pted the invitation of Roan, and there died, Jan. 31, 1684, having gained the reputation not only of a learned man, but also of an honest man, and a faithful pastor.
, in Latin Larroquanus, whom Bayle styles one of the most illustrious ministers the reformed ever had in France, was born at Leirac, a small city of Guienne, near Agen, in 1619. He was hardly past his youth when he lost his father and mother, who were persons of rank and character. This misfortune was soon ifol lowed by the loss of his whole patrimony, although by what means is not known; but the effect was to animate him more strongly to his studies, and to add to polite literature, which he had already learned, the knowledge of philosophy, and above all, that of divinity. He made a considerable progress in these sciences, and was admitted a minister with great applause. Two years after he had been admitted in his office he was obliged to go to Paris to answer the cavils of those who intended to ruin his church, in which, although he was not successful, he met with such circumstances as proved favourable to him. He preached sometimes at Charenton, and was so well liked by the duchess de la Tremouille, that she appointed him minister of the church of Vitre, in Britany, and gave him afterwards a great many proofs of her esteem; nor was he less respected by the prince and princess of Tarente, and the duchess of Weimar. He served that church about twenty-seven years, and studied the ancient fathers with the utmost application. He gave very soon public proofs of the progress he had made in that study, for the answer he published to the motives which an opponent had alledged for his conversion to popery, abounded with passages quoted from the fathers, and the works which he published afterwards raised his reputation greatly. There was an intimate friendship between him and Messieurs Daille, father and son, which was kept up by a constant literary correspondence; and the journey he took to Paris procured him the acquaintance of several illustrious men of letters. The church of Charenton wished to have invited him in 1669, but his enemies had so prepossessed the court against him, that his majesty sent a prohibition to that church not to think of calling him, notwithstanding the deputy general of the reformed had offered to answer for Mods, de Larroque’s good behaviour. He was afterwards chosen to be both minister and professor of divinity at Saumur. The former he accepted, but refused the professorship of divinity, as it might interfere with the study of church history, to ttfhich he was very partial. The intendant of the province, however, forbad him to go to Saumur; and although the church complained of this unjust prohibition, and petitoned very zealously for the necessary permission, which she obtained, Larroquc did not think it proper to enter upon an employment against the will of the intendant. He continued therefore still at Vitré, where he did not suffer his pen to be idle. Three of the most considerable churches of the kingdom chose him at once, the church of Moutauban, that of Bourdeaux, and thut of Roan. He accepted the invitation of Roan, and there died, Jan. 31, 1684, having gained the reputation not only of a learned man, but also of an honest man, and a faithful pastor.
, a learned Greek, descended from the imperial family of that name,
, a learned Greek, descended from the imperial family of that name, was born at Constantinople, but became a refugee when it was taken, by
the Turks in 1454, and went to Italy, where he was most
amicably received by duke Francis Sforza of Milan, who
placed his own daughter, a child of ten years of age, under
the cure of Lascaris for instruction in the Greek language,
and it is said to have been for her use he composed his
Greek grammar. From Milan he went to Rome, about
1463, or perhaps later, and from, thence, at the invitation
of king Ferdinand, to Naples, where he opened a public
school for Greek and rhetoric. Having spent some years
in this employment, he was desirous of repose, and embarked with the intention of settling at a town of Greece;
but having touched at Messina, he was urged by such advantageous oilers to make it his residence, that he complied, and passed there the remainder of his days. Here
he received the honour of citizenship, which he merited
by his virtues as well as his learning, and by the influx of
scholars which his reputation drew thither. He lived to a
very advanced age, and is supposed to have died about the
end of the fifteenth century. He bequeathed his library
to the city of Messina. His Greek grammar was printed
at Milan in 1476, reprinted in 1480, and was, according
to Zeno, “prima Graeco-Latina praelorum foetura,
” the first
Greek and Latin book that issued from the Italian press.
A better edition of it was given in 1495, by Aldus, from a
copy corrected by the author, and with which the printer
was furnished by Bembo and Gabrielli. This was the first
essay of the Aldine press. Bembo and Gabrielli had been
the scholars of Lascaris, although in his old age, as they did
not set out for Messina until 1493. A copy of this Greek
grammar of the first edition is now of immense value.
Erasmus considered it as the best Greek grammar then
extant, excepting that of Theodore Gaza. Lascaris was
author likewise of two tracts on the Sicilian and Calabrian
Greek writers, and some other pieces, which remain in
manuscript.
, called Rhyndacenus, as Constantine was called Byzantinus, was a learned Greek of the same family with the preceding, who came
, called Rhyndacenus, as Constantine was called Byzantinus, was a learned
Greek of the same family with the preceding, who came
either from Greece or Sicily to Italy, on the ruin of his
country. He was indebted to cardinal Bessarion for his
education at Padua, where he obtained a high reputation
for his knowledge in the learned languages, and received
the patronage of Lorenzo de Medici, who sent him into
Greece with recommendatory letters to the sultan Bajazet,
in order to collect ancient manuscripts: for this purpose he
took two journeys, in the latter of which he appears to
have been very successful. After the expulsion of the
Medic, family from Florence, in 1494, he was carried to
France by Charles VIII. alter which he was patronized by
Louis XII. who sent him, in 1503, as his ambassador to
Venice, in which oroce he remained till 1508. He ioined
the pursuit of literature with his public employment, and
held a correspondence with many learned men. After the
termination of hi. embassy, he“remained some yeaa'
Venice, as an mstructor in the Greek language. On the
election of pope Leo X. to the popedom in 1513, he set
out for Rome, where, at his instigation, Leo founded a
college for noble Grecian youths at Rome, at the head of
which he placed the author of the plan, and likewise
made him superintendant of the Greek press; his abilities
as a corrector and editor, had been already sufficiently
evinced by his magnificent edition of the Greek
” Anthologia,“printed in capital letters at Florence in 1494, and
by that of
” Callimachus,“printed in the same form. Maittaire thinks he was also editor of four of the tragedies of
” Euripides,“of the
” Gnorase Monastichoi,“and the
” Argonautics“of Apollonius Rhodius. He now printed
the Greek
” Scholia“on Homer, in 1517; and in 1518
the
” Scholia“on Sophocles. Having in this last-mentioned year quitted Rome for France, whither he was invited by Francis I. he was employed by that monarch
in forming the royal library. He was also sent as his
ambassador to Venice, with a view of procuring Greek
youths for the purpose of founding a college at Paris similar to that of Rome. After the accomplishment of other
important missions, he died at Rome in 1535, at an advanced age. He translated into the Latin language, a
work extracted from Polybius, on the military constitutions
of the Romans; and composed epigrams in Greek and
Latin; this rare volume is entitled
” Lascaris Rhydaceni
epigrammata, Gr. Lat. edente Jac. Tossano,“printed at
Paris, 1527, 8vo. There is another Paris edition of 1544,
4to. Mr. Dibdin has given an ample and interesting account of his
” Anthologia" from lord Spencer’s splendid
vellum copy.
, a learned Italian, was born at Naples, Sept. 25, 1590. In compliance
, a learned Italian,
was born at Naples, Sept. 25, 1590. In compliance with
his father, he first cultivated and practised the law; but
afterwards followed the bent of his inclination to polite
literature; applying himself diligently to acquire the
Greek language, in which his education had been defective. He also learnt French and Spanish. From Naples
he removed to Rome; where he was no sooner settled,
than he obtained the protection of cardinal Francis Barberini, besides other prelates; he also procured the friendship of Lucas Holstenius, Leo Allatius, and other persons
of rank in the republic of letters. He made use of the
repose he enjoyed in this situation to put the last hand to
some works which he had begun at Naples; but his continual intense application, and too great abstinence (for he made but one meal in twenty- four hours), threw him into
a fever, of which he died, Sept. 30, 1636. At his death,
he left to cardinal Barberini two Latin discourses, which
he oad pronounced before tb^ Greek academy of the monks
of St. Basil, “De Lingua Heiiemstica,
” in which he discussed, with great learning, a point upon that subject,
which then divided the literary world. He also left to cardinal Brancaccio his book entitled “Dell' antico Gimusio
Napolitano,
” which was afterwards published in Nepenthes
Homeri, sen de abojendo luctu,
” Ltigd. Cleombrotus, sive de iis qui in aquis pereunt,
” Home.
, a learned scholastib divine of the sixteenth century, a native
, a learned scholastib
divine of the sixteenth century, a native of Gambron, in
Hainault, doctor of Louvain, and canon of St. Peter’s in
the same city, wrote against Luther, and was esteemed by
his party one of the best controversialists of his time. He
died 1544. All his works were collected and published,
1550, fol. by his nephew, James Latomus, who died 1596.
They are in Latin, and consist of “Treatises on the
Church,
” the “Pope’s Primacy,
” aud “Auricular Confession
” a*' Defence of the Articles of Louvain“a tract
” On the study of Divinity, and of the three Languages,"
in which he defends scholastic divinity. Erasmus having
refuted this work, Latomus answered him by an Apology.
