuress the lady Rochford, might be attainted of high treason; and that all those, who knew of the queen’s Vicious course before her marriage, and had concealed it, as the duchess dowager of Norfolk her grandmother, the countess of Bridgwater, the lord William Howard her uncle, and his kidy, with the four other men and five women, who were already attainted by the course of common law (except the duchess of Norfolk and the countess of Bridgwater), might be attainted of misprision of treason. It was enacted also, that whoever knew any thing of the incontinence of the queen for the time being, should reveal it with all possible speed, under the pains of treason: and that if the king, or his successors, should incline to marry any woman, whom they took to be a virgin, if she, not being so, did not declare the same to the king, it should be high treason; and all, who knew it, and did not reveal it, were guilty of misprision of treason: and if the queen, or the prince’s wife, should procure any person, by messages or words, to have criminal conversation with her; or any other, by messages or words, should solicit them; they, their counsellors and abettors, were to be adjudged guilty of high treason.
ived her very graciously, and formed the scheme of a matrimonial union between her nephew, the grand- duke, afterwards Peter III. and Sophia; who, though instructed under
late empress of Russia, whose original name was Sophia Augusta Fredeiuca, the daughter of Christian Augustus, prince of Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg, and of the princess of Holstein, was born at Stettin, in Prussian Pomerania, May 2, 1729. In early life she was distinguished by her good humour, intelligence, and spirit, and was fond of reading, reflection, learning, and employment. About the beginning of the year 1744, she was introduced at the court of Petersburg!], where the empress Elizabeth received her very graciously, and formed the scheme of a matrimonial union between her nephew, the grand-duke, afterwards Peter III. and Sophia; who, though instructed under the tuition of her mother in the Lutheran doctrines, embraced the religion of the Greek church, and on this occasion changed her name to that of Catherine Alcxievna. Before the nuptials were celebrated, the grand duke was seized with the small-pox, which so much deformed his face, as to render it for a time almost hideous. This metamorphosis produced a horror in the mind of the young princess at the first Interview, which, however, she had sufficient art to disguise, and which proved no impediment to their marriage, which took place in 1745. At first their attachment appeared to be mutual, but their dispositions and accomplishments were soon discovered to be different. Catherine displayed a superior understanding, which in time Peter felt, and thus the seeds of mutual dislike were very early sown. Their consolations were now also different. Peter had recourse to drinking and gaming, while Catherine entered into all the arcana of political measures, and began to form a party. She also now formed the first of those personal attachments for which she has been so remarkable, with Soltikof, the prince’s chamberlain; and although, when accused, she defended her character with some address and spirit, her intercourse with Soltikof was renewed, and became less secret. At length, the grand chancellor Bestuchef prevailed with the empress to appoint Soltikof minister plenipotentiary from the court of Russia to Hamburgh. For some time Catherine corresponded with him, but in 1755 formed a new connection of the same kind with Stanislaus Poniatowsky, the late king of Poland, and he being appointed plenipotentiary from Poland at the court of Russia, their intimacy was long visible to all, except the grand duke Peter. His jealousy being at length roused, he forbade the grand duchess to be seen with Poniatowsky, and prevailed on the empress to banish Bestuchef, who had been the means of Poniatowski’s mission to the court of Russia, and incensed her majesty against Catherine to such a degree, that it required her utmost cunning to effect a reconciliation, which was however at length brought about, and on the death of the empress Elizabeth, Dec. 25, 1761, Peter III. ascended the throne.
and this woman had the hardihood to claim the performance of a promise which he had made when grand duke, to marry her, place her, in the room of Catherine, on the throne,
Peter’s conduct, on the other hand, was mere infatuation.
He permitted his mistress the countess Woronzoff to have
the most complete ascendancy over him, and this woman
had the hardihood to claim the performance of a promise
which he had made when grand duke, to marry her, place
her, in the room of Catherine, on the throne, and bastardize his son Paul, whose place he was to supply by
adopting prince Ivan, who had been dethroned by the empress Elizabeth. Whatever ground he might have for
expecting success to this wild project, he had not the sense
to conceal it; and his mistress openly made her boast of it.
Such indiscretion was, no doubt, in favour of Catherine^
but still the part she had to play required all her skill. It
was no less than a plot to counteract that of her husband,
and dethrone him. The minute details of this would extend too far in a sketch like the present; her conspirators
were numerous, secret, and well prepared, and by their
means she, who had been confined at Peterhof by her husband, was enabled to enter Petersburgh July 9, 1762,
where she was received as empress, and where, while the
enthusiasm was fresh in the minds of her troops and subjects, she was crowned in the church of Kazan, by the
archbishop of Novogorod, who proclaimed her with a loud
voice, sovereign of all the Russias, by the title of Catherine II. and declared at the same time the young grand
duke, Paul Petrovitch, her successor. But of all this
Peter III. had yet no suspicion. Such was his security,
that he set out, after having received some intimations of
the conspiracy, from Oranienbaum in a calash with his
mistress, his favourites, and the women of his court, for
Peterhof; but in the way, Gudovitch, the general aidede-camp, met one of the chamberlains of the empress, by
whom he was informed of her escape from Peterhof; and
upon his communicating the intelligence to Peter, he
turned pale, and appeared much agitated. On his arrival
at Peterhof, his agitation and confusion increased, when
he found that the empress had actually left the palace,
and he soon received the certain tidings of the revolution
that had been accomplished; and the chancellor Worouzof
offered his services to hasten to Petersburgh, engaging to
bring the empress back. The chancellor, on entering the
palace, found Catherine surrounded by a multitude of
people in the act of doing homage; and forgetting his
duty, he took the oath with the rest. He was permitted,
however, at his earnest request, to return to his house,
under the guard of some trusty officers; and thus secured
himself from the vindictive spirit of the partisans of Catherine, and from the suspicions of the czar. After the departure of the chancellor, Peter became a prey to the most
distressing anxieties, and he every instant received some
fresh intelligence of the progress of the revolution, but
knew not what steps to pursue. Although his Holstein
guards were firmly attached to him, and the veteran marshal Munich offered to risk every thing for his service, he
remained hesitating and undetermined; and after some
fruitless attempts, he found it absolutely necessary to submit unconditionally to her will, in consequence of which
he was compelled to sign a most humiliating act of abdication, in which he declared his conviction of his inability
to govern the empire, either as a sovereign, or in any other
capacity, and his sense of the distress in which his continuance at the head of affairs would inevitably involve it,
and in the evening an officer with a strong escort came
and conveyed him prisoner to Ropscha, a small imperial
palace, at the distance of about 20 versts from Peterhof.
He now sent a message to Catherine, requesting, that he
might retain in his service the negro who had been attached
to him, and who amused him with his singularities, together with a dog, of which he was fond, his violin, a Bible,
and a few romances; assuring her, that, disgusted at the
wickedness of mankind, he would henceforward devote
himself to a philosophical life. Not one of these requests
was granted. After he had been at Ropscha six days without the knowledge of any persons besides the chiefs of the
conspirators, and the soldiers by whom he was guarded,
Alexius Orlof, accompanied by Teplof, came to him with
the news of his speedy deliverance, and asked permission
to dine with him. While the officer amused the czar with
some trifling discourse, his chief rilled the wine-glasses,
which are usually brought in the northern countries before
dinner, and poured a poisonous mixture into that which
he intended for the prince. The czar, without distrust,
swallowed the potion; on which he was seized with the
most excruciating pains; and on his being offered a second glass, on pretence of its giving him relief, he refused
it with reproaches on him that offered it. Being pressed
to take another glass, when he called for milk, a French
valet-de-chamhre, who was greatly attached to him, ran
in; and throwing himself into his arms, he said in a faint
tone of \oice, “It was not enough, then, to prevent me
from reigning in Sweden, and to deprive me of the crown
of Russia! I must also be put to death.
” The valet-dechamhre interceded in his behalf; but the two miscreant
forced him out of the room, and continued their ill treatment of him. In the midst of the tumult, the younger of
the princes Baratinsky, who commanded the guard, entered; Orlof, who in a struggle had thrown down the emperor, was pressing upon his breast with both his knees,
and firmly griping his throat with his hand. In this situation the two other assassins threw a napkin with a running knot round his neck, and put an end to his life by
suffocation, July 17th, just one week after the revolution;
and it was announced to the nation, that Peter had died
of an haemorrhoidal colic. When Catherine received the
news of Peter’s death, she appeared at court, whither she
was going, with a tranquil air; and afterwards shut herself
up with Orlof, Panin, Rasumofsky, and others who had
been concerned in her counterplot, and resolved to inform
the senate and people next day of the death of the emperor. On this occasion she did not forget her part, but
rose from her seat with her eyes full of tears, and for some
days exhibited all the marks of profound grief. The best
part of her conduct was, that she showed no resentment to
the adherents of Peter, and even pardoned the countess
Woronzoff.
lf submitted to the operation under the care of an English practitioner, and she persuaded the grand duke to follow her example. In 1768, Dr. T Dimsdale, of Hertford,
In 1764, when the throne of Poland had become vacant by the death of Augustus III. in the October of the preceding year, Catherine displayed her political talents and influence in the advancement of her early favourite count Poiu'atowsky to that dignity. At this time she made a tour through Esthonia, Livonia, and Courland; but during her absence on this expedition, an insurrection broke out in the prison of the dethroned Ivan, which threatened the stability of her own throne. But this was soon quelled by the murder of that unhappy prince. What share the empress had in this affair is not very clear, but the event was certainly in her favour, and she now proceeded in her improvements, and in the establishment of useful institutions, endeavouring to soften the manners of her subjects by instruction. She also seemed determined to be at once both conqueror and legislatrix, and it is certain that the laws of the Russian empire were much simplified under her reign, and the administration of justice rendered milder and more impartial. Her purpose was to form a solid, and not an arbitrary legislation. Her whole plan was directed to prevent all those who governed under her from exercising a capricious and cruel authority, by subjecting them to invariable laws, which no authority should be able to infringe, but in this, when they were at a distance, she was not always successful. She also continued to cultivate and encourage the arts and sciences; to make her empire an asylum to the learned and ingenious and the transit of Vqihis, which happened in 1769, afforded an opportunity of exhibiting as well the munificence of Catherine as the attention she paid to astronomy. About the middle of the year 1767, the empress conceived the useful project of sending several learned men to travel into the interior of her immense territories, for the purpose of determining the geographical position of the principal places, of marking their temperature, and of examining into the nature of their soil, their productions, their wealth, as well as the manners and characters of the several people by whom they are inhabited. The selection of the learned travellers destined for this expedition, the helps that were granted them, and the excellent instructions that were given them, will be a lasting honour to the academy of sciences, by which they were appointed. About this time, viz. in 1768, the court of Catherine became the asylum of the sciences, to which she invited learned men from every part of Europe. She encouraged artists and scholars of all denominations; she granted new privileges to the academy of sciences, and exhorted the members to add the names of several celebrated foreigners to those which already conferred a lustre on their society. Nor was she less attentive to the academy of arts, by increasing the number of its pupils, and adding such regulations as tended more than ever to the attainment of the end for which it was endowed. For the further encouragement of the fine arts in her dominions, the empress assigned an annual sum of 5000 rubles for the translation of foreign works into the Russian language. The improvement of the state of physic was another important object of her concern; and in order to give the highest possible sanction to the salutary practice of inoculating for the small pox, she herself submitted to the operation under the care of an English practitioner, and she persuaded the grand duke to follow her example. In 1768, Dr. T Dimsdale, of Hertford, was invited to Russia for the purpose of introducing inoculation:. upon the recovery of trie grand duke, Catherine rewarded his services by creating him a baron of the Russian empire, and appointed him counsellor of state and physician to her imperial majesty, with a pension of 500l. a year, to be paid him in England; besides 10,000l. sterling, which he immediately received; and she also presented him with a miniatnre picture of herself, and another of the grand duke, as a memorial of his services. Her majesty likewise expressed her approbation of the conduct of his son, by conferring on him the same title, and ordering him to be presented with a superb gold snuff-box, richly set with diamonds. On December 3, 1768, a thanksgiving service was performed in the chapel of the palace on account of her majesty’s recovery and that of the grand duke from the small-pox: and the senate decreed, that this event should be solemnized by an anniversary festival, which has been regularly observed ever since.
i. e. the destruction of the Turkish empire in Europe; in the view of which she had named the grand duke’s second son Constantine, and had put him into the hands of
In the following year, 1783, she augmented the splendour of her court, by instituting the new order of St.
Wolodimir, or Vladimir, and this year, having acquired,
without a war, the sovereignty of the Crimea, of the isle
of Taman, and a great part of the Kuban, she called the
former of these countries Taurida, and the other Caucasus.
Thus Catherine gained a point of much importance towards
the main object of her ambition, i. e. the destruction of
the Turkish empire in Europe; in the view of which she
had named the grand duke’s second son Constantine, and
had put him into the hands of Greek nurses, that he might
be thoroughly acquainted with the language of his future
subjects. Instigated by Potemkin, the empress formed a
design in 1787 of being splendidly crowned in her new
dominions “queen of Taurida;
” but the expence being
objected to by some of her courtiers, she contented herself
with making a grand progress through them. At her new
city of Cherson, she had a second interview with the emperor Joseph. She then traversed the Crimea, and returned to Moscow, having left traces in her progress of her
munificence and condescension. This ostentatious tour
was probably one cause of the new rupture with the Turkish court, in which the emperor of Germany engaged as
ally to Russia, and the king of Sweden as ally to the Porte.
The latter prevented the empress from sending a fleet into
the Mediterranean; and even endangered Petersburgh itself
by a sudden incursion into Finland. The danger, however,
was averted by the empress’s own vigorous exertions, by
the desertion of some of Gustavus’s troops, who would not
fight against the Russians, and by an attack of Sweden, on
the part of the prince of Denmark, who proceeded as far
as Gottenburgh. The Turkish army, though superior to
that of the empress, could not resist the efforts of the
Russian generals. Potemkin at the head of a numerous
army, and a large train of artillery, laid siege to Otchakof,
and it was at length taken by storm, with the loss of 25,000
Turks and 12,000 Russians, but the issue of the war was
upon the whole unfavourable, and all parties consented to
the peace signed in 1792, by which the Dniester was declared to be in future the limit of the two empires. Mr.
Pitt at this time had a strong desire to compel Russia to
restore Otchakof to the Turks, but not being supported by
the nation, this point was conceded. When the French
revolution took place, the empress finding Prussia and
Austria engaged in opposing it by force of arms, turned
her attention to Poland, marched an army thither, overturned the new constitution the Poles had formed, and
finally broke the spirit of the Poles by the dreadful massacre made on the inhabitants of the suburbs of Warsaw by
her general Suvarof: a new division took place of this illfated country, between Russia, Austria, and Prussia, and
afforded precedents for other divisions which the two latter
powers little suspected.
loss would be too great.' 7 Having attained to the rank of lieutenant-general, in 1688, he beat the duke of Savoy at Staffarde and at the Marsaille, made himself master
, one of the ablest generals under Louis XIV. the son of the dean of the counsellors of
parliament, was born at Paris, Sept. 1, 1637, and began
his career at the bar; but having lost a cause that had
justice on its side, he renounced the profession for that of
arms. He first served in the cavalry, where he never
omitted an opportunity of distinguishing himself. In 1667,
in the presence of Louis XIV. at the attack on the counterscarpe of Lisle, he performed an action so honourable
both to his judgment and his courage, that it procured
him a lieutenantcy in the regiment of guards. Gradually
rising to the first dignities in the army, he signalized himself at Maestricht, at Besangon, at Senef, at Cambray, at
Valenciennes, at St. Omer’s, at Ghent, and at Ypres.
The great Comic“set a proper value on his merit, and
wrote to him, after the hattle of Senef, where Catinat had
been wounded:
” No one takes a greater interest in your
wound than I do; there are so few men like you, that in
losing you our loss would be too great.' 7 Having attained
to the rank of lieutenant-general, in 1688, he beat the
duke of Savoy at Staffarde and at the Marsaille, made himself master of all Savoy and a part of Piedmont; marched
from Italy to Flanders, besieged and took the fortress of
Ath in 1697. He had been marechal of France from 1693,
and the king, reading the list of the marechals in his cabinet, exclaimed, on coming to his name: “Here valour has
met with its deserts!
” The war breaking out again in
If Villeroi has the command,
” said Eugene, “I shall beat him; if
Vendome be appointed, we shall have a stout struggle; if
it be Catinat, 1 shall be beaten.
” The bad state of the
army, the want of money for its subsistence, the little harmony there was between him and the duke of Savoy,
whose sincerity he suspected, prevented him from fulfilling
the prediction of prince Eugene. He was wounded in the
atfair of Chiari, and forced to retreat as far as behind the
Oglio. This retreat, occasioned by the prohibition he had
received from the court to oppose the passage of prince
Eugene, was the source of his subsequent mistakes and misfortunes. Catinat, notwithstanding his victories and his
negociations, was obliged to serve under Villeroi; and the
last disciple of Turenne and Conde was no longer allowed
to act but as second in command.' He bore this injustice
like a man superior to fortune. “I strive to forget my
misfortunes,
” he says in a letter to one of his friends,
“that my mind may be more at ease in executing the
orders of the marechal de Villeroi.
” In 1705 the king
named him to be a chevalier; but he refused the honour
intended him. His family testifying their displeasure at
this procedure, “Well, then,
” said he to his relations,
“strike me out of your genealogy
” He increased as little
as possible the crowd of courtiers. Louis XIV. once asking him why he was never seen at Marli; and whether it
was some business that prevented his coming? “None at
all,
” returned the marechal; “but the court is very numerous, and I keep away in order to let others have room
to pay their respects to you.
” He died at his estate of St.
Gratian, Feb. 25, 1712, at the age of 74, with the same
sedateness of mind that had accompanied him through life.
Numberless anecdotes are related of him, which shew that
this calmness of temper never forsook him. After an ineffectual attack at the unfortunate affair of Chiari, rallying
his troops, an officer said to him: “Whither would you
have us to go? to death?
” “It is true,
” replied Catinat,
“death is before us; but shame is behind.
” He had
qualities yet more estimable than bravery. He was humane and modest. The part of his labours most interesting
to humanity, was a regular correspondence with marechal
Vauban, on the administration of the revenues of the various countries which they had visited during their military
expeditions. They did not seek for means of increasing
the revenues of their sovereign beyond measure; but they
endeavoured to find the most equitable repartition of the
taxes, and the cheapest way of collecting them. Catinat,
on account of his cautiousness and judgment, was, by the
soldiers under his command, significantly called Pere la
Pensee, “Father Thought,
” a sirname which he appears
to have deserved in his peaceable retreat, not less than in
his military expeditions.
shire; and Charles Cavendish settled at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire, father of William baron Ogle and duke of Newcastle; and three daughters: Frances, who married sir
, second son of Thomas Cavendish of Cavendish, in Suffolk, clerk of the pipe in the reign of Henry VIII. was born about 1505. He received a liberal education, and had settled upon him, by his father, certain lands in Suffolk. Cardinal Wolsey, who was a native of Suffolk, took him into his splendid i'an;ily, which consisted of one earl, nine barons, and several hundred knights, gentlemen, and inferior officers. He served the Cardinal as gentleman usher, and was admitted into more intimacy with him than any other servant, and therefore would not desert him in his fall; but was one of the few who stuck close to him when he had neither office nor salary to bestow. This singular fidelity^ joined to his abilities, recommended him to his sovereign, who received him into his own family and service. In 1540 he was appointed one of the auditors of the court of augmentation, and soon after obtained a grant of several lordships in the county of Hertford. In 1546 he was made treasurer of the chamber to his majesty, had the honour of knighthood conferred on him, and was soon after sworn of the privy council. He continued to enjoy both these honours during eleven years; in which time his estate was much increased by grants from Edward VI. in seven different counties; nor does it appear that he was in less credit or favour with queen Mary, under whose reign he died in 1557. He married three wives. His third and last, who survived him, was the widow of Robert Barley, esq. and justly considered as one of the most famous women of her time. She was the daughter of John Hard wick, of Hard wick, in Derbyshire, by Elizabeth the daughter of Thomas Leeke, of Lousland in the same county, esq. and in process of time became coheiress of his fortune, by the death of her brother without children. When she was scarce fourteen, she was married to Robert Barley, of Barley, in Derbyshire, esq. a young* gentleman of a large estate, all which he settled absolutely upon her on their marriage; and by his death without issue she came into possession of it in 1532. After remaining a widow about twelve years she married Cavendish, by whom she had Henry Cavendish, esq, who was possessed of considerable estates in Derbyshire, but settled at Tutbury in Staffordshire; William Cavendish the first earl of Devonshire; and Charles Cavendish settled at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire, father of William baron Ogle and duke of Newcastle; and three daughters: Frances, who married sir Henry Pierpoint of Holm Pierpoint, in the county of Nottingham, from whom the dukes of Kingston are descended; Elizabeth, who espoused Charles Stuart earl of Lenox, younger brother to the father of James I.; and Mary. After the death of sir William Cavendish, this lady consenting to become a third time a wife, married sir William St. Lowe, captain of the guard to queen Elizabeth, who had a large estate in Gloucestershire; which in articles of marriage she took care should be settled on her and her own heirs, in default of issue; and accordingly, having no child by him, she lived to enjoy his whole estate, excluding as well his brothers who were heirs male, as his own female issue by a former lady. In this third widowhood the charms of her wit and beauty captivated the then greatest subject of the realm, George Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, whom she brought to terms of honour and advantage to herself and children; for he not only yielded to a considerable jointure, but to an union of families, by taking Mary her youngest daughter to be the wife of Gilbert his second son, and afterwards his heir; and giving the lady Grace, his youngest daughter, to Henry her eldest son. Nov. 18, 1590, she was a fourth time left, and to death continued, a widow. A change of condition that perhaps never fell to any one woman to be four times a happy wife to rise by every husband into greater wealth and higher honours to havein unanimous issue by one husband only to have all those children live, and honourably disposed of in her lifetime and, after all, to live seventeen years a widow in absolute power and plenty .
, the first duke of Devonshire, was born Jan. 25, 1640. He made the tour of Europe,
, the first duke of Devonshire, was born Jan. 25, 1640. He made the tour of Europe, under the care of Dr. Killigrew, afterwards master of the Savoy. In 1661 he was chosen to represent the county of Derby, and continued a member of the long parliament till its dissolution. Sept. 21, 1663, he was created M. A. of the university of Oxford, by the special command of the chancellor. In 1665 he went a volunteer on board the fleet under the duke of York, and in 1669 accompanied Mr. Montague in his embassy to France. Being accidentally at the opera in Paris, three officers of the French king’s guard, intoxicated with liquor, came upon the stage, and one of them coming up to him with a very insulting question, he gave him a severe blow on the face; upon which they all drew, and pushed hard upon him. He set his back against one of the scenrs, and made a stout defence, receiving several wounds; till a sturdy Swiss, belonging to the ambassador Montague, caught him up in his arms, and threw him over the stage into the pit. In his fall one of his arms caught upon an iron spike, which tore out the flesh. The three assailants were, by the king’s command, sent to prison, and not released but by his intercession. In 1677 he distinguished himself in the house of commons, by a vigorous opposition to the measures of the court. The year following he assiduously promoted an inquiry into the murder of sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and other particulars of the popish plot; and was one of the committee appointed to draw up articles of impeachment against the treasurer Dan by. In the parliament which met in the spring of 1679, he again represented Derby. This year he was chosen one of the king’s new privy-council: but soon finding that his attendance at the board would be wholly ineffectual, he, in conjunction with lord Russel and others, desired leave to withdraw. The county of Derby again elected him their representative in that parliament which met Oct. 21, 1680. The articles of impeachment against the chief justice Scroggs, for his arbitrary and illegal proceedings in the court of king’s bench, were carried up by him to the house of lords. When the king declared his resolution not to consent to a bill of exclusion, lord Cavendish made a motion, that a bill might be brought in for the association of all his majesty’s protestant subjects. He was also one of those who openly named the evil counsellors, and promoted the address to his majesty to remove them from all offices, and from his majesty’s councils and presence for ever. He shewed the same steadiness and zeal in the next parliament, in which also he represented Derbyshire. When parliaments were kid aside, though he was as obnoxious to the court as any, he was not afraid of meeting and conversing with his noble friends; but he condemned a bold overture which was made at one of those meetings, and declared, with great earnestness, that he would never more go with them. At the lord Russel’s trial, when it was almost as criminal to be a witness for him as to be his accomplice, he dared to appear to vindicate him in the face of the court. He afterwards sent him a message by sir James Forbes, that he would come and change clothes with him in the prison, and stay there to represent him, if he thought he could make his escape, but lord Russei was too generous to accept of this proposal. He prosecuted the immediate murderers of his friend Mr. Thynne to condign punishment, and brought the great abettor of it, count Koningsmark, to his trial, who happened to be acquitted by a jury prepossessed, or rather prepared, in favour of him. Lord Cavendish felt great indignation at the discharge of the count, which he thought owing to corruption; and knowing that an appeal to single combat was anciently the last resort in law for convicting a murderer, he obtained the favour of a noble peer to go in his name to count Koningsmark to charge the guilt of blood upon him, and to offer to prove it in the open field; but this method of trial the count thought fit to decline. In Nov. 1684 he became, by the decease of his father, earl of Devonshire. In the reisrn of James he was the same man in greater honour, and in greater zeal and concern for his country. He had been very much affronted within the verge of the court by colonel Culpepper; but restrained his resentment at the time, and pardoned him upon condition he should never more appear at Whitehall, but when, immediately after the defeat of the duke of Mon mouth, the colonel was encouraged to come publicly to court, and was rising to some degree of favour, the earl of Devonshire meeting him in the king’s presencechamber, and receiving from him, as he thought, an insulting look, took him by the nose, led him out of the room, and gave him some di>dainful blows with the head of his cane. For this bold act he v\as prosecuted in the king’s-bench upon an information, and had an exorbitant fine of 30,000l. imposed upon him; and, though a peer, was committed to the king’s-bench prison till he should make payment of it. He was never able to bear any confinement he could break from; and therefore escaped. only to go home to his scat at Chatsworth. Upon the news of his being there, the sheriff of Derbyshire had a precept to apprehend him, and bring him with his posse to town. But he invited the sheriff in, and kept him a, prisoner of honour, till he had compounded for his own liberty, by giving bond to pay the full sum of 3O,000l. This bond was found among the papers of king James, and given up by king William.
e king himself being also present incognito. May 12, 1694, he was created marquis of Harrington, and duke of Devonshire; which, with his garter and white staff, the place
He was one of the earliest in inviting over the prince of Orange; and James II. upon the first alarm from Holland, being jealous of him above any other peer, endeavoured to draw him to court, which the earl evaded. Upon the prince’s landing, he appeared in arms for him, and was afterwards received by him with the highest marks of affection and esteem. In the debates of the house of lords concerning the throne, he was very zealous for declaring the prince and princess of Orange king and queen of England. Feb. 14, 1689, he was admitted one of the privy-council, and not long after, named lord steward of their majesties’ houshold; and, April 3, 1689, chosen a knight of the garter. At their majesties’ coronation he acted as lord high steward of England; and, in the first session of parliament afterwards, procured a resolution of the house of lofds, as to the illegality of the judgment given against him in the former reign, and a vote, that no peer ought to be committed for non-payment of a fine to the crown. Jan. 1691 he attended king William to the congress at the Hague, where he lived in the utmost state and magnificence; and had the honour to entertain several sovereign princes at his table, the king himself being also present incognito. May 12, 1694, he was created marquis of Harrington, and duke of Devonshire; which, with his garter and white staff, the place of lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county of Derby, and justiceship in Eyre, was perhaps as much honour as an English subject could enjoy. After the queen’s death, when the king’s absence made the appointment of regents necessary, he was one of the lords justices for seven successive years; an honour which no other temporal peer enjoyed.
llusion to the bishop of Cambray’s supplement to Homer.” He married the lady Mary, daughter of James duke of Ormond, by whom he had three sons and a daughter.
In the case of sir John Fenwick, though he had a conviction of his guilt, yet he was so averse to any extraordinary judicial proceedings, that he opposed the bill, as
he did likewise another bill for the resumption of the forfeited estates in Ireland. At the accession of queen Anne,
he was confirmed in all his offices. April 1705 he attended her majesty to Cambridge, and was there created
LL. D. In 1706, himself and his son the marquis of
Harrington were in the number of English peers appointed
commissioners for concluding an union with Scotland; this
was the last of his public employments. He died August
18, 1707. His mien and aspect were engaging and commanding: his address and conversation civil and courteous
in the highest degree. He judged right in the supreme
court; and on any important affair his speeches were
smooth and weighty. As a statesman, his whole deportment came up to his noble birth and his eminent stations:
nor did he want any of what the world call accomplishments. He had a great skill in languages; and read the
Roman authors with great attention: Tacitus was his
favourite. He was a true judge of history, a critic in
poetry, and had a fine hand in music. He had an elegant
taste in painting, and all politer arts; and in architecture
in particular, a genius, skill, and experience beyond any
one person of his age; his house at Chatsworth being a
monument of beauty and magnificence that perhaps is not
exceeded by any palace in Europe. His grace’s genius for
poetry shewed itself particularly in two pieces that are published, and are allowed by the critics to be written with
equal spirit, dignity, and delicacy. 1. “An Ode on the
Death of queen Mary.
” 2. “An allusion to the bishop of
Cambray’s supplement to Homer.
” He married the lady
Mary, daughter of James duke of Ormond, by whom he
had three sons and a daughter.
, baron Ogle, viscount Mansfield, earl, marquis, and duke of Newcastle, one of the most accomplished persons, as well
, baron Ogle, viscount Mansfield, earl, marquis, and duke of Newcastle, one of the most accomplished persons, as well as one of the most able generals and most distinguished patriots of the age, was son of sir Charles Cavendish, youngest son of sir William Cavendish, and younger brother of the first earl of Devonshire, by Catherine, daughter of Cuthbert lord Ogle. He was born in 1592, and discovering great capacity in his infancy, his father had him educated with such success, that he early acquired a large stock of solid learning, to which he added the graces of politeness. This soon made him be taken notice of at the court of James I. where he was quickly distinguished by the king’s favour; and in 1610, was made knight of the bath, at the creation of Henry prince of Wales. In 1617, his father died, by which he came to the possession of a very large estate and having a great interest at court, he was by letters- patent, dated November 3, 1620, raised to the dignity of a peer of the realm, by the style and title of baron Ogle and viscount Mansfield; and having no less credit with Charles I. than with his father king James, was in* the third year of the reign of that prince advanced to the higher title of earl of Newcastle upon Tyne, and at the same time he was created baron Cavendish of Bolesover. Our genealogists and antiquaries give us but a very obscure account of these honours, or at least, of the barony of Ogle, to which, in the inscription upon his own and his grandmother the countess of Shrewsbury’s tomb, he is said to have succeeded in right of his mother. His attendance on the court, though it procured him honour, brought him very early into difficulties; and there is some reason to believe that he was not much liked by the great duke of Buckingham, who perhaps was apprehensive of the large share he had in his master’s favour. However, he did not suffer, even by that powerful favourite’s displeasure, but remained in full credit with his master; which was notwithstanding so far from being beneficial to him, that the services expected from him, and his constant waiting upon the king, plunged him very deeply in debt, though he had a large estate, of which we find him complaining heavily in his letters to his firm and steady friend the lord viscount Wentworth, afterwards earl of Strafford. But th&e difficulties never in the least discouraged him from doing his duty, or from testifying his zeal and loyalty, when the king’s service required it. In 1638, when it was thought requisite to take the prince of Wales, afterwards Charles II. from the nursery, the king made choice of the earl of Newcastle, as the person in his kingdom most fit to have the tuition of his heir-apparent and accordingly declared him governor to the prince. In the spring of 1639, the first troubles in Scotland broke out, which induced the king to assemble an army in the north; soon after which, he went down thither to put himself at the head of it; and in his way, was most splendidly entertained by the earl of Newcastle, at his noble seat at Welbeck, as he had been some years before when he went into that kingdom to be crowned; which though in itself a very trivial matter, yet such was the magnificence of this noble peer, that from the circumstances attending them, both these entertainments have found a place in general histories. But this was not the only manner in which he expressed his warm affection for his master. Such expeditions require great expences, and the king’s treasury was but indifferently provided, for the supply of which, the earl contributed ten thousand pounds, and also raised a troop of horse, consisting of about two hundred knights and gentlemen, who served at their own charge; and this was honoured with the title of the Prince’s troop. These services, however, rather heightened than lessened that envy borne to him by some great persons about the court, and the choice that had been made of his lordship for the tuition of the prince, which was at first so universally approved, began now to be called in question by those who meant very soon to call every thing in question. On this the earl desired to resign his office, which he did; and in June 1640, it was given to the marquis of Hertford. As his lordship took this step from the knowledge he had of the ill-will borne him by the chief persons amongst the disaffected, so he thought he could not take a better method to avoid the effects of their resentment, than to retire into the country; which accordingly. he did, and remained there quietly till he received his majesty’s orders to visit Hull; and though these came at twelve o'clock at night, his lordship went immediately thither, though forty miles distant, and entered the place with only two or three servants, early the next morning. He cffered his majesty to have secured for him that important fortress, and all the magazines that were there: but instead of receiving such a command as he expected, his majesty sent him instructions to obey whatever directions were sent him by the parliament; upon the heels of which, came their order for him to attend the service of the house; which he accordingly did, when a design was formed to have attacked him, but his general character was so good, that this scheme did not succeed. He now again retired into the country, but soon after, upon the king’s coming to York, his lordship was sent for thither; and in June 1642, his majesty gave him directions to take upon him the care of the town of Newcastle, and the command of the four adjacent counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham. These orders were easily issued, but they were not so easily to be carried into execution; for at this time, the king had not either money, forces, or ammunition; and yet there never was more apparent necessity, for at that juncture his majesty had not a single port open in his dominions; and if either the order had been delayed a few days, or had been^ sent to any other person, the design had certainly miscarried. But, as soon as he received his majesty’s commands, he repaired immediately to the place, and by his own interest there secured it: he raised also a troop of one hundred and twenty horse, and a good regiment; of foot, which secured him from any sudden attempts. Soon after, the queen, who was retired out of the kingdom, sent a supply of arms and ammunition, which being designed for the troops under the king’s command, the earl took care they should be speedily and safely conducted to his majesty under the escdVt of his only troop, which his majesty kept, to the great prejudice of his own affairs in the nor x th. The parliament, in the mean time, had not forgotten the earl’s behaviour towards them, but as a mark of their resentment excepted him by name; which was so far from discouraging, that it put his lordship upon a more decided part: and having well considered his own influence in those parts, he offered to raise an army in the north for his majesty’s service. On this the king gave him a commission, constituting him general of all the forces raised north of Trent; and likewise general and commander in chief of such as might be raised in the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, Lancaster, Chester, Leicester, Rutland, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex; with power to confer the honour of knighthood, coin money, and to print and set forth such declarations as should seem, to him expedient; of all which extensive powers, though freely conferred, and without reserve, his lordship made a very sparing use. But with respect to the more material point of raising men, his lordship prosecuted it with such diligence, that in less than three months he had an army of eight thousand horse, foot, and dragoons, with which be marched directly into Yorkshire; and his forces having defeated the enemy at Fierce-bridge, his lordship advanced to York, where sir Thomas Glen ham, the governor, presented him with the keys, and the earl of Cumberland and many of the nobility resorted thither to compliment and to assist his lordship. He did not long remain there; but, having placed a good garrison in the city, marched on towards Tadcaster, where the parliament forces were very advantageously posted. The design which the earl had formed, not only for reducing that 'place, hut for making the troops that were there prisoners, tailed, through the want of diligence in some of his officers; hut notwithstanding this, his lordship attacked the place so vigorously, that the enemy thought fit to retire, and leave him in possession of the hest part of Yorkshire. This advantage he improved to the utmost, hy estahiishing garrisons in proper places, particularly at Newark upon Trent, by which the greatest part of Nottinghamshire, and some part of Lincolnshire, were kept in obedience. In the beginning of 1643, his lordship gave orders for a great convoy of ammunition to be removed from Newcastle to York, under the escort of a body of horse, commanded by lieutenantgeneral King, a Scotch officer, whom his majesty had lately created lord Ethyn. The parliament forces attempted to intercept this convoy at Y arum-bridge, but were beaten on the 1st of February with a great loss. Soon after this, her majesty landing at Burlington, the earl drew his forces that way to cover her journey to York, where she safely arrived on the 7th of March, and having pressing occasions for money, his lordship presented her with three thousand pounds, and furnished an escort of fifteen hundred men, under the command of lord Percy, to conduct a supply of arms and ammunition to the king at Oxford, where he kept them for his own service. Not long after, sir Hugh Cholmondley and captain Brown Bushel were prevailed upon to return to their duty, and give up the important port and castle of Scarborough. This was followed by the routing Ferdinando lord Fairfax on Seacroft, or as some call it Bramham-moor, by lord George Goring, then general of the horse under the earl, when about eight hundred of the enemy were taken prisoners; and this again made way for another victory gained on Tankersly-moor. In the month of April, the earl marched to reduce Rotherham, which he took by storm, and soon after Sheffield; but in the mean time, lord Goring and sir Francis Mackworth were surprised, on the 2 1st of May, at Wakefield, where the former and most of his men were made prisoners, which was a great prejudice to the service. In the same month her majesty went from York to Pomfret under the escort of the earPs forces; and from thence she continued Jier journey tp Oxford, with a body of seven thousand horse, foot, and dragoons, detached for that service by the earl; and those forces, likewise, the king kept about him. In the month of June the earl reduced Howly-house by storm; and on the 30th gained a complete victory over Ferdinando lord Fairfax, though much superior to him in numbers, on Adderton- heath, near Bradford, where the enemy had seven hundred men killed, and three thousand taken prisoners; and on the 2d of July following Bradford surrendered. The earl advanced next into Lincolnshire, where he took Gainsborough and Lincoln; but was then recalled by the pressing solicitations of the gentlemen of Yorkshire into that country, wherq Beverley surrendered to him on the 28th of August, and in the next month, his lordship was prevailed on to besiege Hull, the only place of consequence then held for the parliament in those parts. Notwithstanding these important successes obtained by an army raised, and in a great measure kept up by his lordship’s personal influence and expence, there have not been wanting censures upon his conduct; of which, however, his majesty had so just a sense, that by letters-patent dated the 27th of October, he advanced him to the dignity of marquis of Newcastle; and in the preamble of his patent all his services are mentioned with suitable encomiums. That winter the earl marched into Derbyshire, and from thence to his own house at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire, where he received the news of the Scots intending to enter England, which brought him back into Yorkshire, from whence he sent sir Thomas Glenham to Newcastle, and himself for some time successfully opposed the Scots in the bishopric of Durham: but, the forces he left behind under the command of lord Bellasis at Selby being routed, the marquis found himself obliged to retire, in order, if possible, to preserve York; and this he did with so much military prudence, that he arrived there safely in the month of April 1644, and retaining his infantry and artillery in that city, sent his horse to quarter in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire, for the sake of subsistence. The city was very soon blocked up by three armies, who quickly commenced a regular siege, and were once very near taking the place by storm; and at last, having lain before it three months, brought the garrison into great distress for want of provision; and if the marquis had not very early had recourse to a short allowance, had infallibly reduced it by famine. For though sir Charles Lucas, who commanded the marquis’s horse, importuned the king for relief, yet it was the latter end of June before his majesty could send a sufficient body, under the command of prince Rupert, to join sir Charles Lucas, and attempt the forcing the enemy to raise the siege; which, however, upon their approach, they did, remaining on the west side of the Owse with all their forces, while the king’s army advanced on the east side of the same river. By this quick and vigorous march, prince Rupert had done his business; but, as is very well observed by a most judicious historian of these times, he would needs overdo it; and not content with the honour of raising the siege of York by a confederate army much superior to his own, he was bent upon having the honour to beat that army also; and this brought on the fatal battle of Hessom, or, as it is more generally called, Marston-moor, which was fought July 2, 1644, against the consent of the marquis of Newcastle, who, seeing the king’s affairs totally undone thereby, made the best of his way to Scarborough, and from thence, with a few of the principal officers of his army, took shipping for Hamburgh. After staying about six months at Hamburgh, he went by sea to Amsterdam, and from thence made a journey to Paris, where he continued for some time; and where, notwithstanuing the vast estate he had when the civil war broke out, his circumstances were now so bad, that himself and his young wife were reduced to the pawning their cloaths for a dinner. He removed afterwards to Antwerp, that he might be nearer his own country; and there, though under very great difficulties, he resided for several years; while the parliament in the mean time levied prodigious sums upon his estate, insomuch that the computation of what he lost by the disorders of those times, though none of the particulars "can be disproved, amount in the whole to a sum that is almost incredible. It has been computed at 733,579l. All these hardships and misfortunes never broke his spirit in the least, which his biographer somewhat fondly says was chiefly owing to his great foresight; for as he plainly perceived after the battle of Marston-moor, that the affairs of Charles I. were irrecoverably undone, so he discerned through the thickest clouds of Charles lid’s adversity, that he would be infallibly restored: and as he had predicted Hie civil war to the father before it began, so he gave the strongest assurance to the son of his being called home, by addressing to him a treatise upon Government and the Interests of Great Britain with respect to the other powers of Europe; which he wrote at a time when the hopes of those about his majesty scarcely rose so high as the marquis’s expectations. During this long exile of eighteen years, in which he suffered so many and so oreat hardships, this worthy nobleman wanted not some consolations that were particularly such to one of his high and generous spirit. He was, notwithstanding his low and distressed circumstances, treated with the highest respect, and with the most extraordinary marks of distinction, by the persons entrusted with the government of the countries where he resided. He received the high compliment of having the keys of the cities he passed through in the Spanish dominions offered him: he was visited by don John of Austria, and by several princes of Germany. But what comforted him most was the company very frequently of his royal master, who, in the midst of his sufferings, bestowed upon him the most noble order of the garter. On his return to England at the restoration, he was received with all the respect due to his unshaken fidelity and important services was constituted chief justice in Eyre of the counties north of Trent, and, by letters- patent dated the 16th of March 1664, was advanced to the dignity of earl of Ogle, and duke of Newcastle. He spent the remainder of his life, for the most part, in a country retirement, and in reading and writing, in which he took singular pleasure. He also employed a great part of his time in repairing the injuries which his fortune had received, and at length departed this life December 25, 1676, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His grace was twice married, but had issue only by his first lady. His body lies interred, with that of his duchess, under a most noble monument at the entrance into Westminster-abbey, with an inscription suitable to his merits. His titles descended to his son Henry, earl of Ogle, who was the last heir male of this family, and died July 26, 1691, in whom the title of Newcastle, in the line of Cavendish, became extinguished, but his daughters married into some of the noblest families of this kingdom.
