Eccles had two brothers: Henry, a performer on the violin, said to have been in the king of France’s band, and to have been the author of twelve excellent
Eccles had two brothers: Henry, a performer on the violin, said to have been in the king of France’s band, and to have been the author of twelve excellent solos for his own instrument, printed at Paris, 1720; and Thomas, who bad been taught the violin by Henry, and had the character of a very fine player, but preferred the life of a strolling fuller at taverns to that of a regular professor, and was more fond of drinking than either of good company or clean linen. He seems to have been one of the last vagrant bards, who used to inquire at taverns if there were any gentlemen in the house who wished to hear music Since smoking has been discontinued, few evenings are spent in taverns, which has diminished the number of modern minstrels, particularly such as are as well qualified to amuse good company and lovers of music as Tom Eccles, who used to regale his hearers with Corelli’s solos and Handel’s best opera songs, which he executed with precision and sweetness of tone, equal to the most eminent performers of the time. He survived his brother, John, more than twenty years; and continued to officiate as a priest of Bacchus to the last.
ployed by queen Klizabcth in several embassies. In 1592, she appointed him her resident at the court of France, or rather agent for her affairs in relation to king
, knt. memorable for his embassies at several courts,
was born at Plymouth, in Devonshire, about 1563. He
was the fifth and youngest son of Thomas Edmondes,
head customer of that port, and of Fowey, in Cornwall,
by Joan his wife, daughter of Antony Delabare, of Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, csq. who was third son of Henry
Edmondes, of New Sarum, gent by Juliana his wife,
daughter of William Brandon, of the same place. Where
he had his education is nut known. But we are informed
that he was introduced to court by his name-sake, sir
Thomas Edmonds, comptroller of the queen’s household;
and, being initiated into public business under that most
accomplished statesman, sir Francis Walsingham, secretary of state, he was, undoubtedly through his recommendation, employed by queen Klizabcth in several embassies.
In 1592, she appointed him her resident at the court of
France, or rather agent for her affairs in relation to king
Henry IV. with a salary of twenty shillings a day, a sum
so ill paid, and so insufficient, that we find him complaining to the lord treasurer, in a letter dated 1593, of the
greatest pecuniary distress. The queen, however, in May
1596, made him a grant of the office of secretary to her
majesty for the French tongne, “in consideration of his
faithful and acceptable service heretofore done.
” Towards
the end of that year he returned to England, when sir
Anthony Mild may was sent ambassador to king Henry;
but he went back again to France in the beginning of May
following, and in less than a month returned to London.
In October, 1597, he was dispatched again M agent for
her majesty to the king of France and returned to EngJand about the beginning of May 1598, where his stay
Was extremely short, for he was at Paris in the July following. But, upon sir Henry Neville being appointed
ambassador to the French court, he was recalled, to his
great satisfaction, and arrived at London in June 1597.
Sir Henry Neville gave him a very great character, and
recommended him to the queen in the strongest terms.
About December the 26th of that year, he was sent to
archduke Albert, governor of the Netherlands, with a
letter of credence, and instructions to treat of a peace.
The archduke received him with great respect; but not
being willing to send commissioners to England, as the
queen desired, Mr. Edmondes went to Paris, and, having
obtained of king Henry IV. Boulogne for the place of
treaty, he returned to England, and arrived at court on
Sunday morning, February 17. The llth of March
following, he embarked again for Brussels and, on the 22d,
had an audience of the archduke, whom having prevailed
upon to treat with the queen, he returned home, April
9, 1600, and was received by her majesty with great favour, and highly commended for his sufficiency in his negotiation. Soon after he was appointed one of the commissioners for the treaty of Boulogne, together with sir
Henry Neville, the queen’s ambassador in France, John
Herbert, esq. her majesty’s second secretary, and Robert
Beale, esq. secretary to the council in the North; their
commission being dated the 10th of May, 1600. The two
last, with Mr. Edmondes, left London the 12th of that
month, and arrived at Boulogne the 16th, as sir Henry
Neville did the same day from Paris. But, after the commissioners had been above three months upon the place,
they parted, July 28th, without ever assembling, owing
to a dispute about precedency between England and Spain.
Mr. Edmondes, not long after his return, was appointed
one of the clerks of the privy-council; and, in the end of
June 1601, was sent to the French king to complain of
the many acts of injustice committed by his subjects
against the English merchants. He soon after returned to
England but, towards the end of August, went again,
and waited upon king Henry IV. then at Calais to whom
he proposed some measures, both for the relief of Ostend,
then besieged by the Spaniards, and for an offensive alliance
against Spain. After his return to England he was appointed
one of the commissioners for settling, with the two French
ambassadors, the depredations between England and
France, and preventing them for the future. The 20th of
May, 1603, he was knighted by king James I; and, upon
the conclusion of the peace with Spain, on the 18th of
August, 1604, was appointed ambassador to the archduke
at Brussels. He set out for that place the 19th of April,
1605; having first obtained a reversionary grant of the
office of clerk of the crown and, though absent, was
chosen one of the representatives for the Burgh of Wilton,
in the parliament which was to have met at Westminster,
Nov. 5, 1605, but was prevented by the discovery of the
gunpowder-plot. During his embassy he promoted, to the
utmost of his power, an accommodation between the king
of Spain and the States-General of the United Provinces .
He was recalled in 1609, and came back to England about
the end of August, or the beginning of September. In
April 1610, he was employed as one of the assistant-commissioners, to conclude a defensive league with the crown
of France; and, having been designed, ever since 1608,
to be sent ambassador into that kingdom , he was dispatctyed thither in all haste, in May 1610, upon the new
of the execrable murder of king Henry IV. in order to
learn the state of affairs there. He arrived at Paris, May
24th, where he was very civilly received; and on the 27th
of June, had his audience of Mary de Medicis, queen
regent; the young king (Lewis XIII.) being present. In
November following he caused an Italian to be apprehended at Paris for harbouring a treasonable design against
his master, king James I. There being, in 1613, a competition between him and the Spanish ambassador about
precedency, we are told that he went to Home privately,
and brought a certificate out of the pope’s ceremonial,
shewing that the king of England is to precede the king of
Castile. He was employed the same year in treating of a
marriage between Henrv prince of Wales and the princess
Christine, sister of Lewis XIII. king of France; but the
death of that prince, on the 6th of November 1612, put
an end to this negotiation. And yet, on the 9th of the
same month, orders were sent him to propose a marriage
between the said princess and our prince Charles, but he
very wisely declined opening such an affair so soon after
the brother’s death. About the end of December 1613,
sir Thomas desired leave to return to England, but was
denied till he should have received the final resolution of
the court of France about the treaty of marriage; which
being accomplished, he came tp England towards the end
or' January 1613-14. Though- the privy-council strenuously
opposed this match because they had not sooner been
made acquainted with so important an affair, yet, so zealous
was the king for it, that he sent sir Thomas again to Paris
with instructions, dated July 20, 1614, for bringing it ta
a conclusion. But, after all, it appeared that the court of
France were not sincere in this affair, and only proposed it
to amuse the protestants in general. In 1616 sir Thomasassisted at the conference at Loudun, between the protestants and the opposite party; and, by his journey to
liochelle, disposed the protestants to accept of the terms
offered them, and was of great use in settling the pacification. About the end of October, in the same year, he
was ordered to England; not to quit his charge, but, after
he should have kissed the king’s hand, and received such
honour as his majesty was resolved to confer upon him, in
acknowledgment of his long, painful, and faithful services,
then to go and resume his charge; and continue in France,
till the affairs of that kingdom, which then were in an uncertain state, should be better established. Accordingly
he came over to England in December; and, on the 21st
of that month, was made comptroller of the king’s household; and, the next day, sworn a privy-counsellor. He
returned to the court of France in April 1617; but took
his leave of it towards the latter end of the same year.
And, on the 19th of January, 1617-18, was advanced to
the place of treasurer of the household; and in 1620 was
appointed clerk of the crown in the court of king’s bench,
and might have well deserved the post of secretary of state
that he had been recommended for, which none was better
qualified to discharge. He was elected one of the burgesses
for the university of Oxford, in the first parliament of king
Charles I. which met June 18, 1623, and was also returned
for the same in the next parliament, which assembled at
Westminster the 26th of February following; but his election being declared void, he was chosen for another place.
Some of the speeches which he made in parliament are
primed. On the 11th of June 1629, he was commissioned
to go ambassador to the French court, on purpose to carry
king Charles’s ratification, and to receive Lewis the XIIIth’s
oath, for the performance of the treaty of peace, then
newly concluded between England and France: which he
did in September following, and with this honourable commission concluded all his foreign employments. Having,
after this, enjoyed a creditable and peaceful retreat for
about ten years, he departed this life, September 20, 1639.
His lady was Magdalen, one of the daughters and co-heirs
of sir John Wood, knight, clerk of the signet, by whom
he had one son, and three daughters. She died at Paris,
December 31, 1614, with a character amiable and exemplary in all respects. Sir Thomas had with her the manor
of Albins, in the parishes of Stapleford-Abbot, and Navestoke in Essex, where Inigo Jones built for him a mansion house, delightfully situated in a park, now the seat of the
Abdy family. Sir Thomas was small of stature, but great
in understanding. He was a man of uncommon sagacity,
and indefatigable industry in his employments abroad;
always attentive to the motions of the courts where he
resided, and punctual and exact in reporting them to his
own; of a firm and unshaken resolution in the discharge of
his duty, and beyond the influence of terror, flattery, or
corruption. The French court, in particular, dreaded his
experience and abilities; and the popish and Spanish
party there could scarcely disguise their hatred of so
zealous a supporter of the protestant interest in that kingdom. His letters and papers, in twelve volumes in folio,
were once in the possession of secretary Thurloe, and
afterwards of the lord chancellor Somers. The style of
them is clear, strong, and masculine, and entirely free
from the pedantry and puerilities which infected the
most applauded writers of that age. Several of them,
together with abstracts from the rest, were published by
Dr. Birch in a work entitled “An historical view of the
Negotiations between the Courts of England, France, and
Brussels, from the year 1592 to 1617. Extracted chiefly
from the ms State-papers of sir Thomas Edmondes, kt.
ambassador in France, &c. and of Anthony Bacon, esq.
brother to the lord chancellor Bacon,
” London, 1749, 8vo.
Several extracts of letters, written by him in the early
part of his political life, occur in Birch’s “Memoirs of
queen Elizabeth,
” and other letters are in Lodge’s “Illustrations of British History.
”
to death with resignation, professing himself of the communion of the church of Rome. The ambassador of France wrote to his court, that “he had seen that head fall,
, one of the principal lords
of the bow Countries, was born in 1522 of an illustrious
family in Holland, and served with great distinction in the
armies of the emperor Charles V. whom he followed into
Africa in 1544. Being appointed general of horse under
Philip II. he signalized himself at the battle of St. Quentin
in 1557, and that of Graveliwes in 1553. But, after the
departure of Philip for Spain, unwilling, as he said himself,
to fight for the re-establishment of the penal laws, and the
inquisition, he took a part in the troubles which broke out
in the Low Countries. He nevertheless made it his endeavour to dispose the governess of those provinces, and the
nobles combined against her, to terms of peace and moderation. He even took an oath to that princess to support the Romish religion, to punish sacrilege, and to extirpate heresy; but his connections with the prince of
Orange and the chief nobles of that party, brought him
into suspicion with the court of Spain. The duke of Alva
having been sent by Philip II. into the Low Countries to
suppress the rebels, ordered his head to be struck off at
Brussels, the 5th of June 1568, as well as that of Philip
de Montmorency, comte de Horn. The count Egmont
was then in his 46th year; and submitted to death with resignation, professing himself of the communion of the
church of Rome. The ambassador of France wrote to his
court, that “he had seen that head fall, which had twice
made France to tremble.
” The same day that the count
Egmont was executed, his wife, Sabina of Bavaria, came
to Brussels, for the purpose of consoling the countess of
Aremberg on the death of her husband; and as she was
discharging this office of affection and. charity, the afflicting tidings were announced to her of the condemnation of
the count her husband. The count of Egmont had written
to Philip II. protesting to him, “that he had never attempted any thing against the catholic religion, nor contrary to the duty of a good subject;
” but this justification
was deemed insufficient. Besides, it was thought necessary to make an example; and Philip II. observed on occasion of the deaths of the counts Egmont and Horn, that he
struck off their heads, because “the heads of salmons
were of greater accoufct than many thousands of frogs.
”
The posterity of count Egmont became extinct in the person of Procopius Francis, count Egmont, general of the
horse, and of the dragoons of the king of Spain, and brigadier in the service of the king of France, who died without children at Fraga in Arragon, in 1707, at the age of
38. Maximilian d' Egmont, count 9f Buren, a general in
the army of Charles V. of the same family, but of a different branch, displayed his courage and conduct in the wars
against Fi%ncis I.; but besieged Terouane in vain, and
died of a quinsey at Brussels in 1543. The president De
Thou says, that he was great both in war and in peace,
and praises his fidelity and magnificence. His physician,
Andrew Vesalius, having, as it is pretended, foretold him
the time of his death, he made a great feast for his friends,
and distributed rich presents among them. When the entertainment was over, he put himself to bed, and died
precisely at the time foretold him by Vesalius.
us, with notes on that author by Egnazio; some orations and epistles, a panegyric on Francis I. king of France, in heroic verse, printed at Venice in 1540, and “De
, a learned Italian, was born at Venice of poor parents 1 abont 1473, and
was a disciple of Politian, and educated along with Leo X.
He then opened a private school, and taught the belles
lettres when he was only eighteen years of age. This excited the jealousy of Sabellico, a public professor of tha
same city; but they became reconciled at last, when Sabclltco, finding himself near his end, sent for Egnazio, besought his forgiveness, and entrusted to his care a work in
manuscript, which Egnazio published, and pronounced
the funeral oration over the ashes of Sabellico. Egnazio
had now conferred upon him the right of citizenship, and
was afterwards presented with ecclesiastical preferment.
In 1515 he was sent with others to Milan, to compliment
king Francis I. to whose honour Egnazio composed a panegyric, for which he was rewarded with a gold medal. In
1520 he was elected public professor of eloquence at Venice, in opposition to many competitors; and so high was
his reputation in this department of literature, that he had
frequently five hundred auditors to hear him daily, and
even when towards the decline of life he was desirous of
resigning his employment, and to be declared Emeritus,
they refused a demand which might be so prejudicial to
his school, and persuaded him to continue. He at length,
however, was permitted to retire, and out of respect to
him, all his emoluments were continued, and his property
declared free of all taxation. He died July 4, 1553, and
bequeathed his property and library to three illustrious
families of Venice. His principal works are a treatise
“De Romania principibus vel Csesaribus,
” containing the
lives of the Roman emperors from Julius Caesar to Palaeologus, and from Charlemagne to Maximilian, Cologn,
1519, and reprinted in various editions of Suetonius, with
notes on that author by Egnazio; some orations and epistles, a panegyric on Francis I. king of France, in heroic
verse, printed at Venice in 1540, and “De exemplis
virorum illustrium,
” a work compiled in the manner of
Valerius Maximus, which he did not quite finish, but which
was published after his death, at Venice in 1554, 4to.
of Guienne, queen of France and England, was married in 1137, at the age of fifteen,
of Guienne, queen of France and England, was married in 1137, at the age of fifteen, to Louis VII. king of France, by whom she had two daughters, but, when she had accompanied him to Palestine, her intrigues with the prince of Antioch, and with a young handsome Turk named Saladin, led to a divorce in 1152. In the following year she married Henry duke of Normandy, who succeeded to the throne of England, in 1154, under the title of Henry II. and by his wile’s influence became a formidable rival to the French king. Eleanor at length became jealous of Henry with the fair Rosamond and this produced the rebellion of her sons against the king, whose unnatural conduct has been imputed wholly to her instigation. She was at length seized, and imprisoned, just as she was attempting to escape to France. In confinement she remained several years, but on the accession of Richard I. in 1189, she was set at liberty, and was when he went upon his crusade, made regent of the kingdom. The zeal which she manifested for this prince led her to considerable exertions on his behalf: she went to Navarre, to procure him, for a wife, Berengaria, daughter of the king of the country; and when Richard on his return from Palestine, was imprisoned in Germany, she proceeded thither with a ransom, accompanied by the chief justiciary, in 1194. After his death she supported the succession of John her son, in prejudice of her grandson Arthur. She died in 1202; though, according to some writers, she took the veil this year, at the abbey of Fontevrault, and there finished her busy and chequered life in 1204.
e raised and formed, he was appointed to the command of the cavalry, in the expedition on the coasts of France, with the rank of brigadier- general and after this he
Mr. Eliott returned in his seventeenth year to his native
country of Scotland, and was in the same year, 1735, introduced by his father, sir Gilbert, to lieutenant-colonel
Peers of the 23d regiment of foot, or royal Welsh fuzileers, then lying in Edinburgh. Sir Gilbert presented
him as a youth anxious to bear arms for his king and country. He was accordingly entered as a volunteer in that
regiment, and continued for a twelvemonth or more. At
this time he gave a promise of his future military talents,
and shewed that he was at least a soldier in heart. From
the 23d he went into the engineer corps at Woolwich, and
made great progress in that study, until his uncle, colonel
Eliott, introduced him as adjutant of the 2d troop of horsegrenadiers. In this situation he conducted himself with
the most exemplary attention, and laid the foundation of
that discipline which has rendered those two troops the
finest corps of heavy cavalry in Europe. With these
troops he went upon service to Germany, in the war before
last, and was with them in a variety of actions, particulars’
at the battle of Dettingen, where he was wounded. In
this regiment he first bought the rank of captain and major, and afterwards purchased the lieutenant-colonelcy from
colonel Brewerton, who succeeded to his uncle. On arriving at this rank he resigned his commission as an engineer, which he had enjoyed along with his other rank,
and in which service be had been actively employed very
much to the advantage of his country. He bad received
the instructions of the famous engineer Bellidor, and made
himself completely master of the science of gunnery. Had
he not so disinterestedly resigned his rank in the engineer
department, he would now by regular progression have
been at the head of that corps. Soon after this he was.
appointed aid-de-camp to king George II. and was already distinguished for his military skill and discipline. In
1759 be quitted the second troop of horse grenadier guards,
being selected to raise, form, and discipline the first regiment of light horse, called after him Eliott’s. As soon as
they were raised and formed, he was appointed to the
command of the cavalry, in the expedition on the coasts
of France, with the rank of brigadier- general and after
this he passed into Germany, where he was employed on
the staff, and greatly distinguished himself in a variety of
movements, while his regiment displayed a strictness of
discipline, an activity, and enterprise, which gained them
signal honour; and indeed they have been the pattern
regiment, both in regard to discipline and appointment,
to the many light dragoon troops that have been since
raised in our service. From Germany he was recalled for
the purpose of being employed as second in command in
the memorable expedition against the Havannah. The
circumstances of that conquest are well known. It seems
as if our brave veteran had always in his eye the gallant
Lewis de Velasco, who maintained his station to the last
extremity, and, when his garrison were flying from his side,
or falling at his feet, disdained to retire or call for quarter,
but fell gloriously exercising his sword upon his conquerors.
A circumstance which occurred immediately after the
reduction shews, that in the very heat and outrages of war
the general was not unmindful of the rights of humanity.
He was particularly eminent among the conquerors of the
Havannah, for his disinterested procedure, and for checking the horrors of indiscriminate plunder. To him, therefore, appeals were most frequently made. A Frenchman,
who had suffered greatly by the depredations of the soldiery, made application to him, and begged, in bad English, that he would interfere to have his property restored.
The petitioner’s wife, who was present, a woman of great
spirit, was angry at the husband for the intercession, and
said, “Comment pouvez vous demander de grace a uu
homme qui vient vous de‘pouilliefr N’en esperez pas.
”
The husband persisting in his application, his wife grew
more loud in the censure, and said, “Vous n'étes pas
François!
” The general, who was busy writing at the time,
turned to the woman, and said smiling, “Madame, ne
vous échauffez pas; ce que votre mari demande lui sera
accordé!
”—“Oh, faut-il pour surcroit de malheur,
” exclaimed the woman, “que le barbare parle le François!
”
The general was so very much pleased with the woman’s
spirit, that he not only procured them their property again,
but also took pains to accommodate them in every respect;
and such was through life the manly characteristic of the
general: if he would not suffer his troops to extend, for
the sake of plunder, the ravages of war, he never impoverished them by unjust exactions. He would never consent that his quarter-master’s place should be sold, “not
only,
” says he, “because I think it the reward of an
honest veteran soldier; but also because I could not so
directly exercise my authority in his dismission should he
behave ill.
”
of a most serious nature. As Elizabeth had been declared illegitimate by Henry VIII., Francis, king of France, who had espoused Mary queen of Scots, began to assume
The first important political measure was the negotiation for peace between France, Spain, and England, which terminated in the final abandoning of Calais, which on the queen’s part was rather prudent than pleasing; but, although peace seemed thus restored, a ground of quarrel soon appeared of a most serious nature. As Elizabeth had been declared illegitimate by Henry VIII., Francis, king of France, who had espoused Mary queen of Scots, began to assume the title of king of England, in right of his wife; and the latter seemed so far from declining this empty appellation, that she assumed the arms of that kingdom. It was natural, therefore, that Elizabeth should conclude that the king of France intended, on the first opportunity, to dispute her legitimacy, and her title to the crown. She therefore conceived a violent jealousy against the queen of Scots, which ended at length in the death of the latter by Elizabeth’s orders, a measure which has been generally accounted a great stain on her government, while some have excused it as a painful act of necessity. It is not, however, our object in this sketch to invade the province of history; and as no event has been assigned a larger portion of history, any abridgment of the actions of, and proceedings against the unfortunate queen of Scots, would be more apt to raise curiosity than to gratify it. Besides, the history of Mary will hereafter form a separate article.
became the ally of Henry IV. in order to vindicate his title, and establish him firmly on the throne of France, and for some years the Englisii auxiliaries served in
The armada had now reached Calais, and cast anchor before that place; in expectation that the duke of Parma, who had gotten intelligence of their approach, would put to sea and join his forces to them. The English admiral practised here a successful stratagem upon the Spaniards. He took eight of his smaller ships, and filling them with all combustible materials, sent them one after another into the midst of the enemy. The Spaniards fancied that they were fireships of the same contrivance with a famous vessel which had lately done so much execution in the Scheld near Antwerp; and they immediately cut their cables, and took to flight with the greatest disorder and precipitation. The English fell upon them next morning while in confusion; and besides doing great damage to other ships, they took oV destroyed about twelve of the enemy. By this time it was become apparent, that the intention for which these preparations were made by the Spaniards, was entirely frustrated. The vessels provided by the duke of Parma were made for transporting soldiers, not for fighting; and that general, when urged to leave the harbour, positively refused to expose his flourishing army to such apparent hazard; while the English were not only able to keep the sea, but seemed even to triumph over their enemy. The Spanish admiral found, in many rencounters, that while he lost so considerable a part of his own navy, he had destroyed only one small vessel of the English and he foresaw that by continuing so unequal a combat, he must draw inevitable destruction on all the remainder. He prepared therefore to return homewards; but as the wind was contrary to his passage through the channel, he resolved to sail northwards, and making the tour of the island, reach the Spanish harbours by the ocean. The English feet followed him during some time; and had not their ammuniiion fallen short, by the negligence of the offices in supplying them, they had obliged the whole armada to surrender at discretion. The duke of Medina had once taken that resolution; but was diverted from it by the advice of his confessor. This conclusion of the enterprize would have been more glorious to the English; but the event proved almost equally fatal to the Spaniards. A violent tempest overtook the armada after it passed the Orkneys; the ships had already lost their anchors, and were obliged to keep to sea; the mariners, unaccustomed to such hardships, and not able to govern such unwieldy vessels, yielded to the fury of the storm, and allowed their ships to drive either on the western isles of Scotland, or on the coast of Ireland, where they were miserably wrecked^ Not a half of the navy returned to Spain; and the seamen as well as soldiers who remained, were so overcome with hardships and fatigue, and so dispirited by their discomfiture, that they filled all Spain with accounts of the desperate valour of the English, and of the tempestuous violence of that ocean which surrounds them. Such was the miserable and dishonourable conduct of an enterprize which had been preparing for three years, which had exhausted the revenue and force of Spain, and which had long filled all Europe with anxiety or expectation, and which was intended to have destroyed the civil liberties, as well as the reformed religion, in England. Soon after this, which was one of the most important events in the history of Elizabeth, or any other sovereign of England, Elizabeth became the ally of Henry IV. in order to vindicate his title, and establish him firmly on the throne of France, and for some years the Englisii auxiliaries served in France, while several naval expeditions, undertaken by individuals, or by the queen, raised the reputation of England to an extraordinary height. At this period Robert Devereux earl of Essex, the queen’s favourite, highly distinguished himself; but the events of his unfortunate life have been already given. (See Devereux.)
, daughter of the emperor Maximilian II. and wife of Charles IX. king of France, was married at Mezieres, Nov. 26, 1570. She was one
, daughter of the emperor
Maximilian II. and wife of Charles IX. king of France, was
married at Mezieres, Nov. 26, 1570. She was one of the
most beautiful persons of her time, and her virtue is said
to have surpassed her beauty. The deplorable and fatal
night of St Bartholomew afflicted her extremely; on hearing
the news of what had past, when she rose in the morning,
bathed in tears, she threw herself at the foot of her crucifix to: ask mercy of God on the perpetrators of so atrocious a deed, which she detested with horror. Elizabeth
had but very little share in what passed in France under
the tumultuous reign of Charles IX. She attended to
pothing but her domestic concerns, and conducted her fat-niily by the principles of prudence and honour for which
she xvas highly remarkable. Sensible to the irregularities
of, her husband, whom she loved and honoured extremely,
she never let him perceive those jealous disquietudes which
often augment and seldom remedy the evil. She was mild
and patient Charles was lively and impetuous; the ardour
of the king was moderated by the serenity of Elizabeth
accordingly she never lost his affection and his esteem, and
he recommended her, when dying, to Henry IV. then
king of Navarre, with the utmost tenderness: “Take cart?
of my daughter and my wife,
” said he; “my brother, take
care of them; I recommend them to the generosity of
your heart.
” During his illness, Elizabeth spent all the
time when she was not attending upon him, in prayers for
his recovery. When she went to see him, she did not
place herself by his bedside, as she had a right to do;
but kept at a little distance, and by her modest silence, by her tender and respectful looks, she seemed
to cover him in her heart with the love she bore him
“then,
” adds Brantome, “she was- seen to shed tears
so tender and so secret, that a common spectator would
have known nothing of it; and wiping her watery eyes,
excited the liveliest emotions of pity in all that were present: for,
” continues he, “I was a witness to it.
” She
stifled her grief; she dared not let her tenderness appear,
fearing lest the king should perceive it. The prince could
not avoid saying, when speaking of her, that he might
boast of having an amiable wife, the most discreet and the
most virtuous woman, not in all France, not in all Europe,
but in the whole world. He was nevertheless as reserved
with her as the queen mother, who, apprehending that she
might have some power over the king, doubtless employed
her influence in preventing that prince from reposing in
her confidence, which would have disconcerted her schemes.
"While she was at the court of France, she honoured with
a tender affection Margaret queen of Navarre, her sisterin-law, though of a conduct so totally opposite to hers;
and, after her return to Germany, Elizabeth always kept
up an epistolary correspondence with her. She even sent
her, as a pledge of her friendship, two books of her own
composing: the one, on the word of God; the other, on
the most considerable events that had happened in France
in her time. Tins virtuous princess, after the death of
the king her husband, retired to Vienna, where she died
in 1592, aged only thirty-eight, in a convent of her own
foundation.
iation had commenced for her marriage with Lewis XV. but although not seriously adopted by the court of France, it was never relinquished until the daughter of Stanislaus,
, daughter of Peter the great, by the revolution of 1741, renewed in her person the line of that monarch on the throne of Russia. Elizabeth was born in 1709, and when arrived at years of maturity, was extremely admired for her great personal attractions. Her beauty, as well as her exalted rank, and large dowry, occasioned her several offers, none of which, however, took effect; and she died in celibacy. During the life of her father Peter I. a negotiation had commenced for her marriage with Lewis XV. but although not seriously adopted by the court of France, it was never relinquished until the daughter of Stanislaus, titular king of Poland, was publicly affianced to the young monarch. By the will of Catharine, Elizabeth was betrothed to Charles Augustus, bishop of Lubec, duke of Sleswick and Holstein, and brother to the king of Sweden; but he died before the completion of the ceremony. In the reign of Peter II. she was demanded by Charles margrave of Anspach in 1741, by the Persian tyrant Kouli Kan; and at the time of the revolution, the regent Ann endeavoured to force her to espouse prince Louis of Brunswick, for whom she entertained a settled aversion. From the period of her accession she renounced all' thoughts of the connubial state, and adopted her nephew Peter. Her dislike to marriage, however, certainly did not proceed from any rooted aversion to the other sex; for she would freely and frequently own to her confidants, that she was never happy but when she was in love; if we may dignify by that name a capricious passion ever changing its object. The same characteristic warmth of temper hurried her no less to the extremes of devotion: she was scrupulously exact in her annual confessions at Easter of the wanderings of her heart; in expressing the utmost contrition for her frequent transgressions; and in punctually adhering both in public and private to the minutest ceremonies and ordinances of the church. With respect to her disposition and turn of mind, she is generally styled the humane Elizabeth, as she made a vow upon her accession to inflict no capital punishments during her reign; and is reported to have shed tears upon the news of every victory gained by her troops, from the reflection that it could not have been obtained without great bloodshed. But although no criminal was formally executed in public, yet the state prisons were filled with wretched sufferers, many of whom, unheard of and unknown, perished in clamp and unwholesome dungeons: the state inquisition, or secret committee appointed to judge persons suspected of high treason, had constant occupation during her reign many upon the slightest surmises were tortured in secret many underwent the knoot, and expired under the infliction. But the transaction which reflects the deepest disgrace upon her reign, was the public punishment of two ladies of fashion; the countesses Bestuchef and Lapookin: each received fifty strokes of the knoot in the open square of Petersburg: their tongues were cut out; and they were banished into Siberia. One of these ladies, Madame Lapookin, esteemed the handsomest woman in Russia, was accused of carrying on a secret correspondence with the French ambassador; but her real crime was, her having commented too freely on the amours of the empress. Even the bare recital of such an affecting scene, as that of a woman of great beauty and high rank publicly exposed and scourged by the common executioner, must excite the strongest emotions of horror; and forbid us to venerate the memory of a princess, who, with such little regard to her own sex, could issue those barbarous commands. But let us at the same time lament the inconsistency of human nature; and, in considering the character of Elizabeth, let us not deny that her heart, perhaps naturally benevolent, was eventually corrupted by power, and steeled with suspicion; and that although mercy might predominate whenever it did not interfere with her passions and prejudices; yet she by no means deserves the appellation of humane, the most noble attribute of a sovereign when it interposes to temper and mitigate the severity of justice. Elizabeth died in 1761, in the twenty-first year of her reign, and in the fifty-third year of her age; she expired in December (the 25th), the same month in which she was born, and in which she acceded to the throne. It is asserted on unquestionable authority, that it was impossible to obtain this tzarina’s consent for the execution of a felon who had even committed the most horrid species of premeditated murder, and that the master of the police used secretly to order the executioner to knoot to death those delinquents who were found guilty of the most atrocious crimes. It is a pity that she did not reserve her humanity, which in this instance was cruelty to her people, for more respectable objects. By way of conclusion to the present article, it will not be unapt to add the following anecdote, especially as it must at the same time give pleasure to the reader. Although the sovereign of this empire is absolute in the most unlimited sense of the word; yet the prejudice of the Russians in regard to the necessity of torture (and a wise legislator will always respect popular prejudices, be they ever so absurd and unreasonable) was so deeply rooted by immemorial usage, that it required great circumspection in the present tzarina not to raise discontents by an immediate abolition of that inhuman practice. Accordingly, the cautious manner in which it was gradually suppressed, discovered no less judgment than benevolence. In 17C2, Catherine II. soon after her accession, took away the power of inflicting torture from the vayvodes, or inferior justices, by whom it had been shamefully abused. In 1767, a secret order was issued to the judges in the several provinces, that whenever they should think torture requisite to force a criminal to confession, they should draw up the general articles of the charge, and lay the case before the governor of the province for his consideration: and all the governors had received previous directions to determine the case according to the principles laid down in the third question of the tenth chapter of her majesty’s instructions for a code of laws; wherein torture is proved to be no less useless than cruel. This, therefore, was a tacit abolition of torture, which has been since formally and publicly annulled. The prohibition of this horrid species of judicature, throughout the vast dominions of the Russian empire, forms a memorable aera in the annals of humanity.
her, bishop of Paris, advised king Lewis XII. to engage him to write in Latin a history of the kings of France. He was accordingly invited to Paris, and a canonry in
, or Emili, a famous historian, was
a native of Verona, and acquired so much reputation in
Italy, that Stephen Poncher, bishop of Paris, advised king
Lewis XII. to engage him to write in Latin a history of
the kings of France. He was accordingly invited to Paris,
and a canonry in the cathedral church was given him. He
retired to the college of Navarre, to compose this work;
yet after about thirty years of application to this his only
employment, it was not completed at his death. The
tenth book, which contained the beginning of the reign of
Charles VIII. was left unfinished. But the history was
continued by Arnoldus Feronius, who added nine books,
which include the supplement to the former reign, and
end at the death of Francis I. This continuation was
published at Paris in 1650; but the best edition of the
whole is that entitled “Emilii Pauli,'de Gestis Francorum,
libri decem, cum Arnoldi Feroni libris novem.
” Paris,
2 vols. fol.
versation as agreeable as it was instructive, procured him an invitation from Charles the Bald, king of France, the greatest patron of literature in that period, to
, an eminent scholar of the
middle age, was born in an early part of the ninth century.
The most common account of him is, that he was a native
of Ayr, in Scotland, though some writers have said that
the place of his birth was Ergene, on the borders of Wales,
and others have contended that he was an Irishman. It is,
we apprehend, most probable that he was a Scotchman.
However this may have been, he was animated, in a very
dark period, with a most uncommon desire of literature.
Seeing his country involved in great confusion and ignorance, and that it afforded no means of acquiring the knowledge after which he thirsted, he travelled into foreign,
parts; and it is even asserted, by several authors, that he
went to Athens, and spent some years in studying the
Greek, Chaldaic, and Arabic languages. In whatever
place he obtained his learning, it is certain that in philosophy he had no superior, and in languages no equal, in.
the age during which he flourished. These extraordinary
accomplishments, together with his wit and pleasantry,
which rendered his conversation as agreeable as it was instructive, procured him an invitation from Charles the
Bald, king of France, the greatest patron of literature in
that period, to reside with him. Of this invitation Erigena
accepted, and Jived a number of years in the court of that
prince, on a footing of the most intimate acquaintance and
familiarity. He slept often in the royal apartments, and
dined daily at the royal table. From the following repartee, which is preserved by one of our ancient historians, we may judge of the freedom which Scotus used
with the monarch. As they were sitting one day at table
opposite to each other, after dinner, the philosopher having said something that was not quite agreeable to the rules
of politeness, the king, in a merry humour, asked him,
“Pray what is between a Scot and a sot
” To which he
answered, “Nothing but the table.
” Charles, says the
historian, laughed heartily, and was not in the least offended, as he made it- a rule never to be angry with his
master, as he always called Erigena; yet, in order to assist our belief in the above joke, it has been observed, that
we ought to know in what language Charles and Scotus
conversed. Charles, however, valued this great man for
his wisdom and learning, still more than for his wit, and
retained him about his person, not merely as an agreeable
companion, but as his preceptor in the sciences, and his
best counsellor in the most arduous affairs of governnfenf.
While Scotus resided in the court of France, he composed,
at the desire of his royal patron, a number of works, which
procured him many admirers on the one hand, and many
adversaries on the other. The clergy, in particular, were
dissatisfied with some of his notions, as not being perfectly
orthodox. One of the subjects which employed his pen
was the doctrine of predestination. In his treatise on this
subject, which was addressed to Hincmar, archbishop of
Rheims, and Pardulus, bishop of Laon, the position he
begins with is, that every question may be resolved by four
general rules of philosophy, viz. division, definition, demonstration, and analysis. By these rules he endeavours
to prove, that there cannot be a double predestination, of
one to glory, and another to damnation; and that predestination does not impose any necessity, but that man is
absolutely free; and that, although he cannot do good
without the grace of Jesus Christ, yet he does it, without
being constrained or forced to do it by the will of God, by
his own free choice. Sin, and the consequences of it, and
the punishments with which it is attended, are, says Erigena, mere privations, that are neither foreseen nor predestinated by God; and predestination hath no place but
in those things which God hath pre-ordained in order to
eternal happiness; for our predestination arises from the
foresight of the good use of our free-will. Sentiments so
bold, and delivered in such an age, could not fail of exciting great indignation. Wemlo, or Ganelo, archbishop
of Sens, having read the work, collected out of it several
propositions, which he arranged under nineteen heads,
according to the number and order of the chapters of Scotus’s treatise, and sent them to Prudentius, bishop of
Troyes. This prelate, having examined them, found in
them, as he thought, not only the errors of Pelagius, but
the impiety of the Collyridians. He employed himself,
therefore, in answering Erigena and another answer to
him was written by Florus, a deacon of the church of
Lyons. It does not appear that Scotus engaged any farther in the controversy.
ointed him by the title of “John Erskine of Dun, knight and provost of Montrose,” to go to the court of France, as one of the commissioners from Scotland, to witness
The parliament, which met Dec. 14, 1537, appointed
him by the title of “John Erskine of Dun, knight and
provost of Montrose,
” to go to the court of France, as one
of the commissioners from Scotland, to witness the young
queen’s (Mary) marriage with the dauphin, and to settle
the terms of the marriage contract; and on his return he
was surprised to find that the reformation was likely to be
forwarded by the very means taken to suppress it. An
aged priest named Mill, had suffered martyrdom at St.
Andrew’s, and in the opinion of archbishop Spottiswood,
“the death of this martyr was the death of popery in this
realm.
” The protestants were now increasing in numbers,
and were not a little encouraged by the death of queen
Mary of England, and the accession of Elizabeth, whom
they knew to be favourable to their cause. The queen
regent of Scotland was therefore addressed more boldly
than before by the protestant lords, in behalf of the free
exercise of their religion, and by Erskine among the rest;
but, although his demands and language are said to have
been more moderate than the rest, this produced no effect,
and a proclamation was issued, requiring the protestant
ministers to appear at Stirling, May 10, 1559, and there
to be tried for reputed heresy. The protestant lords and
other laity determined upon this to accompany and defend
their ministers, and much confusion would have immediately ensued, if Mr. Erskine had not obtained a promise
from the queen regent, that the ministers should not be
tried; and the people were ordered to disperse. No
sooner had this been done, than the queen broke her promise, and a civil war followed, for the particulars of which
we must refer to the page of history. It may suffice to
notice here, that Mr. Erskine occasionally assisted as a
temporal baron, but before the war was concluded, he relinquished his armour, and became a preacher, for which by
his learning and study of the controversies between the
church of Rome and the reformers, he was well qualified.
The civil war ended in favour of the prntestant party, by the
death of the queen regent in 1560 and a parliament, or
convention of the estates was immediately held, who began
their proceedings by appointing a committee of lords,
barons, and burgesses, to distribute the few protestant
ministers whom they then had, to the places where their
services were most required. The committee nominated
some of them to the chief cities, and as “The first book
of Discipline
” was now produced, they, agreeably to the
plan proposed in that book, nominated five ministers who
should act in the capacity of ecclesiastical Supkrintendants. Mr. Erskine was one of these five, and had the superintendency of all ecclesiastical matters in the counties
of Angus and Mearus, and from this period Ins usual designation was, “John Erskine of Dun, knight, superintendant of Angus and Mearus.
” This was in fact a kind
of episcopal authority, conferred for life; but for their
conduct the superintendants were accountable to the general assembly of the clergy. Their office was sufficiently laborious, as well as invidious; and we find Mr.
Erskine several times applying to be dismissed. In 1569,
by virtue of his office, he had to suspend from their offices
for their adherence to popery, the principal, sub-principal, and three professors of King’s-college, Aberdeen.
In 1577, he had a hand in compiling the “Second Book
of Discipline,
” or model for the government of a presbyterian church, which still exists; and in other respects he
was an active promoter of the reformation as then established, until his death, March 21, 1591, in the eightysecond year of his age. Buchanan, Knox, and Spottiswood, agree in a high character of him; and even queen
Mary preferred him as a preacher, because, she said, he
“was a mild and sweet natured man, and of true honesty
and uprightness.
”
, but was easy, “polite, and communicative. Pope Benedict XIII. honoured him with a brevet; the king of France made him a present of the catalogue of his library, and
,
great grandson of the foregoing, and inheritor of the literary industry of his ancestor, was born at Lisbon in 1673.
He bore arms with distinguished merit; and obtained in
1735 the title of camp-master general and counsellor at
war. He died in 1743, in the seventieth year of his age,
member of the academy of Lisbon, of that of the arcades
of Rome, and of the royal society of London, to which last
he was admitted in 1738, and was then director of the
royal academy of history in Portugal. He did not put on
the airs of a man of quality among the learned, but was
easy, “polite, and communicative. Pope Benedict XIII.
honoured him with a brevet; the king of France made
him a present of the catalogue of his library, and 21
Volumes of engravings, The academy of St. Petersburg
addressed its memoirs to him; several writers of France,
England, Italy, &c. paid him the compliment of their
works. His ancestors had left him a select and numerous
library, which he augmented with 15,Ooo volumes and
1000 manuscripts. He marked his literary career by upwards of a hundred different publications. The most
known of them are, 1.
” Memoirs on the value of the
Coins of Portugal, from the commencement of the monarchy,“1738, 4to. 2.
” Reflections on academical studies.“3.
” Fifty-eight Parallels of illustrious men, and
twelve of illustrious women.“4.
” The Henriade, an
Heroic Poem, with observations on the rules to be observed
in Epic Poetry," 1741, 4to. Among his manuscripts were
found a quantity of essays on the number 22, on occasion
of the 22 sorts of Roman coins presented to the king, and
dug up at Lisbon the 22d of October 1711, on which day
that prince completed his 22d year; and from these accidental circumstances, he proves the number 22 to be the
most perfect of all. Such puerilities are sometimes found
in otherwise judicious heads.
t his intention was set aside (says fatrjer, Berthier) as being apparently contrary to the interests of France. The imperialists requested the hat for three monks;
, a learned French divine, was
born at Chalons-sur-Marne in 1511, of noble parents,
became a doctor of the Sorbonne, and was rector of the university of Paris. He preached with considerable applause;
but having in one of his sermons called the “Légende
Doreée
” the “Légende Ferrée,
” it was concluded that he
did not believe in the worship of the saints; especially
from his doubting of certain facts related by the legendary
writers in the “Golden Legend,
” of which he ventured to
speak thus disrespectfully. The faculty of Paris was about
to pass a censure on him; but he explained himself in
another discourse, and the transient storm was succeeded
by a calm. The cardinal de Lorraine, who was well aware
of his merit, employed him in several affairs of importance.
D‘Espence attended him to Flanders in 1544, for the purpose of ratifying the peace between Charles V. and
Francis I. His eminence took him afterwards to Rome in
1555, where he made so conspicuous a figure, that Paul
IV. would have honoured him with the purple, in order
to retain him. But his intention was set aside (says fatrjer, Berthier) as being apparently contrary to the interests of
France. The imperialists requested the hat for three
monks; and therefore the cardinal de Lorraine, who IV
voured the design of getting D’Espence into the sacred
college, relinquished the idea. “I rather chose,
” says he
in a letter to the king, “that he should not be there, than
that three monks should get in; accordingly I entreated
his holiness to think no more of it, and, by that means, I
kept out the whole crew.
” D'Espence, liking far less to
live at Rome than at Paris, returned to France, and appeared with consequence at the assembly of the states of
Orleans in 1560, and at the conference of Poissy in 1561,
where he attached himself to the Calvinists, which gave
much offence to his popish brethren. He died of the
stone at Paris, Oct. 5, 1571, in the sixtieth year of his age.
He was one of the most moderate and judicious doctors of
the age in which he lived, and with all his attachment to
popery, was the declared enemy of all violent measures,
and disapproved of persecutions. He was well versed in
the sciences, both ecclesiastical and profane. His works
are almost all written in Latin, with an elegance scarcely
known to the theologians of that period. The principal
of them are, 1. “A treatise on Clandestine Marriages;
” in
which he proves that the sons of distinguished families cannot validiy contract marriage, without the consent of their
relations. 2. “Commentaries on the Epistles of St. Paul
to Timothy and Titus,
” full of long digressions on the hierarchy and the ecclesiastical discipline. 3. Several
controversial tracts, some in Latin and others in French. Ah
his Latin works were collected at Paris in 1619, folio.
, marshal of France, and viceroy of America, was born at A gen, in 1627,
, marshal of France, and viceroy of America, was born at A gen, in 1627, and served a long time in Holland, under prince Maurice, with whom he acted as agent of France, and proved at once a good general and an able negociator. Being appointed ambassador extraordinary to England, in 1661, he had an affront offered to him there, Oct. 10 of that year, by the baron de Vatteville, ambassador from Spain, which his sovereign not only disavowed, but issued orders to his ministers at foreign courts, not to contest with the ambassadors of France in any public ceremonies. Count d‘Estrades having negotiated in 1662 the sale of Dunkirk, was commissioned to receive that town from the hands of the English. Though Charles II. had signed the treaty, the parliament strongly opposed its execution, and the English garrison refused to evacuate the place. But the count d’Estrades (according to the French historian’s account) judiciously distributed considerable sums of money; and the governor and the garrison embarked for London. On their passage they met the packet conveying to them the order of parliament not to surrender Dunkirk to the French; but the affair was already settled, owing to the active and ingenious address of d'Estrades. Being returned to Paris, he was dispatched again to London, in 1666, in quality of ambassador extraordinary; and the year following went over to Holland, invested with similar powers, and there concluded the treaty of Breda. He distinguished himself not less in 1673, when sent ambassador extraordinary to the conferences of Nimegucn for the general peace. He died the 26th of February, 1686, at the age of seventy-nine. He had been appointed two years before, governor to the duke of Chartres, and superintendant of his finances. The negociations of the count d'Estrades were printed at the Hague, 1742, in 9 vols. 12mo, which is merely an extract from the originals, which form 22 vols. folio, the thinnest of which is of 900 pages. John Aymon published some of them at Amsterdam, in 1709, 12mo.
, grand-master of the artillery of France, was born in 1486, of a distinguished and ancient family,
, grand-master of the artillery of
France, was born in 1486, of a distinguished and ancient
family, and died in 1567, at the age of eighty-one. He
was at first page to queen Anne of Brittany, and afterwards
performed great services to the kings Francis I. and
Henry II. being the first who put the French artillery on a
respectable footing. He signalized himself at the taking
of Calais in 1558, and on several other occasions gave
eminent proofs of sagacity and courage. He is also said to
have been the first gentleman of Picardy who embraced
the protestant religion. Brantome, in his Capitaines
François, says, “that M. d'Estrées was one of the worthy
men of his rank, without offence to others, and the most
intrepid in trenches and batteries; for he went to them
holding up his head, as if it had been to a hunting party
in the fields; and the greatest part of the time he went on
horseback, mounted on a great German hack, above twenty
years old, and as intrepid as his master; for as to cannonades and arquebusades that were fired in the trench, neither
the one nor the other ever lowered their heads for them;
and he shewed himself half the body high above the trench,
for he was tall and conspicuous as well as his horse. Hq
was the ablest man in the world in knowing the fittest spots
for erecting a local battery, and in directing it best; accordingly, he was one of the confidents that mons. de
Guise wished to have about him for making conquests and
taking towns, as he did at Calais. It was he who the first
provided us with those fine founderies of artillery which
we make use of to this day; and even of our cannon, which
do not fear being fired a hundred times one after the other,
as I may say, without bursting, without splitting, without
breaking, as he proved in one before the king, when the
first essay was made; but we do not choose to cram them
in this manner, for we spare goodness as much as we can.
Before this mode of casting, our cannons were not near so
good, but a hundred times more fragile, and requiring to
be very often refreshed with vinegar, which occasioned
much more trouble. He was of a very large person, a
fine and venerable old man, with a beard that reached
down very low, and seemed to have been his old comrade
in war in the days of yore, which he had all along made
his profession, and where he learned to' be somewhat
cruel.
”
, duke, peer, and marshal of France, son of the subject of the preceding article, was born
, duke, peer, and marshal of France, son of the subject of the preceding article,
was born in the year 1573. At first he embraced the ecclesiastical state, and king Henry IV. appointed him to the
bishopric of Laon; but he quitted the church to take up
the profession of arms. He signalized himself on several
occasions, brought succours to the duke of Mantua in 1626,
took Treves, and distinguished himself no less by his sagacity than by his valour. Being appointed in 1636 ambassador extraordinary to Rome, he honourably executed
that office in supporting the glory and interests of the
crown, but not with the prudence requisite in such an office; and his rudeness and sallies of temper so involved
him in differences with Urban VIII. and his nephews, that
it was found necessary to recall him; which he much resented, and refused to appear at court to give an account
of his conduct. He died at Paris the 5th of May, 1670, in
his ninety-eighth year. The marshal d‘Estre’es was more
calculated for serving the king at the head of his troops,
than in intricate negociations. Not content with making
his character respected, he would make his person feared.