He wrote Latin with facility, but without elegance, and
neither understood Greek nor Hebrew. Luther’s confutation of Latomus’s defence of the articles of Louvain is
accounted one of the ablest productions of that eminent
reformer.
, a learned and judicious protestant writer, was born 157S, at Blois,
, a learned and judicious protestant writer, was born 157S, at Blois, descended from
one of the most respectable families in that city. At the
age of forty, he resigned a post in the exchequer, the
title of king’s secretary, and all prospects of advancement,
that he might devote himself entirely to the sacred writings;
and from that time till he was eighty-nine, rose constantly
at four in the morning, to read and meditate on Scripture.
The French protestants placed an extraordinary confidence
in him. He was deputed to all the synods of his province,
and to almost every national synod held in his time, and
died in 1662, greatly lamented. His works are, “Paraphrases
” on all St. Paul’s Epistles, on Daniel, Ecclesiastes,
the Proverbs, and Revelations; and “Remarks on the
Bible, or an Explanation of the difficult words, phrases,
and metaphors, in the Holy Scriptures,
” Geneva, De la Sainte C6ne,
” and another, “Sur le
Millénarisme.
”
, a learned Italian mathe. matician, was born at Milan, Nov. 17,
, a learned Italian mathe.
matician, was born at Milan, Nov. 17, 1702. He was
educated among the Jesuits, and entered into their order in
1718. He afterwards taught the belles-lettres at Vercelli
and Pavia, and was appointed rhetoric- professor in the university of Brera, in Milan. In 1733 the senate of Milan
appointed him professor of mathematics at Pavia, and afterwards removed him to the same office at Milan, the duties of which he executed with reputation for twenty years.
In F75J) his fame procured him an invitation to Vienna
from the empress Maria Teresa, who honoured him with
her esteem, and appointed him mathematician to the court,
with a pension of 500 florins. What rendered him most
celebrated, was the skill he displayed as superintendant
and chief director of the processes for measuring the bed
of the Reno and other less considerable rivers belonging
to Bologna, Ferrara, and Ravenna. On this he was employed for six years, under Clement XIII.; and Clement
XIV. ordered that these experiments should be continued
upon Leccln’s plans. He died August 24, 1776, aged
seventy-three years. Fabroni, who has given an excellent
personal character of Lecchi, and celebrates his skill in
hydraulics, has, contrary to his usual practice, mentioned
his works only in a general way; and for the following list
we have therefore been obliged to have recourse to a less
accurate authority: 1. “Theoria lucis,
” Milan, Arithmetica universalis Jsaaci Newton, sive de compositione, et resolutione arithmetica perpetuis commentariis
illustrata et aucta,
” Milan, Elementa geometrise theoricx et practices,
” ibid. Elementa Trigonometric,
” &c. ibid. De sectionibus conicis,
” ibid. Idrostatica
csaaiinata,
” &c. ibid. Relazione della
visita alle terre dannegiate dalle acque di Bologna, Ferrara, e Ravenna,
” &c. Rome, 17G7, 4to. 8. “Memorie
idrostatico-storiche delle operazioni esequite nella inalveazione del Reno di Bologna, e degli altri minori torrenti
per la linea di primaro al mare dalP anno 1765 al 1772,
”
Modena, Trattato de' canali navigabili,
” Milan,
, a learned protestant divine, was born about the end of 1646, at
, a learned protestant divine, was born about the end of 1646, at Caen, in Normandy, where he was first educated. He afterwards went through a course of theological studies at Sedan. Returning thence in 1669, he was very honourably received by the learned of his native country, which he again left, in order to attend the lectures of the divinity-professors at Geneva. Here he remained until Nov. 1670, and after a residence of some time at Sanmur, came back in March 1672 to Caen, with the warmest recommendations from the various professors under whom he had studied. He then became pastor at Honfleur, where he married a lady of fortune, which joined to his own, enabled him to prosecute his studies without anxiety. It appears to be about this time that he conceived the design of translating the Bible into French, on which he was more or less engaged for a great many years. He continued his functions, however, as a minister, until the revocation of the edict of Nantes, in 1685, which annihilated the protestant churches in France.
ust have been obliged to work at his father’s trade, had he not found an early patron in Froereisen, a learned townsman, who placed him at ten years old in the public
, an eminent Hebrew and
Greek scholar and critic, was the son of a poor mechanic at
Strasburgh, where he was born July 18, 1672. His parents
were so unable to give him education, that he must have
been obliged to work at his father’s trade, had he not
found an early patron in Froereisen, a learned townsman,
who placed him at ten years old in the public school, at
his own expence. Lederlin’s extraordinary proficiency
rewarded this generous friend, whom, however, he had
the misfortune to lose by death in 1690. This would have
been irreparable, if his talents had not already recommended him to other patrons, and his school education
being finished, he was enabled to pursue his studies at the
university with great reputation. He received his master’s
degree in 1692, and at the persuasion of Boeder the medical professor, Obrecht, and others, he opened a school
for the Hebrew and Greek, of which languages, he was in
1703, constituted professor, and was for many years one
of the greatest ornaments of the university of Strasburgh.
He died Sept. 3, 1737, leaving various monuments of
learning and critical skill. Among those, we may enumerate, i. his edition of Julius Pollux’s “Onomasticon,
”
Homer’s Iliad,
” Amst. Vigerus de praecipuis Grsecae dictionis idiotismis,
”
Strasburgb, Brissonii de regio Persarum principatu,
” ibid. Æliani varise historiae,
”
ibid. 1713, 8vo, which Harles says is superior to Scheffer*s
edition, but must yield to that of Perizonius. He published also some critical dissertations on parts of the Greek
Testament, on which he was accustomed to lecture.
, a learned Scotch divine, was born at Dolphinston, in Lanerkshire,
, a learned Scotch divine, was
born at Dolphinston, in Lanerkshire, in 1706. He received his academical education at the university of Edinburgh, where he distinguished himself by his great proficiency in different branches of learning. He began his
theological studies in 1724, and in 1727 he undertook the
education of a young gentleman at Caldwell, in Renfrewshire, where he resided in the summer months, but during
the remainder of the year he lived at Glasgow, and was
honoured with the friendship of professors Hutcheson and
Dunlop. About the beginning of 1731 he was licensed as
a preacher, but it was not till 1736 that he was ordained
minister of Beith, on which charge he continued seven
years. In 1740 he was elected moderator of a meeting of
the synod at Irvine, and opened the assembly at Glasgow
on the 7th of April 1741, with a sermon to the clergy “On
the temper, character, and duty, of a minister of the gospel,
” which has passed through many editions, and is still
in high reputation. In 1743 he published a much longer
discourse on “The nature, reasonableness, and advantages of Prayer; with an attempt to answer the objections
against it.
” This, likewise, added much to his reputation,
and has been frequently reprinted. He was shortly after
elected to the professorship of theology at the university of
Glasgow; an honour which he obtained only by the casting vote of the president, owing to some suspicions entertained of the orthodoxy of his sentiments, founded on his
sermon on prayer, in which he v.a thought to have laid
too little stress on the atonement and intercession of Christ.
A prosecution for heresy was the consequence, which was
ultimately decided in his favour by the synod, the members
of which almost unanimously determined, that there was
no reason to charge him with any unsoundness in the passages of the sermon complained against. After this the
prejudices against him appear to have subsided, and his
character became very generally and highly respected,
even by some who had thought it their duty to promote the
prosecution. Soon after he had been established in the
professorship, he took the degree of doctor in divinity; and
continued in the theological chair seventeen years, vindicating and establishing the grand truths of natural and revealed religion, in answer to the principal objections made
to them by Mr. Hume, lord Bolingbroke, and other sceptical writers. He had, in his lectures, a remarkable talent
of selecting what was most important and striking on every
subject that he handled: his arguments were solid, founded on indisputable facts; and they were urged with a degree of warmth which carried his auditors along with him;
for they were addressed equally to the judgment and the
heart. Dr. Leechman’s fame extended far and wide, the
divinity-hall at Glasgow was crowded, in his time, with a
greater number of scholars than any other in Scotland:
and his numerous scholars, however they might differ in
their sentiments on speculative theology and church government, were all cordially united in their affection and
veneration for their master. In 1761, Dr. Leechman was
raised to the office of principal of the university of Glasgow by a presentation from the king. He had previously
to this been in a very bad state of health, and this change
in his avocations was probably the means of prolonging his
life; yet, though released from the more fatiguing part of
his duties, he gave a lecture, for some time, once a week,
to the students in divinity, and weekly lectures to the
whole university. Dr. Leechman’s faculties remained in
full vigour amidst the increasing infirmities of old age, and
his taste for knowledge continued as acute as ever. In
September and October 1785, he experienced two violent
paralytic strokes, from which he partially recovered; but
a third attack carried him off on the 3d of December, 1785,
when he was almost eighty years of age. Dr. Leechman
committed nothing to the press, except nine sermons,
which went through several editions during his life-time.