Dr. Kippis, in the last edition of the Biographia Britannica, observes, that the Life of the duke of Newcastle, written for the first edition by Dr. Campbell,
Dr. Kippis, in the last edition of the Biographia Britannica, observes, that the Life of the duke of Newcastle,
written for the first edition by Dr. Campbell, is“one of
the articles in which that biographer has carried his praise
to the utmost height of which they were capable of being
raised,
” and therefore agrees with Mr. Walpple (lord Orford) that “the ample encomiums would endure some
abatement.
” Dr. Campbell on some occasions certainly
earned his praises too far, but, as we have confined ourselves chiefly to the facts in the duke’s life, we have no
apology to make for what we have not inserted. If, however,
we have shunned Dr. Campbell’s error, we have little hesitation in say ing that we should admit of one more absurd, were
we to copy those “abatements
” which Dr. Kippis has
brought together from such writers as lord Orford , and
Messrs. Hume and Granger. In themselves they amount
to little more than that general charge of imprudence which
it is easy to advance against an unsuccessful commander,
and most easy for those who living at a distance from the
time cannot be supposed much acquainted with the real
truth. But the character lord Clarendon has given of the
duke, which lord Orford admits to be “one of the noble
historian’s finest portraits,
” and which has been since confirmed by the opposite party in the recently- published
“Memoirs of Col. Hutchinson,
” is a far better foundation
on which to rest our opinion. The duke was not without
his failings; his character has a greater portion of the romantic in it than is agreeable to the sobriety of mind which
now prevails, but still it cannot be denied that his Quixotism, if we must use such an expression, was demonstrated in a series of persevering acts of bravery and munificence, of which we have few examples on record.
is patronage. It has been remarked by Granger, with a sneer borrowed from Strawberry-hill, that “the duke of Newcastle was so attached to the muses, that he could not
Of his grace’s literary labours, it is less possible to entertain a high opinion. Except the first article we shall
mention, they may be passed over with very slight notice
as the amusements of a nobleman, who, with a strong attachment to poetry, and the polite arts, was not qualified
to advance either, unless by his patronage. It has been
remarked by Granger, with a sneer borrowed from Strawberry-hill, that “the duke of Newcastle was so attached
to the muses, that he could not leave them behind him,
but carried them to the camp, and made Davenant, the
poet-laureat, his lieutenant-general of the ordnance.
” Why
did he not add, that his scout-master-general was a
clergyman, the rev. Mr. Hudson, and that the celebrated Chillingworth served in the engineers? The fact was, that
after Davenant, at the risk of his life, returned to England
to devote himself to the king’s service, the duke did promote him to the above office, and his majesty bestowed the
honour of knighthood on him for his able and judicious
conduct at the siege of Gloucester. While the duke was
permitted to devote his time, his health, and his fortune,
to the royal cause, he never suffered his thoughts to stray
far from his employment. It was in his exile, that being
extremely fond of the breaking and managing^ horses,
which is now almost entirely left to grooms and jockies, he
thought fit to publish his sentiments on those subjects in a
work we are about to notice, and which is still held in
high esteem. He also, for the amusement of his leisure
hours, applied himself to dramatic poetry, the produce of
which, says Mr. Reed, cannot but give us a strong idea of
his fortitude and cheerfulness of temper, even under the
greatest difficulties, since, though written during his. banishment, and in the midst of depression and poverty, all
the pieces he has left us in that way of writing are of the
comic kind.
or modern, for she produced no less than thirteen folios, ten of which are in print. The life of the duke her husband, is the most estimable, of her productions; although
When, upon the restoration, the marquis of Newcastle
came back to his native country, he left his lady some little
time abroad, to dispatch his affairs there, after which she
followed her consort to England. The remaining part of
her life was principally employed in composing and writing
letters, plays, poems, philosophical discourses, and orations.
It is said, that she was of a very generous turn of mind,
and kept a number of young ladies about her person, who
occasionally wrote what she dictated. Some of them slept
in a room contiguous to that in which her grace lay, that
they might be ready at the call of her bell to rise at any
hour of the night, to take down her conceptions, lest they
should escape her memory. The task of these young ladies was not very pleasant; and there can be no doubt
but that they frequently wished that their lady’s poetical
and philosophical imagination had been less fruitful; especially as she was not destitute of some degree of peevishness. If the duchess’s merit as an author were to be estimated from the quantity of her works, she would have the
precedence of all female writers ancient or modern, for
she produced no less than thirteen folios, ten of which are
in print. The life of the duke her husband, is the most
estimable, of her productions; although it abounds in
trifling circumstances. The touches on her own character arc
curious: she says, “That it pleased God to command his
servant Nature to indue her with a poetical and philosophical genius even from her birth, for she did write some
books even in that kind before she was twelve years of age.
”
But though she had written philosophy, it seems she had
read none; for at nearly forty years of age, she informs us
that she applied to the perusal of philosophical authors
“in order to learn the terms of art.
” But what gives one,
continues Mr. Walpole, the best idea of her unbounded
passion for scribbling, was her seldom revising the copies
of her works, “lest it should disturb her following conceptions.
”
n literature. They were probably dazzled, and almost blinded by the high rank and solemn pomp of the duke and duchess of Newcastle. Absurd, however, as were her grace’s
But though the duchess’s literary character and works are now treated with general disregard, this was by no means the case during her own life. The most extravagant compliments were paid her not only by persons whose applauses might be deemed of little estimation, but by learned bodies, and by men of great eminence in literature. They were probably dazzled, and almost blinded by the high rank and solemn pomp of the duke and duchess of Newcastle. Absurd, however, as were her grace’s pretensions to philosophical knowledge, and extravagant as are her other compositions, it cannot, we apprehend, be denied that she had considerable powers of imagination and invention; and if her fancy had been enriched by information, restrained by judgment, and regulated by correctness of taste, she might probably have risen to considerable excellence. A very elegant writer in the Connoisseur has paid a much higher compliment to her genius and poetical merit than has been customary with modern authors, insinuating that even Milton might have borrowed from her. The duchess of Newcastle departed this life at London, in the close of 1673, and was buried in Westminster-abbey, on the 7th of January, 1673-4. Her person is reported to have been very graceful. With regard to her character, her temper was naturally reserved; so tha$ she seldom said much in company, and especially among strangers. In her studies, contemplations, and writings, she was most indefatigable. She was truly pious, charitable, and generous very kind to her servants an excellent Œconomist and a complete pattern of conjugal affection and duty. It hath been thought surprising, that she who devoted her time so greatly to writing, cuuld acquit herself with so much propriety in the several duties and relations of life.
Mr. Jonathan Richardson, on the authority of a Mr. Fellows, relates that the duke of Newcastle being once complimented by a friend on the great
Mr. Jonathan Richardson, on the authority of a Mr.
Fellows, relates that the duke of Newcastle being once
complimented by a friend on the great wisdom of his wife,
answered, “Sir, a very wise woman is a very foolish thing.
”
The known attachment of his grace to the duchess, the
high compliments he paid her, and the assistance he gave
her in her works, detract from the credit of this story. If
there be any truth in it, the duke’s reply might be uttered
in a fit of ill-humour, or in one of those capricious starts
of temper to which most characters are occasionally subject. In general, it is certain, that no couple could live
more happily, or diverted their hours more harmlessly,
while their serious employment was to recover the wreck
of their fortunes. Lord Orford’s character of this lady,
part of which is given above, is more tolerable than that of
her husband. It is certain, as his ingenious continuator
remarks, that “her grace’s literary labours have drawn
down less applause than her domestic virtues.
” And when
she says in one of her letters, “You will find my works
like infinite nature, that hath neither beginning nor end,
and as confused as the chaos wherein is neither method nor
order, but all mixed together without separation, like
evening-light and darkness,
” we must allow that she has
characterised them with great justice.
wherein there is no feigning,” London, 1656, folio. To this book was prefixed a curious print of the duke and duchess sitting at a table with their children, to whom
The following is a list of her works, almost all of which
are now very scarce, and in considerable demand by the
collectors of literary curiosities: 1. “The World’s Olio,
”
Lond. Nature Picture, drawn by
fancy’s pencil to the life. In this volume there are several feigned stories of natural descriptions, as comical,
tragical, and tragicomical, poetical, romancical, philosophical, and historical, both in prose and verse, some all
verse, some all prose, some mixt, partly prose and partly
verse. Also there are some morals, and some dialogues;
but they are as the advantage loaf of bread to the baker.'s
dozen, and a true story at the latter end, wherein there is
no feigning,
” London, Orations of
divers sorts, accommodated to divers places,
” Lond. Plays,
” Lond. Philosophical and
Physical Opinions,
” Lond. Observations
upon Experimental Philosophy: to which is added, the
Description of a new World,
” Lond. Philosophical Letters or Modest
Reflections upon some opinions in Natural Philosophy,
maintained by several famous and learned authors of this
age, expressed by way of letters,
” Lond. Poems and Phancies,
” Lond. CCXI Sociable Letters,
” Lond. 1664, fol. 10. “The
Life of the thrice noble, high, and puissant Prince William Cavendishe, duke, marquiss, and earl of Newcastle,
&c.
” Lond. De Vita & rebus
gestis nobilissimi illustrissimique Principis Gulielmi, Ducis Novo-Castrensis, commentarii: Ab excellentissima
principe Margareta, ipsius Uxore sanctissima conscripti,
et ex Anglico in Latinum conversi,
” Lond. Plays, never before printed,
” Lond. The unnatural Tragedy,
” is a
whole scene written against Camden’s Britannia! Three
more volumes in folio, of her poems, are preserved in manuscript, which Gibber says were once in the possession of
Mr. Thomas Richardson and bishop Willis. In 1676, a
folio volume was printed containing “letters and poems in
honour of the incomparable princess Margaret duchess of
Newcastle.
” These, says Mr. Park, consist of such inflated eulogies on her grace’s parts, from the rector magnificus of Leyden, and the academical caputof Cambridge,
to the puffs of Tom Shadwell, that it must have been
enough to turn any brain previously diseased with a
cacocthes scribendi.
, son of lord Charles Cavendish (who was brother to the third duke of Devonshire), and the lady Anne Grey, third daughter of Henry
, son of lord Charles Cavendish (who was brother to the third duke of Devonshire), and the lady Anne Grey, third daughter of Henry duke of Kent, was born at Nice, whither his mother had gone for her health, on Oct. 10, 1731, and after an education befitting his rank, partly at Newcombe’s school at Hackney, and partly at Cambridge, devoted his life to scientific pursuits, and became one of the most eminent chemists and natural philosophers of the age. He had studied and rendered himself particularly conversant with every part of sir Isaac Newton’s philosophy, the principles of which he applied near forty years ago to an investigation of the Jaws on which the phenomena of electricity depend. Pursuing the same science on the occasion of Mr. Walsh’s experiments with the torpedo, he gave a satisfactory explanation of'the remarkable powers of the electrical fishes; pointing out that distinction between common and animal electricity, which has since been amply confirmed by the discoveries in galvanism. Having turned his attention very early to pneumatic chemistry, he ascertained, in 1760y the extreme levity of in flammable air, now called hydrogen gas. On this discovery many curious experiments, and particularly that of aerial navigation, have been founded. In the same paths of science, he made the important discovery of the composition of water by union of two airs; and that laid the foundation of the modern system of chemistry, which rests principally on this fact, and that of the decomposition of water, announced soon afterwards by Mons. Lavoisier.
our articles against the cardinal in the king’s presence; and he offered the cardinal’s place to the duke of Angouleme. This plot was the occasion of his disgrace, according
, a French Jesuit, and confessor to Lewis XIII. was born at Troyes, in Champagne, in 1580, and entered into the order of Jesuits when he was twentysix years of age. He taught rhetoric in several of their colleges; and afterwards began to preach, by which he gained very great reputation, and increased it not a little by his publications. At length he was preferred to bje confessor to the king; but, although pious and conscientious, did not discharge this office to the satisfaction of cardinal Richelieu, and the cardinal used every effort to get him removed. A little before his death, he is said to have delivered into the hands of a friend some original letters; from short extracts of which, since published, it appears that he "fell into disgrace because he would not reveal some things which he knew by the king’s confession; nor even take advice of his superiors how he was to behave himself in the direction of the king’s conscience, when he could not do it without breaking through the laws of confession. There are also some hints in the same extracts, which shew that he did not approve Lewis the Thirteenth’s conduct towards the queen his mother; and there is a probability that he caballed to get Richelieu removed. If we may believe the abbe Siri in his memoirs, this Jesuit, in his private conversations with the king, insisted upon the cardinal’s removal, for the four following reasons: 1. Because Mary de Meclicis, the queen-mother, was banished. 2. Because he left Lewis only the empty name of king. 3. Because he oppressed the nation. 4. Because he powerfully assisted the Protestants to the prejudice of the Catholic church. According to this author, he even engaged to maintain these four articles against the cardinal in the king’s presence; and he offered the cardinal’s place to the duke of Angouleme. This plot was the occasion of his disgrace, according to the abbe* Siri. Others have asserted, that the queen-mother obliged him to leave Paris, to gratify cardinal Mazarine, whom he had displeased; and that his disgrace was occasioned by his Latin piece concerning the kingdom and bouse of God, published in 1650, in which be had freely spoken of the qualities with which princes ought to be adorned. It is certain, however, that he was deprived of his employment, and banished to a city of Lower Britanny. He got leave to return to Paris aftr the cardinal’s death, and died there in the convent oi the Jesuits, July 1651.
ard Whitehill, “to continue and confirm a treaty of trade and commerce between Edward IV. and Philip duke of Burgundy,” or, if they found it necessary, to make a new
Caxton at this time had become a freeman of the company of Mercers, but on his master’s death does not appear
to have continued on the same spot. His knowledge of
business, however, induced him, either upon his own account, or as agent for some merchants, to travel to the
Low Countries for a short time. In 14G4 we find him
joined in a commission with one Richard Whitehill, “to
continue and confirm a treaty of trade and commerce
between Edward IV. and Philip duke of Burgundy,
” or, if
they found it necessary, to make a new one: and the commission gives both or either of them, full power to transact
and conclude the same. They are also styled “ambassadors and special deputies.
” Of the issue of this we have
no account, but the commission itself is a sufficient proof
that Caxton had acquired a reputation for knowledge of
business. Seven years afterwards, however, he describes
himself as leading rather an idle life, “for having no great
charge or occupation, and wishing to eschew sloth
” and
idleness, which is mother and nourisher of vices he set
about finishing the translation of Raoul Le Fevre’s “Recueil
des Histoires de Troye,
” which he commenced two years
before, in
ishment of the Jatter, when she came with a splendid retinue to Bruges to offer her hand to Charles, duke of Burgundy; and Caxton was, without doubt, privy to all the
Of his pursuits and travels abroad nothing further is
known with certainty, except that in his peregrinations,
he declares that he confined himself “for the most part to
the countries of Brabant, Flanders, Holland, and Zealand
and in France was never.
” It is, however, reasonable
to suppose that he preserved the same respectable character
in foreign countries which he had acquired in his own;
and that, whilst he was indulging his favourite literary passion in the perusal of histories and romances, to which he
seems to have been excited by his friend Bolomyer, canon
of Lausanne, he was placed by his sovereign, or his sister,
the lady Margaret, on the household establishment of the
Jatter, when she came with a splendid retinue to Bruges to
offer her hand to Charles, duke of Burgundy; and Caxton was, without doubt, privy to all the splendid spectacles
and festivities of this marriage. In what rank or Duality he
served the duchess is not known; but the freedom with
which she used Mr. Caxton, in finding fault with his English, and ordering him to correct it, &c. seems to shew
that the place he had in her grace’s family was no mean or
ordinary one. Lewis and Oldys, in Mr. Dibdiu'.s opinion,
are incorrect in saying that he was employed by the duchess to translate into English Kaoul Le Fevre’s French
History of Troy t the fact was, that Caxton had commenced
the translation voluntarily, without her knowledge, and had
proceeded as far as five or six quires when he for some
reason gave it up. About this time, having mentioned to
Jady Margaret the progress he had made, she desired to
see his manuscript, and it was on this occasion that she
found fault with his English, but commanded him at the
same time to finish the translation, and amply rewarded
him on the completion of it. From the prologues and epilogues of this work we learn several particulars of the
author, as that, at the time of finishing the performance,
iiis eyes “were dimmed with over-much looking on the
white paper; that his courage was not so prone and ready
to labour as it had been; and that age was creeping on him
daily, and enfeebling all his body: that he had practised
and learnt, at his great charge and expense, to ordain this
said book in print, after the manner and form as v.e there
see it: and that it was not written with pen and ink as
other books be.
” Hence we discover that he was now adyanced in years, and that he had learnt to exercise the
art of printing, but by what steps he had acquired this
knowledge his biographers have not been able to discover.
It appears, as already noticed, that the original of Ilaonl’s
Trojan History was the first book Caxton printed: “The
Oration of John llussel on Charles duke of Burgundy being
created a Knight of the Garter,
” was the second, and
Caxton’s translation of Raoul, the third; and this third
was most probably printed in 1471. That he was particularly curious to know, and inquisitive after, the invention
of printing, can scarcely be doubted, but his inquiries as
well as his experience seem to have been con lined to such
specimens as the presses of the Low Countries produced,
and he does not appear to have seen any of the beautiful
productions of the Roman, Venetian, and Parisian presses
before he caused his own fount of letters to be cut. The
types used by Caxion in the French and English editions
of Raoul Le Fevre’s history, as well as those in the “Game
of Chess,
” resemble, in character and form, rather than in
size, the types of Ulric Zel and other printers in the Low
Countries. Nor is it at all improbable that Caxton consulted Zel and Olpe, the earliest typographical artists in
the city of Cologne, about the formation of his own letters, as those able men are supposed to have learnt the
art of printing in the office of Gutenberg and Fust. Colard Mansion, a printer at Bruges, might also have assisted him in the necessary materials for his office.
artists; and when towards the close of his life, his fortune was increased by that of his uncle, the duke de Caylus, he added nothing to his expense, had no new wants,
The zeal of writers, who propose to instruct mankind, is not always disinterested; they pay themselves for their instructions by the reputation which they expect to derive from them. Count Caylus did not despise this noble recompense, but he loved the arts on their own account, as plainly appeared from the many private instances of his generosity to those who were possessed of talents, but were not the favourites of fortune; he even searched for such in those retreats where indigence kept them in obscurity. He anticipated their wants, for he had few himself; the whole of his luxury consisted in his liberality. Though his income was much inferior to his rank, he was rich for the artists; and when towards the close of his life, his fortune was increased by that of his uncle, the duke de Caylus, he added nothing to his expense, had no new wants, but employed the whole of his fortune for the benefit of literature and the arts. Besides the presents which he made from time to time to the academy of painting and sculpture, he founded an annual prize in it for such of the pupils as should succeed best in drawing, or modelling a head after nature, and in giving the truest expression of the characteristical features of a given passion. He encouraged the study of anatomy and perspective by generous rewards; and if he had lived longer, he would have 'executed the design which he had formed, of founding a new prize in. favour of those who should apply themselves with most success to these two essential branches of. the art.
te. That he was not an impostor wiser than those whom he duped, appears from his conduct to Charles, duke of Calabria, who appointed him his astrologer, and who, having
, is the adopted name of Francis,
or Francesco Stabili; a native of Ascoli, in the march of
Ancona, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, whg
acquired considerable reputation, unfortunately for himself,
as a critic and poet. Among the many anachronisms and
contradictions in the accounts given of his life, which Tirabotchi has endeavoured to correct, we find that when
young, he was professor of astrology in the university of
Bologna, that he published a book on that science, which
being denounced to the Inquisition, he escaped by recanting what was offensive but that the same accusations
being afterwards renewed at Florence, he was condemned
to be burnt, and suffered that horrible deatb in 1327, in
the seventieth year of his age. We have already seen,
in former lives, that it was no uncommon thing for enraged
authors to apply to the secular arm for that revenge which
they could not otherwise have inflicted on one another.
The pretence for putting this poor man to death, was his
“Commentary on the Sphere of John de Sacrabosco,
” in
which, following the superstition of the times, he asserted
that wonderful things might be done by the agency of certain demons who inhabited the first of the celestial spheres.
This was foolish enough, but it was the prevalent folly of
the times, and Cecco probably believed what he wrote.
That he was not an impostor wiser than those whom he
duped, appears from his conduct to Charles, duke of Calabria, who appointed him his astrologer, and who, having
consulted him on the future conduct of his wife and daughter, Cecco, by his art, foretold that they would turn out
very abandoned characters. Had he not persuaded himself into the truth of this, he surely would have conciliated
so powerful a patron by a prediction of a more favourable
kind; and this, as may be supposed, lost him the favour of
the duke. But even the loss of his friend would not have
brought him to the stake, if he had not rendered himself
unpopular by attacking the literary merit of Dante and
Guido Cavalcanti, in his poem entitled “Acerba.
” This
provoked the malice of a famous physician, named Dino
del Garbo, who never desisted until he procured him to be
capitally condemned. This poem “Acerba,
” properly
“Acerbo,
” or “Acervo,
” in Latin Acervus, is in the
sesta rima divided into five books, and each of these into
a number of chapters, treating of the heavens, the elements, virtues, vices, love, animals, minerals, religion,
&c. The whole is written in a bad style, destitute of harmony, elegance, or grace; and, according to a late author, much of the plan, as well as the materials, are taken
from the “Tresor
” of Brunetto Latini. It is, however, a
work in demand with collectors, and although often
printed, most of the editions are now very scarce. The
first was printed at Venice in 1476, 4to, with the commentary of Nicolo Massetti, and was reprinted in 1478.
Haym (in the edition of his Biblioteca, 1771) speaks of a
first edition as early as 1458, which we apprehend no bibliographer has seen.
the sister of the celebrated sir John Cheke, who introduced him to the earl of Hertford, afterwards duke of Somerset, probably directed his views to politics. In the
Such early encouragement diverted Mr. Cecil from the profession of the law, and his marriage with the sister of the celebrated sir John Cheke, who introduced him to the earl of Hertford, afterwards duke of Somerset, probably directed his views to politics. In the beginning of the reign of Edward VI. he came into possession of his office of custos brevium, worth 240l. a year, and having married, as his second wife, Mildred, daughter of sir Anthony Cook, his interest at court became more considerable. In 1547, his patron the protector duke of Somerset, bestowed on him the place of master of requests, and took him with him in his expedition into Scotland, in September of that year, where he was present at the battle of Musselburgh, and very narrowly escaped a cannon-shot. On his return to court, Edward VI. advanced him to the high post of secretary of slate, which he enjoyed twice in that reign, first in 1548, and then, after an interval, in 1551, but historians are not agreed in these dates, although what we have given appear to be pretty near the truth. When the party was formed against the protector, Mr. Cecil shared in his fall, which followed soon afterwards, and was sent to prison in November 1549, where he remained three months.
e was again introduced to court, where his acknowledged abilities regained him his office, under the duke of Northumberland, the enemy and accomplisher of the ruin of
On his being liberated, he was again introduced to court,
where his acknowledged abilities regained him his office,
under the duke of Northumberland, the enemy and accomplisher of the ruin of his old patron the duke of Somerset. This re-appointment took place, as we have noticed, in September 1551, and in October following he
was knighted, and sworn of the privy-council. He has
been much blamed for this transfer of his services, as a sacrifice of his gratitude to his interest; and many excuses,
palliations, and even justifications, have been urged for
him. The best seems to be that his pretensions to the
promotion were founded, not on his servility and dependence on one or the other of these great men, but on his superior fitness for the office. It is universally allowed that
he possessed great abilities, and his credit now increased
with the young king, for whom he is said to have written
many of those papers, &c. which are generally attributed
to Edward. The princess Mary affected on one occasion
to discover this, for when a letter from his majesty was
presented to her on her obstinate adherence to the popish
religion, she cried, “Ah! Mr. Cecil’s pen took great
pains here.
”
ot true, and that it was the money of some Genoese bankers, who were in the greatest terror lest the duke of Alva should convert the same to his master’s use, in order
Some Spanish ships, having great treasure on board,
put into the English ports to secure it from the French,
and afterwards landed it, the queen’s officers assisting, and
the Spanish ambassador solemnly affirming it was his master’s money, and that he was sending it into the Netherlands for the pay of his army. The secretary, in the mean
time, received advice that this was not true, and that it
was the money of some Genoese bankers, who were in the
greatest terror lest the duke of Alva should convert the
same to his master’s use, in order to carry on some great
design, which the court of Spain kept as an impenetrable
secret. Cecil therefore advised the queen to take the
money herself, and give the Genoese security for it, by
which she would greatly advantage her own affairs, distress
the Spaniards, relieve the Netherlands, and wrong nobody.
The queen took his advice, and when upon this the duke
of Alva seized the effects of the English in the Netherlands,
she made reprisals, and out of them immediately indemnified her own merchants. The Spanish ambassador at London behaved with great violence upon this occasion, giving
secretary Cecil ill language at the council-table, and libelling the queen, by appealing to the people against
their sovereign’s administration. This produced a great
deal of disturbance, and Leicester and his party took care
to have it published every where, that Cecil was the sole
author of this counsel. While things were in this ferment,
Leicester held a private consultation with the lords he had
drawn to his interest, wherein he proposed that they should
take this occasion of removing a man whom they unanimously bated. Some of the lords inquiring how this could
be 4one? sir Nicholas Throgmorton answered, “Let him
be charged with some matter or other in council when the
queen is not present, commit him to the Tower thereupon,
and when he is once in prison we shall find things enow
against him.
” It so happened, that about this time a flagrant libel being published against the nobility, lord Leicester caused Cecil to be charged before the council,
either with being the author of it, or it’s patron; of which
he offered no other proof than that it had been seen on
Cecil’s table. This the secretary readily confessed, but
insisted that he looked upon it in the same light they
did, as a most scandalous invective; in support of which
he produced his own copy with notes on the margin, affirming that he had caused a strict inquiry to be made
after the author and publisher of the work. All this, however, would have been but of little use to him, if the
queen had not had private notice of their design. While
therefore the secretary was defending himself, she suddenly and unexpectedly entered the council-room, and
having in few words expressed her dislike of such cabals,
preserved her minister, and shewed even Leicester himself
that he could not be overthrown. The affair of the duke
of Norfolk’s ruin followed, not long after he had been
embarked in the faction against Cecil; and therefore we
find this minister sometimes charged, though very unjustly, with being the author of his misfortunes, a calumny
from which he vindicated himself with candour, clearness,
and vivacity, as equally abhorring the thoughts of revenge,
and hazarding the public safety to facilitate his private
advantage. Cecil, indeed, had no greater share in the
duke’s misfortune, than was necessarily imposed upon him
by his office of secretary, and which consequently it was
not in his power to avoid; to which we may add, that the
duke himself was in some measure accessary thereto, by
acting under the delusive influence of his capital enemy as
well as Cecil’s. The duke’s infatuated conduct, after
having once received a pardon, rendered his practices too
dangerous to be again forgiven. It cannot be doubted that
this great nobleman was the tool of the views of the catholic party: and there is reason to believe that the previous design of ruining Cecil was to get rid of him before
this plan was ripe, from a just fear of his penetration, and
his power to defeat it. Cecil’s fidelity was followed by
much, public and some severe private revenge. His sonin-law, lord Oxford, put his threat into execution of
ruining his daughter, by forsaking her bed, and wasting the
fortune of her posterity, if the duke’s life was not spared.
A Preface to Queen Catherine Parr’s Lamentation of a Sinner.” When sir William Cecil accompanied the duke of Somerset on his expedition to Scotland, he furnished materials
Besides these lesser failings of this great man, he has
been accused of illiberality to the poet Spenser, which
perhaps may be attributed to his dislike of Leicester, under
whose patronage Spenser had come forward, but perhaps
more to his want of relish for poetry. On the other hand,
our historians are generally agreed in their praises of his
high character. Smollett only has endeavoured to lessen
it, but as this is coupled with a disregard for historical
truth, the attempt is entitled to little regard, and the advocates for Mary queen of Scots cannot be supposed to
forgive the share he had in her fate. Lord Orford has
given lord Burleigh a place among his “Royal and Noble
Authors,
” but at the same time justly observes, that he is one
of those great names, better known in the annals of his country than in those of the republic of letters. Besides lord
Burleigh’s answer to a Latin libel published abroad, which
he entitled “Slanders and Lies,
” and “A Meditation of
the State of England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
”
lord Orford mentions “La Complainte de PAme pecheresse,
” in French verse, extant in the king’s library; “Car
mina duo Latina in Obitum Margaretae Nevillee, Reginoe
Catherine a Cubiculis;
” “Carmen Latinum in Memoriain
Tho. Challoneri Equitis aurati, prsefixum ejusdem Libro de
restaurata Republica;
” “A Preface to Queen Catherine
Parr’s Lamentation of a Sinner.
” When sir William Cecil
accompanied the duke of Somerset on his expedition to
Scotland, he furnished materials for an account of that
war, which was published by William Patten, under the
title of “Diarium Expeditions Scoticae,
” London, The first paper or memorial of sir William Cecil \
anno primo Eliz.
” This, which is only a paper of memorandums, is printed in Somers’s tracts, from a manuscript
in the Cotton library. “A Speech in Parliament, 1592.
”
This was first published by Strype in his Annals, and has
since been inserted in the Parliamentary History. “Lord
Burleigh’s Precepts, or directions for the well-ordering and
carriage of a man’s life,
” A Meditation on the
Death of his Lady.
” Mr. Ballard, in his Memoirs of British Ladies, has printed this Meditation from an original
formerly in the possession of James West, esq. but now in
the British Museum. Lord Burleigh was supposed to be
the author of a thin pamphlet, in defence of the punishments inflicted on the Roman catholics in the reign of
queen Elizabeth: it is called “The Execution of Justice
in England, for maintenance of public and Christian peace,
against certain stirrers of sedition, and adherents to the
traitors and enemies of the realm, without any persecution
of them for questions of religion, as it is falsely reported,
&c.
” London, Leicester’s Commonwealth,
” It was asserted, that
the hints, at least, were furnished by him for that
composition. But no proof has been given of this assertion,
and it was not founded on any degree of probability. His
lordship drew up also a number of pedigrees, some of
which are preserved in the archbishop of Canterbury’s
library at Lambeth. These contain the genealogies of the
kings of England, from William the Conqueror to Edward
the Fourth; of queen Anne Boleyn; and of several princely
houses in Germany.
ts; and Clement VII. valued him as much for his bravery as for his skill in his profession. When the duke of Bourbon laid siege to Rome, and the city was taken and plundered,
, a celebrated sculptor and engraver of Florence, was born in 1500, and intended to be
trained to music but, at fifteen years of age, bound himself, contrary to his father’s inclinations, apprentice to a
jeweller and goldsmith, under whom he made such a progress, as presently to rival the most skilful in the business.
He had also a turn for other arts: and in particular an
early taste for drawing and designing, which he afterwards
cultivated. Nor did he neglect music, but must have excelled in some degree in it; for, assisting at a concert before
Clement VII. that pope took him into his service, in the
double capacity of goldsmith and musician. He applied
himself also to seal-engraving; learned to make curious damaskeenings of steel and silver on Turkish daggers, &c. and
was very ingenious in medals and rings. But Cellini excelled in arms, as well as in arts; and Clement VII. valued him
as much for his bravery as for his skill in his profession.
When the duke of Bourbon laid siege to Rome, and the city
was taken and plundered, the pope committed the castle of
St. Angelo to Cellini; who defended it like a man bred to
arms, and did not suffer it to surrender but by c?.pitulation.
Meanwhile, Cellini was one of those great wits, wh'o
may truly be said to have bordered upon madness; he was
of a desultory, capricious, unequal humour, which involved him perpetually in adventures that often threatened to prove fatal to him. He travelled among the cities
of Italy, but chiefly resided at Rome where he was sometimes in favour with the great, and sometimes out. He
consorted with all the first artists in their several ways, with
Michael Angelo, Julio Romano, &c. Finding himself at
length upon ill terms in Italy, he formed a resolution of
going to France; and, passing from Rome through Florence, Bologna, and Venice, he arrived at Padua, where
he was most kindly received by, and made some stay with,
the famous Pietro Bembo. From Padua he travelled
through Swisserland, visited Geneva in his way to Lyons,
and, after resting a few days in this last city, arrived safe
at Paris. He met with a gracious reception from Francis I.
who would have taken him into his service; but, conceiving a dislike to France from a sudden illness he fell into
there, he returned to Italy. He was scarcely arrived,
when, being accused of having robbed the castle of St.
Angelo of a great treasure at the time that Rome was
sacked by the Spaniards, he was arrested and sent prisoner thither. When set at liberty, after many hardships
and difficulties, he entered into the service of the French
king, and set out with the cardinal of Ferrara for Paris:
where when they arrived, being highly disgusted at the
cardinal’s proposing what he thought an inconsiderable
salary, he abruptly undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
He was, however, pursued and brought back to the king,
who settled a handsome salary upon him, assigned him a
house to work in at Paris, and granted him shortly after a
naturalization. But here, getting as usual into scrapes
and quarrels, and particularly having offended madame
d'Estampes, the king’s mistress, he was exposed to endless
troubles and persecutions; with which at length being
wearied out, he obtained the king’s permission to return
to Italy, and went to Florence; where he was kindly received by Cosmo de Medici, the grand duke, and engaged
himself in his service. Here again, disgusted with some
of the duke’s servants (for he could not accommodate himself to, or agree with, any body), he took a trip to Venice,
where he was greatly caressed by Titian, Sansovino, and
other ingenious artists; but, after a short stay, returned to
Florence, and resumed his business. He died in 1570.
His life was translated into English by Dr. Nugent, and
published in 1771, 2 vols. 8vo, with this title: “The Life
of Benevenuto Cellini, a Florentine artist; containing a
variety of curious and interesting particulars relative to
painting, sculpture, and architecture, and the history of
his own time.
” The original, written in the Tuscan language, lay in manuscript above a century and a half.
Though it was read with the greatest pleasure by the
learned of Italy, no man was hardy enough, during this
long period, to introduce to the world a book, in which
the successors of St. Peter were handled so roughly;
a narrative, where artists and sovereign princes, cardinals and courtezans, ministers of state and mechanics,
are treated with equal impartiality. At length, in 1730,
an enterprising Neapolitan, encouraged by Dr. Antonio
Cocchi, one of the politest scholars in Europe, published
it in one vol. 4to, but it soon was prohibited, and became
scarce. According to his own account, Cellini was at once
a man of pleasure and a slave to superstition; a despiser
of vulgar notions, and a believer in magical incantations;
a fighter of duels, and a composer of divine sonnets; an
ardent lover of truth, and a retailer of visionary fancies;
an admirer of papal power, and a hater of popes; art
offender against the laws, with a strong reliance on divine
providence. Such heterogeneous mixtures, however, generally form an amusing book, and Cellini’s life is amusing and interesting in a very high degree. It must not,
however, be omitted, that Cellini published two treatises
on the subject of his art, “Duo trattati, uno intorno alle
oito principal! arti dell* oreficiera, Paltro in materia dell*
arte della scoltura,
” &c.
he produced the comedies of the “Basset-table,” and “Love at a venture.” The latter was acted by the duke of Grafton’s servants, at the new theatre at Bath. In 1708,
The same year in which she married Mr. Centlivre, she
produced the comedies of the “Basset-table,
” and “Love
at a venture.
” The latter was acted by the duke of Grafton’s servants, at the new theatre at Bath. In 1708, her
most celebrated performance, “The Busy Body,
” was
acted at Drury-lane theatre. It met at first with so unfavourable a reception from the players, that for a time
they even refused to act in it, and were not prevailed upon
to comply till towards the close of the season; and even
then Mr. Wilks shewed so much contempt for the part of
sir George Airy, as to throw it down on the stage, at the
TShearsal, with a declaration, “that no audience would
endure such stuff.
” But the piece was received with the
greatest applause by the audience, and still keeps possession of the stage. In 1711, she brought on at Drury-lane
theatre, “Marplot, or the second part of the Busy Body.