He was brother of the fair Gabriel d'Estrdes, whose history is given in a subsequent article. He was the author
of, 1. “Memoirs of the regency of Mary de Medicis,
” the
best edition of which is that of Paris,
ar the art of conciliating the most opposite tempers, as to effect a short-lived peace to the church of France. He went afterwards to Bavaria, by the appointment of
, cardinal, abbot of St. Germaindes-Prés, son of the preceding, was born in 1C28, and
raised to the see of Laon in 1653, after having received
the doctor’s hood of Sorbonne. The king made choice of
him, not long after, as mediator between the pope’s nuncio
and the four bishops of Aleth, of Beauvois, of Pamiers,
and of Angers, and he had so far the art of conciliating the
most opposite tempers, as to effect a short-lived peace to
the church of France. He went afterwards to Bavaria, by
the appointment of Louis XIV. to negociate the marriage
of the dauphin with the electoral princess, and to transact
other affairs of importance; and afterwards he went to
Rome, where he asserted the rights of France during the
disputes about the regale, and was charged with all the
business of the court, after the death of the duke his brother, in 1G89. He reconciled the disputes of the clergy
with Rome, and had a great share in the elections of popes
Alexander VIII. Innocent XII. and of Clement XI. When
Philip V. set out to take possession of the throne of Spain,
the cardinal d‘Estrées received orders to attend him, to be
one of the ministry of that prince. He returned to France
in 1703, and died in his abbey the 18th of December 1714,
at the age of eighty-seven. The cardinal d’Estrées was
well-versed in the affairs both of church and state. With
31 comprehensive genius, he possessed agreeable and polite manners, an amiable talent in conversation, a great
equality of temper, a love for literature, and was charitable
to the poor. If he was not always successful in his negociations, it was neither the fault of his understanding nor
of his prudence. He wrote, 1. “L'Europe vivante et
mourante,
” Brussels (for Paris), Replique, au nom de M. Desgrouais, a la lettre de l'abbé
Desfontaines, inserée dans le 6 e vol. des Jugemens de M.
Burlon de La Busbaquerie,
” Avignon,
ossession of Amiens. “This stroke is from heaven,” said he, “I have been long enough acting the king of France it is time to shew myself king of Navarre;” and then
, sister of Francois Annibal
d'Estr<Ses, was endowed from her birth with all the gifts and
graces of nature. Henry IV. who saw her for the first
time in 1591, at the chateau de Coeuvres, where she lived
with her father, was so smitten with her figure and wit,
that he resolved to take her to be his favourite mistress.
In order to obtain an interview, he disguised himself one
day like a countryman, passed through the enemy’s guards,
and pursued his way at the imminent hazard of his life.
Gabrielle, who was fond of the duke de Bellegard, the
master of the horse, hesitated at first to comply with the
ardent affection of the king; but the elevation of her father
and of her brother, the sincere attachment of Henry, his
affable and obliging manners, at length prevailed on her.
In order that he might visit her more freely, Henry made
her marry Nicholas d'Amerval, lord of Liancourt, with
whom she never cohabited. Henry loved her to so violent
a degree, that though he was married, he was determined
to make her his wife. It was in this view that Gabrielle
engaged her fond lover to take up the Roman catholic religion, to enable him to obtain from the pope a bull to
dissolve his marriage with Marguerite de Valois, and united
her utmost efforts with those of Henry IV. to remove the
obstacles that prevented their union; but these schemes
were defeated by her sudden death, April 10, 1599. It is
pretended that she was poisoned by the rich financier
Zamet: she died, however, in dreadful convulsions, and
on the day following her death, her face was so disfigured,
that it was impossible to be known. Of all the mistresses
of Henry, he was most attached to this woman, whom he
made duchess of Beaufort, and at her death put on,
mourning, as if she had been a princess of the blood, yet
she had not so entire a sway over his heart as to alienate
him from his ministers that were not agreeable to her;
much less to make him dismiss them. She took occasion
to say to him one day on the subject of Sully, with whom
she was displeased: “I had rather die, than live under
the shame of seeing a footman upheld against me, who
bear the title of mistress.
” “Pardieu, madame,
” said
Henry, “this is too much; and I plainly perceive that
you have been put upon this frolic as an attempt to make
me turn away a servant whom I cannot do without. But
I will not comply; and, that you may set your heart at
rest, and not shew your peevish airs against my will, I declare to you, that if I were reduced to the necessity of
parting with one or the other, I could better do without
ten mistresses like you than one servant like him.
” During
one of the festivities that Henry occasionally gave to Gabrielle, dispatches were brought him that the Spaniards
had taken possession of Amiens. “This stroke is from
heaven,
” said he, “I have been long enough acting the
king of France it is time to shew myself king of Navarre;
”
and then turning to d'Estrees, who, like him, was dressed
out for the occasion, and who had burst into tears, he said
to her: “My mistress, we must quit our arms and mount
on horseback, to engage in another sort of war.
” The
same day he got together some troops; and, laying aside
the lover, assumed the hero, and marched towards Amiens.
Henry IV. had three children by her; Cirsar duke of Vendome, Alexander, and Henrietta, who married the marquis
d'Elbauf.
, born in 1660, succeeded John, count d'Estrees, his father, in the post of vice-admiral of France, which he filled with great reputation in the maritime
, born in 1660, succeeded John, count d'Estrees, his father, in the post of vice-admiral of France, which he filled with great reputation in the maritime parts of the Levant. He bombarded Barcelona and Alicant in 1691, and commanded in 1G97 the fleet at the siege of Barcelona; being appointed in 1701 lieutenant-general of the naval forces of Spain by Philip V. a station which he held together with that of vice-admiral of France, and thus had the command of the Spanish and French fleets. Two years afterwards, in 1703, he was made marshal of France, and took the name of marechal des Cceuvres. This dignity was followed by those of grandee of Spain, and knight of the golden fleece; all which he merited by his heroic but prudent courage. Though the abb de St. Pierre describes him as a man of a capricious temper, he had an excellent disposition, and was capable of strong attachments. The French academy, that of sciences, and that of inscriptions, admitted him of their societies. Amidst the tumultuous occupations of war, he never forgot the cultivation of letters. He died at Paris, Dec, 28, 1737, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, equally lamented by the citizen, the scholar, and the philosopher. He left no issue by his wife, Lucia Felicia de Noailles.
, marshal of France, and minister of state, was born at Paris, July 1, 1695,
, marshal of France,
and minister of state, was born at Paris, July 1, 1695, the
son of François Michel le Tellier de Courtanvaux, captaincolonel of the Cent-Suisses, son of the marquis de Louvois
and Marie Anne Catherine d‘Estrees, daughter of John
count d’Estrees, vice-admiral and marshal of France. He
first bore arms in the short war which the duke of Orleans,
regent, declared against Spain, and served under the command of the marechal de Berwick. Having attained by his
services the rank of field-marshal and inspector- general of
cavalry, he signalized himself in the war of 1741. The
blockade of Egra, the passage of the Meine at Selingstadt, the battle of Fontenoi, the siege of Mons, that of
Charleroi, &c. were among the exploits in which he was
concerned. He had the greatest share in the victory of
Laufeldt; and marshal Saxe, an excellent judge of military merit, trusted him on various occasions with the most
critical manoeuvres. On the breaking out of the war in
1756, Louis XV. who had promoted him to the rank of
marshal of France, Feb. 24, 1757, appointed him to the
command of the army in Germany, consisting of upwards
of 100,000 men. He set out in the beginning of spring,
after having shewn the monarch the plan of operations.
“At the beginning of July,
” said he, “I shall have pushed
the enemy beyond the Weser, and shall be ready to penetrate into the electorate of Hanover;
” and, not content
with effecting this, he gave battle to the duke of Cumberland at Hastembeck, the 26th of July; after this, he was
replaced by marshal Richelieu, who profited by the advantages that had been gained, to obtain the capitulation
of Closterseven, by which the Hanoverians engaged to remain neuter during the rest of the war. Marshal d‘Estrees,
recalled by intrigues at court, and sent to Giessen, after
the battle of Minden, took no share in the command, but
contented himself with giving useful advice to M. de Contades. He obtained the brevet of duke in 1763, and he
died the 2d of January, 1771, at the age of seventy-six.
Marshal d’Estrees left no children.
lla, nor any one else pretends to know. It was John Pena, a mathematician in the service of the king of France, who first published this work at Paris, under the name
Euclid, as a writer on music, has ever been held in the
highest estimation by all men of science who have treated
of harmonics, or the philosophy of sound. As Pythagoras
was allowed by the Greeks to have been the first who found
out musical ratios, by the division of a monochord, or
single string, a discovery which tradition only had preserved, Euclid was the first who wrote upon the subject,
and reduced these divisions to mathematical demonstration.
His “Introduction to Harmonics,
” which in some Mss.
was attributed to Cleonidas, is in the Vatican copy given
to Pappus; Meibomius, however, accounts for this, by
supposing those copies to have been only two different ms
editions of Euclid’s work, which had been revised, corrected, and restored from the corruptions incident to frequent transcription by Cleonidas and Pappus, whose names
were, on that account, prefixed. It first appeared in print
with a Latin version, in 1498, at Venice, under the title
of “Cleonidae Harmonicum Introductorium:
” who Cleonidas was, neither the editor, George Valla, nor any one
else pretends to know. It was John Pena, a mathematician in the service of the king of France, who first published this work at Paris, under the name of Euclid, 1557.
After this, it went through several editions with his other
works.
or of a work entitled “Admonitio ad Regem Ludovicum XIII.” which attacked the authority of the kings of France, in matters of an ecclesiastical nature. This treatise
, a learned Jesuit, was a
native of Crete, and supposed to be descended from the
imperial family of the Palseologi. He went to Rome in
pursuit of knowledge, and entered himself a member of the
society of Jesus. He was afterwards professor of philosophy, and then of theology in the university of Padua, rector of the Greek college in Rome, and censor of the inquisition. He was honoured with the esteem and friendship
of pope Urban VIII. who appointed him chaplain to his
nephew cardinal Francis Barberini, when he was sent papal
legate into France. He died at Rome Dec. 24, 1625. He
was suspected to be the author of a work entitled “Admonitio ad Regem Ludovicum XIII.
” which attacked the
authority of the kings of France, in matters of an ecclesiastical nature. This treatise brought the Jesuits into general disrepute; it was likewise censured by the faculty of
the Sorbonne, and the assembly of the clergy at Paris in
1626, and condemned by the parliament. He merits notice here, however, chiefly for having frequently entered
the lists of controversy with many eminent English divines,
who wrote against popery about the beginning of the
seventeenth century, particularly Burhill, Prideaux, Abbot, and Collins, but the titles of his works may now be
spared.
to return to France; but his fidelity to the emperor was unshaken, and he resolved to think no more of France, but to look on himself as a German, and to spend his
, prince of Savoy, an illustrious general, was born in 1663, and descended from Carignan, one of the three branches of the house of Savoy. His father was Eugene Maurice, general of the Swiss and Grisons, governor of Champaigne in France, and earl of Soissons; his mother donna Olympia Mancini, neice to cardinal Mazarin. In 1670 he was committed to the tuition of a doctor of the Sorbonne; but his father dying before he was ten years of age, after the French king had given him the grant of an abbey as a step to a cardinal’s hat, and the government of Champaigne being given out of his family, occasioned an alteration in his intended profession; which was indeed by no means suitable to his genius, although he gave great and early hopes of proficiency in the belles lettres, and is said to have been particularly fond of Curtius and Cæsar. He was a youth of great spirit, and so jealous of the honour of his family, that when his mother was banished by the king’s order from the French court to the Low Countries, soon after her husband’s decease, he protested against the injustice of her banishment, and vowed eternal enmity to the authors and contrivers of it. After being for a time trained to the service of the church, for which he had no relish, he desired the king, who maintained him according to his quality, to give him some military employment. This, however, was denied him, sometimes on account of the weakness of his constitution, sometimes for want of a vacancy, or a war to employ the troops in. Apprehending from hence that he was not likely to be considered so much as he thought he deserved in France, and perceiving that he was involved in the disgrace of his mother, he resolved to retire to Vienna with one of his brothers, prince Philip, to whom the emperor’s ambassador had, in his master’s name, promised a regiment of horse. They were kindly received by the emperor; and Eugene presently became a very great favourite with his imperial majesty. He had in the mean time many flattering promises and invitations to return to France; but his fidelity to the emperor was unshaken, and he resolved to think no more of France, but to look on himself as a German, and to spend his life in the service of the house of Austria.
nterest. He offered him particularly his father’s government of Champaigne, the dignity of a marshal of France, and an annual pension of 2000 pistoles: but nothing
In 1696, after the separate peace between France and Savoy, at which Eugene was extremely dissatisfied, the French king made very large offers to draw him over to his interest. He offered him particularly his father’s government of Champaigne, the dignity of a marshal of France, and an annual pension of 2000 pistoles: but nothing was capable of shaking his fidelity to the emperor, who afterwards made him commander of his army in Hungary, preferably to many older generals. In 1697, being commander in chief of the imperial army in Hungary, he gave the Turks the greatest blow they had ever received in the whole war, and gained a complete victory over them at Zenta, not far from Peterwaradin. The grand seignior came to command his armies in person, and lay encamped on both sides [of] the Thiesse, having laid a bridge over the river. Eugene marched up to him, and attacked his camp on the west side of the river; and, after a short dispute, broke in, made himself master of it, and forced all who lay on that side over the river, whither he followed them, and gave them a total defeat. In this action the Germans had no more than 430 men killed, and 1583 wounded: but of the Turks 22,000 were killed in the field, among whom were the grand visier, and the aga of the janisaries; 10 or 12,000 were drowned in the Thiesse, and 6000 wounded and taken prisoners, among whom were 27 pashas, and several agas. The Imperialists took 9000 laden waggons, after 3000 had been thrown into the river; the grand seignior’s tent, valued at 40,000 livres, with all the rest belonging to his army; 17,000 oxen, 6000 camels, all heavy laden; 7000 horses, 100 heavy cannon, and 70 field-pieces, besides 500 drums, and as many colours, 707 horses tails, 83 other standards, a scymitar of inestimable value, the sultan’s great seal, his coach drawn by eight horses, wherein were ten of the women of his seraglio; 74 pair of silver kettle-drums, all the grand seignior’s papers, and all the money that was to pay the army, which came to above 3,000,000 livres; and it is said, that the whole booty amounted to several millions of pounds sterling.
e acted, therefore, to preserve the liberty and balance of Europe, to pull down the exorbitant power of France, and at the same time to revenge the affront offered
The queen of England now concerted measures with the
emperor for declaring and carrying on a war with France.
Her Britannic majesty highly resented the indignity offered to herself, and the wrong done the house of Austria,
by the duke of Anjou’s usurping the crown of Spain. She
acted, therefore, to preserve the liberty and balance of
Europe, to pull down the exorbitant power of France, and
at the same time to revenge the affront offered her, by
the king of France’s owning the pretended prince of Wales
for king of her dominions. Eugene was made president of
the council of war by the emperor, and all the world approved his choice; as indeed they well might, since this
prince no sooner entered on the execution of his office than
affairs took quite a new turn. The nature and limits of our
plan will not suffer us to enlarge upon the many memorable
actions which were performed by this great statesman and
soldier during the course of this war, which proved so fatal
to the glory of Louis XIV. The battles of Schellenburg,
Blenheim, Turin, &c. are so particularly related in almost
every history, that we shall not insist upon them here. In
1710 the enemies of Eugene, who had vowed his destruction, sent him a letter, with a paper inclosed, which was
poisoned to such a degree, that it made his highness, with
two or three more who did but handle it, ready to swoon;
and killed a dog immediately, upon his swallowing it after
it was greased. The next year, 1711, in April, the emperor Joseph died of the small-pox; when Eugene marched
into Germany, to secure the election of his brother to the
throne. The same year, the grand visier sent one of his
agas in embassy to his highness, who gave him a very
splendid audience at Vienna, and received from him a
letter written with the grand visier’s own hand, wherein
he styles his highness “the great pattern of Christian
princes, president of the Aulic council of war to the emperor of the Romans, the most renowned and most excellent among the Christian princes, first peer among all the
nations that believe in Christ, and best beloved visier of
the emperor of the Romans.
”
712, after having treated with the States General upon the proposals of peace then made by the court of France, he came over to England, to try if it were possible
In 1712, after having treated with the States General upon the proposals of peace then made by the court of France, he came over to England, to try if it were possible to engage our court to go on with the war, for it met with great obstructions here: but was surprised to find, the day before his arrival, which was on Jan. 5, that his good friend the duke of Marlborough was turned out of all his places. However, he concealed his uneasiness, and made a visit to the lord president of the council, and to the lord treasurer; and having had an audience of the queen, the day after his arrival, he paid his compliments to the foreign ministers, and the new ministry, especially the duke of Ormond, whose friendship he courted for the good of the common cause. But, above all, he did not neglect his fast friend and companion in military labours, the discarded general; but passed his time chiefly with him. He was entertained by most of the nobility, and magnificently feasted in the city of London by those merchants who had formerly contributed to the Silesian loan. But the courtiers, though they caressed him for his own worth, were not forward to bring his negotiations to an happy issue; nor did the queen, though she used him civilly, treat him with that distinction which was due to his high merit. She made him a present of a sword set with diamonds, worth about 5000l. which he wore on her birth-day; and had the honour at night to lead her to and from the opera performed on this occasion at court. After he had been told that his master’s affairs should be treated of at Utrecht, he had his audience of leave March the 13th, and the 17th set out to open the campaign in Flanders, where he experienced both good and ill fortune at Quesnoy and Landrecy.
t find him engaged in a new scene of action, in the war between the emperor his master and the kings of France, Spain, and Sardinia, in which, from 1733 to 1735, he
After making peace with the Turks, he had a long suspension from those glories which constantly attended his rictorious sword: for, in the war which ensued between the emperor and the king of Spain, count Merci had the command of the army in Italy, and Eugene had no share in it, any farther than in council; and at the conclusion of it, when he was appointed the emperor’s first plenipotentiary in the treaty of Vienna, in 1725. We next find him engaged in a new scene of action, in the war between the emperor his master and the kings of France, Spain, and Sardinia, in which, from 1733 to 1735, he experienced various success. This illustrious hero died at Vienna, April 10, 1736, in his seventy-third year. He was found dead in his bed, though he had been very gay the night before with company, whom he had entertained at supper, without making the least complaint; and it was supposed that he was choaked by an immoderate defluxion of rheum, with which, it seems, he was sometimes troubled.
This great general was a man of letters; he was intended for the church, and was known at the court of France by the name of the abbé de Savrie. Having made too free
As to a general character of prince Eugene, it may easily
be collected from what has already been said of him. He
was always remarkable for his liberality; one instance of
which he shewed, while he was here in England, to Mrs.
Centlivre, the poetess; who, having addressed to him a
trifling poem on his visiting England, received from him a
gold snuff-box, valued at about 35 pistoles. He was also a
man of great and unaffected modesty, so that he could
scarcely bear, with any tolerable grace, the just acknowledgments that were paid him by all the world. Burnet,
who was admitted several times to much discourse with
him, says, that “he descended to an easy equality with
those who conversed with him, and seemed to assume nothing to himself, while he reasoned with others.
” He said
jokingly one day, when the duke of Marlborough
talking of his attachment to his queen, Regina pecunia,
“Money is his queen.
” This great general was a man of
letters; he was intended for the church, and was known at
the court of France by the name of the abbé de Savrie.
Having made too free in a letter with some of old Louis the
Fourteenth’s gallantries, he fled out of France, and served
as a volunteer in the emperor’s service in Hungary against
the Turks, where he soon distinguished himself by his
talents for the military art. He was presented by the emperor with a regiment, and a few years afterwards made
commander in chief of his armies. Louvois, the insolent
war-minister of the insolent Louis XIV. had written to him
to tell him, that he must never think of returning to his
country: his reply was, “Eugene entrera un jour en
France en dépit de Louvois & de Louis.
” In all his military expeditions, he carried with him Thomas a Kempis
“de Imitatione.
” He seemed to be of the opinion of the
great Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, “that a good
Christian always made a good soldier.
” Being constantly
busy, he held the passion of love very cheap, as a mere
amusement, that served only to enlarge the power of women, and to abridge that of men. He used to say, “Les
amoureux sont dans la société ce que les fanatiques sont en
religion.
” His amusement was war, and in the Memoirs
written by himself, and lately published, he speaks of some
of its horrors with too little feeling. It is said that he was
observed to be one day very pensive, and was asked by his
favourite aid-de-camp on what he was meditating so
deeply? “My good friend,
” replied he, “I am thinking,
that if Alexander the Great had been obliged to wait for
the approbation of the deputies of Holland before he attacked the enemy, how impossible it would have been for
him to have made half the conquests that he did!
” This
illustrious conqueror lived to a great age, and being tam
Mercurio quam Marte, “as much a scholar as a captain,
”
amused himself with making a fine collection of books,
pictures, and prints, which are now in the emperor’s collection at Vienna. The celebrated cardinal Passionei, then
nuncio at Vienna, preached his funeral sermon, from the
following text of apocryphal Scripture: “Alexander, son,
of Philip the Macedonian, made many wars, took many
strong holds, went through the ends of the earth, took
spoils of many nations: the earth was quiet before him.
After these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should
die.
”—Maccabees.
us met for social worship. He appears at this time to have taken a hint from the Theophilanthropists of France, and would have gladly assisted in forming a society
His next attempt was to prove that we have no authority
from scripture to keep the Sabbath holy, which appeared
in some papers in the “Theological Repository,
” vol. V.
His arguments on this subject were answered by Dr. Priestley and others, but without producing any effect on the
mind of the author, who collected the whole controversy,
and published it in 1792, with an additional letter to Dr.
Priestley. Yet, lest it should be thought that he was a
man devoid of all religion, and one who rejected the worship of the Deity as of no account, we are told that he had
worship in his family on the Sunday, making use of Dr.
Clarke’s reformed Liturgy, but not so reformed as that he
did not think it necessary to introduce some alterations of
his own. He even did more. When he had visitors, he
administered the Lord’s supper, which he considered as
the sole Christian rite, and always to be administered when
a number of the professors of the religion of Jesus met for
social worship. He appears at this time to have taken a
hint from the Theophilanthropists of France, and would
have gladly assisted in forming a society of Christophilanthropists, “meeting, like the Christians of the second and
third centuries, merely to hear the authentic scriptures
read, and rationally explained; and to commemorate the
death of our Lord and Master, according to the mode ordained by himself.
”
idence, in a remarkable instance. There had been many disputes between the ambassadors of the crowns of France and Spain, for precedence in the courts of foreign princes,
Immediately after the king’s return, Mr. Evelyn was introduced, on June 5, 1660, to the king by the duke of York, and very graciously received; nor was it long before be experienced the king’s esteem and confidence, in a remarkable instance. There had been many disputes between the ambassadors of the crowns of France and Spain, for precedence in the courts of foreign princes, and amongst these there was none more remarkable than that upon Tower-hill, on the landing of an ambassador from Sweden, September 30, 1660, which was so premeditated a business on both sides, that the king, foreseeing it would come to a quarrel, and being willing to carry himself with indifference towards both, which could not be otherwise done than leaving them at liberty to adjust their respective pretences, yet for the sake of public tranquillity, orders were given that a strict guard should be kept upon the place, and all his majesty’s subjects were enjoined not to intermeddle, or take part with either side; and the king was farther pleased to command, that Mr. Evelyn should, after diligent inquiry made, draw up and present him a distinct narrative of the whole affair, which he accordingly did, and it is a very curious and remarkable piece. It is inserted in Baker’s Chronicle, Our author began now to enter into the active scenes of life, but yet without bidding adieu entirely to his studies. On the contrary, he published, in the space of a few months, several learned treatises upon different subjects, which met with great applause; the rather because the author expressed in some of. them his intention to prosecute more largely several philosophical subjects, in a manner that might render them conducive to the benefit of society; and of his capacity for performing these promises, some of these pieces were instances sufficient to satisfy every intelligent reader, as well as to justify the character he had already acquired, of being at once an able and agreeable writer. It is certain that very few authors of his time deserve this character so well as Mr. Evelyn, who, though he was acquainted wkh most sciences, and wrote upon many different subjects, yet was tar from being a superficial writer. He had genius, taste, and learning, and he knew how to give all these a proper place in his works, so as never to pass for a pedant, even with such as were least in love with literature, and to be justly esteemed a polite author by those who knew it best.
f our author’s pen. 2. “A Character of England, as it was lately presented in a letter to a nobleman of France, with reflections upon Callus Castratus,” 1651, 16to.
As considerable light is thrown on the history and merits
of Mr. Evelyn from the account given of his works, little
apology need be made for the length of the article, taken
principally from the Biographia Britannica. These were,
1. His treatise “Of Liberty and Servitude,
” A Character of England, as it
was lately presented in a letter to a nobleman of France,
with reflections upon Callus Castratus,
” The State of France,
” London, An Essay on the First Book of Titus Lucretius
Carus, de renim natura, interpreted, and made into English verse, by J. Evelyn, esq.
” London, Never
was book so abominably misused by printer; never copy
so negligently surveied by one who undertooke to looke
over the proofe-sheetes with all exactnesse and care, naqely
Dr. Triplet, well knowne for his abiilitie, and who pretended,
to oblige me in Hiv absence, and so readily offer'd himselfe. This good yet I received by it, that publishing it
vaiiu-ly, its ill succese at the printer’s discouraged me with
troubling the world with the rest.
” 5. “The French Gardener, instructing how to cultivate all sorts of fruit-trees
and herbs for the garden, together with directions to dry
and conserve them in their natural,
” &c. Lond. The English Vineyard vindicated, by John Rose,
gardener to his majesty king Charles II. with a' tract of the
making and ordering of wines in France.
” The third edition
of this French Gardener, which came out in 1676, was illustrated with sculptures. 6. “The golden book of St.
Oh ry sos torn, concerning the Education of Children.
” Lond.
An Apology for the Royal Party, c.
” The late News or Message from
Brussels unmasked,
” Instructions concerning the erecting of a Library, written by Gabriel Naude
”, published in
English, with some improvements,“Lond. 1661, 8vo. ll.
” Fumifugium or the inconveniences of the air and the
smoke of London dissipated together with some remedies
humbly proposed,“London, 1661, 4to, in five sheets, addressed to the king and parliament, and published by hisma
jesty’s express command. Of this there was a late edition
in 1772. 12.
” Tyrannies or the Mode in a discourse of
sumptuary laws“Lond. 1661, 8vo. 13.
” Sculptnra; or
the history a-id art of Chalcography and Engraving in Copper, with an ample enumeration of the most renowned
masters and their works; to which is annexed, a new manner of engraving, or mezzo-tinto,. communicated by his
highness prince Rupert to the author of this treatise,“Lond. 1662, 8vo. In the dedication to Mr. Robert Boyle,
dated: at Sayes-court, April 5th, 1662, he observes, that
he wrote this treatise at the reiterated instance of that
gentleman. The first chapter treats of sculpture, howderived and distinguished, with the styles and instruments
belonging to it. The second, of the original of sculpture
in general. la this chapter our author observes, that
letters, and consequently sculpture, were lon.g before the
flood, Suidas ascribing both letters and all the rest of
the sciences to Adam. After the flood, as he supposes,
there were but few who make any considerable question,
that it might not be propagated by Noah to his posterity, though some admit of none before Moses. The
third chapter treats of the reputation and progress of
sculpture among the Greeks and Romans down to the
middle ages, with a discussion of some pretensions to
the invention of copper cuts and their impressions. The
fourth, of the invention and progress of chalcography in particular, together with an ample enumeration of the most renowned masters and their works. The fifth, of drawing and
design previous to the art of chalcography, and of the use
of pictures in order to theeducation of children. In this
chapter, our author, in honour of the art upon which he
writes, discourses thus:
” It was in the former chapter
that we made rehearsal of the most renowned gravers and
their works, not that we had no more to add to that number, but because we would not mingle these illustrious
names and qualities there, which we purposely reserved for
the crown of this discourse. We did, therefore, forbear
to mention what his highness prince Rupert’s own hands
have contributed to the dignity of that art, performing
things in graving, of which some enrich our collection,
comparable to the greatest masters; such a spirit and address there appears in all that he touches, and especially
in that of the mezzotinto, of which we shall speak hereafter more at large, having first enumerated those incomparable gravings of that his new and inimitable style, in
both the great and little decollations of St. John the Baptist, the soldier holding a spear and leaning his hand on a
shield, the two Mary Magdalens, the old man’s head, that
of Titian, &c. after the same Titian, Georgion, and others.
We have also seen a plate etched by the present French
king, and other great persons; the right honourable the
earl of Sandwich, sometimes, as we are told, diverting
himself with the burine, and herein imitating those ancient
and renowned heroes, whose names are loud in the trumpet
of fame for their skill and particular affection to these arts.
For such of old were Lucius Manilius, and Fabius, noble
Romans, Pacuvius, the tragic poet, nephew to Ennius.
Socrates, the wisest of men, and Plato himself, Metrodorus and Pyrrhus the philosopher, did both desigii and
paint and so did Valentinian, Adrian, and Severus, emperors so as the great Paulus ^milius esteemed it of
such high importance, that he would needs have his son to
be instructed in it, as in one of the most worthy and excellent accomplishments belonging to a prince. For the
art of graving, Quintilian likewise celebrates Euphranor,
a polite and rarely endowed person; and Pliny, in that
chapter where he treats of the same art, observes that there
was never any one famous in it, but who was by birth or education a gentleman. Therefore he and Galen in their recension of the liberal arts, mention that of graving in particular,
amongst the most permanent; and in the same catalogue,
number it with rhetoric, geometry, logic, astronomy, yea, r
grammar itself, because there is in these arts, say they,
more of fancy and invention, than strength of hand, more
of the spirit than of the body. Hence Aristotle informs
us, that the Grecians did universally institute their children
in the art of painting and drawing, for an oeconomique
reason there signified, as well as to produce proportions in
the mind. Varro makes it part of the ladies 1 education,
that they might have the better skill in the works of
embroidery, &c. and for this cause is his daughter Martia
celebrated among those of her fair sex. We have already
mentioned the learned Anna Schurman; but the princess
Louisa has done wonders of this kind, and is famous
throughout Europe for the many pieces which enrich our
cabinets, examples sufficient to vindicate its dignity, and
the value that has been set upon it, since both emperors,
kings, and philosophers, the great and the wise, have not
disdained to cultivate and cherish this honourable quality
of old, so nobly reputed, that amongst the Greeks a slave
might not be taught it. How passionately does Pereskius,
that admirable and universal genius, deplore his want of
dexterity in this art Baptista Alberti, Aldus Pomponius,
Guaricus Durer, and Rubens, were politely learned and
knowing men, and it is hardly to be imagined of how great
use and conducible a competent address in this art of
drawing and designing is to the several advantages which
occur, and especially to the more noble mathematical
sciences, as we have already instanced in the lunary works
of Hevelius, and are no less obliged to celebrate some of
ur own countrymen famous for their dexterity in this incomparable art. Such was that Blagrave, who himself cut
those diagrams in his Mathematical Jewel; and such at
present is that rare and early prodigy of universal science,
Dr. Chr. Wren, our worthy and accomplished friend.
For, if the study of eloquence and rhetoric were cultivated
by the greatest geniuses and heroic persons which the
world has produced, and that, by the suffrage of the most
knowing, to be a perfect orator a man ought to be universally instructed, a quality so becoming and useful should
never be neglected.“In the sixth chapter he discourses
of the new way of engraving or mezzotinto, invented and
communicated by prince Rupert and he therein observes,
” that his highness did indulge him the liberty of publishing the whole manner and address of this new way of
engraving; but when I had well considered it, says he (so much having been already expressed, which may suffice to give the hint to all ingenious persons how it is to be performed), I did not think it necessary that an art so curious, and as yet so little vulgar, and which indeed does
not succeed where the workman is not an accomplished
designer, and has a competent talent in painting likewise,
was to be prostituted at so cheap a rate as the more naked
describing of it here would too soon have exposed it to.
Upon these considerations then, it is, that vvg leave it thus
enigmatical; and yet that this may appear no disingenuous
rhodomontade in me, or invidious excuse, I profess myself to be always most ready sub sigillo, and by his highness’s permission, to gratify any curious and worthy person with as full and perfect a demonstration of the entire
art as my talent and address will reach to, if what I am
now preparing to be reserved in the archives of the royal
society concerning it be not sufficiently instructive.“There
came, however, into the hands of the communicative and
learned Richard Micldleton Massey, M. D. and F. 11. S. the
original manuscript, written by Mr. Evelyn, and designed
for the royal society, entitled
” Prince Rupert’s new way
of engraving, communicated by his highness to Mr. Evelyn;“in the margin of which is this note:
” This I prepared to be registered in the royal society, but I have not
yet given it in, so as it still continues a secret.“In this
manuscript he first describes the two instruments employed
in this new manner of engraving, viz. the hatcher and the
style, and then proceeds to explain the method of using
them. He concludes with the following words:
” This
invention, or new manner of chalcography, was the result
of chance, and improved by a German soldier, who,
espying some scrape on the barrel of his musket, and being
of an ingenious spirit, refined upon it, till it produced the
effects you have seen, and which indeed is, for the delicacy thereof, much superior to anyinvention extant of
this art, for the imitation of those masterly drawings, and,
as the Italians call it, that morhidezza expressed in the best
of their designs. I have had the honour to be the first of
the English to whom it has been yet communicated, and
by a special indulgence of his highness, who with his own
hands was pleased to direct me with permission to publish
it to the world; but I have esteemed it a thing so curious,
that I thought it would be to profane it, before I had first
offered it to this illustrious society. There is another way
of engraving, by rowelling a plate with an instrument
made like that which our scriveners and clerks use to direct
their rulers by on parchment, only the points are thicker
set into the rowel. And when the plate is sufficiently
freckled with the frequent reciprocation of it, upon the
polished surface, so as to render the ground dark enough,
it is to be abated with the style, and treated as we have already described. Of this sort I have seen a head of the
queen Christina, graved, if I mistake not, as big as the
life, but not comparable to the mezzotinto of prince Rupert, so deservedly celebrated by J. Evelyn."
ned at Paris, in the college of Clermont, the twelfth of December, 1661, declared to all the bishops of France, according to the copy printed at Paris. Together with
Mr. Evelyn’s next publication was the most important
of all his works: 15. “Sylva; or, a dicourse of Foresttrees, and the propagation of timber in his majesty’s dominions 5 as it was delivered in the royal society the 15th
of October, 1662, Upon occasion of certain queries propounded to that illustrious assembly by the honourable the
principal officers and commissioners of the navy.
” To
which is annexed, “Pomona, or, an appendix concerning
fruit-trees, in relation to cider, the making and several
ways of ordering it: published by express order of the
royal society,
” Lond. 1664, fol. This was the first work
written by the command, and published in virtue of an
order, of the royal society, signed by the lord viscount
Brouncker, their president, and dedicated to the king.
The second edition of it was published in 1669, with a
new dedication to king Charles II. dated from Sayes-court,
Aug. 24; the first paragraph of which deserves the reader’s
notice. “Sir, This second edition of Sylva, after more
than a thousand copies had been bought up and dispersed
of the first impression, in much less than two years space
(which booksellers assure us is a very extraordinary thing in volumes of this bulk), conies now again to pay its homage
to your serene majesty, to whose auspices alone it owes the
favourable acceptance which it has received in the world.
But it is not that alone which it presumes to tell your majesty, but to acquaint you that it has been the sole occasion for furnishing your almost exhausted dominions with
more, I dare say, than two millions of timber-trees, besides infinite others, which have been propagated within
the three nations at the instigation and by the direction
of this work; and that the author of it is able, if need require, to make it out by a competent volume of letters
and acknowledgments, which are come to his hands, from
several persons of the most eminent quality, many of
them illustrious, and divers of them unknoun to him, in
justification of what he asserts; which he the rather preserves with the more care, because they are testimonials
from so many honourable persons ‘of the benefit they have
received from the endeavours of the royal society, which
now-a-days passes through so many censures; but she has
yet your majesty for her founder and patron, and is therefore
the’ less concerned, since no man of worth can lightly speak
ill of an assembly v.hich your majesty has thought fit to dignify by so signal a relation to it.
” The third edition, with
great additions and improvements, was published in 1G79;
the fourth in 1705, and the fifth in 1729, both very incorrect. In 1776 a new edition of the “Sylva
” was published in
4to, by Dr. Andrew Hunter, of York, a gentleman eminently qualified for the undertaking. Under the care of
this gentleman the work appeared with every possible advantage; and was enriched by the judicious editor with
ample and copious notes, and adorned with a set of fine
engravings. A head of Mr. Evelyn is prefixed, drawn and
engraved by Battolozzi. Dr. Hunter’s edition of the Sylva
has been four times reprinted. The edition of 1812 contains the deceased editor’s last corrections . 16. “A
parallel of the antient architecture with the modern, in a
collection of ten principal authors who have written upon
the five orders, viz. Palladio and Scammozzi, Serlio and
Vignola D. Barbaro and Cataneo L. B. Alberti and
Viola, Bullant and De Lorme compared with one another.
The three Greek orders, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian,
comprise the first part of this treatise, and the two Latin,
Tuscan and Composite, the latter written in French by
Roland Freart, sieur de Chambray made English for the
benefit, of builders to which is added, an account of architects and architecture^ in an historical and etymological
explanation of certain terms, particularly affected by architects; with Leon Baptista Alberti’s treatise of statues,
”
London, I know none, indeed,
to whom I could more aptly inscribe a discourse of building, than to so royal a builder, whose august attempts
have already given so great a splendour to our imperial
city, and so illustrious an example to the nation It is
from this contemplation, sir, that after I had, by the commands of the royal society, endeavoured the improvement
of timber and the planting of trees, I have advanced to that
of building, as its proper and mutual consequent, not
with a presumption to incite or instruct your majesty, which
were a vanity unpardonable, but, by it, to take occasion
of celebrating your majesty’s great example, who use your
empire and authority so worthily, as fortune seems to have
consulted her reason, when she poured her favours upon
you; so as I never cast my eyes on that generous designation in the epigram, Ut donem pastor K tedificem, without
immediate reflection on your majesty, who seem only to
value those royal advantages you have above others, that
you may oblige, and that you may build. And certainly,
sir, your majesty has consulted the noblest way of establishing your greatness, and of perpetuating your memory,
since, while stones can preserve inscriptions, your name
will be famous to posterity; and, when those materials
fail, the benefits that are engraven in our hearts will outlast those of marble. It will be no paradox, but a truth,
to affirm, that your majesty has already built and repaired
more in three or four years, notwithstanding the difficulties
and the necessity of an extraordinary ceconomy for the
public concernment, than all your enemies have destroyed
in twenty, nay than all your majesty’s predecessors have
advanced in an hundred, as I could easily make out, not
only by what your majesty has so magnificently designed
and carried on at that your ancient honour of Greenwich,
under the conduct of your most industrious and worthy
surveyor, but in those splendid apartments and other useful reformations for security and delight about your majesty’s palace at Whitehall the chargeable covering first,
then paving and reformation of Westminster-hall care and
preparation for rebuilding St. Paul’s, by the impiety and
iniquity of the late confusions almost dilapidated; what her
majesty the queen-mother has added to her palace at Somerset-house, in a structure becoming her royal grandeur,
and the due veneration of all your majesty’s subjects, for
the lioirnir she has done both this your native city, and the
whole nation. Nor may I here omit, what I so much desire to transmit to posterity, those noble and profitable
amoenities of your majesty’s plantations, wherein you most
resemble the divine architect, because your majesty has
proposed in it such a pattern to your subjects, as merit
their imitation and protoundest acknowledgments, in one
of the most worthy and kingly improvements tbat nature is
capable of. 1 know not what they talk of former ages, and
of the now contemporary princes with your majesty these
things are visible and should I here descend to more particulars, which yet were not foreign to the subject of this
discourse, I would provoke the whole world to produce me
an example parallel with your majesty, for your exact
judgment and marvellous ability in all that belongs to the
naval architecture, both as to its proper terms and more
solid use, in which your majesty is master of one of the
most noble and profitable arts that can be wished, in a
prince to whom God has designed the dominion of the
ocean, which renders your majesty’s empire universal;
where, by exercising your royal talent and knowledge that
way, you can bring even the antipodes to meet, and the
poles to kiss each other; for so likewise, not in a metaphorical but natural sense, your equal and prudent government of this nation has made it good, whilst your majesty
has so prosperously guided this giddy bark, through such
a storm, as no hand, save your majesty’s, could touch the
helm, but at the price of their temerity.
” There is also
another dedication to sir John Denham, knight of the bath,
superintendent and surveyor of all his majesty’s buildings
and works, in which there are several matters of fact worth
knowing, as indeed there are in all Mr. Evelyn’s dedications; for, though no man was naturally more civil, or
more capable of making a compliment handsomely, yet his
merit was always conspicuous in his good manners; and he
never thought that the swelling sound of a well-turned
period could atone for want of sense. It appears from the
dedication of the second edition of the Sylva to king
Charles II. that there was a second edition of this work
also in the same year, viz. 1669, as there was a third in
1697, which was the last in the author’s life-time. In this
third edition, which is very much improved, “the account
of Architects and Architecture,
” which is an original work
of Mr. Evelyn’s, and a most excellent one of its kind, is
dedicated to sir Christopher Wren, surveyor to his majesty’s buildings and works; and there is in it another of
those incidental passages that concern the personal history
of our author. Having said in the first paragraph, that, if
the whole art of building were lost, it might be found
again in the noble works of that great architect, which,
though a very high, is no unjust compliment, more especially, continues our author, St. Paul’s church and the
Monument; he then adds, “I have named St. Paul’s,
and truly not without admiration, as oft as I recall to mind,
as frequently I do, the sad and deplorable condition it was
in, when, after it had been made a stable of horses and a
den of thieves, you, with other gentlemen and myself,
were, by the late king Charles, named commissioners to
survey the dilapidations, and to make report to his majesty,
in order to a speedy reparation. You will not, I am sure,
forget the struggle we had with some who were for patching it up any how, so the steeple might stand, instead of
new-building, which it altogether needed: when, to put
an end to the contest, five days after (August 27, Sept. 1666), that dreadful conflagration happened, out of whose
this phoenix is risen, and was by providence designed
for you. The circumstance is too remarkable, that I could
not pass it over without notice. I will now add no more,
but beg your pardon for this confidence of mine, after I
have acquainted you that the parallel to which this was annexed being out of print, I was importuned by the bookseller to add something to a new impression, but to which
I was no way inclined; till, not long since, going to St.
Paul’s, to contemplate that august pile, and the progress
you have made, some of your chief workmen gratefully acknowledging the assistance it had afforded them, I took
this opportunity of doing myself this honour.
” The fourth
edition of this work, printed long after our author’s death,
viz. in 1733, was in folio, as well as the rest; to which is
added “The Elements of Architecture,
” by sir Henry
Wotton, and some other things, of which, however, hints
were met with in our author’s pieces. 17. “Mwrtyj/ov Tjjj
AvaiMos; that is, another part of the mystery of Jesuitism,
or the new heresy of the Jesuits, publicly maintained at
Paris, in the college of Clermont, the twelfth of December,
1661, declared to all the bishops of France, according to
the copy printed at Paris. Together with the imaginary
heresy, in three letters; with divers other particulars relating to this abominable mystery never before published in
English;
” Lond. 1664, 8vo. This, indeed, has not our
author’s name to it; but that it is really his, and that he
had reasons for not owning it more publicly, appears from
a letter from him to Mr. Boyle. 18. “Kalendarium Hortense, or the gardener’s almanac, directing what he is to
do monthly throughout the year, and what fruits and flowers
are in prime,
” Lond. The Garden.
” This passed through at least nine editions.
The author made many additions as long as he lived and
the best was that printed by way of appendix to the fourth
and last edition of the Sylva in his life-time. 19. “The
history of the three late famous impostors, viz. Padre Ottotnano, pretended son and heir to the late grand signior;
Mahomet Bei, a pretended prince of the Ottoman family,
but, in truth, a Wallachian counterfeit: and Sabbatai Sevi,
the supposed Messiah of the Jews, in the year 1666; with
a brief account of the ground and occasion of tjie present
war between the Turk and the Venetian: together with the
cause of the final extirpation, destruction, and exile, of the
Jews out of the empire of Persia,
” Lond. 1668, 8vo. This
piece is dedicated to Henry earl of Arlington, and the dedication is subscribed J. E. and, if Mr. Wood had seen it,
he would not have said, “I know nothing yet to the contrary but this may be a translation.
” The nature and value
of this little piece were much better known abroad: one of
the best literary journals, “Act. Eruditorum Lipsiensiutn,
”
A. D. Public employment and an active life
preferred to solitude, in a reply to a late ingenious essay
of a contrary title,
” Lond. Sylva,
” Philosoph.
Trans. No. 53; and the reader will find some ingenious
strictures on “Public employment, &c.
” in vol. 1. of the
Censura Literaria, by one who knows well how to improve
solitude. 21. “An idea of the perfection of painting,
demonstrated from the principles of art, and by examples
conformable to the observations which Pliny and Quintilian have made upon the most celebrated pieces of the ancient painters, paralleled with some works of the most famous modern painters, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Julio
Romano, and N. Poussin. Written in French by Roland
Freart, Sieur de Cambray, and rendered English by J. E.
esquire, fellow of the royal society;
” Lond. 1668, 8vo,
This translation is dedicated to Henry Howard, of Norfolk,
heir apparent to that dukedom and the dedication is dated
from Say es-court, June the 24th, 1668, 8vo. This piece,
like most of Mr. Evelyn’s works, is now become exceeding
scarce. In the preface he observes, that the reader will
find in this discourse divers useful, remarks, especially
where the author “treats of costume, which we, continues
he, have interpreted decorum, as the nearest expression
our language would bear to it. And I was glad our author
had reproved it in so many instances, because it not only
grows daily more licentious, but even ridiculous and intolerable. But it is hoped this may universally be reformed! when our modern workmen shall consider, that
neither the exactness of their design, nor skilfulness in
colouring, ha.s been able to defend their greatest predecessors from just reproaches, who have been faulty in this
particular. I could exemplify in many others, whom our
author has omitted; and there is none but takes notice
what injury it has done the fame of some of our best reputed painters, and how indecorous it is to introduce circumstances, wholly improper to the usages and genius of
the places where our histories are supposed to. have beeq
acted.
” Mr. Evelyn then remarks, that this was not only
the fault of Bassano, who would be ever bringing in his
wife, children, and servants, his dog and his cat, and very
kitchen-stuff, after the Paduan mode; but of the great
Titian himself, Georgipn, Tintoret, and the rest; as Paulo
Veronese is observed also to have done, in his story of
Pharaoh’s daughter drawing Moses out of the river, attended with a guard of Swisses. Malvogius likewise, in a
picture then in the king’s gallery at Whitehall, not only
represents our first parents with navels upon their bellies,
but has placed an artificial stone fountain, carved with
imagery, in the midst of his paradise. Nor does that excellent and learned painter, Rubens, escape without censure, not only for making most of his figures of the shapes
of brawny Flemings, but for other sphalmata and circumstances of the like nature, though in some he has acquitted
himself to admiration, in the due observation of costume,
particularly in his crucifixes, &c. Raphael Urbino was,
doubtless, one of the first who reformed these inadvertencies; but it was more conspicuous in his latter than in his
former pieces. “As for Michael Angelo,
” continues Mr.
Evelyn, “though I heartily consent with our critic in reproving that almost idolatrous veneration of his works, who
hath certainly prodigiously abused the art, not only in the
table this discourse arraigns him for, but several more
which I have seen; yet I conceive he might have omitted
some of those embittered reproaches he has reviled him
with, who doubtless was one of the greatest masters of his
time, and however he might succeed as to the decorum,
was hardly exceeded for what he performed in sculpture
and the statuary art by many even of the ancients themselves, and haply by none of the moderns: witness his
Moses, Christus in Gremio, and several other figures at
Rome to say nothing of his talent in architecture, and
the obligation the world has to his memory, for recovering
many of its most useful ornaments and members out of the
neglected fragments, which lay so long buried, and for
vindicating that antique and magnificent manner of building from the trifling of Goths and barbarians.
” He observes next, that the usual reproach of painting has been
the want of judgment in perspective, and bringing more
into history than is justifiable upon one aspect, without
turning the eye to each figure in particular, and multiplying the points of sight, which is a point even monsieur
Freart, for all the pains he has taken to magnify that celebrated Decision of Paris, has failed in. For the knowing
in that art easily perceive, that even Raphael himself has
not so exactly observed it, since, instead of one, as monsieur Freart takes it to be, and as indeed it ought to have
been, there are no less than four or five; as du Bosse hath
well observed in his treatise of “The converted painter,
”
where, by the way also, he judiciously numbers amongst
the faults against costume, those landscapes, grotesque
figures, &c. which we frequently find abroad especially
for, in our country, we have few or none of those graceful
supplements of steeples painted, horizontally and vertically
on the vaults and ceilings of cupolas, since we have no
examples for it from the ancients, who allowed no more
than a frett to the most magnificent and costly of those
which they erected. But, would you know whence this
universal caution in most of their works proceeded, and
that the best of our modern painters and architects have
succeeded better than others of that profession, it must be
considered, that they were learned men, good historians,
and generally skilled in the best antiquities; such were
Raphael, and doubtless his scholar Julio; and, if Polydore
arrived not to the glory of letters, he yet attained to a rare
habit of the ancient gusto, as may be interpreted from most
of his designs and paintings. Leon Baptist Alberti was
skilled in all the politer parts of learning to a prodigy, and
has written several curious things in the Latin tongue. We
know that, of later times, Rubens was a person universally
learned, as may be seen in several Latin epistles of his to
the greatest scholars of his age. And Nicholas Poussin, the
Frenchman, who is so much celebrated and so deservedly,
did, it seems, arrive to this by his indefatigable industry
“as the present famous statuary, Bernini, now living,
”
says Mr. Evelyn, “has also done so universal a mastery,
that, not many years since, he is reported to have built a
theatre at Rome, for the adornment whereof he not only
cut the figures and painted the scenes, but wrote the play,
and composed the music, which was all in recitative. And
I am persuaded, that all this is not yet by far so much as
that miracle and ornament of our age and country, Dr.
Christopher Wren, were able to perform, if he were so
disposed, and so encouraged, because he is master of so
many admirable advantages beyond them. I alledge these
examples partly to incite, and partly to shew the dignity
and vast comprehension of this rare art, and that for a man
to arrive to its utmost perfection, he should be almost as
universal as the orator in Cicero, and the architect in Vitruvius. But, certainly, some tincture in history, the optics and anatomy, are absolutely requisite, and more, iri
the opinion of our author, than to be a steady designer,
and skilled in the tempering and applying of colours,
which, amongst most of our modern workmen, go now for
the only accomplishments of a painter.