These were republished, with others, forming together two
volumes, in 1789. To the first of these volumes is prefixed an account of the author, by Dr. Wodrow, from which
the preceding particulars are taken.
, a learned Protestant divine, was born in 1594, at Ville Seiche,
, a learned Protestant divine, was born in 1594, at Ville Seiche, in the valley of St. Martin in Piedmont. Going to Constantinople as chaplain to the ambassador from the States-general, he formed a friendship in that city with the famous Cyrillus Lucar, and obtained from him a confession of the faith of the Greek and Eastern churches. On his return to the Vallies he was appointed minister there; but being condemned to death by the duke of Savoy, took refuge in Geneva, where he was made professor of divinity, and died in 1661. He left an edition of the New Testament in the original Greek, and vulgar Greek, 2 vols. 4to. His son, Anthony Leger, born 1652, at Geneva, was a celebrated preacher, and five volumes of his sermons have been published since his death, which happened at Geneva, in 1719.
, a learned protestant divine, born in 1615, at Ville-Seiche, in
, a learned protestant divine, born in 1615,
at Ville-Seiche, in the valley of St. Martin, in Piedmont,
was nephew of Anthony Leger the elder. He was minister of several churches, particularly that at St. Jean,
and escaped from the massacre of the Waldenses in 1655.
Having been deputed to several protestant powers in 1661,
the court of Turin ordered his house at St. Jean to be
razed to the ground, and declared him guilty of high treason. He became pastor afterwards of the Walloon church
at Leyden, in which city he was living in 1665, and there
published his “Hist, des Eglises Evangeliques des Vallees
de Piemont,
” fol. The year of his death is unknown.
n the cause of the princes and patrons to whose service he was attached; many hours were consumed in a learned correspondence with all Europe; and the philosopher
Gibbon has drawn the character of Leibnitz with great
force and precision, as a man whose genius and studies
have ranked his name with the first philosophic names of
his age and country; but he thinks his reputation, perhaps, would have been more pure and permanent, if he
had not ambitiously grasped the whole circle of human
science. As a theologian, says Gibbon (who is not, perhaps, the most impartial judge of this subject), he successively contended with the sceptics, who believe too little,
and with the papists who believe too much; and with the
heretics, who believe otherwise than is inculcated by the
Lutheran confession of Augsburgh. Yet the philosopher
betrayed his love of union and toleration* his faith in revelation was accused, while he proved the Trinity by the
principles of logic; and in the defence of the attributes
and providence of the Deity, he was suspected of a secret
correspondence with his adversary Bayle. The metaphysician expatiated in the fields of air; his pre-established
harmony of the soul and body might have provoked the
jealousy of Plato; and his optimism, the best of all possible worlds, seems an idea too vast for a mortal mind. He
was a physician, in the large and genuine sense of the
word like his brethren, he amused him with creating a
globe and his Protogæa, or primitive earth, has not been
useless to the last hypothesis of Buffon, which prefers the
agency of fire to that of water. “I am not worthy,
” adds
Gibbon, “to praise the mathematician; but his name is
mingled in all the problems and discoveries of the times;
the masters of the art were his rivals or disciples; and if
he borrowed from sir Isaac Newton, the sublime method of
fluxions, Leibnitz was at least the Prometheus who imparted to mankind the sacred fire which he had stolen from the
gods. His curiosity extended to every branch of chemistry, mechanics, and the arts; and the thirst of knowledge was always accompanied with the spirit of improvement. The vigour of his youth had been exercised in the
schools of jurisprudence; and while he taught, he aspired
to reform the laws of nature and nations, of Rome and
Germany. The annals of Brunswick, and of the empire,
of the ancient and modern world, were presented to the
mind of the historian; and he could turn from the solution
of a problem, to the dusty parchments and barbarous style
of the records of the middle age. His genius was more
nobly directed to investigate the origin of languages and
nations; nor could he assume the character of a grammarian, without forming the project of an universal idiom
and alphabet. These various studies were often interrupted
by the occasional politics of the times; and his pen was
always ready in the cause of the princes and patrons to
whose service he was attached; many hours were consumed
in a learned correspondence with all Europe; and the philosopher amused his leisure in the composition of French
and Latin poetry. Such an example may display the exte^nt and powers of the human understanding, but even his
powers were dissipated by the multiplicity of his pursuits.
He attempted more than he could finish; he designed more
than he could execute: his imagination was too easily satisfied with a bold and rapid glance on the subject, which
he was impatient to leave; and Leibnitz may be compared
to those heroes, whose empire has been lost in the ambition of universal conquest.
”
, a learned theological writer of the seventeenth century, the son
, a learned theological writer of the
seventeenth century, the son of Henry Leigh, esq. was
born at Shawell in Leicestershire, March 24, 1602-3. He
had his grammatical learning under a Mr. Lee of Waishall in Staffordshire; and when removed td Oxford, became a commoner of Magdalen-hall, in 1616, under Mr.
William Pemble, a very celebrated tutor of that society.
After completing his degrees in arts in 1623, he removed
to the Middle Temple for the study of the law. During
the violence of the plague in 1625, he took that opportunity to visit France; and on his return to the Temple,
added to his law studies those of divinity and history, in
both which he attained a great stock of knowledge. He
was in fact a sort of lay divine, and superior to many of the
profession. About 1636, we find him representing the
borough of Stafford in parliament, when some of the members of that, which was called the Long parliament, had
withdrawn to the king at Oxford. Mr. Leigh’s sentiments
inclining him to remain and to support the measures of the
party in opposition to the court, he was afterwards appointed to a seat in the assembly of divines, and certainly
sat with no little propriety in one respect, being as ably
skilled in matters of divinity and ecclesiastical history as
most of them. He was also a colonel of a regiment in the
parliamentary service, and custos rotulorum for the county
of Stafford. He was not, however, prepared to approve of
all the proceedings of the parliament and army; and having, in Dec. 1648, voted that his majesty’s concessions were
satisfactory, he and some others, who held the same
opinion, were turned out of parliament. From that time he
appears to have retired from public life, and to have employed his time in study. He died June 2, 1671, at Rushall Hall in Staffordshire, and was buried in the chancel of
that church. His works, which afford abundant proofs of
his learning and industry, are, 1. “Select and choice Observations concerning the first twelve Cssars,
” Oxon, Analecta Ccesarum Romanorum.
”
Two other editions, with farther improvements and plates
of coins, &c. appeared in 1664 and 1670, 8vo. 2. “Treatise of Divine promises,
” Lond. Scripture Promises,
” and other
collections of the same kind. 3. “Critica Sacra, or the
Hebrew words of the Old, and of the Greek of the New
Testament,
” Lond. A Treatise of Divinity,
” ibid. The
Saint’s encouragement in evil times or observations concerning the martyrs in general,
” ibid. Annotations on all the New Testament,
” ibid. A philological Commentary; or, an illustration of
the most obvious and useful words in the Law, &c.
” ibid.
A System or Body of Divinity,
” Treatise of Religion and Learning,
”
ibid. Fcelix consortium, or
a fit conjuncture of Religion and Learning.
” H). “Choice
French Proverbs,
” ibid. Annotations on the five poetical books of the Old Testament, viz.
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles,
” ibid.
Second considerations of the high court
of Chancery,
” England described,
” Choice observations on
all the kings of England, from the Saxons to the death of
Charles I.
” Three Diatribes, or Discourses, of travel, money, and measuring, &c.
” Gentleman’s Guide.
”
16. “Two Sermons,
” on the magistrate’s authority, by
Christ. Cartwright, B. D. To these sir Edward prefixed a
preface in vindication of his own character for appearing
in the assembly of divines. This gentleman is by some
writers called Sir Edward Leigh, but not so by Wood, nor
can we find any information respecting his being knighted.
In all his works, that we have seen, he is styled Edward
Leigh, Esq.
, a learned uivine and translator, the son of a citizen of Dublin,
, a learned uivine and translator,
the son of a citizen of Dublin, was born in that city in 1722.
The first rudiments of classical education he received at
the seuool kept by the celebrated Dr. Sheridan, whose talents and success in forming excellent scholars, were then
well known. In 17^7 he entered a pensioner in Trinity
college; and in 1741 was elected a scholar commenced
bachelor of arts in 1742, and was a candidate for a fellowship in 1745, in which he failed at this time, but succeeded
the following year by the unanimous voice of the electors,
On bein^ thus placed in a state of independence, he did
not resign himself to ease and indolence, but was conspicuous for the same ardent love of knowledge which appeared in the commencement of his studies, and was predominant throughout his whole life. In 1748 he entered
into holy orders, and from a deep sense of the importance
of his profession, drew up a discourse “On the helps and
impediments to the acquisition of knowledge in religious
and moral subjects,
” wtiich was much admired at that time,
but no copy is now to be found In 1754, in conjunction
with Dr. John Stokes, he published, at the desire of the
university, an edition of the “Orations of Demosthenes,
”
with a Latin version and notes, which we do not find mentioned by any of our classical bibliographers, except Harwood, who says it is in 2 vols. 12mo. In 1760 Dr. Leiand
published the first volume of his English “Translation of
Demosthenes,
” 4to, with notes critical and historical; the
second volume of which appeared in 1761, and the third in
1770. This raised his reputation very high as a classical
scholar and critic, and public expectation was farther gratified in 1758 by his “History of the Life and Reign of
Philip king of Macedon, the father of Alexander,
” 2 vols.