”
This play, though much inferior to the former, met with
a favourable reception; and the duke of Portland, to whom
it was dedicated, made Mrs. Centlivre a present of forty
guineas. Her comedy of “A Bold Stroke for a Wife,
”
was performed at Lincoln’s-Inn Fields in
er yet been published.- In the year 1596, he lived in Seville, and wrote an ironical sonnet upon the duke of Medina’s triumphal entry into Cadiz, after the earl of Essex
Upon his return to Spain in the spring of the year following, he fixed his residence in Madrid, where his mother
and sister then lived. Following his own inclination to
letters, he gave himself up anew to the reading of every
kind of books, Latin, Spanish, and Italian, acquiring hence
a great stock of various erudition. The first product of his
genius was his “Galatea,
” which he published in Don Quixote,
” of
which he published the first part at Madrid in 1605. There
was a second edition of this in 1608, at the same place and
by the same printer, much corrected and improved, no
notice of which is taken by Pellicer, who speaks of that of
Valentia of 1605. supposing such to exist, but which he
had not seen. There is another of Lisbon in 1605, curious
only on the score of its great loppings and amputations.
, a very accomplished Italian scholar, was born at Rome in Oct. 1595, the son of Julian Cesarini, duke of Citta Nuova, and of Livia Ursini. Such was his application
, a very accomplished Italian
scholar, was born at Rome in Oct. 1595, the son of Julian
Cesarini, duke of Citta Nuova, and of Livia Ursini. Such
was his application to study, that at an age when most
scholars are but beginning, he was acquainted with languages, philosophy, theology, law, medicine, mathematics,
and sacred and profane history. Cardinal Bellarmin compared him in knowledge, personal character, and accomplishments, to Picus de Mirandula, and such was the general esteem in which he was held, that a medal was struck
with the heads of Cesarini and Picus crowned with laurel,
and on the reverse two phenixes. His modesty and probity were not less conspicuous than his learning. Pope
Urban VIII. intended to have made him a cardinal, but he
died in the flower of his age, in 1624, then a member of
the academy of the Lyncei. His Latin and Italian poems
were printed in the collection entitled “Septem illustrium
virorum poemata,
” Antwerp, Memoria philosophorum,
&c. curante Henningo Witten, decas prima,
” Francfort,
his curiosities to Paris, where they were purchased by the president de Mesmes, who gave them to the duke of Orleans, and from him they passed to the royal cabinet.
, an able antiquary, was of a good
family of Riom, in Auvergnjg, where he was born, in 1564,
and was educated at Bourges for five years, under the celebrated Cujas. On his return to Riom, he was in 1594
made a counsellor of the presidial, and discharged the duties of that office with great ability and integrity for the
space of forty-four years. During this time he found leisure to improve his knowledge of antiquities, and accumulated a large library, and many series of medals. In order
to gratify his curiosity more completely, he took a journey
to Italy, and visited at Rome all the valuable remains of
antiquity, receiving great kindness from the literati of that
place, and particularly from cardinal Bellarmin. From
this tour he brought home many curious Mss. scarce
books, medals, antique marbles, and above two thousand
gems, which rendered his collection one of the most valuable then in France. After his return he caused all these
gems to be engraven on copper-plate, ranging them
under fifteen classes, of which he made as many chapters
of explanation, but the bad state of his health during his
latter years prevented his publishing this curious work.
He also wrote a treatise “De Annulis,
” which he modestly
withheld from the press on hearing that Kirchman, a German antiquary, had published on the same subject. Notwithstanding his not appearing in print, he was well known
to the learned of his time, and held a correspondence with
most of them. Savaro, in his Commentary upon Sidonius
Apollinaris, and Tristan, in his “Historical Commentaries,
” speak highly of him, nor was he less esteemed by
Bignon, Petau, and Sirmond. He died at Riom, Sept. 19,
1638, of a sickness which lasted two years, almost without any interruption. His heirs sent all his curiosities to
Paris, where they were purchased by the president de
Mesmes, who gave them to the duke of Orleans, and from
him they passed to the royal cabinet.
; but her unfavourable representations of his temper and character were counteracted by those of the duke of St. Simon, who describes him as mild and moderate, humane
, a Jesuit of uncommon abilities, and confessor to Lewis XIV. was born in the chateau
of Aix, in 1624, of an ancient but reduced family. He
gave early indications of talents when at school, and performed his philosophical exercises under father de Vaux,
who was afterwards advanced to the highest employments in
his order. When he was arrived at a proper age, he was
ordained priest; and became afterwards professor of divinity in the province of Lyons, and rector and provincial of
a college there. He spent at several seasons a good deal
of time in Paris, where his great address, his wit, and love
of letters, made him almost universally known: and in
1663, the bishop of Bayeux introduced him to cardinal
Mazarine, who shewed him many marks of favour, and
offered him his patronage. In 1665, he presented la
Chaise to the king, as a person of whose great abilities
and merit he was well convinced, and afterwards got him
admitted into the council of conscience, which indeed was
no less than to make him coadjutor to the confessor, and
when the cardinal died, he was made, in 1675, confessor
to the king; and about ten years after, was the principal
adviser and director of his marriage with madame de Maintenon. The king was then arrived at an age when confessors have more than an ordinary influence: and la Chaise
found himself a minister of state, without expecting, and
almost before he perceived it. He did business regularly
with the king, and immediately saw all the lords and all
the prelates at his feet. He had made himself a master in
the affairs of the church; which, by the disputes that often
arose between the courts of France and Rome, were become affairs of state.
Yet, in spite of all his address and the influence which
he had gained over the king, he was sometimes out of
favour with his master, and in danger of being disgraced.
Provoked at the ill success of the affair concerning the
electorate of Cologn in 1689, the king shewed his displeasure to the confessor, by whose counsels he had been influenced. La Chaise excused himself, by laying the blame
upon the marquis de Louvois; but the king told him with
some indignation, “that an enterprise suggested by Jesuits
had never succeeded; and that it would be better if they
would confine themselves to teaching their scholars, and
never presume to meddle in affairs of state.
” La Chaise
was very solicitous to establish an interest with madam e de
Maintenon; but does not appear to have done it effectually, till that favourite found herself unable, by all her
intrigues and contrivances, to remove him from the place
of confessor. The Jesuit, it has been said, had not religion enough for this devout lady. He loved pleasures,
had a taste for magnificence, and was thought too lukewarm in the care of his master’s conscience. The jealousy
and dislike with which she regarded him were expressed in
her letters; but her unfavourable representations of his
temper and character were counteracted by those of the
duke of St. Simon, who describes him as mild and moderate, humane and modest, possessed of honour and probity, and though much attached to his family, perfectly
disinterested. La Chaise died Jan. 1709, and possessed
to the very last so great a share of favour and esteem with
the king, that his majesty consulted him upon his death-bed about the choice of his successor.
during the remainder of that reign. In the beginning of the next he came into great favour with the duke of Somerset, whom he attended into Scotland, and was in the
, a gallant soldier, an able
statesman, and a very learned writer in the sixteenth century, was descended from a good family in Wales, and
born at London about 1515. His quick parts discovered
themselves even in his infancy; so that his family, to promote that passionate desire of knowledge for whidh he was
so early distinguished, sent him to the university of Cambridge, where he remained some years, and obtained great
credit, as well by the pregnancy of his wit as his constant
and diligent application, but especially by his happy turn
for Latin poetry, in which he exceeded most of his contemporaries. Upon his removing from college he came
up to court, and being there recommended to the esteem
and friendship of the greatest men about it, he was soon
sent abroad into Germany with sir Henry Knevet, as the
custom was in the reign of Henry VIII. when young men
of great hopes were frequently employed in the service of
ambassadors, that they might at once improve and polish
themselves by travel, and gain some experience in business. He was so well received at the court of the emperor
Charles V. and so highly pleased with the noble and generous spirit of that great monarch, that he attended him in
his journies, and in his wars, particularly in that fatal expedition against Algiers, which cost the lives of so many
brave men, and was very near cutting short the thread of
Mr. Chaloner’s; for in the great tempest by which the
emperor’s fleet was shattered on the coast of Barbary in
1541, the vessel, on board of which he was, suffered shipwreck, and Mr. Chaloner having quite wearied and exhausted himself by swimming in the dark, at length beat
his head against a cable, of which laying hold with his
teeth, he was providentially drawn up into the ship to which
it belonged. He returned soon after into England, and as
a reward of his learning and services, was promoted to the
office of first clerk of the council, which he held during
the remainder of that reign. In the beginning of the next
he came into great favour with the duke of Somerset,
whom he attended into Scotland, and was in the battle of
Mussleburgh, where he distinguished himself so remarkably in the presence of the duke, that he conferred upon
him the honour of knighthood Sept. 28, 1547, and after
his return to court, the duchess of Somerset presented
him with a rich jewel. The first cloud that darkened his
patron’s fortune, proved fatal to sir Thomas Chaloner’s
pretensions; for being a man of a warm and open temper,
and conceiving the obligation he was under to the duke as
a tie that hindered his making court to his adversary, a
stop was put to his preferment, and a vigilant eye kept
upon his actions. But his loyalty to his prince, and his
exact discharge of his duty, secured him from any farther
danger, so that he had leisure to apply himself to his
studies, and to cultivate his acquaintance with the worthiest
men of that court, particularly sir John Cheke, sir Anthony Coke, sir Thomas Smith, and especially sir William
Cecil, with whom he always lived in the strictest intimacy.
Under the reign of queen Mary he passed his time, though
safely, yet very unpleasantly; for being a zealous protestant, he could not practise any part of that complaisance
which procured some of his friends an easier life. He
interested himself deeply in the affair of sir John Cheke,
and did him all the service he was able, both before and
after his confinement. This had like to have brought sir
Thomas himself into trouble, if the civilities he had shewn
in king Edward’s reign, to some of those who had the
greatest power under queen Mary, had not moved them,
from a principle of gratitude, to protect him. Indeed, it
appears from his writings, that as he was not only sincere,
but happy in his friendships, and as he was never wanting
to his friends when he had power, he never felt the want
of them when he had it not, and, which he esteemed the
greatest blessing of his life, he lived to return those kindnesses to some who had been useful to him in that dangerous season. Upon the accession of Elizabeth, he appeared at court with his former lustre; and it must afford
us a very high opinion of his character as well as his capacity, that he was the first ambassador named by that wise
princess, and that also to the first prince in Europe, Ferdinand I. emperor of Germany. In this negociation, which
was of equal importance and delicacy, he acquitted himself with great reputation, securing the confidence of the
emperor and his ministers, and preventing the popish
powers from associating against Elizabeth, before she
was well settled on the throne, all which she very
gratefully acknowledged. After his return from this embassy, he was very soon thought of for another, which was
that of Spain; and though it is certain the queen could
not give a stronger proof than this of her confidence in
his abilities, yet he was very far from thinking that it was
any mark of her kindness, more especially considering the
terms upon which she then stood with king Philip, and
the usage his predecessor, Chamberlain, had met with at
that court. But he knew the queen would be obeyed,
and therefore undertook the business with the best grace
he could, and embarked for Spain in 1561. On his first
arrival he met with some of the treatment which he dreaded.
This was the searching of all his trunks and cabinets, of
which he complained loudly, as equally injurious to himself as a gentleman, and to his character as a public minister. His complaints, however, were fruitless; for at that
time there is great probability that his Catholic majesty
was not over desirous of having an English minister, and
more especially one of sir Thomas’s disposition, at his
court, and therefore gave him no satisfaction. Upon this
sir Thomas Chaloner wrote home, set out the affront that
he had received in the strongest terms possible, and was
very earnest to be re-called; but the queen his mistress
contented herself with letting him know, that it was the
duty of every person who bore a public character, to bear
with patience what happened to them, provided no personal indignity was offered to the prince from whom they
came. Yet, notwithstanding this seeming indifference on
her part, the searching sir Thomas Chaloner’s trunks was,
many years afterwards, put into that public charge which
the queen exhibited against his Catholic majesty, of injuries done to her before she intermeddled with the affairs of
the Low Countries. Sir Thomas, however, kept up his
spirit, and shewed the Spanish ministers, and even that
haughty monarch himself, that the queen could not have
entrusted her affairs in better hands than his. There were
some persons of very good families in England, who, for
the sake of their religion, and no doubt out of regard to
the interest to which they had devoted themselves, desired
to have leave from queen Elizabeth to reside in the Low
Countries or elsewhere, and king Philip and his ministers
made it a point to support their suit. Upon this, when a
conference was held with sir Thomas Chaloner, he answered very roundly, that the thing in itself was of very
little importance, since it was no great matter where the
persons who made this request spent the remainder of their
days; but that considering the rank and condition of the
princes interested in this business, it was neither fit for the
one to ask, nor for the other to grant; and it appeared
that he spoke the sense of his court, for queen Elizabeth
would never listen to the proposal. In other respects he
was not unacceptable to the principal persons of the
Spanish court, who could not help admiring his talents as
a minister, his bravery as a soldier, with which in former
times they were well acquainted, his general learning and
admirable skill in Latin poetry, of which he gave them
many proofs during his stay in their country. It was here,
at a time when, as himself says in the preface, he spent
the winter in a stove, and the summer in a barn, that he
composed his great work of “The right ordering of the
English republic.
” But though this employment might in
some measure alleviate his chagrin, yet he fell into a very
grievous fit of sickness, which brought him so low that his
physicians despaired of his life. In this condition he
addressed his sovereign in an elegy after the manner of
Ovid, setting forth his earnest desire to quit Spain and
return to his native country, before care and sickness
forced him upon a longer journey. The queen granted
his petition, and having named Dr. Man his successor in
his negociation, at length gave him leave to return home
from an embassy, in which he had so long sacrificed his
private quiet to the public conveniency. He accordingly
returned to London in the latter end of 1564, and published
the first five books of his large work before-mentioned,
which he dedicated to his good friend sir William Cecil;
but the remaining five books were probably not published.
in his life-time. He resided in a fair large house of his
own building in Clerkenwell-close, over-against the decayed nunnery; and Weever has preserved from oblivion
an elegant fancy of his, which was penciled on the frontispiece of his dwelling. He died Oct. 7, 1565, and was
buried in the cathedral church of St. Paul with great funeral
solemnity, sir William Cecil, then principal secretary of
state, assisting as chief mourner, who also honoured his
memory with some Latin verses, in which he observes,
that the most lively imagination, the most solid judgment,
the quickest parts, and the most unblemished probity,
which are commonly the lot of different men, and when so
dispersed frequently create great characters, were, which
very rarely happens, all united in sir Thomas Chaloner,
justly therefore reputed one of the greatest men of his
time. He also encouraged Dr. William Malim, formerly
fellow of King’s college in Cambridge, and then master of
St. Paul’s school, to collect and publish a correct edition
of our author’s poetical works; which he accordingly did,
and addressed it in an epistle from St. Paul’s school, dated
August 1, 1579, to lord Burleigh. Sir Thomas Chaloner
married Ethelreda, daughter of Edward Frodsham of EJton,
in the county palatine of Chester, esq. by whom he had
issue his only son Thomas, the subject of the next article.
This lady, not long after sir Thomas’s decease, married
sir * * * Brockett, notwithstanding which the lord Burleigh continued his kindness to her, out of respect to that
friendship which he had for her first husband. Sir Thomas’s epitaph was written by one of the best Latin poets of
that age, Dr. Walter Haddon, master of requests to queen
Elizabeth.
and two years after he was incorporated in the same at Oxford. He was appointed to be tutor to Henry duke of Grafton, one of the natural sons of Charles II. about 1679;
was descended from an
ancient family, and born at Odington in Gloucestershire,
1616. He was educated at Gloucester; became a commoner of St. Edmund-hall in Oxford in 1634; took both
his degrees in arts; and was afterwards appointed rhetoric
reader. During the civil war in England, he made the
tour of Europe. In 1658 he married the only daughter
of Richard Clifford, esq. by whom he had nine children.
In 1668 he was chosen F. R. S. and in 1669 attended
Charles earl of Carlisle, sent to Stockholm with the order
of the garter to the king of Sweden, as his secretary. In
1670 the degree of LL. D. was conferred on him at Cambridge, and two years after he was incorporated in the
same at Oxford. He was appointed to be tutor to Henry
duke of Grafton, one of the natural sons of Charles II.
about 1679; and was afterwards appointed to instruct
prince George of Denmark in the English tongue. He
died at Chelsea in 1703, and was buried in a vault in the
church-yard of that parish; where a monument was soon
after erected to his memory, by Walter Harris, M. D. with
a Latin inscription, which informs us, among other things,
that Dr. Chamberlayne was so desirous of doing service to
all, and even to posterity, that he ordered some of the
books he had written to be covered with wax, and buried
with him; which have been since destroyed by the damp.
The six books vanity or dotage thus consigned to the grave,
are, 1. “The present war paralleled; or a brief relation of
the five years’ civil wars of Henry III. king of England,
with the event and issue of that unnatural war, and by what
course the kingdom was then settled again; extracted out
of the most authentic historians and records,
” 1647. It
was reprinted in 1660, under this title, “The late war
paralleled, or a brief relation,
” &c. 2. “England’s wants;
or several proposals probably beneficial for England, offered to the consideration of both houses of parliament,
”
The Converted Presbyterian; or the church
of England justified in some practices,
” &c. Anglix Notitia or the Present State of England with
divers reflections upon the ancient state thereof,
” An academy or college, wherein young
ladies or gentlewomen may, at a very moderate expence,
be educated in the true protestant religion, and in all virtuous qualities that may adorn that sex, &c.
” A Dialogue between an Englishman and a Dutchman,
concerning the last Dutch war,‘ ’ 1672. He translated out
of Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, into English, 1.
” The
rise and fall of count Olivarez the favourite of Spain.“2.
” The unparalleled imposture of Mich, de Molina, executed at Madrid,“1641. 3.
” The right and title of the
present king of Portugal, don John the IVth." These
three translations were printed at London, 1653.
a very fine marble monument was erected to his memory in Westminster-abbey at the expence of Edmund, duke of Buckingham. The long Latin epitaph, the production of bishop
, an eminent man-midwife,
was grandson to Dr. Peter Chamberlen, who, with his
fathers and uncles, were physicians to the kings James I.
Charles I. and II. James II. William, and queen Anne.
He was born in 1664, and educated at Trinity college,
Cambridge, where he took his master’s degree in 1683,
and that of M. D. in 1690. He has a Latin poem in the
“Hymenæus Cantabrigiensis,
” on the marriage of prince
George of Denmark with the princess Anne, 1683. He, his
father, and brothers, invented among them an obstetric
forceps, with which they were enabled to deliver women with
safety in cases where, before this discovery, the child was
usually lost. In 1672 he went to Paris, but happening to
be unsuccessful in a case there, he thought it adviseable to
remove to Holland, where he is said to have succeeded
better. Here he imparted his secret to two eminent practitioners, and received a considerable reward. On his
return to London he had great practice, and realized a handsome fortune. In 1683 he published his translation of
“Mauriceau’s Midwifery,
” a work in great request, and
republished as late as 1755. Mauriceau mentions him
often in some of his works, but always with the littleness
of jealousy. Chamberlen’s forceps, improved by Smellie
and some other practitioners, continues in use, and gives
the inventor an honourable rank among the improvers of
art. In 1723 we find him attending bishop Atterbury in
the Tower, in lieu of Dr. Freind, who was himself a prisoner. He died at his house in Covent-garden, June 17,
1728; and a very fine marble monument was erected to his
memory in Westminster-abbey at the expence of Edmund,
duke of Buckingham. The long Latin epitaph, the production of bishop Atterbury, records, besides his skill, his
benevolence, liberality, and many other amiable personal
characteristics. Dr. Chamberlen was thrice married; and
his widow, the daughter of sir Willoughby Aston, bart.
was afterwards married to sir Thomas Crew, of Utkinton,
in Cheshire, knight, who also left her a widow, but she
died suddenly, April 6, 1734, and that year Dr. Chamberlen’s library was sold by Fletcher Gyles.
lles. About this time he had little other maintenance than what he derived from the patronage of the duke de Choiseul and madame Helvetius, and therefore was glad to
, an ingenious French writer, and one of the victims of the revolution, was born in 1741, in a bailiwick near Clermont, in
Auvergne. In supporting a revolution which levelled all
family distinctions, he had no prejudices to overcome,
being the natural son of a man whom he never knew. This
circumstance, however, did not diminish his affection for
his mother, who was a peasant girl, to supply whose wants
he often denied himself the necessaries of life. He was
taken at a very early age into the college des Prassins at
Paris, as a bursar, or exhibitioner, and was there known
by his Christian name of Nicolas. During the first two
years he indicated no extraordinary talents, but in the
third, out of the five prizes which were distributed annually, he gained four, failing only in Latin verses. The
next year he gained the whole, and used to say, “I lost
the prize last year, because 'I imitated Virgil; and this
year I obtained it, because I took Buchanan, Sarbievius,
and other moderns for my guides.
” In Greek he made a
rapid progress, but his petulance and waggish tricks threw
the class into so much disorder, that he was expelled, and
not long after left the college altogether. Thrown now on
the world, without friends or money, he became clerk to
a procurator, and afterwards was taken into the family of
a rich gentleman of Liege, as tutor. After this he was
employed on the “Journal Encyclopedique,
” and having
published his Eloges on Moliere and La Fontaine, they
were so much admired as to be honoured with the prizes
of the French academy, and that of Marseilles. About
this time he had little other maintenance than what he derived from the patronage of the duke de Choiseul and
madame Helvetius, and therefore was glad to take such
employment as the booksellers offered. For them he compiled a “French Vocabulary,
” and a “Dictionary of the
Theatres.
” While employed on this last, he fancied his
talents might succeed on the stage, and was not disappointed. His tragedy of “Mustapha,
” acted in Epistle from a father to a son, on the birth of a
grandson,
” gained him the prize of the French academy,
although it appears inferior to his “L'Homme de Lettres,
discours philosop.hic|iic en vers.
” At length he gained a
seat in the academy, on the death of St. Palaye, on whom
he wrote an elegant eloge. His tragedy of “Mustapha
”
procured him the situation of principal secretary to the
prince of Conde, but his love of liberty and independence
prevented him from long discharging its duties. After resigning it, he devoted himself wholly to the pleasures of
society, where he was considered as a most captivating
companion. He also held some considerable pensions,
which, however, he lost at the revolution.
n honour which he again enjoyed in 1533, on returning from Italy, whither he had accompanied Anthony duke of Lorrain as his army physician, and by whom he was knighted
, a most
voluminous medical and historical writer, was born in 1472.
After studying medicine he took his degree of doctor at
Pavia in 1515, and in 1520 was made consul at Lyons, an
honour which he again enjoyed in 1533, on returning
from Italy, whither he had accompanied Anthony duke of
Lorrain as his army physician, and by whom he was
knighted for his bravery as well as skill. He died in 1539
or 1540, after having founded the college of physicians at
Lyons. His works amount to twenty-four volumes, mostly
quarto, of which a list may be seen in our authorities, but
there is not one of them that can be noticed for excellence
either of matter or style. Perhaps the best of his historic
cal compilations is, “Les Grandes Chroniques des dues
jde Savoie,
” Paris,
ly a just man is a free man.” The following year he produced “The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, duke of Biron, marshal of France,” 4to, performed at Black Friars,
In 1605 he published a comedy in 4to, called “All
Fools,
” the plot of which is founded on Terence’s Heautontiniorumenos, and which was performed at Black Friars.
Jacob says that “it was accounted an excellent play in
those days, and was acted before king James.
” The following year he produced two other comedies one called
“The Gentleman Usher,
” and the other “Monsieur
D'Olive.
” They were both printed in quarto it is uncertain whether the first was ever performed but the latter
was often acted with success at Black Friars. In 1607 he
published in 4to, “Bussy d'Amboise, a Tragedy,
” which
was often exhibited at St. Paul’s in the reign of James I.
ad after the Restoration was revived with success. The
same year he published in 4to, “Caesar and Pompey, a
lloman Tragedy, declaring their wars, out of whose events
is evicted this proposition, Only a just man is a free man.
”
The following year he produced “The Conspiracy and
Tragedy of Charles, duke of Biron, marshal of France,
”
4to, performed at Black Friars, in two parts. In May-day,
” which is styled a witty
comedy, and which was acted at Black Friars; and in 1612
another comedy, called “The Widow’s Tears;
” acted
both at Black and White Friars. It has been observed,
that “some parts of this play are very fine, and the incidents affecting and interesting:
” but the catastrophe is
thought exceptionable.
Poitiers, was preceptor to William III. king of England; afterwards governor of the pages to George duke of Brunswick Lunen burg, which post he held till his death,
, a protestant writer, born at
Geneva, whose family were originally of Poitiers, was
preceptor to William III. king of England; afterwards governor of the pages to George duke of Brunswick Lunen
burg, which post he held till his death, August 31, 1701,
at Zell. Three days before his death he wrote a sonnet, in
which he complains of being old, blind, and poor. He
collected and printed “Tavernier’s Voyages,
” L'Esprit de M. Arnauld,
”
Chapuzeau answered him in Defense du Sieur Samuel Chapuzeau contre l'Esprit de M.
Arnauld.
” He wrote, besides, “Eloge de la Ville de
Lyons,
” 4to. Une Relation de Savoye; l‘Europe vivante, ou relation nouveile, historique, politique, et de tous
les Etats, tels qu’ils etoient en 1666,“Paris, 1667, 4to.
He also published
” Traite de la maniere de Pre'cher, suivi
de quatre Sermons prononcées a Cassel.“Chapuzeau
tried every kind of writing, even comedies, the greatest part
of which have been collected under the title of
” La Muse
enjouee, ou le Theatre Comique.“In 1694 he published
the plan of an
” Historical, Geographical, and Philological
Dictionary," on which he employed many years, but it
was not finished at his death. He complains, however,
of Moreri having availed himself of his manuscripts, but
does not inform us where he found them.
enchments, and caused a declaration to be made to king Frederic, that, “if he did not justice to the duke of Holstein, his brotherin-law, against whom he had committed
, was born June 27,
1682 and set off in the style and with the spirit of Alexander the Great. His preceptor asking him, what he
thought of that hero? “I think,
” says Charles, “that I
should choose to be like him.
” Ay, but, says the tutor,
he only lived 32 years: “Oh, answered the prince, that
is long enough, when a man has conquered kingdoms.
”
Impatient to reign, he caused himself to be declared of
age at 15 and at his coronation, he snatched the crown
from the archbishop of Upsal, and put it upon his head
himself, with an air of grandeur which struck the people.
Frederic IV. king of Denmark, Augustus king of Poland,
and Peter tzar of Muscovy, taking advantage of his minority, entered into a confederacy against this youth.
Charles, aware of it, though scarce 18, attacked them one
after another. He hastened first to Denmark, besieged
Copenhagen, forced the Danes into their entrenchments, and
caused a declaration to be made to king Frederic, that,
“if he did not justice to the duke of Holstein, his brotherin-law, against whom he had committed hostilities, he must
prepare to see Copenhagen destroyed, and his kingdom
laid waste by fire and sword.
” These menaces brought on
the treaty of Frawendal; in which, without any advantages to himself, but quite content with humbling his enemy, he demanded and obtained all he wished for his ally.
ociety, was chosen one of the first members. Among other patrons and friends were William Cavendish, duke of Newcastle, whose life Dr. Cliarleton translated into Latin
, a very learned physician,
and voluminous writer, the son of the rev. Walter Charleton, M. A. some time vicar of Ilminster, and afterwards
rector of Shepton Mallet, in the county of Somerset,
was born at Shepton Mallet, February 2, 1619, and was
first educated by his father, a man of extensive capacity,
though but indifferently furnished with the goods of fortune. He was afterwards sent to Oxford, and entered of
Magdalen Hall in Lent term 1635, where he became the
pupil of the famous Dr. John Wilkins, afterwards bishop
of Chester, under whom he made great progress in logic
and philosophy, and was noted for assiduous application
and extensive capacity, which encouraged him to aim at
the accomplishments of an universal scholar. But as his
circumstances confined him to some particular profession,
he made choice of physic, and in a short time made as
great a progress in that as he had done in his former studies.
On the breaking out of the civil war, which brought the
king to Oxford, Mr. Charleton, by the favour of the king,
had the degree of doctor of physic conferred upon him in
February 1642, and was soon after made one of the physicians in ordinary to his majesty. These honours made
him be considered as a rising character, and exposed him
to that envy and resentment which he could never entirely
conquer. Upon the declension of the royal cause, he came
up to London, was admitted of the college of physicians,
acquired considerable practice, and lived in much esteem
with the ablest and most learned men of the profession;
such as sir Francis Prujean, sir George Ent, Dr. William
Harvey, and others. In the space of ten years before the
Restoration, he wrote and published several very ingenious
and learned treatises, as well on physical as other subjects,
by which he gained great reputation abroad as well as at
home; and though they are now less regarded than perhaps they deserve, yet they were then received with almost universal approbation. He became, as Wood tells
us, physician in ordinary to king Charles II. while in exile,
which honour he retained after the king’s return; and,
upon the founding of the royal society, was chosen one of
the first members. Among other patrons and friends were
William Cavendish, duke of Newcastle, whose life Dr.
Cliarleton translated into Latin in a very clear and elegant
style, and the celebrated Hobbes, but this intimacy, with:
his avowed respect for the Epicurean philosophy, drew
some suspicions upon him in regard to his religion, notwithstanding the pains he had taken to distinguish between
the religious and philosophical opinions of Epicurus in his
own writings against infidelity. Few circumstances seem
to have drawn more censure on him than his venturing to
differ in opinion from the celebrated Inigo Jones respecting
Stonehenge, which Jones attributed to the Romans, and
asserted to be a temple dedicated by them to the god Coelus, or Coelum; Dr. Charleton referred this antiquity to
later and more barbarous times, and transmitted Jones’s
book, which was not published till after its author’s death,
to Olaus Wormius, who wrote him several letters, tending
to fortify him in his own sentiment, by proving that this
work ought rather to be attributed to his countrymen the
Danes. With this assistance Dr. Charleton drew up a
treatise, offering many strong arguments to shew, that this
could not be a Roman temple, and several plausible reasons why it ought rather to be considered as a Danish monument; but his book, though learned, and enriched with
a great variety of curious observations, was but indifferently
received, and but coldly defended by his friends. Jones’s
son-in-law answered it with intemperate warmth, and many
liberties were taken by others with Dr. Charleton’s character, although sir William Dugdale and some other eminent antiquaries owned themselves to be of our author’s
opinion; but it is now supposed that both are wrong.
Notwithstanding this clamour, Dr. Charleton’s fame was
advanced by his anatomical prelections in the college
theatre, in the spring of 1683, and his satisfactory defence
of the immortal Harvey’s claim to the discovery of the
circulation of the blood, against the pretence that was set
up in favour of father Paul. In 1689 he was chosen president of the college of physicians, in which office he continued to the year 1691. A little after this, his circumstances becoming narrow, he found it necessary to seek a
retreat in the island of Jersey; but the causes of this are not
explained, nor have we been able to discover how long he
continued in Jersey, or whether he returned afterwards to
London. All that is known with certainty is, that he died
in the latter end of 1707, and in the eighty-eighth year
of his age. He appears from his writings to have been a
man of extensive learning, a lover of the constitution in
church and state, and so much a lover of his country as to
refuse a professor’s chair in the university of Padua. In
his junior years he dedicated much of his time to the study
of philosophy and polite literature, was as well read in
the Greek and Roman authors as any man of his time, and
he was taught very early by his excellent tutor, bishop
Wilkins, to digest his knowledge so as to command it readily
when occasion required. In every branch of his own
profession he has left testimonies of his diligence and his
capacity; and whoever considers the plainness and perspicuity of his language, the pains he has taken to collect
and produce the opinions of the old physicians, in order
to compare them with the moderns, the just remarks with
which these collections and comparisons are attended, the
succinctness with which all this is dispatched, and the
great accuracy of that method in which his books are
written, will readily agree that he was equal to most of his
contemporaries. As an antiquary, he had taken much pains
in perusing our ancient historians, and in observing their
excellencies as well as their defects. But, above all, he
was studious of connecting the sciences with each other,
and thereby rendering them severally more perfect; in
which, if he did not absolutely succeed himself, he had at
least the satisfaction of opening the way to others, of showing the true road to perfection, and pointing out the
means of applying and making those discoveries useful,
which have followed in succeeding times. There is also
good reason to believe, that though we have few or none
of his writings extant that were composed during the last
twenty years of his life, yet he was not idle during that
space, but committed many things to paper, as materials
at least for other works that he designed. There is now a
large collection of his ms papers and letters on subjects of
philosophy and natural history in the British Museum.
(Ayscough’s Catalogue.) His printed works are, 1 . “Spiritus
Gorgonicus vi sua saxipara exutus, sive de causis, signis,
et sanatione Lithiaseos,
” Leyden, The darkness
of Atheism discovered by the light of nature, a physicotheological treatise,
” London, The Ephesian and Cimmerian Matrons, two remarkable examples of
the power of Love and Wit/ 7 London, 1653 and 1658, 8vo.
4.
” Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charletoniana: or a
fabric of natural science erected upon the most ancient
hypothesis of atoms,“London, 1654, in fol. 5.
” The Immortality of the human Soul demonstrated by reasons natural,“London, 1657, 4to. 6.
” Oeconomia Animalis novis Anatomicorum inventis, indeque desumptis modernorum Medicorum Hypothesibus Physicis superstructa et
mechanice explicata,“London, 1658, 12mo; Amsterdam,
1659, 12mo; Leyden, 1678, 12mO; Hague, 1681, 12mo.
It is likewise added to the last edition of
” Gulielmi Cole
de secretione animali cogitata.“7.
” Natural history of
nutrition, life, and voluntary motion, containing all the
new discoveries of anatomists,“&c. London, 1658, 4to.
8.
” Exercitationes Physico-Anatomicse de Oeconomia Animali,“London, 1659, 8vo printed afterwards several
times abroad. 9.
” Exercitationes Pathologicæ, in quibus
morborum pene omnium natura, generatio, et causae ex
novis Anatomicorum inventis sedulo inquiruntur,“London,
160, and 1661, 4to. 10.
” Character of his most sacred
Majesty Charles II. King of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland,“London, 1660, one sheet, 4to. 11.
” Disquisitiones duae Anatomico-Physica? altera Anatome pueri de
ccelo tacti, altera de Proprietatibus Cerebri humani,“London, 1664, 8vo. 12.
” Chorea Gigantum, or the most
famous antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stonehenge, standing on Salisbury Plain, restored to the Danes,“London, 1663, 4to. 13.
” Onomasticon Zoicon, plerorumque animalium differentias et nomina propria pluribus
linguis exponens. Cui accedunt Mantissa Anatomice, et
quiedam de variis Fossilium generibus,“London, 1668 and
1671, 4to; Oxon. 1677, fol. 14.
” Two Philosophical
Discourses the first concerning the different wits of men
the second concerning the mystery of Vintners, or a discourse of the various sicknesses of wines, and their respective remedies at this day commonly used, &c. London, 1663, 1675, 1692, 8vo. 15. “De Scorbuto Liber
singularis. Cui accessit Epiphonema in Medicastros,
”
London, Natural
History of the Passions,
” London, Enquiries into Humane Nature, in six Anatomy-prelections in
the new theatre of the royal college of physicians in London,
” London, Oratio Anniversaria habita in Theatro inclyti Collegii Medicorum Londinensis 5to
Augusti 1680, in commemorationem Beneficiorum a
Doctore Harvey aliisque præstitorum,
” London, 1680, 4to.
19. “The harmony of natural and positive Divine Laws,
”
London, Three Anatomic Lectures concerning, l.The motion of the blood through the veins and
arteries. 2. The organic structure of the heart. 3. The
efficient cause of the heart’s pulsation. Read in the 19th,
20th, and 21st day of March 1682, in the anatomic theatre
of his majesty’s royal college of Physicians in London,
”
London, Inquisitio Physlca de causis
Catameniorum, et Uteri Rheumatismo, in quo probatur
sanguinem in animali fermentescere nunquam,
” London,
Gulielmi Ducis Novicastrensis vita,
”
London, A Ternary of Paradoxes, of the
magnetic cure of wounds, nativity of tartar in wine, and
image of God in man,
” London, The
errors of physicians concerning Defluxions called Deliramenta Catarrhi,
” London, Epicurus his Morals,
” London, The Life
of Marcellus,
” translated from Plutarch, and printed in the
second volume of “Plutarch’s Lives translated from the
Greek by several hands,
” London,
ear the royal person, he very early attached himself to the service of the celebrated John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and from this connection his public life is to
Chaucer’s biographers have given some particulars of his life, before the office just mentioned was conferred upon him. He is said to have been in constant attendance on his majesty, and when the court was at Woodstock, resided at a square stone house near the park gate, which long retained the name of Chaucer’s house; and many of the rural descriptions in his works have been traced to Woodstock park, the favourite scene of his walks and studies. But besides his immediate office near the royal person, he very early attached himself to the service of the celebrated John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and from this connection his public life is to be dated. The author of the life prefixed to Urry’s edition observes, that the duke’s “ambition requiring all the assistance of learned men to give it a plausible appearance, induced him to do Chaucer many good offices, in order to engage him in his interest.” But although the assistance of learned men to an ambitious statesman is very well understood in modern times, it is somewhat difficult to conceive what advantage could be derived from such assistance before the invention of printing. It is more probable that the duke had a relish for the talents and taste of Chaucer, and became his patron upon the most liberal grounds, although Chaucer might afterwards repay his favours by exposing the conduct of the clergy, who were particularly obnoxious to the duke by their monopoly of power.
a knight of Lincoln, who died soon after his marriage, and on his decease, his lady returned to the duke’s family, and was appointed governess of his children. While
One effect of this connection was the marriage of our poet, by which he became eventually related to his illustrious patron. John of Gaunt’s duchess, Blanche, entertained in her service one Catherine Rouet, daughter of sir Payne, or Pagan Rouet, a native of Hainault, and Guion king at arms for that country. This lady was afterwards married to sir Hugh Swinford, a knight of Lincoln, who died soon after his marriage, and on his decease, his lady returned to the duke’s family, and was appointed governess of his children. While in this capacity, she yielded to the duke’s solicitations, and became his mistress. She had a sister, Philippa, who is stated to have been a great favourite with the duke and duchess, and by them, as a mark of their high esteem, recommended to Chaucer for a wife. He accordingly married her about 1360, when he was in his thirty-second year, and this step appears to have increased his interest with his patron, who took every opportunity to promote him at court. Besides the instances already given, we are told that he was made shield-bearer to the king, a title at that time of great honour, the shield-bearer being always next the king’s person, and generally, upon signal victories, rewarded with military honours. But here again his biographers have mistaken the meaning of the courtly titles of those days. In the 46 Edward III. 1372, the king appointed him envoy, with two others, to Genoa, by the title of scutifer noster, “our squier.” Scutifer and armiger, according to Mr. Tyrwhitt, are synonymous terms with the French escuier; but Chaucer’s biographers thinking the title of squier too vulgar, changed it to shield-bearer, as if Chaucer had the special office of carrying the king’s shield. With respect to the nature of this embassy to Genoa, biography and history are alike silent, and from that silence, the editor of the Canterbury tales is inclined to doubt whether it ever took place, or whether he had that opportunity of visiting Petrarch, an event which his biographers refer to the same period.
ich Chaucer filled, although he did not cease to take an interest in the measures of his patron, the duke of Lancaster. On the accession of Richard II. in 1377, his annuity
Whichever of these accounts is the true one, it appears that this was the last political employment which Chaucer filled, although he did not cease to take an interest in the measures of his patron, the duke of Lancaster. On the accession of Richard II. in 1377, his annuity of twenty marks was confirmed, and another annuity of twenty marks granted to him in lieu of the daily pitcher of wine. He was also confirmed in his office of comptroller. When Richard II. succeeded his grandfather, he was but eleven years of age, and his uncle the duke of Lancaster was consequently entrusted with the chief share in the administration of public affairs. One of his first measures was to solemnize the young king’s coronation with great pomp, previously to which a court of claims was established to settle the demands of those who pretended to have a right to assist at the ceremony. Among these, Chaucer claimed in right of his ward, who was possessed of the manor of Billington in Kent; and this was held of the crown, by the service of presenting to the king three maple cups on the day of his coronation; but this claim was contested, and if it had not, is remote enough from the kind of information which it would be desirable to obtain respecting Chaucer. All we know certainly of this period, is, that the duke of Lancaster still preserved his friendship for our poet, and probably was the means of the grants just noticed having been renewed on the accession of the young king.