”
lluau, afterwards marescUal de Clerembaut, and of the marquis de Crequi, who also became a mareschal of France. He had a share in the confidence of these distinguished
M. de St. Evremond distinguished himself in the army
by his politeness and wit, as well as by his bravery; and
his accomplishments procured him the esteem of the
mareschals d'Etrées and Grammont, of viscount Turenne,
of the count de Moissens, afterwards mareschal de Albret,
of count Palluau, afterwards marescUal de Clerembaut, and
of the marquis de Crequi, who also became a mareschal of
France. He had a share in the confidence of these distinguished noblemen, and they always testified their friendship towards him. In 1640, M. de St. Evremond was at
the siege of Arras; and, in the ensuing year, he obtained
a post in the horse, which gave him fresh opportunities of
signalizing himself. Soon after the duke of Enguien, afterwards prince of Condé, became so much pleased with his
conversation, that he made him lieutenant of his guards,
that he might have him constantly near him. He often
read with him and sometimes communicated to him his
most secret projects, and entrusted him with affairs of the
greatest moment. After the campaign of Rocroy, in 1643,
M. de St. Evremond wrote a kind of satire against the
French academy, which was published in 1650, and
entitled, “The Comedy of the Academicians for reforming
the French tongue .
”
rquis de Crequi, in which he informed him, that the cardinal had sacrificed the honour and interests of France to his own private views. In one part of this letter
In 1654, M. de St. Evremond served in Flanders; and
about three years after fought a duel with the marquis de
Fore. He continued in the service in Flanders till the suspension of arms, which was agreed upon between France
and Spain in 1659. The following year, he came over into
England with count de Soissons, who was sent on an embassy to congratulate Charles II. on the restoration; and,
when cardinal Mazarin set out from Paris with a great retinue, in order to negociate a treaty with the first minister
of the king of Spain, St. Evremond was one of those who
accompanied him. He afterwards sent a letter concerning
the conferences to the marquis de Crequi, in which he informed him, that the cardinal had sacrificed the honour
and interests of France to his own private views. In one
part of this letter he said, “It is the cardinal’s maxim,
that a minister does not so much belong to the state as the
state to the minister; and, for this reason, if God grant
bim but a few years, he will get all the estates in the kingdom into his own hands.
” This letter of St. Evremond,
concerning the Pyreneau treaty, became the occasion of
his banishment from France. After the death of the cardinal, a copy of the letter fell into the hands of some of
the courtiers who had been connected with him. They
represented to his majesty the danger of allowing private
men to judge of state affairs, and to censure the conduct of
ministers. Their representations made such an impression on the mind of Lewis, that he immediately ordered
M. de St. Evremond to be committed to the Bastile. But
St. Evremoud had no inclination to pay a second visit to
that fortress; and, therefore, having received private information of the design, found means to make his escape
out of France, and arrived in Holland about the end of
the year 1661.
d any places better secured at so little expence. In 1654 he took Stenay, and was appointed marechal of France in 1658. His merit, integrity, and modesty, gained him
, an eminent French officer, was
the son of a bookseller at Mentz (author of “Notes sur la Couturhe de Lorraine,
” 1657, fol.) He was educated with
the duke d'Epernon, and saved the royal army at the famous retreat of Mentz; which has been compared by some
authors to that of Xenophon’s 10,000. Being wounded in
the thigh by a musket at the siege of Turin, M. de Turenne, and cardinal de la Valette, to whom he was aid de
camp, intreated him to submit to an amputation, which
was the advice of all the surgeons but he replied, “I
must not die by piece-meal death shall have me intire, or
not at all.
” Having, however, recovered from this wound,
he was afterwards made governor of Sedan; where he
erected strong fortifications, and with so much ceconomy,
that his majesty never had any places better secured at
so little expence. In 1654 he took Stenay, and was appointed marechal of France in 1658. His merit, integrity,
and modesty, gained him the esteem both of his sovereign
and the grandees. He refused the collar of the king’s
orders, saying it should never be worn but by the ancient
nobility; and it happened, that though his family had been
ennobled by Henry IV. he could not produce the qualifications necessary for that dignity, and “would not,
” asi
he said, “have his cloke decorated with a cross, and his
soul disgraced by an imposture.
” Louis XIV. himself answered his letter of thanks in the following terms: “No
person to whom I shall give this collar, will ever receive
more honour from it in the world, than you have gained in
my opinion, by your noble refusal, proceeding from so
generous a principle.
” Marechal Fabert died at Sedan,
May 17, 1662, aged sixty-three. His Life, by father
Barre, regular canon of St. Genevieve, was published at
Paris, 1752, 2 vols. 12mo. There is one older, in one
thin vol. 12ino.
our readers may dispute his taste, when at the same time he gives the preference to the manners, &c. of France. In 1773 he returned to Tuscany, and was desired by the
At Pisa, in 1771, he began a literary journal which extended to 102 parts or volumes; in this he had the occasional assistance of other writers, but often entire volumes
were from his pen. At length the grand duke, who always
had a high regard for Fabroni, furnished him liberally with
the means of visiting the principal cities of Europe.
ing this tour he informs us that he was introduced to, and
lived familiarly with the most eminent characters in France,
with D'Alembert, Conclorcet, La Lande, La Harpe, Mirabeau, Condilliac, Rousseau, Diderot, &c. and laments
that he found them the great leaders of impiety. He then
came to England, where he resided about four months, and
became acquainted with Waring, Maskelyne, Priestley,
and Dr. Franklin, who once invited him to go to America,
which, he informs us, he foolishly refused. With what he
found in England he appears to be little pleased, and could
not be brought to think the universities of Oxford and
Cambridge equal, for the instruction of youth, to those of
Italy. In short he professes to relish neither English diet,
manners, or climate; but perhaps our readers may dispute
his taste, when at the same time he gives the preference
to the manners, &c. of France. In 1773 he returned to
Tuscany, and was desired by the grand duke to draw up a
scheme of instruction for his sons, with which he insinuates
that the duke was less pleased at last than at first, and adds
that this change of opinion might arise from the malevolent
whispers of literary rivals. He now went on to prosecute
various literary undertakings, particularly his “Vitas Italorum,
” and the life of pope Leo, &c. The greater part
were completed before 1800, when the memoirs of his life
written by himself end, and when his health began to be
much affected by attacks of the gout. In 1801 he? desisted
from his accustomed literary employments, and retired to
a Carthusian monastery near Pisa, where he passed his time
in meditation. Among other subjects, he reflected with
regret on any expressions used in his works which might
have given offence, and seemed to set more value on two
small works he wrote of the pious kind at this time, than
on all his past labours. When the incursions of the French
army had put an end to the studies of the youth at Pisa,
Fabroni removed to St. Cerbo, a solitary spot near Lucca,
and resided for a short time with some Franciscans, but
returned to Pisa, where an asthmatic disorder put an end
to his life Sept. 22, 1803. He left the bulk of his property, amounting to about 1500 scudi, to the poor, or to
public charitable institutions; and all the classics in his
library, consisting of the best editions, to his nephew, Raphael Fabroni.
means of that fluid. Our English philosophers have in general adopted the scale of Fahrenheit; those of France have preferred Reaumur’s. Fahrenheit published a dissertation
, the celebrated improver of the thermometer, was horn at Dantzic, May 14, 1686. He was originally intended for commerce, but having a decided turn for philosophical studies, employed himself in the construction of barometers and thermometers, which art he carried to great perfection. About 1720 he introduced an essential improvement in the thermometer, by substituting meccury for spirit of wine. He also made a new scale for the instrument, fixing the extremities of it at the point of severe cold observed by himself in Iceland in 1709, which he conceived to be the greatest degree of cold, and at the point where mercury boils, dividing the intermediate space into 600 degrees. His point of extreme cold, which is the same that is produced by surrounding the bulb of the thermometer with a mixture of snow, sal ammoniac, and sea salt, he marked 0, and carried his degrees upwards; though few thermometers have been practically formed which carry their degrees much above 212, the point at which water boils. Forty degrees below the [zero] of Fahrenheit, have since been observed at Petersburg, and elsewhere; and as this is the point at which mercury freezes, it would make a better limit to the scale, which would thus be confined between the utmost extremities of heat and cold that can be examined by means of that fluid. Our English philosophers have in general adopted the scale of Fahrenheit; those of France have preferred Reaumur’s. Fahrenheit published a dissertation on thermometers in 1724. He travelled to Holland, and in various parts of the continent, in pursuit of knowledge, and died Sept. 16, 1736.
e Rouen in Normandy, in 1591, for his bravery in the army sent to the assistance of Henry the Fourth of France; and he afterwards signalized himself on many occasions
, an ingenious poet, who flourished: in the reigns of queen Elizabeth and king James the First, was the second son of sir Thomas Fairfax, of Denton, Yorkshire, by Dorothy his wife, daughter of George Gale, of Ascham-Grange, esq. treasurer to the Mint at York. In what year he was born is not related. The family from which he sprang was of a very military turn. His father had passed his youth in the wars of Europe, and was with Charles duke of Bourbon, at the sacking of Rome, in 1527. His engaging in this expedition is said to have g'lYen such offence to sir William Fairfax, that he was disinherited; but this is not reconcileable to the fact of his succeeding to the family estate at Denton, which he transmitted to his descendants. It was in 1577, or, according to Douglas, in 1579, when far advanced in years, that he was knighted by queen Elizabeth. The poet’s eldest brother, Thomas, who in process of time became the first lord Fairfax of Cameron, received the honour of knighthood before Rouen in Normandy, in 1591, for his bravery in the army sent to the assistance of Henry the Fourth of France; and he afterwards signalized himself on many occasions in Germany against the house of Austria. A younger brother of Edward Fairfax, sir Charles, was a captain under sir Francis Vere, at the battle of Newport, fought in 1600; and in the famous three years’ siege of Ostend, commanded al) the English in that town for some time before it surrendered. Here he received a wound in his face, from the piece of a skull of a marshal of France, killed near him by a cannon-ball, and was himself killed in 1604.
the early protestants who were styled heretics, in 1523, obliged him to provide for his security out of France. He then retired to Strasburgh, where Bucer and Capito
, a learned minister of the church,
and most intrepid reformer, was the son of a gentleman of
Dauphine in France, and born at Gap in 1489. He studied philosophy, and Greek and Hebrew, at Paris with great
success, and was for some time a teacher in the college of
cardinal le Moine. Briyonnet, bishop of Meaux, hem.; inclined to the reformed religion, invited him to preach in
his diocese in 1521; but the persecution raised there
against the early protestants who were styled heretics, in
1523, obliged him to provide for his security out of France.
He then retired to Strasburgh, where Bucer and Capito
admitted him as a. brother; and he was afterwards received
as such by Zwinglius at Zurich, by Haller at Berne, and
by Oecolampadius at Basil. As he was thought well qualified by zeal and knowledge for such a task, he was advised to undertake the reformation of religion at Montbeliard, in which design he was supported by the duke of
Wittenberg, who was lord of that place; and he succeeded
in it most happily. He was a man on some occasions of
too much warmth and enthusiasm against popery, which,
however, he tempered a little, by the advice of Oecolampadius. Once on a procession-day, he pulled out of the
priest’s hand the image of St. Antony, and threw it from a
bridge into the river, a boldness and imprudence which
was unnecessary, and might have cost him his life. Erasmus by no means liked Farel’s temper, as appears from
what he wrote of him to the official of Besancon. “You,
have,
” says he, “in your neighbourhood the new evangelist, Farel; than whom I never saw a man more false,
more virulent, more seditious.
” Erasmus has also given a
very unfavourable character of him elsewhere: but he
thought Farel had censured him in some of his writings,
and therefore is not to be altogether believed in every
thing he says of him; nor indeed was a man of decision
and intrepidity likely to be a favourite with the timid and
time-serving Erasmus.
Gregorio Leti, with a preface, prolegomena, notes, and appendix, 1754,” folio. 2. “Davila’s History of France,” 1757, 2 vols. 4to. 3. “A translation of the works of
, distinguished by translating
some capital authors, was born (as is presumed) at Bonteshall in Derbyshire, where his father, of the same names,
was rector. He was bred first at Chesterfield school under
Mr. William Burrow, a celebrated master, and afterwards
removed to Eton. He was admitted of Jesus college,
Cambridge; and matriculated Dec. 17, 1730. In 1734 he
took his degree of B. A, and in 1738 that of M. A. In
1762 he was presented by Dr. James Yorke, dean of Lincoln, to the rectory of Carsington in Derbyshire; but did
not enjoy it long, as he died March 25, 1763, His publications were, 1. “The life of Pope Sixtus V. translated
from the Italian of Gregorio Leti, with a preface, prolegomena, notes, and appendix, 1754,
” folio. 2. “Davila’s
History of France,
” A translation
of the works of Machiavel, illustrated with annotations,
dissertations, and several new plans on the art of war,
”
A
short history of the Israelites, from the French of the -abbe
”
de Fleury,“1756, 8vo, has been attributed to him, but it
was his only by the kindness of Mr. Thomas Bedford (son of Hilkiah), who gave him the translation, in hopes that he
might raise some money by it, as he was then poor. None
indeed of his works appear to have been profitable* although his translation of Maehiavel, which he literally
” hawked round the town/' nowsells at a very high price.
On one occasion Dr. Addenbroke, dean of Lichfield, recommended him to translate Spelman’s Life of Alfred from
the Latin into English, and Farneworth was about to have
begun, when Dr. Pegge luckily informed him that the Life
of Alfred was originally written in English, and thence
translated into Latin. Mr. Farneworth is supposed to have
been the author of a ludicrous and pleasant account of
Powell, the fire-eater, in Gent. Mag. 1755, signed Philopyrphagus Asliburniensis. He was at that time curate to
the rev. John Fitzherbert, vicar of Ashbourne.
and estate were committed to John duke of Bedford, who was afterwards the most wise and able regent of France we ever had there; and he was the last ward which that
, knight, and knight-banneret, a
valiant and renowned general, governor, and nobleman in
France, during our conquests in that kingdom, under king
Henry IV. V. and VI. of England, and knight-companion
of the most noble order of the garter, has been supposed,
from the title of his French barony, and from his name
being so often corruptly mentioned in the French histories^
owing to his long residence, and many engagements in
the wars there, to have been born in France, at least of
French extraction. Others, allowing him to have been
a native of England, have no less erroneously fixed hist
birth-place in Bedfordshire; but it is well known that he
was descended of an ancient and famous English family in
the county of Norfolk, which had flourished there and in
other parts of the kingdom, in very honourable distinction,
before the conquest: and from a train of illustrious ancestors, many of them dignified with the honour of knighthood, invested with very eminent employments, and possessed of extensive patrimonies. But one of the principal
branches being seated at Castre in Fleg near Great Yarmouth in that county, which estate descending to these
ancestors, he afterwards adorned with a noble family seat,
it is presumed he was born therej or in Yarmouth. His
father was John Fastolff, esq. of that town, a man of considerable account, especially for his public benefactions,
pious foundations, &c. His mother was Mary, daughter
of Nicholas Park, esq. and married to sir Richard Mortimer,
of Attleburgh; and this their son was born in the latter
end of king Edward the Illd’s reign. As he died at the
age of eighty, in 1459, his birth could not happen later
than 1378. It may fairly be presumed he was grounded
as well in that learning and other accomplishments which
afterwards, improved by his experience and sagacity, rendered him so famous in war and peace, as in those virtuous
and religious principles which governed his actions to the
last. His father dying before he was of age, the care of
his person and estate were committed to John duke of
Bedford, who was afterwards the most wise and able regent
of France we ever had there; and he was the last ward
which that duke had: others, indeed, say that he was
trained up in the Norfolk family, which will not appear
improbable when we consider that it was not unusual in
those times for young noblemen whilst under wardship to
be trained under others, especially ministers of state, in
their houses and families, as in academies of behaviour, and
to qualify them for the service of their country at home
pr abroad. But if he was under Thomas Mowbray duke
pf Norfolk, while he enjoyed that title, it could be but
one year, that duke being banished the kingdom by king
Richard II. in 1398, though his younger son, who was
restored to that title many years after, might be one of sir
John FastoltFs feoffees. And it is pretty evident that he
was, but a few years after the banishment of that duke, in
some considerable post under Thomas of Lancaster, after^
wards duke of Clarence, and second son of the succeeding
king Henry IV. This Thomas was sent by his father so
early, according to some writers, as the second year of his
reign, which was in 1401, lord lieutenant of Ireland. And
it is not improbable that Fastolff was then with him; for
we are informed by William of Wyrcestre, that in the sixth,
and seventh years of the said king Henry, that is, in 1405
and 1406, this John Fastolff, esq. was continually with,
him. And the same lord lieutenant of Ireland was again
there in 1408, 10 Henry IV. and almost to the beginning
of the next year, when it is no less probable that Fastolff
was still with him; for, in the year last mentioned, we
find that he was married in that kingdom to a rich
young widow of quality, named Milicent, lady Castlecomb,
daughter of Robert lord Tibetot, and relict of sir Stephen
Scrope, knight; the same, perhaps, who is mentioned,
though not with the title of knighthood, by sir P. Leycester, to have been the said lord lieutenant’s deputy of
Ireland, during most of the intervals of his return to England; which deputy-lieutenant died in his office the same
year. This marriage was solemnized in Ireland on the
feast of St. Hilary, 1408, and Fastolff bound himself in
the sum of 1000l. to pay her 100l. a year, for pin-money
during life; and she received the same to the 24th year of
king Henry VI. The lands in Wiltshire and Yorkshire
which came to Fastolff by this marriage with the said lady,
descended to Stephen Le Scrope, her son and heir. We
may reasonably believe that this marriage in Ireland engaged his settlement in that kingdom, or upon his estate
in Norfolk, till his appointment to the command of some
forces, or to some post of trust under the English regency
in France, soon after required his residence in that kingdom. For, according to the strictest calculation we can
make from the accounts of his early engagements in
France, the many years he was there, and the time of his
final return, it must be not long after his marriage that he
left either England or Ireland for that foreign service;
being employed abroad by Henry IV. V. and VI. in the
wars in France, Normandy, Anjou, Mayne, and Guyenne,
upwards of forty years; which agrees very well with what
Caxton has published, in his concise, yet comprehensive
character of him, little more than twenty years after his
death, where he speaks of his “exercisyng the warrys in
the royame of Fraunce and other countrees, &c. by fourty
yeres enduryng.
” So that, we cannot see any room, either
in the time or the temper, in the fortunes or employments
of this knight, for him to have been a companion with, or
follower and corrupter of prince Henry, in his juvenile
and dissolute courses; nor, that Shakspeare had any view
of drawing his sir John Falstaff from any part of this sir
John Fastolff’s character; or so much as pointing at any
indifferent circumstance in it that can reflect upon his
memory, with readers conversant in the true history of
him. The one is an old, humourous, vapouring, and
cowardly, lewd, lying, and drunken debauchee, about the
prince’s court when the other was a young and grave,
discreet and valiant, chaste and sober, commander abroad
continually advanced to honours and places of profit, for
his brave and politic atchievements, military and civil;
continually preferred to the trust of one government or
other of countries, cities, towns, &c. or as a genera^
and commander of armies in martial expeditions while
abroad; made knight-banneret in the field of battle; baron,
in France, and knight of the garter in England and, particularly, when finally settled at home, constantly exercised
in acts of hospitality, munificence, and chanty; a founder
of religious buildings, and other stately edifices ornamental
to his country, as their remains still testify; a generous
patron of worthy and learned men, and a public benefactor
to the pious and the poor. In short, the more we
compare the circumstances in this historical character, with
those in that poetical one, we can find nothing discreditable in the latter, that has any relation to the former, or
that would mislead an ignorant reader to mistake or confound them, but a little quibble, which makes some conformity in their names, and a short degree in the time
wherein the one did really, and the other is feigned to live.
And, in regard to the prince of Wales, or our knight’s
being engaged in any wild or riotous practices of his youth,
the improbabilities may also appear from the comparison of
their age, and a view of this prince’s commendable engagements till that space of time in which he indulged his
interval of irregularities, when the distance of our knight
will clear him from being a promoter of, or partaker in
them. For it is apparent, that he had been intrusted with
a command in France some time before the death of king
Henry IV. because, in 1413, the rery first year of his son,
who was now grown the reformed, and soon after proved
the renowned, Henry V. it appears that Fastolff had the
castle and dominion of Veires in Gascoigne committed to
his custody and defence: whence it is very reasonably inferred, that he then resided in the said duchy, which at
that time was possessed by the English. In June 1415,
Fastolff, then only an esquire, was returned, by indenture,
with ten men of arms, and thirty archers, to serve the king
at his arrival in France. Soon after king Henry was arrived in Normandy, in August following, with above 30,000
men, the English army having made themselves masters of
Harfleur, the most considerable port in that duchy, Fastolff
was constituted lieutenant thereof, with 1500 men, by the
earl of Derby, as Basset in his ms history informs us;
but, as we find it in others, the king, upon this conquest,
constituted his said uncle Thomas Beaufort, earl of Dorset
and duke of Exeter, governor of Harfleur, in conjunction
sir John Fastolff; and, having repaired the fortificaplaced therein a garrison of two thousand select
men, as Titus Livius numbers them; or of fifteen hundred
ien at arms, and thirty-five knights, according to Hall’s
account; to which number Monstrelet also adds a thousand
archers. Towards the latter end of October, in the year
last mentioned, he was dangerously engaged in the evermemorable battle of Agincourt, where it is said that Fastolff, among others, signalized himself most gallantly by
taking the duke of Alengon prisoner; though other
historians say that duke was slain after a desperate encounter
with king Henry himself, in which he cut off the crowned
crest of the king’s helmet. The fact is, that, in a succeeding battle, Fastolff did take this duke’s son and successor prisoner. In the same year, 1415, he, with the
duke and 3000 English, invaded Normandy, and penetrated almost to Rouen; but on their return, loaded with
booty, they were surprised, and forced to retreat towards
Harfleur, whither the enemy pursuing them, were totally
defeated. The constable of France, to recover his credit,
laid siege to Harfleur, which made a vigorous defence
under sir John Fastolff and others till relieved by the fleet
under the duke of Bedford. He was at the taking of the
castle of Tonque, the city of Caen, the castle of Courcy,
the city of Sees, and town of Falaise, and at the great
siege at Rouen, 1417. For his services at the latter he
was made governor of Conde Noreau; and for his eminent
services in those victories, he received, before the 29th of
January following, the honour of knighthood, and had the
manor and demesne of Fritense near Harfleur bestowed
upon him during life. In 1418 he was ordered to seize
upon the castle and dominion of Bee Crispin, and other
manors, which were held by James D'Auricher, and several
other knights; and had the said castle, with those lands,
granted him in special tail, to the yearly value of 2000
scutes. In 1420 he was at the siege of Monsterau, as Peter
Basset has recorded; and, in the next year, at that of
Meaulx-en-Brie. About five months after the decease of
king Henry V. the town of Meulent having been surprized
in January 1422, John duke of Bedford, regent of France,
and sir John Fastolff, then grand master of his household,
and seneschal of Normandy, laid siege to the same, and
re-took it. In 1423, after the castle of Craven t was relieved, our knight was constituted lieutenant for the king
and regent in Normandy, in the jurisdictions of Rouen,
Evreux, Alengon, and the countries beyond the river
Seine: also governor of the countries of Anjou and Maine,
and before the battle of Verneuil was created banneret,
About three months after, being then captain of Alengon,
and governor of the marches thereof, he laid siege to the
castle of Tenuye in Maine, as a French historian informs
us, which was surrendered to him; and, in 1424, he was
sent to oppose the delivery of Alenon to the French, upon
a discovery made that a Gascoigner had secretly contracted
to betray the same. In September 1425, he laid siege to
Beaumont le Vicompt, which surrendered to him. Then
also he took the castle of Sillie-Je-Guillem, from which he
was dignified with the title of baron: but this, revolting
afterwards again to the French, was assaulted by the earl
of Arundel, and retaken about seven years after. In the
year last mentioned, our active warrior took also St. Ouen
D'Estrais, near Laval, as likewise the castle of Gravelle,
with other places of strength, from the enemy; for which
dangerous and indefatigable service in France he was about
the same time elected in England, with extraordinary
deference to his merits, knight companion of the order of
the garter. In 1426 John lord Talbot was appointed
governor of Anjou and Maine, and sir John Fastolff was
removed to another place of command, which, in all probability, might be the foundation of that jealousy, emulation, or competition, between them, which never was cordially reconciled. In October 1428, he had a protection
granted him, being then going into France; and there he
performed an enterprise of such bravery and conduct as is
scarcely thought to have been paralleled in ancient or
modern history. The English army, at the siege of Orleans, being in great want of provisions, artillery, and
other necessaries, sir John Fastolff, with some other approved commanders, was dispatched for supplies by William de la Pole duke of Suffolk, to the regent at Paris;
who not only provided him plentifully therewith, but allowed him a strong guard at his return, that he might convey the same safely to the siege. The French, knowing
the importance of this succour, united two armies of very
superior numbers and force to meet him; but, either in
different encounters, or in a pitched battle, as the French
thetnselv es allow, he totally overthrew them; slew greater
numbers than he had under his command, not to mention
the wounded and the prisoners; and conducted his convoy
safe to the English camp. And because it was in the time
of Lent, and he had, among his other provision, several
of his carriages laden with many barrels of herrings, which
he applied to form a fortification, the French have ever
since called this victory “The battle of herrings.
” But
as the fortune of war is precarious, the English army was
soon after obliged to raise the siege of Orleans, and though
they received recruits from the duke of Bedford, they were
in no degree strong enough to encounter the French army
at Patay. At the battle which happened there in June
1429, many of the English, who were of most experienced
and approved valour, seeing themselves so unequal, and
the onset of the French so unexpected, made the best
retreat they could and, among them who saved themselves, as it is said, was sir John Fastolff vfho, with such
as could escape, retired to Corbeil thus avoiding being
killed, or, with the great lord Talbot, lord Hungerford,
and sir Thomas Ramps ton, taken prisoner of war. Here
the French tales, which some English historians have inconsiderately credited, contradict or invalidate themselves;
for, after having made the regent most improbably, and
without any examination, or defence, divest Fastolff of his
honours, they no less suddenly restore him to them, for,
as they phrase it, “apparent causes of good excuse;
though against the mind of the lord Talbot;
” between
whom there had been, it seems, some emulous contests,
and therefore it is no wonder that Fastolff found him upon
this occasion an adversary. It is not likely that the regent
ever conceived any displeasure at this conduct, because
Fastolff was not only continued in military and civil employments of the greatest concern, but appears more in
favour with the regent after the battle of Patay than before. So that, rather than any dishonour here can be
allowed, the retreat itself, as it is told, must be doubted.
It was but in 1430 that he preferred him to the lieutenancy
of Caen in Normandy. In 1432 he accompanied him into
France, and was soon after sent ambassador to the council
of Basil, and chosen, in the like capacity, to negociate
a final or temporary peace with France. And that year,
Fastolff, with the lord Willoughby, commanded the army
which assisted the duke of Bretagne against the duke of
Alen^on. Soon after this he was for a short space in England; for, in 1433, going abroad again, he constituted
John Fastolff, of Olton, probably a near relation, his general attorney. In 1434, or the beginning of the year
after, sir John was again with the regent of France;'and,
in 1435, he was again one of the ambassadors to conclude
a peace with France. Towards the latter end of this year
the regent died at Rouen, and, as the greatest proof he
could give of his confidence in the honour and integrity of
sir John Fastolff, he made him one of the executors of his.
last will. Richard, duke of York, who succeeded in the
regency of France, made Fastolff a grant of an annuity of
twenty pounds a year of his own estate, “pro notabili et
landdbili servicio, ac bono consilio;
” which is sufficient to
shew this duke’s sentiments also of his merits. In 1436,
and for about four years longer, he seems to have been
well settled at his government in Normandy; after which,
in 1440, he made his final return home, and, loaclen
with the laurels he had gathered in France, became as illustrious in his domestic as he had been in his foreign
character. The late Mr. Gough, by whom this article was
much enlarged, had an inventory of all the rich jewels,
plate, furniture, &c. that he either had, or left in France,
at his return to England. In 1450 he conveyed to John
Kemp, cardinal archbishop of York, and others, his manor
of Castre in Fleg, and several other lands specified in the
deed of conveyance. The same year, Nov. 8, the king
by writ directed Richard Waller, esq. David John William
Needham, and John Ingoldsby, to cause Thomas Danyell,
esq. to pay to sir John FastolfF, knight, the lOOl. that he
was indebted to him for provisions, and for his ship called
the George of Prussia, alias Danyell’s Hulk, which ship
the said Danyell took on the sea as a prize, and never had
it condemned; so that the king seized it, ordered it to be
sold, and sir John to be paid out of it. At length being
arrived, in 1459, beyond the age of fourscore years, he
says of himself, that he was “in good remembrance, albeit
I am gretly vexed with sickenesse, and thurgh age infebelyd.
” He lingered under an hectic fever and asthma
for an hundred and forty-eight days; but before he departed he made his will on the fifth of November in that
year, and died at his seat at Castre the next day after,
being the festival of St. Leonard, or the eve before, as
appears in the escheats, in the 39th or last year of king
Henry the Vlth’s reign, and no less than thirty-six years
beyond the extravagant period assigned by Fuller. He
was buried with great solemnity under an arch, in a chapel
of our lady of his own building, on the south side of the
choir at the abbey-church of St. Bennet in the Holm, in
Norfolk, which was ruined at the dissolution; and so much
was he respected after his decease, that John Beauchamp,
lord of Powyke, in his last will dated the 15th of Edward
IV. appointed a chantry, more especially for the soul of
sir John Fastolff.
ed king of Poland, he attended him as minister in that country; but when the succession to the crown of France, on the death of his brother, tempted Henry to quit that
, lord of Pibrac, by which name he is
much better known, was born at Toulouse in 1528, and
distinguished himself at the bar in that city. He perfected
his knowledge of jurisprudence in Italy, and then returned
to be advanced to honours in his own country. In 1560 he
was deputed by his native city to the states-general held
at Orleans, and there presented to the king its petition of
grievances, which he had himself drawn up. By Charles
IX. he was sent as one of his ambassadors to the council of
Trent, where he eloquently supported the interests of the
crown, and the liberties of the Gallican church. In 1565
the chancellor de PHopital, appointed him advocate-general in the parliament of Paris, where he revived the influence of reason and eloquence. In 1570, he was, made
a counsellor of state, and two years afterwards, probably
constrained by his superiors, wrote his defence of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, published in 4to, and entitled
“Ornatissimi cujusdam viri, de rebus Gallicis, epistola, et
ad hanc de iisdem rebus responsio
” but this barbarous
measure was too repugnant to the mildness of Pibrac’s character to be approved by him. For this, after the accession of Henry III. he made the best amends in his power,
by proposing and bringing to a conclusion, a treaty of
peace between the court and the protestants. While that
prince was duke of Anjou, and was elected king of Poland, he attended him as minister in that country; but
when the succession to the crown of France, on the death
of his brother, tempted Henry to quit that kingdom
clandestinely, Pibrac was in danger of falling a sacrifice to
the resentment of the people. He afterwards tried in vain
to preserve that crown to his master. His services were
rewarded by being created one of the chief presidents of
the courts of law. He died in 1584, at the age of fifty-six.
The story of his falling in love with Margaret wife of
Henry IV. is supposed to be chiefly owing to the vanity of
that lady, who wished to have the credit of such a conquest. Pibrac published, besides his letter on the massacre, which was in Latin, pleadings and speeches, “Les
plaisirs de la vie rustique,
” Paris, Quatrains,
” or moral
stanzas of four lines, which were first published in 1574.
The last edition we know of, is that of 1746. They have
been extravagantly admired, and translated into almost all
languages, even Greek, Turkish, Arabic, and Persian.
They were rendered into English by Sylvester, the translator of du Bartas, in a manner not likely to give an advantageous notion of the original, which, though now antiquated, stiil preserves graces that recommend it to readers
of taste. Pibrac was a classical scholar; and to the taste
he drew from that source, his “Quatrains
” owe much of
their excellence. The subjects of some of them he took
from the book of Proverbs, which he used to say contained
all the good sense in the world.
ollowing years, we find him in attendance upon sir Thomas Edmondes, the king’s minister at the court of France. Several of the sermons he preached, during this time,
In 1610, and the two following years, we find him in
attendance upon sir Thomas Edmondes, the king’s minister
at the court of France. Several of the sermons he preached,
during this time, in the ambassador’s chapel, are collected
in his “Clavis Mystica,
” and those which were levelled at
the errors of popery are said to have been very successful
both in converting some catholics, and in confirming the
opinions of those who had before embraced. the doctrines
of the reformation. He had also very frequent conferences
in the Cleremont with the Jesuits, and with the members
of the Sorboane, but especially with fathers Sirmund and
Petau, who, although they at first ridiculed his figure, for
he was low of stature, yet afterwards were impressed with
a regard for his controversial talents, and treated his memory with respect. His three disputations at Paris are
confessed by Holden, an eminent English catholic writer,
to have done more harm to the popish cause than thirtythree he had read of before. By most of the foreign universities he was held in such honour as a disputant, that in
the tables of the celebrated schoolmen, whom they honoured with the epithets of resolute, subtle, angelic, &c.
he was called acutissimus et acerrimus. According to
Wood, he commenced B. D. in 1613, and was the preacher
at the act of that year. His sermon on this occasion is
said to have been No. 37. in the “Clavis Mystica;
” but,
according to the evidence of his nephew John Featley, he
did not take that degree until 1615, and the sermon he delivered was a Latin concio ad clerum, dated March 25. In
1610 he had preached the rehearsal sermon at Oxford, and
by the bishop of London’s appointment he discharged the
same duty at St. Paul’s cross in 1613. By invitation from
Mr. Ezekiel Ascot, who had been his pupil, he accepted
the rectory of Northill in Cornwall, which he vacated on
his institution to the rectory of Lambeth in 1618. a change
which, if not more profitable, was certainly highly agrees
ahle to him, as he became now, by the recommendation
of the university, domestic chaplain to Abbot, archbishop
of Canterbury.
, Sieur des Avaux et de Javerci, counsellor and historiographer to the king of France, was born at Chartres in 1619. He finished his first
, Sieur des Avaux et de Javerci, counsellor and historiographer to the king of France, was born at Chartres in 1619. He finished his first studies there at the age of fourteen, and then was sent to Paris to improve himself in the sciences, and in the management of affairs: but his inclination soon made him devote himself entirely to the muses, and he gained a great reputation by his knowledge in the fine arts. The marquis de Fontenay-Mareuil, being chosen for the second time ambassador extraordinary to the court of Rome in 1647, Felibien was made secretary to the embassy, and perfectly answered the hopes which that minister had conceived of him. During his stay at Rome, his fondness for the liberal arts made him spend all the time he could spare in visiting those who excelled in them; and especially the celebrated Poussin, from whose conversation he learned to understand all that is most beautiful in statues and pictures: and it was according to the exalted notions he then formed to himself of the excellence and perfection of painting, that he wrote those valuable works which established his reputation. On his return from Italy he went to Chartres; and, as he designed to settle himself, he married a lady of considerable family. His friends introduced him afterwards to Fouquet, who would have done something for him had he not soon after lost the king’s favour: but Colbert, who loved the arts and sciences, did not suffer him to be useless. After he had desired him to make some draughts for his majesty, in order to engage him to complete the works he had begun, he procured him a commission of historiographer of the king’s buildings, superintendant of them, and of the arts and manufactures in France: this commission was delivered to him March 10, 1666. The royal academy of architecture having been established in 1671, he was made secretary to it. The king made him afterwards keeper of his cabinet of antiques, in 1673, and gave him an apartment in the palace of Brion. He was also one of the first members of the academy of inscriptions and medals, and became afterwards deputy comptroller general of the bridges and dykes of the kingdom. He died June 11, 1695, aged seventy-six; and left five children.
ppeared at the Hague in 1701. This elegant work completely ruined the credit of Fenelon at the court of France. The king considered it as a satire against his government;
But the work that has gained him the greatest reputation, and will render his name immortal, is his “Telemachus,
” written, according to some, at court; according to others, in his retreat at Cambray. A servant whom
Fenelon employed to transcribe it, took a copy for himself,
and had proceeded in having it printed, to about 200 pages,
when the king, Louis XIV. who was prejudiced against
the author, ordered the work to be stopped, nor was it
allowed to be printed in France while he lived. It was
published, however, by Moetjons, a bookseller, in 1699,
though prohibited at Paris; but the first correct edition
appeared at the Hague in 1701. This elegant work completely ruined the credit of Fenelon at the court of France.
The king considered it as a satire against his government;
the malignant found in it allusions which the author probably had never intended. Calypso, they said, was madam de Montespan Eucharis, mademoiselle de Fontanges Antiope, the duchess of Burgundy Protesilaus,
Louvois; Idomeneus, king James II. Sesostris, Louis XIV.
The world, however, admired the flowing elegance of the
style, the sublimity of the moral, and the happy adoption
and embellishments of ancient stories; and critics were
long divided, whether it might not be allowed the title of
an epic poem, though written in prose. It is certain that
few works have ever had a greater reputation. Editions
have been multiplied in every country of Europe; but the
most esteemed for correctness is that published from his
papers by his family in 1717, 2 vols. 12mo. Splendid
editions have been published in various places, and translations in all modern languages of Europe, modern Greek
not excepted.
, or Fernelius, physician to Henry II. of France, was born at Mont-Didier in Picardy, in 1506, or as some
, or Fernelius, physician to Henry II. of France, was born at Mont-Didier in Picardy, in 1506, or as some say in 1497. He was not very young when he was sent to Paris, to study rhetoric and philosophy; but made so quick a progress, that, having been admitted master of arts after two years’ time, the principals of the colleges strove who should have him to teach logic, and offered him a considerable stipend. He would not accept their offers; but chose to render himself worthy of a public professor’s chair by private studies and lectures. He applied himself therefore in a most intense manner, all other pleasure being insipid to him. He cared neither for play, nor for walking, nor for entertainment, nor even for conversation. He read Cicero, Plato, and Aristotle, and the perusal of Cicero procured him this advantage, that the lectures he read on philosophical subjects were as eloquent as those of the other masters of that time were barbarous. He also applied himself very earnestly to the mathematics.
mounting the throne, presented him withagden chain, and honoured him with her letters; and Louis IV. of France gave him a pension of five hundred crown for seven years.
, of the same family with the famer, was born at Milan in 1607. He went through Is
studies in the Ambrosian college, and after he had conpleted a course of philosophy and divinity, applied himself
entirely to polite literature, in which he made so grat
progress, that cardinal Frederic Borromeo procured hn
a professorship of rhetoric in that college, when he vis
but one and twenty years old. Six years after, the ipublic of Venice invited him to Padua, to teach eloquene,
politics, and the Greek ianguage, in that university, whih
was then extremely in its decline; but Ferrari restoredit
to its former flourishing state. The republic rewarded hn
by enlarging his pension every six years, which from fre
hundred ducats was at last raised to two thousand. Afer
the death of Ripamonte, historiographer of the city of
Milan, Ferrari was appointed to write the history of tat
city; and a pension of two hundred crowns was settledm
htm for that purpose. He began, and composed eilit
books; but finding he could not have access to the necssary materials in the archives of Milan, he desisted, id
left what he had done to his heir, on condition thathe
should not publish it. His reputation procured him f esents and pensions from foreign princes. Christimof
Sweden, in whose honour he had made a public disccrse
upon her mounting the throne, presented him withagden
chain, and honoured him with her letters; and Louis IV.
of France gave him a pension of five hundred crown for
seven years. He died in 1682, aged seventy-five. He
was remarkable for the sweetness, sincerity, and affability
of his temper; and had so happy a way of mitigating persons exasperated against each other, that he acquire the
title of “the Reconciler, or Pacificator.
”
ance when they were subdued, and followed the court to Nice, where the pope, Charles V. and the king of France had an interview: having afterwards resigned the post
, in Latin Ferrettus, one of the
learned civilians in the sixteenth century, was born at Castello Franco in Tuscany, Nov. 14th, 1489. At twelve years
old he was sent to Pisa, where he studied the civil and
canon law for three years; he spent two other years in the
university of Sienna, after which he went to Rome, and
was made secretary to cardinal Salviati. He was admitted
an advocate at the age of nineteen years, after a public disputation before a numerous audience of cardinals and
bishops. He then left his Christian name of Dominicus,
and took that of Æmilius, according to a custom very prevalent among the literati of Italy. Having accepted of the
chair of law-professor, he explained so learnedly the law de
Rebus creditis (of things with which persons are trusted)
that it gained him the title of secretary to Leo the Xth.
He exercised that office for some years, after which he regigned it voluntarily, and retired into his native country.
He left it again at the end of two years, his father having
been killed there, and went to Tridino in the dukedom of
Montferrat, where he married; and having continued there
four years, he attended the marquis of Montferrat to Rome
and to Naples, that marquis commanding part of the French
army. This expedition of, the French proving unsuccessful, Ferreti endeavoured to return into his native country,
but he was taken by the Spaniards, and could not obtain
his liberty but by paying a ransom. He went into France,
and taught the law at Valencewith so much reputation,
that Francis I. made him counsellor in the parliament of
Paris, and sent him as envoy to the Venetians, and to the
Florentines. He acquitted himself so well of that employment, that it determined the marquis of Montferrat to send
him to the court of Charles V. after he had obtained Francis I.'s consent for that journey. Ferreti attended the emperor in the expedition of Africa; and as soon as he was
returned into France, the king sent him to the Florentines
during the war in which they were engaged against the
emperor. He went back to France when they were subdued, and followed the court to Nice, where the pope,
Charles V. and the king of France had an interview: having afterwards resigned the post of counsellor in the parliament, he went to Lyons, and thence to Florence, where
he was admitted a citizen. He was sent for to Avignon
to teach the law there. His yearly stipend was at first 550
crowns, then 800, and then 1000; a sum that had never
been given to any professor in that university. He gained
the love both of the inhabitants and of the students, who
shewed it in a very remarkable manner after his death; for
when his successor Craveta began his lectures by strictures
upon Ferreti, the scholars shewed their attachment to their
old master by hissing and driving him from the place. He
died at Avignon July 14, 1552. Ferreti was a man of general learning, and well acquainted with classical literature.
He gave an edition of the principal orations of Cicero,
printed at Lyons by Gryphius, 8vo, “M. T. Ciceronis Orationes Verrinae ac Philippics,
” dedicated to cardinal Salviati. His “Opera Juridica
” were published in
, an eminent lawyer, called sometimes the Cato of France, was born at Toulouse in 1506. He was admitted a doctor
, an eminent lawyer, called sometimes the Cato of France, was born at
Toulouse in 1506. He was admitted a doctor of law at
Padua; and from a professor in the university of Toulouse,
was raised to be a counsellor in the parliament of the same
city. It is remarkable of him, that though he was a protestant in his heart for a good part of his life, he did not
profess himself to be so till a little before his death. He
had indeed often discovered that he was no bigotted papist;
and was so strongly suspected of heresy in 1559, that he
would have been imprisoned if he had not made his escape.
He harangued, in 1562, in the council of Trent, whither
he was sent ambassador by the French king; and he expressed himself in so bold a manner in favour of the interests of France, that the Italian priests were highly
offended at him. He went afterwards ambassador to Venice, where he continued several years; and took occasion
to assist father Paul in collecting materials for his “History of the Council of Trent.
” On his return from Venice,
Du Plessis Mornay, who knew his thoughts, pressed him
so earnestly to declare the truth, that Ferrier openly professed himself a protestant, and the king of Navarre made
him his chancellor. He was about seventy-six years old
at the time of his renouncing popery; and he only lived to
seventy-nine. He died in 1585. It has been said that he
conspired with the chancellor de l'Hospital to break the
knot which united the French king with the holy see; to
assemble a national council, in which the king of France,
after the example of the king of England, should be declared head of the Gallican church; and to usurp all the
estates of the church of France. He was reckoned among
the greatest men in Europe, and was the author of some
literary works.
, a French Jesuit, and a native of Rouergue, and confessor to the king of France, was born in 1614, and turned a Jesuit in 1632. He had
, a French Jesuit, and a native of
Rouergue, and confessor to the king of France, was born
in 1614, and turned a Jesuit in 1632. He had taught
philosophy fonr years, divinity twelve years, and ethics
two years. He had been principal of the college of Toulouse, and had acquitted himself very well of that employment. The Jesuits probably looked upon him as a very
able man, since they designed to make him the king’s
confessor, to which office he was promoted in 1670. He
died in the convent of the Jesuits at Paris, October 29,
1674. He was one of the ablest antagonists of Jansenius’s
followers, and his thesis concerning probability, which hq
maintained at Toulouse the 8th and the llth of June 1659,
made a considerable noise. He wrote a Latin answer to
father Baron’s objections against the “Scientia media,
”
entitled “Responsio ad Objectiones Vincentianas,
” Toulouse,
rence, admired by Scaliger, and honoured by him with the name of Atticus. --He continued the history of France in Latin (which Paulus Æmilius, a writer of Verona, had
, a French lawyer, was born
in 1515, and was a counsellor of the parliament of Bourdeaux. He was an elegant writer in Latin, an imitator of
the style of Terence, admired by Scaliger, and honoured
by him with the name of Atticus. --He continued the history of France in Latin (which Paulus Æmilius, a writer of Verona, had given from the reign of Pharamond to 1488) as far as the end of the reign of Francis I. This
work was published at Paris, by Vascosan, in 1554, fol.
and 1555, 8vo. It is copious, but not too long, and
abounds with curious anecdotes and very exact details.
He wrote also “Observations sur la Coutume de Bourdeaux,
” Lyons,
noble and Lyons, where be contracted an acquaintance with Spoil; and after visiting some other parts of France, arrived in England, and formed an intimacy with many
, an able antiquary, doctor and lawprofessor at Basil, and afterwards secretary of that city,
was born July 6, 1647. His regular studies were philosophy and law, to which he joined a knowledge of Greek
and Roman antiquities, induced at first by a tine museum
which his father had, and which he afterwards greatly
enriched. In 1667 he went to Grenoble and Lyons, where
be contracted an acquaintance with Spoil; and after visiting some other parts of France, arrived in England, and
formed an intimacy with many of its learned men, particularly Dr. Thomas Gale, who was then employed on his
edition of Jamhlicus; and Fesch supplied him with some
useful observations from an ancient manuscript in his library, an obligation which Gale has politely acknowledged.
After his return to Basil, in 1672, he supported some
theses “De Insignibus,
” in which he displayed much
learning, and which were reprinted in German in the form
of a treatise. In 1678 he set out on a tour in search of
antiquary lore, to Austria, Carinthia, and Italy, making
some stay at Padua with his friend Charles Patin, who was
then professor of medicine. He was unanimously admitted a member of the society of the Ricovrati, and pronounced on that occasion a panegyric on the republic of
Venice, in Greek and Latin verse, before the principal
personages of the city of Padua, and it was afterwards
printed. At Rome he visited every object of curiosity,
and made considerable additions to his collection of Greek
and other rare medals. Having examined the very rare
piece of Pylaemon Euergetes, king of Paphlagonia, he
wrote a dissertation on it, which Gronovius reprinted in his
Greek Antiquities. On his return home he took the degree of doctor in law, and was soon after chosen syndic of
the city of Basil, and secretary, and regent of the schools.
He died May 27, 1712. Besides the works above-mentioned, he published some dissertations on subjects of law
and philology, and a discourse on the death of Brandmuller, the learned lawyer.
iately the defect in Scaliger’s demonstration of the quadrature of the circle. When Henry the Fourth of France became at length the peaceable possessor of the crown,
, or Nicolaus Faber, a very ingenious, learned, and pious man, was born at Paris, June 2, 1544, or according to Perrault, July 4, 1543; and liberally educated by his mother, his father dying in his infancy. During the course of his studies, as he was cutting a pen, a piece of the quill flew into his eye, and gave him such excessive pain, that hastily lifting up his hand to it, he struck it out with the knife. Having finished his application to the languages, he was sent to study the civil law at Tholouse, Padua, and Bologna. He did not come back till he had travelled through Italy: and he resided eighteen months in Rome, about 1571, where he cultivated a friendship with Sigonius, Muretus, and other learned men. He there acquired his taste for the investigation of antiquities, and brought away with him many curiosities. Upon hi$ return to France, he applied himself wholly to letters, and would hear no mention of marriage. His mother and brother dying in 1581, he lived with Peter Pithoeus, with whom he was very intimate; and having no occupation but study, he employed himself in reading the ancients, in correcting them by Mss. of which he had a great number in his own library, and in writing notes upon them. He laboured particularly on Seneca the rhetorician, whom he published in 1587, with a learned preface and notes, an. edition which we do not find mentioned by Dibdin oc Clarke. He applied himself also to studies of a different kind, to the mathematics particularly; in which he succeeded so well, that he discovered immediately the defect in Scaliger’s demonstration of the quadrature of the circle. When Henry the Fourth of France became at length the peaceable possessor of the crown, he appointed Faber preceptor to the prince of Conde. During this important trust, he found time to labour upon some considerable works; and composed that fine preface to the fragments of Hilary, in which he discovered so many important facts relating to the history of Arianism, not known before. After the death of Henry IV. he was chosen, by the queen, preceptor to Louis XIII. He died in 1611, or according to Perrault, Nov. 4, 1612.
r. As he was frequently sent a deputy to the court, he was known to de Morillac, keeper of the seals of France, who honoured him with his friendship. As early as 1626
, an eminent French civilian, was born at Semur, the capital of Auxois, Dec. 16, 1583. After studying at Dijon, Orleans, and other places, he was received as an advocate of parliament in 1602, when only nineteen years old, and the same year he went into Germany to attend the celebrated Bongars, who was sent by Henry IV. resident from France, into the empire; but soon left him, to study the law at Heidelberg, where the well-known Codefroy was at that time law-professor. Godefroy paid great attention to Fevret, who was recommended by several persons of quality: he received him into his house, and caused him to hold public disputations, which; he did with great applause. In 1607, Fevret returned to Dijon, where he married Mrs. Anne Brunet of Beaulne, by whom he had nineteen children; fourteen of which they brought up together during eight years. After his wife’s death, which happened in 1637, he very whimsically caused his bed to be made one half narrower, and never would marry again. He gained great reputation at the bar at Dijon; and was chosen counsellor to the three estates of the province. In 1629, Lewis the Thirteenth being come to Dijon in order to punish a popular insurrection, Fevret was chosen to petition the king that he would graciously be pleased to pardon the guilty. He spoke for all the corporations, and made so elegant a discourse, that the king commanded him to print it, and to send it to him at Lyons. His majesty then pardoned the authors of the sedition, and granted to Fevret the place of counsellor in the parliament of Dijon; but not being permitted to employ a deputy, he refused it, because he would not quit his profession of an advocate, and contented himself with the posts of king’s counsellor and secretary to the court, with a pension of 900 livres. He wrote a history of this insurrection, which was published some time after. As he was frequently sent a deputy to the court, he was known to de Morillac, keeper of the seals of France, who honoured him with his friendship. As early as 1626 and 1627, Monsieur, the king’s brother, had chosen him for his counsellor in ordinary in all his affairs; and the prince of Conde had made him intendant of his house, and of his affairs in Burgundy. He was continued in the same post by his son Louis de Bourbon prince of Cond6; and, during the life of these two princes, he was honoured with their favour in a distinguished manner. Frederic Casimir, prince palatine of the Rhine, and his consort Amelia Antwerpia, born princess of Orange, chose him also their counsel and intendant for their affairs in Burgundy. He had an extensive correspondence with all the learned civilians in his time. He died at Dijon, in 1661.
e a long time imprisoned, because he had foretold some things which were not acceptable to the court of France. He was one of those who vainly boasted of having found
, in French Finé, professor of
mathematics in the Royal college at Paris, was the son of
a physician, and born at Briungon, in Dauphine, in 1494.