4to. His attention to the orations of Demosthenes and
Æschmes, and to Grecian politics, eminently qualified
him for treating the life of Philip with copiousness and accuracy. After this he proceeded with translations of Æschines, and the other orations of Demosthenes. In 1762,
he is supposed to have written, although he never formally
avowed it, the ingenious historical romance of “Longsword, earl or Salisbury.
”
, a learned French writer in the eighteenth century, was born at
, a learned French writer in the
eighteenth century, was born at Bazoches, in Beausse,
April 13, 1661. He was son of Paul Lenfant, minister at
Chatillon, who died at Marbourg, in June 1686. He studied
divinity at Saumur, where he lodged at the house of James
Cappel, professor of Hebrew, by whom he was always
highly esteemed; and afterwards went to Geneva, to continue his studies there. Leaving Geneva towards the end
of 1683, he went to Heidelberg, where he was ordained
in August, 1684. He discharged the duties of his function
there with great reputation as chaplain of the electress
dowager of Palatine, and pastor in ordinary to the French
church. The descent of the French into the Palatinate,
however, obliged him to depart from Heidelberg in 1688.
Two letters which he had written against the Jesuits, and
which are jnserted at the end of his “Preservatif,
” ren r
dered it somewhat hazardous to continue at the mercy of
a society whose power was then in its plenitude. He left
the Palatinate, therefore, in October 1688, with the consent of his church and superiors, and arrived at Berlin in
November following. Though the French church of Berlin had already a sufficient number of ministers, the elector
Frederic, afterwards king of Prussia, appointed Mr. Lenfant one of them, who began his functions on Easter-day,
March the 21st, 1689, and continued them thirty-nine
years and four months, and during this time added greatly
to his reputation by his writings. His merit was so fully
acknowledged, as to be rewarded with every mark of distinction suitable to his profession. He was preacher to the
queen of Prussia, Charlotta-Sophia, who was eminent for
her sense and extensive knowledge, and after her death he
became chaplain to the king of Prussia. He was counsellor of the superior consistory, and member of the French
council, which were formed to direct the general affairs of
that nation. In 1710 he was chosen a member of the society for propagating the gospel established in England;
and March the 2d, 1724, was elected member of the academy of sciences at Berlin. In 1707 he took a journey to
Holland and England, where he had the honour to preach
before queen Anne; and if he had thought proper to leave
his church at Berlin, for which he had a great respect, he
might have had a settlement at London, with the rank of
chaplain to her majesty. In 1712, he went to Helmstad;
in 1715 to Leipsic; and in 1725, to Breslaw, to search
for rare books and manuscripts necessary for the histories
which he was writing. In those excursions he was honoured with several valuable materials from the electress
of Brunswic-Lunebourg, princess Palatine; the princess
of Wales, afterwards Caroline queen of Great Britain;
the count de Fleming; mons. Daguesseau, chancellor of
France; and a great number of learned men, both protestants and papists, among the latter of whom was the abbé
Bignon. It is not certain whether he first formed thedesign of the “Bibliotheque Germanique,
” which began
in Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die,
and not live.
” He related this dream to some of his
friends, and although not a credulous man, it is thought
to have made some impression on him, for he applied with
additional vigour to finish his “History of the War of the
Hussites and the Council of Basil.
” On Sunday July the
25tn following, he had preached in his turn at his church;
but on Thursday, July the 29th, he had a slight attack
of the palsy, which was followed by one more violent, of
which he died on the 7th of the next month, in his sixtyeighthyear. He was interred at Berlin, at the foot of the pulpit of the French church, where he ordinarily preached since
1715, when his Prussian majesty appointed particular ministers to every church, which before were served by the
same ministers in their turns. His stature was a little below the common height. His eye was very lively anil penetrating. He did not talk much, but always well. Whenever any dispute arose in conversation, he spoke without
any heat; a proper and delicate irony was the only weapon
he made use of on such occasions. He loved company,
and passed but few days without seeing some of his friends.
He was a sincere friend, and remarkable for a disinterested
and generous disposition. In preaching, his voice was
good; his pronunciation distinct and varied; his style
clear, grave, and elegant without affectation; and he entered into the true sense of a text with great force. His
publications were numerous in divinity, ecclesiastical history, criticism, and polite literature. Those which are
held in the highest estimation, are his Histories of the
Councils of Pisa, Constance, and Basil, each in 2 vols.
4to. These are written with great ability and impartiality,
and they abound with interesting facts and curious researches. Lenfant, in conjunction with M. Beausobre,
published “The New Testament, translated from the original Greek into French,
” in 2 vols. 4to, with notes, and
a general preface, or introduction to the reading of the
Holy Scriptures, useful for students in divinity. He is
known also by his “De iuquirenda Veritate,
” which is a
translation of Malebranche’s “Search after Truth
”
“The History of Pope Joan
” “Poggiana or, the life,
character,- opinions, c. of Poggio the Florentine, with
the History of the Republic of Florence,
” and the abovementioned “History of the Wars of the Hussites,
” Utrecht,
Dissertation upon the Adamites of Bohemia.
”
, a learned English prelate, was born at Norwich in 1665, and educated
, a learned English prelate, was born at
Norwich in 1665, and educated at St. Paul’s school, London, whence he removed to Catherine-hall, Cambridge;
and took his degrees of A. B. in 1636, A.M. 1690, and
B. D. 1698. He was, in 1708, presented to the rectory of
Beddington in Surrey, by sir Nicholas Carew, bart. who
had been his pupil; and he was appointed chaplain to king
George I. who also promoted him to the see of Norwich
in 1723. He died Oct. 26, 1727, of the small-pox, which
he caught at the coronation of George II. He lies buried
in the church of St. Margaret, Westminster, where is a
monument to his memory. Richardson, in his continuation
of Godwin, calls him a man of the first-rate genius and
abilities. In 1695, he published two of the comedies of
Aristophanes, the “Plutus
” and “Nubes,
” Gr. & Lat.
8vo, with notes; and in Terence,
” that printed
at Cambridge in De ratione
et licentia metri Terentiani.
” It was reprinted at Cambridge, in octavo,
honour: one of which was discovered in the south of France about 1740, and an engraving of it, with a learned dissertation, published in the year 174-4, by M. Gary,
, a native of Mitylene, who flourished in
the first century of the Christian aera, was a disciple of
Timocrates, afterwards became a teacher of philosophy
in his native city, and obtained a great number of scholars. He was author of many books of philosophy, and
Photius says he had read sixteen orations written by
him. Two of these were first published by Aldus, in
his edition of the ancient orators, in 1513; afterwards
by Henry Stephens, with the orations of JEschines, Lysias,
and others; and in 1619, by Gruter. Lesbonax is said.
to have been the author of a treatise “De Figuris
Grammaticis,
” printed with Ammonius, Leyden,
replied by his “Consultatio Parisini cujusdam,” printed in 1606, 4to, which proves him to have been a learned and judicious canonist. He died April 28, 1625, at Paris,
, an able lawyer, and celebrated advocate of the parliament of Paris, was born in
that city in 1550, of a reputable family. When Henry IV.
to whom he had remained faithful during the fury of the
League, wanted to support the annuities charged on the
H6tel de Ville, Leschassier had influence enough to dissuade him from his design by two very able petitions. He
was consulted by the Venetian republic, in 1605, respecting their disputes with pope Paul V. and replied by his
“Consultatio Parisini cujusdam,
” printed in
He had a brother, Hammond L'Estrange, who wrote a learned work entitled “The Alliance of Divine Offices,” and
He had a brother, Hammond L'Estrange, who wrote a
learned work entitled “The Alliance of Divine Offices,
”
and a “Life of Charles I.
” Of him we find no memoirs
worth transcribing. In
, a learned French writer, who spent a long life in the study of
, a learned French writer, who spent a long life in the study of history and general literature, was born at Paris, March 28, 1736. Of
his private life we have no account; and our authority
apologizes for this by assuring us that it contained none of
those incidents that are interesting in biography, and that
he was known only by his numerous publications. He
was, however, in the course of his life, professor of morals
and history in the college of France, a member of the old
academy of inscriptions and belles-lettres, a member of the
institute of the class of ancient history, and a knight of the
legion of honour. He died at Paris, March 12, 1812,
leaving the following proofs of his talents and industry.