It appears from the historians of Richard II. that the duke of Lancaster, about the third or fourth year of that monarch’s
It appears from the historians of Richard II. that the duke of Lancaster, about the third or fourth year of that monarch’s reign, began to decline in political influence, if not in popularity, owing to the encouragement he had given to the celebrated reformer Wickliffe, whom he supported against the clergy, to whose power in state affairs he had long looked with a jealous eye. Chaucer’s works show evidently that he concurred with the duke in his opinion of the clergy, and have procured him to be ranked among the few who paved the way for the reformation. Yet when the insurrection of Wat Tyler was imputed to the principles of the Wicklevites, the duke, it is said, withdrew his countenance from them, and disclaimed their tenets. Chaucer is likewise reported to have altered his sentiments, but the fact, in neither case, is satisfactorily confirmed. The duke of Lancaster condemned the doctrines of those followers of Wickliff only, who had excited public disturbances; and Chaucer was so far from abandoning his former notions, that in 1384, he exerted his utmost interest in favour of John Comberton, commonly called John of Northampton, when about to be re-chosen mayor of London. Comberton was a reformer on WicklifFs principles, and so obnoxious on that account to the clergy, that they stirred up a commotion on his re-election, which the king was obliged to quell by force. The consequence was, that some lives were lost, Comberton was imprisoned, and strict search was made after Chaucer, who contrived to escape first to Hainault, then to France, and finally to Zealand. The date of his flight has not been ascertained, but it was no doubt upon this occasion that he lost his place in the customs.
The decline of the duke of Lancaster’s interest contributed not a little to aggravate
The decline of the duke of Lancaster’s interest contributed not a little to aggravate the distresses of our author, and determined him to take leave of the court and its intrigues, and retire in pursuit of that happiness which his years and habits of reflection demanded. With this view it was necessary to dispose of those pensions which had been bestowed upon him in the former reign; and which, notwithstanding his espousing a cause not very acceptable to the sovereign, had been continued to him in the present. Accordingly in May 1388, he obtained his majesty’s licence to surrender his two grants of twenty marks each, in favour of one John Scalby. After this he retired/ to his favourite Woodstock; and, according to Speght, employed a part of his time in revising and correcting his writings, and enjoying the calm pleasures of rural contemplation. It is thought that the composition of his “Canterbury Tales” was begun about this time, 1389, when he was in the sixty-first year of his age, and when, contrary to the usual progress of mind, his powers seem to have been in their fullest vigour.
It was not long after this period that the duke of Lancaster resumed his influence at court; but whether Chaucer
It was not long after this period that the duke of Lancaster resumed his influence at court; but whether Chaucer was enabled to profit by this reverse, or whether he had seen too much of political revolutions to induce him to quit his retreat, his biographers are doubtful. It appears, however, probable that the duke of Lancaster had it still as much in his will as in his power to befriend him; and it might be owing to his grace’s influence, that in 1389 we find him clerk of the works at Westminster; and in the following year at Windsor and other palaces: but Mr. Tyrwhitt doubts whether these offices were sufficient to indemnify him for the loss of his place in the customs. In the “Testament of Love,” he complains of “being berafte out of dignitie of office, in which he made a gatheringe of worldly godes;” and in another place he speaks of himself as “once glorious in worldly welefulnesse, and having such godes in welthe as maken men riche.” All this implies a very considerable reverse of fortune; although Speght’s tradition of his having been possessed of “lands and revenues to the yearly value almost of a thousand pounds,” remains utterly incredible.
, where he acquired a profound knowledge of the ancient authors, and contracted an intimacy with the duke de Rochefoucault and the abbé Marsillac, whose patronage he
, was born at Fontenay in Normandy, in 1639. His father, counsellor of state at Rouen, placed him in the college de Navarre at Paris, where he acquired a profound knowledge of the ancient authors, and contracted an intimacy with the duke de Rochefoucault and the abbé Marsillac, whose patronage he acquired by his lively conversation and his various talents; and while he was countenanced by them, he formed an acquaintance that had a great influence on his poetical efforts. The duchess of Bouillon, a niece of cardinal Mazarin, was about to lay out a large garden, and for that purpose thought it necessary to obtain a piece of ground belonging to the estate of the family of Chaulieu. The poet, with much address, brought the treaty to effect agreeably to the desires of the duchess, and thus acquired the favour of a lady, who afterwards became the inspirer of his sonnets. Her house was a temple of the muses; she encouraged, rewarded, and inspired all such as shewed marks of poetic genius; and evinced a particular regard for Chaulieu. Through her he became known to the duke de Vendome, a great friend of the muses, who, as grand prior of France, presented him with a priorate on the isle of Oleron, with an annual revenue of 28,000 livres. To this were afterwards added the abbacies of Pouliers, Renes, Aumale, and St. Stephen, the profits of which enabled him to pass his life in ease and affluence. The first thing by which Chaulieu became known as a poet was a rondeau on Benserade’s translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. He soon found opportunities for appearing frequently before the public; and his acquaintance with Chapelle determined him entirely for jovial poetry. Chaulieu was no poet by profession he sung with the flask in his hand, and we are told that in the circle of genial friends he acquired those delicate sentiments which render his poetry at once so natural and so charming. The muses were the best comforts of his age, as they had frequently been in his younger
rometer to those telescopes, and of measuring exactly the value of the parts of that instrument. The duke of Chaulnes proposed many other works of the same kind, which
, a peer of France, but more remarkable as an astronomer and mathematician, was born at Paris Dec. 30, 1714. He soon discovered a singular taste and genius for the sciences; and in the tumults of armies and camps, he cultivated mathematics, astronomy, mechanics, &c. He was named honorary academician the 27th of February 1743, and few members were more punctual in attending the meetings of that body, where he often brought different constructions and corrections of instruments of astronomy, of dioptrics, and achromatic telescopes. These researches were followed with a new parallactic machine, more solid and convenient than those that were in use; as also with many reflections on the manner of applying the micrometer to those telescopes, and of measuring exactly the value of the parts of that instrument. The duke of Chaulnes proposed many other works of the same kind, which were interrupted by his death Sept. 23, 1769.
Cassini having the southern quarter assigned him, took in the assistance of Chazelles. In 1684, the duke of Montemart engaged Chazelles to teach him mathematics, and
, a French mathetician and engineer, was born at Lyons July 24, 1657,
and educated there in the college of Jesuits, from whence
he removed to Paris in 1675. He first made an acquaintance with du Hamel, secretary to the academy of sciences;
who, observing his genius to lie strongly towards astronomy,
presented him to Cassini. Cassini took him with him to
the observatory, and employed him under him, where he
made a very rapid progress in the science. In 1683, the
academy carried on the great work of the meridian to the
north and south, begun in 1670, and Cassini having the
southern quarter assigned him, took in the assistance of
Chazelles. In 1684, the duke of Montemart engaged
Chazelles to teach him mathematics, and the year after
procured him the preferment of hydrography-professor for
the gallies of Marseilles, where he set up a school for
young pilots designed to serve on board the gailies. In
1686, the gallies made four little campaigns, or rather four
courses, for exercise, during which Chazelles always went
on board, kept his school on the sea, and shewed the
practice of what he taught. He likewise made a great
many geometrical and astronomical observations, which
enabled him to draw a new map of the coast of Provence.
In 1687 and 1688 he made two other sea campaigns, and
drew a great many plans of ports, roads, towns, and forts,
which were so much prized as to be lodged with the
ministers of state. At the beginning of the war which
ended with the peace of Ryswick, Chazelles and some
marine officers fancied the gailies might be so contrived as
to live upon the ocean, and might serve to tow the men of
war when the wind failed, or proved contrary; and also
help to secure the coast of France upon the ocean. He
was sent to the western coasts in July 1689 to prove this
scheme; and in 1690 fifteen gailies, new-built, set sail
from Rochefort, cruised as far as Torbay in England,
and proved serviceable at the descent upon Tinmouth.
Here he performed the functions of an engineer, and
shewed the courage of a soldier. The general officers he
served under declared that when they sent him to take a
view of any post of the enemy, they could rely entirely
upon his intelligence. The gallies, after their expedition,
came to the mouth of the Seine into the basons of Havre
de Grace and Honfleur; but could not winter because it
was necessary to empty these basons several times, to prevent the stagnation and stench of the water. He proposed
to carry them to Rohan; and though all the pilots were
against him, objecting insuperable difficulties, he succeeded in the undertaking* While he was at Rohan he
digested into order the observations which he had made on
the coasts, and drew distinct maps, with a portulan to
them, viz. a large description of every haven, of the
depth, the tides, the dangers and advantages discovered,
&c. which were inserted in the “Neptune Francois,
” published in Neptune François
”
carried on to a second volume, which was also to include
the Mediterranean. Chazelles desired that he might have
a year’s voyage in this sea, for making astronomical observations; and, the request being granted, he passed by
Greece, Egypt, and the other parts of Turkey, with his
quadrant and telescope in his hand. When he was in
Egypt he measured the pyramids, and found that the four
sides of the largest lay precisely against the four quarters
of the world. Now as it is highly probable that this exact
position to east, west, north, and south, was designed
3000 years ago by those that raised this vast structure, it
follows, that, during so long an interval, there lias been
no alteration in the situation of the heavens; or, that the
poles of the earth and the meridians have all along continued the same. He likewise made a report of his voyage
in the Levant, and gave the academy all the satisfaction
they wanted concerning the position of Alexandria: upon
which he was made a member of the academy in 1695.
Chazelles died Jan. 16, 1710, of a malignant fever. He
was a very extraordinary and useful man; and, besides his
great genius and attainments, was also remarkable for his
moral and religious endowments.
rom trouble, being of the number of those who were charged with having suggested bad counsels to the duke of Somerset, and afterwards betrayed him. But having recovered
, a learned writer of the sixteenth
century, descended from an ancient family in the Isle of
Wight, was born at Cambridge, June 16, 1514, being the
son of Peter Cheke, gent, and Agnes, daughter of Mr.
Dufford of Cambridgeshire. After receiving his grammatical education under Mr. John Morgan, he was admitted
into St. John’s college, Cambridge, in 1531, where he
became very eminent for his knowledge in the learned
languages, particularly the Greek tongue, which was then
almost universally neglected. Being recommended as such,
by Dr. Butts, to king Henry VIII. he was soon after made
kind’s scholar, and supplied by his majesty with money
for his education, and for his charges in travelling into
foreign countries. While he continued in college he introduced a more substantial and useful kind of learning
than what had been received for some years; and encouraged especially the study of the Greek and Latin languages, and of divinity. After having taken his degrees
in arts he was chosen Greek lecturer of the university.
There was no salary belonging to tnat place: but king
Henry having founded, about the year 1540, a professorship of the Greek tongue in the university of Cambridge,
with a stipend oi forty pounds a year, Mr. Cheke, though
but twenty-six years of age, was chosen the first professor.
This place he held long after he left the university, namely,
till October 1551, and was highly instrumental in bringing
the Greek language into repute. He endeavoured
particularly to reform and restore the original pronunciation of
it, but met with great opposition from Stephen Gardiner,
bishop of Winchester, chancellor of the university, and
their correspondence on the subject was published. Cheke,
however, in the course of his lectures,- went through all
Homer, all Euripides, part of Herodotus, and through
Sophocles twice, to the advantage of his hearers and his
own credit. He was also at the same time universityorator. About the year 1543 he was incorporated master
of arts at Oxford, where he had studied some time. On
the 10th of July 1544 he was sent for to court, in order to
be school- master, or tutor, for the Latin tongue, jointly
with sir Anthony Cooke, to prince Edward and, about
the same time, as an encouragement, the king granted
him, being then, as it is supposed, in orders, one of the
canonries in his new- founded college at Oxford, now Christ
Church but that college being dissolved in the beginning
of 1545, a pension was allowed him in the room of his
canonry. While he was entrusted with the prince’s education, he made use of all the interest he had in promoting
men of learning and probity. He seems also to have
sometimes had the lady Elizabeth under his care. In
1547, he married Mary, daughter of Richard Hill, serjeant of the wine-cellar to king Henry VIII. When his
royal pupil, king Edward VI. came to the crown, he rewarded him for his care and pains with an annuity of one
hundred marks; and also made him a grant of several
lands and manors . He likewise caused him, by a mandamus, to be elected provost of King’s college, Cambridge,
vacant by the deprivation of George Day, bishop of Chichester. In May 1549, he retired to Cambridge, upon
some disgust he had taken at the court, but was the same
Summer appointed one of the king’s commissioners for
visiting that university. The October following, he was one
of the thirty-two commissioners appointed to examine the
old ecclesiastical law books, and to compile from thence a
body of ecclesiastical laws for the government of the
church; and again, three years after, he was put in a new
commission issued out for the same purpose. He returned
to court in the winter of 1549, but met there with great
uneasiness on account of some offence given by his wife
to Anne, duchess of Somerset, whose dependent she was.
Mr. Cheke himself was not exempt from trouble, being of
the number of those who were charged with having suggested bad counsels to the duke of Somerset, and afterwards betrayed him. But having recovered from these
imputations, his interest and authority daily increased, and
he became the liberal patron of religious and learned men,
both English and foreigners. In 1550 he was made chief
gentleman of the king’s privy -chamber, whose tutor he
still continued to be, and who made a wonderful progress
through his instructions. Mr. Cheke, to ground him well
in morality, read to him Cicero’s philosophical works, and
Aristotle’s Ethics; but what was of greater importance, instructed him in the general history, the state and interest,
the laws and customs of England. He likewise directed
him to keep a diary of all the remarkable occurrences that
happened, to which, probably, we are indebted for the
king’s Journal (printed from the original in the Cottonian library) in Burnett’s History of the Reformation. In October, 1551, his majesty conferred on him the honour of
knighthood; and to enuhle him the better to support that
rank, made him a grant, or gift in fee simple (upon consideration of his surrender of the hundred marks abovementioned), of the whole manor of Stoke, near Clare, exclusively of the college before granted him, and the appurtenances in Suffolk and Essex, with divers other lands,
tenements, &c. all to the yearly value of 145l. 19$. 3d.
And a pasture, with other premises, in Spalding; and the
rectory, and other premises, in Sandon. The same year
he held two private conferences with some other learned
persons upon the subject of the sacrament, or transubstantiation. The first on November the 25th, in -secretary
Cecil’s house, and the second December 3d the same year,
at sir Richard Morison’s. The auditors were, the lord
Russel, sir Thomas Wroth of the bed-chamber, sir Anthony Cooke, one of the king’s tutors, Throgmorton,
chamberlain of the exchequer, Mr. Knolles, and Mr. Harrington, with whom were joined the marquis of Northampton, and the earl of Rutland, in the second conference.
The popish disputants for the real presence were, Feckenham, afterwards dean of St. Paul’s, and Yong; and at the
second disputation, Watson. The disputants on the other
side were, sir John Cheke, sir William Cecil, Horn, dean
of Durham, Whitehead, and Grindal. Some account of
these disputations is still extant in Latin, in the library of
Mss. belonging to Bene't college, Cambridge and from
thence published in English by Mr. Strypein his interesting
Life of sir John Cheke. Sir John also procured Bucer’s
Mss. and the illustrious Leland’s valuable, collections for
the king’s library but either owing to sir John’s misfortunes, or through some other accident, they never reached
their destination. Four volumes of these collections were
given by his son Henry Cheke, to Humphrey Purefoy, esq.
one of queen Elizabeth’s council in the north, whose son,
Thomas Purefoy, of Barvvell in Leicestershire, gave them
to the famous antiquary, William Burton, in 1612 and he
made use of them in his description of Leicestershire.
Many years after, he presented them to the Bodleian library at Oxford, where they now are. Some other of these
collections, after Cheke’s death, came into the hands of
William lord Paget, and sir William Cecil. The original
of the “Itinerary,
” in five volumes, 4to, is in the Bodleian library; and two volumes of collections, relating to
Britain, are in the Cottonian.
distressed artists; and there he found many patrons among the nobility and gentry, particularly the duke of Montague, for whom he painted the Council of the Gods, the
, the brother of Elizabeth Cheron,
was born at Paris in 1660; and having been taught the
rudiments of the art in his own country, he travelled to
Italy, where his sister supplied him with a competency, to
enable him to prosecute his studies for eighteen years.
During his continuance in Italy, he made the works of Raphael and Julio Romano the principal object of his studies,
by which his future compositions had always a certain air
of the antique, though he had no great portion of grace,
and his figures were frequently too muscular. Two of his
pictures are in the church of Notre Dame, at Paris; the
one, of Herodias holding the charger with the head of St.
John the Baptist; the other, of Agabus foretelling the persecution of St. Paul. On account of his religion, being a
Calvinist, he was compelled to quit his native country,
and settled in London, the happy retreat of all distressed
artists; and there he found many patrons among the nobility and gentry, particularly the duke of Montague, for
whom he painted the Council of the Gods, the Judgment
of Paris, and he was also employed at Burleigh and Chatsworth; but finding himself eclipsed by Baptist, Rousseau,
and La Fosse, he commenced painting small historical
pieces. His most profitable employment, however, was
designing for painters and engraver ^ and his drawings
were by some preferred to his paintings. He etched several
of his own designs, and in particular, a series of twenty-two
small prints for the life of David, with which Giffart, a
bookseller at Pans, ornamented a French edition of the
Psalms published in 1713. Strutt notices also two engravings which he executed from his own designs, of great
taste, “The Death of Ananias and Sapphira,' and
” St.
Paul baptising the Eunuch." His private character was
excellent. He died in 1713, of an apoplexy, at his lodgings in the Piazza, CovenNgarden, and was buried in the
porch of St. Paul’s church in that parish. He had some
time before sold his drawings from Raphael, and his academy figures, to the earl of Derby, for a large sum of
money.
the Romish communion. At his return to Paris, he was made preceptor and afterwards secretary to the duke of Maine. Then he retired to Loudun, where he had built an elegant
, was born at Loudun, a town of
Poitou in France, May 12, 1613. His inclination led him
to the study of the belles lettres, in which he made so considerable progress, that he obtained a distinguished rank
among the learned. His application to letters, however,
did not unqualify him for business; for he was a man of
great address and knowledge of the world, and on that
account advanced to be secretary to Christina queen of
Sweden. The king of Denmark engaged him also at his
court. Several German princes entertained him, and
among the rest the elector palatine Charles Lewis, father
to the duchess of Orleans. He continued for some time at
this court, sat at the council-board, and helped to bring
over the princess just mentioned to the Romish communion. At his return to Paris, he was made preceptor and
afterwards secretary to the duke of Maine. Then he retired to Loudun, where he had built an elegant habitation
for the repose of his old age; and, after spending there
the last twenty years of his life in study and retirement, he
died Feb. 15, 1701, almost 88 years of age.
He left a very noble library behind him, and was himself the author of some works 1. “Le Tableau de la Fortune,
” Effets de la
Fortune,
” a romance, L'Histoire du
Monde,
” Oeuvres melees,
”
consisting of miscellaneous letters and pieces in prose and
verse. He wrote also notes on Petronius and Malherbe,
and was esteemed a good critic. Much of his turn of mind
and sentiments may be seen in the “Chevraeana,
” Paris,
After the death of Henry V. in 1422, and the appointment of Humphrey duke of Gloucester to be regent during the minority of Henry VI.,
After the death of Henry V. in 1422, and the appointment of Humphrey duke of Gloucester to be regent during
the minority of Henry VI., Chichele retired to his province, and began to visit the several dioceses included in
it, carefully inquiring into the state of morals and religion.
The principles of Wickliffe had made considerable progress, and it was to them chiefly that the indifference of
the public towards the established clergy, and the efforts
which had been made to alienate their revenues, were
attributed. Officially, therefore, we are not to wonder that
Chichele, educated in all the prejudices of the times, endeavoured to check the growing heresy, as it was called;
but from the silence of Fox on the subject, there is reason
to hope that his personal interference was far more gentle
than that of his predecessor Arundel. On the other hand,
history has done ample justice to the spirit with which he
resisted the assumed power of the pope in the disposition
of ecclesiastical preferments, and asserted the privileges
of the English church. In all this he was supported by
the nation at large, by a majority of the bishops, and by
the university of Oxford, nor at this time was more zeal
shown against the Lollards, or first protestants, than against
the capricious and degrading encroachments of the court
of Home. Among the vindications of Chichele’s character
from the imputations thrown upon it by the agents of the
pope, that of the university of Oxford must not be omitted.
They told the pope, that “Chichele stood in the sanctuary of God as a firm wall that heresy could not shake, nor
simony undermine, and that he was the darling of the
people, and the foster parent of the clergy.
” These remonstrances, however, were unsatisfactory to the proud
and restless spirit of Martin V. but after he had for some
time kept the terrors of an interdict hanging over the nation, the dispute was dropped without concessions on either
side, and the death of this pope, soon after, relieved the
archbishop from farther vexation.
during their lives, and for their souls after their decease; also for the souls of Henry V. and the duke of Clarence, together with those of all the dukes, earls, barons,
According to this charter, the society was to consist of a warden and twenty fellows, with power in the warden to increase their number to forty, and to be called The warden and college of the souls of all the faithful deceased, Collegium Omnium slnimarum Fiddium defunctorum de Oxon. The precise meaning of this may be understood from the obligation imposed on the society to pray for the good estate of Henry VI. and the archbishop during their lives, and for their souls after their decease; also for the souls of Henry V. and the duke of Clarence, together with those of all the dukes, earls, barons, knights, esquires, and other subjects of the crown of England, who had fallen in the war with France; and for the souls of all the faithful deceased.
n twenty years old, he was sent to stop the progress of the plague then raging at Marseilles, by the duke of Orleans, regent of the kingdom. The boldness and confidence
, counsellor of state, and
first physician to the French king, was born at Montpellier
in 1672. Having obtained his doctor’s degree, though no
more than twenty years old, he was sent to stop the progress of the plague then raging at Marseilles, by the duke
of Orleans, regent of the kingdom. The boldness and
confidence with which he entered that city, where every
one seemed only waiting for death, had a striking effect on
their fears. He encouraged the inhabitants, and quieted
their alarms by his presence; and his success was beyond
expectation. His services were rewarded by marks of
honour and a pension from the king. In 1731 he was
called to court to be physician to the royal children, by
the interest of Chirac, whose daughter he had married;
and after whose death he was made first physician to the
king, counsellor of state, and superintendent of the mineral waters of the kingdom. He died at Versailles in 1752,
aged near 80. The most curious of his works is that
wherein he maintains that the plague is not contagious,
entitled “Observations et reflexions touchant la nature,
les evenements, et le traitement de la Peste de Marseilles,
”
Paris, Traitedes causes, &c. de la Peste,
” Paris,
ctor of Brandenburgh, the kings of Portugal and Spain, the king of the Romans, and Charles Gustavus, duke of Deux Ponts, her first cousin. Him the people, anxious for
, queen of Sweden, one of the few sovereigns whose history is entirely personal, was the only child of the great Gustavus Adolphus, by Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg. She was born Dec. 18, 1626, and succeeded to the throne of her father when she was only five years of age. During her minority, the long war with the German empire, in consequence of the invasion of Gustavus, as supporter of the protestant league, was carried on by able men, and particularly Oxentiern. Her education was conducted upon a very liberal plan, and she possessed a strong understanding, and was early capable of reading the Greek historians. Thucydides, Polybius, and Tacitus, were her favourite authors; but she as early manifested a distaste for the society and occupations of her sex, and delighted in manly sports and exercises. She affected likewise an extraordinary love of letters, and even for abstract speculations. When at the age of eighteen she assumed the reins of government, she was courted by several princes of Europe, but rejected their proposals from various motives, of which the true one appears to have been a conceited sense of superiority, and a desire to rule uncontrouled. Among her suitors were the prince of Denmark, the elector Palatine, the elector of Brandenburgh, the kings of Portugal and Spain, the king of the Romans, and Charles Gustavus, duke of Deux Ponts, her first cousin. Him the people, anxious for her marriage, recommended to her; but she rejected the proposal, and to prevent its renewal, she solemnly appointed Gustavus her successor. In 1650, when she was crowned, she became weary and disgusted with public affairs, and seemed to have no ambition but to become the general patroness of learning and learned men. With this view, she invited to her court men of the first reputation in various studies among these were Grotius, Descartes, Bochart, Huet, Vossius, Paschal, Salmasius, Naude, Heinsius, Meibom, Scudery, Menage, Lucas, Holstenius, Lambecius, Bayle, and others, who did not fail to celebrate her in poems, letters, or literary productions of some other kind, the greatest part of which are now forgotten. Her choice of learned men seems to have been directed more by general fame, than by her own judgment, or taste for their several excellencies, and she derived no great credit either as a learned lady, or as a discriminating patroness of literature. She was much under the influence of Bourdelot the physician, who gained his ascendancy by outrageous flattery: and her inattention to the high duties of her station disgusted her subjects. She was a collector of books, manuscripts, medals, and paintings, all which she purchased at such an enormous expence as to injure her treasury, and with so little judgment, that having procured some paintings of Titian at a most extravagant price, she had them clipped to fit the pannels of her gallery.
of his emperor, who was come into Italy, and resided in that city; and while he was here, Galeazzo, duke of Milan, prevailed with him to accept the Greek professorship
, the principal of those learned men who brought the Greek language and literature into the West, was born at Constantinople, as it is supposed, about 1355. He was of considerable rank, and descended from so ancient a family that his ancestors are said to have removed with Constantine from Rome to Byzantium. He was sent ambassador to the sovereigns of Europe by the emperor John Palseologus in 1387, to solicit assistance against the Turks, and was here in England in the reign of Richard II. In an epistle which he wrote at Rome to the emperor, containing a comparison of ancient and modern Rome, he says that he was two years before at London with his retinue. When he had finished this embassy in somewhat more than three years, he returned to Constantinople; but afterwards, whether through fear of the Turks, or for the sake of propagating the Greek learning, left it again, and came back into Italy about 1396, by invitation from the city of Florence, with the promise of a salary, to open a school there for the Greek language. With this he complied, and taught there for three years, and had Leonard Aretin for his scholar. From Florence he went to Milan, at the command of his emperor, who was come into Italy, and resided in that city; and while he was here, Galeazzo, duke of Milan, prevailed with him to accept the Greek professorship in the university of Pavia, which had lately been founded by his father. This he held till the death of Galeazzo, and then removed to Venice on account of the wars which immediately followed. Between 1406 and 1409 he went to Rome upon an invitation from Leonard Aretin, who had formerly been his scholar, but was then secretary to pope Gregory XII. In this city his talents and virtues procured him the honour of being sent, in 1413, into Germany by pope Martin V. as ambassador to the emperor Sigismund, along with cardinal Zarabella, in order to fix upon a place for holding a general council; and Chrysoloras and the cardinal fixed upon Constance. Afterwards he returned to his own emperor at Constantinople, by whom he was sent ambassador with others as representatives of the Greek church, to the council of Constance; but a few days after the opening of the council he died, April 15, 1415. He was buried at Constance and a handsome monument was erected over him, with an inscription upon it by Peter Paul Vergerio. His scholar Poggio also honoured his memory with an elegant epitaph, and a volume of eulogies upon him lately existed in the monastery at Camaldoli, justly due to one who contributed so essentially to revive Grecian literature, which had lain dormant in the West for seven hundred years. Emanuel had a nephew, John Chrysoloras, who likewise taught Greek in Italy, and died in 1425. Emanuel’s. Greek Grammar was published soon after the invention of printing, and there are a great many editions from 1480 to 1550, 4to and 8vo, almost all of which are very scarce.
eral sons and daughters, who lived to grow up. The eldest of his sons was John Churchill, afterwards duke of Marlborough, of whom we shall speak largely in the next article.
After the dissolution of the parliament in 1678, sir Winston was dismissed from the post of clerk of the green cloth, much against his master’s will, who restored him again, and continued him in it during the rest of his reign. He enjoyed the same degree of favour from court, during the short reign of James II.; and having lived to see his eldest son raised to the peerage, he departed this life, March 26, 1688. Besides three sons, and as many daughters, who died in their infancy, sir Winston had several sons and daughters, who lived to grow up. The eldest of his sons was John Churchill, afterwards duke of Marlborough, of whom we shall speak largely in the next article. Arabella, the eldest of his children, born in March 1648,. was maid of honour to the duchess of York, and mistress to the duke, afterwards James II. by whom she had two sons and two daughters. The eldest, James Fitz-James, was created by his father duke of Berwick: he was also knight of the garter and of the golden fleece, marshal of France, and grandee of Spain of the first class. He was reputed one of the greatest officers in his time; and when generalissimo of the armies of France, fell by a cannon-shot at the siege of Phillipsburg in 1734. Henry Fitz-James, grand prior of France, lieutenant-general and admiral of the French gal lies, Was born in 1673, and died in 1702. Henrietta, born in 1670, married sir Henry Waldgrave of Cheuton, and died 1730. The youngest daughter was a nun but afterwards married colonel Godfrey, by whom she had two daughters.
, duke of Marlborough, and prince of the holy Roman empire, was eldest
, duke of Marlborough, and prince of the holy Roman empire, was eldest son of sir Winston Churchill, and born at Ashe in Devonshire on Midsummerday in 1650. A clergyman in the neighbourhood instructed him in the first principles of literature, and he was for some time educated at St. Paul’s school but his father, having other views than what a learned education afforded, carried him to court in the twelfth year of his age, where he was particularly favoured by James duke of York. He had a pair of colours given him in the guards, during the first Dutch war, about 1666; and afterwards obtained leave to go over to Tangier, then in our hands, and besieged by the Moors, where he resided for some time, and cultivated the science of arms. Upon his return to England, he attended constantly at court, and was greatly respected by both the king and the duke. In 1672, the duke of Monmouth commanding a body of English auxiliaries in the service of France, Churchill attended him, and was soon after made a captain of grenadiers in his grace’s own regiment. He had a share in all the actions of that famous campaign against the Dutch; and at the siege of Nimeguen, distinguished himself so much, that he was particularly taken notice of by the celebrated marshal Turenne, who bestowed on him the name of the handsome Englishman. He appeared also to so much advantage at the reduction of Maestricht, that the French king thanked him for his behaviour at the head of the line, and assured him that he would acquaint his sovereign with it, which the duke of Monmouth also confirmed, telling the king his father how much he had been indebted to the bravery of captain Churchill.
not fail to gain him preferment at home; accordingly the king made him a lieutenant-colonel, and the duke made him gentleman of his bed-chamber, and soon after master
The laurels he brought from France could not fail to gain him preferment at home; accordingly the king made him a lieutenant-colonel, and the duke made him gentleman of his bed-chamber, and soon after master of the robes. The second Dutch war being over, colonel Churchill was again obliged to pass his days at court, where he behaved with great prudence and circumspection in the troublesome times that ensued. In 1679, when the duke of York was constrained to go to the Netherlands, colonel Churchill attended him; as he did through all his peregrinations, till he was suffered to reside again in London. While he waited upon the duke in Scotland, he had a regiment of dragoons given him; and thinking it now time to take a consort, he made his addresses to Sarah Jennings, who waited on the lady Anne, afterwards queen of Great Britain. This young lady, then about twenty-one years of age, and universally admired both for her person and wit, he married in 1681, and by this match strengthened the interest he had already at court. In 1682 the duke of York returned to London; and, having obtained leave to quit Scotland, resolved to bring his family from thence by sea. For this purpose he embarked in May, but unluckily ran upon the Lemon Oar, a dangerous sand, that lies about 16 leagues from the mouth of the Humber, where his ship was lost, with some men of quality, and upwards of 120 persons on board. He was particularly careful of colonel Churchill’s safety, and took him into the boat in which himself escaped. The first use made by his royal highness of his interest, after he returned to court, was to obtain a title for his favourite; who, by letters patent, bearing date Dec. 1, 1682, was created baron of Eymouth in Scotland, and also appointed colonel of the 3d troop of guards. He was continued in all his posts upon the accession of James II. who sent him also his ambassador to France to notify that event. On his return, he assisted at the coronation in April 1685; and May following was created a peer of England, by the title of baroti Churchill of Sandridge in the county of Hertford.
outh’s rebellion; which he did in a month’s time, with an inconsiderable body of horse, and took the duke himself prisoner. He was extremely well received by the king
In June, being then lieutenant-general of his majesty’s
forces, he was ordered into the west to suppress Monmouth’s rebellion; which he did in a month’s time, with
an inconsiderable body of horse, and took the duke himself prisoner. He was extremely well received by the king
at his return from this victory; but soon discerned that it
only served to confirm the king in an opinion that, by
virtue of a standing army, the religion and government of
England might easily be changed. How far lord Churchill
concurred with or opposed the king, while he was forming
this project, has been disputed by historians. According
to bishop Burnet, “he very prudently declined meddling
much in business, spoke little except when his advice was
asked, and then always recommended moderate measures.
”
It is said he declared very early to lord Galway, that if
his master attempted to overturn the established religion,
he would leave him; and that he signed the memorial
transmitted to the prince and princess of Orange, by which
they were invited to fill the throne. Be this as it will, it is
certain that he remained with the king, and was entrusted
by him, after the prince of Orange was landed in 1688.
He attended king James when he marched with his forces
to oppose the prince, and had the command of 5000 men;
yet the earl of Feversham, suspecting his inclinations, advised the king to seize him. The king’s affection to him
was so great, that he could not be prevailed upon to do it;
and this left him at liberty -to go over to the prince, which
accordingly he did, but without betraying any post, or carrying off any troops. Whoever considers the great obligations lord Churchill lay under to king James, must naturally conclude, that he could not take the resolution of
leaving him, and withdrawing to the prince of Orange,
but with infinite concern and regret; and that this was
really the case, appears from a letter, which he left for
the king, to shew the reasons of his conduct, and to express his grief for the step he was obliged to take.
recall the earl of Marlborough to his privy council; and in June 1698, appointed him governor to the duke of Gloucester, with this extraordinary compliment, “My lord,
Lord Churchill was graciously received by the prince of
Orange; and it is supposed to have been in consequence
of his lordship’s solicitation, that prince George of Denmark took the same step, as his consort the princess Anne
did also soon after, by the advice of lady Churchill. He
was entrusted in that critical conjuncture by the prince of
Orange, first to re-assemble his troop of guards at London,
and afterwards to reduce some lately-raised regiments, and
to new model the army, for which purpose he was invested
with the rank and title of lieutenant-general. The prince
and princess of Orange being declared king and queen of
England, Feb. 6, 1689, lord Churchill was on the 14th
sworn of their privy council, and one of the gentlemen of
the bed-chamber to the king; and on the 9th of April
following, raised to the dignity of earl of Marlborough in
the county of Wilts. He assisted at the coronation of
their majesties, and was soon after made commander in
chief of the English forces sent over to Holland. He presided at the battle of Walconrt, April 15, 1689, and gave
such extraordinary proofs of his skill, that prince Waldeck,
speaking in his commendation to king William, declared,
that “he saw more into the art of war in a day, than
some generals in many years.
” It is to be observed, that
king William commanded this year in Ireland, which was
the reason of the earl of Marlborough’s being at the head
of the English troops in Holland, where he laid the foundation of that fame among foreigners, which he afterwards
extended all over Europe. He next did great services for
king William in Ireland, by reducing Cork and some
other places of much importance; in all which he shewed
such uncommon abilities, that, on his first appearance at
court after his return, the king was pleased to say, that
“he knew no man so fit for a general, who had seen so
few campaigns.
” All these services notwithstanding did
not hinder his being disgraced in a very sudden manner:
for, being in waiting at court as lord of the bed-chamber,
and having introduced to his majesty lord George Hamilton, he was soon followed to his own house by the same
lord, with this short and surprising message, “That the
king had no farther occasion for his services;
” the more
surprising, as his majesty just before had not discovered
the least coldness or displeasure towards him. The cause
of this disgrace is not even at present known; but only
suspected to have proceeded from his too close attachment
to the interest of the princess Anne. This strange and unexpected blow was followed by one much stranger, for
soon after he was committed to the Tower for high treason;
but was released, and acquitted, upon the principal accuser being convicted of perjury and punished; yet it is
now believed that a correspondence had been carried on
between the earl of Marlborough and the exiled king; and
during queen Mary’s life, he kept at a distance from court,
attending principally, with his lady, on the princess Anne.
After queen Mary’s death, when the interests of the two
courts were brought to a better agreement, king William
thought fit to recall the earl of Marlborough to his privy
council; and in June 1698, appointed him governor to the
duke of Gloucester, with this extraordinary compliment,
“My lord, make him but what you are, and my nephew
will be all I wish to see him.
” He continued in favour to
the king’s death, as appears from his having been three
times appointed one of the lords justices during his absence namely, July 16, 1698; May 31, 1699; and June
27, 1700. As soon as it was discerned that the death of
Charles II. of Spain would become the occasion of another
general war, the king sent a body of troops over to Holland, and made lord Marlborough commander in chief of
them. He appointed him also ambassador extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary to their high mightinesses.