He went young to Paris, where his friends procured him a
place in the college of Navarre. He there applied himself to polite literature and philosophy; yet devoted himself more particularly to mathematics, for which he had a
strong natural inclination, and made a considerable progress, though without the assistance of a master. He acquired likewise much skill in mechanics; and having both
a genius to invent instruments, and a skilful hand to make
them, he gained high reputation by the specimens he gave
of his ingenuity. He first made hinaself known by correcting and publishing Siliceus’s “Arithmetic,
” and the
“Margareta Philosopiiica.
” He afterwards read private
lectures in mathematics, and then taught that science publicly in the college of Gervais; by which he became so
famous, that he was recommended to Francis I. as the fittest person to teach mathematics in the new college which
that prince had founded at Paris. He omitted nothing to
support the glory of his profession; and though he instructed his scholars with great assiduity, yet he found
time to publish a great many books upon almost every part
of the mathematics. A remarkable proof of his skill in
mechanics is exhibited in the clock which he invented in
1553, and of which there is a description in the Journal
of Amsterdam for March 29, 1694. Yet his genius, his
labours, his inventions, and the esteem which an infinite
number of persons shewed him, could not secure him from
that fate which so often befalls men of letters. He was
obliged to struggle all his life with poverty; and, when he
died, left a wite and six children, and many debts. His
children, however, found patrons, who for their father’s
sake assisted his family. He died in 1555, aged sixty-one.
Like all the other mathematicians and astronomers of those
times, he was greatly addicted to astrology; and had the
misfortune to be a long time imprisoned, because he had
foretold some things which were not acceptable to the
court of France. He was one of those who vainly boasted
of having found out the quadrature of the circle. His
works were collected in 3 vols. folio, in 1535, 1542, and
1556, and there is an Italian edition in 4to, Venice, 1587.
at Mountshannon, designing to proceed immediately to Bath, or if his strength permitted to the south of France. The immediate cause of his death was the loss of a great
, earl of Clare, and lord high chancellor of Ireland, the son of John Fitzgibbon, esq. an eminent lawyer at the Irish bar, who died in 1780, was born in 1749, educated at the universities of Dublin and Oxford, and afterwards entered upon the study of the law, of which profession he became the great ornament in his native country. In 1784 he was appointed attorney-general on the elevation of Mr. Scott to the bench, and on the decease of lord chancellor Lifford in 1789, his lordship received the seals, and was raised to the dignity of the peerage by the title of baron Fitzgibbon of Lower Connello. To these dignities were added the titles of viscount Clare, Dec. 20, 1793, and earl of Clare, June 10, 1795; and the English barony of Fitzgibbon of Sidbury, in Devonshire, Sept. 24, 1799. In 1802 his health appeared to be so seriously affected, that his physicians thought proper to recommend a more genial climate; and he had arrived at Dublin from his country seat at Mountshannon, designing to proceed immediately to Bath, or if his strength permitted to the south of France. The immediate cause of his death was the loss of a great quantity of blood, while at Mountshannon, which was followed by such extreme weakness, that upon his arrival at Dublin on the 25th, there was reason to fear he could not survive the ensuing day; on Wednesday these alarming appearances increased so much, that upon a consultation of physicians, he was given over. On being made acquainted with this melancholy truth, the firmness of his lordship’s mind did not forsake him. To prevent any impediment to the public business, he directed the new law officers to be called, and from his bed administered to them the necessary oaths. Soon after, his lordship fell into a lethargic slumber, and continued motionless until Thursday Jan. 28, 1802, when he ceased to breathe.
it in 170. For his services in this campaign he was raised the next year to the dignity of mareschal of France; after which he greatly signalized himself in Spain against
, duke of Berwick, natural son of James II. when duke of York, and of Arabella Churchill, sister to the great duke of Marl borough, was born at Moulins in 1670, when his mother was on her return from the medicinal waters of Bourbon. He was bred to arms in the French service, and in 1686, at the age of fifteen, was wounded at the siege of Buda; he signalized himself also in 1687, at the battle of Mohatz, where the duke of Lorraine defeated the Turks. In 1688, after'his father’s abdication, he was sent to command for him in Ireland, and was distinguished, both at the siege of Londonderry, in 1690, and at the battle of the Boyne, where he had a horse killed under him. In 1703 he commanded the troops that Louis XIV. sent to Spain to support the claim of Philip V. In a single campaign he made himself master of several fortified places. On his return to France he was employed to reduce the rebels in the Cevennes. He then besieged Nice, and took it in 170. For his services in this campaign he was raised the next year to the dignity of mareschal of France; after which he greatly signalized himself in Spain against the Portuguese and others. In 1707 he gained the celebrated battle of Almanza, against the English under lord Galloway, and the Portuguese under Das-Minas, who had above 5000 men killed on the field. This victory fixed the crown on the head of Philip V. who was studious to prove his gratitude to the general to whom he was indebted for it. In 1714 he took Barcelona, being then generalissimo of the armies of Spain. When the war between France and Germany broke out in 1733, he again went out at the head of the French army; but in 1734 he was killed by a cannon-bail before Philipsburg, which he was besieging. It was the fortune of the house of Churchill, says Montesquieu, speaking of the dukes of Marlborough and Berwick, to produce two heroes, one of whom was destined lo shake, and the other to support, the two greatest monarchies^ jf Europe. The character of Fitzjames was in some degree dry and severe, but full of integrity, sincerity, and true greatness. He was unaffectedly religious; and, though frugal in his personal expences, generally in debt, from the expences brought upon him by his situation, and the patronage he gave to fugitives from England, who had supported the cause of his father. The French are lavish in his Braise, and certainly not without reason. His character has been well and advantageously drawn by the great Montesquieu; and there are memoirs of him written by himself, with a continuation to his death by the English editor, Mr. Hooke, a doctor of the Sorbonne, and son of the Roman historian. They were published in 2 vols. 8vo, in 1779.
went and burnt Marguison, which was newly built and fortified, and many villages. In 1523, the king of France, preparing to send John duke of Albany, regent of Scotland,
, an eminent naval commander, and earl of Southampton, in the sixteenth century, was the second son of sir Thomas Fitzvviliiam, of Aldwarke, in Yorkshire, knt. by Lucia, his wife, daughter and co-heir to John Neville, marquis Montacute. In 151O he was made one of the esquires for the body of king Henry VIII. which office was renewed to him for life ia 1512. The year following he was one of the chief commanders in the fleet sent out against France, to clear the sea of French ships before Henry and his allies attacked France by land; and he was seriously wounded by an arrow in attempting to destroy the French fleet at Brest. Shortly after he attended king Henry at the siege of Tournay, where his bravery procured him the honour of knighthood. In 1620 he was vice-admiral of England, and em^ ployed in guarding the channel at the time the emperor Charles V. came to England. He so ingratiated himself with his royal master that he obtained from him, in 1521, 9. grant of the manor of Navesby in Northamptonshire, part of the possessions of Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham, then lately attainted. At that time he was ambassador in France; but, upon a rupture between that kingdom and England, he was recalled, Jan. 1521-2, and ordered to sea with a strong fleet of twenty-eight sail, to secure our merchants, and take what French ships he could. Shortly after he assisted at the taking of Morlaix, in Bretagne; and with sir William Sandes and sir Maufice Berkeley, went and burnt Marguison, which was newly built and fortified, and many villages. In 1523, the king of France, preparing to send John duke of Albany, regent of Scotland, into that kingdom in order to invade England from that quarter, sir William was made admiral, and dispatched with a strong fleet to intercept him. Having missed him, he landed on the French coast at Treport, in Normandy, and burnt the suburbs of that town and several ships in the harbour, though there were but 700 English opposed to 6000 French. The year following, being captain of Guisnes, in Picardy, he greatly annoyed Boulogne, and other places adjacent. Before the end of that year he was made treasurer of the king’s household; and in October sent to France with Dr. John Taylor, a civilian, to see the lady regent (whose son, Francis I. was then prisoner in Spain) swear to observe the articles of a treaty newly concluded between the two crowns. In 1529 he was one of those who subscribed the articles exhibited in parliament against cardinal Wolsey. At the grand interview between the ki:igs of England and France, in 1532, he attended his master Henry V11I. to Boulogne, the place of interview between many other persons of the highest quality. In May 1535, he was sent with the duke of Norfolk, the of Ely, and Dr. Fox, to treat with the French king’s commissioners about a league between the crowns of England and France; one of the articles of which was, that the duke of Angonleme, third son to the king of France, should marry Elizabeth, second daughter of king Henry. Shortly after, he was made knight of the garter, and chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster; and in 1536 constituted admiral of England, Wales, Ireland, Normandy, Gascony, and Aquitaine. On Oct. 18, 1537, he was advanced to the title of earl of Southampton, and made lord privy-seal Oct. 27,1539. In April following, some disputes having arisen between England and France, he, with John lord Russel, lately made high admiral, were sent over to Calais with a few troops of horse, and returned quickly after executing their orders. He was also employed as captain of the Foreward in the expedition to Scotland, in October 1542, but died in his way thither, at Newcastle, so much esteemed, that, in honour of his memory, his standard was borne in the vanguard in all that expedition. By his will bearing date Sept. 10, of the same year, he ordered his body to be buried in the church of Midhurst, in Sussex. He left no issue by Mabel his wife, daughter to Henry lord Clifford, and sister to Henry first earl of Cumberland. Of his personal character it is only recorded that there was not a serviceable man under his command whose name he knew not; not a week passed but he paid his ships; not a prize but his seamen shared in as well as himself; and it was his opinion, that none fought well but those who did it for a fortune, which may be admitted, in some measure, if we consider that fortune and honours in the naval and military services are generally joined.
benevolence. In the state of disorder to which the profusion of Louis XIV. had reduced the finances of France, it was happy for that country to have such a minister
, the celebrated cardinal of that name, was born in 1653, at Lodeve in Languedoc, but was brought to Paris at the age of six, and
there educated for the church. He distinguished himself
in the progress of his studies; and when he began to mix
with the world, appeared there with the natural advantages of a handsome figure, pleasing address, and wellmanaged wit. His first preferment was that of a canon of
Montpellier; he was also a doctor of the Sorbonne. But
his friends becoming numerous, much interest was made
for him, and in 1698, Louis XIV. named him bishop of
Frejus. “I have made you wait a long time,
” said the
king, “but you have so many friends, that I was determined to stay till I could have the sole merit of preferring
you.
” Louis XIV. a little before he died, appointed him
preceptor to his grandson, in which office he succeeded
Bossuet and Fenelon. In 1726 he was made cardinal, and
soon after advanced to the place of prime-minister. He
was then turned seventy. Yet the weight of this active:
post did not alarm him; and, to the age of ninety, he
manifested a mind in full vigour, and capable of conducting affairs. From 1726 to 1740, every thing prospered.
He commenced and brought to a glorious conclusion for
his country, the war for the succession in Spain; and he
added Lorraine to the French territory. In the war which
commenced in 174-0 he was not so fortunate; and in 1743
he died, full of grief for a succession of misfortunes, of
which the nation reproached him as the author. A too
rigid attention to economy had led him to neglect the marine of his country; and the successes of England by sea
completed the evil which had been thus begun. We was
of a mild and tranquil character, a lover of peace, and
not a man to make himself feared. He governed, says
Millot, if not like a sublime genius who executes great
things, at least like a prudent man, who accommodates his
plans to circumstances, prefers essential to specious adVantages, and regards tranquillity and order as the foundation of public happiness. He had neither the pride of
Richelieu, nor the avarice of Mazarin. No minister could
be less costly to the state; his income did not amount tq
five thousand pounds sterling a year, one half of which
was employed in secret acts of benevolence. In the state
of disorder to which the profusion of Louis XIV. had reduced the finances of France, it was happy for that country
to have such a minister as Fleury, whose pacific turn counterbalanced the impetuosity of Villars, which would continually have plunged the country in new wars.
o the princes of Conti. In 1680 he had the care of the education of the count de Vermandois, admiral of France. After the death of this prince, which happened in about
, a celebrated French ecclesiastical historian, was the son of an advocate, and born at Paris. Dec. 6, 1640. He discovered early a strong inclination, for letters, but applied himself particularly to the law, in. consequence of which he was made advocate for the parliament of Paris in 1658, and attended the bar nine years. He then took orders, for which he was more eagerly disposed, and more highly qualified by virtues as well as learning; and in 1672 was made preceptor to the princes of Conti. In 1680 he had the care of the education of the count de Vermandois, admiral of France. After the death of this prince, which happened in about four years, the king preferred him to the abbey of Loc-Dieu, belonging; to the Cistercians, and in the diocese of Rhodez. In 1689 the king made him sub-preceptor to the dukes of Burgundy, Anjou, and Berri, in which important employment he acted under the celebrated Fenelon. In 1696 he was admitted a member of the French academy. In 1706, when the education of the three princes was finished, the king gave him the rich priory of Argenteuil, belonging to the Benedictines, in the diocese of Paris, upon which promotion he resigned the abbey of Loc-Dieu. If he had possessed ambition to solicit the greatest situations, he would have obtained them, but his disinterestedness was equal to his other virtues. He was a hermit in the midst of the court. In 1716 he was chosen confessor to Louis XV. in which situation it was said of him that his only fault wati that of being seventy-five years old; and on July 14, 1725, he died, in his eighty-third year.
fered by king James I. to F. John Fisher (See Fisher), ibid. 1626. 10.” Spongia,“against the bishops of France, and the censure of the Sorbonne. 11.” Answer to a book
, an English Jesuit, who merits some
notice from his controversial connections, was born in
Cambridgeshire, and going abroad, became a Jesuit in
1593, and returned to England as a missionary. After
some years spent in this employment, he was apprehended
and banished; but his sufferings and his talents procured
him great respect in France, where he was employed by
his superiors to teach humanity and divinity at St. Omer’s
and Louvaine. He was alive at St. Omer’s in 1641, but
the time of his death is not on record. In his publications,
written in controversy with Chillingworth, Antonius de
Dominis, Crashaw, sir Edward Hobby, and other learned
protestants, he assumed the fictitious names of Daniel a
Jesu, Hermannus Loemelius, and Annosus Fidelis Verimontanus. Under these he wrote, 1. “Synopsis Apostasiæ
M. A. de Dominis,
” Antw. Detectio hypocrisis M. A. de Dominis,
” ibid. Censura decem Lib. de republica ecclesiast. M. A. de Dominis,
” Cologne, Apologia sedis Apostolicæ,
” &c. Rothomag. The church conquerant over human wit,
” against Chillingworth, St.
Omer’s, The Total Sum,
” against the same,
ibid. Answer to William Crashaw,
” ibid.
A treatise of Purgatory, in answer to sir
Edward Hobby,
” ibid. Answer to Francis
White’s Reply concerning Nine Articles offered by king
James I. to F. John Fisher (See Fisher), ibid. 1626.
10.
” Spongia,“against the bishops of France, and the
censure of the Sorbonne. 11.
” Answer to a book entitled `Instructions for the Catholics of England'," with
several other small treatises relative to the bishop of Chalcedon’s case; which attack of his on that bishop, and on
the clergy of France, was repelled in various pamphlets
by his brethren, who took part with the bishop. Floyd
also published a translation of St. Augustine’s Meditations,
and of some other religious works.
in some historical and polemical theses respecting what were called the four articles of the clergy of France, agreed upon in 1682; but his subsequent writings have
, a learned Italian ecclesiastic, was born at Florence in 1713, and went through
his principal courses of study in that city, and evinced so
much fitness for the office, that his superiors appointed
him their librarian. This society, of which he became a
member in 1737, was composed of the theologians of Florence, and he made his first public display in some historical
and polemical theses respecting what were called the four
articles of the clergy of France, agreed upon in 1682; but
his subsequent writings have consigned these to oblivion.
In 1741 he published a dissertation “de primisFlorentinorum
apostolis,
” a work much praised by Manni and Lami.
The same year appeared another “against the reveries of
certain Protestants;
” but what procured him more reputation, was his edition of “Virgil,
” published at Florence,
, an eminent political and financial writer of France, was born at Mans, Oct. 2, 1722. His father, Francis,
, an eminent political and financial writer of France,
was born at Mans, Oct. 2, 1722. His father, Francis,
Louis Veron Duverger, was a merchant of that city. Having finished his education at the college of Beauvais, i,Ek
Paris, he left it in the sixteenth year of his age, to followthe tarn my trade, which had long been carried on by his
family; his great grandfather having established at Mans a,
manufactory of tammies, which, from that circumstance, in
Spain were called Verones. In 1741 he was sent by his
father to Spain and Italy, whence he returned to Mans in
1743. His grandfather by the mother’s side, having soon
after retired from business, he was thereby enabled to trade
on his own account; but declining, from motives of delicacy, to carry on at Mans the same trade as his father, he
Avent to Nantes, where his uncle was established as a shipowner, to obtain a knowledge of the mercantile concerns
and transactions of that city. Having spent several years
at Nantes, and collected much valuable information on
maritime and colonial trade, he entered in 1752 upon a
speculation, which induced him to go to Paris. Confined
to a small circle of friends and acquaintance, he lived there
in great privacy, yet presented to government several memoirs, which experiencing a very cool reception, he resolved to write in future, not for administration, but the
public. He published accordingly in 1753, his “ThtJorie et pratique du Commerce et de la Marine,
” a free
translation from the Spanish of Dr. Geron. de Votariz,
which was soon followed by the “Considerations sur les
Finances d'Espagne relativement a eel les de France,
” a
work in which he displayed such intimate acquaintance
with the Spanish system of finance, that the Spanish ambassador at the court of Versailles proposed him to marshal
cle Noailles, as consul-general of Spain; but the former
being soon after recalled by his court, the appointment did
not take place. About the same time he published, in
1754, his “Essai sur la partie politique du commerce de
terre et de mer, de Pagriculture et des finances,
” which
within three weeks passed through two editions; the third
edition was published in 1766, and the fourth in 1796,
considerably improved and enlarged. From his profound
knowledge in matters relative to money and coinage, he
was appointed in 1755, to examine into the enormous
abuses which had crept into the administration <yf the
French mint. He immediately proposed a new coinage,
but his plan was not carried into execution until 1771; he
was, however, in the meanwhile, appointed inspectorgeneral of the mint, a new office expressly established for
him.
Having obtained free admittance to the library of the
family of Noailles, rich in manuscripts relative to the administration of the finances of France, he conceived the
idea of composing his “Recherches et considerations sur
les finances de France depuis 1595 jusqu'a 1721,
” printed
at Basle, Lettre d'un
Banquier a son correspondent cle province;
” chiefly intended to give a favourable account of the minister’s operation. In 1760 he pointed out to the Duke de Choiseuil
the perilous situation of France, and suggested the plan of
a treaty of peace, calculated to tempt the ambition of
Great Britain, and at the same time to save resources for
France. This plan met with so much applause, that Don
de Fuentes, at that lime Spanish ambassador at Paris, who
was admitted to the conferences, offered an armed neutrality on the part of his court to tacilitate its execution.
Forbonnois was charged to draw up the necessary acts and
plans, and to elucidate a great variety of points respecting
the fisheries, the means of enlarging them, the sacrifices
to be made to England, &c. nay, he was offered the appointment of plenipotentiary to conclude the treaty; but
having executed his charge, and demanded a conference,
he received no answer. Being entrusted with the secrets
of the state, he began to entertain strong apprehensions
for his personal safety, and took refuge in a glass-manufactory in the mountains of Burgundy, in which he was
concerned. He returned, however, afterwards to Paris,
and in order to render both the minister and the financiers
perfectly easy on his account, he purchased the place of a
counsellor or member of the parliament of Metz.
and a spirit which is seldom met with in English pulpits, although it has not been unusual in those of France. In private life his piety was so conspicuous as to be
About this time he received the degree of D. D. from the university of Glasgow, and was invited by the society of protestant dissenters in Monkwell-street, London, to be co-pastor with Dr. Lawrence, then aged and infirm. This invitation he accepted, and upon Dr. Lawrence’s death, which happened soon after, he became sole pastor, and continued to discharge the duties of that office till 1782, when his health, which had long been declining, rendered it necessary to discontinue his public services. But during his ministry in this place he acquired a higher degree of popularity than probably ever was, or will be attained by the same means. It was the strong force of his eloquence, which drew men of all ranks and all persuasions to hear him. His action and elocution were original, and peculiarly striking, and not a little assisted by his figure, which was tali beyond the common standard, and by a set of features which in preaching displayed great variety of expression and animation. Besides his regular attendants who subscribed to his support, his meeting was frequented by men curious in eloquence; and it is said that the celebrated David Garrick was more than once a hearer, and spoke of Dr. Fordyce’s skill in oratory with great approbation. With respect to his theological sentiments, he appears to have possessed that general liberality which is civil to all systems, without being attached to any. From his printed works, it would be easier to prove that he belonged to no sect, than that he held the principles of any. As to the matter, morality appears to have been his chief object; and as to the manner, he evidently studied a polish and a spirit which is seldom met with in English pulpits, although it has not been unusual in those of France. In private life his piety was so conspicuous as to be universally acknowledged, and there was a fervour in his language and expression when he conversed on religious subjects of the general kind, which procured him the highest respect. During the prosperity of his brother, the banker, whose failure has made the name memorable in the annals of bankruptcy, he had probably access to much company of the upper ranks; and it is certain, that from this, or from a disposition naturally graceful, his manners were peculiarly elegant and courtly.
ined the army as a volunteer, and afterwards served as surgeon to the brigade of guards on the coast of France, and in all the wars of Germany, and some part of that
, another brother of the preceding, was born in 1724, and educated in the Marischal
college, Aberdeen, of which he died rector magnijicus, or
lord rector, an office of great dignity in the Scotch universities, and to which he bequeathed a legacy of \000l. At
the age of eighteen, he had completed the usual course of
academical studies, and had distinguished himself for his
proficiency in Greek and mathematics. He had also studied
physic and surgery under an able practitioner, and then
joined the army as a volunteer, and afterwards served as
surgeon to the brigade of guards on the coast of France,
and in all the wars of Germany, and some part of that
time, if we mistake not, under sir John Pringle. The
warm support of his military friends, and of some persons
of high rank to whom he had been serviceable, concurred
with his own merit and address in recommending him to very
extensive practice in London. His publications, likewise,
added considerably to his fame: and he was sent for to
greater distances, and received larger sums, than almost
any physician of his time. By these means he might have
acquired an immense fortune, had he not been a very great
sufterer by the bankruptcy of his brother Alexander, and
had he not proved himself a man of most unbounded
liberality to his family and friends, and a generous patron
to many of his young countrymen, who were, from time
to time, recommended to his good offices. His address
had much of the courtly manner of past times, and his
conversation, while unassuming, was replete with elegant
anecdote and solid information. His practice lay much
among persons of rank, whose manners became familiar to
him. Few men died more generally lamented by a very
extensive circle of friends. Although originally of a delicate constitution, by temperance and exercise he preserved
his health for many years, but suffered at last a long and
severe illness, which ended in his death, Dec. 4, 1792, at
his house in Brook-street, Grosvenor-square. His first
publication was “A Treatise on the Venereal Disease,
”
which was followed, some years after, by another on
“Fevers,
” and a third on “The ulcerated Sore Throat.
”
In all these, except perhaps the first, he gave the result
of long practice and judicious observation. Just before
his death he published "The great importance and proper
method of cultivating and curing Rhubarb in Britain, for
medicinal uses/* 1792, 8vo. For his successful attempts to
cultivate this valuable medicine, the importation of which
at that time cost the nation annually 200,000l. the society
for the encouragement of arts unanimously voted him a
gold medal. Sir William was a fellow of the royal society,
and received the honour of knighthood from his majesty
about 1787.
d all his dramas are said to abound with passages which would not disgrace the finest tragic writers of France. His versification was highly finished, and he said that
, nephew of the former, and
also the son of a goldsmith, was born at Paris in 1658.
He became lord of Aubigny by purchasing the lands to
which that title was attached. He was successively secretary to the marquis de Crequi, and the duke d'Aumont.
When the former of these noblemen was slain at the battle
of Luzara, La Fosse was employed to carry his heart to
Paris, and celebrated the death of the young hero in verses
which are still extant. He was so much a master of Italian
as to write skilfully in that language both in prose and
verse, but his chief fame as a poet was atchieved in his
own language, in which he wrote several tragedies, and
many other poems. His ft Polixene, Manlius, and Theseus,“published in his
” Theatre,“2 vols. 12mo, maintained their station in the French theatre till the revolution; and all his dramas are said to abound with passages
which would not disgrace the finest tragic writers of France.
His versification was highly finished, and he said that the
expression cost him more than the thoughts. His
” Manlius," the best of his pieces, has been pronounced in many
respects worthy of Corneille; yet even in France, we are
told, he is less known than he deserves. He was intimate
with the poet J. Baptiste Rousseau, and lived the life of a
philosopher, preferring letters to fortune, and friendship
to every thing. He died Nov. 2, 1708, at the age of
fifty. His modesty was equal to his genius; and when any
of his pieces were less successful than others, he professed
constantly that he never appealed from the judgment of
the public.
ellie. From Edinburgh he went to Leyden, whence, after a short stay, he travelled through some parts of France and Germany, and, returning to England, began his practice
, an eminent physician, son of
John and Margaret Fothergill, quakers, was born March 8,
6r, according to Dr. Thompson’s account, Oct. 12, 1712,
at Carr End in Yorkshire, where his father, who had been
a brewer at Knaresborough (after having travelled from one end of America to the other), lived retired on a small
estate which he cultivated. The eldest son Alexander,
who studied the law, inherited that estate. John was the
second son. Joseph, the third son, was an ironmonger at
Stockport, in Cheshire, where he died a few years ago.
Samuel, the fourth son, went to America, and became a
celebrated preacher among the quakers. There was also a
sister, Anne, who lived with the doctor, and survived him.
John received his education under the kind care of his
grandfather Thomas Hough, a person of fortune in Cheshire (which gave him a predilection for that county), and
at Sedburg in Yorkshire. About 1718 he was put apprentice to Benjamin Bartlett, apothecary, at Bradford, whence
he removed to London, Oct. 20, 1736, and studied two
years as a pupil of doctor (afterwards sir Edward) Wilmot,
at St. Thomas’s hospital. He then went to the university
of Edinburgh, to study physic, and there took his doctor’s
degree. His Thesis was entitled, “De emeticorum usu
in variis morbis tractandis;
” and it has been republished
in a collection of theses by Smellie. From Edinburgh he
went to Leyden, whence, after a short stay, he travelled
through some parts of France and Germany, and, returning to England, began his practice in London about 1740,
in a house in Whitehart-court, Lombard-street (where he resided till his removal to Harpur-street in 1767), and
acquired both reputation and fortune. He was admitted
a licentiate of the college of physicians of London, 1746,
and in 1754, fellow of Edinburgh, to which he was a considerable benefactor. In 1753, he became a member both
of the royal and antiquarian societies; and was at his
death a member of the royal medical society at Paris.
He continued his practice with uninterrupted success till
within the last two years of his life, when an illness, which
he had brought on himself by his unremitted attention,
obliged him greatly to contract it. Besides his occupation
in medical science, he had imbibed an early taste for
natural history, improved by his -friend Peter Collinson,
and employed himself particularly on the study of shells,
and of botany. He was for many years a valuable contributor to the Gentleman’s Magazine; which in return considerably assisted his rising fame. His observations on the
weather and diseases were begun there in April 1751, and
discontinued in the beginning of 1756, as he was disappointed in his views of exciting other experienced physicians in different parts to imitate the example. Though,
his practice was very extensive, he did not add to his art
any great or various improvements. His pamphlet on the
ulcerous sore throat is, on every account, the best of his
publications, and that owes much of its merit to the information of the late doctors Letherland or Sylvester. It was
first printed in 1748, on the re-appearance of that fatal
disorder whick in 1739 had carried off the two only sons of
Mr. Pelham. It may be here added, that 0r. Wilmot
preserved lady Catherine Pelham, after her sons had died
of it, by lancing her throat; a method which, he said, he
had once before pursued with the same success. In 1762,
Dr. Fothergill purchased an estate at Upton in Essex, and
formed an excellent botanic garden, with hot-houses and
green-houses, to the extent of 260 feet. In 1766, he
began regularly to withdraw, from Midsummer to Michaelmas, from the excessive fatigue of his profession, to Lee
Hall, near Middlewich in Cheshire; which, though he
only rented it by the year, he had spared no expence to
improve. During this recess he took no fees, but attended,
to prescribe gratis at an inn at Middlewich once a week.
Some time before his death he had been industrious to
contrive a method of generating and preserving ice in the
West Indies. He was the patron of Sidney Parkinson,
and drew up the preface prefixed to his account of the
voyage to the South Seas. At his expence also was made
and printed an entire new translation of the whole Bible,
from the Hebrew and Greek originals, by Anthony Purver ,
a quaker, in two volumes, 1764, folio, and also, in 1780,
an edition of bishop Percy’s “Key to the New Testament,
”
adapted to the use of a seminary of young quakers, at
Acworth, near Leeds, which the doctor first projected, and
afterwards endowed handsomely by his will. It now contains above 300 children of both sexes, who are clothed
and instructed. Among the other beneficent schemes suggested by Dr. Fothergill, was that of bringing fish to London by land carriage, which, though it did not in every
respect succeed, was supposed to defeat a monopoly; and,
that of rendering bread much cheaper, though equally
wholesome, by making it with one part of potatoes, and
three parts of household flour. But his public benefactions,
his encouragements ef science, the instances of his attention to the health, the police, the convenience of the
metropolis, &c. are too numerous to specify . The fortune which Dr. Fothergill acquired, was computed at
80,000l. His business when he was in "full practice, was
calculated at near 7000l. per annum. In the Influenza of
1775 and 1776*, he is said to have had sixty patients on his
list daily, and his profits were then estimated at 8000l.
The disorder which hastened his death was an obstruction
in the bladder, occasioned by a delicacy which made him
unwilling to alight from his carriage for relief. He died
at his house in Harpur-street, Dec. 26, 1780; and his remains were interred, Jan. 5, in the quakers burying-ground
at Winchmore-hill. The executors, who were his lister,
and Mr. Ghorley, linen-draper, in Gracechurch-street, who
married one of his nieces, intended the burial to be private;
but the desire of the quakers to attend the funeral rendered
it impossible. Only ten coaches were ordered to convey
his relations and friends, but there were more than seventy
coaches and post-chaises attending; and many of the
friends came above 100 miles, to pay their last tribute of
respect. The doctor by his will appointed, that his shells,
and other pieces of natural history, should be offered to
the late Dr. Hunter at 500l. under the valuation he ordered
to be taken of them. Accordingly, Dr. Hunter bought
them for 1200l. The drawings and collections in natural
history, which he had spared no expence to augment, were
also to be offered to Mr. (now sir Joseph) Banks, at a valution. His English portraits and prints, which had been
collected by Mr. John Nickolls of Ware, and purchased
by him for 80 guineas, were bought for 200 guineas by
Mr. Thane. His books were sold by auction, April 30,
1731, and the eight following days. His house and garden,
at Upton, were valued at 10,000l. The person of Dr.
Fothergill was of a delicate rather than an extenuate4
make. His features were all expressive, and his eye had
a peculiar brilliancy. His understanding was comprehensive and quick, and rarely embarrassed on the most sudden
occasions. There was a charm in his conversation and
address that conciliated the regard and confidence of all
who employed him; and so discreet and uniform was his
conduct, that he was not apt to forfeit the esteem which
he had once acquired. At his meals he was uncommonly
abstemious, eating sparingly, and rarely exceeding two
glasses of wine at dinner or supper. By this uniform and
steady temperance, he preserved his mind vigorous and
active, and his constitution equal to all his engagements.
d this advice, and his ambition was not long without gratification. In 1741, he was created marechal of France. The witlings attacked him on his elevation, but he despised
, count of
Belle-Isle, more known by the name of marechal Bellisle,
grandson of the preceding, was born in 1684. Politics and
history attracted his attention from his very infancy, to
which studies he afterwards added that of mathematics.
He had hardly finished his education when Louis XIV. gave
him a regiment of dragoons. He signalized himself at the
siege of Lisle, received other steps of promotion, and at
the peace returned to court, where the king entirely forgot
the faults of the grandfather in the merits of his descendant.
When war again broke out, after the death of Louis XIV.
he proceeded to distinguish himself, but a change of
ministry put a check to his career. He shared the disgrace of the minister Le Blanc, was for a time im-prisoned
in the Bastile, and then banished to his own estate. In
this retreat he composed a complete justification of himself, was recalled to court, and from that time experienced
only favour, fortune, and promotion. In the war of 1733,
he obtained a principal command in Flanders, distinguished
himself before Philipsburg, and commanded during the
rest of the campaign in Germany. In 1735 he was decorated with the order of the Holy Ghost, and was the confidential adviser of the minister, cardinal Fleury. About
this time, taking advantage of an interval of peace, he
wrote memoirs of all the countries in which he had served:
but on the death of the emperor Charles VI. in 1740, he
urged the cardinal to declare war. Ambition prompted
this advice, and his ambition was not long without gratification. In 1741, he was created marechal of France. The
witlings attacked him on his elevation, but he despised
their efforts: “These rhymers,
” said he, “would gain
their ends, should I do them the honour to be angry.
” At
the election of the emperor in 1742, marechal Bellisle was
plenipotentiary of France at the diet of Francfort, where
his magnificence was no less extraordinary than the extent
of his influence in the diet. He appeared rather as a principal elector than an ambassador, and secured the election
of Charles VII. Soon after, by the desertion of the Prussians and Saxons, the marechal found himself shut up in
Prague, and with great difficulty effected a retreat. He
was obliged to march his army over the ice, and three
thousand troops left in Prague were compelled to surrender,
though with honour. On his return to Francfort, Charles
VII. presented him with the order of the golden fleece,
having already declared him a prince of the empire. In
December 1743, as he was going again into Germany, he
was taken prisoner at Elbingerode, a small town encircled
by the territory of Hanover, and was carried into England,
where he remained till August 1744. He then served
against the Austrians in Provence; and, returning to Versailles to plan the campaign of 1748, was created a peer
of France. He had enjoyed the title of duke of Gisors,
from 1742. Afterthe peace in 1743, his influence at
court continued to increase, and in 1757 he became prime
minister; but in this situation he lived only four years;
falling a victim, it is said, to his application to business,
his sorrow for the misfortunes of France, and his anxious
cares to extricate her from them. This patriotic character
coincides with other anecdotes related of him. Having
lost his brother, whom he tenderly loved, at a very critical
period of public affairs, he suppressed his private grief as
soon as possible, saying, “I have no brother; but I have
a country, let me exert myself to save her.
” He died in
January, 1761, at the age of 77.
al, &c. were given, that they might consign to oblivion as much as possible the ancient instituti&ns of France. The re-election of two thirds of the convention removed
In Sept 1793, he obtained the adoption of a project for the regulation of weights and measures, was chosen secretary in October, and in December following president of the Jacobins, who denounced him for his silence in the convention. This he answered by pleading his avocations and chemical labours, by which, he who had been born without any fortune, had been able to maintain his father and sisters. In Sept. 1794, he became a member of the committee of public safety, and was again elected to it in Feb. 1795. Besides proposing some improvements in the equipment of the armies, which were then contending with all the powers of Europe, he was particularly engaged in schools and establishments for education, to which new names, as polytechnic, normal, &c. were given, that they might consign to oblivion as much as possible the ancient instituti&ns of France. The re-election of two thirds of the convention removed him to the council of elders, on$. of the fantastical modes of government established in I?y5, where, in November, he had to refute several charges levelled against him respecting the murder of Lavoisier. He was afterwards nominated professor of chemistry, and a member ofthe institute; and in May 1797, Jeft the council. Dyring the time he could spare from his public employments, he continued to cultivate his more honourable studies, and had attained the highest rank among the men of science whom the revolutionary tribunals had spared, when he died Dec. 16, 1809. At this period he was a counsellor of state for life, a count of the empire, a commander of the legion of honour, directorgeneral of public instruction, a member of the national institute, professor of chemistry in the medical and polytechnic schools, and in the museum of natural history, and a member of most of the learned societies of Europe.
ly 3, 1488, to Sept. 1, 1489. About the beginning of 1491, he was employed in an embassy to the king of France, and returned to England in November following. In 1494
, an eminent prelate, and the munificent founder of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, was the son of Thomas Fox, and born at Ropesley, near Grantham, in Lincolnshire, about the latter end of the reign of Henry VI. His parents are said to have been in mean circumstances, but they must at least have been able to afford him school education, since the only dispute on this subject between his biographers, is, whether he was educated in grammar learning at Boston, or at Winchester. They all agree that at a proper age he was sent to Magdalen-college, Oxford, where he was acquiring distinction for his extraordinary proficiency, when the plague, which happened to break out about that time, obliged him to go to Cambridge, and continue his studies at Pembrokehall. After remaining some time at Cambridge, he repaired to the university at Paris, and studied divinity and the canon law, and here, probably, he received his doctor’s degree. This visit gave a new and important turn to his life, and introduced him to that eminence which he preserved for many years as a statesman. In Paris he became acquainted with Dr. Morton, bishop of Ely, whom Richard III. had compelled to quit his native country, and by this prelate he was recommended to the earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII. who was then providing for a descent upon England. Richmond, to whom he devoted himself, conceived such an opinion of his talents and fidelity, that he entrusted to his care a negotiation with France for supplies of men and money, the issue of which he was not able himself to await; and Fox succeeded to the utmost of his wishes. After the defeat of the usurper at the battle of Bosworth, in 1485, and the establishment of Henry on the throne, the latter immediately appointed Fox to be one of his privy-council, and about the same time bestowed on him the prebends of Bishopston and South Grantham, in the church of Salisbury. In 1487, he was promoted to the see of Exeter, and appointed keeper of the privy seal, with a pension of twenty shillings a day. He was also made principal secretary of state, and master of St. Cross, near Winchester. His employments in. affairs of state both at home and abroad, were very frequent, as he shared the king’s confidence with his early friend Dr. Morton, who was now advanced to the archbishopric of Canterbury. In 1487, Fox was sent ambassador, with sir Richard Edgecombe, comptroller of the household, to James III. of Scotland, where he negociated a prolongation of the truce between England and Scotland, which was to expire July 3, 1488, to Sept. 1, 1489. About the beginning of 1491, he was employed in an embassy to the king of France, and returned to England in November following. In 1494 he went again as ambassador to James IV. of Scotland, to conclude some differences respecting the fishery of the river Esk, in which he was not successful. Having been translated in 1492 from the see of Exeter to that of Bath and Wells, he was in 1494 removed to that of Durham. Jn 1497, the castle of Norham being threatened by the king of Scotland, the bishop caused it to be fortified and supplied with troops, and bravely defended it in person, until it was relieved by Thomas Howard, earl of Surrey, who compelled the Scots to retire. Fox was then, a third time, appointed to negociate with Scotland, and signed a, seven years truce between the two kingdoms, Sept. 30, 1497. He soon after negociated a marriage between James IV. and Margaret, king Henry’s eldest daughter, which was, after many delays, fully concluded Jan. 24, 1501-.
e princess Mary; one of the commissioners for the treaty of peace between Henry VIII. and Lewis XII. of France; and for the marriage between the said king of France
In 1500, the university of Cambridge elected him their chancellor, which he retained till 1502; and in the same year (1500) he was promoted to the see of Winchester. In 1507 he was chosen master of Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, which he retained until 1519. In 1507 and 1508 he was employed at Calais, with other commissioners, in negociating a treaty of marriage between Mary, the king’s third daughter, and Charles, archduke of Austria, afterwards the celebrated Charles V. In 1509-10, he was sent to France with the earl of Surrey, and Ruthal, bishop of Durham, and concluded a new treaty of alliance with Lewis XII. In 1512 he was one of the witnesses to the foundation charter of the hospital in the Savoy. In 1513 he attended the king (Henry VIII.) in his expedition to France, and was present at the taking of Teroiiane, and in October following, jointly with Thomas Grey, marquis of Dorset, he concluded a treaty with the emperor Maximilian against France. In 1514, he was one of the witnesses to the renunciation of the marriage with prince Charles of Spain by the princess Mary; one of the commissioners for the treaty of peace between Henry VIII. and Lewis XII. of France; and for the marriage between the said king of France and the princess Mary, the same year. He was also one of the witnesses to the marriage treaty, and to the confirmation of both treaties; to the treaty of friendship with Francis I. and to its continuation in the following year.
ris, with the cardinal de Savoy, to conclude a marriage between the prince of Piedmont and Christina of France, second daughter of Henry IV. This princess, herself,
, was born at the castle of
Sales, in the diocese of Geneva, August 21, 1567. He
descended from one of the most ancient and noble families
of Savoy. Having taken a doctor of law’s degree at Padua,
he was first advocate at Chambery, then provost of the
church of Geneva at Annecy. Claudius de Granier, his
bishop, sent him as missionary into the valleys of his
diocese to. convert the Zuinglians, and Calvinists, which
he is said to have performed in great numbers, and his
sermons were attended with wonderful success. The bishop
of Geneva chose him afterwards for his coadjutor, but was
obliged to use authority before he could be persuaded to
accept the office. Religious aftairs called him afterwards
into France, where he was universally esteemed; and cardinal du Perron said, “There were no heretics whom he
could not convince, but M. de Geneva must be employed
to convert them.
” Henry IV. being informed of his merit,
made him considerable offers, in hopes of detaining hioi
in France; but he chose rather to return to Savoy, where
he arrived in 1602, and found bishop Grimier had died a
few days before. St. Francis then undertook the reformation of his diocese, where piety and virtue soon flourished through his zeal; he restored regularity in the
monasteries, and instituted the order of the Visitation in.
1610, which was confirmed by Paul V. 1618, and of whicli
the baroness de Chantal, whom he converted by his preaching at Dijon, was the foundress. He also established a
congregation of hermits in Chablais, restored ecclesiastical discipline to its ancient vigour, and converted nnmerous heretics to the faith. At the latter end of 1618 St.
Francis was obliged to go again to Paris, with the cardinal
de Savoy, to conclude a marriage between the prince of
Piedmont and Christina of France, second daughter of
Henry IV. This princess, herself, chose de Sales for her
chief almoner; but he -would accept the place only on two
conditions; one, that it should not preclude his residing
in his diocese; the other, that whenever he did not execute
his office, he should not receive the profits of it. These
xinusual terms the princess was obliged to consent to, and
immediately, as if by way of investing him with his office,
presented him with a very valuable diamond, saying, “On
condition that you will keep it for my sake.
” To which
he replied, “I promise to do so, madam, unless the poor
stand in need of it.
” Returning to Annecy, he continued
to visit the sick, relieve those in want, instruct the people,
and discharge all the duties of a pious bishop, till 1622,
when he died of an apoplexy at Lyons, December 28,
aged fifty-six, leaving several religious works, collected in
2 vols. fol. The most known are, “The Introduction to a
devout Life;
” and “Philo,
” or a treatise on the love of
God. MarsoHier has written his life, 2 yols. 12mo, which
was translated into English by Mr. Crathornc. He was
canonized in 16 65.
king of France, surnamed “the Great, and the restorer of learning,”
king of France, surnamed “the Great, and
the restorer of learning,
” succeeded his father-in-law
Louis XII. who died without a son in 1515. Francis I. was
the only son of Charles duke of Orleans, constable of
AngoulSroe, and born at Cognac, September 12, 1494.
Immediately after his coronation he took the title of
cluke of Milan, and put himself at the head of a powerful
army to assert his right to that duchy. The Swiss, who
defended it, opposed his enterprize, and attacked him.
near Marignana; but they were cut to pieces in a sanguinary contest, and about 15,000 left dead on the field.
The famous Trivulce, who had been engaged in eighteen
battles, called this “The battle of the Giants,
” and the
others “Children’s play.
” It was on this occasion that the
king desired to be knighted by the famous Bayard. That
rank was originally the highest that could be aspired to:
princes of the blood were not called monseigneur, nor
their wives madaine, till they had been knighted; nor
might any one claim that honour, unless he could trace
his nobility at least three generations back, both on his
father’s and mother’s side, and also bore an unblemished
character, especially for military courage and valour. The
creation of a knight was attended with few ceremonies,
except at some festivals, inwhich case a great number
were observed. This institution, which may be traced up
to the first race, contributed not a little to polish the minds
of the French, by restraining them within the bounds of a
benevolent morality. They swore to spare neither life or
fortune in defence of religion, in fighting against the infidels, and in protecting the widow, the orphan, and all
who were defenceless. By this victory at Marignana,
Francis I. became master of the Milanese, which was ceded
to him by Maximilian Sforza, who then retired into France.
Pope Leo X. alarmed by these conquests, held a conference with the king at Bologna, obtained from him the
abolition of the Pragmatic Sanction, and settled the Concordate, which was confirmed the year following in the
Latcran council. From that time the kings of France appointed to all consistorial benefices, and the pope received
one year’s income upon every change. The treaty of
N.oyon was concluded the same year between Charles V.
and Francis I. one principal article or' which was the restoration of Navarre. Charles V. on the death of Maximilian I. being elected emperor, 1519, in opposition to
Francis, the jealousy which subsisted between those two
princes broke out immediately, and kindled a long war,
which proved fatal to all Europe. The French, commanded by Andrew de Foix, conquered Navarre in 1520,
and lost it again almost directly; they drove the English
and Imperialists from Picardy; took Hesdin, Fontarabia,
and several other places; but lost Milan and Tournay in
1521. The following year, Odet de Foix, viscount of
Lautrec, was defeated at the bloody battle of Bicoque,
which was followed by the loss of Cremona, Genoa, and a
great part of Italy. Nor did their misfortunes end here.
The constable of Bourbon, persecuted by the duchess of
Angouleme, joined the emperor 1523, and, being appointed commander of his forces in 1524, defeated admiral
Bonevet’s rear at the retreat of Rebec, and retook all the
Milanese. He afterwards entered Provence with a powerful army, but was obliged to raise the siege of Marseilles,
and retired with loss. Francis I. however, went into Italy,
retook Milan, and was going to besiege Pavia; but, having
imprudently detached part of his troops to send them to
Nappies, he was defeated by the constable de Bpurbon in
a bloody battle before Pavia, February 24, 1525, after,
having two horses killed under him, and displaying prodigious valour. His greatness of mind never appeared
more conspicuously than after this unfortunate engagement. In a letter to his mother he says, “Every thing is
lost but honour.
” He was conducted as a prisoner to
Madrid, and returned the following year, after the treaty
which was concluded in that city, January 14, 1526. This
treaty, extorted by force, was not fulfilled; the emperor
had insisted on the duchy of Burgundy being ceded to
him but, when Lannoi went to demand it in his master’s
name, he was introduced to anaudience given to the deputies of Burgundy, who declared to the king, that he
had no power to give up any province of his kingdom.
Upon this the war re-commenced immediately. Francis
I. sent forces into Italy, under the command of Lautrec,
who rescued Clement VII. and at first gained great adVantages, but perished afterwards, with his army, by
sickness. The king, who had been some years a widower,
concluded the treaty of Cambray in 1529, by which he
engaged to marry Eleanor of Austria, the emperor’s sister;
and his two sons, who had been given as hostages, were
Ransomed at the king’s return for two millions in gold.
The ambition of possessing Milan, caused peace again to
be broken. Francis took Savoy in 1535, drove the emperor from Provence in 153G, entered into an alliance with
8olyman II. emperor of the Turks; took Hesdin, and seyeral other places, in 1537, and made a truce of ten years
with Charles V. at Nice, 1538, which did not, however,
Jast long. The emperor, going to punish the people of
Ghent, who had rebelled, obtained a passage through
France, by promising Francis the investiture of the duchy
of Milan for which of his children he pleased; but. after
being received in France with the highest honours in 1539,
he was no sooner arrived in Flanders than he refused to
keep his promise. This broke the truce; the war was
renewed, and carried on with various success on both sides.
The king’s troops entered Italy, Roussillorr, and Luxemburg. Francis of Bourbon, comte d‘Enguien, won the
battle of Cerizoles in 154*, and took Montferrat. Francis
I. gained over to his side Barbarossa, and Gustavus Vasa,
Icing of Sweden; while, on the other hand, Henry VIII.
of England espoused the interests of Charles V. and took
Bologna, ’1544. A peace was at last concluded with he
emperor at Cressy, September 18, 1544, and with Henry
VIII. June 7, 154fi; but Francis did not long enjoy the
tranquillity which this peace procured him; he died at the
castle of Rambouillet the last day of March, 1547, aged
fifty-three. This prince possessed the most shining qualities: he was witty, mild, magnanimous, generous, and
benevolent. The revival of polite literature in Europe
was chiefly owing to his care; he patronized the learned,
founded the royal college at Paris, furnished a library at
Fountainbleau at a great expence, and built several palaces,
which he ornamented with pictures, statues, and costly
furniture. When dying, he particularly requested his son
to dimiuish the taxes which he had been obliged to levy
for defraying the expences of the war; and put it in his
power to do so, for he left 400,000 crowns of gold in his
coffers, with a quarter of his revenues which was then
due. It was this sovereign who ordered all public acts to
"be written in French. Upon the whole he appears to
have been one of the greatest ornaments of the French
throne.
osophical Dictionary,” the “System of Nature,” and other works which emanated from the philosophists of France.
, a French abbé and very useful writer, was born at Arinthod, in Franche-comte, Nov.