1. “Le reves d‘Aristobule, philosophe Grec, suivis d’un
abrege de la vie de Formose, philosophe Francais,
” Paris,
Choix-de poesies de Petrarque,
” translated from the Italian, L'homme moral,
”
Amst. L‘homme pensant, ou Essai sur
l’histoire de l'esprit humain,
” Amst. Histoire de Russie,
” Paris, Histoire des differens
peuples soumis a la domination des Russes,
” 2 vols. Both
were reprinted in 1800, with a continuation to the end of
the reign of Catherine, 8 vols. 8vo. In this last, he offers
a very able vindication of the conduct of that empress in
the early part of her reign. 7. “Eloge historique de
l'abbé Mably,
” Paris, La
France sous les cinq premier Valois,
” Paris, Dictionnaire des arts, de peinture, sculpture,
et gravure,
” Paris, Thucydides,
” Paris, L‘etude de l’histoire de la Grece,
” 4 vols. 8vo;
not, as is said, a learned work, but a popular introduction
to the knowledge of Grecian history.
, a learned Jew, and zealous defender of the opinions of that people,
, a learned Jew, and zealous defender
of the opinions of that people, was born in London in
1740, and after a regular apprenticeship to a shoemaker,
settled in that business; but, not succeeding in it, commenced hat-dresser; and in this new profession, though
surrounded with domestic cares, still finding time for
study, produced a volume on the “Rites and Ceremonies
of the Jews,
” Lingua
Sacra,
” 3 vols. 8vo, containing an Hebrew Grammar with
points, clearly explained in English, and a complete Hebrew-English Dictionary, which came out in numbers,
1785 1789. This performance, though by no means the
most perfect of its kind that might be produced, is a great
instance of industry and perseverance in a person who was
confined all the time to a mechanical business to supply
domestic wants. In 1787 he published his first “Letters
to Dr. Priestley,
” in answer to his “Letters addressed to
the Jews,
” inviting them to an amicable discussion of the
evidences of Christianity; in which he says, “I am not
ashamed to tell you that I am a Jew by choice, and not
because I was born a Jew; far from it; for I am clearly of
opinion that every person endowed with ratiocination ought
to have a clear idea of the truth of revelation, and a just
ground of his faith, as far as human evidence can go.
”
In Letters to Dr. Priestley,
” and also “Letters to Dr. Cooper, of Great Yarmouth,
” in answer to his one great argument in favour of
Christianity from a single prophecy; 2. to Mr. Bicheno;
3. to Dr. Krauter; 4. to Mr. Swain; 5. to Anti-Socinus,
alias Anselm Bailey; occasioned by their Remarks on his
first Letters to Dr. Priestley. In this year he published the
“Pentateuch, in Hebrew and English,
” with a translation
of the notes of Lion Socsmaan, and the 613 precepts contained in the law, according to Maimonides. At the end
of the same year, at the earnest request of the most considerable of the Portuguese Jews, he undertook to translate their prayers from Hebrew into English; which he
accomplished in four years (though confined to his bed by illness twenty-seven weeks), the last of six volumes appearing in 1793. The first volume of his “Dissertations
on the Prophecies
” was also published in Letters
to Nathaniel Brassey Halhed, M. P. in answer to his Testimony of the Authenticity of the Prophecies of Richard
Brothers, and his pretended mission to recall the Jews.
”
A second volume of his “Dissertations on the Prophecies
”
appeared in Defence of the Old Testament,
” in a series of letters addressed to Thomas Paine, in answer to
his Age of Reason, part II. For the German Jews he
translated their Festival Prayers, as he had done those of
the Portuguese, in 6 vols. 8vo; a labour of four years.
By all the synagogues in London Mr. Levi was regularly
employed to translate the prayers composed on any particular occasion, as those used during the king’s illness in
1788, and the thanksgiving in 1789; with various others
for the use of the several synagogues. He wrote also a
sacred ode in Hebrew, 1795, on the king’s escape from
assassination. On Nov. 14, 1798, he had a violent stroke
of the palsy, which nearly deprived him of the use of his
right hand. He died in July 1799, in the fifty-ninth year
of his age, and was interred in the Jews’ burial-ground
near Bethnal-green, with a Hebrew epitaph, of which the
following is a translation “And David reposed with his
fathers, and was buried. Here lieth a correct and proper
person, of perfect carriage, who served the Lord all his
days, turned away from evil, and was supported by his
own industry all the days of his life; Rabbi David the son
of Mordecai the Levjte, of blessed memory, who departed
for the rtext world on the Sabbath night, 3d of Ab., and
was buried with good reputation on Monday the fourth;
the days of his life were 59 years. May his soul be
enveloped with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Mayest tbon
come to the grave at full age.
”
, a learned English divine and antiquary, was the eldest son of
, a learned English divine and antiquary, was the eldest son of John Lewis, wine-cooper, in the parish of St Nicholas, Bristol, where he was born, Aug. 29, 1675. His father dying while he was in his infancy, he was committed to the care of his maternal grandfather John Eyre, merchant of Poole in Dorsetshire, who instilled into his infant mind the first principles of religion. Losing this relation, however, before he was seven years old, he was taken into the house of the rev. Samuel Conant, rector of Liichet Matravers (an intimate acquaintance of his grandfather Eyre), and educated along with a nephew whom Mr. Conant was preparing for a public school. This was an assistance peculiarly acceptably to Mr. Lewis’s mother, who appears to have been left in circumstances which were not adequate to a liberal education. After remaining with Mr. Conant two years, he was placed under the instruction of the learned Mr. John Moyle, at the grammar-school of Winborne, in 1687, upon whose decease the year following, he was removed to Poole, but reaped little benefit there, until he was put under the care of Mr. John Russel, who was encouraged to establish a grammar-school there. Mr. Russel, finding him to be a youth of talents and industry, employed him as his assistant: and after his removal to Wapping in London, conr tinued his favours to him, placing him at the free-school of Ratcliffe-cross, belonging to the Coopers’ company.
, a learned English antiquary in the sixteenth century, was son
, a learned
English antiquary in the sixteenth century, was son and
heir of Mr. Robert Lhwyd alias Rossenhall of Denbigh in
Denbighshire, by Joan his wife, daughter of Lewis Pigott.
He was born at Denbigh, and was educated in the university of Oxford; but in what college is not known. It is
certain, however, that after he had taken the degree of
bachelor of arts, which was in 1547, he was commoner of
Brasen-nose college; and in 1551 took the degree of
master of arts as a member of that college; at which time
he studied physic. Afterwards retiring to his own country,
he lived mostly within the walls of Denbigh castle, but,
Granger thinks, never practised as a physician, employing
his time chiefly in his antiquarian researches. He died
about 1570, and was interred near the church of Whitchurch near Denbigh; where a monument was erected to
him. He had married Barbara daughter of George Lmnley, and sister of John lord Lumley, by whom he had issue
Splendian and John, who both died without issue, Henry,
who lived at Cheam in Surrey, and Jane the wife of Rob.
Coytmore. Camden gives him a very great character, as
one of the best antiquaries of his time; and be is by
Daines Barrington esteemed very accurate in what relates
to the history of Wales. He had a taste for the arts, particularly music, and executed the map of England for the
“Theatrum Orbis.
” He collected a great number of curious and useful books for his brother-in-law lord Lumley,
which were purchased by James I. and became the foundation of the royal library. They are now a very valuable
part of the British Museum.
, a learned English divine, was born on the 19th or 29th of March,
, a learned English divine, was born on the 19th or 29th of March, 1602, at Stoke upon Trent, in Staffordshire. His father was Thomas Lightfoot, vicar of Uttoxeter in that county . After having finished his studies at a school kept by Mr. Whitehead on Mortongreen, near Congleton in Cheshire, he was removed in 1617, to Cambridge, and put under the tuition of Mr. William Chappel, then fellow of Christ’s college there, and afterwards bishop of Cork in Ireland, who was also the tutor of Henry More, Milton, &c. At college he applied himself to eloquence, and succeeded so well as to be thought the best orator of the undergraduates in the uni versity. He also made an extraordinary proficiency in the Latin and Greek; but neglected the Hebrew, and even lost that knowledge he brought of it from school. His taste for the Oriental languages was not yet excited; and, as for logic, the study of it, as managed at that time among the academics, was too contentious for his quiet and meek disposition.
” Collatio arnica de Veritate Religionis Christiana cum erudito Judaso.“” A friendly conference with a learned Jew concerning the Truth of the Christian Religion."