The king following, and taking a view of the forces, dined
with him at his quarters in Sept. 1700; and this was one of
the last favours he received from king William, who died
the 8th of March following, unless we reckon his recommendation of him to the princess of Denmark, a little before his death, as the fittest person to be trusted with the
command of the army which was to protect the liberty of
Europe. About a week after, he was elected knight of the
most noble order of the garter, and soon declared captaingeneral of all her majesty’s forces in England and abroad;
upon which he was immediately sent over to the Hague
with the same character that he had the year before. His
stay in Holland was very short, but enough to give the
States General the necessary assurances of his mistress’s
sincere intention to pursue the plan that had formerly been
settled. The States concurred with him in all that he proposed, and made him captain-general of all their forces,
appointing him 100,000 florins per annum.
the thanks of the house; and Dec. 2, her majesty declared her intention in council of creating him a duke: which she soon did, by the title of marquis of Blandford, and
On his return to England, he found the queen’s council already divided; some being for carrying on the war as auxiliaries only, others for declaring against France and Spain immediately, and so becoming principals at once. The earl of Marlborough joined with the latter; and these carrying their point, war was declared May 4, 1702, and approved afterwards by parliament, though the Dutch at that time had not declared. The earl took the command June 20; and discerning that the States were made uneasy by the places which the enemy held on their frontiers, he began with attacking and reducing them. Accordingly, in this single campaign, he made himself master of the castles of Gravenbroeck and Waerts, the towns of Venlo, Ruremond, and Stevenswaert, together with the city and citadel of Liege; which last was taken sword in hand. These advantages were considerable, and acknowledged as such by the States; but they had like to have been of a very short date: for, the army separating in the neighbourhood of Liege, Nov. 3, the earl was taken the next day in his passage by water, by a small party of thirty men from the garrison at Gueldres; but it being towards night, and the earl insisting upon an old pass given to his brother, and now out of date, was suffered to proceed, and arrived at the Hague, when they were in the utmost consternation at the accident which had befallen him. The winter approaching, he embarked for England, and arrived in London Nov. 28. The queen had been complimented some time before by both houses of parliament, on the success of her arms in Flanders; in consequence of which there had been a public thanksgiving Nov. 4, when her majesty went in great state to St. Paul’s. Soon after a committee of the house of commons waited upon him with the thanks of the house; and Dec. 2, her majesty declared her intention in council of creating him a duke: which she soon did, by the title of marquis of Blandford, and duke of Marlborough. She likewise added a pension of 5000l. per annum out of the post-office, during her own life, and sent a message to the house of commons, signifying her desire that it might attend the honour she had lately conferred; but with this the house would not Comply, contenting themselves, in their address to the queen, with applauding fyer manner of rewarding public service, but declaring their inability to make such a precedent for alienating the revenue of the crown.
ague March 6. The nature of our work will not suffer us to relate all the military acts in which the duke of Marlborough was engaged: it is sufficient to say, that, numerous
He was on the point of returning to Holland, when, Feb. S, 1703, his only son, the marquis of Blandford, died at Cambridge, at the age of 18, and was interred in the magnificent chapel of King’s college. This very afflicting accident did not however long retard him; but he passed over to Holland, and arrived at the Hague March 6. The nature of our work will not suffer us to relate all the military acts in which the duke of Marlborough was engaged: it is sufficient to say, that, numerous as they were, they were all successful. The French had a great army this year in Flanders, in the Netherlands, and in that part of Germany which the elector of Cologn had put into their hands; and prodigious preparations were made under the most experienced commanders: but the vigilance and activity of the duke baffled them all. When the campaign was over, his grace went to Dusseldorp to meet the late emperor, then styled Charles III. king of Spain, who made him a present of a rich sword from his side, with very high compliments; and then returning to the Hague, after a very short stay, came over to England. He arrived Oct. 13, 1703; and soon after king Charles, whom he had accompanied to the Hague, came likewise over to England, and arrived at Spithead on Dec. 26; upon which the dukes, of Somerset and Marlborough were immediately sent down to receive and conduct him to Windsor. In January the States desired leave of the queen for the duke to come to the Hague; which being granted, he embarked on the 15th, and passed over to Rotterdam. He went immediately to the Hague, where he communicated to the pensionary his sense of the necessity there was of attempting something the next campaign for the relief of the emperor; whose affairs at this time were in the utmost distress, having the Bavarians on one side, and the Hungarian malcontents on the other, making incursions to the very gates of Vienna, while his whole force scarce enabled him to maintain a defensive war. This scheme being, approved of, and the plan of it adjusted, the duke returned to England in the middle of February.
obstinate and bloody dispute, he entirely routed. It was on this occasion that the emperor wrote the duke a letter with his own hand, acknowledging his great services,
When measures were properly settled at home, April 6, 1704, he embarked for Holland; where, staying about a month to adjust the necessary steps, he began his march towards the heart of Germany; and after a conference held with prince Eugene of Savoy, and Lewis of Baden, he arrived before the strong entrenchments of the enemy at Schellenburg, very unexpectedly, on June 21; whom, after an obstinate and bloody dispute, he entirely routed. It was on this occasion that the emperor wrote the duke a letter with his own hand, acknowledging his great services, and offering him the title of a prince of the empire, which he modestly declined, till the queen afterwards commanded him to accept of it. He prosecuted this success, and the battle of Hochstet was fought by him and prince Eugene, on August 2; when the French and Bavarians were the greatest part of them killed and taken, and their commander, marshal Tallard, made a prisoner. After this glorious action, by which the empire was saved, and the whole electorate of Bavaria conquered, the duke continued his pursuit till he forced the French to repass the Rhine. Then prince Lewis of Baden laid siege to Landau, while the duke and prince Eugene covered it; but it was not taken before the 12th of November. He made a tour also to Berlin; and by a short negotiation, suspended the disputes between the king of Prussia and the Dutch, by which he gained the good will of both parties. When the campaign was over, he returned to Holland, and, Dec. 14, arrived in England. He brought over with him marshal Tallard, and 26 other officers of distinction, 121 standards, and 179 colours, which by her majesty’s order were put up in Westminster-hall. He was received by the queen with the highest marks of esteem, and had the solemn thanks of both houses of parliament. Besides this, the commons addressed her majesty to perpetuate the memory of this victory, which she did, by granting Woodstock, with the hundred of Wotton, to him and his heirs for ever. This was confirmed by an act of parliament, which passed on the 14th of March following, with this remarkable clause, that they should be held by tendering to the queen, her heirs and successors, on August 2, every year for ever, at the castle of Windsor, a standard with three fleurs de lys painted thereon. Jan. 6, the duke was magnificently entertained by the city; and Feb. 8, the commons addressed the queen, to testify their thanks for the wise treaty which the duke had concluded with the court of Berlin, by which a large body of Prussian troops were sent to the assistance of the duke of Savoy.
nsiderable figure in a campaign under any other general, but are scarcely worth mentioning where the duke of Marlborough commanded. He could not carry into execution
The next year, 1705, he went over to Holland in March, with a design to execute some great schemes, which he had been projecting in the winter. The campaign was attended with some successes, which would have made a considerable figure in a campaign under any other general, but are scarcely worth mentioning where the duke of Marlborough commanded. He could not carry into execution his main project, on account of the impediments he met with from the allies, and in this respect was greatly disappointed. The season for action being over, he made a tour to the courts of Vienna, Berlin, and Hanover. At the first of these he acquired the entire confidence of the new emperor Joseph, who presented him with the principality of Mindelheim: at the second, he renewed the contract for the Prussian forces: and at the third, he restored a perfect harmony, and adjusted every thing to the elector’s satisfaction. After this he returned to the Hague, and towards the close of the year embarked for, and arrived safe in England. In January the house of commons came to a resolution, to thank his grace of Marlborough, as well for his prudent negotiations, as for his great services: but notwithstanding this, it very soon appeared that there was a strong party formed againjt the war, and steps were taken to censure and disgrace the duke.
l things being concerted for rendering the next year’s campaign more successful than the former, the duke, in the beginning of April, 1706, embarked for Holland. This
All things being concerted for rendering the next year’s campaign more successful than the former, the duke, in the beginning of April, 1706, embarked for Holland. This year the famous battle of Ramilies was fought, and won upon May 12, being Whitsunday. The duke was twice here in the utmost danger, once by a fall from his horse, and a second time by a cannon-shot, which took off the head of colonel Bingfield, as he was. holding the stirrup for him to remount. The advantages gained by this victory were so far improved by the vigilance and wisdom of the duke, that Louvain, Brussels, Mechlin, and even Ghent and Bruges, submitted to king Charles without a stroke; and Oudenard surrendered upon the first summons. The city of Antwerp followed this example; and thus, in the short space of a fortnight, the duke reduced all Brabant, and the marquisate of the holy empire, to the obedience of king Charles. He afterwards took the towns of Ostend, Menin, Dendermonde, and Aeth. The forces of the allies after this glorious campaign being about to separate, his grace went to the Hague Oct. 16, where the proposals, which France had made for a peace, contained in a letter from the elector of Bavaria to the duke of Marlborough, were communicated to the ministers of the allies, after which he embarked for England, and arrived at London Nov. 18, 1706 and though at this time there was a party formed against him at court, yet the great services he had done the nation, and the personal esteem the queen always had for him, procured him an universal good reception. The house of commons, in their address to the queen, spoke of the success of the campaign in general, and of the duke of Marlborough’s share in particular, in the strongest terms possible; and the day after unanimously voted him their thanks, as did the lords. They went still farther; for, Dec. 17, they addressed the queen for leave to bring in a bill to settle the duke’s honours upon the male and female issue of his daughters. This was granted; and Blenheim-house, with the manor of Woodstock, was, after the decease of the duchess, upon whom they were settled in jointure, entailed in the same manner with the honours. Two days after this, the standards and colours taken at Ramilies being carried in state through the city, in order to be hung up in Guildhall, the duke, by invitation, partook of a grand dinner with the lord-mayor. The last day of the year was appointed for a general thanksgiving, and her majesty went in state to St. Paul’s; in which there was this singularity observed, that it was the second thanksgiving within the year. Jan. 17, the house of commons presented an address to the queen, in which they signified, that as her majesty had built the house of Blenheim to perpetuate the memory of the duke of Marlborough* s services, and as the house of lords had ordered a bill for continuing his honours, so they were desirous to make some provision for the more honourable support of his dignity. In consequence of this, and of the queen’s answer, the pension of 5000l. per ann. from the post-office was settled in the manner the queen had formerly desired of another house of commons, which happened not to be in quite so good a temper.
These points adjusted, the duke made haste to return to his charge, it being thought especially
These points adjusted, the duke made haste to return to
his charge, it being thought especially necessary he should
acquaint the foreign ministers at the Hague, that the
queen of Great Britain would hearken to no proposals for
a peace, but what would firmly secure the general tranquillity of Europe. The campaign of the year 1707 proved
the most barren he ever made, which was chiefly owing to
a failure on the part of the allies, who began to be remiss
in supporting the common cause. Nor did things go on
more to his mind at home; for upon his return to England,
after the campaign was over, he found that the fire, which
he suspected the year before, had broke out in his absence;
that the queen had a female favourite, who was in a fair
way of supplanting the duchess; and that she listened to
the insinuations of a statesman who was no friend to him.
He is said to have borne all this with firmness and patience,
though he easily saw whither it tended; and went to Holland as usual, early in the spring of 1708, arriving at the
Hague March 19. The ensuing campaign was carried on
by the duke, in conjunction with prince Eugene, with
such prodigious success, that the French king thought fit,
in the beginning of 1709, to set on foot a negotiation for
peace. The house of commons this year gave an uncommon testimony of their respect for the duke of Marlborough; for, besides addressing the queen, they, January 22, 1709, unanimously voted him thanks, and ordered
them to be transmitted to him abroad by the speaker. He
returned to England Feb. 25, and on his first appearance
in the house of lords, received the thanks of that august
assembly. His stay was so very short, that we need not
dwell upon what passed in the winter. It is sufficient to
say, that they who feared the dangerous effects of those
artful proposals France had been making for the conclusion of a general' peace, were also of opinion, that nobody
was so capable of setting their danger, in a true light in
Holland as his grace of Marlborough. This induced the
queen to send Mm thither, at the end of March, with the
character of her plenipotentiary, which contributed not a
little to the enemy’s disappointment, by defeating all their
projects.
Marshal Villars commanded the French army in the campaign of 1709; and Lewis XIV. expressed no small hopes
of him, in saying a little before the opening of it, that
“Villars was never beat.
” However the siege of Tournay,
and the battle of Malplaquet, convinced the monarch that
Villars was not invincible. Upon the news of the glorious
victory gained Aug. 1, 1709, the city of London renewed
their congratulatory addresses to the queen; and her majesty in council, Oct. 3, ordered a proclamation for a general thanksgiving. The duke of Marlborough came t6
St. James’s Nov. 10, and soon after received the thanks of
both houses: and the queen, as if desirous of any occasion
to shew her kindness to him, appointed him lord lieutenant
and custos rotulorum of the county of Oxford. But amidst
these honours, preferments, and favours, he was really
chagrined to the last degree. He perceived that the
French intrigues began to prevail both in England and
Holland: the affair of Dr. Sacheverell had thrown the nation into a ferment: and the queen was not only estranged
from the duchess of Marlborough, but had taken such a
dislike to her that she seldom appeared at court.
e house of commons immediately framed an address to the queen, that she would be pleased to send the duke of Marlborough over to the Hague. Accordingly, towards the latter
In the beginning of 1710 the French set on foot a new
negotiation for a peace, which was commonly called the
treaty of Gertruydenburg. The States upon this having
shewn an inclination to enter into conferences with the
French plenipotentiaries, the house of commons immediately framed an address to the queen, that she would be
pleased to send the duke of Marlborough over to the
Hague. Accordingly, towards the latter end of February
he went to the Hague, where he met with prince Eugene,
and soon after set out with him for the army, which was
assembled in the neighbourhood of Tournay. This campaign was very successful, many towns being taken and
fortresses reduced: notwithstanding which, when the duke
came over to England, as he did about the middle of December, he found his interest declining, and his services
undervalued. The negotiations for peace were carried on
during a great part of the summer, but ended at last in
nothing. In the midst of the summer, the queen began
the great change in her ministry, by removing the earl of
Sunderland from being secretary of state; and on Aug. 8,
the lord treasurer Godolphin was likewise removed. Upon
the meeting of parliament no notice was taken in the addresses of the duke of Marlborough’s success: an attempt
indeed was made to procure him the thanks of the house
of peers, but it was eagerly opposed by the duke of Argyle.
His grace was kindly received by the queen, who seemed
desirous to have him live upon good terms with her new
ministry; but this was thought impracticable, and it was
every day expected that he would lay down his commission.
He did not do this; but he carried the golden key, the
ensign of the duchess of Marl borough’s office, January
19, 1711, to the queen, and resigned all her employments
with great duty and submission. With the same firmness
and composure he consulted the necessary measures for
the next campaign, with those whom he knew to be no
friends of his; and treated all parties with candour and
respect. There is no doubt that the duke felt some inward disquiet, though he shewed no outward concern, at
least for himself: but when the earl of Galway was very
indecently treated in the house of lords, the duke of Marlborough could not help saying, “it was somewhat strange,
that generals, who had acted according to the best of their
understandings, and had lost their limbs in their service,
should be examined like offenders about insignificant things.
”
An exterior civility, in court language styled a good
understanding, being established between the duke and
the new ministry, the duke went over to the Hague, to
prepare for the next campaign, which at the same time he
knew would be his last. He exerted himself in an uncommon manner, and was attended with the same success as
usual. There was in this campaign a continued trial of
skill between the duke of Marlborough and marshal Villars;
and brave and judicious as the latter was, he was obliged
at length to submit to the former. The duke embarked
for England when the campaign was over, and came to
London Nov. 8; and happening to land the very night of
queen Elizabeth’s inauguration, when great rejoicings were
intended by the populace, he continued very prudently at
Greenwich, and the next day waited on the queen at
Hampton-court, who received him graciously. He was
visited by the ministers, and visited them; but he did not
go to council, because a negotiation of peace was then on
the carpet, upon a basis which he did by no means approve. He acquainted her majesty in the audience he had
at his arrival, that as he could not concur in the measures
of those who directed her councils, so he would not distract them by a fruitless opposition. Yet finding himself
attacked in the house of lords, and loaded with the imputation 5 of having protracted the war, he vindicated his conduct and character with great dignity and spirit; and in a
most pathetic speech appealed to the queen his mistress,
who was there incognito, for the falsehood of thut imputation; declaring, that he was as much for peace as any man,
provided it was such a peace as might be expected from
a war undertaken on such just motives, and carried on
with uninterrupted success. This had a great effect on
that august assembly, and perhaps made some impression on the queen; but at the same time it gave such an
edge to the resentment of his enemies, who were then in
power, that they resolved at all adventures to remove him.
Those who were thus resolved to divest him of his commission, found themselves under a necessity to engage the
queen to take it from him. This necessity arose chiefly
from prince Eugene’s being expected to come over with a
commission from the emperor; and to give some kind of
colour to it, an inquiry was promoted in the house of commons, to fix a very high imputation upon the duke, as if he
had put very large sums of public money into his own pocket.
When a question to this purpose had been carried, the
queen, by a letter, conceived in very obscure terms, acquainted him with her having no farther occasion for his
service, and dismissed him from all his employments.
which was given him by the emperor, and exchanged for another at the peace, which was made while the duke was abroad. The conclusion of that peace was so. far from restoring
He was from this time exposed to a most painful persecution. On the one hand, he was attacked by the clamours of the populace, and by those hirelings of the press who are always ready to espouse the quarrels of a ministry, and to insult without mercy whoever they know may be insulted with impunity: on the other hand, a prosecution was commenced against him by the attorney-general, for applying public money to his private use; and the workmen employed in building Blenheim-house, though set at work by the crown, were encouraged to sue him for the money that was due to them. All his actions were also shamefully misrepresented. These uneasinesses, joined to his grief for the death of the earl of Godolphin, induced him* to gratify his enemies, by going into a voluntary exile. Accordingly he embarked at Dover, November 14, 1712; and landing at Ostend, went to Antwerp, and so to Aix la Chapelle, being every where received with the honours due to his high rank and merit. The duchess also attended her lord in all his journeys, and particularlyin his visit to the principality of Mindelheim, which was given him by the emperor, and exchanged for another at the peace, which was made while the duke was abroad. The conclusion of that peace was so. far from restoring harmony among the several parties of Great- Britain, that it widened their differences exceedingly insomuch that the chiefs, despairing of safety in the way they were in, are said to have secretly invited the duke back to England. Be that as it will, it is very certain that he took a resolution of returning, a little before the queen’s death; and landing at Dover, came to London, Aug. 4, 1714. He was received with all demonstrations of joy, by those who, upon the demise of the queen, which had happened upon the 1st, were entrusted with the government; and upon the arrival of George I. was particularly distinguished by acts of royal favour: for he was again declared captain-general and commander in chief of all his majesty’s Jand forces, colonel of the first regiment of foot guards, and master of the ordnance.
The only personal failing attributed to the duke of Marlborough, upon any fair evidence, was avarice; but how
The only personal failing attributed to the duke of Marlborough, upon any fair evidence, was avarice; but how far
he owes the imputation of that to himself, or to the misconduct and caprice of one nearly allied to him. and to
whom it was his weakness to be too subservient, may admit
of a doubt. That Sarah, duchess of Marlborough, brought
her husband into frequent trouble and disgrace seems to
be generally acknowledged; and Swift was not far wrong
when he said that the duke owed to her both his greatness
(his promotions) and his fall. No woman was perhaps ever
less formed by nature and habit for a court, yet she arrived
to such a pitch of grandeur at the court of queen Anne,
that her sovereign was, in fact, but the second person in it.
Never were two women more the reverse of one another in
their natural dispositions, than queen Anne and the duchess
of Marlborough; yet never had any servant a greater ascendancy over a mistress, than the latter had over the former. But though the duchess did not rise by a court, yet
she rose by a party, of which she had the art to put her
mistress at the head, who was merely the vehicle of her
sentiments, and the minister of her avarice. Few sovereign princes in Europe could, from their own revenues,
command such sums of ready money, as the duchess did
during the last thirty-five years of her life. Conscious at
length that she had incurred the contempt of the nation,
she employed Hooke, the Roman historian, at the price of
5000l. to write a defence of her, which was published in
1742, under the title of “An account of the conduct of
the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough, from her first
coming to court to the year 1710. In a letter from herself to my lord ——————
” This work excited considerable
sa, frequently broke out into wonderful and ridiculous indecencies. In the last illness of the great duke her husband, when Dr. Mead left his chamber, the duchess, disliking
It is well known that Pope’s character of Atossa was designed for her; and when these lines were shewn to her
grace, as if they were intended for the portrait of the
duchess of Buckingham, she soon stopped the person that
was reading them to her, and called out aloud—“I cannot
be so imposed upon—I see plainly enough for whom they
are designed;
” and abused Pope for the attack, though she
was afterwards reconciled to, and courted him. The violence of the duchess of Marlborough‘ s temper, which is so
strongly painted in the character of Atossa, frequently
broke out into wonderful and ridiculous indecencies. In
the last illness of the great duke her husband, when Dr.
Mead left his chamber, the duchess, disliking his advice,
followed him down stairs, swore at him bitterly, and was
going to tear oft’ his perriwig. Dr. Hoadly, the late bishop
of Winchester, was present at this scene. Disappointed
ambition, great wealth, and increasing years, rendered her
more and more peevish. She hated courts, says lord Hailes,
over which she had no influence, and she became at length
the most ferocious animal that is suffered to go loose a
violent party-woman. In the latter part of her life she
became bed-ridden. Paper, pens, and ink were placed by
her side, and she used occasionally to write down either
what she remembered, or what came into her head. A selection from these loose papers was made in the way of
diary, by sir David Dalryraple, lord Hailes, under the title
of “The Opinions of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough,
published from the original Mss.
” 1788, 12mo, which
Mr. Park, who has given a specimen, very properly characterises as the effusions of caprice and arrogance. This
lady died Oct. 18, 1744.
ri, at Bologna, is a Sampson by Cignani, in a noble and grand style; in the superb collection of the duke of Devonshire, there is a picture of Joseph disengaging himself
The cardinal San Csesareo passing through Forli, where
Cignani at that time resided with his family, desired to
have one of his paintings; and Carlo shewed him a picture
of Adam and Eve, which he had painted for his own use,
intending to have kept it by him. On viewing that performance, the cardinal was so pleased that he gave him five
hundred pistoles, and politely told Carlo, that he only paid
him for the canvas, and accepted the painting as a present.
In the Palazzo Zambeccari, at Bologna, is a Sampson by
Cignani, in a noble and grand style; in the superb collection of the duke of Devonshire, there is a picture of
Joseph disengaging himself from the immodesty of his
Mistress; and one of the same subject is in the Palazzo
Arnaldi, at Florence. Sir Robert Strange, who had two
pictures by Cignani, “Bacchanalian Boys,
” and “Madona with the child and St. John,
” speaks highly of his talents; but there was in the Dusseidorp gallery, when sir
Joshua Reynolds visited it, an immense picture of the
Ascension of the Virgin, which sir Joshua thought heavy,
and in no point excellent. Cignani died at Forli, 1719, in
his ninety-first year.
of retracting what he had so imprudently advanced. After this, he quitted the dominions of the grand duke, and having travelled over most part of Italy, settled at Loretto,
, a physician at Florence, where he
was born in 1625, had not only great skill in his profession,
but very extensive literary knowlege, and few men were
better acquainted with books of rarity and curiosity. He
was a member of the academy of Apatisti at Florence, and
of the academy of Parma, and of other learned societies.
But he had, unfortunately, the art of creating enemies by
the severity of his censures and personal remarks; and
having taken some liberties of this kind in his “Biblioteca
volante
” with Dr. Moniglia, first physician to Cosmo III.
he was sent to prison, and released only on condition of
retracting what he had so imprudently advanced. After
this, he quitted the dominions of the grand duke, and
having travelled over most part of Italy, settled at Loretto,
where he practised physic, and where he died in 1706. In
1677 he published the first two parts of his “Biblioteca
volante,
” or fugitive library; a curious and useful collection of remarks and information respecting rare books, in
which he was assisted by the learned Magliabechi, who
was his intimate friend. The third, fourth, and fifth parts
he published at Naples about the year 1686. The whole
was reprinted, with additions by Sancassani, at Venice,
4 vols. 4to, 1734—1747. He had a design of publishing
an account of Tuscan authors, which we are sorry to find
was prevented by his poverty and want of encouragement.
The only other publication we know of Cinelli’s, was a new
edition, with improvements, of “Bocchi’s Curiosities of
Florence,
”
om the continent. His reputation having preceded him, he was patronized by lord Tilney, and the late duke of Richmond, and other noblemen. When, in 1758, the duke of
, an eminent artist, claimed
by the English school, from England being so long the
theatre of his art, was born at Pistoia, about the year 1727.
He received his first instructions from an English artist of
the name of Heckford (who had settled in that city), and
afterwards went under the tuition of Gabbiani, by the study
of whose works he became a vigorous designer. Italy possesses few of his pictures, but Lanzi mentions two, painted
for the abbey of St. Michele, in Pelago, in the neighbourhood of Pistoia; the one of St. Tesauro, the other of Gregory VII. In 1750 he went to Rome, where he had much
employment, but chiefly in drawing; and in August 1755
came to England with Mr. Wilton and sir William Chambers, who were then returning from the continent. His
reputation having preceded him, he was patronized by lord
Tilney, and the late duke of Richmond, and other noblemen. When, in 1758, the duke of Richmond opened the
gallery at his house in Privy- garden as a school of art,
Wilton and Cipriani were appointed to visit the students
the former giving them instructions in sculpture, and the
latter in painting; but this scheme was soon discontinued.
At the foundation of the Royal Academy, Cipriani was
chosen one of the founders, and was also employed to make
the design for the diploma, which is given to the academicians and associates at their admission. For this work,
which he executed with great taste and elegance, the president and council presented him with a silver cup, “as an
acknowledgment for the assistance the academy received
from his great abilities in his profession.
” The original
drawing of this diploma was purchased at the marquis of
Lansdowne’s sale of pictures, drawings, &c. in 1806 for
thirty-one guineas by Mr. G. Baker.
engravings. It was printed in 1712, fbl. and afterwards in 1720, 8vo. It was dedicated to the great duke of Marlborough, “at a time,” says bishop Hoadly, “when his unequalled
In 1712 he published a most beautiful and splendid edition of “Caesar’s Commentaries,
” adorned with elegant
engravings. It was printed in 1712, fbl. and afterwards in
1720, 8vo. It was dedicated to the great duke of Marlborough, “at a time,
” says bishop Hoadly, “when his
unequalled victories and successes had raised his glory to
the highest pitch abroad, and lessened his interest and
favour at home.
” In the publication of this book, the
doctor took particular care of the punctuation. In the annotations, he selected what appeared the best and most
judicious in former editors, with some corrections and
emendations of his own interspersed.
1; and in 1729, he published the twelve first books of “Homer’s Iliad,” in 4to, and dedicated to the duke of Cumberland. The Latin version is almost entirely new; and
In 1728 was published, “A Letter from Dr. Clarke to
Mr. Benjamin Hoadly, F. R. S. occasioned by the controversy relating to the proportion of velocity and force in
bodies in motion,
” and printed in the Philosophical Transactions, No. 401; and in 1729, he published the twelve
first books of “Homer’s Iliad,
” in 4to, and dedicated to
the duke of Cumberland. The Latin version is almost entirely new; and annotations are added to the bottom of
the pages. Homer, bishop Hoadly tells us, was Clarke’s
admired author, even to a degree of something like enthusiasm, hardly natural to his temper; and that in this he
went a little beyond the bounds of Horace’s judgment, and
was so unwilling to allow the favourite poet ever to nod,
that he has taken remarkable pains to find out and give a
reason for every passage, word, and tittle, that could create
any suspicion. It has however so long and so justly been
the popular edition of Homer, that it would be unnecessary
to expatiate on its merits in this place. Whiston informs
us, that he had begun this work in his younger years; and
that “the notes were rather transcribed than made new.
”
The twelve last books of the Iliad were published in 1732,
in 4to, by our author’s son, Samuel Clarke; who informs
us in the preface, that his father had finished the annotations to the three first of those books, and as far as the
359th verse of the fourth; and had revised the text and
version as far as verse 510th of the same book.
e received any advantage from the appointment. He was afterwards domestic chaplain to Thomas Holies, duke of Newcastle; in which situation he did not continue long, as
, a learned divine and antiquary,
was horn at Haghmon abbey, in Shropshire, in the year
1696, and was educated at Shrewsbury school, under the
care of Mr. Lloyd, for whom he always entertained the
greatest regard. From Shrewsbury he was removed to
St. John’s college, in the university of Cambridge, where
he became a fellow, Jan. 22, 1716-17. His election at
so early a period of life was owing to a number of vacancies, occasioned by the removal of several non-juring fellows, in consequence of an act of parliament. He commenced B. A. 1715; in 1719 became M. A.; and the reputation which he acquired when young was such, that he
was chosen to be chaplain to Dr. Adam Ottley, bishop of
St. David’s: but this prelate dying in 1723, he does not
appear to have received any advantage from the appointment. He was afterwards domestic chaplain to Thomas
Holies, duke of Newcastle; in which situation he did not
continue long, as in 1724, he was presented by archbishop
Wake to the rectory of Buxted, in Sussex, without any solicitation of his own, partly on account of his extraordinary
merit, and partly from a regard to the special recommendation of the learned Dr. William Wotton, whose
daughter he married. In 1738, he was made prebendary
and residentiary of the prebend of Hova Villa in the cathedral church of Chichester, Some years before this he had
given to the public a specimen of his literary abilities, in a
preface to his father-in-law Dr. Wotton’s “Leges Walliae
Ecclesiastical,
” Discourse on the Commerce of the Romans,
” which was
highly extolled by Dr. Taylor, in his “Elements of the
Civil Law,
” came either from his hand or from that of his
friend Mr, Bowyer. It is reprinted in that gentleman’s
“Miscellaneous Tracts,
” and in “The Progress of Maritime Discovery,
” by Mr. Clarke’s grandson. But Mr.
Clarke’s chief work was “The Connexion of the Roman,
Saxon, and English Coins; deducing the antiquities,
customs, and manners of each people to modern times; particularly the origin of feudal tenures, and of parliaments:
illustrated throughout with critical and historical remarks
on various authors, both sacred and profane,
” 1767, 4to,
dedicated to the duke of Newcastle. It had been perused
in manuscript by Arthur Onslow, esq. speaker of the house
of commons, who honoured him with some useful hints
and observations: but he was chiefly indebted to Mr.
Bowyer, who superintended the publication, drew up several of the notes, wrote part of the dissertation on the
Roman sesterce, and formed an admirable index to the
whole. By this work our author acquired great reputation. Mr. Pinkerton, in his Essay on Medals, says that a
student cannot begin with a better book in this science.
ad been the purchaser. That book, which he titled “Libro di Verita,” is now in the possession of the duke of Devonshire. For his amusement Claude etched a set of twenty-eight
He worked on his pictures with great care, endeavouring to bring them to perfection, by touching them frequently over again; and if any performance did not answer his idea, it was customary with him to alter, to deface,
and repaint it again several times over, till it corresponded
with that image pictured in his mind. But, whatever
struck his imagination, while he observed nature abroad,
was so strongly impressed on his memory, that, on his return to work, he never failed to make the happiest use of
it. His skies are warm, and full of lustre, and every object is properly illumined. His distances are admirable,
and in every part a delightful union and harmony never
fail to excite our applause and admiration. His invention
is pleasing, his colouring delicate, and his tints have such
an agreeable sweetness and variety, as to have been but
imperfectly imitated by the best subsequent artists, but
were never equalled. He frequently gave an uncommon
tenderness to his finished trees, by glazing; and in his
large compositions which he painted in fresco, he was so
exact, that the distinct species of every tree might readily
be distinguished. Among several of his performances in
that manner of painting, one was on the four walls of a
magnificent saloon at Rome, belonging to a nobleman named
Mutius, the height of the walls being very considerable.
On the first side he represented the vestiges of an ancient
palace, bounded by a deep grove of trees, incomparably
expressed as to the forms, stems, barks, branchings, and
foliage; the proportional grandeur of those trees, as well
as the length of the grove, were perspectively and beautifully set off by the shrubs and plants with which his ground
was diversified; and the eye was pleasingly conducted to
the second wall, which seemed, by an artful contrivance
and disposition, to be only a continuation of the same
scene, the same elevation of the horizontal line being observed through the whole work. On the second side, he
shewed an extensive plain interspersed with mountains and
falls of water, as also with a variety of trees, plants, travellers, and animals; and this part of the composition was
likewise connected with the third wall. In that, the
lengthened prospect shewed a sea-port at the foot of some
high hills, with a view of the ocean, and vessels labouring
amongst the waves, which appeared in violent agitation;
and on the fourth wall were represented caverns amongrude rocks, ruins of buildings, and fragments of antique
statues; the composition, though divided into so many
parts, constituting in the whole but one entire connected
prospect, the beauty, truth, and variety of which, the
power of language cannot sufficiently represent. As to
his figures, if he painted them himself, they are very indifferent; though Sandrart assures us, that he spent a
great deal of time and labour in practising to design them;
that he drew for some years in the academy at Rome, after
living models, as well as after statues; and that he took
much more pains in endeavouring to form his hand to draw
figures correctly, than to perfect himself in landscape, in
which he was confessedly superior to all. And he was so
conscious of his deficiency in figures, that he usually engaged other artists who were eminent to paint them for
him; of which number were Courtois, and Philippo Laura.
His pictures are very rare, especially such as are undamaged; and those are at this time so valued, that no
price, however great, is thought to be superior to their
merit. There are some of uncommon excellence in this
country; and a few years ago the vast price of 6000
guineas was given for two of them. In order to avoid a repetition of the same subject, and also to detect such copies
of his works as might be injurious to his fame by being sold
for originals, it was his custom to draw (in a paper book prepared for his purpose) the designs of all those pictures
which were transmitted to different countries; and on the
back of the drawings he wrote the name of the person who
had been the purchaser. That book, which he titled
“Libro di Verita,
” is now in the possession of the duke of
Devonshire. For his amusement Claude etched a set of
twenty-eight middling-sized landscapes, lengthways, from
his own compositions. They are very slight, but very
spirited, and abundantly testify the hand of the master.
De Piles says he died in 1678, but all other writers place
his death in 1682.
onduct was, his being prevented from rising higher in the church. In 1752, he was recommended by the duke of Dorset, then viceroy of Ireland, to the vacant archbishopric
Soon after Dr. Clayton’s marriage, he went with his
lady to England, and while at London, a person in distressed circumstances applied to him for assistance, with
the testimony of Dr. Samuel Clarke for a recommendation, upon which, instead of the usual donation on such
occasions, he gave to the necessitous man the sum of three
hundred pounds, which was the whole that he wanted to
make him easy in the world. This circumstance introduced him to Dr. Clarke, and the result of their acquaintance was, Dr. Clayton’s embracing the Arian principles,
to which he adhered during the remainder of his life. Dr.
Clarke having carried to queen Caroline an account of Dr.
Clayton’s remarkable beneficence, it made a powerful
impression on her majesty’s mind in favour of his character; which impression was strongly enforced by her
bed-chamber woman, Mrs. Clayton, afterwards lady
Sundon. Such a powerful interest procured an immediate
recommendation to lord Carteret, then chief governor of
Ireland, for the very first bishopric tbat should become
vacant, and accordingly, he was advanced to that of
Killala, January 1729-30. In this situation he continued
till November 1735, when he was translated to the see of
Cork, and in 1745 to that of Clogher. Excepting a letter
written to the royal society upon a subject of no great
consequence, his first publication was an “Introduction
to the History of the Jews,
” which was afterwards translated into French, and printed at Leyden. His next work
was “The Chronology of the Hebrew Bible vindicated: the
facts compared with other ancient histories, and the difficulties explained, from the flood to the death of Moses;
together with some conjectures in relation to Egypt during
that period of time; also two maps, in which are attempted
to be settled the journeyings of the children of Israel,
”
Dissertation on Prophecy,
” in which he endeavoured to shew, from a joint comparison of the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Revelation of St. John, that
the final end of the dispersion of the Jews will be coincident with the ruin of the popedom, and take place about
2000. This was followed by an “Impartial Enquiry into
the time of the coming of the Messiah,
” in two letters to
an eminent Jew, printed first separately, and then together,
in 1751. In the same year (1751), appeared the “Essay
on Spirit,
” a performance which excited very general attention, and was productive of a fruitful controversy. Its
object was to recommend the Arian doctrine of the inferiority of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and to prepare
the way for suitable alterations in the Liturgy. His biographer, who is at the same time his warm panegyrist,
allows that in this performance he has indulged too freely
in imagination and conjecture; and that he might have
confined the question with greater advantage to the direct
and simple standard of Scripture. The work, after all, was
not Dr. Clayton’s, but one of his adoption, the real authoi
being a young clergyman in his diocese, who shewed the manuscript to his lordship, but had not the courage to print it in
his own name. The bishop, with what is called a romantic generosity, conveyed it to the press, and managed the affair in
such a manner, that the treatise was universally ascribed to
him in all the attacks to which it was exposed, and the sentiments certainly were his. One effect of this conduct was,
his being prevented from rising higher in the church. In
1752, he was recommended by the duke of Dorset, then
viceroy of Ireland, to the vacant archbishopric of Tuam,
but this was refused, solely on account of his being regarded as the writer of the Essay.
interrupted by a wall giving way, from being overloaded with spectators: by which accident John II. duke of Bretany was ^killed, the king wounded, and the tiara thrown
, one of the popes so called, whose proper
name was Bertrand de Gouth, or de Goth, was appointed
bishop of Comminges, then archbishop of Bourdeaux by
Boniface VIII. and afterwards elected pope at Perugia,
June 5, 1305. The ceremony of his coronation was performed at Lyons, Sunday, November 10, but interrupted
by a wall giving way, from being overloaded with spectators: by which accident John II. duke of Bretany was
^killed, the king wounded, and the tiara thrown from the
pope’s head. This accident was considered as a presage of
the misfortunes which afflicted Italy and all Christendom
during the pontificate of Clement V. He was the first pope
who resided at Avignon. In 1311, he held the general
council of Vienne, appropriated to himself the first year’s
revenue of all the English benefices, which was the origin
of first fruits, abolished the order of templars, and made
the collection of what are called the “Clementine Constitutions
” of which there are some scarce editions; Mentz,
of the heads. On his death Closterman finished several of his pictures, which recommended him to the duke of Somerset, who had employed Riley. He painted the duke’s children,
, a painter who practised his
art in England, was born at Osnaburgh in 1656, and with
his countryman, one Tiburen, went to Paris in 1679, where
he worked for De Troye. In 1681, they came to England,
and Closterman at first painted draperies for Riley and
afterwards they painted in conjunction, Riley still executing most of the heads. On his death Closterman
finished several of his pictures, which recommended him
to the duke of Somerset, who had employed Riley. He
painted the duke’s children, but lost his favour on a dispute about a picture of Guercino, which he had bought for
liis grace, and which was afterwards purchased by lord
Hnlifax. Closterman, however, did nof want business. He
drew Gibbons the carver and his wife in one piece, which
pleased, and there is a mezzotinto from it. He was even
set in competition with sir Godfrey Kneller, and there is
a story, not very credible, that sir Godfrey refused to paint
a picture with him for a wager. Closterman painted the
duke and duchess of Marlborough and all their children in
one picture, and the duke on horseback; on which subject,
however, he had so many disputes with the duchess, that
the duke said, “It has given me more trouble to reconcile
my wife and you, than to fight a battle.
” Closterman,
who sought reputation, went by invitation to Spain in
1696, where he drew the king and queen, and from whence
he wrote several letters on the pictures in that country to
Mr, Richard Graham. He also went twice to Italy, anil
brought over several good pictures. The whole length of
queen Anne in Guildhall is by him, and another at Chatsworth of the first duke of Rutland; and in Painters’-hall, ti
portrait of Mr. Sannders. Elsum has bestowed an epigram
on his portrait of Dryden; yet Closterman was a very moderate performer: his colouring strong, but heavy; and
his pictures without any idea of grace. Yet he might have
enjoyed very affluent circumstances, had he not shewn a
foolish and infatuated fondness (as Houbraken tells us) for
a girl that he kept in his house. That insidious young
woman, who had persuaded him that she was entirely attached to his person and interest, watched a proper opportunity, and robbed him of all his money, plate, jewels, and
every costly moveable, and fled out of the kingdom. So
sudden and so unexpected a misfortune, against which he
was totally unprepared, affected Closterman so violently,
that he pined away his life; not long surviving the loss of
his effects, and the infidelity of his mistress, which even
impaired his understanding. He died in 1713, and was
buried in Cbvent-garden churchyard.
llenden, nearly related to the noble lord of that name, and to the illustrious families of Maitland, duke of Lauderdale, and Drumrnond, earl of Perth. She had the misfortune
, a lady much distinguished by her literary accomplishments, was born in London, August 16, 1679, the daughter of captain David Trotter, who was a native of Scotland, and a commander in the royal navy, in the reign of king Charles the Second. Her mother was Mrs. Sarah Ballenden, nearly related to the noble lord of that name, and to the illustrious families of Maitland, duke of Lauderdale, and Drumrnond, earl of Perth. She had the misfortune to lose her father when very young; an event which also reduced her mother to narrow circumstances. In her childhood, she surprised a company of her relations and friends with some extemporary verses, on an incident which had happened in the street, and which excited her attention. By her own application and diligence, without any instructor, she learned to write, and also made herself mistress of the French language; but had some assistance in the study of the Latin grammar and logic; and of the latter she drew up an abstract for her own use. She was educated in the protestant religion, but having an early intimacy with several Roman catholic families of distinction, she was led, when very young, to embrace the Romish communion, and continued in it for some years.
e all the great things which he had said of her.” Jn 1704, Mrs. Trotter addressed some verses to the duke of Marlborough, upon his return from Germany, after the battle
Her friend Mr. Burnet continued to keep up a correspondence with her during his travels; and upon his arrival at the court of Berlin, where he was received with great
marks of respect by Sophia Charlotte, queen of Prussia,
daughter to the princess Sophia, he took an opportunity of
writing to that princess in such advantageous terms of Mrs.