2, 1698, and for some time belonged to the chevaliers of
St. Lazarus, but quitting that society, came to Paris and
engaged in teaching. He afterwards wrote several works,
in a style perhaps not very elegant, but which were admired either for their intrinsic usefulness, or as antidotes
to the pernicious doctrines of the French philosophers and
deists, who, conscious of his superiority in argument, affected to regard him as a man of weak understanding, and
a bigot; reproaches that are generally thrown upon the
advocates of revealed religion in other countries as well as
in France. The abbé François, however, appears from his
works to have been a man of learning, and an able disputant. He died at Paris, far advanced in years, Feb.
24, 1782, escaping the miseries which those against whom
he wrote, were about to bring on their country. His principal works are, I. “Geographic,
” 12tno, an excellent
manual on that subject, often reprinted, and known by
the name of “Crozat,
” the lady to whom he dedicated it,
and for whose use he first composed it. 2. “Prenves de
la religion de Jesus Christ,
” 4 vols. 12mo. 3. “Defense
de la Religion,
” 4 vols. 12mo. 4. “Examen du Catechisme de i'honnete homme,
” 12mo. 5. “Examen des
faits qui servent de fondement a la religipn Chretienne,
”
Observation sur la philosophic
de i'histoire,
” 8vo. He left also some manuscripts, in refutation of the “.Philosophical Dictionary,
” the “System
of Nature,
” and other works which emanated from the
philosophists of France.
, an early poet of France, father of the celebrated Iveteaux, and the first who
, an early poet of
France, father of the celebrated Iveteaux, and the first
who wrote satires in French, and an Art of Poetry, was
born of a noble family at Fresnaye, near Falaise, iiv
1534-. He was bred a lawyer, and became the king’s advocate for the bailliage of Caen, and afterwards lieutenantgeneral and president of that city, where he died at the
age of seventy-two, in 1606. He wrote, 1. “Satires,
”
which though esteemed less strong than those of Regnier,
and less witty than those of Boileau, have truth and nature, and contain simple narratives, the style of which has,
something pleasing. 2. “The Art of Poetry.
” Copious
specimens of this performance may be seen in the notes
of St. Marc, on Boileau’s Art of Poetry. It has
considerable merit, but a merit which haa been superseded by later
efforts. 3. Two books of Idyllia, and three of epigrams,
epitaphs, and sonnets. 4. A poem on the monarchy. All
these were collected by himself in an edition of poems,
published at Caen in 1605.
l was laid before Colbert, to collect all the authors who at different times had written the history of France, and to form a body out of them. This minister liking
, commonly called
Du Cange, a learned Frenchman, was descended from a
good family, and born at Amiens in 1610. After being
taught polite literature in the Jesuits college there, he went
to study the Jaw at Orleans, and was sworn advocate to the
parliament of Paris in 1631. He practised some time at
the bar, but without intending to make it the business of
his life. He then returned to Amiens, where be devoted
himself to study, and ran through all sorts of learning,
languages and philosophy, law, physic, divinity, and history. In 1668, he went and settled at Paris; and soon
after a proposal was laid before Colbert, to collect all the
authors who at different times had written the history of
France, and to form a body out of them. This minister
liking the proposal, and believing Du Fresne the best
qualified for the undertaking, furnished him with memoirs
and manuscripts for this purpose. Du Fresne wrought
upon these materials, and drew up a large preface, containing the names of the authors, their character and manner, the time in which they lived, and the order in which
they ought to be arranged. Being informed from the
minister that his plan was not approved, and that he must
adopt another, and convinced that if he followed the order
prescribed, the whole work would be spoiled, he frankly
told his employers that since he had not been happy enough
to please those in authority, his advice was, that they
should look out some of the best hands in the kingdom;
and at the same time he returned them all their memoirs.
(See Bouquet). Being thus disengaged from a tedious
and laborious undertaking, he finished his Glossary of low
Latin, or “Glossarium Mediæ et infimæ Latinitatis,
”
which was received with general commendation; and though
Hadrian Valesius, in his preface to the Valesiana, notes
everal mistakes in it, it is nevertheless a very excellent
and useful work. It was afterwards enlarged by the addition
of more volumes; and the edition of Paris, by Carpentier,
in 1733, makes no less than six in folio; to which Carpentier afterwards added four of supplement. Both have
been since excellently abridged, consolidated, and improved, in 6 vols. 8vo, published at Halle, 1772 1784.
His next performance was a “Greek Glossary of the middle
age,
” consisting of curious passages and remarks, most
of which are drawn from manuscripts very little known.
This work is in 2 vols. folio. He was the author and editor
also of several other performances. He drew a genealogical map of the kings of France. He wrote the history
of Constantinople under the French emperors, which was
printed at the Louvre, and dedicated to the king. H
published an historical tract concerning John Baptist’s
head, some relics of which are supposed to be at Amiens.
He published, lastly, editions of Cinnamus, Nicephorus,
Anna Commena, Zonaras, and the Alexandrian Chronicon, with learned dissertations and notes.
sir John Hawkins did another. In 1594, he was sent with four men of war, to assist Henry the Fourth of France, against a body of leaguers and Spaniards then in possession
It does not appear how captain Frobisher employed himself from this time to 1585, when he commanded the Aid, in sir Francis Drake’s expedition to the West Indies. In 1588, he bravely exerted himself against the Spanish Armada, commanding the Triumph, one of the three largest ships in that service, and which had on board the greatest number pf men of any in the whole English fleet. July 26th, he received the honour of knighthood, from the hand of the lord high admiral, at sea, on board his own ship and when afterwards the queen thought it necessary to keep a fleet on the- Spanish coast, he was employed in that service, particularly in 1590, when he commanded one squadron, as sir John Hawkins did another. In 1594, he was sent with four men of war, to assist Henry the Fourth of France, against a body of leaguers and Spaniards then in possession of part of Bretagne, who had fortified themselves very strongly at Croyzon near Brest. But in an assault upon that fort, Nov. 7, he was wounded with a ball in the hip, of which he died Soob after he had brought the fleet safely back to Plymouth; and was buried in that town. Stow tells us, the wound was not mortal in itself, but became so through the negligence of his surgeon, who only extracted the bullet, without duly searching the wound and taking out the wadding, which caused it to fester.
Edward III. However young he might then be, he had already travelled into the most distant provinces of France. The object of his visit to England was to tear himself
He had but just left school, and was scarcely twenty
years ol i, when at the intreaty of “his dear lord and master sir Robert de Namur, lord of Beaufort,
” he undertook
to write the history of the wars of his own time, more particularly of those which ensued after the battle of Poitiers.
Four years afterwards, having gone to England, he presented a part of this history to queen Philippa of Hainault,
the wife of Edward III. However young he might then
be, he had already travelled into the most distant provinces
of France. The object of his visit to England was to tear
himself from the pains of an attachment which had tormented him for a long time. This passion took possession
of his heart from his infancy; it lasted ten years, and
sparks of it were again rekindled in a more advanced age.
The history of this attachment may be seen in our authority. It appears to have been first childish, and then romantic, and for his feelings in either state, we have only
poetical evidence, and from that we learn that he had
more mistresses than one. He had made two journies to
England, but on which occasion he presented his history
to queen Philippa is not certain. It was well received,
however, and probably gained him the title of Clerk (secretary or writer) of the chamber to that princess, which
he was in possession of from 1361. She is said frequently
to have amused herself, in that age of romantic gallantry,
by making Froissart compose amorous ditties; but this
occupation must be considered solely as a relaxation that
no way impeded more serious works, since during the five
years he was attached to the service of queen Philippa, he
travelled at her expence to various parts of Europe, the
object of which seems to be a research after whatever
might enrich his history.
Froissart had held, he had been also of the household of Edward III. and even of that of John, king of France. Having, however, lost his patroness, he did not return
It was about this time that Froissart experienced a loss
which nothing could recompense, the death of
Philippa, which took place in 1369. He composed a lay
on this melancholy event, of which, however, he was not
a witness; for he says, in another place, that in 1395 it
was twenty-seven years since he had seen England. According to Vossius and Bullart he wrote the life of queen
Philippa; but this assertion is not founded on any proofs.
Independently of the employment of clerk of the chamber
to the queen of England, which Froissart had held, he had
been also of the household of Edward III. and even of that
of John, king of France. Having, however, lost his patroness, he did not return to England, but went into his
own country, where he obtained the living of Lestines. Of
all that he performed during the time he exercised this
ministry, he tells us nothing moiv than that the tavernkeepers of Lestines had live hundred francs of his money
in ike short space of liuwj he was their rector. It is mentioned in a ms journal of the bishop of Chartres, chunceHor to the duke of Anjou, that according to letters sealed
Dec. 12, 138 >, this prince caused to be seized fifty-six
quires of the Chronicle of Froissart, rector of the parish
church of Lestines, which the historian had sent to be
illuminated, and then to be forwarded to the king of England., the enemy of France. Froissart attached himself
afterwards to Winceslaus of Luxembourg, duke of Brabant, perhaps in quality of secretary. This prince had a
taste for poetry; he had made by Froissart a collection of
his songs, rondeaus, and virrlays, and Froissart adding
s-nne of his own pieces to those of the prince, formed a
soft of romance, under the title of “Meliador, or the
Kujght of the Sun;
” hut the duke did not live to see the
completion of the work, for he died in 1334.
the Tlomish church history, for his learning and piety. Some authors rank him among the chancellors of France, under the reign or‘ king Robert, but he was only chancellor
, bishop of Chartres, who flourished towards
the end of the tenth t and beginning of the eleventh
century, is celebrated, in the Tlomish church history, for his
learning and piety. Some authors rank him among the
chancellors of France, under the reign or‘ king Robert, but
he was only chancellor of the church of Chartres, at the
same time that he was rector of the school. He had been
himself a disciple of the learned Gerbert, who was afterwards pope Sylvester II. in the year 999. Fulbert came
from Rome to France, and taught in the schools belonging
to the church of Chartres, which were then not only attended by a great concourse of scholars, but by his means
contributed greatly to the revival of learning and religioii
in France and Germany; and most of the eminent men of
his time thought it an honour to be able to say that they
had been his scholars. In 1007 he succeeded to the bishopric of Chartres, and the duke William gave him the office
of treasurer of St. Hilary of Poitiers, the profits of which
Fulbert employed in rebuilding his cathedral church. He
was distinguished in his time for attachment to ecclesiasrtical discipline, and apostolic courage; and such was his
character and fame, that he was highly esteemed by the
princes and sovereigns of his age, by Robert, king of
France, Canute, king of England; Richard II. duke of
Normandy; William, duke of Aquitaine; and the greater
part of the contemporary noblemen and prelates. He
continued bishop of Chartres for twenty-one years and six
months, and died, according to the abbé Fleuri, in 1029;
but others, with more probability, fix that event on April
10, 1028. His works, which were printed, not very correctly, by Charles de Villiers in 1608, consist of letters,
sermons, and some lesser pieces in prose and verse. His
sermons, Dupin thinks, contain little worthy of notice;
but his letters, which amount to 134-, have ever been considered as curious memorials of the history and sentiments
of the times. They prove, however, that although Fulbert
might contribute much to the propagation of learning, he
had not advanced in liberality of sentiment before his contemporaries. There are also two other letters of our prelate in existence, the one in D’Acheri’s “Spicilegium,
”
and the other in Martenne’s “Thesaurus Anecdotorum,
”
both illustrative of his sentiments, and the sentiments of
his age.
e might be qualified to accompany the earl of Lincoln, who was then going as ambassador to the court of France. Upon his return he was chosen master of Pembroke hall,
In 1571 the earl of Essex presented him to the rectory of Warley, in Essex, and soon after to the rectory of Kedington, in, Suffolk, and about this time he took his doctor’s degree at Cambridge, and was incorporated in the same at Oxford. His degree at Cambridge was in consequence of a mandamus from the earl of Essex, that he might be qualified to accompany the earl of Lincoln, who was then going as ambassador to the court of France. Upon his return he was chosen master of Pembroke hall, and as Wood says in his Fasti, Margaret professor of divinity, but Baker, in a ms note on Wood, says he never held the latter office.
ese poems was published in the same year in which he died, at the Louvre, at the expence of the king of France.
, an eminent prelate,
the descendant of a noble family in Westphalia, was born
at Bilstein in 1626. He studied at Cologne, where he
contracted an intimate friendship with Chigi, who was
then nuncio, and afterwards pope. During the cardinalate of Chigi, he invited f urstemberg to reside with him,
whom he raised to the bishopric of Paderborn in 1661,
when he himself was seated in the papal chair, under the
title of Alexander VII. The high reputation of the bishop
attracted the notice of Vat) Galer:, who appointed him his,
coadjutor, and whom he succeeded in 1678, when he. was
declared by the pope apostolical vicar of all the north of
Kurope. He was. a zealous catholic, and anxious for the
conversion of those who were not already within the pale
of the church; but at the same time he did not neglect
the cultivation of the belles lettres, eitper by his own
efforts or those of many learned men whom he patronized.
He died in 1683, As an author he collected a number of
Mss. and monuments of antiquity, and gave to the world
valuable work relative to those subjects, entitled “Momimenta Paderbornensia.
” He al*o printed at Rome a.
collection of Latin poems, entitled “Septem Virorutn.
illusirium Poemata.
” In this work there were many poems
of his own, written witU much purity. A magnificent
edition of these poems was published in the same year in
which he died, at the Louvre, at the expence of the king
of France.
, an eminent royal architect of France, built the palace at Choisy, and undertook the royal
, an eminent royal architect of France, built the palace at Choisy, and undertook the royal bridge at Paris, but died in 1686, before he had completed this work, which was finished by his son James and Frere Romain. James was born at Paris 1667, became a pupil of the celebrated Mansart, and acquired so great a reputation as to be appointed overseer- general of buildings, gardens, arts and manufactures first architect and engineer of bridges and banks through the kingdom, and knight of St. Michael. He planned the common sewer, and many public buildings, among which are the hotel de Ville, and the presidial court of Paris, &c. He died in that city 1742, leaving a son, first architect to the king, who long supported the reputation of his ancestors, and died in 1782.
. He was also keeper of the library at Buda. In this situation his fame reached Louis the Xlth, king of France, who invited him into that kingdom. Galeoti went accordingly
, or Galeotus Martius, was born
at Narni, in the pupal territory, and was for some time
an instructor of youth at Bologna, but removed and kept
a private school in Hungary. Being there distinguished
by Matthias Corvinus, king of Hungary, he was admitted
into his family, made his private secretary, and, it is supposed, presided over the education of his son John Coryinus. He was also keeper of the library at Buda. In this
situation his fame reached Louis the Xlth, king of France,
who invited him into that kingdom. Galeoti went
accordingly to meet the king at Lyons, but Louis happening to
come out of the city, they met a litjtle without the gates,
and Galeoti, attempting to descend hastily to pay due honours to the king, fell, and being very fat, was so much
hurt, that he died very soon 'after. In 1478, Galeoti
published a collection of the bon-mots of Matthias Corvinus, “De jocose dictis ac factis regis Matt. Corvini,
”
inserted in the folio collection of writers on the history of
Hungary. There is also by him a treatise in 4to, entitled
“De nomine interiore et de corpore ejus,
” and others,
“De incognitis vulgo,
” never printed; “De doctrina
promiscua,
” Lyons,
, a learned antiquary of France, member of the academy of inscriptions, and professor
, a learned antiquary of France,
member of the academy of inscriptions, and professor of
Arabic in the royal college at Paris, was born of poor parents at Hollo, a little town of Picardy, in 1646. After
having laid the foundation of learning at Noyon, he went
to Paris, where he learned Hebrew and the Oriental languages; and afterwards made a long voyage into the East,
and acquired an uncommon knowledge of the manners and
of the doctrines of the Mahometans. He returned to his
own country, and was made Arabic professor in 1709; but
did not live many years after, 'his death happening at Paris
in 1715. He was the author of several works, the principal of which are, 1. “An account of the Death of sultan
Osman, and of the Coronation of the sultan Mustapha.
”
2. “A collection of Maxims and Bon Mots, drawn from
the Oriental writers.
” 3. “A Treatise upon the origin of
Coffee.
” 4. “Arabian Tales.
” All these are in French.
The last, usually called “The Arabian Nights Entertainments,
” is a popular book all over Europe, and has been
published in various editions in English for above a century.
Galland was also the author of many curious dissertations
upon some scarce medals, which have been highly commended. He had likewise prepared a translation of the
Alcoran, with notes; and a system of the Mahometan
theology, more exact than any that has yet appeared; but
he did not live long enough to publish them.
ry. His works are replete with curious and profound erudition. They are, 1. “Memoirs for the History of France and Navarre,” folio. 2. “Treatises on the Ensigns and
, was proctor- general of the
domain of Navarre, counsellor of state, and deeply versed
in the knowledge of the royal rights in France, and in the
history qf that country. His works are replete with
curious and profound erudition. They are, 1. “Memoirs
for the History of France and Navarre,
” folio. 2. “Treatises on the Ensigns and Standards of France,
” &c. 3.
“Discourse addressed to the king on the origin and rise
of the City of Rochelle,
” 8vo. 4. “A Treatise against
the Franc -aileu, a claim of exemption from Imposts and
personal Services,
” in 4to. He is supposed to have died
about
Clement XIII. Ganganelli was elected in his room In May 1769, chiefly by the influence of the courts of France and Spain, who now urged him to suppress the order of
, who was
elevated to the popedom by the name of Clement XIV.
was the son of a physician, and born in 1705. He was
educated at Rimini, near his birth-place, and at the age
of eighteen entered into the Franciscan order at Urbino.
After finishing his studies at various seminaries, he was
appointed in 1740 to be professor of divinity in the college
of St Bonaventure, at Rome. In this situation he gained
the good opinion of pope Benedict XIV. who gave him the
place of counsellor of the holy office; and in 1759 Clement XIII. made him a cardinal. It is said that in all
his intercourse with his brethren and at their public assemblies, he endeavoured to lower their tone, and to persuade
them that it was almost too late to oppose the will of the
sovereigns of Europe by a display of ecclesiastical power.
This could not be very acceptable to the cardinals, who
persisted in their opinion of the power of the reigning
pontiff, and encouraged him in his disputes with France
and other kingdoms. On the death of Clement XIII. Ganganelli was elected in his room In May 1769, chiefly by
the influence of the courts of France and Spain, who now
urged him to suppress the order of Jesuits, and although
he did not enter on that measure without much deliberation, it was at last carried, and forms the principal event
of his pontificate. He signed the brief for this purpose
on July 21, 1773, and it is said, with considerable reluctance. The consequence to papal power was no doubt
great, but it appeared after all to be but one link in the
great chain of causes which must relieve the world entirely
from its influence. Ganganelli did not long survive this
event, dying Sept. 22, 1773. After his death, a life of
him was published by Caraccioli, replete with anecdotes
illustrative of his amiable character and liberal sentiments;
but we know not how to give credit to a writer who soon
afterwards published some volumes of “Letters
” by Ganganelli, which, it is now universally acknowledged, were
forgeries.
deal of spirit and imagination, and a strong voice, he became a popular preacher in the chief cities of France. He acquitted himself in the pulpit with uncommon vivacity,
As he had a great deal of spirit and imagination, and a
strong voice, he became a popular preacher in the chief
cities of France. He acquitted himself in the pulpit
with uncommon vivacity, and had a peculiar turn for the
wit then in vogue, which, being enforced by a suitable
delivery, made deep impressions upon his audience. But
he was not content with the honour he thus did to his order.
His ambition led him to aim at being more extensively
serviceable by his writings. With that spirit, while yet in
his noviciate, he published in 1614 a defence of the Jesuits against three of their adversaries at once. This piece
he entitled “The Horoscope of Anti-Coton, together with
the life, death, burial, and apotheosis of his two cousingermans Marteliere and Hardeviliere.
” The treatise appeared under a feigned name, and was drawn up in the
ironical style, but too much vitiated by buffoonery; and,
in the same name and style, he printed in 1615, “The
Calvinistic Elixir, or Reformed Philosopher’s Stone, first
dug up by Calvin at Geneva, and afterwards polished by
Isaac Casaubon at London, with the testamentary codex
of Anti-Coton, lately found upon Charenton-bridge.
” The
first of these is entitled “Andrew Schioppii Casparis
fratris horoscopus,
” &c. Antwerp, Andres Schioppii Casparis fratris Elixir Calvinisticum,
” &c. ibid. L'Anticoton, on refutation
de la Lettre declaratoire du Pere Colon,
” Playdoye du Pierre de la Martiliere Avocat en Parlement
pour le Recteur de l'University de Paris contre lesJe-r
suits,
” Paris, 1612, 8vo. 3. “Petri Hardovilierii Actiopro
Academia Parisiensi adversus Presbyteros & Scholasticos
Collegii Claromontanii habita in Senatu Parisiensi. ann.
1611,
” Paris,
ich he determined to employ in travel. Accordingly, he set out in Sept. 1786, and performed the tour of France, Geneva, Swisserland, the Netherlands, and Italy, and
As he advanced in years, humanity, taste* and public
spirit, became still more eminently the predominant principles in his mind. He pitied the condition of the peaa^ntry, depressed rather by their ignorance of the most
skilful modes of labour, and by their remoteness from the
sphere of improvement, than by any tyranny or extortion
of their landlords. He admired, protected, and cultivated
the fine arts. He was the ardent votary of political liberty,
and friendly to every thing that promised a rational
amelioration of public oeconomy, and the principles of government. In 1762 he purchased the estate of Johnston,
co. Kincardine. Within a few years after he began to attempt a plan of the most liberal improvement of the value
of tins estate, by an extension of the village of Laurencekirk, adjoining. He offered leases of small farms, and of
ground for building upon, which were to last for the term,
of one hundred years; and of which the conditions were
extremely inviting to the labourers and tradesmen of the
surrounding country. These offers were eagerly listened
to; and being more desirous to make the attempt beneficial to the country than profitable to himself, he was induced within a few years to reduce his ground-rents to
one half of the original rate. Weavers, joiners, shoemakers, and other artizans in a considerable number, resorted to settle in the rising village. His lordship’s earnestness for the success of his project, and to promote the
prosperity of the people whom he had received under his
protection, led him to engage in several undertakings, by
the failure of which he incurred considerable losses. Projects of a print-field, and of manufactures of linen and of
stockings, attempted with sanguine hopes in the new village,
and chiefly at his lordship’s risk and expence, misgave in
such a manner as might well have dispirited a man of less
steady and ardent philanthropy. But the village’still continued to advance under his lordship’s eye and fostering care.
In 1779 he procured it to be erected into a burgh of barony,
having a magistracy, an annual fair, and a weekly market.
He provided in it a good inn for the reception of travellers,
and furnished it with a library for their amusement, the
only one of the kind probably in either kingdom. We remember, likewise, an Alburn^ in which were many ingenious contributions, both in prose and verse, by the literati of Scotland. He invited an artist for drawing, from
the continent, to settle at Laurencekirk. He had at
length the pleasure of seeing a considerable linen-manufactory fixed in it; and before his death he saw his plan
of improving the condition of the labourers, by the formation of a new village at Laurencekirk, crowned with success beyond his most sanguine hopes. He has acknowledged in a memoir concerning this village, “That he had
tried in some measure a variety of the pleasures
” which mankind pursue; but never relished any so much as the pleasure arising from the progress of his village.“In 1785, by the death of a brother, he became possessed of the family estates, worth about 3000l. a year,
which not only enabled him to pursue his usual course of
liberality, but to seek relief from the growing infirmities
of his age, by a partial relaxation from business, which he
determined to employ in travel. Accordingly, he set out in
Sept. 1786, and performed the tour of France, Geneva,
Swisserland, the Netherlands, and Italy, and after three
years, returned to his native country, with a large collection of objects of natural history, and specimens of the
fine arts. His last years were spent in the discharge of
the duties of his office as a judge; in performing many generous offices of benevolence and humanity, and in promoting the comfort of his tenants. As an amusement for
the last twoor three years of his life, he revised some of
the light fugitive pieces, in which he had indulged the
gaiety of his fancy in his earlier days; and a small volume
was published under the title of
” Miscellanies in prose
and verse,“in which the best pieces are upon good authority ascribed to lord Gardenstone. He revised also the
” Memorandums“which he had made upon his travels,
and two volumes of them were published during his lifetime, under the title of
” Travelling Memorandums,“containing a number of interesting observations, criticisms,
and anecdotes. A third volume appeared after his death,
with an account of him, from which we have borrowed the
greater part of this article. His lordship died July 22,
1793, deeply regretted by his friends and by his country.
His last publication was
” A Letter to the Inhabitants of
Laurencekirk," containing much salutary advice.
cies or Prognostics of Michael Nostradamus, physician to Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX. kings of France,” 1672, folio.
, a physician at Caen,
but a native of Paris, received his degree before the age
of twenty, and came over to England, where he abjured
the Roman catholic religion. He was incorporated in
the university of Oxford on the 10th of March, 1657, and
having settled in London, was appointed physician to the
French ambassador: but fortune was altogether adverse to
him, and he died overwhelmed with poverty and distress,
in some part of Westminster, occasioned, as Wood says,
“by the ill usage of a certain knight,
” whose name, however, he does not mention, nor the time of our author’s
death.He was a man of some science, as his works evince.
They consist of a treatise, in English, on the nature and
properties of the tincture of coral, printed in 1676, in
12iuo; and another in Latin, entitled “Angiiae Flagellum,
seu, Tabes Anglica numeris omnibus absolute,
” The true Prophecies or Prognostics of Michael Nostradamus, physician
to Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX. kings of France,
”
1672, folio.
De commerce remis a sa place." In 1770 he published the 9th vol. 4to of Velly and Villaret’s History of France, beginning with the year 1469, and continuing his labours
, an ingenious French writer,
was born at Goron in the Maine, March 13, 1729. After
b.eing educated, probably in his own country, he came to
Paris, withput money or interest, and depending only on
his learning. This soon recommended him, however, to
a place in the college of Harcourt, and in 1760 he was
appointed coadjutor to the abbé Sellier in the royal college,
and was made before 1764 Hebrew professor, and chosen
a member of the academy of inscriptions au4 belles lettres.
His useful studies were interrupted by the revolution,
and in 1793 he was compelled ta fly, for refusing the republican oaths. He then went to Bougival, where he died
in 1795. All he could save from confiscation was his
library; but his friend Lalande, the celebrated astronomer,
so effectually represented to the government, the disgrace
of suffering a man of so much merit to want bread, that a
pension was granted him. He wrote, 1. “L'Homme de
lettres,
” Paris, Traité
” de l'origine du gouveruement
françoise,“1765, ib. 12 mo. 3.
” De l'education civile,“1765, 12mo. 4.
” De commerce remis a sa place." In
1770 he published the 9th vol. 4to of Velly and Villaret’s
History of France, beginning with the year 1469, and
continuing his labours in this work, produced the 15th vol.
in 1786, displaying throughout the whole more erudition
than his predecessors. He wrote several papers in the
memoirs of the academy of inscriptions, relative, among
other subjects, to the philosophy of the ancients, and
especially to that of Plato, of which he was perhaps rather
too fond, though less fanciful than some modern Platonists.
ter of accounts at Paris, in his journey to the Netherlands; which was the only time he was ever out of France. In Holland he wrote his Exercitation against Fludd in
In 1628 he accompanied Francis Luillere, master of accounts at Paris, in his journey to the Netherlands; which was the only time he was ever out of France. In Holland he wrote his Exercitation against Fludd in defence of Mersennus, who, upon his setting out on this journey, had put Fludd’s book into his hands for that purpose. During his stay in this country, he also became acquainted, among others, with Des Cartes and John Gerard Vossius; against the former of whom he maintained a dispute upon the subject of metaphysics, and he convinced the latter of his great skill in mathematics. In 1640 he was nominated for proctor of his diocese in the general synod of the Gallican church, but the election was carried for another by the interest of cardinal Richelieu.
e spoke German and Latin with ease, as well as French in compliment to his parents, who were natives of France, but had left it on account of their religion. His thirst
, an eminent French
writer of the last century, was born at Lausanne in 1727.
His father, who was a protestant clergyman of that place,
took extraordinary pains in cultivating his mind, and at
the age of twelve years, young Gebelin could read German, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; and at fifteen, he spoke
German and Latin with ease, as well as French in compliment to his parents, who were natives of France, but had
left it on account of their religion. His thirst of knowledge
was such as to prevent his hours of rest; and when his parents, in order to break him of the habit of studying at
night, would not allow him candles, he used to pore over
his books as well as he could by moon -light. In 1763,
after the death of his father, he came to Paris, bringing
with him nothing but a great stock of learning, and the
greatest simplicity of manners; and as the persons to whom
he had recommendations happened to be absent, he remained for some time alone and friendless in that great
metropolis. The first acquaintances he made were two ladies who lived opposite to him, and who lived together in
such harmony as to desire no other connections, but were
yet so pleased with Gebelin’s amiable manners, as to admit him into their friendship, and furnish him with every
assistance he could wish in carrying on his great work,
“Le monde primitif,
” in digesting the materials of which
he employed ten years. One of these ladies, mademoiselle Linot, learned engraving solely with the view of being useful to him in his labours, and actually engraved
some of the plates in his work; while the other, mademoiselle Fleury, contributed 5000 livres towards the expences
of the first volume of his work. After his -death they transferred their kindness to his relations, a sister and two
nieces whom he had sent for to reside at Paris, but to
whom he was not able to leave much.
ontains many sound remarks to clear up facts, and remove errors. 2. “Antiquities of the Royal Family of France;” a work in which he displays a system of his own on
, marquis of St. Aubin, a French author, born in 1687, was first counsellor in
the parliament of Paris, afterwards master of requests, and
died in 1746. He wrote, I. “A Treatise on Opinion,
”
Antiquities of the
Royal Family of France;
” a work in which he displays a
system of his own on the origin of the dynasties of that
country, but not with sufficient success to subvert the
opinions of others.
Le Gendre was author of several works, of which the most important were the following: 1. “A History of France, from the commencement of the Monarchy, to the Death
, a French historian, was born of
an obscure family at Rouen, in 1659, and educated and
patronized by Harlay, archbishop of Rouen, and afterwards of Paris. This patron gave him first a canonry of
Notre-Dame, and afterwards he was made abbé of ClaireFontaine, in the diocese of Chartres. He died at Paris,
Feb. 1, 1733. Le Gendre was author of several works, of
which the most important were the following: 1. “A History of France, from the commencement of the Monarchy,
to the Death of Louis XIII.
” in 3 vols. folio, or 8, 12mo,
published in 1718. This history, which is considered as
an abridgement, is much esteemed by his countrymen.
The style is simple, and rather low, but it contains many
curious particulars not recorded in other histories. It is
reckoned more interesting than Daniel’s, though less elegant. His first volumes, from the nature of the subject,
were less admired than the last. 2. “Manners and Customs of the French, in the different periods of the monarchy,
” The Life of
Francis Harlay,
” An
Essay on the Reign of Louis the Great;
” a panegyric,
which ran through four editions in eighteen months, but
owed its popularity to the circumstance of being presented
to the king in person. 5. “A Life of cardinal d'Amboise,
with a parallel of other cardinals who have been ruling
statesmen,
” Paris, Life of Peter du Bosc,
”
tpellier, physician in ordinary to Monsieur brother of Louis XIV. and to the duke of Orleans, regent of France, descended from a respectable family in Beaure, and was
, a celebrated doctor of
physic of the faculty at Montpellier, physician in ordinary
to Monsieur brother of Louis XIV. and to the duke of
Orleans, regent of France, descended from a respectable
family in Beaure, and was born in 1663. By a skill, peculiar to himself, he restored great numbers of persons to
health whose cases appeared hopeless, and gained great
reputation, particularly in the cure of cancers, and disorders of the eyes. Having acquired a handsome fortune,
he went to reside at Auteuil, near Paris, in a house which
formerly belonged to his friend, the celebrated Boileau,
but had been his own near thirty years, where noblemen,
ministers, ambassadors, chief magistrates, the learned, and
numerous persons of both sexes, went frequently to visit,
or to consult him. In this retreat he acquired a high character for integrity, being scrupulously just, and abhorring
every species of dissimulation, or flattery. He died September 3, 1750. He left all his Mss. by will to his nephew, who was also a doctor of physic, of the faculty at
Montpcllier. The principal are entitled, “Recherches
sur POrigine, le Devellopement, et la Reproduction dc
tous les Etres vivans,
” which is said to be an excellent
work; and “Recherches sur la nature et la guerison du
Cancer,
” Paris,
being restored, he procured a pension from the academy of Zurich, which enabled him to make the tour of France. He passed a year at Bourges, applying to Greek and Latin
, an eminent scholar, philosopher, and naturalist, and called the Pliny of Germany, was the son of Vasa Gesner, and Barbara Friccius, and born at Zurich in Switzerland in 1516, where he received the first rudiments of the Latin and Greek languages. His proficiency was such as to give every hope of his becoming an accomplished scholar, but the poverty of his father, who was a worker in hides, and perhaps wanted his son’s assistance in his trade, threatened a total interruption to his studies, when John James Ammian, professor of rhetoric at Zurich, took him to his house, and offered to defray the expence of his education. Gesner accordingly continued three years with Ammian, and applied to his studies with the utmost diligence. In his fifteenth year his father was killed in the civil wars of Switzerland, and his mother was no longer able to maintain him; and, added to these misfortunes, he fell into a dropsical disorder. On his recovery, finding himself destitute of friends, he determined, young as he was, to travel, in hopes of being able to provide a subsistence by his talents in some foreign country. With this view he first went to Strasburgh, where he entered into the service of Wolfgang Fabricius Capito, the learned Lutheran reformer, with whom he resumed the study of the Hebrew language, of which he had acquired some knowledge when at Zurich. After some months’ stay here he returned to Switzerland, and the public tranquillity being restored, he procured a pension from the academy of Zurich, which enabled him to make the tour of France. He passed a year at Bourges, applying to Greek and Latin with great attention; and finding his pension too scanty to maintain him, improved his finances in some degree by teaching school. Next year, he went to Paris, but is said to have made very little progress in study while there, and returned to Strasburgh in hopes of procuring some employment from the friends he had made, but was very soon recalled by the university of Zurich, and placed at the head of a reputable school. Here he might have maintained himself in the comfortable pursuit of his studies, had he not married, a step which, although he had afterwards no reason to repent of his choice, in his present circumstances was highly injudicious, and involved him in many difficulties.
ch facts were to bend. Among the subjects he has enumerated, we find the expedition of Charles VIII. of France into Italy the crusade of Richard I. the barons 1 wars
During his service in the militia, he revolved several subjects for historical composition, and by the variety of them, it does not appear that he had any particular purpose to serve, or preconceived theory to which facts were to bend. Among the subjects he has enumerated, we find the expedition of Charles VIII. of France into Italy the crusade of Richard I. the barons 1 wars against John and Henry III. the history of Edward the Black Prince the lives, with comparisons of Henry V. and the emperor Titus the life of sir Philip Sidney, and that of the marquis of Montrose. These were rejected in their turns, but he dwelt with rather more fondness on the life of sir Walter Raleigh; and when that was discarded, meditated either the history of the Liberty of the Swiss; or that of the republic of Florence under the house of Medicis.
s morning hours. He remained here, however, as long as it was safe, and until the murder of the king of France, and the war in which Great Britain was involved, rendered
In the preface to his fourth volume, he announced his
approaching return to the neighbourhood of the lake of
Lausanne, nor did his year’s visit to England once induce
him to alter his resolution. He set out accordingly, a few
weeks after the publication of his history, and soon regained his habitation, where, he informs us, after a full
repast on Homer and Aristophanes, he involved himself in
the philosophic mazes of the writings of Plato. But the
happiness he expected in his favourite retreat was considerably lessened by the death of, his friend Deyverdun;
while the disorders of revolutionary France began to interrupt the general tranquillity that had long prevailed in
Switzerland. Troops of emigrants flocked to Lausanne,
and brought with them the spirit of political discussion,
not guided by reason, but inflamed by passion and prejudice. The language of disappointment on the one hand,
and of presumption on the other, marked the rise of two
parties, between whom the peaceful enjoyments of nearly
three centuries were finally destroyed.
Mr. Gibbon arrived at Lausanne, July 30, 1788. Of
his employment during his stay, we have little account.
It appears by his correspondence that he amused himself
by writing a part of those “Memoirs of his Life
” which
lord Sheffield has since given to the public, and he projected a series of biographical portraits of eminent Englishmen from the time of Henry VIII. but in this probably
no great progress was made. His habits of industry, he
tells us, became now much impaired, and he had reduced
his studies to be the loose amusement of his morning hours.
He remained here, however, as long as it was safe, and
until the murder of the king of France, and the war in
which Great Britain was involved, rendered Switzerland
no longer an asylum either for the enthusiast of literature,
or the victim of tyranny.
all tracts also, in the French language, entitled, “Christian Valour encouraged,” exhorting the king of France to join the Venetians in their design upon the Morea,
, an ancestor of the preceding, and a
heraldic writer, was born November 3, 1629. He was
son of Robert Gibbon, a woollen-draper in London, and
a member of the Cloth-workers’ company, by a daughter
of the Edgars of Suffolk. Having spent some time in Jersey, he was sent to Jesus college, Cambridge, but afterwards became a soldier, and went to the Netherlands, to
France, and in 1659 and 1660 was in Virginia. He procured the appointment of blue-mantle by the patronage of
sir William Dugdale, then norroy. His patent was given
only during pleasure, and he never received any other. Ab
his death, in 17 he was the oldest officer at arms, but
thought himself ill-treated in never having farther promotion. To assist in maintaining his family he kept a school.
He was a learned, but imprudent man, injuring his best
interests by an arrogant insolence to his superiors in the
college, filling the margins of the books belonging to the
library with severe reflections upon their conduct, couched
in quaint terms, and with silly calculations of his own nativity. He despised them for not having had so classical
an education as himself, and he supposed his destiny so
fixed by the stars which presided at his birth, that good or
ill behaviour could never alter it. These were weaknesses
which shaded his excellencies. His “Introductio ad Latinam Blazoniam, an essay towards a more correct Blazon
in Latin than formerly hath been used,
” was a work which
did him the highest credit: it was printed in octavo, in
1682. He wrote two small tracts also, in the French language, entitled, “Christian Valour encouraged,
” exhorting the king of France to join the Venetians in their design
upon the Morea, and to attack the Turks, and leave Germany alone. He likewise wrote “Day Fatality
” “Unio
Pissidentium
” “Prince-protecting Providences;
” “Edivardus Confessor redivivus.
” “Satan’s welcome,
” Flagellum Mercurii Antiducales.
” He also diligently
collected, out of various authors, a particular account of
the great and important services of heralds of former times,
which he styled “Heraldo Memoriale,
” the heads of which
came afterwards into the hands of Maitland, to be inserted
in his History of London.
, to attend the solemnity of the marriage of his royal master Charles I. with the princess Henrietta of France, at Canterbury, for which occasion he had composed the
, an eminent composer of church
music in the reign of James I. was born in 1583, and at
the age of twenty-one was appointed organist of the chapel-royal. In 1622 he was honoured at Oxford with a
doctor’s degree, in consequence of the strong recommendation of the learned Camden. Previously to this he had
published “Madrigals of five parts for voices and viols,
”
London, Hosanna.
” He also composed the tunes to the
hymns and songs of the church, translated by George Withers, as appears by the dedication to king James I. In
1625, being commanded, ex ojficio, to attend the solemnity
of the marriage of his royal master Charles I. with the
princess Henrietta of France, at Canterbury, for which
occasion he had composed the music, he was seized with
the small-pox, and dying on Whitsunday, in the same
year, was “buried in that cathedral. His son, Dr. Christopher Gibbons, was also honoured with the notice of
Charles I. and was of his chapel. At the restoration, besides being appointed principal organist of the chapel
royal, private organist to his majesty, and organist of
Westminster-abbey, he obtained his doctor’s degree in
music at Oxford, in consequence of a letter written by his
majesty Charles II. himself, in his behalf in 1664. His
compositions, which were not numerous, seem never to
have enjoyed a great degree of favour; and though some
of them are preserved in the Museum collections, they
have long ceased to be performed in our cathedrals. Orlando Gibbons had also two brothers, Edward and Ellis,
the one organist of Bristol, and the other of Salisbury.
Edward was a Cambridge bachelor of music, and incorporated at Oxford, 1592. Besides being organist of Bristol,
he was priest-vicar, sub-chanter, ajid master of the
choiristers in that cathedral. He was sworn a gentleman of the
chapel, March 21, 1604, and was the master of Matthew
Lock 1 In the
” Triumphs of Oriana," there are two madrigals, the one in five, and the other in six parts, composed by Ellis Gibbons. Of Edward Gibbons, it is said,
that in the time of the rebellion he assisted king Charles I.
with the sum of one thousand pounds; for which instance
of his loyalty, he was afterwards very severely treated by
those in power, who deprived him of a considerable estate,
and thrust him and three grand-children out of his house,
though he was more than fourscore years of age.
about the year 13OO. At that time the sovereigns of Naples were younger branches of the royal family of France; and, to mark the circumstance of this invention of the
, to whom the invention of the compass has been ascribed, was a Neapolitan, and born about the year 13OO. At that time the sovereigns of Naples were younger branches of the royal family of France; and, to mark the circumstance of this invention of the compass originating with a subject of Naples, Gioia distinguished the north with a fleur de lis, a, particularity which has been adopted by all nations, to whom the use of this instrument is known. Some have pretended that the ancients wer6 not ignorant of the power of the magnet; but it is certain 'that Pliny, who often speaks of the load-stone, knew nothing of its appropriate direction to the pole. Some authors also have conferred the honour of this important discovery on the Chinese, and it has by Dr. Wallis been ascribed to the English. However this may be, the territory of Principato, which is part of the kingdom of Naples, and in which place Gioia was born, bears a compass for its arms. If it be only an improvement of an invention, though but partially known, which may be imputed to Gioia, he is without dispute entitled to a distinguished place in the rank of those who have contributed to the benefit of society.
an of superstitious credulity, flourished in the eleventh century, and wrote a “Chronicle or History of France,” in the Latin language. It consists of five books, of
, a Benedictine monk, first of St.
Germaine d'Auxerre, and afterwards of Cluni, and a man
of superstitious credulity, flourished in the eleventh century, and wrote a “Chronicle or History of France,
” in
the Latin language. It consists of five books, of which the
first relates to the events of the monarchy previously to
Hugh Capet, and the four subsequent ones to those following it, as far down as 1046. This work is defective as
a composition, and, at the same time, full of fabulous
stories, yet it contains much valuable information relative
to those remote ages. It was printed in the collections of
Pithou and Duchesne. He was author of a life of William,
abbot of St. Benignus at Dijon.
II. of Denmark. In 1584, he waited with Clarenceux on the earl of Derby, with that order to the king of France. No one was a greater ornament to the college than this
, a herald and heraldic writer, was
the son of Thomas Glover, of Ashford in Kent, the place
of his nativity. He was first made Portcullis Poursuivant,
and afterwards in 1571, Somerset herald. Queen Elizabeth permitted him to travel abroad for improvement. In
1582, he attended lord Willoughby with the order of the
garter, to Frederick II. of Denmark. In 1584, he waited
with Clarenceux on the earl of Derby, with that order to
the king of France. No one was a greater ornament to the
college than this gentleman; the suavity of his manners
was equal to his integrity and skill: he was a most excellent,
and very learned man, with a knowledge in his profession
which has never been exceeded, perhaps been paralleled;
to this, the best writers of his own and more recent time*
bear testimony. He left two treatises, one “I)e Nobilitate politica vel civili
” the other “A Catalogue of Honour
” both of which were published by his nephew, Mr.
Thomas Milles, the former in 1608, the latter in 1610,
both folio, to “revive the name and learned memory of
his deceased friend and uncle, whose private studies for the
public good deserved a remembrance beyond forgetful
time.
” His answer to the bishop of Ross’s book, in which
Mary queen of Scots’ claim to the crown was asserted, was
never published. He made great collections of what had
been written by preceding heralds, and left of his own
labours relative to arms, visitations of twenty-four counties,
and miscellaneous matters belonging to this science, all
written by himself. He assisted Camden in his pedigrees
for his Britannia; communicated to Dr. David Powell, a
copy of the history of Cambria, translated by H. Lloyd;
made a collection of the inscriptions upon the funeral
monuments in Kent; and, in 1584, drew up a most curious
survey of Herewood castle, in Yorkshire. Mr. Thoresby
had his collection of the county of York taken in 1584, and
his catalogue of northern gentry whose surnames ended
in son. He died in London, says Stow, April 14, (Lant and others, 10), 1588, aged only forty-five years, and was
buried in St. Giles’s church, Cripplegate. His loss was
severely felt by all our lovers of English antiquities. His
“Ordinary of Arms
” was augmented and improved by
Edmondson, who published it in the first volume of his
Body of Heraldry.
ed in the audience, gave them their force and energy. He seemed indeed so much the national musician of France, that since the best days of Rameau, no dramatic composer
From London he returned to Italy, and composed several operas in the style of the times, and afterwards engaged with the Italian poet Calsabigi, with whom he
joined in a conspiracy against the poetry and music of the
melo-drama then in vogue in Italy and all over Europe.
In 1764, when the late emperor Joseph was crowned king
of the Romans, Gluck was the composer, and Guadagni
the principal singer. It was in this year that a species of
dramatic music, different from that which then reigned in
Italy, was attempted by Gluck in his famous opera of
“Orfeo,
” which succeeded so well, that it was soon after
performed in other parts of Europe, particularly at Parma
and Paris, Bologna, Naples, and in 1770 at London. In
1769 he produced “Alceste,
” a second opera on the reformed plan, which received even more applause than the
first; and in 1771 “Paride ed Helena;
” but in
orn August 24, 1615, at Paris. He made use of his father’s Memoirs, and like him studied the History of France. Louis XIV. appointed him keeper and director of the
, son of Theodore, was born August 24, 1615, at Paris. He made use of his father’s Memoirs, and like him studied the History of France. Louis
XIV. appointed him keeper and director of the chamber of
accounts at Lisle, in which city he died June 9, 1681. He
published “Le Ceremonial de France,
” written by his
father and the History of Charles VI. and Charles VII.
printed at the Louvre, each in 1 vol. folio that of the
Crown Officers, from the time at which that of John le
Feron ends; “Memoires et Instructions pour servir dans
les Negociations et les Affaires concernant les Droits du
Roi,
”
ttle repose after fourteen years travelling; but a war breaking out between Charles V. and Henry II. of France, Louvain was besieged in 1542, and Goez, who has written
, a Portuguese writer of the sixteenth century, was born at Alanquar near Lisbon, of a
noble family, in 1501, and brought upas a domestic in,
the court of king Emanuel, where he was considered both
as a man of letters and of business. Having a strong passion for travelling, he contrived to get a public commission;
and travelled through almost all the countries of Europe,
contracting as he went an acquaintance with all the learned. At Dantzic he became intimate with the brothers
John and Olaus Magnus; and he spent five months at Friburg with Erasmus. He afterwards went to Padua, in
1534, where he resided four years, studying under Lazarus Bonamicus; not, however, without making frequent
excursions into different parts of Italy. Here he obtained
the esteem of Peter, afterwards cardinal Bembus, of Christopher Maclrucius, cardinal of Trent, and of James Sadolet. On his return to Lou vain in 1538, he had recourse
to Conrad Goclenius and Peter Nannius, whose instructions were of great use to him, and applied himself to
music and poetry; in the former of which he made so
happy a progress, that he was qualified to compose for the
churches. He married at Louvain, and his design was to
settle in this city, in order to enjoy a little repose after
fourteen years travelling; but a war breaking out between
Charles V. and Henry II. of France, Louvain was besieged
in 1542, and Goez, who has written the history of this
siege, put himself at the head of the soldiers, and contributed much to the defence of the town against the French,
when the other officers had abandoned it. When he was
old, John III. of Portugal, recalled him into his country,
in order to write the history of it; but as it became first
necessary to arrange the archives of the kingdom, which
he found in the greatest confusion, he had little leisure to
accomplish his work. The favours also which the king
bestowed upon him created him so much envy, that his
tranquillity was at an end, and he came to be accused;
and, though he cleared himself from all imputations, was
confined to the town of Lisbon. Here, it is said that he
was one day found dead in his own house; and in such a
manner as to make it doubted whether he was strangled by
his enemies, or died of an apoplexy; but other accounts
inform us, with more probability, that he fell into the fire
in a fit, and was dead before the accident was discovered.
This happened in 1560, and he was interred in the cburck
of Notre Dame, at Alanquar. Rewrote “Fides, Religio,
Moresque Æthiopum
” “De Imperio et Rebus Lusitanorum
” “Hispania;
” “Urbis OlissiponensisDescriptio;
”
“Chronica do Rey Dom Emanuel
” “Historia do Principe Dom Juao
” and other works, which have been often
printed, and are much esteemed. Antonio says, that,
though he is an exact writer, yet he has not written the
Portuguese language in its purity; which, however, is not
to be wondered at, considering how much time he spent
out of his own country.
related, and with some assistance from his uncle, he contrived to travel through Flanders, and part of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. It was probably at
Soon after this event, his father died, and his friends
wished him to prepare for holy orders; but to this he declared his dislike; and finding himself equally uncomfortable as tutor in a private family, to which he had been recommended, he again left the country with about thirty
pounds in his pocket. After an absence of six weeks, he
returned to his mother’s house, without a penny, having
expended the whole in a series of whimsical adventures, of
which the reader will find a very entertaining account in
the Life prefixed to his Works. His mother and friends
being reconciled to him, his uncle the rev. Thomas Contarine, resolved to send him to the Temple to study law;
but in his way to London, he met at Dublin with a sharper
who tempted him to play, and stript him of fifty pounds,
with which he had been furnished for his voyage and journey. His youth must furnish the only apology that can be
made for this insensibility to the kindness of his friends,
who could ill afford the money thus wantonly lost. Again,
however, they received him into favour, and it being now
decided that he should study physic, he was sent to Edinburgh, lor that purpose, about 1752 or 1753, but still his
thoughtless and eccentric disposition betrayed him into
many ludicrous situations. He formally, indeed, attended
the lectures of the medical professors, but his studies were
neither regular nor profound. There was always something he liked better than stated application. Among his
fellow-students, he wished to recommend himself, and he
was not unsuccessful, by his stories and songs, as a social
companion, and a man of humour; and this ambition to
shine in company by such means, never wholly left him
when he came to associate with men who are not charmed
by noisy vivacity.