Controversiarum in Fcederato Belgio de Dutch, under the title of the “
Comviva voce, and afterwards in writing, with Isaac Orobio, -a
Jew of Seville in Spain, who had made his escape out of
the inquisition, and retired to Amsterdam, where he practised physic with great reputation. This dispute produced
a piece by our author, entitled
” Collatio arnica de Veritate Religionis Christiana cum erudito Judaso.“” A
friendly conference with a learned Jew concerning the
Truth of the Christian Religion." In it he shewed, that a
Jew can bring no argument of any force in favour of Judaism which may not be made to militate strongly in favour
of Christianity. Orobio, however, contended that every
man ought to continue in the religion, be what it would,
which he professed, since it was easier to disprove the
truth of another religion than it was to prove his own;
and upon this principle he averred, that, if it had been his
lot to be born of parents who worshiped the sun, he saw
no reason why he should renounce their religion and embrace another. To this piece against Orobio, Limborch
added a small tract against Uriel Acosta, a Portuguese
deist, in which Limborch answers very solidly his arguments, to shew that there is no true religion besides the
religion of nature. (See Acosta.) Shortly after, Limborch
published a little piece of Episcopius, in Flemish, containing an account of a dispute between that remonstrant and
one William Borne, a Romish priest, shewing, that the
Roman church is not exempt from errors, and is not the
sovereign judge of controversies. In 1692 the book of
sentences passed in the inquisition at Thoulouse, in France,
coming into the hands of a friend, and containing all the
sentences passed in that court from 1307 to 1323, Limborch resolved to publish it, as it furnished him with an
occasion of adding the history of that dreadful tribunal,
drawn from the writings of the inquisitors themselves *. In
1693 our author had the care of a new edition, in one large
folio volume, of the sermons of Episcopius, in Dutch; to
, a learned divine, of St. MaryVhall at Oxford, officiated for many
, a learned divine, of St. MaryVhall
at Oxford, officiated for many years as minister of the
nonjuring society in Trinity-chapel, Aldersgate-street, and
is said to have been, their last minister. He was also for
some time a corrector of the press to Mr. Bowyer the
printer. He finished a long and useful life, June 21, 1768,
at the age of eighty-two; and was buried in Islington
church-yard. Mr. Lindsay published “The Short History
of the Regal Succession,
” &c. with “Remarks on Whiston’s
Scripture Politics,
” &c. Vindication of the Church of England,
” a
full and particular Series of the Succession of our Bishops,
through the several Reigns since the Reformation,
” &c.
He dates the second edition from “Islington, 13 Dec.
1727.
” In Two
Sermons preached at Court in 1620, by Francis Mason;
”
which he recommends, “as well for their own intrinsic
value, as to make up a complete Collection of that learned
Author’s Works.
” He had a nephew, who died curate of
Waltham abbey, Sept. 17, 1779.
, a learned German divine, was born Nov. 11, 1630, at Goritz in
, a learned German divine, was
born Nov. 11, 1630, at Goritz in Brandenburgh, and studied at the schools of Brandenburgh and Ruppin, whence
he went to Stetin, and made great progress in his studies
under Micrelius and other eminent professors of that college. In 1651 he studied philosophy and divinity at Wittemberg, and after two years residence was admitted to
the degree of master of arts. He had now some advantageous offers of settlement in other places, but he could
not bring himself to quit an university where he was so
likely to add to his stores of knowledge. At length, however, in 1659, he accepted the office of corrector at Halle,
which he retained until 1672, when he was appointed rector and professor in the Caroline college at Stetin. This
he quitted in 1676, and accepted the office of corrector at
Lubeck, where he died, Nov. 6, 1692, worn out, as Niceron informs us, by labour, chagrin, and disease. His
works are very numerous, consisting of disputations, 'eloges,
and other academical productions; but he is now principally known by his “Bibliotheca realis Theologica,
” Francfort, Biblioth. Juridica,
” ib. BibK
Philosophica,
” ibid. Biblioth. Medica,
” ibid.
Bibl. Juridica
” was reprinted at Leipsic in Bibl. Juridica
” is doubtless greatly improved.
, a learned scholar, was descended from the Westcot family of Mounslow,
, a learned scholar, was descended from the Westcot family of Mounslow, in Worcestershire, and born Nov. 8, 1627, at Hales-Owen, in Shropshire, of which place his father, Thomas, was vicar. He was educated under Dr. Busby, at Westminster-school, and in 1644 was chosen student of Christ-church, Oxford, but was ejected by the parliament visitors in Nov. 1648. This ejection, however, does not seem to have extended so far as in other cases, for we find that, soon after, he became usher of Westminster-school; and in 1658 was made second master, having for some time in the interim taught school in other places. In July 1670, being then chaplain in ordinary to the king, he accumulated his degrees in divinity, which were conferred upon him without taking any in arts, as a mark of respect due to his extraordinary merit. This indeed had been amply attested to the university by letters from Henchman, bishop of London, recommending him as a man eminently learned, of singular humanity and sweetness of manners, blameless and religious life, and of genius and ready faculty in preaching. In Sept. 1674, he was inducted into the rectory of Chelsea, was made a prebendary of Westminster, and afterwards sub -dean. In 1685 he was licensed to the church of St. Botolph Aldersgate, which he held about four years, and then resigned it, possibly on account of some decay in his constitution.
, a learned English writer in the seventeenth century, was son of
, a learned English writer in the
seventeenth century, was son of Mr. George Lloyd, minister of Wonson or Wonsington near Winchester, and grandson of Mr. David Lloyd, vicar of Lockford near Stockbridge in Hampshire. He was born at Hoi ton in Flintshire in 1634, and educated at Wykeham’s school near
Winchester, and admitted a scholar of Wadham college,
Oxford, from Hart-hall, October 20, 1653. He afterwards
became a fellow of Wadham, and July 6, 16.58, took the
degree of roaster of arts. In 1665, when Dr. Blandford,
warden of that college, became bishop of Oxford, our
author was appointed chaplain to him, being about that
time rector of St. Martin’s church in Oxford, and continued
with the bishop till he was translated to the see of Worcester in 1671. The year following, the rectory of St. Mary
Newington, in Surrey, falling void, the bishop of Worcester presented Mr. Lloyd to it, who kept it to his death,
which happened Nov. 27, 1680. He was interred in the
chancel of the church there, leaving behind him the character of an harmless quiet man, and an excellent philologist.
His “Dictionarium Historicum,
” &c. although now obsolete, was once reckoned a valuable work. The first edition
was published at Oxford in 1670, folio. The second edition was printed at London in 1686, folio, under the fMlowing title: “Dictionarium Historicum, geographicum,
poeticum, gentium, hominum, deorum gentilium, regionum, insularum, locorum, civitatum, aequorum, fluviorum,
sinuum, portuum, promontoriorum, ac montium, antiqua
recentioraque, ad sacras & profanas historias, poetarumque fabulas intelligendas nccessaria, Nomina, quo decet
erdine, complectens & illustrans. Opus admodum utile &
apprime necessarium; a Carolo Stephano inchoatum; ad
incudem vero revocatum, innumerisque pene locis auctum
& emaculatum per NicolaumV.Lloydium, Collegii Wadhami in celeberrima Academia Oxoniensi Socium. Editio
novissima.
” He left several unpublished Mss. consisting
principally of commentaries and translations. He had a
younger brother, John, somewhat of a poet, who appears
to have shared the friendship and esteem of Addison.
ling in affairs that did not concern me.” Accordingly, we find inscribed to him this apophthegm: “Be a learned man, disciple of the learned, or an auditor of the learned;
This story is evidently of the same cast with that of Solomon, and was perhaps taken from it; but Lokman himself gives a different account of his perfections. Being
seated in the midst of a number of people who were listening to him, a man of eminence among the Jews, seeing so
great a crowd of auditors round him, asked him, “Whether he was not the black slave who a little before looked
after the sheep of a person he named?
” To which Lokman
assenting; “How has it been possible,
” continued the Jew,
“for thee to attain so exalted a pitch of wisdom and virtue
” Lokman replied, “It was by the following means
by always speaking the truth, by keeping my word Inviolably, and by never intermeddling in affairs that did
not concern me.
” Accordingly, we find inscribed to him
this apophthegm: “Be a learned man, disciple of the
learned, or an auditor of the learned; at least be a lover
of knowledge, and desirous of improvement.
” Lokman,
it is said, hud not only consummate knowledge, but was
equally good and virtuous; and so many admirable qualifies could not always be held in slavery. His master
giving him a bitter melon to eat, Lokman ate it all; when
his master, surprised at his exact obedience, says, “Hovr
was it possible for you to eat so nauseous a fruit?
” Lokman replied, “I have received so many favours from you,
that it is no wonder I should once in my life eat a bitter
melon from your hand.
” This generous answer struck the
master to such a degree, that he immediately gave him his
liberty.
, a learned divine of the church of England, was born at Exeter
, a learned divine of the church of
England, was born at Exeter in 1621, and became a servitor of Exeter college, Oxford, in 1638. In 1642 he took
the degree of B. A. but soon after left the university, and
obtained the vicarage of St. Lawrence Clist, near Exeter.