Trotter, that her royal highness, in her answer to him from
Hanover, on the 29th of July, 1704, declared herself
“charmed with the agreeable picture which he had drawn
of the new Scots Sappho, who seemed to deserve all the
great things which he had said of her.
” Jn 1704, Mrs.
Trotter addressed some verses to the duke of Marlborough,
upon his return from Germany, after the battle of Blenheim; and in 1706, after the battle of Ramillies, she also
addressed a second poem to the duke of Marlborough.
The same year, her tragedy called “The Revolution of
Sweden,
” was acted at the queen’s theatre in the Haymarket, and printed at London in 4to. It is founded upon
the revolution in Sweden under Gustavus Erickson.
was one of the first who felt the effects of the power of the rising favourite, Villiers, afterwards duke of Buckingham. The author of the notes on Wilson’s “Life of
Roger Coke gives us a different account of the occasion
of the chief justice’s being in disgrace; and informs us,
that he was one of the first who felt the effects of the
power of the rising favourite, Villiers, afterwards duke of
Buckingham. The author of the notes on Wilson’s “Life
of James,
” published in the second volume of Kennet’s
“Complete History of England,
” tells us “that sir Edward lost the king’s favour, and some time after his place,
for letting fall some words upon one of the trials, importing his suspicion that Overbury had been poisoned to prevent the discovery of another crime of -the same nature,
committed upon one of the highest rank, whom he termed
a sweet prince; which was taken to be meant of prince
Henry.
” Whatever were the causes of his disgrace, Which
it is probable were many, he was brought upon his knees
before the council at Whitehall, June J 6 16; and offences
were charged upon him by Ylverton, the solicitor-general,
implying, amongst other things, speeches of high contempt
tittered in the seat of justice, and uncomely and undutiful
carriage in the presence of his majesty, “the privy council, and judges.
” Soon after, he presented himself again
at the council-table upon his knees, when secretary Winwood informed him, that report had been made to his majesty of what had passed there before, together with the
answer that he had given, and that too in the most favourable manner; that his majesty was no ways satisfied with
respect to any of the heads; but that notwithstanding, as
well out of his own clemency, as in regard to the former
services of his lordship, the king was pleased not to deal
heavily with him: and therefore had decreed, 1. That he
be sequestered from the council-table, until his majesty’s
pleasure be further known. 2. That he forbear to ride his
summer circuit as justice of assize. 3. That during this
vacation, while he had time to live privately and dispose
himself at home, he take into his consideration and reviewhis books of Reports; wherein, as his majesty is informed,
be many extravagant and exorbitant opinions set down and
published for positive and good law: and if, in reviewing
and reading thereof, he find any thing fit to be altered or
amended, the correction is left to his discretion. Among
other things, the king was not well pleased with the title of
those books, wherein he styled himself “lord chief justice
of England,
” whereas he could challenge no more but lord
chief justice of the King’s-bench. And having corrected
what in his discretion he found meet in these Reports, his
majesty’s pleasure was, he should bring the same privately to
himself, that he might consider thereof, as in his princely
judgment should be found expedient. Hereunto Mr.
secretary advised him to conform himself in all duty and
obedience, as he ought; whereby he might hope that his
majesty in time would receive him again to his gracious
and princely favour. To this the lord chief justice made
answer, that he did in all humility prostrate himself to his
majesty’s good pleasure; that he acknowledged that decree to be just, and proceeded rather from his majesty’s
exceeding mercy than his justice; gave humble thanks to
their lordships for their goodness towards him; and hoped
that his behaviour for the future would be such as would
deserve their lordships’ favours. From which answer of
sir Edward’s we may learn that he was, as such men always
are, as dejected and fawning in adversity, as he was insolent and overbearing in prosperity; the same meanness
and poorness of spirit influencing his behaviour in both
conditions.
proposed and framed the petition of rights; and, June 1628, he made a speech, in which he named the duke of Buckingham as the cause of all our miseries, though, lord
A parliament was summoned, and met January 1621;
and in February there was a great debate in the house of
commons upon several points of importance, such as liberty of speech, the increase of popery, and other grievances. Sir Edward Coke was a member, and his age,
experience, and dignity gave him great weight there: but
it very soon appeared that he resolved to act a different
part from what the court, and more especially the great
favourite Buckingham, expected. He spoke very warmly;
and also took occasion to shew, that proclamations against
the tenor of acts of parliament were V9id: for which he is
highly commended by Camden. The houses, being adjourned by the king’s command in June, met again in November; and fell into great heats about the commitment
of sir Edwin Sands, soon after their adjournment, which
had such unfortunate consequences, that the commons
protested, Dec. 18, against the invasion of their privileges.
The king prorogued the parliament upon the 21st; and on
the 27th, sir Edward Coke was committed to the Tower,
his chambers in the Temple broke open, and his papers
delivered to sir Robert Cotton and Mr. Wilson to examine.
January 6, 1622, the parliament was dissolved: and the
same day sir Edward was charged before the council with
having concealed some true examinations in the great
cause of the earl of Somerset, and obtruding false ones:
nevertheless, he was soon after released, but not without
receiving high marks of the king’s resentment: for he was
a second time turned out of the king’s privy-council, the
king giving him this character, that “he was the fittest
instrument for a tyrant that ever was in England.
” And
yet, says Wilson, in the house he called the king’s prerogative an overgrown monster. Towards the close of
1623 he was nominated, with several others, to whom large
powers were given, to go gver to Ireland; which nomination, though accompanied with high expressions of kindness and confidence, was made with no other view but to
get him out of the way for fear he should be troublesome,
but he remained firm in his opinions, nor does it appear
that he ever sought to be reconciled to the court; so that
he was absolutely out of favour at the death of king James.
In the beginning of the next reign, when it was found
necessary to call a second parliament, he was pricked for
sheriff of Bucks in 1625, to prevent his being chosen. He
laboured all he could to avoid it, but in vain; so that he
was obliged to serve the office, and to attend the judges at
the. assizes, where he had often presided as lord chief
justice. This did not hinder his being elected knight of
the shire for Bucks in the parliament of 1628, in which he
distinguished himself more than any man in the house of
commons, spoke warmly for the redress of grievances,
argued boldly in defence of the liberty of the subject, and
strenuously supported the privilege of the house. It was
he that proposed and framed the petition of rights; and,
June 1628, he made a speech, in which he named the
duke of Buckingham as the cause of all our miseries,
though, lord Clarendon tells us, he had before blasphemously
styled him the saviour of the nation; but although there is
no great reason to conclude that all this opposition to the
arbitrary measures of the court flowed from any principles
of patriotism, he became for a time the idol of the party
in opposition to the court, and his conduct at this time is
still mentioned with veneration by their historians and advocates. Our own opinion is, that although lord Coke
was occasionally under the influence of temper or interest,
he was, upon the whole, a more independent character than
his enemies will admit. After the dissolution of this parliament, which happened the March following, he retired
to his house at Stoke Fogeys in Buckinghamshire^ where
he spent the remainder of his days; and there, Sept.
3, 1634, breathed his last in his eighty-sixth year, expiring with these words in his mouth, as his monument informs us, “Thy kingdom come! thy will be done!
”
While he lay upon his death-bed, sir Francis Windebank,
by an order of council, came to search for seditious and
dangerous papers by virtue whereof he took his “Commentary upon Littleton,
” and the “History of his Life
”
before it, written with his own hand, his “Commentary
upon Magna Charta, &c.
” the “Pleas of the Crown,
” and
the “Jurisdiction of Courts,
” his eleventh and* twelfth
“Reports
” in ms. and 51 other Mss. with the last will of
sir Edward, wherein he had been making provision for his
younger grand-children. The books and papers were kept
till seven years after, when one of his sons in 1641 moved
the house of commons, that the books and papers taken by
sir Francis Windebank might be delivered to sir Robert
Coke, heir of sir Edward; which the king was pleased to
grant. Such of them as could be found were accordingly
delivered up, but the will was never heard of more.
catholics, was that of Dreux, in 1562. The admiral fought bravely, lost it, but saved the army. The duke of Guise having been murdered by treachery, a short time afterwards,
, the second of the name, of an
ancient family, admiral of France, was born the 16th of February 1516, at Chatillon-sur-Loing. He bore arms from
his very infancy. He signalized himself under Francis I. at
the battle of Cerisoles, and under Henry II. who made him
colonel-general of the French infantry, and afterwards admiral of France, in 1552; favours which he obtained by
the brilliant actions he performed at the battle of Renti, by
his zeal for military discipline, by his victories over the
Spaniards, and especially by the defence of St. Quintin.
The admiral threw himself into that place, and exhibited
prodigies of valour; but the town being forced, he was
made prisoner of war. After the death of Henry II. he
put himself at the head of the protestants against the
Guises, and formed so powerful a party as to threaten ruin
to the Romish religion in France. We are told by a
contemporary historian, that the court had not a more formidable enemy, next to Conde, who had joined with him. The
latter was more ambitious, more enterprising, more active.
Coligni was of a sedater temper, more cautious, and fitter to
be the leader of a party; as unfortunate, indeed, in war as
Conde, but often repairing by his ability what had seemed
irreparable; more dangerous after a defeat, than his enemies
after a victory; and moreover adorned with as many virtues
as such tempestuous times and the spirit of party would
allow. He seemed to set no value on his life. Being
wounded, and his friends lamenting around him, he said
to them with incredible constancy, “The business we follow should make us as familiar with death as with life.
”
The first pitcht battle that happened between the protestants
and the catholics, was that of Dreux, in 1562. The admiral fought bravely, lost it, but saved the army. The
duke of Guise having been murdered by treachery, a short
time afterwards, at the siege of Orleans, he was accused
of having connived at this base assassination; but he cleared
himself of the charge by oath. The civil wars ceased for
some time, but only to recommence with greater fury in
1567. Coligni and Conde fought the battle of St. Denys
against the constable of Montmorenci. This indecisive
day was followed by that of Jarnac, in 1569, fatal to the
protestants. Concle having been killed in a shocking manner, Coligni had to sustain the whole weight of the party,
and alone supported that unhappy cause, and was again
defeated at the affair of Men Icon tour, in Poitou, without
suffering his courage to be shaken for a moment. An advantageous peace seemed shortly after to terminate these
bloody conflicts, in 1571. Coligni appeared at court,
where he was loaded with caresses, in common with all the
rest of his party. Charles IX. ordered him to be paid a
hundred thousand francs as a reparation of the losses he
had sustained, and restored to him his place in the council.
On all hands, however, he was exhorted to distrust these
perfidious caresses. A captain of the protestants, who was
retiring into the country, came to take leave of him: Coligni asked him the reason of so sudden a retreat: “It is,
”
said the soldier, “because they shew us too many kindnesses here: I had rather escape with the fools, than perish
with such as are over-wise.
” A horrid conspiracy soon
broke out. One Friday the admiral coming to the Louvre,
was fired at by a musquet from a window, and dangerously
wounded in the right hand and in the left arm, by Maurevert, who had been employed by the duke de Guise, who
had proposed the scheme to Charles IX. The king of Navarre and the prince of Cond6 complained of this villainous
act. Charles IX. trained to the arts of dissimulation by his
mother, pretended to be extremely afflicted at the event,
ordered strict inquiry to be made after the author of it, and
called Coligni by the tender name of father. This was at
the very time when he was meditating the approaching
massacre of the protestants. The carnage began, as is well
known, the 24th of August, St. Bartholomew’s day, 1572.
The duke de Guise, under a strong escort, marched to the
house of the admiral. A crew of assassins, headed by one
Besme, a domestic of the house of Guise, entered sword
in hand, and found him sitting in an elbow-chair. “Young
man,
” said he to their leader in a calm and tranquil manner,
“thou shouldst have respected my gray hairs but, do
what thou wilt thou canst only shorten my life by a few
days.
” This miscreant, after having stabbed him in several places, threw him out at the window into the court-yard
of the house, where the duke of Guise stood waiting.
Coligni fell at the feet of his base and implacable enemy,
and said, according to some writers, as he was just expiring “If at least I had died by the hand of a gentleman, and not by that of a turnspit!
” Besme, having
trampled on the corpse, said to his companions: “A good
beginning! let us go and continue our work!
” His body
was exposed for three days to the fury of the populace,
and then hung up by the feet on the gallows of Montfaucon. Montmorenci, his cousin, had it taken down, in order
to bury it secretly in the chapel of the chateau de Chantilli. An Italian, having cut off the head of the admiral,
carried it to Catherine de Medicis; and this princess
caused it to be embalmed, and sent it to Rome. Coligni
was in the habit of keeping a journal, which, after his
death, was put into the hands of Charles IX. In this was
remarked a piece of advice which he gave that prince, to
take care of what he did in assigning the appanage, lest
by so doing he left them too great an authority. Catherine
caused this article to be read before the duke of Alei^on,
whpm she knew to be afflicted at the death of the admiral:
“There is your good friend!
” said she, “observe the advice he gives the king!
” “I cannot say,
” returned the
duke, “whether he was very fond of me; but 1 know that
such advice could have been given only by a man of strict
fidelity to his majesty, and zealous for the good of his
country.
” Charles IX. thought this journal worth being
printed; but the marshal de Retz prevailed on him to
throw it into the fire. We shall conclude this article with
the parallel drawn by the abbe“de Mably of the admiral de
Coligni, and of Francois de Lorraine, due de Guise.
” Coligni was the greatest general of his time; as courageous
as the duke of Guise, but less impetuous, because he had
always been less successful. He was fitter for forming
grand projects, and more prudent in the particulars of their
executioj. Guise, by a more brilliant courage, which
astonished his enemies, reduced conjunctures to the province of his genius, and thus rendered himself in some sort
master of them. Coligni obeyed them, but like a commander superior to them. In the same circumstances ordinary men would have observed only courage in the conduct of the one, and only prudence in that of the other,
though both of them had these two qualities, but variously
subordinated. Guise, more successful, had fewer opportunities for displaying the resources of his genius: his dexterous ambition, and, like that of Pompey, apparently
founded on the very interests of the princes it was endeavouring to ruin, while it pretended to serve them, was
supported on the authority of his name till it had acquired
strength enough to stand by itself. Coligni, less criminal,
though he appeared to be more so, openly, like Caesar,
declared war upon his prince and the whole kingdom of
France. Guise had the art of conquering, and of profiting
by the victory. Coligni lost four battles, and was always
the terror of his victors, whom he seemed to have vanquished. It is not easy to say what the former would have
been in the disasters that befell Coligni; but we may
boldly conjecture that the latter would have appeared still
greater, if fortune had favoured him as much. He was
seen carried in a litter, and we may add in the very jaws of
death, to order and conduct the longest and most difficult
marches, traversing France in the midst of his enemies,
rendering by his counsels the youthful courage of the
prince of Navarre more formidable, and training him to
those great qualities which were to make him a good king,
generous, popular, and capable of managing the affairs
of Europe, after having made him a hero, sagacious,
terrible, and clement in the conduct of war. The good
understanding he kept up between the French and the
Germans of his army, whom the interests of religion alone
were ineffectual to unite; the prudence with which he contrived to draw succours from England, where all was not
quiet; his art in giving a spur to the tardiness of the
princes of Germany, who, not having so much genius as
himself, were more apt to despair of saving the protestantsof France, and deferred to send auxiliaries, who were
no longer hastened in their march by the expectation of
plunder in a country already ravaged; are master-pieces of
his policy. Coligni was an honest man. Guise wore the
mask of a greater number of virtues; but all were infected
by his ambition. He had all the qualities that win the
heart of the multitude. Coligni, more collected in himself, was more esteemed by his enemies, and respected by
his own people. He was a lover of order and of his country. Ambition might bear him up, but it never first set
him in motion. Hearty alike in the cause of protestantism
and of his country, he was never able, by too great austerity, to make his doctrine tally with the duties of a subject. With the qualities of a hero, he was endowed with a
gentle soul. Had he been less of the great man, he would
have been a fanatic; he was an apostle and a zealot. His
life was first published in 1575, 8vo, and translated and
published in English in 1576, by Arthur Golding. There
is also a life by Courtilz, 1686, 12mo, and one in the
“Hommes Illustres de France.
”
, secretary and reader to the duke of Orleans, was born at Paris in 1709, and died in the same
, secretary and reader to the duke
of Orleans, was born at Paris in 1709, and died in the same
city Nov. 2, 1783, at the age of 75. In his character were
united a singular disposition to gaiety, and an uncommon
degree of sensibility; the death of a beloved wife accelerated his own. Without affecting the qualities of
beneficence and humanity, he was humane and beneficent.
Having a propensity to the drama from his infancy, he
cultivated it with success. His “Partie-de-Chasse de
Henri IV.
” (from which our “Miller of Mansfield
” is taken) exhibits a very faithful picture of that good king.
His comedy of “Dupuis and Desronais,
” in the manner of
Terence, may perhaps be destitute of the vis cornica; but
the sentiments are just, the characters well supported, and
the situations pathetic. Another comedy, entitled “Truth
in wine, or the Disasters of Gallantry,
” has more of satire and broad humour. There are several more pieces of
his, in which he paints, with no less liveliness than truth,
the manners of his time; but his pencil is frequently as
licentious as those manners. His talent at song-writing
procured him the appellation of the Anacreon of the age,
but here too he was deficient in delicacy. His song on
the capture of Portmahon was the means of procuring him
a pension from the court of 600 livres, perhaps the first
favour of the kind ever bestowed. He was one of the last
survivers of a society of wits who met under the name of
the Caveau, and is in as much honourable remembrance
as the Kit- K at club in London. This assembly, says a journalist, was of as much consequence to literature as an academy. Colle frequently used to regret those good old
times, when this constellation of wits were wont to meet
together, as men of letters, free and independent. The
works of this writer are collected in 3 volumes, 12mo,
under the title of " Theatre de SocieteY' Colle* was a
cousin of the poet Regnard, whom he likewise resembled
in his originality of genius.
amatic author and manager, the son of Thomas Colman, esq. British resident at the court of the grand duke of Tuscany at Pisa, whose wife was a sister of the countess
, an eminent dramatic author and
manager, the son of Thomas Colman, esq. British resident
at the court of the grand duke of Tuscany at Pisa, whose
wife was a sister of the countess of Bath, was born at Florence about the year 1733, and placed at a very early age
in Westminster-school, where he soon distinguished himself by the rapidity of his attainments, and the dawning
splendour of his talents. He was elected to Christ Church
college, Oxford, in 1751, and took the degree of M. A. in
1758. During his progress at Westminster, and while at
college, he formed those literary connections with whom
he remained in friendship till they severally dropped off
the stage of life. Lloyd, Churchill, Bonnel Thornton,
Cowper, and other celebrated wits of that period, were
among the intimate associates of Mr. Colman, and gave a
lustre to his name, by noticing him in some of their compositions. Even so early as the publication of the “Rosciad,
” Churchill proposed Mr. Colman as a proper judge
to decide on the pretensions of the several candidates for
the chair of Roscius; and only complains that he may be
thought too juvenile for so important an award.
thiolo, Dioscorides, Theophrastus, Pliny, &c. He published a second part, at the solicitation of the duke of Aqua-Sparta, who had been much pleased with the former. The
, an eminent botanist, was born at Naples in 1567, the son of Jerome, who
was the natural son of the cardinal Pompeio Colonna. He
devoted himself from his youth to the pursuit of natural
history, and particularly to that of plants, which he studied
in the writings of the ancients; and, by indefatigable application, was enabled to correct the errata with which the
manuscripts of those authors abounded. The languages,
music, mathematics, drawing, painting, optics, the civil
and canon law, filled up the moments which he did not
bestow on botany, and the works he published in this last
science were considered as master-pieces previous to the
appearance of the labours of the latter botanists. He wrote,
1. “Plantarum aliquot ac piscium historia,
” Minus cognitarum rariorumque stirpium descriptio; itemque de aquatilibus,
aliisque nonnullis animalibus libellus,
” Rome, A Dissertation
on the Glossopetrae,
” in Latin, to be found with a work of
Augustine Sciila, on marine substances, Rome, 1647, 4to.
4. He was concerned in the American plants of Hernandez, Rome, 1651, fol. fig. 5. A Dissertation on the Porpura, in Latin; a piece much esteemed, but become
scarce, was reprinted at Kiel, 1675, 4to, with notes by
Daniel Major, a German physician. The first edition is of
1616, 4to.
published a tract, entitled “Religion and Loyalty,” which he informs us was intended to convince the duke of York, that no person in succession to the throne of England
Having long been an admirer of the church-service, ne
determined to recommend* it to the public, which at that
time was frequently interested in disputes respecting set
forms and extempore prayer; and with this view published,
about 1672, the first part of his “Companion to the Temple;
” in Companion to the Temple
” was published, and at the same
time a new edition of a very useful tract, to which he did
not put his name, entitled “Advice to the Roman Catholics,
” and his first book of “The Right of Tithes,
” &c.
against Elwood the quaker, and also without his name,
The same year appeared his “Brief Discourse on the
Offices of Baptism, Catechism, and Confirmation,
” dedicated to Tillotson. In History of Tithes,
” he now published the first part of
his “Historical Vindication of the Divine right of Tithes,
”
and in Religion and Loyalty,
”
which he informs us was intended to convince the duke of
York, that no person in succession to the throne of England
ought to embrace popery; and to persuade the people of
England not to alter the succession. As in this pamphlet
he seemed to favour the doctrine of non-resistance, he was
attacked by the popular party as an enemy to freedom;
but his biographer has defended him with success against
such charges.
ties, which, added to his illustrious birth, soon recommended him to the notice of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, with whom he lived in intimacy for about eight
, or Commines, Lat. Cominæus (Philip de), an excellent French historian, was born of a noble
family in Flanders, 1446. He was a man of great abilities,
which, added to his illustrious birth, soon recommended
him to the notice of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy,
with whom he lived in intimacy for about eight years. He
was afterwards 'invited to the court of France by Louis XI.
and became a man of consequence, not only from the
countenance which was given him by the monarch, but
from other great connections also, which he formed by marrying into a noble family. Louis made him his chamberlain, and seneschal or chief magistrate of the province of
Poictou. He also employed him in several negotiations,
which he executed in a satisfactory manner, and enjoyed
the high favour of his prince. But after the death of
Louis, when his successor Charles VIII. came to the throne,
the envy of his adversaries prevailed so far, that he was
imprisoned at Loches, in the county of Berry, and treated
with great severity; but by the application of his wife, he
was removed at length to Paris. After some time he was
convened before the parliament, in which he pleaded his
own cause with such effect, that, after a speech of two
hours, he was discharged. In this harangue he insisted
much upon what he had done both for the king and kingdom, and the favour and bounty of his master Louis XI.
He remonstrated to them, that he had done nothing either
through avarice or ambition; and that if his designs had
been only to have enriched himself, he had as fair an opportunity of doing it as any man of his condition in France.
He died in a house of his own called Argenton, Oct.
17, 1509; and his body, being carried to Paris, was interred in the church belonging to the Augustines, in a
chapel which he had built for himself. In his prosperity
he had the following saying frequently in his mouth: “He
that will not work, let him not eat:
” in his adversity he
used to say, “I committed myself to the sea, and am
overwhelmed in a storm.
”
translated and published several of their works for the first time. On which account, Francis Moria, duke of Urbino, who was very conversant in those sciences, proved
, a celebrated mathematician and linguist, who was born at Urbino in Italy, in
1509, and died in 1575, was famous for his learning and
knowledge in- the sciences. To a great depth and just
taste in the mathematics, he joined a critical skill in the
Greek language; a happy conjunction which made him
very well qualified for translating and expounding the
writings of the Greek mathematicians. And, accordingly,
with a most laudable zeal and industry, he translated and
published several of their works for the first time. On
which account, Francis Moria, duke of Urbino, who was
very conversant in those sciences, proved a very affectionate
patron to him. He is greatly applauded by Bianchini, and
other writers and he justly deserved their encomiums.
Of his own works Commandine published the following:
1. “Commentarius in Planisphserium Ptolomosi,
” De Centre Gravitatis Solidorum,
” Bonon. Horologiorum Descriptio,
” Rom. Archimedis Circuli Dimensio de Lineis Spiralibus Quadratura Parabolae de Conoidibus et
Sphseroidibus de Arenas Numero,
” Ptolomaei Planisphaerium et Planisphaerium Jordani,
” Ptolomuei Analemma,
” Archimedis de iis
qua? vehuntur in aqua,
” Apollonii Perggei
Conicorum libri quatuor, una cum Pappi Alexandrini Lemmatibns, et Commentariis Eutocii AscalonitaV' &c. 1566.
6.
” Machometes Bagdadinus de Superficierum Divisionibus,“1570. 7.
” Elementa Euclidis,“1572. 8.
” Aristarchus de magnitudinibus et distantiis Solis et Luna:,“1572. 9.
” Heronis Alexandrini Spiritualium liber,“1583.
10.
” Pappi Alexandrini Collectiones Mathematics.'," 1588.
cted with all the learned botanists, particularly the celebrated Jussieu; and was recommended to the duke de Praslin, minister for the marine department, to accompany
, doctor of physic, king’s
botanist, and member of the faculty of Montpelier, was
born at Chatilon les Dombes near Bourgin Bresse, in 1727,
He discovered an early propensity to botany and other
branches of natural history, which he pursued with unremitting ardour, and, as it is said, with very little delicacy,
performing the same tricks in a garden, which coin and
print collectors have been known to perform in museums
and libraries. When at Montpelier, he made no scruple
to pluck the rarest and most precious plants in the king’s
botanic garden there, to enrich his herbal; and when on
this account the directors of the garden refused him admittance, he scaled the walls by night to continue his depredations. The reputation, however, of a better kind,
which he gained during a residence of four years at Montpelier, induced Linnæus to recommend him as a proper
person to form the queen of Sweden’s collection of the
rarest fishes in the Mediterranean, and to compose accurate descriptions of them; which undertaking he executed
with great labour and dexterity, producing a complete
Ichthyology, 2 vols. 4to, with a Dictionary and Bibliography, containing accounts of all the authors who had treated
that branch of natural history. Among his various
productions, is a dissertation entitled “The Martyrology of
Botany,
” containing accounts of all the authors who lost
their lives by the fatigues and accidents incident to the
zeal for acquiring natural curiosities; a list, in which his
own name was destined to be enrolled. Sometimes he has
been found in his closet with a candle burning long after
sunrise, with his head bent over his herbal, unconscious
of its being day-light; and used frequently to return from
his botanical excursions torn with briars, bruised with falls
from rocks, and emaciated with hunger and fatigue, after
many narrow escapes from precipices and torrents. These
ardent occupations did not, however, extinguish sentiments of a more tender nature. M. Commerson married in
1760 a wife who died in childbed two years after, and whose
memory he preserved by naming a new kind of plant, whose
fruit seemed to contain two united hearts, “Pulcheria
Commersonia.
” He arrived at Paris in
Spencer, alderman of London, was born in 1601. He was made knight of the bath in 1616, when Charles, duke of York (afterwards Charles I.) was created prince of Wales;
, only son of William, first earl
of Northampton, by Elizabeth, sole daughter and heiress
of sir John Spencer, alderman of London, was born in 1601.
He was made knight of the bath in 1616, when Charles,
duke of York (afterwards Charles I.) was created prince of
Wales; with whom he became a great favourite. In 1622
he accompanied him into Spain, in quality of master of his
robes and wardrobe; and had the honour to deliver all his
presents, which amounted, according to computation, to
64,000l. At the coronation of that prince he attended as
master of the robes; and in 1639, waited on his majesty
in his expedition against the Scots. He was likewise one
of those noblemen, who, in May 1641, resolved to defend
the protestant religion, expressed in the doctrine of the
church of England, and his majesty’s royal person, honour,
and estate as also the power and privilege of parliaments,
and the lawful rights and liberties of the subject. In 1642
he waited upon his majesty at York, and after the king set
up his standard at Nottingham, was one of the first who
appeared in arms for him. He did him signal services,
supporting his cause with great zeal in the counties of
Warwick, Stafford, and Northamptom. He was killed,
March 19, 1643, in a battle fought on Hopton-heath, near
Stafford; in which, though the enemy was routed, and
much of their artillery taken, yet his lordship’s horse being
unfortunately shot under him, he was somehow left en“compassed by them. When he was on his feet, he killed
with his own hand the colonel of foot, who first came up to
him; notwithstanding which, after his head-piece was struck
off with the butt-end of a musquet, they offered him quarter, which he refused, saying,
” that he scorned to accept
quarter from such base rogues and rebels as they were:“on this he was killed by a blow with an halbert on the
hinder part of his head, receiving at the same time another
deep wound in his face. The enemy refused to deliver up
his body to the young earl of Northampton, unless he
would return, in exchange for it, all the ammunition, prisoners, and cannon he had taken in the late battle: but
at last it was delivered, and buried in Allhallows church in
Derby, in the same vault with his relation the old countess of Shrewsbury. His lordship married Mary, daughter
of sir Francis Beaumont, knt. by whom he had six sons
and two daughters. The sons are all said to have inherited
their father’s courage, loyalty, and virtue particularly
sir William, the third son, who had the command of a regiment, and performed considerable service at the taking of
Banbury, leading his men on to three attacks, during
which he had two horses shot under him. Upon the surrender of the town and castle, he was made lieutenantgovernor under his father; and on the 19th of July, 1644,
when the parliament’s forces came before the town, he returned answer to their summons;
” That he kept the castle
for his majesty, and as long as one man was left alive in it,
willed them not to expect to have it delivered:“also on
the 16th of September, they sending him another summons, he made answer,
” That he had formerly answered
them, and wondered they should send again." He was
so vigilant in his station, that he countermined the enemy
eleven times, and during the siege, which held thirteen
weeks, never went into bed, but by his example so animated the garrison, that though they had but two horses
left uneaten, they would never suffer a summons to be
sent to them, after the preceding answer was delivered.
At length, his brother the earl of Northampton raised the
siege on the 26th of October, the very day of the month,
on which both town and castle had been surrendered to the
king two years before. Sir William continued governor
of Banbury, and performed many signal services for the
king, till his majesty left Oxford, and the whole kingdom
was submitting to the parliament; and then, on the 8th of
May, 1646, surrendered upon honourable terms. In
1648, he was major-general of the king’s forces at Colchester, where he was so ni'ich taken notice of for his admirable behaviour, that Oliver Cromwell called him the sober
young man, and the godly cavalier. At the restoration of
king Charles II. he was made one of the privy-council,
and master-general of the ordnance; and died October 19,
16h3, in the 39th year of his age. There is an epitaph
to his memory in the church of Compton- Winyate. Henry,
the sixth and youngest, who was afterwards bishop of London, is the subject of the next article.
while it was gaining ground at the latter end of Charles the lid’s reign, under the influence of the duke of York, there was no method he left untried to stop its progress.
King Charles now caused him to be sworn one of his
privy council; and committed to his care the educating
of his two nieces, the princesses Mary and Anne, which
important trust he. discharged to the nation’s satisfaction.
They were both confirmed by him upon January 23>
1676; and it is somewhat remarkable that they were
both likewise married by him: the eldest, Mary, with
William prince of Orange, November 4, 1677; the
youngest, Anne, with George prince of Denmark, July 28,
1683. The attachment of these two princesses to the
protestant religion was owing, in a great measure, to their tutor Compton; which afterwards, when popery came to prevail at the court of England, was imputed to him as an unpardonable crime. In the mean time he indulged the
hopeless project of bringing dissenters to a sense of
the necessity of an union among protestants; to promote which, he held several conferences with his own
clergy, the substance of which he published in July 16SO.
He further hoped, that dissenters might be the more easily
reconciled to the church, if the judgment of foreign divines should be produced against their needless separation:
and for that purpose he wrote to M. le Moyne, professor
ef divinity at Leyden, to M. de PAngle, one of the
preachers of the protestant church at Charenton near Paris, and to M. Claude, another eminent French divine.
Their answers are published at the end of bishop Stillingfleet’s “Unreasonableness of Separation,
” requiring and commanding him forthwith to suspend Dr. Sharp from further
preaching in any parish church or chapel within his diocese, until he had given the king satisfaction.
” In order
to understand how Sharp had offended the king, it must
be remembered, that king James had caused the directions
concerning preachers, published in 1662, to be now reprinted; and reinforced them by a letter directed to the
archbishops of Canterbury and York, given at Whitehall,
March 5, 1686, to prohibit the preaching upon controversial points; that was, in effect, to forbid the preaching
against popery, which Sharp had done. The bishop refusing to suspend Dr. Sharp, because, as he truly alleged,
he could not do it according to law, was cited to appear,
August y, before the new ecclesiastical commission: when
he was charged with not having observed his majesty’s
command in the case of Sharp, whom he was ordered to
suspend. The bishop, after expressing some surprise,
humbly begged a copy of the commission, and a copy of
his charge; but was answered by chancellor Jefferies,
“That he should neither have a copy of, nor see, the commission neither would they give him a copy of the
charge.
” His lordship then desired time to advise with
counsel; and time was given him to the 16th, and afterwards to the 3 1st of August. Then his lordship offered his
plea to their jurisdiction: which being overruled, he protested to his right in that or any other plea that might be
made for his advantage; and observed, “that as a bishop
he had a right, by the most authentic and universal ecclesiastical laws, to be tried before his metropolitan, precedently to any other court whatsoever.
” But the ecclesiastical commissioners would not upon any account suffer
their jurisdiction to be called in question; and therefore,
in spite of all that his lordship or his counsel could allege,
he was suspended on Sept. 6 following, for his disobedience, from the function and execution of his episcopal
office, and from all episcopal and other ecclesiastical jurisdiction, during his majesty’s pleasure; and the bishops of
Durham, Rochester, and Peterborough, were appointed
commissioners to exercise ecclesiastical jurisdiction within,
the diocese of London. But the court did not think fit to
meddle with his revenues. For the lawyers had settled
that benefices were of the nature of freeholds; therefore, if
the sentence had gone to the temporalities, the bishop
would have had the matter tried over again in the king’s
bench, where he was likely to find justice.
e might seem in some degree accountable, having corrected what that gentleman did), but those of the duke of Buckingham and others. His wit and literary abilities, however,
, a miscellaneous writer of
some note in his day, was born in Ireland, and bred to the
law, in which we do not find that he ever made any great
figure. From thence he came over to London, in company with a Mr. Stirling, a dramatic poet of little note, to
seek his fortune; and finding nothing so profitable, and
so likely to recommend him to public notice, as political
writing, he soon commenced an advocate for the government. There goes a story of him, however, but we will
hope it is not a true one, that he and his fellow-traveller,
who was embarked in the same adventure, for the sake of
making their trade more profitable, resolved to divide their
interests; the one to oppose, the other to defend the ministry. Upon which they determined the side each was to
espouse by lots, or, according to Mr. Reed’s account, by
tossing up a halfpenny, when it fell to Concanen’s part to
defend the ministry. Stirling afterwards went into orders,
and became a clergyman in Maryland. Concanen was for
some time concerned in the “British
” and “London
Journals,
” and in a paper called “The Specnlatist,
” which
last was published in A
Supplement to the Profound,
” he dealt very unfairly by
Pope, as Pope’s commentator informs us, in not only frequently imputing to him Broome’s verses (for which, says he, he might seem in some degree accountable, having corrected what that gentleman did), but those of the duke
of Buckingham and others. His wit and literary abilities,
however, recommended him to the favour of the duke of
Newcastle, through whose interest he obtained the post of
attorney-general of the island of Jamaica in 1732, which
office he filled with the utmost integrity and honour, and
to the perfect satisfaction of the inhabitants, for near
seventeen years; when, having acquired an ample fortune,
he was desirous of passing the close of his life in his native
country; with which intention he quitted Jamaica and
came to London, proposing to pass some little time there
before he went to settle entirely in Ireland. But the difference of climate between that metropolis and the place
he had so long been accustomed to, had such an effect
on his constitution, that he fell into a consumption, of
which he died Jan. 22, 1749, a few weeks after his arrival
in London. His original poems, though short, have considerable merit; but much cannot be said of his play, entitled “Wexford Wells.
” He was also concerned with Mr.
Roome and other gentlemen in altering Richard Broome’s
“Jovial Crew
” into a ballad opera, in which shape it is
now frequently performed. Concanen has several songs in
“The Musical Miscellany, 1729,
” 6 vols. But a memofable letter addressed to him by Dr. Warburton will perhaps be remembered longer than any writing of his own
pen. This letter^ which Mr. Malone first published (in his Supplement to Shakspeare, vol. I. p. 222), shews that, in
1726, Warbtirton, then an attorney at Newark, was intimate with Concanen, and an associate in the attacks made
on Pope’s fame and talents. In 1724, Concanen published
3, volume of “Miscellaneous Poems, original and translated,
” by himself and others.
, of the French academy and that of Berlin, abbe of Mureaux, preceptor of the infant don Ferdinand duke of Parma, was born at Grenoble about the year 1715, and died
, of the French
academy and that of Berlin, abbe of Mureaux, preceptor
of the infant don Ferdinand duke of Parma, was born at
Grenoble about the year 1715, and died of a putrid fever
at his estate of Flux near Baugenci, the 2dof August 1780.
Strong sense, sound judgment, a clear and profound knowledge of metaphysics, a well chosen and extensive reading,
a sedate character, manners grave without austerity, a style
rather sententious, a greater facility in writing than in
speaking, more philosophy than sensibility and imagination;
form, according to the opinion of his countrymen, the
principal features in the portrait of the abbe de Condillac.