After he had gone through the usual course of lectures,
his uncle, who appears to have borne the principal expences of his education, equipped him for the medical
school of Leyden, at which, however, he did not arrive
without meeting with some of those incidents which have
given an air of romance to his history. At Leyden he studied chemistry and anatomy for about a year; but a taste
tor gaming, which he appears to have caught very early,
frequently plunged him into difficulties, without any of
the benefits of experience. Even the money which he was
compelled to borrow, in order to enable him to leave Holland, was expended on some costly flowers which he bought
of a Dutch florist, as a present to his uncle; and when he
set out on his travels, he “had only one clean shirt, and
no money in his pocket.
” In such a plight any other man
would have laid his account with starving; but Goldsmith
had “a knack at hoping,
” and however miserably provided,
determined to make the tour of Europe on foot. In what
manner he performed this singular undertaking, he is supposed to have informed us in “The History of a Philosophic
Vagabond,
” in chap, xx. of the “Vicar of Wakefield.
”
He had some knowledge of music, and charmed the peasants so much as to procure a lodging and a subsistence.
He also entered the foreign universities and convents, where,
upon certain days, theses are maintained against any adventitious disputant, for which, if the champion opposes
with some dexterity, he may claim a gratuity in money, a
dinner, and a bed for the night. At one time, he is said
to have accompanied a young Englishman as a tutor; but
his biographer doubts whether this part of the Philosophic
Vagabond’s story was not a fiction. It is certain, however,
that in the manner above related, and with some assistance
from his uncle, he contrived to travel through Flanders,
and part of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. It
was probably at Padua that he took a medical degree, as
he remained here about six months, but one of his earliest
biographers thinks he took the degree of bachelor of medicine at Louvaine. His generous uncle dying while he was
in Italy, he was obliged to travel through France to England on foot, and landed at Dover in 1756.
of these honours, and had his fortune increased by an additional pension from M. Seguier, chancellor of France. These marks of esteem do honour to his patrons, for
He lived many years in the enjoyment of these honours,
and had his fortune increased by an additional pension
from M. Seguier, chancellor of France. These marks of
esteem do honour to his patrons, for he openly professed
the reformed religion, although in such a manner as to
avoid giving offence, or shocking the prejudices of those
with whom he associated. He had always enjoyed very
good health; but, as he was one day walking in his room,
which was customary with him, his foot slipped; and, falling down, he hurt himself so, that he was obliged almost
constantly to keep his bed to the end of his life, which
lasted near a century. However, in 1657, when at the
age of 90, he published a large collection of epigrams;
and, many years after, a tragedy called “Dana'ides.
”
This was some time before his death; which did not hap*pen till 1666. In manners he was modest and regular,
sincere in his piety, and proof against all temptations. He
was of a hot and hasty temper, much inclined to anger,
though he had a grave and reserved countenance. He was
also a man of wit, and not always very guarded in the use
of it. Having shown one of his performances to cardinal
Richelieu, he said “Here are some things 1 do not understand.
” “That is not my fault,
” answered Gombauld,
and the cardinal wisely affected not to hear him. His posthumous works were printed in Holland in 1678, with this
title, “. Traites & Lettres de Monsieur Gombauld sur la
Religion.
” They contain religious discourses, and were
most esteemed of all his works by himself: he composed
them from a principle of charity, with a design to convert
the catholics, and confirm the protestants in their faith.
and his son Caesar Borgia, comprehending the wars in the reign of Charles VIII. and Lewis XII. kings of France; and the chief transactions and revolutions in Italy,
, a native of Scotland, was an
excellent draughtsman, and a good Grecian, who resided
many years in Italy, visited most parts of that country, and
had also travelled into France, Germany, &c. In 1736
he was appointed secretary to the society for the encouragement of learning, with an annual salary of 50l. which
he resigned in 1739. In the same year (1736) he succeeded Dr. Stukeley as secretary to the society of antiquaries, which office he resigned in 1741 to Mr. Joseph
Ames, and was for a short time secretary to the Egyptian
club, composed of gentlemen who had visited Egypt, viz.
lord Sandwich, Dr. Shaw, Dr. Pococke, &c. In 1741 he
went to Carolina with governor Glen, where, besides a
grant of land, he had several offices, such as register of
the province, &c. and died about 1750, a justice of the
peace, leaving a handsome estate to his family. He published, 1. “Itinerarium Septentrionale, or a Journey
through most parts of the counties of Scotland, in two
parts, with 66 copper-plates, 1726,
” folio. 2. “Additions and Corrections, by way of supplement, to the Itinerarium Septentrionale; containing several dissertations on,
and descriptions of, Roman antiquities, discovered in Scotland since publishing the said Itinerary. Together with
observations on other ancient monuments found in the
North of England, never before published, 1732,
” folio.
A Latin edition of the “Itinerarium,
” including the Supplement, was printed in Holland, in 1731. 3. “The Lives
of pope Alexander VI. and his son Caesar Borgia, comprehending the wars in the reign of Charles VIII. and Lewis
XII. kings of France; and the chief transactions and revolutions in Italy, from 1492 to 1516. With an appendix of
original pieces referred to in the work, 1729,
” folio. 4.
“A complete History of the ancient Amphitheatres, more
particularly regarding the Architecture of these buildings,
and in particular that of Verona, by the marquis Scipio
Maffei; translated from the Italian, 1730,
” 8vo, afterwards enlarged in a second edition. 5. “An Essay towards explaining the Hieroglyphical Figures on the Coffin of the ancient Mummy belonging to capt. William
Lethieullier, 1737,
” folio, with cuts. 6. “Twenty-five
plates of all the Egyptian Mummies, and other Egyptian
Antiquities in England,
” about
well acquainted with the secrets of literary history, and of anonymous publications, that Henry III. of France, wishing to know the author of a piece published under
Among the works which he edited and commented upon,
were those of Plutarch, St. Cyprian, Seneca, &c. He
made a collection of “Remarkable Histories,
” in 2 vols.
8vo, and wrote several pieces relating to the history of his
own times, particularly a “Collection of the most memorable events which occurred during the League, with notes
and original documents,
” in 6 vols. 4to. Many of his
pieces were anonymous, but to these he usually affixed the
initials S. G. S. signifying “Simon Goulart Senlisien.
” He
was so well acquainted with the secrets of literary history,
and of anonymous publications, that Henry III. of France,
wishing to know the author of a piece published under the
assumed name of Stephanus Junius Brutus, and intended
to propagate republican doctrines, sent a person to Geneva
to consult Goulart, but the latter refused to communicate
the fact, for fear of exposing the author to serious injury.
He had a son, who was a minister of the Walloon church
at Amsterdam, and a strenuous assertor of Arminian tenets,
but did not attain his father’s reputation.
til she received the melancholy news of Montagne’s death, whet) she crossed almost the whole kingdom of France to mingle her tears and lamentations, which were excessive,
, a French female
wit, the daughter of William de Jars, lord of Neufoi and
Gournay, was born either in Paris, or in Gascony, about
1565. From her infancy she had a strong turn to literature; and Montagne publishing his first essays about this
time, she conceived an enthusiastic veneration for the
author. These declarations soon reached the ears of Montagne, who returned her compliments by corresponding
regard for her talents. Her esteem by degrees growing
into a kind of filial affection for Montagne, when her father
died she adopted him in his stead, even before she had
seen him; and, when he was at Paris in 1588, she paid
him a visit, and prevailed upon him to accompany her and
her mother the lady Gournay, to their country mansion,
where he passed two or three months. In short, our
young devotee to the muses was so wedded to books of
polite literature in general, and Montague’s Essays in particular, that she resolved never to have any other associate
to her happiness. Nor was Montagne sparing to pay the
just tribute of his gratitude, and foretold, in the second
book of his Essays, that she would be capable of great
eminence in the republic of letters. Their affectionate
i-egard extended through the family; Montagne’s daughter,
the viscountess de Jamaches, always claimed mademoiselle
de Jars as a sister; and the latter dedicated her piece, “Le
Bouquet de Pinde,
” to this sister. Thus she passed many
years, happy in her new alliance, until she received the
melancholy news of Montagne’s death, whet) she crossed
almost the whole kingdom of France to mingle her tears
and lamentations, which were excessive, with those of his
widow and daughter. Nor did her filial regard stop here.
She revised, corrected, and reprinted an edition of his
“Essays
” in
sted in it by Gagnier, who, about ten years before, had come over to the church of England from that of France, and then taught Hebrew at Oxford; and, being well skilled
This piece was printed at Oxford, 1711, 8vo. In the
dedication, he observes, that it was the first piece which
he published in the English tongue, for the service of the
church, He was assisted in it by Gagnier, who, about ten
years before, had come over to the church of England from
that of France, and then taught Hebrew at Oxford; and,
being well skilled in most of the Oriental languages, had
been appointed the year before, by Sharp, archbishop of
York, to assist Grabe in perusing these Mss. having engaged the doctor to write this treatise against Whiston’s
notion. But as the result of the inquiry was, that the
Arabic “Didascalia
” were nothing else but a translation of
the first six entire books of the “Clementine Constitutions,
” with only the addition of five or six chapters not in
the Greek, Whiston immediately sent out “Remarks upon
Grabe’s Essay,
” &c.
d, after a liberal education, became counsellor and master of the requests to Mary de Medicis, queen of France. He frequented the court in his youth, and devoted himself
, a French historian, was
born in 1565, and, after a liberal education, became counsellor and master of the requests to Mary de Medicis, queen
of France. He frequented the court in his youth, and devoted himself to the service of Henry IV. by whom he was
much esteemed and trusted. Being a man of probity, and
void of ambition, he did not employ his interest with
Henry to obtain dignities, but spent the greatest part of
his life -in literary retirement. Among other works which
he composed, are “The History of Henry IV.
” and “The
History of Lewis XIII. to the death of the Marshal d'Ancre,
” in 1617; both which were published in /olio, under
the title of “Decades.
” The former he presented to
Lewis XIII. who read it over, and was infinitely charmed
with the frankness of the author: but the Jesuits, who
never were friendly to liberality of sentiment, found means
to have this work castrated in several places. They served
“The History of Lewis XIII.
” worse; for, Le Grain having in that performance spoken advantageously of the
prince of Conde, his protector, they had the cunning and
malice to suppress those passages, and to insert others,
where they made him speak of the prince in very indecorous terms. Conde was a dupe to this piece of knavery,
till Le Grain had time to vindicate himself, by restoring
this as well as his former works to their original purity.
He died at Paris in 1643, and ordered in his will, that
none of his descendants should ever trust the education of
their children to the Jesuits; which clause, it is said, has
been punctually observed by his family.
of weaving table napkins; and his son, Michael, established several manufactures in different parts of France, where these damasked cloths are become very common.
, an ingenious Frenchman,
was a native of Caen in the seventeenth century, and the
discoverer of the art of making figured diaper. He did not,
however, bring it to perfection, for he only wove squares
and flowers; but his son Richard Graindorge, living to
the age of eighty-two, had leisure to complete what his
father had begun, and found a way to represent all sorts
of animals, and other figures. This work he called Hautelice, perhaps because the threads were twisted in the
woof. They are now called damasked cloths, from their
resemblance to white damask. This ingenious workman,
also invented the method of weaving table napkins; and
his son, Michael, established several manufactures in different parts of France, where these damasked cloths are
become very common. The same family has produced several other persons of genius and merit among these is
James Graindorge, a man of wit and taste, and well skilled
in antiquities he is highly spoken of by M. Huet, who
was his intimate friend. His brother Andrew, also,
doctor of physic of the faculty at Montpellier, was a learned
philosopher, who followed the principles of Epicurus and
Gassendi. He died January 13, 1676, aged sixty. He
left, “Traite de la Nature du Feu, de la Lumiere, et des
Couleurs,
” 4to; “Traite de TOrigine des Macreuses,
”
De Interpretatione
” to this gentleman.
n which he made so quick a proficiency, that after he had distinguished himself above all the youths of France in martial exercises, he was sent to Trinity-college,
, viscount Lansdowne, an English poet, was descended of a family distinguished for their loyalty; being second son of Barnard Granville, esq. brother to the first earl of Bath of this name, who had a principal share in bringing about the restoration of Charles II. and son of the loyal sir Bevil Greenvile, who lost his life fighting for Charles I. at Lansdowne in 1643. He was born in 1667, and in his infancy was sent to France, under the tuition of sir William Ellys, a gentleman bred up under Dr. Busby, and who was afterwards eminent in many public stations. From this excellent tutor he not only imbibed a taste for classical learning, but was also instructed in all other accomplishments suitable to his birth, in which he made so quick a proficiency, that after he had distinguished himself above all the youths of France in martial exercises, he was sent to Trinity-college, Cambridge, in 1677, at ten years of age; and before he was twelve, spoke some verses of his own composing to the duchess of York, afterwards queen-consort to James II. at her visit to that university in 1679. On account of his extraordinary merit, he was created M. A. at the age of thirteen, and left the college soon after.
, began to be spoken of both at home and abroad. Immediately after the publication of it, Lewis XIV. of France, or his ministers, provided, by a law, for the most exact
The exact time is not known when he first began to collect and consider the Bills of Mortality but he tells us himself that he had turned his thoughts that way several years, before he had any design of publishing the discoveries he had made. As his character must have been eminently distinguished in 1650, when, though not above thirty years of age, his interest was so extensive, as to procure the music professor’s chair at Gresham, for his friend doctor (afterwards sir William) Petty; so it is more than probable, that his acquaintance and friendship with that gentleman, was the consequence of a similarity of pursuits; and that our author had then communicated some of his thoughts upon this subject to sir William, who, on his part, is likewise said to have repaid the generous confidence with some useful hints towards composing his book. This piece, which contained a new and accurate thesis of policy, built upon a more certain reasoning than was before that time known, was first presented to the public in 1661, 4to, and met with such an extraordinary reception, that another edition was called for in the following year; and our author’s fame, and the usefulness of his book, began to be spoken of both at home and abroad. Immediately after the publication of it, Lewis XIV. of France, or his ministers, provided, by a law, for the most exact register of births and burials, that is any where in Europe; and in England Charles II. conceived such a high esteem for his abilities, that at the first institution of the royal society, his majesty recommended him to their choice for a member; with this charge, that if they found any more such tradesmen, they should be ure to admit them all. He had dedicated the work to sir Robert Moray, president of the royal society, and had sent fifty copies to be dispersed among their members, when he was proposed (though a shopkeeper), and admitted into the society, February 26, 1661-2; and an order of council passed, June 20, 1665, for publishing the third edition, which was executed by the society’s printer, and came out that same year. Alter receiving this honour, he did not long continue a shopkeeper, but left off business; and on September 25, 1666, became a trustee for the management of the New-river, for one of the shares belonging to sir William Backhouse, who dying in 1669, his relict, afterwards countess of Clarendon, appointed Mr. Graunt one of her trustees.
d Rome this year: the same year he executed the famous mission into England; and as Brunehaut, queen of France, had been very serviceable in it, he wrote a letter of
In the year 595, he refused to send the empress Constantia any relics of St. Paul, which she had requested, desiring to look at the body of that apostle. On this occasion he relates several miraculous punishments for such a rash attempt, all as simply devised as those in his< Dialogues." The same year he warmly opposed John patriarch of Constantinople, for assuming the title of oecumenical or universal, which he himself disclaimed, as having Do right to reduce the other bishops to be his substitutes; and afterwards forbad his nuncio there to communicate with that patriarch, till he should renounce the title. His humility, however, did not keep him from resenting an affront put upon his understanding, as he thought, by the emperor, for proposing terms of peace to the Lombards, who besieged Rome this year: the same year he executed the famous mission into England; and as Brunehaut, queen of France, had been very serviceable in it, he wrote a letter of thanks to her on the occasion. The princess is represented as a profligate woman, but very liberal to the ecclesiastics; founding churches and convents, and even sueing t9 the pope for relics. This was a kind of piety which particularly pleased Gregory; and accordingly, he wrote to the queen several letters, highly commending her conduct in that respect, and carried his complaisance so far as to declare the French happy above all other nations in having such a sovereign. In the year 598, at the request of the Christian people at Caprita, a small island at the bottom of the gulph of Venice, he ordered another bishop to be ordained for that place, in the room of the present prelate, who adhered to the Istrian schism. This was done contrary to the orders of the emperor Maurice, against taking any violent measures with schismatics.
med a friendship with St. Gregory the Great, and died Norember 27, 595. This bishop wrote a “History of France,” in ten books; eight books of “The Miracles, or Lives
, St., or frequently called Geregius
Florentius Gregorius, an eminent bishop and writer of
the sixth century, descended from a noble family of AuTergne, was born about the year 544. He was educated
by his uncle Gallus, bishop of Clermont, and became so
eminent for learning and virtue, as to be appointed bishop
of Tours in the year 573. He assisted at the council held
at Paris in the year 577, respecting Pretextat, bishop of
Rouen, and strongly opposed the violence of some of the
members of that assembly, particularly Chilperic and Fredegonde. He went afterwards to visit the tomb of > the
apostles at Rome, where he formed a friendship with St.
Gregory the Great, and died Norember 27, 595. This
bishop wrote a “History of France,
” in ten books; eight
books of “The Miracles, or Lives of the Saints;
” and
other works, in the library of the fathers. The best edition-is that by Dom Ruinart, 1699, fol. His history is very
useful; for though the style is dry and coarse, and the
author extremely simple and credulous, yet an ingenious
critic may easily separate the truths contained in it from
the falsehoods. This work has been translated into French
by the abbeé de Marolles, 1668, 2 vols. 8vo.
acquaint the council of the royal society with their proposal; informing him likewise, that the king of France was willing to allow pensions to one or two learned Englishman,
In 1668 our author published at London another work,
entitled “Exercitationes Geometricae,
” which contributed
still much farther to extend his reputation. About this
time he was elected professor of mathematics in the university of St. Andrew’s, an office which he held for six years.
During his residence there he married, in 1669, Mary,
the daughter of George Jameson, the celebrated painter,
whom Mr, Walpole has termed the Vandyke of Scotland, and who was fellow disciple with that great artist
in the school of Rubens at Antwerp. His fame placed him
in so great esteem with the royal academy at Paris, that,
in the beginning of 1671, it was resolved by that aca^
demy to recommend him to their grand monarch for a
pension; and the design was approved even by Mr. Huygens, though he said he had reason to think himself improperly treated by Mr. Gregory, on account of the controversy between them. Accordingly, several members of
that academy wrote to Mr. Oldenburg, desiring him to acquaint the council of the royal society with their proposal;
informing him likewise, that the king of France was willing
to allow pensions to one or two learned Englishman, whom
they should recommend. But no answer was ever made
to that proposal; and our author, with respect to this particular, looked upon it as nothing more than a compliment.
s fifteenth year; and practised physic with success. He was long retained in the service of Margaret of France, duchess of Savoy, whom he followed to Piedmont. He
, a French poet and physician, was
born at Clermont, in Beauvoisis, in 1533. He began early
to write, producing his tragedy of the “Death of Caesar
”
in his fifteenth year; and practised physic with success.
He was long retained in the service of Margaret of France,
duchess of Savoy, whom he followed to Piedmont. He
r grandmother on her mother’s side, lady Frances Brandon, being daughter to Henry VII. queen-dowager of France, and mother of Mary queen of Scots. Lady Jane was born,
, was an illustrious personage of the blood royal of England by both parents: her grandmother on her father’s side, Henry Grey marquis of Dorset, being queen-consort to Edward IV.; and her grandmother on her mother’s side, lady Frances Brandon, being daughter to Henry VII. queen-dowager of France, and mother of Mary queen of Scots. Lady Jane was born, 1537, at Bradgate, her father’s seat in Leicestershire, and very early gave astonishing proofs of the pregnancy of her parts; insomuch that, upon a comparison with Edward VI. who was partly of the same age, and thought a kind of miracle, the superiority has been given to her in every respect. Her genius appeared in the works of her needle, in the beautiful character in which she wrote; besides which, she played admirably on various instruments of music, and accompanied them with a voice exquisitely sweet in itself, and assisted by all the graces that art could bestow. These, however, were only inferior ornaments in her character; and, as she was far from priding herself upon them, so, through the rigour of her parents in exacting them, they became her grief more than her pleasure.
he died of a nephritic cholic, February 22, 1775. His works are, 1. An edition of Daniel’s “History of France,” Paris, 1756, 17 vols. 4to, in which the reign of Louis
, a French writer of considerable
reputation, was born October 9, 1698, at Moulins. He
entered early among the Jesuits at Paris, was professor of
belles lettres in the college of Louis le Grand, and distinguished himself afterwards in the pulpit. On the dissolution of his order, he retired to Brussels, where he died of
a nephritic cholic, February 22, 1775. His works are, 1.
An edition of Daniel’s “History of France,
” Paris, Traité des differentes sortes de preuves qui servent à etablir la verite de
l'Histoire,
” Liege, Sermons,
” Liege, Anneé du Chretien,
”
Paris, Latin Poems,
” written
at college, of indifferent character. 6. An improved edition of‘ D’Avrigny’s Memoirs, 1757, 5 vols. 12mo. 7.
“Insuffisance de la religion naturelle,
” Liege, 2 vols.
12mo. 8. An enlarged edition of the “Delices des Pays
Bas,
” Liege,
if something was not soon done, he must seek a settlement in Germany, or hide himself in some corner of France. At length the king coming to Paris in January 1621,
In the mean time, his wife’s account, that he was ill,
gained credit at Louvestein and, to give him time to get
out, she gave out that his illness was dangerous but as
soon as she learnt by the maid’s return that he was at Brabant, and consequently in safety, she told the guards what
had happened. They informed the commandant, by this
time returned from Heusden, who, finding it true, confined Grotius’s wife more closely; but upon her petition to
the States-General, April 5, 1621, she was discharged two
days after, and suffered to carry away every thing that
belonged to her in Louvestein. From Antwerp, Grotius
wrote to the States-General, March 30, that, in procuring
his liberty, he had employed neither violence nor corruption with his keepers; that he had nothing to reproach
himself with in what he had done; that he gave those
counsels which he thought best for appeasing the troubles
that had arisen in public business; that he only obeyed the
magistrates of Rotterdam his masters, and the States of
Holland his sovereigns; and that the persecution he had
suffered would never diminish his love for his country, for
whose prosperity he heartily prayed. He continued some
time at Antwerp, deliberating what course to take; and at
length, principally by the advice of Du Maurier, determined to go to France, where he had many friends. He
arrived at Paris, April 13, 1621, and his wife in October
following; but their expences had so much exceeded the
small revenue she had still left, that in the beginning of
December, he wrote to Du Maurier, that if something was
not soon done, he must seek a settlement in Germany, or
hide himself in some corner of France. At length the
king coming to Paris in January 1621, Grotius was presented to him by the chancellor and the keeper of the seals,
in the beginning of March, and on a day when the court
was very numerous. His majesty received him graciously,
and granted him a pension of 3000 livres, and upon his
account granted a protection to all the Dutch refugees, a
very singular exchange of the principles of toleration between the two countries. But, notwithstanding the king’s
grant, he could not touch the money; they had forgot to
put it on the civil list, and the commissioners of the treasury found daily some new excuse for delaying the payment; and at length, when by the solicitation of some
powerful friends, he received it, it continued to be paid as
grants were paid at that time, that is to say, very slowly.
These difficulties did not diminish his passion for literature,
“I persist,
” he says in a letter to Vossius, dated Sept. 29,
162], “in my respect for sacred antiquity; there are many
people here of the same taste. My six books in Dutch
will appear soon (i. e. his book on the truth of the Chr.stiau religion.) Perhaps 1 shall also publish my disquisition on
Pelagianism, with the precautions hinted to me by you and
some other persons of learning. In the mean time, I am
preparing an edition of Stobrcus; and to render it more
perfect, 1 collate the Greek Mss. with the printed copies.
”
Thus he spent the greatest part of his time; and as the
ministers of Charenton, who had accorded with the decisions of the synod of Dort, would not admit him into their
communion, he resolved to have divine service performed
at home in his family.
d all persons to have it in their custody on pain of death. Grotius presenteJ a petition to the king of France, to be protected against this edict, because it imported,
Having collected some materials in prison for his Apology, he printed it in the beginning of 1622; and it was translated into Latin, and published the same year at Paris. It was sent to Holland immediately, where it caused so much disgust, that the States-General proscribed it as slanderous, tending to asperse by falsehoods the sovereign authority of the government of the United Provinces; the person of the prince of Orange, the States of the particular provinces, and the towjis themselves; and forbad all persons to have it in their custody on pain of death. Grotius presenteJ a petition to the king of France, to be protected against this edict, because it imported, that he should be apprehended wherever found; on which his majesty tqok him into his special protection, the letters for that purpose being issued at Paris, February 25, 1623. The malevolence of those who were then in place made no change in Grotius. In the height of this new persecution, he wrote to his brother, that he would still labour to promote the interest of Holland; and that, if the United Provinces were desirous of entering into a closer union with France, he would assist them with all his credit. This candour enabled him still to preserve many friends, who ardently wished for his return; though they were not able to facilitate it. In 1623, he published at Paris his edition of Stobsp,us.
Mentz, and at length declared him counsellor to the queen of Sweden, and her ambassador to the court of France.
He had always entertained a very high opinion of Gustavus king of Sweden; and that prince having sent to Paris Benedict Oxenstiern, a relation of the chancellor, to bring to a final conclusion the treaty between France and Sweden, this minister became acquainted with Grotius, and resolved, if possible, to draw him to his master’s court: and Grotius writes, that if that monarch would nominate him ambassador, with a proper salary for the decent sup* port of the dignity, the proposal might be accepted. In this situation Salvius, vice-chancellor of Sweden, a great statesman, and a man of learning, being then at this city, Grotius was introduced to him, and saw him frequently. Polite literature was the subject of their conversation. Salvius conceived a great esteem for Grotius, and the favourable report he made of him to the high-chancellor Oxenstiern determined the latter to write to Grotius to come to him, that he might employ him in affairs of the greatest importance. Grotius accepted of this invitation; and setting out for Francfort on the Maine, where that minister Avas, arrived there in May 1634. He was received with the; greatest politeness by Oxenstiern, who did not yet, how-> ever, explain his intentions. In confidence of the highchancellor’s character, and apparent sincerity, he sent for his wife, who arrived at Francfort with his daughters and son, in the beginning of August The chancellor after for some time continuing to heap civilities upon him, without mentioning a word of business, ordered that he should follow him to Mentz, and at length declared him counsellor to the queen of Sweden, and her ambassador to the court of France.
d scarcely been invested with these honours before he was obliged again to go to Poland, which Henry of France had left in order to succeed his brother Charles IX.
On his return, he was appointed counsellor and secretary of state, but had scarcely been invested with these honours before he was obliged again to go to Poland, which Henry of France had left in order to succeed his brother Charles IX. on the throne of France. Guarino’s business in Poland now was to manage the affairs of his master, who aspired to the crown of Poland; but this employment was very difficult and even dangerous. In one of his letters to his wife, he says that he was obliged to travel all day more like a courier than an ambassador, and spend the night in writing his memorials, which proved too much for his health. Anxiety of mind and fatigue of body threw him into a fever, which made him despair of his life, and in that fear, he wrote a very affectionate letter to his wife, taking leave of her, and recommending his children to her care. It appears by his correspondence that it was not entirely on account of his ^aierits that he was employed in these distant and intricate missions, and that he had enemies at Ferrara, who made use of his reputation and the confidence the prince had in him, to get him removed. This, however, did not abate his zeal for the interests of his master, although the negociation was not successful, nor was he ever rewarded suitably to his exertions.
h critics and as severely censured by others. Among the manuscripts he Jeft is said to be a “History of France,” which, if written on his principles, is not now likely
“Seul roi de qui le pauvre ait garde la incmoirc.
”
3. “Essai sur le progres des arts et de l'esprit sous le regne
de Louis XV.
” Deux Fonts, 1776, Lausanne, 1777. 4.
“Supplement a, la maniere d‘ecrire l’histoire,
” Kiel, Essai sur l‘histoire de Cornices de Rome, des etats generaux de France, et du parlement d’Angleterre,
” Paris,
Supplement au Contrat Social,
” Paris, La
Conquete de Naples,
” Paris, L' Astronomic,
” a
poem, Paris, Contes,
” History of France,
” which, if written
on his principles, is not now likely to be thought worthy
of the press.
ed to him a better offer, he declined the undertaking. Gronovius proposed to him the making the tour of France, Italy, and other countries of Europe, in quality of
His learned friends all this while were labouring to serve
him. Grttviiis tried to get him a place at Duisbnrg, but
could not succeed. The magistrates of Amsterdam soon
after offered him a considerable sum to digest and revise
Blondel’s “Remarks upon Baron ius’s Annals,
” and gave
him hopes of a professorship; but receiving a letter from
Gronovius, which proposed to him a better offer, he declined the undertaking. Gronovius proposed to him the
making the tour of France, Italy, and other countries of
Europe, in quality of tutor to a rich young gentleman,
whose name was Samuel Schas; and this proposal he
readily embraced, though he had another letter from Alexander Moms, with the offer of a pension of Saumur, and a
lodging in the house of the celebrated professor Amyrault,
if he would read lectures upon ancient history to some
French noblemen.
; and pressed to accompany him through &e libraries of Germany, as he had already done through those of France and Italy.
1661, where they both were attacked with a dangerous illness; but recovering, they went to Italy, where they remained all 1662, and part of 1663. At Rome, at Florence, and at Capua, they were introduced to Leo Ailatius, Carolus Dati, and other men of talents. In 1663, they returned to France, and continued there the remaining part of the year. Gudius. who seems to have been a provident man, had desired his friends at parting, to watch for some place of settlement for him at his return: and accordingly Heinsius, Gronovius, and Graevius, were very attentive to his interest. But his pupil Schas wished to make another tour, and Gudius preferred accompanying him, as Schas was a lover of letters, and, though immensely rich, resolved to spend his life in studious pursuits. He was also very partial to Gudius, whom he dissuaded from accepting any place; and pressed to accompany him through &e libraries of Germany, as he had already done through those of France and Italy.
ents to Schas, whom he calls rir exiniius, for having collated three Mss. of that author in the king of France’s library. Vossius used other ungenerous and dishonest
Before they set out for Germany, Isaac Vossius, jealous
at seeing in the hands of Gudius so many valuable monuments of literature, whidrthey had collected in their first
tour, is said to have acted a part, neither becoming a
scholar nor an honest man. On the one hand, he affected
to hold them light when he talked with Gudius; whom
also he did not scruple to treat with an air of contempt,
even in the presence of his friend Gronovius, saying, that
Gudius had never collated any ms. but always used a
copyist for that purpose, and that he did not know the
value of them, but was ready to sell them for a trifle to the
first purchaser. On the other hand, when he talked to
Schas, he represented to him what an estimable treasure
he was in possession of, exhorted him not to be the dupe
of Gudius, but invited him to join his Mss. with his own;
alleging, that they would enjoy them in common during
their lives, and after their deaths bequeath them to the
public; which unusual act of generosity would gain them
great honour. But Vossius did not know that Schas loved
books, and understood Mss. perhaps as well as Gudius: and
Grsevius, in the preface to his edition of “Florus,
” makes
his acknowledgments to Schas, whom he calls rir exiniius,
for having collated three Mss. of that author in the king
of France’s library. Vossius used other ungenerous and
dishonest means to set Gudius and Schas at variance; and
besides causing a quarrel between Schas and his brother,
by insinuating, that Gudius had too great a share in the
possessions as well as the affections of Schas, he did what
he could to ruin Gudius’s character with the States of Holland, although here too he failed.
empire, he gives an account of that change which produced the rivalship between the two great powers of France and Austria; whence arose the notion of a balance of
As to the productions of his pen, his history claims the
first place. It would be tedious to produce all the encomiums bestowed upon it by persons of the first character
Bolingbroke calls him “The admirable historian
” and
says, he “should not scruple to prefer him to Thucydides
in every respect.
” In him are found all the transaction^
of that aera, in which the study of history ought to begin;
as he wrote in that point of time when those events and re
volutions began, that have produced so vast a change in,
the manners, customs, and interests, of particular nations; and in the policy, ecclesiastical and civil, of those
parts of the world. And, as Guicciardini lived in those
days, and was employed both in the field and cabinet, he
had all opportunities of furnishing himself with materials
for his history: in particular, he relates at length the various causes, which brought about the great change in religion by the reformation; shews by what accidents the
French kings were enabled to become masters at home,
and to extend themselves abroad; discovers the origin of
the splendor of Spain in the fifteenth century, by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella; the total expulsion of
the Moors, and the discovery of the West-Indies. Lastly,
in respect to the empire, he gives an account of that
change which produced the rivalship between the two great
powers of France and Austria; whence arose the notion of
a balance of power, the preservation whereof has been the
principal care of all the wise councils of Europe, and is so
to this day. Of this history sir William Jones says, “It is
the most authentic I believe (may I add, I fear) that ever
was composed. I believe it, because the historian was an
actor in his terrible drama, and personally knew the principal performers in it; and I fear it, because it exhibits
the woeful picture of society in the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries.
”
urs this painter received from Paul V. from all the cardinals and princes of Italy, from Lewis XIII. of France, Philip IV. of Spain, and from the king of Poland and
Great were the honours this painter received from Paul
V. from all the cardinals and princes of Italy, from Lewis
XIII. of France, Philip IV. of Spain, and from the king of
Poland and Sweden, who, besides a noble reward, made
him a compliment, in a letter under his own hand, for an
Europa he had sent him. He was extremely handsome
arul graceful in his person; and so very beautiful in his
younger days, that his master Luclovico, in painting his
angels, took him always for his model. Nor was he an
angel only in his looks, if we may jDelieve what Gioseppino
told the pope, when he asked his opinion of Guido’s performances in the Capella Quirinale, “Our pictures,
” said
he, “are the works of men’s hands, but these are made by
hands divine.
” In his behaviour he was modest, gentle,
and very obliging; lived in great splendour both at Bologna and Rome; and was only unhappy in his immoderate
love of gaming. To this in his latter days he abandoned
himself so entirely, that all the money he could get by his
pencil, or borrow upon interest, was too little to supply his
losses: and he was at last reduced to so poor and mean a
condition, that the consideration of his present circumstances, together with reflections on his former reputation
and high manner of living, brought a languishing distemper on him, of which he died in 1642.
of divinity, which he used as a text-book, 1709, 12mo. Gurtler wrote also a “History of the Churches of France,” in German.
, a learned protestant divine, was
born at Basil, Dec. 8, 1654, where his father was a merchant. Until the fourteenth year of his age, he was instructed by private tutors, and profited so much as to be
then fit for the university of Basil, where, after studying
languages, philosophy, mathematics, and history, for three
or four years, he was on July 2, 1672, admitted to the degrees of master of arts and doctor in philosophy. He tnen
studied divinity, and had for one of his masters Peter Werenfels, father of the celebrated Samuel VVerenfels. In
about two years, he was appointed to lecture on theology
during the vacations, and acquitted himself with great credit. In March 1676, he was admitted a preacher, and the
following year passed six months at Geneva, whence he
went into France, and visited the university of Saumur,
where he heard the lectures of Henry Philiponeau de Hautecour, who was afterwards his colleague in the university
of Franeker. His reputation having by this time extended
to Germany, he was invited to Heilborn to be professor of
philosophy and rhetoric, and rector of the classes, of which
office he took possession in 1685, with a public harangue,
“de fato philosophico in ecclesia Christiana.
” As divinity
was still his favourite study, he continued improving his
knowledge of it; and having visited Heidelberg during the
third jubilee of that university, he received his degree of
D. D. with every mark of distinction, even from the learned
catholics who heard him maintain a thesis on this occasion,
the subject of which was “Christ’s kingly office.
” After
he had remained about two years at Heilborn, he was requested to accept the theological chair at Hanau, with
which he complied. In 1696 he was again removed to Bremen as professor in ordinary of divinity, moderator of the
schools, and perpetual rector magrdficus. To this place
he drew a great concourse of students; but the fatigues
attending his occupations here made him willing to accept
the less laborious professorship of divinity at Deventer in
1699. In 1705 the curators of the university of Franeker
offered him their theological chair, which he at first refused, but accepted it, on a second and more pressing invitation, in 1707. His constitution was now, however, so
much worn down by repeated attacks of the gout, that he
did not enjoy this office above four years, dying Sept. 28,
1711. Gurtler was a man of genuine piety, modesty, and
candour, and of extensive knowledge in every branch of
science, but especially in those connected with his profession. His works, which have generally received the approbation of catholics as well as protestants, are, 1. A Latin, German, Greek, and French Dictionary, published in
1682. 2. “Historia Templariorum observationibus ecclesiasticis aucta,
” Amst. Institutiones Theologies,
” ibid. Voces
Typico-propheticiT,
” Bremen, Dialogi Eucharistici,
”
Bremen, SystemaTheologise propbeticse,
”
Amst. Origines mundi, et in eo regnorum,
” &c.
Amst. Dissertationes de Jesu Christo in
gloriam evecto,
” Franeker, Forma sanorum
verborum,
” a short abridgment of divinity, which he used
as a text-book, 1709, 12mo. Gurtler wrote also a “History of the Churches of France,
” in German.
ated to form a hero, and seems, in all respects, to have resembled that bestowed on Henry the Fourth of France. He had a great genius, a prodigious memory, and a docility
, king of Sweden, commonly called the Great, a title which, if great valour united with great wisdom, great magnanimity with regard to himself, and great consideration of the wants and infirmities of others, have any claim, he seems well to have deserved. He was born at Stockholm in 1594. His name Gustavus he inherited from his grandfather Gustavus Vasa, and he was called Adolphus from his grandmother Adolpha. His education was calculated to form a hero, and seems, in all respects, to have resembled that bestowed on Henry the Fourth of France. He had a great genius, a prodigious memory, and a docility and desire of learning almost beyond example. He ascended the throne of Sweden in 1611, being then no more than fifteen; but the choice he made of ministers and counsellors proved him fully adequate to govern. His valour in the field was tried first against Denmark, Muscovy, and Poland. He made an honourable peace with the two first, and compelled the last to evacuate Livonia. He then formed an alliance with the protestants of Germany against the emperor, and what is commonly called the league. In two years and a half he overran all the countries from the Vistula as far as the Danube and the Rhine. Every thing submitted to his power, and all the towns opened to him their gates. In 1631 he conquered Tilly, the imperial general, before Leipsic; and a second time at the passage of the Lech. In the following year, he fought the famous battle in the plains of Lutzen, where he unfortunately fell at the immature age of thirty-eight, Nov. 16, 1632. Besides his other noble qualities he loved and cultivated the sciences. He enriched the university of Upsal; he founded a royal academy at Abo, and an university at Dorp in Livonia. Before his time there were no regular troops in Sweden; but he formed and executed the project of having 80,000 men constantly well armed, disciplined, and cloathed. This he accomplished without difficulty, on account of the love and confidence which his subjects without reserve reposed in their king. Some historians have delighted to draw a parallel between Gustavus and the great Scipio, and it is certain that they had many traits of character in common. Scipio attacked the Carthaginians in their own dominions; and Gustavus undertook to curb the pride of Austria by carrying the war into the heart of her country. Here indeed the advantage is with Gustavus; for, the Carthaginian power was already debilitated; but the emperor’s had before never received any check. He died literally, as it is said of him, with the sword in his hand, the word of command on his tongue, and victory in his imagination. His life has been well written by our countryman Harte; and he appears in all respects to have deserved the high and numerous encomiums which writers of all countries have heaped upon his memory. Some have suspected this exalted character to have lost his life from the intrigues of cardinal Richelieu; others from Lawemburgh, one of his generals, whom Ferdinand the emperor is said to have corrupted. He left an only daughter, whom he had by the princess Mary of Brandenburg, and who succeeded her father at the age of five. This princess was the celebrated Christina queen of Sweden.
ations, and continued in prison as a criminal till the meeting of the general assembly of the clergy of France in 1700, when nothing being proved against her, she was
Thus acquitted she returned to Paris, not thinking of any further prosecution.; but all these attestations and submissions were not sufficient to allay the storm, and she soon found herself involved in the prosecution or rather persecution of the archbishop of Cambray. This amiable prelate, when Bossuet desired his approbation of the book he had composed, in answer to madame Guyon’s sentiments, not only refused it, but openly declared that this pious woman had been treated with great partiality and injustice, and that the censures of her adversary were unmerited and groundless. Fenelon also, in the same year, published a book, in which he adopted several of the tenets of madame Guyon, and especially that favourite doctrine of the mystics, which teaches that the love of the Supreme Being must be pure and disinterested, that is, exempt from all views of interest and all hope of reward. What followed with respect to the archbishop may be seen in another place (art. Fenelon); but madame Guyon was imprisoned before the expiration of 1695, in the castle of Vincennes, whence she was removed to a convent, and afterwards sent to the Bastille, where she underwent many rigorous examinations, and continued in prison as a criminal till the meeting of the general assembly of the clergy of France in 1700, when nothing being proved against her, she was released. After this she went first to the castle belonging to her children, whence she was permitted to retire to Blois, the next town to that castle.
e frequent excursions from Constantinople, where he lived under the immediate protection of the king of France, into Greece, with Homer in his hand; and how extensive
, an agreeable French writer,
was born at Marseilles in 1720, and became a merchant of
distinguished probity. Having often had occasion to visit
Constantinople, Smyrna, &c. in the course of business, he
conceived the idea of comparing the ancient and modern
Greeks, and endeavouring to trace among the latter what
was yet to be found of the grandeur, spirit, and institutions
of their ancestors. For this purpose he made frequent excursions from Constantinople, where he lived under the
immediate protection of the king of France, into Greece,
with Homer in his hand; and how extensive and minute
his observations were, appeared in his “Voyage Litteraire
de la Grece,
” on which his fame chiefly rests, and which
was first published in 1771, 2 vols. 12mo; in 1783, 4 vols.
8vo. He was taking another voyage in order to correct
and enlarge a new edition of this work, when he died at
Zante in 1799. This work procured him a very considerable name in the literary wprld; but in whatever reputation it was held in Europe, he afforded such satisfaction to
the subjects of his inquiry) that the modern Greeks, to testify to him their gratitude for his having so well defended
them from their detractors, unanimously offered him the
diploma of citizen of Athens; reviving^ in his favour, an
ancient ceremony fallen into desuetude for a great many
centuries. Some years before, he had received a similar
compliment from a northern power. This true philosopher,
without ceasing to serve his country, knew how to extend
his beneficent views beyond the limits of his country. The
“Voyage Litteraire de la Grece,
” however, is the chief
work of C. Guys. His other pieces are, a “Relation Abrege*e de ses Voyages en Italic et dans le Nord;
” and a translation in verse of the elegies of Tibullus, an essay upon the
antiquities of Marseilles his native place, and the eloge of
Duguay-Trouin. A translation of his Journey was published
in English in 1772, 3 vols. 12mo, with the improper title
of a “Sentimental Journey.
”
entitled “The Union of the Princes, by the Marriages of Philip King of Spain and the Lady Elizabeth of France, and of Philibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy, and the Lady
, a French
historian, of an ancient family, was born at Bourdeaux about
1535. He went to court at twenty years of age, and in
1556 and 1557 was secretary to Francis de Noailles, bishop
of Acqs, in his embassies to England and Venice. After
that, his first appearance in the republic of letters was in
the quality of a poet and translator. In 1559, he published
a poem, entitled “The Union of the Princes, by the Marriages of Philip King of Spain and the Lady Elizabeth of
France, and of Philibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy, and the
Lady Margaret of France;
” and another entitled “The
Tomb of the most Christian King Henry II.
” In 1560 he
published an abridged translation of “Tully’s Offices, 7 '
and of
” Eutropius’s Roman History;“and, in 1568, of
” The Life of JEmilius Probus.“He applied himself
afterwards to the writing of history, and succeeded so well,
that by his first performances of this nature, he obtained
of Charles IX. the title of Historiographer of France 1571.
He had published the year before at Paris a book entitled
” Of the State and Success of the Affairs of France;“which
was reckoned very curious, and was often reprinted. He
augmented it in several successive editions, and dedicated it
to Henry IV. in 1594: the best editions of it are those of
Paris 1609 and 1613, in 8vo. He had published also the
same year a work entitled
” Of the Fortune and Power of
France, with a Summary Discourse on the Design of a History of France:“though Niceron suspects that this may be
the same with
” The Promise and Design of the History of
France," which he published in 1571, in order to let
Charles IX. see what he might expect from him in support
of the great honour he had conferred of historiographer of
France. In 1576, he published a history, which reaches
from Phararnond to the death of Charles VII. and was the
first who composed a body of the French history in French.
Henry III. shewed his satisfaction with this by the advantageous and honourable gratifications he made the author.
The reasons which induced de Haillan to conclude his
work with Charles Vllth’s death were, that the event beingrecent, he must eitlier conceal the truth, or provoke the
resentment of men in power, but he afterwards promised
Henry IV. to continue this history to his time, as may be
seen in his dedication to him of this work in 1594; nothing
however of this kind was found among his papers after his
death: the booksellers, who added a continuation to his
work as far as to 1615, and afterwards as far as to 1627,
took it from Paulus Æmilius, de Comines, Arnoul Ferron,
du Bellay, &c.
Caen. Some time afier, being rector of the university, he made an oration to M. Seguier, chancellor of France, then in Normandy, to -suppress some popular insurrections;
, professor of canon law in the university of Paris, was born at Bayeux in Normandy, September 8, 1611. He studied philosophy, law, and divinity,
for five years in the university of Caen; and also applied
himself to poetry, under the direction of his uncle Anthony
Halle, who was a Latin poet of some note, with such success, that he gained the prizes in the poetical exercises
that are performed every year in these two cities, “to the
honour of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary.
”
This procured him so much reputation, that, though he
was still very young, he was chosen professor of rhetoric
in the university of Caen. Some time afier, being rector
of the university, he made an oration to M. Seguier, chancellor of France, then in Normandy, to -suppress some
popular insurrections; which was so much approved by
that head of the law, that he received a doctor of law’s degree from him in 1640. He attended M. Seguier to Paris,
and gained such reputation by some pieces he published,
that they offered him the mastership of five different colleges; and he was incorporated in his absence (a very unusual thing) into the body of the university in 1641. He
was made king’s poet, and reader of the Latin and Greek
tongues in the royal college in 1646. His assiduous application to study having ruined his health, he was obliged to
rest for two years, in order to recover it. He afterwards
resolved to raise the glory of the faculty of the law, which
was miserably sunk; and in 1655 he obtained the post
of regius professor of the canon law, when he vigorously
began, and, though he met with great difficulties, successfully executed what he had resolved. Besides “Canonical Institutions,
” which he published in A Collection of Latin Poems and Orations.
” He died December 27, 1689.
ent, and now hastened to complete his observations upon it, in viewing it from the royal observatory of France. That building had been finished not many years before;
In 1679 he was appointed by the royal society to go to Dantzick, for the satisfaction of Hevelius the consul, to adjust a dispute between him and our Hooke, about the preference of plain or glass sights in astroscopical instruments. He set out May 14 of this year, with a letter recommendatory from the society, and arrived at that city on the 26th. He waited on the consul immediately, and after some conversation, agreed to enter upon the business of his visit that same night; on which, and every night afterwards, when the sky permitted, the two astronomers made their observations together till July 18, when Halley left Dantzick, and returned to England. Here he continued till the latter end of the following year, 1680; when he set out upon what is usually called the grand tour, accompanied by the celebrated Mr. Nelson, who had been his school-fellow, and was his friend. They crossed the water in December to Calais; and in the mid-way thence to Paris, Haliey had, first of any one, a sight of the remarkable comet as it then appeared a second time that year in its return from the sun. He had the November before seen it in its descent, and now hastened to complete his observations upon it, in viewing it from the royal observatory of France. That building had been finished not many years before; and Halley’s design in this part of his tour was to settle a friendly correspondence between the two royal astronomers of Greenwich and Paris; embracing in the mean time every opportunity of improving himself under so great a master as Cassini, as he had done before under Hevelius. From Paris he went with his fellow-traveller, by the way of Lyons, to Italy, where he spent a great part of the year 1681; but his affairs then calling him home, he left Mr. Nelson at Rome, and returned to England, after making some stay a second time at Paris.
re was kept as an holy-day by the whole village. He was highly esteemed by the most eminent prelates of France, though he enjoyed but very small preferments. He was
He died at Paris August 6, 1706, without any sickness, and of mere old age, being almost eighty-three. Though he had quitted his cure at Neuilli in 1663, yet he went every year to visit his old flock and the day he spent there was kept as an holy-day by the whole village. He was highly esteemed by the most eminent prelates of France, though he enjoyed but very small preferments. He was a man of great modesty, affability, piety, and integrity; he was disinterested, averse to all contests, and exempt from jealousy and affectation. He wrote Latin with remarkable purity and elegance.
to the treatment and botanical discrimination of all trees and shrubs capable of bearing the climate of France. Hence a number of American species became first known
A more splendid and extensive work of our author was
published in 1755, making 2 vols. 4to, entitled “Traité
des Arbres et Arbustes qui se cultiventen France en pleine
terre.
” Having been made inspector of the marine, he
undertook to investigate all that concerned the cultivation
and preservation of timber, and in this work extended his
views to the treatment and botanical discrimination of all
trees and shrubs capable of bearing the climate of France.
Hence a number of American species became first known
to his countrymen, and even to other nations by his means.
Haller reckons that this work treats of a thousand species
and varieties. They are arranged alphabetically, according
to their Latin generic names, and he took for the basis of
the work the nomenclature of Tournefort. It is to be regretted that he did not regularly adopt the Linnaean nomenclature as to species, which had appeared two years before in
the “Species Plautarum,
” a work he occasionally cites; but
he was not enough of a practical botanist to feel its transcendant utility. His most eminent and important work,
the “Physique des Arbres,
” came out in
his native land. To recruit his health, however, he was obliged to return to the more genial climate of France, where he died in 1754.