After the restoration he was, per literas regias, created
B. D. and made prebendary of Exeter, which he held
until the revolution, when refusing to take the oaths to the
new government, he was ejected. He died in 1700. Wood
characterizes him as “well read in the fathers, Jewish and
other ancient writings,
” and he appears also to have made
himself master of all the controversies of his time in which
subjects of political or ecclesiastical government were concerned, and took a very active part against the various
classes of separatists, particularly those whose cause Mr,
Baxter pleaded.
, a learned prelate, was born in 1473 at Henley in Oxfordshire,
, a learned prelate, was born in 1473 at Henley in Oxfordshire, and educated at Magdalen -college, Oxford, where he was much esteemed as a man of eloquence, and of a regular life. His character is recorded in the East window of the founder’s chamber over the great gate of this college, in these lines:
, a learned French ecclesiastical historian, was born at Santerre
, a learned French ecclesiastical
historian, was born at Santerre in Picardy in 1680, and
was educated at Amiens and Paris. In 1699 he entered
into the society of the Jesuits at Paris, and devoted himself with great ardour to writing a “History of the Gallican Church.
” Of this he published the first eight volumes,
and had nearly completed the ninth and tenth, when he
died of an apoplexy, January 14, 1735, aged fifty-four.
Besides this history, which is his principal work, and has
been continued by the fathers Fontenai, Brumoy, and Berthier, to J 8 vols. 4to, he left a treatise “On Schism,
” Dissertation on Miracles,
” 4to, and some other
works, which all display great genius, and are written with
much spirit, and in pure language. The first eight volumes of the “History of the Gallican Church,
” contain
learned remarks on the religion of the ancient Gauls, en
the ancient geography of Gaul, on the religion of the
French, and on many other important subjects.
ieces in the episcopal palace of Saverne, which are all of his composition, are much admired. He was a learned designer, with a great deal of genius, and succeeded
The pieces in the episcopal palace of Saverne, which are all of his composition, are much admired. He was a learned designer, with a great deal of genius, and succeeded in his heads, especially those of the young nymphs, with so much truth, and a delicacy so admirable, that his chisel seemed to be directed by Corregio or Parmegiano.
, a learned French physician, was born at Crosny, near Paris, in
, a learned French physician,
was born at Crosny, near Paris, in 1725. In 1748, he was
admitted doctor of the faculty of medicine at Paris, and
became doctor-regent of the faculty. He was author of
several works, some of which still maintain their value.
His first publication was entitled “Essai sur l'Usage des
Alimens, pour servir de Commentaire aux livres diete
”tiques d'Hippocrate,“Paris, 1753, 12mo; the second
part of which appeared in 1757. His next publication was
an edition of the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, Greek and
Latin, in 1759. Afterwards he produced a treatise
” De
Melancholia et Morbis Melancholicis,“-ibid. 1765, in two
volumes 8vo, and edited Dr. Astruc’s
” Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire de la Faculte de Medecine dp Montpeliier,“ibid, 1767, 4to; and
” Sanctorii de Medicina Statica,“with a commentary, 1770, in 12mo. His last work, which
combined the merits of much erudition and accurate observation, with great clearness of arrangement and perspicuity
of language, was
” Tractatus de Morbis Cutanais," Paris,
1777, in 4to. Dr. Lorry also edited a Latin edition of
the works of Mead, and a French one of Barker’s dissertation on the conformity of the doctrines of ancient and
modern medicine. He died at the baths of Bourbonne,
in 1783.
, a learned and amiable clergyman, and some time Greek professor
, a learned and amiable clergyman,
and some time Greek professor of the university of Cambridge, was descended from an ancient family in Pembrokeshire, and was the son of major Lort, of the Welsh
fusileers, who was killed at the battle of Fontenoy, in 1745.
He was born in 1725, and was admitted of Trinity-college,
Cambridge, in 1743, from whence he removed into the
family of Dr. Mead, to whom he was librarian until the
death of that celebrated physician, in 1754; and while in
that situation probably acquired the taste for literary history
and curiosities which enabled him to accumulate a very
valuable library, as well as to assist many of his contemporaries in their researches into biography and antiquities.
In the mean time he kept his terms at college; and proceeded A. B. in 1746; was elected fellow of his college in
1749; and took his degree of M. A. in 1750. In 1755 he
was elected a fellow of the society of antiquaries, and was
many years a vice-president, until his resignation in 1788.
During this time he made some communications to the
“Archxologia,
” vols. IV. and V. In 1759, on the resignation of Dr. Francklin, he was appointed Greek professor
at Cambridge, and in 1761 he took the degree of B. D.
and was appointed chaplain to Dr. Terrick, then bishop of
Peterborough. In January 1771 he was collated by Dr.
Cornwallis, archbishop of Canterbury, to the rectory of St.
Matthew, Friday-street, on which he resigned his Greek
professorship; and in August 1779 he was appointed chaplain to the archbishop, and in the same year commenced
D.D. In April 1780, the archbishop gave him a prebend
of St. Pau Ps (his grace’s option) and he continued at Lambeth till 1783, when he married Susanna Norfolk, one of
the two daughters of alderman Norfolk, of Cambridge. On
the death of Dr. Ducarel, in 1785, he was appointed by
archbishop Moore, librarian to the archiepiscopal library at
Lambeth. He was also for some years librarian to the
duke of Devonshire. In April 1789, he was presented by
Dr. Porteus, bishop of London, to the sinecure rectory Jqf
Fulham, in Middlesex; and in the same year was instituted to the rectory of Mile-end, near Colchester. He
died Nov. 5, 1790, at his house in Savile-row; his death
was occasioned by a fall from a chaise while riding near
Colchester, which injured his kidnies, and was followed
by a paralytic stroke. He was buried at his church in Friday-street, of which he had been rector nineteen years. A
monumental tablet was put up to his memory, which also
records the death of his widow, about fifteen months afterwards. They had no issue.
, a learned dissenting clergyman, was born in 1680. He was originally
, a learned dissenting clergyman, was born in 1680. He was originally destined for the law, and in 1697 entered as a student in the Middle-Temple, but in about two years he changed his purpose and determined to study divinity. With this view he went over to Holland in 1699, where he studied partly at Utrecht and partly at Leyden. In 1710, after being admitted to the ministry among the dissenters, he settled with the congregation at Claphana, as assistant to Mr. Grace, whom he succeeded as their pastor, and was ordained in 1714. In this situation he continued to his death, preaching twice each Sunday until within a few weeks of that event. He distinguished himself, from the period of his academical studies, in metaphysics and divinity: and, to the close of his life, he was an indefatigable reader, and acquired an extraordinary stock of useful knowledge, particularly in Jewish learning and antiquities, to which last he was much devoted. The result of this application appeared in the learned works he published, and which constituted his chief fame; for as a pulpit orator, it does not appear that he was much admired. Dr. Chandler, who preached his funeral sermon, gives him a very high personal character. He died May 3, 1752, in the seventy-third year of his age.
, a learned protestant divine, was born at Langoworde, in Friesland,
, a learned protestant divine, was
born at Langoworde, in Friesland, about 1556, and studied
at Bremen, Wittemberg, and Geneva, where he diligently
attended the lectures of Beza, Casaubon, and Francis Portus. At Newstadt also he heard the lectures of the learned
Zachary Ursinus, who had so high an opinion of him as to
recommend him as his own successor in the chair of logic;
but this honour he declined. Soon after he became pastor
of a congregation at Embden, the duties of which office he
discharged with singular fidelity and zeal. In 1584 he was
appointed preacher to the governor and deputies of the
states of Friesland, and professor of divinity in the new
liniversity of Franeker, which offices he filled with reputation nearly forty years, and was in that time often employed in very important affairs. He died at Franeker,
Jan. 21, 1625, at the age of sixty-nine. He was author of
many learned pieces against Bellannin, Socinus, Arminius,
Vorstius, Grotius, and the other defenders of the cause of
the remonstrants. One of his best works is that “De Papa
Romano,
”
, a learned cardinal, was born in 1617, of an obscure family at
, a learned cardinal, was born in
1617, of an obscure family at Venozza in the Basilicate,
and raised himself by his learning and merit. He died
February 5, 1683, aged sixty-six. He left Notes on the
Council of Trent, in Latin; a curious “Account of the
Court of Rome,
” in Italian, Rome, Theatrum
justitiae et veritatis.
” The best edition of this last is that
printed at Rome, 21 vols. fol. bound in 12.
, a learned English divine, of Welch extraction, was son of Mr.
, a learned English divine, of Welch
extraction, was son of Mr. Richard Lucas of Presteign in
Radnorshire, and born in that county in 1648. After a
proper foundation of school learning, he was sent to Oxford, and entered of Jesus college, in 1664. Having taken
both his degrees in arts, he entered into holy orders about
1672, and was for some time master of the free-school at
Abergavenny; but being much esteemed for his talents in
the pulpit, he was chosen vicar of St. Stephen’s, Coiemanstreet, London, and lecturer of St. Olave, Southwark, in,
1683. He took the degree of doctor in divinity afterwards,
and was installed prebendary of Westminster in 1696.