A collection in 3 vols. 12mo, under the title of his Works,
contains his essay on the origin of human sciences, his
treatise of sensations, his treatise of systems; all performances replete with striking and novel ideas, advanced
with boldness, and in which the modern philosophic style
seems perfectly natural to the author. His “Course of
Study,
” Commerce and Government considered in their mutual relations,
” 12mo, a book which
has been decried by anti-qeconomists, and it is allowed by
his admirers that it might have been as well if the author
had not laid down, certain systems on the commerce
of grain; that he had given his principles an air less
profound and abstracted, and that on those matters that
are of moment to all men, he had written for the perusal of all men. It is observed in some of the abbe Condillac’s works, that he had a high opinion of his own merit,
and thought it his duty not to conceal it. He has also
been more justly censured for having, in his treatise of
“Sensations,
” established principles from which the materialists have drawn pernicious conclusions and that in
his course of study, he has, like an incompetent judge,
condemned several flights of Boileau, by submitting poetry,
which in its very nature is free, irregular, and bold, to the
rules of geometry. His works we may suppose are still in
favour in France, as a complete edition was printed in
1798, in 25 vols. 8vo.
y Vllth’s chapel at Westminster, and afterwards interred in the abbey. The pall was supported by the duke of Bridgewater, earl of Godolphin, lord Cobham, lord Wilmington,
The greater part of the last twenty years of his life was spent in ease and retirement; but towards the end of it, he was much afflicted with gout, which brought on a gradual decay. It was for this, that in the summer of 1728, he went to Bath for the benefit of the waters, where he had the misfortune to be overturned in his chariot; from which time he complained of a pain in his side, which was supposed to arise from some inward bruise. Upon his return to London, his health declined more and more; and he died at his house in Surry-street in the Strand, Jan. 19, 1729. On the 26th, his corpse lay in state in the Jerusalem chamber; whence the same evening it was carried with great solemnity into Henry Vllth’s chapel at Westminster, and afterwards interred in the abbey. The pall was supported by the duke of Bridgewater, earl of Godolphin, lord Cobham, lord Wilmington, the hon. George Berkeley, esq. and brigadier-general Churchill; and colonel Congreve followed as chief mourner. Some time after, a neat and elegant monument was erected to his memory*, 'y^ Henrietta duchess of Marlborough, to whom he be* It is remarkable that on this mo- thinking that he was one of his counritmient he is s>ai<] to he only fifty-six trymen (an Irishman). Jacob only,
ons on policy were not long suffered to lie dormant. The elector Palatine, the elector of Mentz, the duke of Brunswick, the emperor of Germany, and Louis XIV. of France,
, one of the eminent publicists of Germany, and one of the most illustrious ornaments of the German schools, was born at Embden Nov. 3,
1606, and was educated at Leyden, where he made himself
acquainted with the whole circle of sciences, but chiefly
applied to theology and medicine; and during his residence here, is said to have been supported by Matthias
Overbek, a Dutch merchant, and by G. Calixtus, one of
the professors. His eminent attainments soon procured
him distinction; and he was appointed professor, first of
natural philosophy, and afterwards of medicine, in the university of Brunswick. Turning his attention to the study
of history and policy, he became so famous in these branches
of knowledge, as to attract the attention of princes. Christina, queen of Sweden, who professed to be a general patroness of learned men, invited Conringius to her court,
and upon his arrival received him with the highest marks of
respect. The offer of a liberal appointment could not,
however, induce him to relinquish the academic life, and
after a short time he returned to Juliers. But his uncommon talents for deciding intricate questions on policy were
not long suffered to lie dormant. The elector Palatine,
the elector of Mentz, the duke of Brunswick, the emperor
of Germany, and Louis XIV. of France, all consulted and
conferred upon him honours and rewards. And, if universal learning, sound judgment, and indefatigable application, can entitle a man to respect, Conringius merited all
the distinction he obtained. The great extent of his abilities and learning appears from the number and variety
of his literary productions. His polemic writings prove him
to have been deeply read in theology. His medical knowledge appears from his “Introduction to the medical art,
”
and his “Comparison of the medical practice of the ancient
Egyptians, and the modern Paracelsians.
” The numerous
treatises which he has left on the Germanic institution, and
other subjects of policy and law, evince the depth and accuracy of his juridical learning. His book, “De hermerica Medicina,
” and his “Antiquitates academicae,
” discover a correct acquaintance with the history of philosophy.
It is to be regretted, that this great man was never able
wholly to disengage himself from the prepossession in favour of the Aristotelian philosophy, which he imbibed in
his youth. Although he had the good sense to correct the
more barren parts of his philosophy, and was not ignorant
that his system was in some particulars defective, he still
looked up to the Stagyrite as the best guide in the pursuit
of truth. It was owing to his partiality for ancient
philosophy, particularly for that of Aristotle, that Conringius
was a violent opponent of the Cartesian system. He died
Dec. 12, 1681. His works were published entire in six
volumes folio, Brunswick, 1730, which renders it unnecessary to specify his separate publications. Bibliographers place
a considerable value on his “Bibliotheca Augusta,
” Helmstadt, De antiquitatibus
academicis dissertationes septem,
” the best edition of which
is that of Gottingen, Observationes Physico-mediciK.
” It is there said, on the authority of his son-in-law,
that Conringius, when labouring under an ague, was cured,
without the help of medicines, merely by the joy he felt
from a conversation with the learned Meibomius.
e suspected of intending to destroy him, that he went to Salernum. Though he was there introduced to duke Rdbert, who wished to retain him about his person, preferring
, and surnamed the African,
was born at Carthage in the eleventh century, and travelled into the east, where he lived thirty years, chiefly at
Babylon and Bagdad, studied the medical art, and made
himself master of the Arabic and the other oriental languages, and then returned to Carthage; from whence he
went into Apulia, and lived at Reggio, and at last became
a monk of Monte Casino. He is said to have been the first
that brought the Greek and Arabian physic into Italy
again. He compiled several books; and has given us a
translation of Isaac Israelitus on fevers, out of Arabic into
Latin; and another book, which he calls “Loci Communes,
” contains the theory and practice of physic, and is
chiefly copied from Hali Abbas. After a residence of
thirty-nine years at Babylon, he returned to Carthage, but
soon fell into such disgrace with his countrymen, whom he
suspected of intending to destroy him, that he went to
Salernum. Though he was there introduced to duke Rdbert, who wished to retain him about his person, preferring
a life of ease and retirement, he entered into a monastery
of the Benedictines, St. Agatha, in A versa, where he died
in 1087.
f foot-guards, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; and in April 1746, being then aid-de-camp to the duke of Cumberland, he got the command of the xorty-eighth regiment
, an English officer and
statesman, the second son of Francis, first lord Conway,
was born in 1720, and appeared first in public life in 1741
as one of the knights for the county of Antrim, in the parliament of Ireland; and in the same year was elected
for Higham Ferrers, to sit in the ninth parliament of Great
Britain. He was afterwards chosen for various other places
from 1754 to 1780, when he represented St. Edmund’s
Bury. In 1741 he was constituted captain-lieutenant in
the “first regiment of foot-guards, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; and in April 1746, being then aid-de-camp
to the duke of Cumberland, he got the command of the
xorty-eighth regiment of foot, and the twenty-ninth in July
1749. He was constituted colonel of the thirteenth regiment of dragoons in December 1751, which he resigned
upon being appointed colonel of the first, or royal regiment of dragoons, Septembers, 1759. In January 1756
he was advanced to the rank of major-general; in March
1759, to that of lieutenant-general; in May 1772, to that
of general; and in October 12, 1793, to that of field
marshal. He served with reputation in his several military
capacities, and commanded the British forces in Germany,
under prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, in 1761, during the
absence of the marquis of Granby. He was one of the
grooms of the bed-chamber to George II. and likewise to
his present majesty till April 1764, when, at the end of
the session of parliament, he resigned that office and his
military commands, or, more properly speaking, was dismissed for voting against the ministry in the question of
general warrants. His name, however, was continued in
the list of the privy counsellors in Ireland; and William,
the fourth duke of Devonshire, to whom he had been secretary when the duke was viceroy in Ireland, bequeathed
him at his death, in 1764, a legacy of 5000l. on account of
his conduct in parliament. On the accession of the Rockingham administration in 1765, he was sworn of the privy
council, and appointed joint- secretary of state with the
duke of Grafton, which office he resigned in January 1768.
In February following, he was appointed colonel of the
fourth regiment of dragoons; in October 1774, colonel of
the royal regiment of horse-guards; and in October 1772,
governor of the island of Jersey. On March 30, 1782, he
was appointed commander in chief of his majesty’s forces,
which he resigned in December 1783. He died at his seat
at Park-place, near Henley upon Thames, July 9, 1795.
General Conway was an ingenious man, of considerable
abilities, but better calculated to be admired in the private and social circle, than to shine as a great public character. In politics, although we believe conscientious, he
was timid and wavering. He had a turn for literature, and
some talent for poetry, and, if we mistake not, published,
but without his name, one or two political pamphlets. In
his old age he aspired to the character of a dramatic writer,
producing in 1789, a play, partly from the French, entitled
” False Appearances," which was not, however, very successful. His most intimate friend appears to have been
the late lord Orford, better known as Horace Walpole,
who was his cousin, and addressed to him a considerable
part of those letters which form the fifth volume of his
lordship’s works. This correspondence commenced in
1 7-1-0, when Walpole was twenty-three years old, and Mr.
Couway twenty. They had gone abroad together with the
celebrated poet Gray in 1739, had spent three months
together at Rheims, and afterwards separated at Geneva.
Lord Orford’s letters, although evidently prepared for the
press, evince at least a cordial and inviolable friendship
for his correspondent, of which also he gave another proof
in 3 letter published in defence of general Couway when
dismissed from his offices; and a testimony of affection
yet more decided, in bequeathing his fine villa of Strawberry Hill to Mrs. Darner, general Con way’s daughter, for
her life.
and went together to chapel, which greatly surprised, them all: and some ran immediately to tell the duke of York, that all his measures were broken. After sermon the
Upon the king’s coming over he was sworn of his majesty’s most honourable privy-council. He was also one of
the commissioners for the trial of the regicides; and though
the Oxford historian is very severe on him on this occasion,
yet his advocates are very desirous of proving that he was
not any way concerned in betraying or shedding the blood
of his sovereign. By letters patent, dated April 20, 1661,
he was created barou Ashley of Winborne St. Giles; soon
after made chancellor and nnder-treasurer of the exchequer, and then one of the lords commissioners for executing the office of high-treasurer. He was afterwards
made lord lieutenant of the county of Dorset; and, April
23, 1672, created baron Cooper of Pawlet in the county of
Somerset, and earl of Shaftesbury. November 4 following, he was raised to the post of lord high chancellor of
England. He shone particularly in his speeches in parliament; and, if we judge only from those which he made
upon swearing in the treasurer Clifford, his successor sir
Thomas Osborne, and baron Thurland, we must conclude
him to have been a very accomplished orator. The short
time he was at the helm was a season of storms and tempests; and it is but doing him justice to say that they
could not either affright or distract him. November 9, 1673,
he resigned the great seal under very singular circumstances. Soon after the breaking up of the parliament, as
Echard relates, the earl was sent for on Sunday morning
to court; as was also sir Heneage Finch, attorney-general,
to whom the seals were promised. As soon as the earl
came he retired with the king into the closet, while the
prevailing party waited in triumph to see him return without the purse. His lordship being alone with the king,
said, “Sir, I know you intend to give the seals to the attorney-general, but 1 am sure your majesty never intended
to dismiss me with contempt.
” The king, who could not
do an ill-natured thing, replied, “Gods fish, my lord, I
will not do it with any circumstance that may look like an
affront.
” “Then, sir,
” said the earl, “I desire your majesty will permit me to carry the seals before you to chapel, and send for them afterwards from my house.
” To
this his majesty readily consented; and the earl entertained the king with news and diverting stories till the very
minute he was to go to chapel, purposely to amuse the
courtiers and his successor, who he believed was upon the
rack for fear he should prevail upon the king to change
his mind. The king and the earl came out of the closet
talking together and smiling, and went together to chapel,
which greatly surprised, them all: and some ran immediately to tell the duke of York, that all his measures were
broken. After sermon the earl went home with the seals,
and that evening the king gave them to the attorneygeneral.
tion; and there ensued a recess of fifteen months. When the parliament met again, Feb. 16, 1677, the duke of Buckingham argued, that it ought to be considered as dissolved:
After he had thus quitted the court, he continued to make a great figure in parliament: his abilities enabled him to shine, and he was not of a nature to rest. In 1675, the treasurer, Danby, introduced the test-bill into the house of lords, which was vigorously opposed by the earl of Shaftesbury; who, if we may believe Burnet, distinguished himself more in this session than ever he had done before. This dispute occasioned a prorogation; and there ensued a recess of fifteen months. When the parliament met again, Feb. 16, 1677, the duke of Buckingham argued, that it ought to be considered as dissolved: the earl of Shaftesbury was of the same opinion, and maintained it with so much warmth, that, together with the duke before mentioned, the earl of Salisbury, and the lord Wharton, he was sent to the Tower, where he continued thirteen, mouths, though the other lords, upon their submission, were immediately discharged. When he was set at liberty he conducted the opposition to the earl of Danby' s administration with such vigour and dexterity, that it was found impossible to do any thing effectually in parliament, without changing the system which then prevailed. The king, who desired nothing so much as to be easy, resolved to make a change; dismissed all the privy-council at once, and formed a new one. This was declared April 21, 1679; and at the same time the earl of Shaftesbury was appointed lord president. He did not hold this employment longer than October the fifth following. He had drawn upon himself the implacable hatred of the duke of York, by steadily promoting, if not originally inventing, the project of an exclusion bill: and therefore the duke’s party was constantly at work against him. Upon the king’s summoning a parliament to meet at Oxford, March 21, 1681, he joined with several lords in a petition to prevent its meeting there, which, however, failed of success. He was present at that parliament, and strenuously supported the exclusion bill: but the duke soon contrived to make him feel the weight of his resentment. For his lordship was apprehended for high treason, July 2, 1681; and, after being examined by his majesty in council, was committed to the Tower, where he remained upwards of four months. He was at length tried, acquitted, and discharged; yet did not think himself safe, as his enemies were now in the zenith of their power. He thought it high time therefore to seek for some place of retirement, where, being out of their reach, he might wear out the small remainder of his life in peace. It was with this view, November 1682, he embarked for Holland; and arriving safely at Amsterdam, after a dangerous voyage, he took a house there, proposing to live in a manner suitable to his quality. He was visited by persons of the first distinction, and treated with all the deference and respect he could desire. But being soon seized by his old distemper, the gout, it immediately flew into his stomach, and became mortal, so that he expired Jan. 22, 1683, in his 62d year. His body was transported to England, and interred with his ancestors at Winbprne; and in 1732, a noble monument, with a large inscription, was erected by Anthony earl of Shaftesbury, his great grandson.
quarto volume of a Life of Lord Shaftesbury, evidently the one alluded to, was purchased by the late duke of Grafton, and must consequently have been printed some time
On this account, written by Dr. Kippis for the last edition of the Biog. Britannica, it is necessary to remark, that
Mr. Malone, in his Life of Dryden, has amply refuted the
story of the Charter-house. With respect to Mr. Martyn’s
work, it is more necessary to remark that the last person,
called here another person, to whom the revisal of it was
consigned, and who received 500l. for his trouble, was
Dr. Kippis himself, but it seems difficult to explain what
he means, by adding “Whether the work is likely soon to
appear, it is not in our power to ascertain.
” The volume
of the Biographia in which this article occurs was published
in 1789; and six years afterwards, in 1795, Dr. Kippis died.
At the sale of his library, a quarto volume of a Life of
Lord Shaftesbury, evidently the one alluded to, was purchased by the late duke of Grafton, and must consequently
have been printed some time between 1789 and 1795,
most probably privately, as no other copy, to the best of
our recollection, has since been exposed to sale.
e business of that time before him. He drew Charles II. and his queen, the duchess of Cleveland, the duke of York, and most of the court: but the two most famous pieces
, an eminent English painter, was born in London in 1609, and bred under the care and discipline of Mr. Hoskins, his uncle: but derived the most considerable advantages from his observations on the works of Van Dyck, insomuch that he was commonly styled the Van Dyck in miniature. His pencil was generally confined to ahead only; and indeed below that part he was not always so successful as could be wished. But for a face, and all the dependencies of it, namely the graceful and becoming air, the strength, relievo, and noble spirit, the softness and tender liveliness of flesh and blood, and the looseness and gentle management of the hair, his talent was so extraordinary, that, for the honour of our nation, it may without vanity be affirmed, he was at least equal to the most famous Italians; and that hardly any one of his predecessors has ever been able to shew so much perfection in so narrow a compass. The high prices of his works, and the great esteem in which they were held at Rome, Venice, and in France, were abundant proofs of their great worth, and extended the fame of this master throughout Europe. He so far exceeded his master and uncle Hoskins, that the latter became jealous of him; and finding that the court was better pleased with his nephew’s performances than with his, he took him into partnership with him, but his jealousy increasing, he dissolved it; leaving our artist to set up for himself, and to carry, as he did, most of the business of that time before him. He drew Charles II. and his queen, the duchess of Cleveland, the duke of York, and most of the court: but the two most famous pieces of his were those of Oliver Cromwell, and of one Swingfield. The French king offered Iso/, for the former, but was refused; and Cooper carrying the latter with him to France, it was much admired there, and introduced him into the favour of that court. *He likewise did several large limnings in an unusual size for the court of England; for which his widow received a pension during her life from the crown. This widow was sister to the mother of the celebrated Pope. Answerable to Cooper’s abilities in painting, was his skill in music; and he was reckoned one of the best lutenists, as well as the most excellent limner, of his time. He spent several years of his life abroad, was personally acquainted with the greatest men of France, Holland, and his own country, and by his works was universally known in all parts of Europe. He died at London May 5, 1612, aged 63, and was buried in Pancras church in the fields; where there is a fine marble monument set over him, with a Latin inscription.
de Medicis; and that queen, to whom he had the honour of being allied, placed him with her son, the duke of Anjou, as a man of learning, and a good counsellor. Corbinelli
, a man of wit and learning of
the sixteenth century, was born of an illustrious family at
Florence. He went into France in the reign of Catherine
de Medicis; and that queen, to whom he had the honour
of being allied, placed him with her son, the duke of Anjou, as a man of learning, and a good counsellor. Corbinelli paid his court without servility, and was compared
to those ancient Romans who were full of integrity, and
incapable of baseness. Chancellor de l'Hospital had a
high esteem for him. He was a professed friend and patron of the learned, and frequently printed their works at
his own expence, adding notes to them, as he did to Fra.
Paolo del Rosso’s poem, entitled “La Fisica,
” Paris, De Vulgari Eloquentia,
” where he supped such a day
” “I think I do not remember,
” replied Corbinelli, yawning. “Are you not
acquainted with such and such princes
” “I forget.
”
“Have you not supped with them
” “I remember nothing
of it.
” “But I think such a man as you ought to remember
things of this kind.
” “Yes, sir; but in the presence of
such a man as you, I am not such a man as myself.
” He
left “Les anciens Historiens Latins reduits en Maximes,
”
with a preface, which was attributed to P. Bouhours, printed
1694, 12mb; “Hist, genealogique de la Maison de Gondi,
” Paris,
y, literati, and foreigners then resident at Rome; among the latter was our sovereign’s brother, the duke of Gloucester. Near fifty sonnets by different poets, with odes,
In the list of examiners there appear a prince, an archbishop, three monsigneurs, the pope’s physician, abati, avocati, all of high rank in literature and criticism. These, severally, gave her subjects, which, besides a readiness at versification in all the measures of Italian poetry, required science, reading, and knowledge of every kind. In all these severe trials, she acquitted herself to the satisfaction and astonishment of all the principal personages, clergy, literati, and foreigners then resident at Rome; among the latter was our sovereign’s brother, the duke of Gloucester. Near fifty sonnets by different poets, with odes, canzoni, terse rime, ottave, canzonette, &c. produced on the subject of this event, are inserted at the end of this narrative and description of the order and ceremonials of this splendid, honourable, and enthusiastic homage, paid to poetry, classical taste, talents, literature, and the fine arts.
, born in 1460, of an illustrious family of Milan, was selected by duke Lewis Sforza, surnamed Maurus, for composing the history of
, born in 1460, of an illustrious
family of Milan, was selected by duke Lewis Sforza, surnamed Maurus, for composing the history of his country;
but the French having got possession of the Milanese, and
the duke his patron being taken prisoner, he died of grief
in 1500. The best edition of his history, “Storia di Milano,
” is that of Milan in Portrait of the city of Milan,
” in which are collected the monuments, ancient and modern, of that unfortunate city.
o France; and on his return he went to Ferrara, where he remained until his death, patronized by the duke Hercules I. who had a high regard for him. Some of his biographers
, an Italian poet, was born
at Placentia, and flourished in the fifteenth century, but
we have no dates of his birth or death. He passed some
part of his life at Milan, and afterwards travelled into
France; and on his return he went to Ferrara, where he
remained until his death, patronized by the duke Hercules
I. who had a high regard for him. Some of his biographers
inform us that he served under the celebrated Venetian
general, Bartholomew Coglioni, of whom he has left a life,
in Latin, published by Burman. He left also a great many
other works, the most considerable of which is an Italian
poem, in nine books, on the military art, with the Latin
title of “De Re Militari,
” Venice, Lyric poems,
” sonnets, canzoni, &c. were
published at Venice, 1502, 8vo, and Milan, 1519. In these
we find a little more spirit and vivacity, but they partake
of the poetical character of his time. Quadrio, however,
ranks them among the best in the Italian language.
mathematician and antiquary, was born at Fanano in 1702, and died in 1765, at Pisa, where the grand duke had given him a chair in philosophy. This science occupied his
, a monk of the Ecoles-Pies, and a
mathematician and antiquary, was born at Fanano in 1702,
and died in 1765, at Pisa, where the grand duke had given
him a chair in philosophy. This science occupied his first
studies, and his success soon appeared from the “Philosophical and Mathematical Institutions,
” Course of Geometrical
Elements,
” written with precision and perspicuity. On
being appointed professor at Pisa, he revised and retouched
his two performances. The former appeared, with considerable corrections, at Bologna in 1742; and the second,
augmented with f< Elements of Practical Geometry,“was
published at Venice in 1748, 2 vols. 8vo. He was well
versed in hydrostatics and history. After having sedulously
applied for several years to the classical authors, and particularly those of Greece, he proposed to write the
” Fasti
of the Archons of Athens,“the first volume of which appeared in 1734, in 4to, and the fourth and last, ten years
after. Being called in 1746 to the chair of moral philosophy and metaphysics, he composed a
” Course of Metaphysics,“which appeared afterwards at Venice in 1758.
His learned friends Muratori, Gorio, Maffei, Quirini, Passionei, now persuaded him to abandon philosophy; and,
at their solicitations, he returned to criticism and erudition. In 1747 he published four dissertations in 4to, on
the sacred games of Greece, in which he gave an exact list
of the athletic victors. Two years afterwards he brought
out, in folio, an excellent work on the abbreviations used
in Greek inscriptions, under this title,
” De notis Graecorum.“This accurate and sagacious performance was
followed by several dissertations relative to objects of learning. But the high esteem in which he was held by his
acquaintance on account of his virtues and industry, was
an interruption to his labours, he being appointed general
of his order in 1754; yet the leisure left him by the arduous duties of his station he devoted to his former studies,
and when the term of his generalship expired, he hastened
back to Pisa, to resume the functions of professor. He
now published several new dissertations, and especially an
excellent work, one of the best of his performances, entitled
” De praefectis urbis.“At length he confined the
whole of hi:; application on the
” History of the University
of Pisa," of which he had been appointed historiographer,
and was about to produce the first volume when a stroke
of apoplexy carried him off, in spite of all the resources of
the medical art, in December 1765.
partments. Collier, however, says that it was written at the request of the countess of Denbigh, the duke of Buckingham’s sister. This lady being then somewhat unsettled
, an English prelate, was the son of Giles
Cosin, a rich citizen of Norwich, and born in that city
Nov. 30, 1594. He was educated in the free-school there,
till 14 years of age; and then removed to Caius college in
Cambridge, of which he was successively scholar and fellow. Being at length distinguished for his ingenuity and
learning, he had, in 1616, an offer of a librarian’s place
from Overall bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and Andrews bishop of Ely, and accepted the invitation of the
former; who dying in 1619, he became domestic chaplain
to Neil bishop of Durham. He was made a prebendary of
Durham in 1624; and the year following collated to the
archdeaconry of the east riding in the church of York,
vacant by the resignation of Marmaduke Blakestone, whose
daughter he had married that year. July 1626, Neil presented him to the rich rectory of Branspeth, in the diocese
of Durham; the parochial church of which he beautified in
an extraordinary manner. About that time, having frequent meetings at the bishop of Durham’s house in London, with Laud and other divines of that party, he began
to be obnoxious to the puritans, who suspected him to be
popishly affected; grounding their suspicion on his “Collection of Private Devotions,
” published in
me tutor to Anthony earl of Harold, and the lord Henry de Grey, sons of the then marquis (afterwards duke of) Kent, to which noble family Mr. Cotes was related.
, a celebrated mathematician, philosopher, and astronomer, was born July 10, 1682, at Burbach in Leicestershire, where his father Robert was rector. He was first placed at Leicester school; where, at only twelve years of age, he discovered a strong inclination to the mathematics. This being observed by his uncle, the rev. Mr. John Smith, he gave him all imaginable encouragement; and prevailed with his father to send him for some time to his house in Lincolnshire, that he might assist him in those studies. Here he laid the foundation of that deep and extensive knowledge, for which he was afterwards so deservedly famous. He removed from thence to London, and was sent to St. Paul’s school; where also he made a great progress in classical learning; yet found so much leisure as to keep a constant correspondence with his uncle, not only in mathematics, but also in metaphysics, philosophy, and divinity. This fact is said to have been often mentioned by professor Saunderson. His next remove was to Cambridge; where, April 6, 1699, he was admitted of Trinity college; and at Michaelmas 1705, after taking his first degree in arts, chosen fellow of it. He was at the same time tutor to Anthony earl of Harold, and the lord Henry de Grey, sons of the then marquis (afterwards duke of) Kent, to which noble family Mr. Cotes was related.
kind of poetry different from satire; of the latter, because he had endeavoured to hurt him with the duke de Montausier, by insinuating that Moliere designed him in the
, a member of the French academy,
so ill-treated by Boileau in his satires, and by Moliere in
his comedy of the “Femmes Savantes,
” under the name of
Trissotiu, was born at Paris, and has at least as good a title
to a place in this work, as some of Virgil’s military heroes
in the Æneid, who are celebrated purely for being knocked
on the head. It is said, that he drew upon him the indignation of Boileau and Moliere: of the former, because he
counselled him in a harsh and splenetic manner, to devote
his talents to a kind of poetry different from satire; of the
latter, because he had endeavoured to hurt him with the
duke de Montausier, by insinuating that Moliere designed
him in the person of the Misanthrope. Cotin, however,
was a man of learning, understood the learned languages,
particularly the Greek, Hebrew, and Syriac, was respected
in the best companies, where merit only could procure
admittance, and preached sixteen Lents, in the principal
pulpits of Paris. He died in that city in 1682, leaving
several works tolerably well written the principal are, K
“Theoclee, on la vraie Philosophie des principes du
monde.
” 2. “Traite de l'Ame immortelle.
” 3.
“Oraison funeb. pour Abel Servien.
” 4. “Reflexions
sur la conduite du roi Louis XIV. quand il prit le soin des
affaires par lui-meme.
” 5. “Salomon, ou la Politique
Royale.
” 6. “Poesies Chretiennes,
” CEuvres galantes,
” Femmes Savantes
” of Molitjre, was
really written by abbe Cbtin: he composed it for Madame de Nemours, and was reading it to that lady when
Menage entered, who disparaging the sonnet, the two
scholars abused each other, nearly in the same terms as
Trissotin and Vadius in Moliere.
ower, and followed by Mrs. Catherine Phillips. In 1670 he published a translation of the Life of the duke D'Espernon and about the same time, his affairs being much
From this time, almost all we have of his life is comprized in a list of his various publications, which were
chiefly translations from the French, or imitations of the
writers of that nation. In 1664, he published Mons. de
Vaix’s “Moral Philosophy of the Stoics,
” in compliance,
sir John Hawkins thinks, with the will of his father, who
was accustomed to give him themes and authors for the
exercise of his judgment and learning. In 1665, he translated the Horace of Corneille for the amusement of his
sister, who, in 1670, consented that it should be printed.
In this attempt he suffered little by being preceded by sir
William Lower, and followed by Mrs. Catherine Phillips.
In 1670 he published a translation of the Life of the duke
D'Espernon and about the same time, his affairs being
much embarrassed, he obtained a captain’s commission in
the army, and went over to Ireland. Some adventures he
met with on this occasion gave rise to his first burlesque
poem, entitled “A Voyage to Ireland,
” in three cantos.
Of his more serious progress in the army, or when, or why
he left it, we have no account.
tude to him, he asked permission to quit it, and obtained it in 1617, so much the more easily as the duke de Luynes was not very partial to him. Mezerai and other historians
, a Jesuit, born in
1564, at Neronde near the Loire, of which place his father was governor, distinguished himself early in life by
his zeal for the conversion of protestants, and by his success in the pulpit. He was called to the court of Henry
IV. at the instance of the famous Lesdiguieres, whom he
had converted, and the king pleased with his wit, manners,
and conversation, appointed him his confessor. M. Mercier censures the king, for “having too peculiar a
deference for this Jesuit, a man of very moderate talents, solely
attached to the narrow views of his order;
” and it was
commonly said, “Our prince is good, but he has cotton in
his ears.
” Henry was desirous of making him archbishop
of Aries, and procuring him a cardinal’s hat; but Cotton
persisted in refusing his offers. His brotherhood, after
their recall, unable easily to settle themselves in certain
towns, that of Poitiers especially, started great difficulties,
and Cotton wished to persuade the king that this opposition was the work of Sulli, governor of Poitou; but Henry
having refused to listen to this calumny, and blaming Cotton for having adopted it with too much credulity: “God
forbid,
” said Cotton, “that I should say any harm of those
whom your majesty honours with his confidence! But,
however, I am able to justify what I advance. I will
prove it by the letters of Sulli. I have seen them, and I
will shew them to your majesty.
” Next day, however,
he was under the necessity of telling the king that the letters had been burnt by carelessness. This circumstance is
related in the “Cours d'histoire de Condillac,
” tom. XIII.
p. 505. After the much lamented death of Henry, Cotton was confessor to his son Louis XIII, but the court
being a solitude to him, he asked permission to quit it, and
obtained it in 1617, so much the more easily as the duke
de Luynes was not very partial to him. Mezerai and other
historians relate, that when Ravaillac had committed his
parricide, Cotton went to him and said: “Take care that
you do not accuse honest men!
” There is room to suppose that his zeal for the honour of his society prompted
him to utter these indiscreet words, and his notions on the
subject appear to be rather singular. We are told that
Henry IV. having one day asked him, “Would you reveal the confession of a man resolved to assassinate me?
”
he answered “No; but I would put my body between
you and him.
” The Jesuit Santarelli having published a
work, in which he set up the power of the popes over that
of kings, Cotton, then provincial of Paris, was called to
the parliament the 13th of March 1626, to give an account
of the opinions of his brethren. He was asked whether
he thought that the pope can excommunicate and dispossess a king of France “Ah
” returned he, “the king
is eldest son of the church and he will never do any thing
to oblige tae pope to proceed to that extremity
” “But,
”
said the first president. “are you not of the same opinion
with your general, who attributes that power to the pope?
”
—“Our general follows the opinions of Rome where he is
and we, those of France where we are.
” The many disagreeable things experienced by Cotton on this occasion,
gave him so much uneasiness, that he fell sick, and died a
few days afterwards, March 19, 1626. He was then
preaching the Lent-discourses at Paris in the church of St.
Paul. This Jesuit wrote, “Traite du Sacrifice de la
Messe;
” “Geneve Plagiaire,
” Lyons, L'Institution Catholique,
” Sermons,
” La Rechute de Geneve Plagiaire;
” and other
things, among which is a letter declaratory of the doctrine
of the Jesuits, conformable to the doctrine of the council
of Trent, which gave occasion to the “Anti Cotton,
”
he travelled on the continent, and at his return, adhering to Charles II. was made secretary to the duke of York, also secretary to the admiralty; and elected a burgess
, youngest son of the preceding, was born in 1626, and in 1642 became a gentlemancommoner of Queen’s college in Oxford; and after he had
continued there some time, he travelled on the continent,
and at his return, adhering to Charles II. was made secretary to the duke of York, also secretary to the admiralty; and elected a burgess for the town of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, in the parliament which met at Westminster, May 8, 1661; and also to that which was summoned in 1678. In 1663 he was created doctor of the civil
law at the university of Oxford. He was sworn of the
privy-council, and received the honour of knighthood June
26, 1665, and was made one of the commissioners of the
treasury on May 24, 1667 being, as bishop Burnet relates,
“a man of great notions and eminent virtues the best
speaker in the house of commons, and capable of bearing
the chief ministry, as it was once thought he was very
near it, and deserved it more than all the rest did.
” Yet,
as he was too honest to engage in the designs of that reign,
and quarrellt d with the duke of Buckingham, a challenge
passed between them upon which he was forbid the court,
and retired to Minster- Lovel, near Whitney, in Oxfordshire, where he gave himself up to a religious and private
course of life, without accepting of any employment,
though he was afterwards offered more than once the best
posts in the court. He died June 23, 1686, unmarried, at
Somerhill, near Tunbridge-wells, in Kent (where he had went for the benefit of the waters, being afflicted with the gout in the stomach) and was buried at Penshurst, in the
same county, under a monument erected to his memory.
By his last will he gave 2000l. for the relief of the French
protestants then lately come into England, and banished
their country for the sake of their religion; and 3000l. for
the redemption of captives from Algiers.
Coverdale was preacher to a congregation of exiled protestants at Wesel, until he was called by the duke of Deux Fonts, to be preacher at Bergzabern . On his release,
On the accession of queen Mary, and the consequent
re-establishment of popery, he was ejected from the see
and thrown into prison, out of which he was released after
two years confinement, at the earnest request of the king
of Denmark. Coverdale and Dr. John Machabseus, chap* Dr. Weston does not occur in Le Neve’s List of Chancellors, bu.1 there can
be no doubt of the fact.
lain to that monarch, had married sisters, and it was at
his chaplain’s request that the king interposed, but was
obliged to send two or three letters be Core he could accomplish his purpose. By one of these, dated April 25,
1554, it would appear that Coverdale was imprisoned in
consequence of being concerned in an insurrection against
the queen, but this is not laid to his charge in the queen’s
answer, who only pretended that he was indebted to her
concerning his bishopric. As the first fruits had been forgiven by Edward VI. this must be supposed to allude to his
tenths; and Coverdale’s plea, as appears by the king of
Denmark’s second letter, was, that he had not enjoyed the
bishopric long enough to be enabled to pay the queen.
This second letter bears date Sept. 24, 1554, and, according to Strype, the queen’s grant of his request was not
given till Feb. 18, 1555. Strype, therefore, from his own
evidence, is erroneous in his assertion that in 1554 Coverdale was preacher to a congregation of exiled protestants
at Wesel, until he was called by the duke of Deux Fonts,
to be preacher at Bergzabern . On his release, which
was on the condition of banishing himself, he repaired to
the court of Denmark, where the king would fain have
detained him, but as he was not so well acquainted with
the language as to preach in Danish, he preferred going to
the places above mentioned, where he could preach with
facility in Dutch; and there and at Geneva he passed his
time, partly in teaching and partly in preaching. He also,
while here, joined some other English exiles, Goodman,
Gilby, Whittingham, Sampson, Cole, &c. in that translation of the Bible usually called the “Geneva translation;
”
part of which, the New Testament, was printed at Geneva,
by Conrad Badius, in 1557, and again in 1560, in which
last year the whole Bible was printed in the same place
by Rowland Harte. Of this translation, which had explanatory notes, and therefore was much used in private
families, there were above thirty editions in folio, quarto,
and octavo, mostly printed in England by the king’s and
queen’s printers, from the year 1560 to 1616. On the
accession of queen Elizabeth, he returned from his exile,
but, unfortunately for the church, had imbibed the principles of the Geneva reformers, as far as respected the
ecclesiastical habits and ceremonies. In 1559, however,
we find him taking his turn as preacher at St. Paul’s Cross,
and he assisted also at the consecration of archbishop Parker, in which ceremony, although he performed the functions of a bishop, he wore only a long black cloth gown.
This avowed non-compliance with the habits and ceremonies prevented his resuming his bishopric, or any preferment being for some time offered to him. In 1563
bishop Grindal recommended him to the bishopric of Llandaff; and in 1564, Coverdale had the honour to admit that
prelate to his doctor’s degree, by a mandate from the vicechancellor of Cambridge, a proof that he was still in high
estimation. Grindal, particularly, had a great regard for
him, and was very uneasy at his want of preferment. On
one occasion he exclaimed, “I cannot excuse us bishops.
”
He also applied to the secretary of state, “telling him,
that surely it was not well that father Coverdale,
” as he
styled him, “qui ante nos omnes fuit in Christo,
” “who
was in Christ before us all,
” should be now in his age without stay of living.“It was on this occasion that Grindal
recommended him to the bishopric of Llandaff, as already
noticed, but it is supposed Coverdale’s age and infirmities,
and the remains of the plague, from which he had just
recovered, made him decline so great a charge. In lieu
of it, however, the bishop collated him to the rectory of
St. Magnus, London Bridge; and here again the good
man’s poverty presented an obstruction, as appears from
some affecting letters he wrote to be excused from the
first fruits, amounting to 60l. which he was utterly incapable of paying: one of these letters, in which he mentions his age, and the probability of not enjoying the preferment long, he concludes with these words:
” If poor
old Miles might be thus provided for, he should think
this enough to be as good as a feast." His request being
granted, he entered upon his charge, and preached about
two years; but resigned it in 1566, a little before his
death. He was very much admired by the puritans, who
flocked to him in great numbers while he officiated at St.
Magnus’s church, which he did without the habits, and
when he had resigned it, for it does not appear that he was
deprived of it, as Neal asserts, his followers were obliged
to send to his house on Saturdays, to know where they
might hear him the next day, which he declined answering lest he should give offence to government. Yet, according to Strype, he had little to fear; for, Fox, Humphrey, Sampson, and others of the same way of thinking,
were not only connived at, but allowed to hold preferments.
He died, according to Richardson in his edition of
Godwin, May 20, 1565 and according to Neal in his History of the Puritans, May 20, 1567 but both are wrong.
The parish register proves that he was buried Feb. 19, 1568,
in the chancel of the church of St. Bartholomew, Exchange, with the following inscription on his tombstone,
which was destroyed at the great fire along with the church.
rds him. A list of subscribers is prefixed, in which are found the names of the prince of Wales, the duke of Cumberland, the prince and princess of Orange, the princesses
He was well received in England: the marquis of Blandford made him a present of fifty pounds, and he obtained
a pension of one hundred pounds a year from the court.
In 1729 he published, at Amsterdam, in two vols. 12mo,
“Relation Historique et Apologetique des sentimens et de
la conduite du P. le Courayer, chanoine regulier de Ste.
Genevieve: avec les preuves justificatives des faits avancez
dans l'ouvrage.
” In this work he entered into a farther
justification of his sentiments and of his conduct, and
shewed the necessity that he was under of quitting France,
from the virulence and power of his enemies. In 1733 he
was at Oxford, and was present in the theatre at the public
act that year, and made a speech there upon the occasion,
which was afterwards printed both in Latin and English.
In 1726 he published at London, in two vols. folio, a translation, in French, of “Father Paul’s History of the Council
of Trent;
” with notes critical, historical, and theological.
He dedicated this work to queen Caroline, and speaks of
it as having been undertaken by her command; and he expresses, in the strongest terms, his gratitude to her majesty for her patronage, and for the liberality which she
liad manifested towards him. A list of subscribers is prefixed, in which are found the names of the prince of Wales,
the duke of Cumberland, the prince and princess of Orange,
the princesses Amelia and Caroline, the archbishop of
Canterbury, the lord Chancellor, lord Hardwicke, then
chief Justice of the King’s Bench, sir Robert Walpole,
and many of the nobility, andother persons of distinction.
By the sale of this work he is said to have gained fifteen
hundred pounds, and the queen also raised his pension to
two hundred pounds per annum. He gave sixteen hundred
pounds to lord Feversham, for an annuity of one hundred
pounds per annum, which he enjoyed forty years. By
these means he came into very easy circumstances, which
were rendered still more so by the reception which his
agreeable and instructive conversation procured him, among
persons of rank and fortune, with many of whom it was his
custom to live for several months at a time. He wrote
some other works in French, besides those that have been
mentioned; and, in particular, he translated into that language Sleidan’s “History of the Reformation.