, of Bangour, an ingenious poet, was the son of a man of fortune and family in Airshire, where he was born in 1704. He received a liberal education, to which he joined the accomplishments of the man of the world, and amidst the lighter dissipations of society, cultivated a taste for poetry, of which he exhibited frequent specimens for the amusement of his friends. In 1745 he joined the unfortunate cause of the Pretender, and conceived great hopes from the temporary success of the rebels at Preston-pans; but after the battle of Culloden, which terminated the struggle, was obliged to provide for his safety in flight, and after many narrow escapes, reached the continent, where he remained until he received a pardon, and was enabled to visit his native land. To recruit his health, however, he was obliged to return to the more genial climate of France, where he died in 1754.
nd the clamour raised against him and his writings, he maintained his credit so well with the clergy of France, that they engaged him to undertake a new edition of“The
But notwithstanding this solemn protestation, nothing
can be more certain than that Hardouin industriously cherished and propagated his opinions to the last moment of
his life. Thus, in 1723, when he reprinted his edition of
Pliny in three volumes folio, he greatly augmented it with
notes, in which were dispersed many paradoxical conceits,
tending to support his general system, which Mr. Crevier
and father Desmolets of the oratory thought themselves
obliged to point out and refute. Yet, notwithstanding
all these circumstances, and the clamour raised against
him and his writings, he maintained his credit so well with
the clergy of France, that they engaged him to undertake
a new edition of“The Councils,
” and gave him a pension
for that purpose. It was printed, 1715, in 12 vols. folio,
at the royal printing-house; but the sale of it was prohibited by the parliament, who commissioned some
doctors, among whom was the celebrated Dupin, to examin^
it. These doctors gave in their report, that the edition!
should either be suppressed, or at least corrected in a
great number of places; because it contained many maxims injurious to the doctrines and discipline of the church
in general, and to those of the Gallican church in particular; and because some very essential things were omitted,
while others that were spurious were inserted.
ity and conduct were first of all distinguished in the memorable engagement with the combined fleets of France and Spain on Toulon, in 1744, when the English fleet
, an eminent naval
officer, was the son of Edward Hawke, esq. barrister at law,
by Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Bladen, esq. He was
from his youth brought up to the sea, and passed through
the inferior stations till, in 1713—4, he was appointed captain
of the Wolf. His intrepidity and conduct were first of all
distinguished in the memorable engagement with the combined fleets of France and Spain on Toulon, in 1744, when
the English fleet was commanded by the admirals Matthews, Lestock, and Rowley. If all the English ships had
done their duty on that day as well as the Berwick, which
captain Hawke commanded, the honour and discipline of
the navy would not have been so tarnished. He compelled
the Pader, a Spanish vessel of 60 guns, to strike; and, to
succour the Princessa and Somerset, broke the line without orders, for which act of bravery he lost his commission, but was honourably restored to his rank by the king.
In 1747 he was appointed rear-admiral of the 'white; and
on the 14th of October, in the same year, fell in with a
large French fleet, bound to the West Indies, convoyed
by nine men of war, of which he captured seven. This
was a glorious day for England, and the event taught British commanders to despise the old prejudice of staying
for a line of battle. “Perceiving,
” says the gallant admiral in his letters to the Admiralty, “that we lost time in
forming our line, I made the signal for the whole squadron
to chase, and when within a proper distance to engage.
”
On October the 31st, admiral Hawke arrived at Portsmouth
with his prizes, and as a reward of his bravery, he was
soon afterwards made knight of the bath. In 1748 he was
made vice-admiral of the blue, and elected an elder brother of the Trinity-house; in 1755 he was appointed viceadmiral of the white, and in 1757 commanded the squadron which was sent to co-operate with sir John Mordaunt
in the expedition against Rochfort. In 1759, sir Edward
commanded the grand fleet opposed to that of the French
equipped at Brest, and intended to invade these kingdoms.
He accordingly sailed from Portsmouth, and, arriving off
Brest, so stationed his ships that the French fleet did not
dare to come out, and had the mortification of beholding
their coast insulted, and their merchantmen taken. The
admiral, however, being by a strong westerly wind blown
from his station, the French seized this opportunity, and
steered for Quiberon-bay, where a small English squadron
lay under the command of commodore Duff. Sir Edward
Hawke immediately went in pursuit of them, and on the
20th of November came up with them off Belleisle. The
wind blew exceedingly hard at the time, nevertheless the
French were engaged, and totally defeated, nor was the
navy of France able to undertake any thing of consequence
during the remainder of the war. This service, owing to
the nature of the coast, was peculiarly hazardous; but when
the pilot represented the danger, our gallant admiral only
replied, “You have done your duty in pointing out the
difficulties; you are now to comply with my order, and
lay me along the Soleil Royal.
” For these and similar
services, the king settled a pension of 2000l. per annum
on sif Edward and his two sons, or the survivor of them;
he also received the thanks of the house of commons, and
the freedom of the city of Cork in a gold box. In 1765
he was appointed vice-admiral of Great Britain, and first
lord of the admiralty; and, in 1776, he was made a peer
of England, under the title of Baron Hawke, of Towton, in
the county of York. His lordship married Catharine the
daughter of Walter Brooke, of Burton-hall, in Yorkshire,
esq. by whom he had four children. He was one of the
greatest characters that ever adorned the British navy; but
most of all remarkable for the daring courage which induced him on many occasions to disregard those forms of
conducting or sustaining an attack, which the rules and
ceremonies of service had before considered as indispensable. He died at his seat at Shepperton in Middlesex,
October 14, 1781.
liotheca Gra3ca,” a chemical Greek poem written in iambic verse, which he had from a ms. in the king of France’s library, and which carries the name of Heliodorus bishop
Besides the Ethiopics, Cedrenus tells us of another book
of Heliodorus, concerning the philosopher’s stone, or the
art of transmuting metals into gold, which he presented to
Theodosius the Great; and Fabricius has inserted in his
“Bibliotheca Gra3ca,
” a chemical Greek poem written in
iambic verse, which he had from a ms. in the king of
France’s library, and which carries the name of Heliodorus
bishop of Tricca; but leaves it very justly questionable,
whether it be not a spurious performance.
sacre of St. Bartholomew, was born at St. Quintin in Picardy, in 1497. He was confessor to Henry II. of France, and bishop of Lodeve. In the reign of Charles IX. when
, the bishop of Lisieux, so justly celebrated for his humanity at the time of the dreadful massacre of St. Bartholomew, was born at St. Quintin in Picardy, in 1497. He was confessor to Henry II. of France, and bishop of Lodeve. In the reign of Charles IX. when the royal lieutenant of his province communicated to him the order to massacre all the protestants in the diocese of Lisieux, he signed a formal and official opposition to the order; for which striking act of clemency, it is wonderful to say, he was not censured or persecuted by the bigotry of the court. The beauty of virtue exacted respect. He died in 1577, universally respected, having gained over more by his mildness than any bigot by his fury.
, a learned Dominican, a native of France, was born about 1499, and went into Portugal in his infancy,
, a learned Dominican, a native of France, was born about 1499, and went into Portugal in his infancy, and was there educated. He afterwards entered into the Dominican order at Louvain, where he died in 1566. He published some of the works of Euthymius Zigubenus, QScumenius, and Arethras, but is best known for the aid he contributed in publishing a beautiful edition of the Vulgate Bible, printed by Plantin in 1565, 5 vols, 12mo, and the Louvain Bible of 1547, reprinted 1583. The faculty of Louvain, who had engaged his assistance in these editions, employed him also on a less honourable commission, to collect from the works of Erasmus all erroneous and scandalous propositions, as they were called, that they might be laid before the council of Trent. This commission he executed in the true spirit of expurgatorial bigotry.
, an eminent Orientalist of France, was born at Paris Dec. 14, 1625. When he had gone through
, an eminent Orientalist of France, was born at Paris Dec. 14, 1625. When he had gone through classical literature and philosophy, he applied himself to the Oriental languages; and especially to the Hebrew, for the sake of understanding the original text of the Old Testament. After a continual application for several years, he took a journey to Rome, thinking that conversing with Armenians, and other eastern people who frequented that city, would make him perfect in the knowledge of their languages.
nce a body of protestants to Piedmont for his service. In 1616 he was sent ambassador to Louis XIII. of France, to mediate for the relief of the protestants of that
, lord Herbert, of Cherbury in
Shropshire, an eminent English writer, was descended
from a very ancient family, and born 1581, at Montgomery-castle in Wales. At the age of fourteen he was entered as
a gentleman-commoner at University college, in Oxford,
where he laid, says Wood, the foundation of that admirable learning, of which he was afterwards a complete
master. In 1600 he came to London, and shortly after the
accession of James I. was created knight of the hath. He
served the office of high sheriff for the county of Montgomery, and divided his time between the country and the
court. In 1608, feeling wearied with the sameness of domestic scenes, he visited the continent, carrying with him
some romantic notions on the point of honour, which, in.
such an age, were likely to involve him in perpetual quarrels. His advantageous person and manners, and the reputation for courage which he acquired, gained him many
friends, among whom was the constable Montmorenci. As
a seat of this nobleman he passed several months practising horsemanship, and other manly exercises, in which
he became singularly expert. He returned to England in
1609, and in the following, year he quitted it again, in.
order that he might have the opportunity of serving with
the English forces sent to assist the prince of Orange at
the siege of Juliers. Here he signalised himself by his
valour, which, in some instances, was carried to the extreme of rashness. After the siege he visited Antwerp and
Brussels, and returned to London, where he was looked
now upon as one of the most conspicuous characters of the
time. An attempt was made to assassinate him, in revenge
for some liberties which he took, or was supposed to have
taken, with a married lady. In 1614 he went into the Low.
Countries to serve under the prince of Orange; after this
he engaged with the duke of Savoy, to conduct from France
a body of protestants to Piedmont for his service. In 1616
he was sent ambassador to Louis XIII. of France, to mediate for the relief of the protestants of that realm, but was
recalled in July 1621, on account of a dispute between
him and the constable de Luines. Camden says that he
had treated the constable irreverently; but Walton tells us
that “he could not subject himself to a compliance with
the humours of the duke de Luines, who was then the
great and powerful favourite at court: so that, upon a
complaint to our king, he was called back into England in
some displeasure; but at his return gave such an honourable
account of his employment, and so justified his comportment to the duke and all the court, that he was suddenly
sent back upon the same embassy.
”
hfe bought the place of treasurer to the French guards. He was afterwards appointed historiographer of France, and died in 1680. He wrote only two tragedies, of no
, a French poet of the seventeenth century, was nephew to du Vair, a celebrated keeper
ef the seals. His original profession was military, but being
disabled by a wound from actual service, hfe bought the
place of treasurer to the French guards. He was afterwards appointed historiographer of France, and died in
1680. He wrote only two tragedies, of no great merit,
“Hercule furieux,
” and “Clavis,
” and a few fugitive
poems, some of which have a degree of elevation, particularly the “Portrait d'Amaranthe.
”
or of natural history at the central school. He was also admitted a fellow of the national institute of France, and successively chosen a member of the royal academy
, professor of botany and the materia medica at Strasburgh, was born Dec. 21, 1738, at Barr, near Strasbnrgh. His father, a protestant clergyman at that place, devoted his leisure hours to physical experiments, and imparted to his son a tasce for the study of natural history and the science of nature, who made at the same time an extraordinary progress in rhetoric, philology, history, philosophy, mathematics, and hiedicine, In 1765, he took the degree of doctor of medicine, and made a -journey to Paris, where he enlarged his knowledge, enriched his cabinet of natural history, and acquired the friendship of the most eminent French literati. In the twenty-sixth year of his age he commenced at Strasburgh, lectures on natural history, which he continued until his death. In 1768 he was appointed professor extraordinary of medicine; ten years afterwards he obtained the chair of philosophy, and in 1782 that of pathology. At the death of professor Spielmann, in 1784, he was promoted to the professorship of botany, chemistry, and materia medica. On the reform of the system of literary education in France he was appointed professor of bot^in^ and the materia medica, at the medical academy established in Strasburgh in 1795, and professor of natural history at the central school. He was also admitted a fellow of the national institute of France, and successively chosen a member of the royal academy of sciences, of Berlin, of the Linnaean society, and of several other academies and literary societies. Among his numerous correspondents were Buffon, Cuvier, Fortis, Hany, Millin, La Peyrouse, Schreber, Zimmer*mann, c, Hesacrificed all his property to form one of the finest and richest cabinets of natural history in Europe, and without having edited any large work on natural science, he has enriched it with many interesting discoveries and ingenious observations, published in his numerous dissertations, and in several literary journals, both Gerjnan and French. He died of a pulmouic disease, Oct. 4, 1800.
rely the printer’s, who had put is instead of was; and that when he himself mentioned the precedency of France before England, he did not speak of England as it then
, an English divine, descended
from an ancient family at Pentre-Heylin in Montgomeryshire, the son of Henry Heylin, gent, hy Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Clampard, of Wrotham in Kent, and was
born at Burford in Oxfordshire, Nov. 29, 1600. In 16J3
he was entered of Hart-hall in Oxford, and two years after
chosen a demy of Magdalen-college. He had, while at
school, given a specimen of his genius for dramatic poetry,
in a tragi-comedy on the wars and fate of Troy; and now
composed a tragedy, entitled “Spurius,
” which was so
approved by his society, that the president, Dr. Langton,
ordered it to be acted in his apartments. After this, he
read cosmographical lectures in the college, which being a
very unusual thing, and he very conversant in that branch
of science, so.much recommended him to the society, that
he was chosen fellow in 16 1 y. In 1621 he published his
u Microcosm us, or Description of the World;" the chief
materials of which were the lectures just mentioned. It
was universally approved, and so speedily sold, that, in
1624, it was reprinted in the same size, but with considerable additions, and again presented to prince Charles, to
whom it had been dedicated. It was soon after put into
the hands of the king, who seemed at first greatly pleased
with it; till meeting with a passage in it, where Heylin gave
precedency to the French king, and styled France the
more famous kingdom, he took so much offence, that he
ordered the lord-keeper to suppress the book. Heylin, to
make his peace with the king, declared that the error, in
one of the exceptionable passages, was entirely the printer’s, who had put is instead of was; and that when he
himself mentioned the precedency of France before England, he did not speak of England as it then stood augmented by Scotland, and besides he took what he did say
from Camden’s Remains. James being satisfied with this
apology, Heylin took care that the whole clause, which
gave so much disgust, should be left out in all future impressions. The work was afterwards successively enlarged,
till it became a great folio, and has since been often reprinted in that size.
or him, invited him to accompany him to the continent. They set out in Oct. 1673, and made the totir of France; after which they parted, Hickes being obliged to return
, an English divirre of uncommon
abilities and learning, was born June 20, 1642, at Newsham
in Yorkshire, where his parents were settled on a very large
farm-. He was sent to the grammar school at North Allerton, and thence in 1659, to St. John’s college in Oxford.
Soon after the Restoration he removed to Magdalen colJege, from thence to Magdalen hall; and at length, in
3664, was chosen fellow of Lincoln college, taking the
degree of M. A. the year after. In June 1666 he was>
admitted into orders, became a public tutor r and discharged
that office with great reputation for seven years. Being
then in a bad state of health, he was advised to travel;
upon which sir George Wheeler, who had been his pupil,
and had conceived a filial affection for him, invited him to
accompany him to the continent. They set out in Oct.
1673, and made the totir of France; after which they
parted, Hickes being obliged to return to take his degree
of B. D. At Paris, where he staid a considerable time,
he became acquainted with Mr. Henry Justell, who in confidence told him many secret affairs, particularly that of
the intended revocation of the edict of Nantes, and of a
design in Holland and England to set aside the family of
the Stuarts. He committed to him also his father’s ms. of
the “Codex canonum ecclesiae universalis,
” to be presented in his name to the university of Oxford.
r Beziers, against Saturninusbishop of'Arles, who had just before been excommunicated by the bishops of France but Saturninus had so much influence with the emperor,
, or Hilary, an ancient father of the Christian church, who flourished in the fourth century, was born,
as St. Jerom tells us, at Poictiers in France; but in what
year, is not known. His parents, persons of rank and substance, had him liberally educated in the pagan religion,
which they themselves professed, and which Hilary did
not forsake till many years after he was grown-up; when
reflecting upon the gross errors of paganism, he was gradually led to the truth, and confirmed in it by reading the
holy Scriptures. He was then baptized, together with his
wife and daughter, who were also converted with bin). He
was advanced to the bishopric of Poictiers in the year 3 5 5, according to Baronius though Cave thinks he was bishop of
that place some years before. As soon however as he was
raised to this dignity, he became a most zealous champion
of the orthodox faith, and distinguished himself particularly against the Arians, whose doctrines were at that time
gaining ground in France. In 356, he was sent by Constantinus to support the party of Athanasius at the synod of Beterra, or Beziers, against Saturninusbishop of'Arles, who had
just before been excommunicated by the bishops of France
but Saturninus had so much influence with the emperor,
who was then at Milan, as to induce that monarch to order
him to be banished to Phrygia, where Hilary continued
continued four years, and applied himself during that time
to the composing of several works. He wrote his twelve
books upon the Trinity, which Cave calls “a noble work,
”
and which has been much admired in all ages. He wrote
also “A Treatise Concerning Synods,
” addressed to the
bishops of France in which he explains to them the sense
of the Eastern churches upon the doctrine of the Trinity,
and their man tier of holding councils. This was drawn up
by Hilary, ‘after the council of Ancyra in 358, whose
canons are contained in it; and before the councils of Rimini and Seleucia, which were called in the beginning of
359. ’ Some time after he was sent to the council of Seleucia, where he defended the Galiican bishops from the
imputation of Sabellianism, which the Arians had fixed
upun them; and boldly asserted the sound and orthodox
faith of the Western bishops. He was so favourably received, and so much respected by this council, that they
admitted him as one who should give in his opinion, and
assist in a determination among their bishops. Hilary,
however, finding the greater part of them to be Arian,
would not act, although he continued at Seleucia till the
council was over; and thinking the orthodox faith in the
Utmost peril, followed the deputies of the council to Constantinople, when he petitioned the emperor for leave to
dispute publicly with the Arians. The Arians, from a
dread of his talents, contrived to have him sent to France,
in which he arrived in 360, and after the catholic bishops
had recovered their usual liberty and authority under Julian
the Apostate, Hilary assembled several councils to reestablish the ancient orthodox faith, and to condemn the
determinations of the synods of Rimini and Seleucia. He
condemned Saturninus bishop of Aries, but pardoned those
who acknowledged their error; and, in every respect, exerted himself so zealously, that France was in a great measure freed from Arianism by his single influence and endeavours. He extended a similar care over Italy and
some foreign churches, and was particularly qualified to
recover men from the error of their ways, being a man of
a mild candid turn, very learned, and accomplished in the
arts of persuasion, and in these respects, says the candid
Dupin, “affords a very proper lesson of instruction to all
who are employed in the conversion of heretics.
”
with the peer his father, that he was sent abroad with him on his travels in 16:0, and made the tour of France and Italy. Upon his return with lord Cavendish, he became
, an eminent English
philosopher and miscellaneous writer, was born at Malmsbury in Wiltshire, April 5, 1588, his father being minister
of that town. The Spanish Armada was then upon the
coast of England; and his mother is said to have been so
alarmed on that occasion, that she was brought to bed of
him before her time. After having made a considerable
progress in the learned languages at school, he was sent, in
1603, to Magdalen hall, Oxford; and, in 1608, by the
recommendation of the principal, taken into the family of
the right honourable William Cavendish lord Hardwicke,
soon after created earl of Devonshire, as tutor to his son
William lord Cavendish. Hobbes ingratiated himself so
effectually with this young nobleman, and with the peer
his father, that he was sent abroad with him on his travels
in 16:0, and made the tour of France and Italy. Upon
his return with lord Cavendish, he became known to persons of the highest rank, and eminently distinguished for
their abilities and learning. The chancellor Bacon admitted him to a great degree of familiarity, and is said to
have made use of his pen for translating some of his works
into Latin. He was likewise much in favour with lord
Herbert of Cherbury; and the celebrated Ben Jonson had
such an esteem for him, that he revised the first work which
he published, viz. his “English Translation of the History
of Thucyciides.
” This Hobbes undertook, as he tells us
himself, “with an honest view of preventing, if possible,
those disturbances in which he was apprehensive his country would be involved, by shewing, in the history of the
Peloponnesian war, the fatal consequences of intestine
troubles.
” This has always been esteemed one of the best
translations that we have of any Greek writer, and the
author himself superintended the maps and indexes. But
while he meditated this design, his patron, the earl of
Devonshire, died in 1626; and in 1628, the year his work
was published, his son died also. This loss affected him
to such a degree, that he very willingly accepted an offer
of going abroad a second time with the son of sir Gervase
Clifton, whom he accordingly accompanied into France,
and staid there some time. But while he continued there
he was solicited to return to England, and to resume his
concern for the hopes of that family, to which he had
attached himself so early, and owed many and great
obligations.
ent of Lavater’s Physiognomy,” 3 vols. 8vo. Mr. Holcroft having imbibed the revolutionary principles of France, had joined some societies in this country, which brought
, a dramatic and miscellaneous
writer and translator, was born in Orange-court, Leicesterfields, Dec. 22, 1744. His father was in the humble occupation of a shoe-maker, and does not appear to have
given his son any education. The first employment mentioned, in which the latter was concerned, was as servant
to the hon. Mr. Vernon, of whose race-horses he had the
care, and became very expert in the art of horsemanship.
He is said also to have worked for many years at his father’s trade. He possessed, however, good natural abilities, and a thirst for knowledge, of which he accumulated
a considerable fund, and learned with facility and success
the French, German, and Italian languages. When about
his twenty-fifth year, he conceived a passion for the stage,
and his first performance was in Ireland. He had afterwards an engagement of the same kind in London, but
never attained any eminence as an actor, although he always might be seen to understand his part better than those
to whom nature was more liberal. He quitted the stage in
1781, after the performance of his first play, “Duplicity,
”
which was successful enough to encourage his perseverance
as a dramatic writer. From this time he contributed upwards of thirty pieces, which were either acted on the
London stages, or printed without having been performed.
Scarcely any of them, however, have obtained a permanent situation on the boards. He published also the following novels “Alwyn,
” Anna St. Ives,
” Hugh Trevor,
” Brian Perdue,
” The private Life of Voltaire,
” 12mo;
“Memoirs of Baron Trenck,
” 3 vols. 12mo; Mirabeau f $
“Secret History of the Court of Berlin,
” 2 vols. 8vo; madame de Genlis’s “Tales of the Castle,
” 5 vols. 12mo;
“The posthumous Works of Frederick II. of Prussia,
” 13
vols. 8vo; “An abridgment of Lavater’s Physiognomy,
” 3
vols. 8vo. Mr. Holcroft having imbibed the revolutionary
principles of France, had joined some societies in this
country, which brought him under suspicion of being concerned with Hardy, Tooke, and Thelwall, who were tried
for high treason in 1794, but they being acquitted, Mr.
Holcroft was discharged without being put upon his trial.
His last work was his “Travels,
” in Germany and France,
2 vols. 4to, which, like some other of his speculations, was
less advantageous to his bookseller than to himself. Iri
1782 he published a poem called “Huntan happiness, or
the Sceptic,
” which attracted little notice on the score of
poetical merit, but contained many of those loose sentiments on religion, which he was accustomed to deliver
with more dogmatism than became a man so little acquainted with the subject. In these, however, he persisted
almost to the last, when, on his death-bed, he is said to
have acknowledged his error. He died March 23, 1809.
the Arundelian collection. In the midst of this employment, arrived Mary de Medicis, the queenmother of France, to visit her daughter Henrietta Maria queen of England;
After lord Arundel had finished his negotiations in Germany, he returned to England, and brought Hollar with him: where, however, he was not so entirely confined to his lordship’s service, but tnat he had the liberty to accept of employment from others. Accordingly, we soon find him to have been engaged by the printsellers; and Peter Stent, one of the most eminent among them, prevailed lipon him to make an ample view or prospect of and from the town of Greenwich, which he finished in two plates, 1637; the earliest dates of his works in this kingdom. In 1638, appeared his elegant prospect about Richmond; at which time he finished also several curious plates from the fine paintings in the Arundelian collection. In the midst of this employment, arrived Mary de Medicis, the queenmother of France, to visit her daughter Henrietta Maria queen of England; and with her an historian, who recorded the particulars of her journey and entry into this kingdom. His work, written in French, was printed at London in
ut on his travels for the first time; and passed through Holland, Austrian and French Flanders, part of France, Switzerland, Savoy, and part of Italy, returning through
, esq. of Corscombe in Dorsetshire;
a gentleman whose “Memoirs.
” have been printed in two
splendid volumes, 4to,
his order, in which he was prior, counsellor, provincial, and visitorgeneral of the three provinces of France. He died 1729, at Lisle, aged seventy-eight. His most
, whose proper name
was Blaize Vauzelle, was born July 4, 1651, at Limoges.
He made profession among the Carmelites at Toulouse,
in 1671; taught theology with reputation in his order, in
which he was prior, counsellor, provincial, and visitorgeneral of the three provinces of France. He died 1729,
at Lisle, aged seventy-eight. His most curious work is
entitled “Reflexions sur les regies, et sur l'usage de la
Critique,
” 3 vols. 4to; the first volume is most esteemed.
He also left, “La Tradition des Peres, et des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques, sur la Contemplation^ avec un Traite sur
les motifs, et la pratique, de l'Amour Divin,
” 3 vols.
12mo; “Traite des Indulgences et du Jubile,
” 12mo;
<( Dissertations historiques et critiques sur les Ordres militaires," 1718, 4to. He wrote some pieces in favour of the Formulary, and the constitution Unigenitus, &c. 2 Hontan (The Baron de), was a native of Gascony,
in the seventeenth century, and is principally known by
his travels in North America, which, however, are written in an embarrassed and barbarous style, confounding
truth and falsehood, disfiguring names, and disguising
facts. They contain some episodes of pure fiction, particularly the narrative of the voyage up the long river,
which is supposed to be of equal authority with the Voyage
to Lilliput. He describes, nevertheless, with some success, the general face of the country, and the disposition,
customs, government, and other particulars of the inhabitants. There is an edition of his travels published at
Amsterdam in 1705, 2 vols. 12mo. He began his career
in Canada as a common soldier, was raised to the rank of
an officer, went to Newfoundland in the quality of royal
lieutenant, there quarrelled with the governor, was broken,
and retired first to Portugal, and finally to Denmark.
the year 1598.” A good edition of it appeared in 1703, in 2 vols. folio. 3. “A History of Henry IV. of France,” in Latin. 4. “A Translation of Tacitus into Dutch,”
, a Dutch poet and
historian, but principally eminent in the latter capacity,
was born at Amsterdam in 1581. He was honoured by
Louis XIII. with a ribband of the order of St. Michael,
probably in consequence of his history of Henry IV. Frederic Henry prince of Orange being dead, Hooft was preparing to attend his funeral, when he was himself taken
violently ill, and died in 1647. His works consist of, 1.
“Epigrams, Comedies, and other Poems.
” 2. “The
History of the Low Countries, from the abdication of
Charles V. to the year 1598.
” A good edition of it appeared in A History of Henry
IV. of France,
” in Latin. 4. “A Translation of Tacitus
into Dutch,
” very highly esteemed in that country. To
familiarize the style of his author completely to his mind,
he is said to have read all the extant works of Tacitus fiftytwo times.
, chancellor of France, and one of the most liberal-minded men of his time,
, chancellor of France, and
one of the most liberal-minded men of his time, was the
son of a physician, and born at Aigneperse in Auvergne,
in 1505. His father sent him to study in the most celebrated universities of France and Italy, where he distinguished himself at once by his genius for literature, and
for business. Having diligently studied jurisprudence, he
was quickly advanced to very honourable posts; being successively auditor of the congregation called the congregation
of Rota at Rome, and counsellor in the parliament of Paris,
which he held during twelve years. He has described in one
of his poems his habits of life during this time. He rose at a
very early hour, and in the autumnal, winter, and spring
sessions, was often in the court of justice before day-break,
and reluctantly rose from his seat, when the beadle, at ten
o'clock (the hour of dinner) announced the breaking up of
the court. He says, that he made it a rule to listen to all
with patience, to interrupt no one, to express himself as
concisely as possible, and to oppose unnecessary delays.
He mentions, with evident satisfaction, the joy which he
felt when the vacations allowed him to quit Paris, and
breathe in the country. The cares of magistracy he then
banished wholly from his thoughts, and endeavoured, by
harmless relaxation, to enable himself, on his return to the
discharge of his functions, to resume them with fresh vigour. “But,
” says he, “there is nothing frivolous in
my amusements; sometimes Xenophon is the companion
of my walks; sometimes the divine Plato regales me with
the discourses of Socrates. History and poetry have their
turns; but my chief delight is in the sacred writings: what
comfort, what holy calm, does the meditation of them
confer!
”
L‘Hospital was then appointed by Henry II. to be his
ambassador at the council of Trent, which was sitting at
Bologna, By his own desire, he was soon recalled from
that honourable employment, and on his return experienced, at first, some coldness from the court, but was soon
restored to the royal favour, and appointed master of the
requests. In the beginning of If 54- he was made superintendent of the royal finances in France. His merits in
this post were of the most singular and exalted kind. By
a severe ceconomy, he laboured to restore the royal treasure, exhausted by the prodigality of the king, Henry II.
and the dishonest avarice of his favourites; he defied the
enmity of those whose profits he destroyed, and was himself so rigidly disinterested, that after five or six years’ continuance in this place, he was unable to give a portion to
his^daughter, and the deficiency was supplied by the liberality of the sovereign. On the death of Henry, in 1549,
the cardinal of Lorraine,then at the head of affairs, introduced l’Hospital into the council of state. Hence he was
removed by Margaret of Valois, who took him into Savoy,
as her chancellor. But the confusions of France soon made
it necessaryto recal a man of such firmness and undaunted
integrity. In the midst of faction and fury, he was advanced to the high office of chancellor of that kingdom,
where he maintained his, post, like a philosopher who was
superior.‘to fear, or any species of weakness. At the breaking out of the conspiracy of Amboice, in 1560, and on all
other occasions, he was the advocate for mercy and reconciliation; and by the edict of Romorantin, prevented the
establishment of the inquisition in France. It was perhaps
for reasons of this kind, and his general aversion to persecution for religion’s sake, that the violent Romanists ac>cused him of being a concealed Protestant; forgetting that
by such suspicions they paid the highest compliment to
the spirit of Protestantism. The queen, Catherine of
Medicis, who had contributed to the elevation of l’Hospital, being too violent to approve his pacific measures, ex-,
eluded him from the council of war; on which he retired
to his country- house at Vignay near Estampes. Some days
after, when the seals were demanded of him, he resigned
them without regret, saying, that “the affairs of the world
were too corrupt for him to meddle with them.
” In lettered ease, amusing himself with Latin poetry, and a select society of friends“, he truly enjoyed his retreat, till his
happiness was interrupted by the atrocious day of St. Bartholomew, in 1572. Of this disgraceful massacre,- he
thought as posterity has thought but, though his friends
conceived it probable that he might be included in the
proscription, ha disdained to seek his safety by flight. So
firm was he, that when a party of horsemen actually advanced to his house, though without orders, for the horrid
purpose of murdering him, he refused to close his gates
” If the small one,“said he,
” will not admit them, throw
open the large“and he was preserved only by the arrival
of another party, with express orders from the king to declare that he was not among the proscribed. The persons
who made the lists, it was added, pardoned him the opposition he had always made to their projects.
” I did not
know,“said he coldly, without any change of countenance,
” that I had done any thing to deserve either death
or pardon." His motto is said to have been,
, a great mathematician of France, was born of a branch of the preceding family, in 1661.
, a great mathematician of France, was born of a branch
of the preceding family, in 1661. He was a geometrician
almost from his infancy; for one day being at the duke de
Rohan’s, where some able mathematicians were speaking
of a problem of PaschaPs, which appeared to them extremely difficult, he ventured to say, that he, believed he
could solve it. They were amazed at what appeared such
unpardonable presumption in a boy of fifteen, for he was
then no more, yet it a few days be sent them the solution.
He entered early into the army, but always preserved his
love for the mathematics, and studied them even in his
tent; whither he used to retire, it is said, not only to
study, but also to conceal his application to study: for in
those days, to be knowing in the sciences was thought to
derogate from nobility; and a soldier of quality, to preserve his dignity, was in some measure obliged to hide his
literary attainments. De l'Hospital was a captain of horse;
but, being extremely short-sighted, and exposed on that
account to perpetual inconveniences and errors, he at
length quitted the army, and applied himself entirely
to his favourite amusement. He contracted a friendship with Malbranche, judging by his “Recherche de la
Verite*,
” that he must be an excellent guide in the sciences;
and he took his opinion upon all occasions. His abilities
and knowledge were no longer a secret: and at the age of
thirty-two he gave a public solution of problems, drawn
from the deepest geometry, which had been proposed to
mathematicians in the acts of Leipsic. In 1693 he was received an honorary member of the academy of sciences at
Paris; and published a work upon sir Isaac Newton’s calculations, entitled “L'Analyse des iniinimens petits.
” He
was the first in France who wrote on this subject: and on
this account was regarded almost as a prodigy. He engaged afterwards in another work of the mathematical kind,
in which he included “Les Sectiones coniques, les Lieux
georoetriques, la Construction des Equations,
” and “Une
Theorie des Courbes mechaniques:
” but a little before he
had finished it, he was seized with a fever, of which he
died Feb. 2, 1704, aged 49. It was published after his
death, viz. in 1707. There are also six of his pieces inserted in different volumes of the memoirs of the academy
of sciences.
hat university. Three years after, he went to be professor at Bourges, by the invitation of Margaret of France, sister of Henry II. but left that city in about five
, in Latin Hototnanus, a learned
French civilian, was born in 1524, at Paris, where his family, originally of Breslau in Silesia, had flourished for
some time. He made so; rapid a progress in the belles
lettres, that at the age of fifteen, he was sent to Orleans
to study the civil law, and in three years was received doctor to that faculty. His father, a counsellor in parliament,
had already designed him for that employment; and therer
fore sent for him home, and placed him at the bar. But
Hotman was soon displeased with the chicanery of the
court, and applied himself vigorously to the study of the
Roman law and polite literature. At the age of twentythree, he was chosen to read public lectures in the schools
pf Paris: but, relishing the opinions of Luther, on account of which many persons were put to death in France,
and finding that he could not profess them at Paris, he
Went to Lyons in 1548. Having now nothing to expect“from his father, who was greatly irritated at the change of
his religion, he left France, and retired to Geneva; where
he lived some time in Calvin’s house. From hence he went
to Lausanne,' where the magistrates of Bern gave him the
place of professor of polite literature. He published there
some books, which, however, young as he was, were not
his first publications; and married a French gentlewoman,
who had also retired thither on account of religion. His
merit was so universally known, that the magistrates of
Strasburg offered him a professorship of civil law; which
he accepted, and held till 1561, and during this period,
received invitations from the duke of Prussia, the landgrave of Hesse, the dukes of Saxony, and even from queen
Elizabeth of England; but did not accept them. He did
not refuse, however, to go to the court of the king of Navarre, at the begining of the troubles; and he went twice
into Germany, to desire assistance of Ferdinand, in the
name of the princes of the blood, and even in the name of the
queen-mother. The speech he made at the diet of Francfort is published. Upon his return to Strasburg, he was
prevailed upon to teach civil law at Valence; which he did
with such success, that he raised the reputation of that
university. Three years after, he went to be professor at
Bourges, by the invitation of Margaret of France, sister of
Henry II. but left that city in about five months, and retired to Orleans to the heads of the party, who made great
use of his advice. The peace which was made a month
after, did not prevent him from apprehending the return
of the storm: upon which account he retired to Sancerre,
and there wrote an excellent book,
” De Consolatione,“which his son published after his death. He returned afterwards to his professorship at Bourges, where he very
narrowly escaped the massacre of 1572: which induced
him to leave France, with a full resolution never to return.
He then went to Geneva, where he read lectures upon the
civil law. Some time after, he went to Basil, and taught
civil law, and was so pleased with this situation, that he
refused great offers from the prince of Orange and the
States-general, who would have draxvn him to Leyden.
The plague having obliged him to leave Basil, he retired to
Montbeliard, where he lost his wife; and went afterwards
to live with her sisters at Geneva. He returned once more
to Basil, and there died in 1590, of a dropsy, which had
kept him constantly in a state of indisposition for six years
before. During this, he revised and digested his works
for a new edition, which appeared at Geneva in 1599, in
3 vols. folio, with his life prefixed by Neveletus Doschius>
The first two contain treatises upon the civil law; the
third, pieces relating to the government of France, and the
right of succession; five books of Roman antiquities; commentaries upon Tally’s
” Orations and Epistles;“notes
upon Caesar’s
” Commentaries,“&c. His
” Franco-Gallia,“or,
” Account of the free state of France,“has been translated into English by lord Molesworth, author of
” The
Account of Denmark." He published also several other
articles without his name; but, being of the controversial
kind, they were probably not thought of consequence
enough to be revived in the collection of his works.
6, and initiated early into the affairs of state, being sent in 1559, on the death of Henry II. king of France, with a compliment or condolence to his successor Francis
, earl of Nottingham, lord high admiral of England, was son of William lord Howard of Effingliam, and grandson of Thomas second duke of Norfolk/ He was born in 1536, and initiated early into the affairs of state, being sent in 1559, on the death of Henry II. king of France, with a compliment or condolence to his successor Francis II. and to congratulate him on "his accession to the throne, &c. On his return he was elected one of the knights of the shire for the county of Surrey in 1562, and in 1569 was general of the horse under the earl of Warwick, in the army sent against the earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland, then in rebellion. The year following he went with a fleet of men of war to convoy the princess Anne of Austria, daughter of the emperor Maximilian, going into Spain, over the British seas; and in 1573, upon the death of his father, succeeded him in honours and estate. The same year he was installed knight of the garter, and likewise made lord chamberlain of the household; and in 1585 constituted lord high admiral of England.
s royal midshipman on board, next sailed to St. Malo; and as his instructions were to keep the coast of France in continual alarm, he very effectually obeyed them.
, fourth viscount Howe, and earl
Howe, and first baron Howe of Langar, a gallant English
admiral, was the third son of sir Emanuel Scrope, second
lord viscount Howe, and Mary Sophia Charlotte, eldest
daughter to the baron Kilmansegge. He was born in 1725,
was educated at Eton, entered the sea-service at the age
of fourteen, on board the Severn, hon. captain Legge,
part of the squadron destined for the South Seas under
Anson. He next served on board the Burford, 1743, under
admiral Knowles, in which he was afterwards appointed
acting lieutenant; but his commission not being confirmed,
he returned to admiral Knowles in the West- Indies, where
he was made lieutenant of a sloop of war; and being employed to cut an English merchantman, which had been
taken by a French privateer under the guns of the Dutch
settlement of St. Eustatia, and with the connivance of the
governor, out of that harbour, he executed the difficult
and dangerous enterprise in such a manner, as to produce
the most sanguine expectations of his future services. In
1745, lieutenant Howe was with admiral Vernon in the
Downs, but was in a short time raised to the rank of commander, in the Baltimore sloop of war, which joined the
squadron then cruizing on the coast of Scotland, under the
command of admiral Smith. During this cruize an action
took place, in which captain Howe gave a fine example of
persevering intrepidity. The Baltimore, in company with
another armed vessel, fell in with two French frigates of
thirty guns, with troops and ammunition for the service of
the pretender, which she instantly attacked, by running
between them. In the action which followed, capt. Howe
received a wound hi his head, which at first appeared to be
fatal. He, however, soon discovered signs of life, and
when the necessary operation was performed, resumed all
his former activity, continued the action, if possible, with
redoubled spirit, and obliged the French ships, with their
prodigious superiority in men and metal, to sheer off, leaving the Baltimore, at the same time, in such a shattered
condition, as to be wholly disqualified to pursue them. He
was, in consequence of this gallant service, immediately
made post-captain, and in April 1746, was appointed to
the Triton frigate, and ordered to Lisbon, where, in consequence of captain Holbourne’s bad state of health, he
was transferred to the Rippon, destined for the Coast of
Guinea. But he soon quitted that station to join his early
patron admiral Knowles in Jamaica, who appointed him
first captain of his ship of 80 guns; and at the conclusion
of the war in 1748, he returned in her to England. In
March 1750-51, captain Howe was appointed to the command of the Guinea station, in La Gloire, of 44 guns;
when, with his usual spirit and activity, he checked the
injurious proceedings of the Dutch governor-general on the
coast, and adjusted the difference between the English and
Dutch settlements. At the close of 1751, he was appointed
to the Mary yacht, which was soon exchanged for the Dolphin frigate, in which he sailed to the Streights, where he
executed many difficult and important services. Here he
remained about three years; and soon after, on his return
to England, he obtained the command of the Dunkirk of
60 guns, which was among the ships that were commissioned from an apprehension of a rupture with France.
This ship was one of the fleet with which admiral Boscawen
sailed to obstruct the passage of the French fleet into the
Gulph of St. Lawrence, when captain Howe took the Alcide, a French ship of 64 guns, off the coast of Newfoundland. A powerful fleet being prepared, in 1757, under
the command of sir Edward Hawke, to make an attack
upon the French coast, captain Howe was appointed to the
Magnanime, in which ship he battered the fort on the
island of Aix till it surrendered. In 1758 he was appointed
commodore of a small squadron, which sailed to annoy tke
enemy on their coasts. This he effected with his usual
success at St. Malo, where an hundred sail of ships and
several magazines were destroyed; and the heavy gale
blowing into shore, which rendered it impracticable for
the troops to land, alone prevented the executing a similar
mischief in the town and harbour of Cherbourg. On the
1st of July he returned to St. Helen’s. This expedition
was soon followed by another, when prince Edward, afterwards duke of York, was entrusted to the care of commodore Howe, on board his ship the Essex. The fleet sailed
on the 1st of August 1758, and on the 6th came to an
anchor in the Bay of Cherbourg; the town was taken, and
the bason destroyed. The commodore, with his royal
midshipman on board, next sailed to St. Malo; and as his
instructions were to keep the coast of France in continual
alarm, he very effectually obeyed them. The unsuccessful affair of St. Cas followed. But never was courage,
skill, or humanity, more powerfully or successfully displayed than on this occasion. He went in person in his
barge, which was rowed through the thickest fire, to save
the retreating soldiers; the rest of the fleet, inspired hy
his conduct, followed his example, and at least seven hundred men were preserved, by his exertions, from the fire
of the enemy or the fury of the waves. In July in the
same year (1758), his elder brother, who was serving his
country with equal ardour and heroism in America, found
an early grave. That brave and admirable officer was killed in a skirmish between the advanced guard of the French,
and the troops commanded by general Abercrombie, in the
expedition against Ticonderago. Commodore Howe then
succeeded to the titles and property of his family. In the
following year (1759), lord Howe was employed in the Channel, on board his old ship the Magnanime but no opportunity offered- to distinguish himself till the month of November, when the French fleet, under Conflans, was defeated. When he was presented to the king by sir Edward
Hawke on this occasion, his majesty said, “Your life, my
lord, has been one continued series of services to your
country.
” In March I advised his
majesty to make the promotion. 1 have tried my lord
Howe on fmportant occasions; he never asked me how he
was to execute any service, but always went and performed
it.
” In
n one night by strength of imagination,” 1645. 12. “Lustra Ludovici: or the Life of Lewis XIII. King of France, &c.” 13. “An Account of the deplorable state of England
These letters are almost the only work of Howell that is
now regarded: the rest are very obscure. 11. “A Nocturnal Progress: or, a Perambulation of most Countries in
Christendom, performed in one night by strength of imagination,
” Lustra Ludovici: or the Life of
Lewis XIII. King of France, &c.
” 13. “An Account of
the deplorable state of England in 1647, &c.
” Letter to Lord Pembroke concerning the Times, and the
sad condition both of Prince and People,
” Bella Scot-Anglica: A Brief of all the Battles betwixt
England and Scotland, from all times to this present,
”
was contemporary with Remi, and author of a treatise on music, which is still subsisting in the king of France’s library, under the title of “Enchiridion Musicae,”
, Hucbald, or Hugbald, a monk of St.
Amand, in Flanders, who preceded Guido more than one
hundred years, was contemporary with Remi, and author
of a treatise on music, which is still subsisting in the king
of France’s library, under the title of “Enchiridion Musicae,
” No. 7202, transcribed in the eleventh century. In
this work there 4s a kind of gammut, or expedient for delineating the several sourrds of the scale, in a way wholly
different from his predecessors; but the method of Guido
not only superseded this, but by degrees effaced the
knowledge and remembrance of every other that had been
adopted in the different countries and convents of Europe.
However, the awkward attempts at singing in consonance,
which appear in this tract, are curious, and clearly prove
that Guido neither invented, nor, rude as it was before his
time, much contributed to the improvement of this art.
xchanged bishoprics with the consent of the king; though, owing to the differences between the court of France and that of Rome, they could not be consecrated till
While he was employed in composing his “Demonstratio Evangel. ca,
” the sentiments of piety, which he had
cherished from his earliest youth, moved him to enter into
orders, which he did at the late age of forty-six; and be
tells us, that previous to this he gradually laid aside the
lay habit and outward appearances. In 1678, he was presented by the king to the abbey of Aunay in Normandy,
which was so agreeable to him, tiiat be retired there every
summer, after he had left the court. In 1685, he was
nominated to the bUho;>ric of Soissons but before the
bulls for his institution were expedited, the abbe de Sillery
having been nominated to the see of Avranches, they exchanged bishoprics with the consent of the king; though,
owing to the differences between the court of France and
that of Rome, they could not be consecrated till 1692.
In 1689, he published his “Censura Philosophise Cartesians,
” and addressed it to the duke de Montausier: it
appears that he was greatly piqued at the Cartesians, when
he wrote this book; but it may be questioned whether he
thoroughly understood the system. In 1690, be published
in Caen, in 4to, his “Qusestiones Ainetanse de Concordia Rationis & Fidei
” which is written in the form of a
dialogue, after the manner of Cicero’s Tusculan Questions.
In this he endeavours to fix the respective limits of reason
and faith, and maintains, that the dogmas and precepts
of each have no alliance, and that there is nothing, however, contradictory to common sense, or to good morals,
which has not been received, and which we may not be
bound to receive, as a dictate of faith. He honestly confesses that he wrote this work to establish the authority of
tradition against the empire of reason.
to his expedition; which was at first meant against Canada, but ended in an incursion upon the coast of France. Next year, 1747, he attended the general in the same
In 1742, he printed, with more success, the first part of
his “Essays.
” In independent;
for he was now master of near 1000l.
”
f courage, as well in the wars as in private rencounters. Being once at Viterbo, where an ambassador of France stopped, a general quarrel arose, in which Hutten, forsaken
At his return to Germany in 1516, he was recommended
in such strong terms to the emperor, that be received from
him the poetical crown; and from that time Hutten had
himself drawn in armour, with a crown of laurel on his
head, and took great delight in being so represented. He
was of a very military, disposition, and had given many
proofs of courage, as well in the wars as in private rencounters. Being once at Viterbo, where an ambassador
of France stopped, a general quarrel arose, in which Hutten, forsaken by his comrades, was attacked by five Frenchmen at once, and put them all to flight, after receiving
some small wounds. He wrote au epigram on that
occasion, “in quinque Gallbs a se profligates,
” which mky
be seen in Melchior Adam. He had a cousin John de
Hutten, who was court-marshal to Ulric duke of Wirtemberg, and was murdered by that duke in 15 15, for the sake
of his wife, whom the duke kept afterwards as a mistress.
The military poet, as soon as he heard of it, breathed nothing but resentment; and because he had no opportunity
of shewing it with his sword, took up his pen, and wrote
several pieces in the form of dialogues, orations, poems,
and letters. A collection of these was printed io the castle
of Steckelberg, 1519, 4to.
nd again, which were restored, and of great value. Mons. la Fonde, a great man belonging to the king of France’s bed-chamber, sent to conduct the earl on his way thither,
Being now about to quit the kingdom in exile, before
he departed he drew up an apology, in a petition to the
house of lords, in which he vindicated himself from any
way contributing to the late miscarriages, in such a manner as laid the blame at the same time upon others. The
lords received it Dec. 3, and sent two of the judges to
acquaint the commons with it, desiring a conference. The
duke of Buckingham, who was plainly aimed at in the petition, delivered it to the commons; and said, “The lords
have commanded me to deliver to you this scandalous and
seditious paper sent from the earl of Clarendon. They bid
me present it to you, and desire you in a convenient time
to send it to them again; for it has a style which they are
in love with, and therefore desire to keep it.
” Upon the
reading of it in that house, it was voted to be “scandalous,
malicious, and a reproach to the justice of the nation;
”
and they moved the lords, that it might be burnt by the
hands of the common hangman, which was ordered and
executed accordingly. The chancellor retired to Rouen
in Normandy; and, the year following, his life was attempted at Evreux near that city by a body of seamen, in
such an outrageous manner, that he with great difficulty
escaped. In the Bodleian library at Oxford, there is an
original letter from Mr. Oliver Long, dated from Evreux,
April 26, 1668, to sir William Cromwell, secretary of state,
in which the following account is given of this assault.
“As I was travelling from Rouen towards Orleans, it was
my fortune, April 23, to overtake the earl of Clarendon,
then in his unhappy and unmerited exile, who was going
towards Bourbon, but took up his lodgings at a private
hotel in a small walled town called Evreux, some leagues
from Rouen. I, as most English gentlemen did to so valuable a patriot, went to pay him a visit near supper-time;
when he was, as usual, very civil to me. Before supper
was done, twenty or thirty English seamen and more came
and demanded entrance at the great gate; which, being
strongly barred, kept them out for some time. But in a
short space they broke it, and presently drove all they
found, by their advantage of numbers, into the earl’s chamber; whence, by the assistance of only three swords and
pistols, we kept them out for half an hour, in which dispute many of us were wounded by their swords and pistols,
whereof they had many. To conclude, they broke the
windows and the doors, and under the conduct of one
Howard, an Irishman, who has three brothers, as I am told,
in the king of England’s service, and an ensign in the
company of cannoneers, they quickly found the earl in his
bed, not able to stand by the violence of the gout; whence,
after they had given him many blows with the;r swords
and staves, mixed with horrible curses and oaths, they
dragged him on the ground in the middle of the yard,
where they encompassed him around with their swords,
and after they had told him in their own language, how
he had sold the kingdom, and robbed them of their pay,
Howard commanded them all, as one man, to run their
swords through his body. But what difference arose among
themselves before they could agree, God above, who alone
sent this spirit of dissention, only knows. In this interval
their lieutenant, one Svvaine, came and disarmed them.
Sixteen of the ringleaders were put into prison; and many
of those things they had rifled from him, found again,
which were restored, and of great value. Mons. la Fonde,
a great man belonging to the king of France’s bed-chamber, sent to conduct the earl on his way thither, was so
desperately wounded in the head, that there were little
hopes of his life. Many of these assassins were grievously
wounded; and this action is so much resented by all here,
that many of these criminals will meet with an usage equal
to their merit. Had we been sufficiently provided with
fire-arms, we had infallibly done ourselves justice on them;
however, we fear not but the law will supply our defect.