” His exile
from his own country was probably no diminution of his
happiness upon the whole; for he appears to have passed
his time in England very agreeably, and he lived to an
uncommon age. Even in his latter years, he was distinguished for the cheerfulness of his temper and the sprightliness of his conversation. He died in Downingstreet,
Westminster, after two days illness, on the 17th of October, 1776, at the age of ninety-five. Agreeably to his
own desire, he was buried m the cloister of Westminsterabbey, by Dr. Bell, chaplain to the princess Amelia. In
his will, which was dated Feb. 3, 1774,* he declared,
“That he died a member of the Catholic church, but without approving of many of the opinions and superstitions
which have been introduced into the Romish church, and
taught in their schools and seminaries, and which they have
insisted on as articles of faith, though to him they appeared
to be not only not founded in truth, but also to be highly
improbable.
” It is said, that soon after he came to England, he went to a priest of the Romish church for confession, and acquainted him who he was. The priest would
not venture to take his confession, because he was excommunicated, but advised him to consult his superior of Genevieve. Whether he made any such application, or what
was the result, we are not informed bat it is certain that,
when in London, he made it his practice to go to mass;
and when in the country, at Ealing, he constantly attended
the service of the parish-church, declaring, at all times,
that he had great satisfaction in the prayers of the church
of England. In discoursing on religious subjects he was
reserved and cautious, avoiding controversy as much as
possible. He left 500l. to the parish of St. Martin; and
gave, in his life-time, his books to the library there,
founded by archbishop Tenison. He bequeathed 200l. to
the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster, and a handsome
sum of money to the poor of Vernon, in Normandy; and,
after many legacies to his friends in England, the remainder
to two nephews of his name at Vernon. During his lifetime, he was occasionally generous to some of his relations
in France, and in England was very liberal to the poor.
He had two sisters, who were nuns; and a brother at
Paris, in the profession of the law, to whom he gave a
handsome gold snuff-box, which had been presented to
him by queen Caroline.
, the son of a tailor at Menin, was one of many who experienced the oppression of Olivarez duke of Alva, who, being appointed by Philip II. governor of the
, the son of a tailor at Menin, was one of many who experienced the oppression of Olivarez duke of Alva, who, being appointed by Philip II. governor of the seventeen provinces, endeavoured, with execrable policy, to establish over all the Netherlands an irreligious and horrible court of judicature, on the model of the Spanish inquisition. By consequence, in 1567, great numbers of industrious, thriving, and worthy people were imprisoned by the rigorous orders of this petty tyrant, and treated with great injustice and cruelty. Courten had the good fortune to escape from prison; and in the year following, 1568, arrived safe in London, with his wife Margaret Casiere, a daughter named Margaret, her husband, son of a mercantile broker at Antwerp of the name of Boudean, and as much property as they could hastily collect under such disadvantages. Soon after their arrival, they took a house in Abchurch-lane, where they lived together, following for some time the business of making what were commonly called French hoods, much worn in those days and long after, which they vended in wholesale to the shopkeepers who sold them in retail. Encouraged by great success in this employment, they soon removed to a larger house in Pudding-lane or Love-lane, in the parish of St. Mary Hill, where they entered on a partnership trade, in silks, fine linens, and such articles as they had dealt in before when in Flanders. Michael Boudean, the daughter Margaret’s husband, died first, leaving behind him, unfortunately for the family, a son and only child, named Peter, after an uncle certainly not much older than himself. The widow married John Money, a merchant in London, who instantly became an inmate with the family, which was moreover increased by the parents themselves, with two sons, William, born in 1572, and Peter, born in 1581. The young men, being instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic, were early initiated in business, and soon after sent abroad as factors for the family: William to Haerlem, Peter to Cologne, and Peter Boudean the grandchild to Middleburg. At what time William Courten and Margaret Casiere died is at present uncertain most probably their deaths happened about the end of queen Elizabeth’s, or in the beginning of king James’s reign; but it seems certain, that they left their descendants not only in easy, but even in affluent circumstances. At the following aera of this little history it does not appear clearly, whether the old people were actually dead, or had only declined all farther active, responsible concern in business: but, in 1606, William and Peter Courtens entered into partnership with John Money, their sister Margaret’s second husband, to trade in silks and fine linen. Two parts, or the moiety of the joint stock, belonged to William Courten, and to each of the others, Peter Courten and John Money, a fourth share. As for Peter Boudean, the son of Margaret Courten by her first husband, he seems to have been employed to negotiate for the partnership at Middleburg on some stipulated or discretionary salary; for it does not appear that he had any certain or determinate share in the trade, which was carried on prosperously till 1631, with a return, it is said, one year with another, of 150,000l. During the course of this copartnership, there is nothing upon record unfavourable to the character of John Money. The characters too of William and Peter Courtens appear unexceptionable, fair, and illustrious. They prospered, it seems, remarkably in all their undertakings, for twenty years and more; in the course of which time they were both dignified with the honours of knighthood.
pear befofe his tribunal in St. Paul’s church: but that reformer being accompanied by John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and other nobles, who favoured his opinions, and
, archbishop of Canterbury in
the reign of king Richard II. was the fourth son of Hugh
Courtney, earl of Devonshire, by Margaret, daughter of
Humphrey Bohun, earl of Hereford and Essex, by his wife
Elizabeth, daughter of king Edward I. and was born in
the year 1341. He had his education at Oxford, where
he applied himself to the study of the civil and canon law.
Afterwards, entering into holy orders, he obtained three
prebends in three cathedral churches, viz. those of Bath,
Exeter, and York. The nobility of his birth, and his eminent learning, recommending him to public notice, in the
reign of Edward III. he was promoted in 1369 to the see
of Hereford, and thence translated to the see of London,
September 12, 1375, being then in the 34th year of his
age. In a synod, held at London in 1376, bishop Courtney
distinguished himself by his opposition to the king’s demand
of a subsidy; and presently after he fell under the displeasure of the high court of chancery, for publishing a
bull of pope Gregory II. without the king’s consent, which
he was compelled to recall. The next year, in obedience
to the pope’s mandate, he cited Wickliff to appear befofe
his tribunal in St. Paul’s church: but that reformer being
accompanied by John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and
other nobles, who favoured his opinions, and appeared
openly in the bishop’s court for him, and treated the
bishop with very little ceremony, the populace took his
part, went to the duke of Lancaster’s house in the Savoy,
plundered it, and would have burnt it to the ground, had
not the bishop hastened to the place, and drawn them off
by his persuasions. The consequences of this difference
with so powerful a nobleman as John of Gaunt, were probably dreaded even by Courtney; for, with respect to
Wickliff, he at this time proceeded no farther than to enjoin
him and his followers silence. In 1378, it is said by Godwin, but without proper authority, that Courtney was made
a cardinal. In 1381, he was appointed lord high chancellor
of England. The same year, he was translated to the see
of Canterbury, in the room of Simon Sudbury; and on
the 6th of May, 1382, he received the pall from the hands
of the bishop of London in the archiepiscopal palace at
Croydon. This year also he performed the ceremony of
crowning queen Anne, consort of king Richard II. at Westminster. Soon after his inauguration, he restrained, by
ecclesiastical censures, the bailiffs, and other officers, of
the see of Canterbury, from taking cognizance of adultery
and the like crimes, which then belonged to the ecclesiastical court. About the same time, he held a synod at London, in which several of Wickliff’s tenets were condemned
as heretical and erroneous. In 1383, he held a synod at
Oxford, in which a subsidy was granted to the king, some
of WicklifT's followers obliged to recant, and the students
of the university to swear renunciation of his tenets. The
same year, in pursuance of the pope’s bull directed to him
for that purpose, he issued his mandate to the bishop of
London for celebrating the festival of St. Anne, mother of
the blessed virgin. In 1386, the king, by the advice of
his parliament, put the administration of the government
into the hands of eleven commissioners, of whom archbishop
Courtney was the first; but this lasted only one year. In
1387, he held a synod at London, in which a tenth was
granted to the king. The same year, it being moved in a
parliament held at London on occasion of the dissension
between the king and his nobles, to inflict capital punishment on some of the ringleaders, and it being prohibited
by the canons for bishops to be present and vote in cases
of blood, the archbishop and his suffragans withdrew from
the house of lords, having first entered a protest in relation to their peerage and privilege to sit upon all other
matters. In 1399, he held a synod in St. Mary’s church in
Cambridge, in which a tenth was granted to the king, on
condition that he should pass over into France with an army
before the 1st of October following. This year, archbishop
Courtney set out upon his metropolitical visitation, in
which he was at first strongly opposed by the bishops of
Exeter and Salisbury; but those prelates being at last reduced to terms of submission, he proceeded in his visitation without farther opposition: only, at the intercession
of the abbot of St. Alban’s, he refrained from visiting certain monasteries at Oxford. The same year, the king directed his royal mandate to the archbishop, not to countenance or contribute any thing towards a subsidy for the
pope. In a parliament held at Winchester in 1392, archbishop Courtney, being probably suspected of abetting the
papal encroachments upon the church and state, delivered
in an answer to certain articles exhibited by the commons
in relation to those encroachments, which is thought to
have led the way to the statute of pr&munire. The same
year, he visited the diocese of Lincoln, in which he endeavoured to check the growth of Wickliff’s doctrines.
In 1395, he obtained from the pope a grant of four-pence
in the pound on all ecclesiastical benefices; in which he
was opposed by the bishop of Lincoln, who would not
suffer it to be collected in his diocese, and appealed to the
pope. But before the matter could be decided, archbishop
Courtney died, July 31, 1396, at Maidstone in Kent,
where he was buried, but has a monument in the cathedral church of Canterbury, on the south side, near the
tomb of Thomas Becket, and at the feet of the Black
Prince. His remains at Maidstone, only a few bones,
were seen some years ago. This prelate founded a college
of secular priests at Maidstone. He left a thousand marks
for the repair of the cathedral church of Canterbury also
to the same church a silver- gilt image of the Trinity, with
six apostles standing round it weighing 160 pounds some
books, and some ecclesiastical vestments. He obtained
from king Richard a grant of four fairs to be kept at Canterbury yearly within the site of the priory. The character of archbishop Courtney, weighed in the balance of
modern opinions, is that of a persecuting adherent to the
church of Rome, to which, however, he was not so much
attached as to forget what was due to his king and country.
He appears to have exhibited in critical emergencies, a
bold and resolute spirit, and occasionally a happy presence of mind. One circumstance, which displays the
strength and firmness of Courtney’s mind in the exercise
of his religious bigotry, deserves to be noticed. When
the archbishop, on a certain day, with a number of bishops
and divines, had assembled to condemn the tenets of
Wickliff, just as they were going to enter upon business,
a violent earthquake shook the monastery. Upon this, the
terrified bishops threw down their papers, and crying out,
that the business was displeasing to God, came to a hasty
resolution to proceed no farther. “The archbishop alone,
”
says Mr. Gil pin in his Life of Wickliff, “remained unmoved. With equal spirit and address he chid their superstitious fears, and told them, that if the earthquake portended any thing, it portended the downfall of heresy;
that as noxious vapours are lodged in the bowels of the
earth, and are expelled by these violent concussions, so
by their strenuous endeavours, the kingdom should be
purified from the pestilential taint of heresy, which had
infected it in every part. This speech, together with the
news that the earthquake was general through the city,
&s it was afterwards indeed found to have been through
the island, dispelled their fears Wickliff would often
merrily speak of this accident; and would call this assembly the council of the herydene; herydene being the
old English word for earthquake.
”
t; besjde which, it might be the better received on account of its containing a severe satire on the duke of Monmouth and the earl of Sbftftesboryj two men who were certainly
, a medical and metaphysical
writer, was the son of Mr. William Coward of Winchester,
where he was born in the year 1656 or 1657. It is not
certain where young Coward received his grammatical
education; but it was probably at Winchester-school. In
his eighteenth year he was removed to Oxford, and in May
1674 became a commoner of Hart-hall; the inducement to
which might probably be, that his uncle was at the head of
that seminary. However, he did not long continue there;
for in the year following he was admitted a scholar of
Wadham college. On the 27th of June, 1677, betook
the degree of B. A. and in January 1680 he was chosen
probationer fellow of Merton college. In the year 1681,
was published Mr. Dvyden’s Absalom and Achitophel, a
production on the celebrity of which we need not expatiate.
At Oxford it could not fail to be greatly admired for its
poetical merit; besjde which, it might be the better received
on account of its containing a severe satire on the duke of
Monmouth and the earl of Sbftftesboryj two men who were
certainly no favourites with tnat loyal university. Accordingly, the admiration of the poem produced two Latin
versions of it, both of which were written and printed at Oxford; one by Mr. Francis Atterbury (afterwards the celebrated bishop of Rochester), who was assisted in it by Mr.
Francis Hickman, a student of Christchurch; and the
other by Mr. Coward. These translations were published
in quarto, in 1682. Whatever proof Mr. Coward’s version
of the Absalom and Achitophel might afford oi“his progress
in classical literature, he was not very fortunate in this first
publication. It was compared with Mr. Atterbury’s production, not a little to its disadvantage. According to
Anthony Wood, he was schooled for it in the college; it
was not well received in the university; and Atterbury’s
poem was extolled as greatly superior. To conceal, in
some degree, Mr. Coward’s mortification, a friend of his,
in a public paper, advertised the translation, as written by
a Walter Curie, of Hertford, gentleman; yet Coward’s
version was generally mistaken for Atterbury’s, and a specimen given of it in Stackhouse’s life of that prelate. On
the 13th of December, 1683, Mr. Coward was admitted to
the degree of M.A. Having determined to apply himself
to the practice of medicine, he prosecuted his studies in
that science, and took the degree of bachelor of physic on
the 23d of June 1685, and of doctor on the 2,d of July 1687.
After his quitting Oxford he exercised his profession at
Northampton, from which place he removed to London in 1693
or 1694, and settled in Lombard-street. In 1695 he published
a tract in 8vo, entitled
” De fermento volatili nutritio conjectura rationis, qua ostenditur spiritum volatilemoleosum, e
sanguine suffusurn, esse verum ac genuinum concoctionis ac
nutritionis instrumentum.“For this work he^iad an honourable approbation from the president and censors of the
college of physicians. But it was not to medical studies
only that Dr. Coward confined his attention. Besides being fond of polite learning, he entered deeply into metaphysical speculations, especially with regard to the nature
of the soul, and the natural immortality of man. The result of his inquiries was his publication, in 1702, under the
fictitious name of Estibius Psycalethes, entitled
” Second
Thoughts concerning Human Soul, demonstrating the notion
of human soul, as believed to be a spiritual immortal substance united to a human body, to be a plain heathenish
invention, and not consonant to the principles of philosophy, reason, or religion; but the ground only of many
absurd and superstitious opinions, abominable to the
reformed church, and derogatory in general to true Christianity.“This work was dedicated by the doctor to the
clergy of the church of England; and he professes at his
setting out,
” that the main stress of arguments, either to
confound or support his opinion, must be drawn from those
only credentials of true and orthodox divinity, the lively
oracles of God, the Holy Scriptures.“In another part, in
answer to the question, Does man die like a brute beast?
he says,
” Yes, in respect to their end in this life; both
their deaths consist in a privation of life.“” But then,“he adds,
” man has this prerogative or pre-eminence above
a brute, that he will be raised to life again, and be made
partaker of eternal happiness in the world to come.“Notwithstanding these professions to the authority of the Christian Scriptures, Dr. Coward has commonly been ranked
with those who have been reputed to be the most rancorous
and determined adversaries of Christianity. Swift has
ranked him with Toland, Tindal, and Gildon; and passages to the like purpose are not unfrequent among controversial writers, especially during the former part of the
last century. His denial of the immateriality and natural
immortality of the soul, and of a separate state of existence
between the time of death and the general resurrection, was
so contrary to universal opinion, that it is not very surprising that he should be considered as an enemy to revelation. It might be expected that he would immediately
meet with opponents; and accordingly he was attacked by
various writers of different complexions and abilities;
among whom were Dr. Nichols, Mr. John Broughton, and.
Mr. John Turner. Dr. Nichols took up the argument in
his
” Conference with a Theist.“Mr. Broughton wrote a
treatise entitled
” Psychologia, or, an Account of the nature of the rational Soul, in two parts;“and Mr. Turner
published a
” Vindication of the separate existence of the
Soul from a late author’s Second Thoughts.“Both these
pieces appeared in 1703. Mr. Turner’s publication was
answered by Dr. Coward, in a pamphlet called
” Farther
Thoughts upon Second Thoughts,“in which he acknowledges, that in Mr. Turner he had a rational and candid
adversary. He had not the same opinion of Mr. Broughton who therefore was treated by him with severity, in
” An Epistolary Reply to Mr. Broughton’s Psychologia;“which reply was not separately printed, but annexed to a
work of the doctor’s, published in the beginning of the
year 1704, and entitled,
” The Grand Essay or, a Vindication of Reason and Religion against the impostures of
Philosophy." In this last production, the idea of the human soul’s being an immaterial substance was again vigorously attacked.
frequently liable to just censure.” This work, which is divided into two books, is dedicated to the duke of Shrewsbury, and introduced by a long and learned preface.
From a letter of our author to Dr. Hans Sloane, dated
May 2ti, 1706, it appears that he was in habits of intimacy
with this eminent physician and naturalist. Dr. Sloane
carried his friendship so far as take upon himself the supervisal of the “Oplulialrniatria.
” As the letter to Dr. Sloane
is dated from the Green Bell, over against the Castle tavern, near Holborn, in Fetter-lane, there is reason to believe that Dr. Coward had quitted London, and was now
only a visitant in town, for the purpose of his publication.
Indeed the fact is ascertained from the list of the college
of physicians for 1706, where Dr. William Coward, who
stands under the head of candidates, is then for the first
time mentioned as residing in the country. The opposition he had met with, and the unpopularity arising from his
works, might be inducements with him for leaving the metropolis. It does not appear, for twelve years, to what
part of the kingdom he had retired nor, from this period,
do we hear more of Dr. Coward as a medical or metaphysical writer. Even when he had been the most engaged
in abstruse and scientific inquiries, he had not omitted the
study of polite literature; for we are told, that in 1705 he
published the “Lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
” an
heroic poem, which was little noticed at first, and soon
sunk in total oblivion. Another poetical performance by
Dr. Coward, and the last of his writings that has come to
our knowledge, was published in 1709, and is entitled,
“Licentia poetica discussed; or, the true Test of Poetry:
without which it is difficult to judge of or compose a correct
English poem. To which are added, critical observations
on the principal ancient and modern poets, viz. Homer,
Horace, Virgil, Milton, Cowley, Dryden, &c. as frequently
liable to just censure.
” This work, which is divided into
two books, is dedicated to the duke of Shrewsbury, and
introduced by a long and learned preface. Prefixed are
three copies of commendatory verses, signed A. Hill, J.
Gay, and Sam. Barklay. The two former, Aaron Hill and
John Gay, were then young poets, who afterwards, as is
well known, rose to a considerable degree of reputation.
Coward is celebrated by them as a great bard, a title to
which he had certainly no claim; though his “Licentia,
”
considered as a didactic poem, and as such poems were
then generally written, is not contemptible. It is not so
correct as lord Roscommon’s essay on translated verse; but
it is little, if at all, inferior to the duke of Buckingham’s
essay on poetry, which was so much extolled in its day.
The rules laid down by Dr. Coward for poetical composition are often minute, but usually, though not universally, founded on good sense and just taste; but he had
not enough of the latter to feel the harmony and variety of
Milton’s numbers. Triplets, double rhymes, and Alexandrines, are condemned by him; the last of which, however, he admits on some great occasion. The notes, which
are large and numerous, display no small extent of reading; and to the whole is added, by way of appendix, a
political essay, from which it appears that our author was
a very zealous whig.
give five hundred guineas to any person who should present her with an epitaph, suitable to the late duke her husband’s character. “Now,” says he, “I have one by me,
In the list of the college of physicians for 1718, Dr.
Coward begins to be mentioned as residing at Ipswich.
From this place he wrote, in 1722, a letter to his old
friend, sir Hans Sloane, the occasion of which is somewhat
curious. He had learned from the newspapers, that the
duchess dowager of Maryborough proposed to give five
hundred guineas to any person who should present her with
an epitaph, suitable to the late duke her husband’s character. “Now,
” says he, “I have one by me, which gives
him his just character, without flattery or ostentation, and
which I verily believe may be acceptable to any learned
man.
” He adds, that he hears it was to be approved by
Dr. Hare, Dr. Freind of Westminster-school, and Dr. Bland
of Eton-school; and, if this be true, he begs that sir
Hans would give him leave to send it for his approbation
and recommendation. What was the issue of this we know
not. From the omission of Dr. Coward’s name in the catalogue of the college of physicians for 1725, it is evident
that he was then dead. Though his medical works are now
in no reputation, and his other writings are but little attended to, it is nevertheless certain that he was a man of
considerable abilities and literature. We cannot dismiss
this article without taking notice of a mistake which was
commit Led by the late Dr. Caleb Fleming; who, in the
year 1758, published a treatise, entitled “A Survey of
the Search after Souls,
” imagining that he was writing
against Dr. Coward. But the Search after Souls was the
production of Henry Layton, a barrister of Gray’s Inn .
for he then obtained a plentiful estate by the favour of the lord St. Alban’s, and the bounty of the duke of Buckingham. All this may be true, but it is certain he was
After the king’s restoration, being then past his 40th
year, of which the greatest part had been spent in a various and tempestuous condition, he resolved to pass the
remainder of his life in a studious retirement; which Sprat
represents as the effect of choice, and not of discontent.
At first, says the doctor, he was but slenderly provided for
such a retirement, by reason of his travels, and the afflictions of the party to which he adhered, which had put him
quite out of all the roads of gain. Yet, notwithstanding
the narrowness of his income, he remained fixed to his
resolution, having contracted his desires into a small compass, and knowing that a very few things would supply
them all. But upon the settlement of the peace of the
nation, this hindrance of his design was soon removed; for
he then obtained a plentiful estate by the favour of the
lord St. Alban’s, and the bounty of the duke of Buckingham.
All this may be true, but it is certain he was neglected by the
court, nor was this his only mortification. Having altered
his comedy of “The Guardian
” for the stage, he produced
it under the title of “Cutter of Coleman-street,
” and
it was not only treated on the stage with great severity,
but was afterwards censured as a satire on the king’s party.
From this charge of disaffection he exculpates himself
in his preface, by observing how unlikely it is, that, having
followed the royal family through all their distresses, “he
should chuse the time of their restoration to begin a quarrel
with them.
”
-abbey, near Chaucer and Spenser, where a monument was erected to his memory, in May 1675, by George duke of Buckingham, with a Latin inscription by Dr. Sprat. When Charles
To these calumnies, says Mr. D'Israeli, it would appear
that others were added of a deeper dye, and in malignant
whispers distilled into the ear of royalty. Cowley has commemorated the genius of Brutus in an Ode, with all the
enthusiasm of a votary of liberty. After the king’s return,
when Cowley solicited some reward for his sufferings and
services in the royal cause, the chancellor is said to have
turned on him with a severe countenance, saying: “Mr.
Cowley, your pardon is your reward.
” All these causes
evidently operated to incline Cowley to retirement; and
accordingly he spent the last seven or eight years in his
beloved obscurity, and possessed that solitude, which, from
his very childhood, he had always most passionately desired. His works, especially his essays in prose and verse,
abound with the praises of solitude and retirement. His
three first essays are on the subjects of liberty, solitude,
and obscurity; and most of the translations are of such
passages from the classic authors, as display the pleasures
of a country life, particularly Virgil’s “O fortunatos nimium, &c.
” Horace’s “Beatns ille qui procui, &c.
”
Claudian’s “Old Man of Verona,
” and Martial’s “Vitam
quae faciunt beatiorem, &c.
” But his solitude, from the
very beginning, had never agreed so well with the constitution of his body, as of his mind. The chief cause of it
was, that out of haste to be gone away from the tumult
and noise of the town, he had not prepared so healthful a
situation in the country as he might have done if he had
made “a more leisureable choice. Of this he soon began
to find the inconvenience at Barn-Elms, where he was afflicted with a dangerous and lingering fever. After that,
he scarce ever recovered his former health, though his
mind was restored to its perfect vigour; as may be seen,
says Sprat, from his two last books of plants, which were
written since that time, and may at least be compared
with the best of his other works. Shortly after his removal
to Chertsey, where he was disappointed of his expectations
of finding a place of solitude and rural simplicity, he fell
into another consuming disease; under which, having languished for some months, he seemed to be pretty well cured
of its bad symptoms. But in the heat of the summer, by
staying too long amongst his labourers in the meadows, he
was taken with a violent defluxion and stoppage in his breast
and throat. This he at first neglected as an ordinary cold,
and refused to send for his usual physicians, till it was past
all remedies; and so in the end, after a fortnight’s sickness,
it proved mortal to him . He died at Chertsey, July 28,
1667, in his 49th year, in the house that has long been inhabited by an amiable and worthy magistrate, Richard
Clark, esq. formerly alderman, sheriff, and lord mayor,
and now chamberlain of London. Cowley was buried in
Westminster-abbey, near Chaucer and Spenser, where a
monument was erected to his memory, in May 1675, by
George duke of Buckingham, with a Latin inscription by
Dr. Sprat. When Charles II. heard of his death, he was
pleased to say, IC that Mr. Cowley had not left a better man
behind him in England.
”
in consequence of the intrigues of Harley and Mrs. Masham, the earl of Sunderland, son-in-law to the duke of Marlborough, was removed from the office of secretary of
1619, 4to. Fuller’s Abel Redivivus. Clarke’s Ecclesiastical History, p. 445.
Hayley’s life of Cowper, To!. I. p. '2. 8vo edit. Mr. Hayley thinks it not
improbable that he may have been an ancestor of the poet.
waited upon the queen at St. James’s with the articles
agreed upon between the commissioners, as the terms upon
which the union was to take place, and made a speech to
her majesty on the occasion. The articles of union, agreed
upon by the commissioners, with some few alterations,
were afterwards ratified by the parliaments both of England and Scotland. The lord-keeper had a very considera^le hand in this measure, and in consideration of that,
and his general merit and services, he was advanced, Nov^
9, 1706, to the dignity of a peer, by the style and title of
lord Cowper, baron Cowper of Wingham in Kent; and
on May 4, 1707, her majesty in council declared him lord
high chancellor of Great Britain. In 1709, in consequence
of the intrigues of Harley and Mrs. Masham, the earl of
Sunderland, son-in-law to the duke of Marlborough, was
removed from the office of secretary of state; and it being
apprehended that this event would give disgust to that
great general, and perhaps induce him to quit the command of the army, a joint letter was sent to his grace by
lord Cowper, the dukes of Newcastle and Devonshire, and
other noblemen, in which they conjured him in the strongest terms, not to quit his command. But soon after, on
the 8th of August, 1710, the earl of Godolphin being removed from the post of lord-treasurer, the other whig ministers resigned with spirit and dignity. Lord Cowper, in
particular, behaved with unexampled firmness and honour,
rejecting with scorn the overtures which Harley, the new
favourite, made to induce him to continue. When he
waited on the queen to resign, she strongly opposed his
resolution, and returned the seals three times after he
had laid them down. At last, when she could not prevail,
she commanded him to take them ' adding, “I beg it as a
favour of you, if I may use that expression.
” Cowper
could not refuse to obey her commands: but, after a short
pause, and taking up the seals, he said that he would not
carry them out of the palace except on the promise, that
the surrender of them would be accepted on the morrow:
and on the following day his resignation was accepted.
This singular contest between her majesty and him lasted
three quarters of an hour.
ngland, he is said to have been consulted about some dangerous schemes formed by that prince and the duke of I\iarlborough. It may reasonably be questioned, whether any
Soon after the new ministry came into office, Mr. Harley being at the head of the treasury, some inquiries were
set on foot in order to criminate the late administration;
and a vote of censure was passed relative to the management of the war in Spain. Lord Cowper took an active
part in the debates occasioned by these inquiries, joining
in several protests against the determinations of the house
of peers concerning the conduct of that war. When prince
Eugene was in England, he is said to have been consulted
about some dangerous schemes formed by that prince and
the duke of I\iarlborough. It may reasonably be questioned, whether any such schemes were ever really formed
by those great men; but it is allowed on all hands, that
they received no countenance or approbation from lord
Cowper. The general opposition, however, which he gave
to the administration of the earl of Oxford, occasioned
him to be attacked by dean Swift with much virulence in
the Examiner; and some reflections were thrown out
against him relative to his private character, which is said
to have been somewhat licentious with respect to women.
In reply to Swift, his lordship wrote “A Letter to Isaac
Bickerstaff, occasioned by a Letter to the Examiner,
”
irector of the academy at Rome; Antony Coypel, the father, was principal painter to the king and the duke of Orleans, and at the same time surveyor of painting and sculpture;
is the name of a family of celebrated painters. Noel Coypel, the grandfather, was director of the academy at Rome; Antony Coypel, the father, was principal painter to the king and the duke of Orleans, and at the same time surveyor of painting and sculpture; and Noel Nicholas Coypel, the uncle, professor of that academy.
knowledge, and virtues, enjoyed the same good fortune. in his 2ist year: he was first painter to the duke of Orleans, and in 1747 to the king. Though his peronal qualities
was admitted into the academy
of painting in his twentieth year, where he had already executed several pictures of great merit; his son, who was
born at Paris in 1694, and to whom he left his name, his
talents, his knowledge, and virtues, enjoyed the same good
fortune. in his 2ist year: he was first painter to the duke
of Orleans, and in 1747 to the king. Though his peronal qualities and endowments had already made him a
welcome guest with the princes and great men of the court,
yet this last appointment increased his reputation; and the
first use he made of his consequence, was to induce M. de
Tourathem, who had fortitude of mind sufficient for such a
sacrifice, to decline the title of a protector of the academy,
which hitherto had always been connected with the office
of superintendant of the buildings, in order that the academy of painting, like all the rest, might be under the
immediate protection of the king. He also erected a preparatory school, at Paris, for the y^ung pupils, who went
to Rome, where they studied history, and exercised themselves under able masters. To him likewise the public
were indebted for the exhibition of the pictures in the
Luxembourg gallery. Like all men of genius, he had his
enviers and rivals; but his rivals were his friends, his modesty drew them to him, and he never refused them his
esteem. His place as first painter to the king brought him
to court, and made him more intimately acquainted with
the queen and the dauphin. The queen often gave him,
work to do, which chiefly consisted in pictures of the saints
and other objects of devotion. On her return from Metz,
finding over her chimney a picture which he had privately
executed, representing France in the attitude of returning
thanks to heaven for the deliverance of the king, she was
so moved, that she exclaimed, “No one but my friend
Coypel is capable of such. a piece of gallantry!
” The
dauphin had frequently private conversations with him.
He himself executed the drawing for the last work of Coypel, the “Sultan in his seraglio.
” His table was always
strewed with the manuscripts of this artist, which he intended to publish at his own expence. The death of the
author prevented his design, and on hearing of the event,
the prince said publicly at supper: “I have in one year
lost three of my friends!
”
r the bounty. He annually laid by 2000 livres of his revenue for works of charity, and requested the duke of Orleans to employ the expence of the coach which that prince
Coypel seems to have exerted himself more for others
than for himself; he was a good master, a good relation, a
good friend, and a man of veracity. His father disinherited
him in favour of his sister by a second marriage, and tJie
son did the same in regard to his brother, by depriving
him of all benefit from the inheritance of Bidautt. Coypel
was author of several theatrical performances, the rehearsals of which were attended by crowds of people, not for
the sake of feeding his vanity with an artificial applause,
but from friendly participation, and the conviction of their
intrinsic noerit. Most of them were performed at the private theatre of madame Marchand, and in the Mazarine
college, for which they were expressly composed. The
well-known “Don Quixote
” is by him. Coypel also
wrote several dissertations on the art of painting, and academical lectures, which latter are in print. He even wrote
the life of his father, which excels no less by the delicate
manner in which he criticises his father, than by the modesty with which he speaks of himself. His acquaintance
was very much sought after. One proof of this is in the
prodigious heaps of letters that were found after his death.
He was particularly the favourite of a small coterie, where
talents, knowledge, and good humour were cherished, unmixed with jealousy, pride, and licentiousness. In the
number of its membevs were Mess. Caylus, Helvetius,
Mirabeau, Mariveaux, inad lle Quinaut, madtime Marchand,
and several more. They met alternately at the apartments
of each other, and sat down to a supper which, by a law
of the society, was not to cost more than fifteen livres.
Coypel was remarkable for his liberal spirit. He caused a
house that had been thrown clown by an inundation to be
rebuilt at his own expence on a far more convenient and
handsome plan, without the impoverished owner’s ever
knowing to whom he was indebted for the bounty. He
annually laid by 2000 livres of his revenue for works of
charity, and requested the duke of Orleans to employ the
expence of the coach which that prince kept for him in
alms to the poor. The duke of Orleans had an uncommon
value for him. The duke could not bear a warm room,
but when Coypel came to him, he always ordered a rousing fire to be made up, “for,
” said he, “he is chilly<
”
This same prince composed a poem, shewed it to the artist,
and asked him, whether he should have it printed? Coypel was honest enough to say, “No:
” and the duke tore
it, and threw it into the fire.
A similar anecdote of the duke of Orleans the regent, and Antony Coypei the father, deserves
A similar anecdote of the duke of Orleans the regent,
and Antony Coypei the father, deserves to be related here
by way of conclusion. The regent knew that Coypel, on
account of some disgusts, was intending to accept of an
invitation to England. He therefore drove to his lodgings
one morning, in a fiacre, quite alone, without any attendants, and had him called down: “Come into the carriage,
”
said he to the artist, who was quite disconcerted at this
visit; “let us go and take a drive together: you are. chagrined I want to try whether I cannot put you in a good
humour,
” and this jaunt made Coypel at once forget both
England and his chagrin. The subject of this memoir died
in 1752, in the 58th year of his age.
utenant-governor. In 1794 he was appointed adjutant-general to the army under his royal highness the duke of York, by whose side he served during the whole of that campaign
, a brave officer, was of a respectable Scottish family, the Craigs of Dalnairand Costarton; and born in 1748 at Gibraltar, where his father held the appointments of civil and military judge* He entered the army at the early age of fifteen; and in a season of peace he imbibed the elementary knowledge of his profession in the best military schools of the continent. In 1770, he was appointed aid-de-camp to general sir Robert Boyd, then governor of Gibraltar, and obtained a company in the 47th regiment, with which he went to America in 1774, and was present at the battles of Lexington and Bunker’s-hill, in which latter engagement he was severely wounded. In 1776, he accompanied his regiment to Canada, commanding his company in the action of Trois Rivieres, and he afterwards commanded the advanced guard of the army in the expulsion of the rebels from that province. In 1777 he was engaged in the actions at Ticonderago and Hnbertown, in the latter of which engagements he was again severely wounded. Ever in a position of honourable danger, he received a third wound in the action at Freeman’s Farm. He was engaged in the disastrous affair at Saratoga, and was then distinguished by general Burgoyne, and the brave Fraser, who fell in that action, as a young officer who promised to attain to the very height of the military career. On that occasion he was selected by general Burgoyne to carry home the dispatches, and was immediately thereafter promoted to a majority in the new 82d regimen^ which he accompanied to Nova Scotia in 1778, to Penobscot in 1779, and to North Carolina in 1781; being engaged in a continued scene of active service during the whole of those campaigns, and generally commanding the light troops, with orders to act from his own discretion, on which his superiors in command relied with implicit confidence. In a service of this kind, the accuracy of his intelligence, the fertility of his resources, and the clearness of his military judgment, were alike conspicuous, and drew on him the attention of his sovereign, who noted him as an officer of the highest promise. In 1781, he obtained the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 82d regiment, and in 1783 that of the 16th, which he commanded in Ireland till 1791, having been promoted to the rank of colonel in 1790. In 1782, he went to the continent for the purpose of instructing himself in the discipline of the Prussian army, at that time esteemed the most perfect in Europe; and in a correspondence with general sir D. Dundas, communicated the result of his knowledge to that most able tactician, from whose professional science his country has derived so much advantage in the first improvement of the disciplinary system; and it is believed that the first experiments of the new exercise were, by his majesty’s orders, reduced to the test of practice, under the eye of colonel Craig, in the 16th regiment. In 1793 he was appointed to the command of Jersey, and soon thereafter of Guernsey, as lieutenant-governor. In 1794 he was appointed adjutant-general to the army under his royal highness the duke of York, by whose side he served during the whole of that campaign on the continent, and whose favour and confidence he enjoyed to the latest moment of his life. In 1794 he obtained the rank of major-general, and in the beginning of the following year, he was sent on the expedition to the Cape of Good Hope, where, in the reduction and conquest of that most important settlement, with the co-operation of admiral sir G. K. Elphinstone, and major-gen. Clark, he attained to the highest pitch of his military reputation, and performed that signal service to his king and country, of which the memory will be as lasting as the national annals. Nor were his merits less conspicuous in the admirable plans of civil regulation, introduced by him in that hostile quarter, when invested with the chief authority, civil and military, as governor of the Cape, till succeeded in that situation by the earl of Macartney, in 1797, who, by a deputation from his majesty, invested general Craig with the red ribbon, as an honourable mark of his sovereign’s just sense of his distinguished services. Sir James Craig had scarcely returned to England, when it was his majesty’s pleasure to require his services on the staff in India. On his arrival at Madras, he was appointed to the command of an expedition against Manilla, which not taking place, he proceeded to Bengal, and took the field service. During a five years command in India, his attention and talents were unremittingly exerted to the improvement of the discipline of the Indian army, and to the promotion of that harmonious co-operation between its different constituent parts, on which not only the military strength, but the civil arrangement of that portion of the British empire so essentially depend. January 1801, sir James Craig was promoted to the rank of lieutenantgeneral, and returned to England in 1S02. He was appointed to the command of the eastern district, and remained in England till 1805, when, notwithstanding his constitution was much impaired by a long train of most active and fatiguing service, he was appointed by his sovereign to take the command of the British troops in the Mediterranean. He proceeded to Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malta, and from thence to Naples, to act in co-operation with the Russian army. But these plans being frustrated by the event of the battle of Austerlitz, sir James withdrew the troops from Naples to Messina, in Sicily. During the whole period of his command in the Mediterranean, he had suffered severely from that malady which terminated his life, a dropsy, proceeding from an organic affection of the liver; and feeling his disease sensibly gaining ground, he returned, with his sovereign’s permission, to England in 1805. A temporary abatement of his disorder flattering him with a prospect of recovery, and being unable to reconcile his mind to a situation of inactivity, he once more accepted of an active command from the choice of his sovereign; and in 1808, on the threatening appearance of hostilities with the United American States, was sent out to Quebec, as governor in chief of British America. The singular union of vigour and prudence, which distinguished his government in that most important official situation, are so recently impressed on the public mind, as to need no detail in this place. His merits were avowed and felt on both sides of the Atlantic: and as they proved the termination, so they will "ever be felt as throwing the highest lustre on the whole train of his public services. His constitution being now utterly enfeebled by a disease which precluded all hope of recovery, he returned to England in July 1811. Within three weeks of his death he was promoted to the rank of general. He looked forward with manly fortitude to his approaching dissolution, and in January 1812, ended a most honourable and useful career by an easy death, at the age of sixty-two.