”
Being greatly afflicted with the gout, and not finding himself secure in that part of France, he went in the summer to Montpelier, where, recovering
Being greatly afflicted with the gout, and not finding himself secure in that part of France, he went in the summer to Montpelier, where, recovering his health in a considerable measure, he continued three or four years. In 1672 he resided at Moulins, and removing thence to Rouen, died Dec. 9, 1673, in that city; from whence his body was brought to England, and interred on the north side of Henry Vllth’s chapel in Westminster-abbey. He was twice married: first to Anne, daughter of sir Gregory Ayloffe, of Robson, in Wiltshire, knt. and this lady dying without issue, to Frances, daughter, and at length heiress, to sir Thomas Aylesbury, bart. in 1634; by whom he had four sons and two daughters. Anne his eldest daughter was married, as we have already observed, to the duke of York, by which match she became mother to two daughters, Mary and Anne, who were successively queens of England. Besides these, she brought the duke four sons and three daughters, who all died in their infancy. The last was born Feb. 9, 1670-1, and her mother died on March 31 following; having a little before her death changed her religion, to the great grief of her father, who on that occasion wrote a most pathetic letter to her, and another to the duke her consort.
ca universalis,” for the same or a greater number of years, including books published in other parts of France. 4. “De Claris Scriptoribus Cabilonensibus, libri tres,”
, an industrious French author and
bibliographer, was born at Chalons sur Saone, Aug. 20,
1608. He was educated among the Carmelites, and
entered into that order in 1625, and, during his studies,
the distinguished progress he made in theology and 'he
belles lettres, procured him easy access to the libraries
and the collections of literary men of eminence, who
contributed very readily to promote his taste for bibliography
and literary history. In 1639 he went to Italy, and resided
some time at Rome, consulting the libraries, and collecting
materials for his future works, particularly his “Bibliotheca
Pontificia,
” which he undertook at the solicitation of Gabriel Naude“, and published at Lyons in 1642; but this is
by far the worst specimen of his talents, and has many
ridiculous errors, which we can only ascribe to his having
hastily copied erroneous catalogues, without consulting the
books themselves. On his return to Paris he became
librarian to de Gondi, afterwards cardinal de Retz, and
was likewise appointed counsellor and almoner to the king.
We find him then librarian to de Harlay, first president of
the parliament of Paris, in whose house he lodged, and
where he died May 10, 1670. He was a man of great
industry and application, and continually employed in
inquiries into the history of literature and literary men;
but he was deficient in critical taste, undertook too many
things at once, and hence committed errors which have
thrown a suspicion on the general accuracy of all his
works. Niceron has enumerated thirty-seven of his
publications, of which the principal are, 1.
” Bibliotheca
Pontificia,“already mentioned, Lyons, 1643, 4to. 2.
” Traite“des plus belles Bibliotheques du monde,
” Paris,
1644, 8vo. 3. “Bibliotheca Parisina, hoc est Catalogus
omnium librorum Parisiis annis 1643 & 1644 inclusive
excusorum,
” Paris, Bibliotheca Gallica universalis,
” for the
same or a greater number of years, including books published in other parts of France. 4. “De Claris Scriptoribus Cabilonensibus, libri tres,
”
as kept in confinement, with a view of preventing the strength of Scotland from being united to that of France against the English arms. At length, under the regency
king of Scotland, of the house of Stuart, was born in 1394. In 1405 his father Robert III. sent him to France, in order that he might escape the dangers to which he was exposed from his uncle the duke of Albany, but being taken by an English squadron, he and his whole suite were carried prisoners to the Tower of London. Here the young prince received an excellent education, to which Henry IV. of England was remarkably attentive, thereby making some atonement for his injustice in detaining him. Sir John Pelham, a man of worth and learning was appointed his governor, under whose tuition he made so rapid a progress, that he soon became a prodigy of talents and accomplishments. Robert died in the following year, and James was proclaimed king, but during the remainder of the reign of Henry IV. and the whole of that of Henry V. he was kept in confinement, with a view of preventing the strength of Scotland from being united to that of France against the English arms. At length, under the regency of the duke of Bedford, James was restored to his kingdom, having been full eighteen years a prisoner in this country. James was now thirty years of age, well furnished with learning, and a proficient in the elegant accomplishments of life, and dextrous in the manly exercises, which at that period were in high estimation. He married Joanna Beaufort, daughter of the duchess of Clarence, a lady of distinguished beauty, descended from the royal family of England; and on his return to Scotland, finding that the dujte of Albany and his son had alienated many of the most valuable possessions of the crown, instantly caused the whole of that family and their adherents to be arrested. The latter were chiefly discharged; but the late regent, his two sons, and his father-in-law, he caused to be convicted, executed, and their estates to be confiscated to the crown. Whatever other objections were made to James’s conduct, he procured the enactment of many good laws in his parliaments, which had a tendency to improve the state of society; but at the same time his desire of improving the revenues of the crown led him to many acts of tyranny, which rendered him odious to his nobility. In 1436 he gave his daughter Margaret in marriage to the dauphin of France, and sent with her a splendid train and a vast body of troops. The English, who had in vain attempted to prevent this union by negociation, now endeavoured to intercept the Scotch fleet in its passage, but they missed their object, and the princess arrived in safety at Rochelle. James, exasperated at this act of hostility, declared war against England, and summoned the whole array of his kingdom to assist in the siege of Roxburgh; which, however, he abandoned upon an intimation of a conspiracy being formed against himself by his own people. He now retired to the Carthusian monastery of Perth, which he had himself founded, where he lived in privacy, but this, instead of preventing, facilitated the suecess of the plot formed against his life. The chief actors in this tragedy were Robert Graham, and Walter earl of Athol, the king’s uncle. The former was actuated by revenge for the sufferings of some of his family, the latter by the hope of obtaining the crown for himself. The assassins obtained by bribery admission into the king’s apartments; the alarm was raised, and the ladies attempted to secure the chamber-door; one of them, Catharine Douglas, thrust her arm through a staple, making therewith a sort of bar, in which state she remained till it was dreadfully broken by the force of the assailants. The instant they got admission, they dragged the king from his concealment, and put him to death with a thousand wounds on Feb. 20, 1437, in the forty-fourth year of his age. He is introduced in this work chiefly on account of his literary reputation, for he was a poet as well as a sovereign, and his works, descriptive of the manners and pastimes of the age, were once extremely popular, and are still read with delight by those who can relish the northern dialect. He is said by all the British historians to have been a skilful musician; and it is asserted, that he not only performed admirably on the lute and harp, but was the inventor of many of the most ancient and favourite Scottish melodies, but this Dr. Burney is inclined to doubt. Where this prince acquired his knowledge in music is not ascertained; but it is probable that it was in France, in his passage home from which country he was taken prisoner by the English. Before the reformation we hear of no music being cultivated in Scotland but plain-song, or chanting in the church; nor afterwards, for a long time, except psalmody.
isputes soon passed into France, where they were carried on with equal warmth. At length the bishops of France drew up the doctrine, as they called it, of Jansen, in
Jansen was no sooner possessed of the bishopric of Ypres,
than he undertook to reform the diocese; but before he
had completed this good work, he fell a sacrifice to the
plague, May 16, 1638. He was buried in his cathedral,
where a monument was erected to his memory; but in
1665, his successor, Francis de Robes, caused it to be
taken down privately in the night; there being engraved
on it an eulogium of his virtue and erudition, and particularly on his book entitled “Augustinus;
” declaring, that
this faithful interpreter of the most secret thoughts of St.
Austin, had employed in that work a divine genius, an indefatigable labour, and his whole life-time; and that the
church would receive the benefit of it upon earth, as he did
the reward of it in heaven; words that were highly injurious to the bulls of Urban VIII. and Innocent X. who then
had censured that work. The bishop destroyed this monument by the express orders of pope Alexander VII. and
with -the consent of the archduke Leopold, governor of
the Netherlands, in spite of the resistance of the chapter,
which went such lengths that one of the principal canons
had the courage to say, “it was not in the pope’s nor the
king’s power to suppress that epitaph;
” so dear was Jansen to this canon and his colleagues. He wrote several
other books besides those already mentioned: 1. “Oratio
de interioris hominis reformatione.
” 2. “Tetrateuchus
sive commentarius in 4 evangelica.
” 3. “Pentateuchus
sive commentarius in 5 libros Mosis.
” 4. The Answer of
the Divines of Louvain, “de vi obligandi conscientias quam
habent edicta regia super re monetaria.
” 5. Answer of
the Divines and Civilians, “De juramento quod publica
auctoritate magistratui designate imponi solet.
” But his
“Augustinus
” was his principal work, and he was employed
upon it above twenty years. He left it finished at his
death, and submitted it, by his last will, in the completes!
manner, to the judgment of the holy see. His executors,
Fromond and Calen, printed it at Louvain, in 1640, but
suppressed his submission. The subject is divine grace, freewill, and predestination. “In this book,
” says Mosheim,
“which even the Jesuits acknowledge to be the production
of a man of learning and piety, the doctrine of Augustine,
concerning man’s natural corruption, and the nature and
efficacy of that divine grace which alone can efface this
unhappy stain, is unfolded at large, and illustrated, for the
most part, in Augustine’s own words. For the end which
Jansenius proposed to himself in this work, was not to
give his own private sentiments concerning these important
points; but to shew in what manner they had been understood and explained by that celebrated father of the
church, whose name and authority were universally revered
in all parts of the Roman Catholic world. No incident
could be more unfavourable to the Jesuits, and the progress of their religious system, than the publication of this
book; for as the doctrine of Augustine differed but very
little from that of the Dominicans; as it was held sacred,
nay almost respected as divine, in the church of Rome, on
account of the extraordinary merit and authority of that
illustrious bishop; and at the same time was almost diametrically opposed to the sentiments generally received among
the Jesuits; these latter could scarcely consider the book
of Jansenius in any other light, than as a tacit but formidable refutation of their opinions concerning human liberty and divine grace; and accordingly they not only drew
their pens against this famous book, but also used their
most strenuous endeavours to obtain, a public condemnation of it from Rome.
” In Louvain, where it was first
published, it excited prodigious contests. It obtained several violent advocates, and was by others opposed with no
less violence, and several theological theses were written
against it. At length they who wished to obtain the suppression of it by papal authority, were successful; the
Roman inquisitors began by prohibiting the perusal of it,
in Ihe year 1641; and, in the following year, Urban VIII.
condemned it as infected with several errors that had been
long banished from the church.This bull, which was published at Louvain, instead of pacifying, inflamed matters
more; and the disputes soon passed into France, where they
were carried on with equal warmth. At length the bishops
of France drew up the doctrine, as they called it, of Jansen, in five propositions, and applied to the pope to condemn them. This was done by Innocent X. by a bull published May 31, 1653; and he drew up a formulary for that
purpose, which was received by the assembly of the French
clergy. These propositions contained the following doctrines:
1. That there are divine precepts, which good men,
notwithstanding their desire to observe them, are nevertheless absolutely unable to obey; nor has God given
them that measure of grace which is essentially necessary
to render them capable of such obedience. 2. That no
person, in this corrupt state of nature, can resist the influence of divine grace, when it operates upon the mind.
3. That in order to render human actions meritorious, it is
not requisite that they be exempt from necessity, but only
that they be free from constraint. 4. That the Semipelagians err grievously in maintaining that the human will is
endowed with the power of either receiving or resisting the
aids and influences of preventing grace. 5. That whoever
affirms that Jesus Christ made expiation by his sufferings
and death, for the sins of all mankind, is a Semipelagian.
d proof. He died in 1622, at the age of eighty-two, having seen seven successive kings on the throne of France. He was the author of a folio collection of negociations
, a native of Burgundy, born in
1540, and bred as an advocate in the parliament of Dijon,
rose by his talents and probity to the highest situations in
his profession. The states of Burgundy employed him to
administer the affairs oi that province, and had every reason
to felicitate themselves upon their choice. When the
orders for the massacre of St. Bartholomew were received
at Dijon, he opposed the execution of them with all his
influence; and a few days after arrived a courier to forbid
the murders. The appointments of counsellor, president,
and finally chief president, in the parliament of Dijon,
were the rewards of his merit. Seduced by the pretences
of the leaguers to zeal for religion and for the state, Jeanniu
for a time united himself with that faction; but he soon
perceived their perfidy and wickedness, as well as the
completely interested views of the Spaniards, and repented
of the step. After the battle of Fontaine Francoise, -in
which the final blow was given to the league, Henry IV.
called him to his council, and retained him in his court.
From this time he became the adviser, and almost the
friend of the king^ who admired him equally for his frankness and his sagacity. Jeannin was employed in the negotiation between the Dutch and the court of Spain, the most
difficult that could be undertaken. It was concluded in
1609. After the death of Henry IV. the queen-mother
confided to him the greatest affairs of the state, and the
administration of the finances, and he managed them with
Unparalleled fidelity; of which his poverty at his death
afforded an undoubted proof. He died in 1622, at the age
of eighty-two, having seen seven successive kings on the
throne of France. He was the author of a folio collection
of negociations and memoirs, printed in 1656, and reprinted
in a beautiful edition, 2 vols. 12mo, in the year 1659, which
Were long held in the bighest estimation. The regard
which Henry IV. felt for him was very great. Complaining
one day to his ministers that some among them had revealed
a state secret of importance, he took the president by the
hand, saying, “As for this good man, I will answer for
him.
” Yet, though he entertained such sentiments of him,
he did little for him; and, being conscious that he had been
remiss in this respect, said sometimes, “Many of my subjects I load with wealth, to prevent them from exerting
their malice; but for the president Jeannin, I always say
much, and do little.
”
m Regina?, Francise Dotarice.” “The History of the Life and Reign of Mary Queen of Scots and Dowager of France, extracted from original records and writers of credit,”
, a native of Nottingham, and a
member of Peter-house, Cambridge, became attached to
the nonjurors, and accepted the office of librarian to the
celebrated Jeremy Collyer. While he was at Peter-house
he printed a translation of “Martyn’s Answers to Emlyn,
”
Studiorum Primitiae
” namely,
“S. Justini Martyris cum Tryphone Dialogus,
” Bibliotheca Literaria,
” a learned work, of which
only ten numbers were printed, and in which are interspersed the observations of Masson, Wasse, and other
eminent scholars of the time. He also published, 1. “De
Vita & Rebus gestis Marise Scotorum Regina?, Francise
Dotarice.
” “The History of the Life and Reign of Mary
Queen of Scots and Dowager of France, extracted from
original records and writers of credit,
” 1725, 8vo. 2. Art
edition of “Aristides,
” with notes, Joannis Caii Britanni de Canibus Britannicis
liber unus; de variorum Animalium & Stirpium, &c. liber
unus; de Libris propriis liber unus; de Pronunciatione
Græcæ & Latinæ Linguæ, cum scriptione nova, libellus;
ad optimorum exemplarium fidem recogniti; à S. Jebb,
M. D.
” London, Opus Majus,
” folio, neatly and accurately printed for
W. Bowyer, 1733. 5. “Humphr. Hodii, lib. 2. de Græcis
illustribus Linguæ Græcæ Literarumque humaniorum instauratoribus,
” &c. Lond. Præmittitur de
Vita & Scriptis ipsius Humphredi Dissertatio, auctore S.
Jebb, M. D.
” He wrote also the epitaph inscribed on a,
small pyramid between Haut-Buisson and Marquise, in the
road to Boulogne, about seven miles from Calais, in memory of Edward Seabright, esq. of Croxton in Norfolk,
three other English gentlemen, and two servants, who were
all murdered Sept. 20, 1723. The pyramid, being decayed, was taken down about 1751, and a small oratory or
chapel erected on the side of the road. In 1749, Dr.
Jebb possessed all Mr. Bridges’s Mss. relative to the
“History of Northamptonshire,
” which were afterwards
bought by sir Thomas Cave, bart. and finally digested,
and published in 2 vols. folio, by the rev. Peter Whalley,
in 1791. Dr. Jebb practised at Stratford with great success till within a few years of his death, when he retired
with a moderate fortune into Derbyshire, where he died
March 9, 1772, leaving several children, one of whom is
the subject of the next article. He was uncle to the preceding Dr. John Jebb.
demical learning were obtained; while they had the further advantage of travelling over a great part of France, Holland, and Germany. They returned home in 1658; and
But this could not long continue unobserved by the parliament party, who grew so jealous, that they were resolved to put a stop to it; and, as the most effectual means of dispersing the scholars, the master was seized by some soldiers quartered in those parts; and being sent to prison, was indicted at the quarter sessions for keeping a seminary of rebellion and sedition. He was however discharged by the interest of Dr. Wilkins, then warden of Wadham-college, in Oxford; to which place he removed with his pupils in 1651, and settled in a house, thence called Little Welch-hall, in the High-street. During his residence in Oxford, he was recommended to the warden of Wadham by judge Jenkins, the subject of the preceding article; and employed on several messages and correspond-? ences between the judge, Dr. Sheldon, Dr. Mansell, Dr. Fell, and others. But Dr. Wilkins, his protector, being promoted to the mastership of Trinity-college Cambridge, in 1655, Jenkins was obliged to remove; and being talked of as a dangerous man, sought his safety by flight. He withdrew with his pupils out of the kingdom, and resided occasionally in the most celebrated of the foreign universities. He thus kept a kind of moving academy; and by that method the best opportunities of improving the students in all sorts of academical learning were obtained; while they had the further advantage of travelling over a great part of France, Holland, and Germany. They returned home in 1658; and Mr. Jenkins, delivering up his pupils to their respective friends, gladly accepted an invitation to live with sir William Whitmore, at his seat at Appley, in Shropshire.
tained there at the charge of Lewis and that madame royale of France,
tained there at the charge of Lewis and that madame royale of France,
ambassatended that she was not only a native, dor at that court, the earl of St. Albut au inhabitant of France conse- ban’s, and lord Arundel. Scotland, about an union
Under these circumstances it was pre- -|- Ralph Montague, esq. ambassatended that she was not only a native, dor at that court, the earl of St. Albut au inhabitant of France conse- ban’s, and lord Arundel. Scotland, about an union between the two kingdoms. In 1671 he was chosen a representative in parliament far Hythe, in Kent, one of the cinque ports.
tering-place, and by these exercises she acquired a robust and hardy frame. At this time the affairs of France were in a desperate condition, and the city of Orleans,
, commonly called the Maid of Orleans, one of the most remarkable heroines in history, was the daughter of James d' re, and of Isabella Rome his wife, two persons of low rank, in the village of Domremi, near Vauconleurs, on the borders of Lorraine, where she was born in 1402. The instructions she received during her childhood and youth were suited to her humble condition. She quitted her parents at an early age, as they were ill able to maintain her, and engaged herself as a servant at a small inn. In this situation she employed herself in attending the horses of the guests, and in riding them to the watering-place, and by these exercises she acquired a robust and hardy frame. At this time the affairs of France were in a desperate condition, and the city of Orleans, the most important place in the kingdom, was besieged by the English regent, the duke of Bedford, as a step to prepare the way for the conquest of all France. The French king used every expedient to supply the city with a garrison and provisions; and the English left no method unemployed for reducing it. The eyes of all Europe were turned towards this scene of action, and after numberless feats of valour on both sides, the attack was so vigorously pushed by the English,' that the king (Charles VII.) gave up the city as lost, when relief was brought from a very unexpected quarter. Joan, influenced by the frequent accounts of the rencounters at this memorable siege, and affected with the distresses of her country and king, was seized with a wild desire of relieving him; and as her inexperienced mind worked day and night on this favourite object, she fancied she saw visions, and heard voices, exhorting her to re-establish the throne of France, and expel the English invaders. Enthusiastic in these notions, she went to Vaucouleurs, and informed Baudricourt, the governor, of her inspirations and intentions, who sent her to the French court, then at Chinon. Here, on being introduced to the king, she offered, in the name of the Supreme Being, to raise the siege of Orleans, and conduct his majesty to Rheims, to be there crowned and anointed; and she demanded, as the instrument of her future victories, a particular sword which was kept in the church of St. Catherine de Fierbois. The king and his ministers at first either hesitated or pretended to hesitate; but after an assembly of grave and learned divines had pronounced her mission to be real and supernatural, her request was granted, and she was exhibited to the whole people, on horseback in military habiliments. On this sight, her dexterity in managing her steed, though acquired in her former station, was regarded as a fresh proof of her mission her former occupation was even denied she was converted into a shepherdess, an employment more agreeable to the fancy. Some years were subtracted from her age, in order to excite still more admiration; and she was received with the loudest acclamations, by persons of all ranks.
at such an attempt could possibly be carried into execution. But, as it was the interest of the king of France to maintain the belief of something extraordinary and
Raising the siege of Orleans was one part of the maid’s promise to Charles crowning him at Rheims was the other and she now vehemently insisted that he should set out immediately on that journey. A few weeks before, such a proposal would have appeared altogether extravagant. Rheims lay in a distant quarter of the kingdom; was then in the hands of a victorious enemy the whole road that led to it was occupied by their garrisons and no imagination could have been so sanguine as to hope that such an attempt could possibly be carried into execution. But, as it was the interest of the king of France to maintain the belief of something extraordinary and divine in these events, he resolved to comply with her exhortations, and avail himself of the present consternation of the English. He accordingly set out for Rheims, at the head of 12,000 men, and scarcely perceived as he passed along, that he was marching through an enemy’s country. Every place opened its gates to him; Rheims sent him its keys, and the ceremony of his inauguration was performed with the holy oil, which a pigeon is said to have brought from heaven to Clovis, on the first establishment of the French monarchy.
ped no advantage from their patronage, but lived in poverty. He was one of the earliest tragic poets of France, but abused the uncommon facility he had in writing verses;
, a celebrated French poet, was born of a noble family at Paris, in 1532. He was esteemed by Henry II. and Charles IX. but so entirely devoted to poetry and luxury, that he reaped no advantage from their patronage, but lived in poverty. He was one of the earliest tragic poets of France, but abused the uncommon facility he had in writing verses; so that though his French poems were much admired when their author was living, it now requires great patience to read them. The same cannot, however, be said of his Latin poetry, which is written in a more pure and easy style, and in a better taste. Jodelle was well acquainted with Greek and Latin, had a genius for the arts, and is said to have understood architecture, painting, and sculpture he was one of the poets in the Pleiades fancied by Ronsard, and is considered as the inventor of the Vers rapportes. This author died very poor, July 1573. The collection of his poems was published at Paris, 1574, 4to, and at Lyons, 1597, 12mo. It contains two tragedies, Cleopatra, and Dido; Eugene, a comedy; sonnets, songs, odes, elegies, &c. Cardinal du Perron valued this poet’s talents so little, that he used to say Jodelle’s verses were but pois piles.
style was infinitely more tedious, and it was necessary to have every chapter corrected by a native of France, before it could be offered to the discerning eye of
“The king of Denmark, then upon a visit to this country (1768), had brought with him an eastern manuscript,
containing the life of Nadir Shah, which he was desirous
of having translated in England. The secretary of state,
with whom the Danish minister had conversed upon the
subject, sent the volume to Mr. Jones, requesting him to
give a literal translation of it in the French language: but
he wholly declined the task, alleging for his excuse, the
dryness of the subject, the difficulty of the style, and
chiefly his want both of leisure and ability, to enter upon
an undertaking so fruitless and laborious. He mentioned,
however, a gentleman, with whom he was not then acquainted, but who had distinguished himself by the translation of a Persian history, and some popular tales froi
the Persic, as capable of gratifying the wishes of his Danish Majesty. Major Dow, the wriu-r alluded to, excuse
himself on account of his numerous engagements; and tl
application to Mr.lono, uus renewed. It was hinted, th
his compliance would be of no small advantage to him, at
his entrance into life; that it would procure him some mark
of distinction, which would be pleasing to him; and above
all, that it would be a reflection upon this country, if the
king should be obliged to carry the manuscript to France.
Incited by these motives, and principally the last, unwilling to be thought churlish or morose, and eager for reputation, he undertook the work, and sent the specimen of
it to his Danish majesty, who returned his approbation of
the style and method, but desired that the whole translation might be perfectly literal, and the oriental images accurately preserved. The task would have been far easier
to him, if he had been directed to finish it in Latin; for
the acquisition of a French style was infinitely more tedious,
and it was necessary to have every chapter corrected by a
native of France, before it could be offered to the discerning eye of the public, since in every language there are
certain peculiarities of idiom, and nice shades of meaning,
which a foreigner can never attain to perfection. The
work, however arduous and unpleasant, was completed in
a year, not without repeated hints from the secretary’s
office, that it was expected with great impatience by the
court of Denmark. The translation was not, however,
published until 1770. Forty copies upon large paper were
sent to Copenhagen; one of them, bound with uncommon
elegance, for the king himself: and the others as presents
to his courtiers.
”
ll this would not make a person neglected and despicable who had formerly slept in the royal palaces of France, under a roof fretted and embossed with gold; whereas,
* In the Oen?. Mag. for 1781, p 38, daleo, Oxford, on Edward Joyner,
is a curious- Latin epitaph, taken from alias Lyde, who was probably the elthe parish church of St. Mary Mag- der brother of William.
piety, and great fidelity. At his return he lived very retired in London; till, on the breaking out of the popish
plot in 1678, he retired to Horspath, where some time
after he was seized for a Jesuit, or priest, and hound to
appear at the quarter-sessions at Oxford. Being found to
be a mere lay-papist, and discharged, he went to Ickford,
an obscure village in Buckinghamshire, near Thame, and
there spent many years in devout retirement. In 1687 he
was restored to his fellowship by James II. but expelled
from it after a year’s enjoyment, and retired to his former
recess, where, says Wood, his apparel, which was formerly gay, was then very rustical, little better than that of
a day-labourer, and his diet and lodging suitable. In one
of his letters to Wood, April 12, 1692, he told him that
“the present place of his residence is a poor thatcht-house,
where the roof is of the same stuff in the chamber where
he lodged, which he assured me was never guilty of paying chimney-tax. However, he hoped that all this would
not make a person neglected and despicable who had formerly slept in the royal palaces of France, under a roof
fretted and embossed with gold; whereas, this is doubly
and trebly interweaved only with venerable cobwebs, which
can plead nothing of rarity besides the antiquity.
” This
personage has written, 1. “The Roman Empress,
” a comedy, Lond. Some Observations on the
Life of Cardinal Pole,
” Horti Carolini Rosa altera,
” Life of Cardinal Pole,
” published in
blished an. appendix to Tournefort, and methodized and abridged the work of Barrelier, on the plants of France, Spain, and Italy. He also practised physic, and was
, an eminent botanist, was bornat Lyons in 1686. He cultivated, with so much success, a talent for natural history, which discovered itself in his earliest years, that, in 1712, he obtained a place in the academy of sciences. After traversing various parts of Europe, he settled in Paris, where he published various works on the most interesting parts of natural history. He published an. appendix to Tournefort, and methodized and abridged the work of Barrelier, on the plants of France, Spain, and Italy. He also practised physic, and was remarkable on all occasions for charity to the poor, to whom he not only gave advice, but alms. He nevertheless left behind him a very considerable fortune, of which his brother Bernard was the heir. He died of an apoplexy, at the age of seventy-two, in 1758.
employed him in several commissions. Upon his return to Venice, he was sent ambassador to Lewis XI. of France, who made him a knight in 1461. He went afterwards several
, nephew of the above, was born at Venice in 1408. He pursued his first studies under Guarini of Verona, and continued them at Padua, where he took his doctor’s degree. Notwithstanding he put on the senator’s robe at the age of nineteen, yet he still prosecuted his studies under Francis Philelphi and George de Trebisonde, whom he took into his house, and retained there, till pope Calixtus III. sent for him to Rome, and employed him in several commissions. Upon his return to Venice, he was sent ambassador to Lewis XI. of France, who made him a knight in 1461. He went afterwards several times ambassador to Rome from the republic; and, in 1467, was made commandant of Padua. He afterwards became a member of the council of ten, and bore the dignity of Sage Grand no hers than twenty times. In 1474, he was elected procurator of St. Mark, a post next to that of doge. He died in 1489.
ravels.” With this view he published in 1790, “A Picturesque tour through Holland, Brabant, and part of France, made in the autumn of 1789,” 2 vols. 8vo, illustrated
, mentioned in the preceding article, and we trust more unfortunate than accessary in the
possession of the forged Mss. of Shakspeare, was originally a mechanic in Spitalfields, but taking advantage of
the taste of the age for literary curiosities, commenced a
speculator in scarce books, prints, and drawings. He had
some skill in drawing and engraving, and endeavoured to
turn it to account, by combining it with description, under
the name of “Travels.
” With this view he published in
A Picturesque tour through Holland, Brabant, and
part of France, made in the autumn of 1789,
” 2 vols. 8vo,
illustrated with aqua-tinta and other prints. This succeeded well, although his descriptions were common-place,
and his information seldom new. Encouraged, however,
by the sale of the work, he produced in 1792, “Picturesque Views on the river Thames,
” 2 vols. 8vo, and in 1793
“Picturesque Views on the river Medway,
” in 1 vol. In
1794 he published his “Graphic Illustrations of Hogarth,
”
consisting of anecdotes of that eminent artist, and engraved
Copies of many of his lesser and fugitive works, such as
shop-cards, tickets, &c. In 1796, he was an accomplice
in that fraud which eventually proved fatal to his character
and comfort. This was the production of a large quantity
of manuscripts, pretended to be in the hand-writing of
Shakspeare and consisting of poems, letters, and one entire play. These were exhibited at his house in Norfolkstreet for the inspection of the public, and for some time
divided their opinions. Connoisseurs, however, in ancient
writings, and particularly in the genius and history of
Shakspeare, soon detected the fraud, which, although it
did for a time impose on some gentlemen in the literary
world, was executed in the most slovenly and clumsy manner. A more full account of this imposition, and the
controversies to which it gave rise, may be seen in our
authorities: it is scarcely worth reviving in this work.
After complete detection, it appeared that Mr. Ireland had
been himself the dupe of a near and worthless relation; but
his obstinacy in maintaining the authenticity of these papers long after he ought to have given them up, injured
his character, and it is thought hastened his death, which
took place in July 1800. We have to add to his works
“Picturesque Views of the Severn and Warwickshire Avon,
”
and a “History of the Inns of Court,
” the latter a posthumous work. The Mss. of Shakspeare were published
under the title of “Miscellaneous papers and legal instruments, under the hand and seal of William Shakspeare,
including the tragedy of King Lear, &c.
” at the price of
four guineas to subscribers. What was yet more absurd,
a play pretended to be Shakspeare’s, entitled “Vortigern,
”
was actually performed on Drury-lane theatre, but hooted
from the stage the first night.
rn, synods were called in several places; and, among the rest, Irenaeus convened one of the churches of France under his jurisdiction;. where, having determined the
, bishop of Lyons in France, was
undoubtedly by birth a Greek, and, not improbably, born
at or near the city of Smyrna. He was trained in the
studies of philosophy and human learning: in the doctrines
of Christianity, two disciples of St. John the apostle, Papias and Polycarp, were his masters. The latter he is
said to have accompanied in his journey, about the Paschal
controversy, to Rome; where, by his and Anicetus’s persuasioiij he was prevailed upon to go to France; great
numbers of Greeks residing in some parts of that kingdom,
especially about Marseilles, and the church there beginning to be disturbed by several pernicious heresies. In his
journey, arriving at Lyons, he continued several years
there, in the station of a presbyter, under the care add
government of Pothinus, the bishop of that city; and,
by his behaviour, distinguished himself so much, that,
about the year 177, he was chosen to draw up the judgment and opinion of the churches of Lyons and Vienna,
which were sent to those in Asia, in order to compose the
differences lately raised by Montanus and his followers,
who pretended to the prophetic spirit. In the same letter,
they took occasion also to give an account of the persecution, which then raged peculiarly among them, under
Marcus Antoninus. The opinions of the confessors in.
those times were always received with esteem and veneration. The same churches therefore sent other letters
about these controversies to Eleutherius, bishop of Rome,
which were probably carried by Irenseus, who undertook
that journey at their request. Two years after, in the year
174, upon the martyrdom of Pothinus at Lyons, Irenaeus
succeeded to that chair, in a troublesome and tempestuous
time, when the church was assaulted by enemies from
without, and betrayed by heretics from within. These
circumstances required both courage and conduct in the
governors, and our new bishop gave conspicuous proofs of
his qualifications in both respects. He is said to have held
a provincial synod at Lyons, where, by the assistance and
suffrage of twelve other bishops, he condemned the heresies of Marcion, Valentinus, and Basilides. He had personally encountered some of these ringleaders among the
Gnostics, and read the books of others; when, at the request of many who importuned him, he set about the elaborate work “against Heresies,
” part of which is still extant under his name. It was composed in the time of
Eleutherius; upon whose decease, Victor, succeeding to
the see of Rome, headed afresh the dispute abput the time
of celebrating Easter, and endeavoured imperiously to oppose the Roman custom upon the Asiatics. To heal the
sclmrn, synods were called in several places; and, among
the rest, Irenaeus convened one of the churches of France
under his jurisdiction;. where, having determined the
matter, he wrote a synodical epistle to pope Victor, and
told him, that they agreed with him in the main of the
controversy, but withal advised him to take heed how he
excommunicated whole churches, for observing the custom
derived down to them from their ancestors. He observed,
that there was as little agreement in the manner of the
preparatory fast before Easter, as in the day itself, some
thinking they were to fast but one day, others two, others
more, and some measuring the time by a continued fast of
forty hours; and that this variety was of long standing,
and had crept into several places, while the governors of
the church took less care about these different customs than
about maintaining a sincere and mutual love and peace
towards one another; putting him in mind too of Anicetus
and Polycarp, who, though they could not agree about
their different usages, did yet mutually embrace, orderly
receive the communion together, and peaceably part
from one another. Irenaeus wrote also, to the same effect,
to several other bishops, for allaying this unhappy difr
fere nee.
nne, and condemned by the French clergy. It is a collection of eight letters respecting the alliance of France with England, Venice, Holland, and Transylvania. The
, or in Latin Cellarius, was born
in 1568, at Seckingen. He entered the Jesuits’ order in
1588, was appointed rector of the college at Ratisbon,
afterwards of that at Munich, and was for a long time confessor to prince Albert of Bavaria, and the princess his wife.
The elector Maximilian had a particular esteem for him,
and frequently employed him in affairs of the utmost importance. Keller disputed publicly with James Kailbrunner, the duke of Neuburg’s most celebrated minister, on
the accusation brought against the Lutheran ministers, of
having corrupted several passages quoted from the Fathers,
in a German work entitled “Papatus Acatholicus;
” their
dispute was held at Neuburg, 1615. Father Keller died
at Munich, February 23, 1631, aged sixty-three, leaving
some controversial works, and several political ones, concerning the affairs of Germany, in which he frequently
conceals himself under the names of Fabius Hercynianus,
Aurirnontius, Didacus Tamias, &c. His book against
France, entitled “Mysteria Politica,
” Canea
Turturis,
” in answer to the learned Gravina’s Song of the
Turtle, is attributed to Keller.
ers attacked Dr. Kellison’s work with great fury. The controversy increasing, the bishops and clergy of France espoused his cause, and condemned several of the productions
, an English Roman catholic
of considerable eminence as a controversial writer, was
born in Northamptonshire, about 1560, and brought up
in lord Vaux’s family, whence he was sent for education to
the English colleges at Doway and Rheims, and afterwards, in 1582, to Rome, where he remained about seven
years, and acquired the reputation of a very able divine.
In 1589, he was invited to Rheims to lecture on divinity,
and, proceeding in his academical degrees, was created
D. D. and, in 1606, had the dignity of rector magnificus,
or chancellor of the university, conferred upon him. After
being public professor at Rheims for twelve years, he returned to Doway in 1613, and a few months after was declared president of the college, by a patent from Rome.
In this office he conducted himself with great reputation,
and ably promoted the interests of the college. He died
Jan. 21, 1641. Among his works are, 1. “Survey of the
new religion/' Doway, 1603, 8vi. 2.
” A reply to Sutcliffe’s answer to the Survey of the new religion,“Rheims,
1608, 8vi. 3.
” Oratio coram Henrico IV. rege
Chris4. “The Gagg of the reformed gospel.
”
This, the catholics tell us, was the cause of the conversion
of many protestants. It was answered, however, by Montague, afterwards bishop of Chichester, in a tract called
“The new Gagger, or Gagger gagged/ 7 1624. Montague
and he happened to coincide in so many points that the
former was involved with some of his brethren in a controversy, they thinking him too favourable to the popish
cause. 5.
” Examen reformations, prajsertim Calvinisticae,“8vo, Doway, 1616. 6.
” The right and jurisdiction of the prince and prelate,“1617, 1621, 8vo. This
he is said to have written in his own defence, having been
represented at Rome as a favourer of the oath of allegiance. In the mean time the work was represented to
king James I. as allowing of the deposing power, and of
murdering excommunicated princes, and his majesty thought
proper to inquire more narrowly into the matter; the result of which was, that Dr. Kellison held no such opinions,
and had explained his ideas of the oath of allegiance with
as much caution as could have been expected. 7.
” A
treatise of the hierarchy of the church: against the anarchy of Calvin,“1629, 8vo. In this treatise, he had the
misfortune to differ from the opinion of his own church in
some respect. His object was, to prove the necessity of
episcopal government in national churches; and he particularly pointed at the state of the catholics in England,
who were without such a government. Some imagined that
the book would be censured at Rome, because it seemed
indirectly to reflect upon the pope, who had not provided
England with bishops to govern the papists there, although frequently applied to for that favour; and because
it seemed to represent the regulars as no part of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and consequently not over-zealous in
supporting the dignity of the episcopal order. The court
of Rome, however, took no cognizance of the matter; but
others attacked Dr. Kellison’s work with great fury. The
controversy increasing, the bishops and clergy of France
espoused his cause, and condemned several of the productions of his antagonists, in, which they had attacked the
hierarchy of the church. Dr. Kellison’s other works were,
8.
” A brief and necessary Instruction for the Catholics of
England, touching their pastor,“1631. 9.
” Comment,
in tertiam partem Summse Sancti Thomas,“1632, fol.
10.
” A Letter to king James I." in ms. Sutcliife and
Montague were his principal antagonists among the protestants.
those land-marks to certainty, royal names, do not serve evn that purpose In the cabinet of the king of France are several coins of sovereigns whose country cannot
“Oriuna, on the medals of Carausius,
” says Mr. Waipole, in his preface to Historic Doubts, “used to pass for
the Moon; of late years it is become a doubt whether she
was not his consort. It is of little importance whether she
was moon or empress; but how little must we know of those
times, when those land-marks to certainty, royal names,
do not serve evn that purpose In the cabinet of the
king of France are several coins of sovereigns whose country cannot be guessed at.
”
treatise, written in answer to Chifflet, concerning the situation of the Portus Iccius on the coast of France, opposite to Kent, where Caesar embarked for the invasion
In 1689, as he was exercising himself in shooting, he
had the misfortune to be dangerously wounded in the forehead by the bursting of the gun. Both the tables of his
skull were broken, which occasioned him constantly to
wear a black velvet patch on that part. He lay a considerable time under this accident; and it is said, that while he
was in great disorder both of body and brain, just after he
had undergone the severe operation of trepanning, he made
a copy of Latin verses, and dictated them to a friend at
his bed-side. The copy was transmitted to his patron, sir
William Glynne, in whose study it was found, after the
author had forgot every thing but the sad occasion: and
the writer of his life tells us, that “it was then in his possession, and thought, by good judges, to be no reproach
to the author.
” He was too young a divine to engage in
the famous popish controversy; but he distinguished himself by preaching against popery. He likewise refused to
read the declaration for liberty of conscience in 1688, and
went with the body of the clergy in the diocese of Oxford,
when they rejected an address to king James, recommended by bishop Parker in the same year. While he continued at Amersden, he contracted an acquaintance with Dr.
George Hickes, whom he entertained in his house, and
was instructed by him in the Saxon and Northern tongues;
though their different principles in church and state afterwards dissolved the friendship between them. In September 1691, he was chosen lecturer of St. Martin’s in Oxford,
having some time before been invited back to Edmund-hall,
to be tutor and vice-principal there; where he lived in
friendship with the learned Dr. Mill, the editor of the New
Testament, who was then principal of that house. In
February 1692, he addressed a letter from Edmund-hall to
Brome, the editor of Somner’s “Treatise of the Roman
Ports and Forts in Kent,
” containing an account of the
life of that famous antiquary; which gave him an opportunity of displaying his knowledge in the history of the
Saxon language in England. In February 1693, he was
presented to the rectory of Shottesbrook, in Berkshire, by
William Cherry, esq. the father of one of his fellow-students at college, but he still resided at Oxford, where he
diligently pursued and encouraged the study of antiquities.
We have a strong attestation to this part of his character
from Gibson, afterwards bishop of London, who publishing, in 1694, a translation of Somner’s treatise, written in
answer to Chifflet, concerning the situation of the Portus
Iccius on the coast of France, opposite to Kent, where
Caesar embarked for the invasion of this island, introduced
it to the world with a dedication to Mr. Kennet.
Charles II, with whom he had suffered many years exile. During his abode beyond sea, he took a view of France, Italy, and Spain; and was honoured by his majesty with
, brother of the former, was
born in 1611, and distinguished also by uncommon natural
parts. He was page of honour to Charles I, and groom of
the bed-chamber to Charles II, with whom he had suffered many years exile. During his abode beyond sea,
he took a view of France, Italy, and Spain; and was honoured by his majesty with the employment of resident at
the state of Venice, whither he was sent in Aug. 1651. In
this absence from his country he applied his leisure hours
to poetry, and the composition of several plays; of which
sir John Denham, in a jocular way, takes notice in his
poem on our author’s return from his embassy to Venice.
Though Deuham mentions but six, our author wrote nine
plays in his travels, and two at London; all which were
printed, with his picture before them, in one volume folio,
at London, 1664. There is, besides these plays of his,
“A Letter concerning the possessing and dispossessing of
several Nuns in the Nunnery at Tours, in France;
” dated
Orleans, Dec. the 7th, 1635, and printed in three sheets
folio. He died in 1682, and was buried in Westminsterabbey. He had been twice married. He was a man of an
uncommon vein of humour, with which he used to divert
Charles II.; who, on that account, was fonder of him than
of his best ministers, and would give him access to his
presence when he denied it to them. It was usually said
of him, that, when he attempted to write, he was nothing
compared to what he was in conversation; which was just
the reverse of Cowley, who shone but little in company,
though he excelled so much with his pen. Hence Denbam, who knew them both, has taken occasion thus to
characterize their respective excellencies and defects:
d the text with twelve manuscripts which Mill never saw. Of these twelve there were nine in the king of France’s library; but, excepting one, which has all the books
, a learned critic, was born in the
month of Feb. 1670 at Blomberg, a little town in Westphalia, where his father was a magistrate. He learned
polite literature under his elder brother, who taught it in
the college of Joachim at Berlin. He distinguished himself so early in life, that on the recommendation of baron
Spanheim, he was appointed tutor to the two sons of the
count de Schewerin, prime-minister of the king of Prussia.
He had also the promise of a professorship in the college
of Joachim at Berlin but, till that should be vacant,
Kuster, who was then but about five-and-twenty, resolved
to travel into Germany, France, England, and Holland.
He went first to Francfort upon the Oder, where he
studied the civil law for some time; and thence to Antwerp, Ley den, and Utrecnt, where he remained a considerable time, and wrote several works. In 1699, he
passed over into England, and the year following into
France, where his chief employment was to collate Suidas
with three manuscripts in the king’s library. About the
end of this year he returned to England, and in four years
finished his edition of Suidas, on which he may be said to
have meditated day and night. He relates himself, that,
being one night awaked by thunder and lightning, he became so alarmed for this work, that he rose immediately,
and carried it to bed with him, as his most valuable treasure. It was published at Cambridge in 1705, and is by
far the best edition of that valuable Lexicon; and Le
Clerc tells us, that the university furnished part of the
expence of it. The Bodleian library has lately become
possessed of a copy, covered from one end to the other
with manuscript notes by D'Orville and others. Kuster
was honoured with the degree of doctor by the university
of Cambridge, and had several advantageous offers made
him to continue there; but was obliged to wave them,
being recalled to Berlin, to take possession of the professorship, which had been promised him. He afterwards resigned this place, and went to Amsterdam; where,
in 1710, he published an edition of “Aristophanes,
” in
folio, whicb the public had been prepared some time to
expect by an account as well as a specimen of that work,
given by LeClerc in his “Bibliotheque choisie,
” for Lysistrata,
” some notes of Isaac Casaubon on the “Equites,
”
and of Spanheim and Bentley, on a few of the earlier
plays. It is, upon the whole, a noble production, and has
been long esteemed by the first literary characters abroad
and at home. Kuster gave an edition also of “Mill’s
Greek Testament
” the same year; in which he had compared the text with twelve manuscripts which Mill never
saw. Of these twelve there were nine in the king of
France’s library; but, excepting one, which has all the
books of the New Testament, the rest contain no more
than the four Gospels. The tenth manuscript belonged to
Carpzovius, a minister of Leipsic, and contains the four
Gospels. The eleventh was brought from Greece by
Seidel, of Berlin; but it has not the four Gospels. The
last, which Kuster most highly valued, was communicated
to him by Bornier, who bought it at the public sale of
the library of Francius, professor of rhetoric at Amsterdam. After Kuster’s preface, follows a letter of Le Clerc
concerning Mill’s work. From Amsterdam he removed to
Rotterdam, and went some time after to Antwerp, to confer
with the Jesuits about some doubts he had in religious
matters; the consequence of this was his being brought
over to the Roman catholic religion, and his abjuring that
of the Protestants July 25, 1713, in the church of the noviciates belonging to the Jesuits. The king of France rewarded him with a pension of 2000 livres; and as a mark
of "distinction, ordered him to be admitted supernumerary
associate of the academy of inscriptions. But he did not
enjoy this new settlement long; for he died October 12,
1716, of an abscess in the pancreas, aged only forty-six.
oo obscure, and of little use. He published also, several pieces respecting the geographical history of France, and the Greek language, which are forgotten. 6. “Bibliotheca
, a celebrated Jesuit, was born July
10, 1607, of a good family at Bourges. He taught ethics,
philosophy, and moral theology, with reputation, first at
Bourges, and afterwards at Paris, where he settled. His
memory was uncommon, and his learning very extensive;
and he was esteemed by the literati for amiable temper and
politeness, as well as for his writings. He died March 25,
1667, at Paris. He was not much of an original writer,
the greatest part of his numerous works being compilations,
which cost him little farther trouble than to collect and
arrange, which, however, he did with judgment. The
principal are, 1. “Nova Bibliotheca Mss. Librorum,
”
1657, 2 vols. fol. containing many pieces which had never
been printed before. 2. “De Byzantinae Historian Scriptoribus,
” fol. in which is an account and catalogue of the
writers of the Byzantine History, in chronological order.
3. “Two Lives of Galen,
” taken from his works, 8vo.
4. “Bibliotheca Bibliothecarum,
” Geneva, Biblioth. nummaria,
” and an “Auctuarium,
”
printed Concordia Chronologies,
” 5 vols. fol.
The 5th vol. is by Pere Briet; a learned work, but too
obscure, and of little use. He published also, several
pieces respecting the geographical history of France, and
the Greek language, which are forgotten. 6. “Bibliotheca anti-Janseniana,
” 4to, a catalogue of writings against
Jansenius and his defenders. 7. An edition of the “Annals of Michael Glycas,
” in Greek and Latin, fol. 8. A
good edition of “Notitia dignitatum omnium imperii Roinani,
” concerning the Instruction of a Christian
King,
” 12mo. 10. “De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis dissertutio,
” 2 vols. 8vi, in which is a dissertation against the
story of pope Joan. But the most known among Pere
Labhe’s works, is his new “Collection of the Councils,
”
Apparatus alter,
” because the 17th is also
entitled “Apparatus.
” This Collection was finished by
Pere Gabriel Cossart, one of his brethren, a better and
more judicious critic than himself, and is justly esteemed,
though it is deficient in several respects, and contains
many faults. Vigneul Marville says of P. Labbe, that he
was an honest man, accused of being a little piratical, and
of robbing the learned, not through necessity, but for
amusement.
fe. He put himself under the instructions of Le Monnier, one of the then most celebrated astronomers of France, and profited so much by the lessons of his able instructor,
, a very celebrated French astronomer, was born at Bourg, in the department of l'Ain, July 11, 1732. His father, who was
possessed of property, intended him for the bar, and sent
him to Paris to study the law, to which, for some time, he
applied with so much assiduity, as to answer the most sanguine expectations of his friends, when the sight of an
observatory awakened in him a propensity, which deranged
the projects of his parents, and became the ruling passion
of his life. He put himself under the instructions of Le
Monnier, one of the then most celebrated astronomers of
France, and profited so much by the lessons of his able
instructor, as to afford him the highest degree of satisfaction, who, on his part, conceived for the young man a
truly paternal affection, and was determined to promote
his interests. An opportunity soon offered; the great
astronomer Lecaille was preparing to set out for the Cape
of Good Hope, in order to determine the parallax of the
moon, and its distance from the earth. To accomplish this
purpose, it was necessary he should be seconded by an
observer placed under the same meridian, and at the greatest distance that could be conveniently chosen on the
globe. Berlin was fixed on, and Le Monnier signified his
intention of undertaking the business himself, but the mo.ment when he appeared ready to depart, he had the credit
to get his pupil appointed in his stead. Frederic, to whom
Maupertuis had explained the delicacy and difficulty of the
enterprize, could not forbear shewing some astonishment
when the youthful astronomer was presented to him;
“However,
” said he, “the Academy of Sciences has
appointed you, and you will justify their choice.
” From that
moment his age, being only eighteen, was an additional
recommendation; he was admitted at court, welcomed by
the academy, and became intimate with the most distinguished persons at Berlin. On his return, the account
which he gave of his mission procured him free access to
the Academy of Sciences, and its transactions were enriched every year by important communications from the
young astronomer. The active part which he took in the
labours of the academy, was not confined to the astronomical science: we have from his pen, a description of seven
arts, as different from each other, as they are remote from
the objects of his habitual meditations. He published the
French edition of Dr. Halley’s tables, and the history of
the comet of 1759, and he furnished Clairault with immense calculations for the theory of that famous comet.
Being charged in 1760 with the compilation of the “Connoissance des Temps,
” he entirely changed the form of
that work, and of this collection he published thirty-two
volumes, viz. from 1775 to 1807.