His sight began to tail him in his youth, but he lost it
totally about this time. He died in June 1715, and was
interred in Westminster-abbey; but no stone or monument marks his grave. He was greatly esteemed for his
piety and learning, and his writings will preserve his fame.
He wrote “Practical Christianity;
” “An Enquiry after
Happiness;
” “The Morality of the Gospel;
” “Christian
Thoughts for. every Day of the Week;
” “A Guide to
Heaven;
” “The Duty of Servants;
” and several other
“Sermons,
” in five volumes. He also wrote a Latin translation of the “Whole Duty of Man,
” which was published
in
, a learned orientalist, was born at Erfurt in Thuringia, June 15,
, a learned orientalist, was born at Erfurt in Thuringia, June 15, 1624, of one of the best families in the city, then in reduced circumstances. He began
his studies at home, under very insufficient masters, and
having acquired some knowledge of the Greek and Latin
languages, applied himself to the French, Italian, and
Spanish, and afterwards to those of the East. He also
made some progress in physic and law, but without any
view to a profession. In 1645 he went to Leyden, a
studied the languages under Erpenius, Golius, and other:
eminent teachers, and likewise maintained some disputations in law. After residing here ahove a year, he was appointed travelling tutor to a young man of family, with
whom he went to France, and at Caen contracted a friendship with Bochart, and taught t him the elements of the
Ethiopic language. He afterwards went with his pupil to
England but the rebellion being at its height at this time,
he soon returned to Holland. The baron de Rosenhahn,
ambassador from Christina queen of Sweden at the court
of France, happened to have in his retinue a brother of Ludolf, who recommended our author to that nobleman so
effectually, that he sent for him from Holland to Paris, to
be preceptor to his two sons. Soon after, in 1619, he sent.
him to Rome, to search for papers and memoirs, which
John Magnus, archbishop of Upsal, was said to have conveyed formerly to Rome, and which Christina was desirous
to recover. Ludolph performed this journey in company
with two Polish gentlemen, of whom he learned their language. At Rome he found no manuscripts relating to
Sweden; but this journey was not useless to himself, for
by his conversation with four Abyssinians, then at Rome,
be perfected himself in the knowledge of the Ethiopic language. Immediately after his return to Paris he was obliged to go to Sweden with the ambassador, where he found
a great many learned men at queen Christina’s court, and
had an opportunity of learning there the Portuguese, Moscovite, an. I Finland languages. In 1652, Ernest duke of
Saxe-Gotha sent for him to his court, and made him his
Aulic-counsellor, and governor to the princes his sons, and
employed him in various political affairs and negociations.
In 1678 he desired leave to retire, resolving upon a private
life, and went to Fraucfort, where he had a commission
from the dukes of Saxony to act in their names in the conferences held there in 1681 and 1682, in order to settle a
pacification between the emperor, the empire, and France.
The elector palatine likewise gave him the direction of
some of his revenues; and the electors of Saxony honoured
him with the titles of their counsellor and resident. But
Abyssinia was the chief object of the attention of our author,
who concerted measures to form an alliance between that
remote nation and the powers of Europe. He had addressed
himself for that purpose, in 1679, to the court of Vienna,
who referred him to the English and Dutch, as more
capable of contributing to that great design. He vyent, there- i
fore, to England in 168,'i, but did not find any disposition
there to execute his scheme for establishing a commerce
with the Abyssinians, and although he found rather more
encouragement in Holland, the scheme was defeated by
the Abyssinians themselves. In 1684, Ludolph returned
to Francfort, having passed through France, and began to
apply himself vigorously to the writing of his “History of
Ethiopia.
” In
rifuge specific into France in 1650, when it was called cardinal de Lugo’s powder. He was undeniably a learned man, and had all that subtlety of genius which is the
While he was cardinal, he was very charitable and bestowed tlu> Jesuits’ bark, which then sold for its weight in gold, very liberally to persons afflicted with agues. He was iiic first that brought this febrifuge specific into France in 1650, when it was called cardinal de Lugo’s powder. He was undeniably a learned man, and had all that subtlety of genius which is the characteristic quality of the Spanish divines; and is said to be the first that discovered the philosophical sin, and the justice of punishing it eternally. His solution of this difficulty is somewhat extraordinary; for, having asserted that the savages might be ignorant of God inculpably, he observes that the Deity gave them, before their death, so much knowledge of himself as was necessary to be capable of sinning theologically, and prolonged their life till they had committed such sin, and thereby justly incurred eternal damnation. Among his other scholastic absurdities he has also the reputation of inventing the doctrine of inflated points, in order to remove the difficulties in accounting for the infinite divisibility of quantity, and the existence of mathematical points. It was a received opinion, that a rarefied body takes up a greater space than before, without acquiring any new matter; our cardinal applied this to a corpuscle, or atom, without parts or extension, which he supposes may swell itself in such a manner as to fill several parts of space.
, a learned Roman catholic writer, was born at Ypres, June 12, 1612,
, a learned Roman
catholic writer, was born at Ypres, June 12, 1612, and at
the early age of fifteen, joined the society of the hermits
f St. Augustine. Having afterwards studied at Cologne,
he was sent to Louvain to teach philosophy; in which he
acquired such celebrity, as to secure the particular esteem
of the learned Fabio Chigi, then the papal nuncio in Germany, afterwards pope Alexander VII. In 1655, Lupus
was one of the deputies sent to Rome by the university of
Louvain, on some matters of importance with the papal
court; and on his return was appointed professor of divinity
At Louvain. Pope Clement IX. would willingly have made
him a bishop; and from Innocent XL and the grand duke
of Tuscany, he received repeated marks of esteem:
latter was desirotts of settling upon him a considerable pension, that he might attach him to his court. He died July
10, 16-81, at the age of seventy. Of his numerous
works the principal are, “Commentaries on the History
and Canons of the Councils,
” Treatise on Appeals to the Holy See,
” according to
the Ultramontane opinions, 4to a “Treatise on Contrition,
” 12mo; a collection of “Letters and Memorials respecting the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon,
” 2 vols.
4to; a great number of “Dissertations
” on various subjects; a “Commentary on Tertullian’s Prescriptions;
”
“The Life and Letters of St. Thomas of Canterbury,
” &c.
All the above were republished at Venice in 12 volumes,
folio, the first of which appeared in 1724.
o little consideration; and he very often consults only his own prejudices. That he might be thought a learned man, he spends time to no purpose in confuting of other
After this long, but we trust, not uninteresting account
of the great founder of the Reformation, we shall select
only, on the part of the Roman catholics, the opinion of
father Simon, respecting his talents as an interpreter of
scripture, for this is a part of his character which must
appear very important, as he was the first who boldly undertook to reform an overgrown system of idolatry and
superstition by the pure word of God. “Luther,
” says this
critical author, “was the first protestant who ventured to
translate the dible into the vulgar tongue from the Hebrewtext, although he understood Hebrew but very indifferently. As he was of a free and bold spirit, he accuses
St. Jerom of ignorance in the Hebrew tongue; but he had
more reason to accuse himself of this fault, and for having
so precipitately undertaken a work of this nature, which
required more time than he employed about it. Thus we
find that he was obliged to review his translation, and make
a second edition; but, notwithstanding this review, the
most learned protestants of that time could not approve of
either the one or the other, and several of them took the
liberty to mark the faults, which were very numerous.
”
In another place he speaks of him not as a translator, but
as a commentator, in the following manner: “Luther, the
German protestant’s patriarch, was not satisfied with making a translation of the whole Bible, both from the Hebrew
and Greek, into his mother tongue, but thought he ought
to explain the word of God according to his own method,
for the better fixing of their minds whom he had drawn to
his party. But this patriarch could succeed no better in his
commentaries upon the Bible than in his translation. He
made both the one and the other with too little consideration; and he very often consults only his own prejudices.
That he might be thought a learned man, he spends time to
no purpose in confuting of other people’s opinions, which
he fancies ridiculous. He mixes very improperly
theological questions and several other things with his commentaries, so that they may rather be called lectures, and
disputes in divinity, than real commentaries. This may
be seen in his exposition on Genesis, where there are
many idle digressions. He thought, that by reading of
morality, and bawling against those who were not of nis
opinion, he might very much illustrate the word of God;
yet one may easily see by his own books, that he was a
turbulent and passionate man, who had only a little flashy
wit and quickness of invention. There is nothing great or
learned in his commentaries upon the Bible; every thing
low and mean: and as he had studied divinity, he has
rather composed a rhapsody of theological questions, than
a commentary upon the scripture text: to which we may
add, that he wanted understanding, and usually followed
his senses instead of his reason.
”
, a learned linguist and antiquary, the author of an excellent dictionary
, a learned linguist and antiquary, the author of an excellent dictionary of the Saxon and Gothic languages, was born at Totnes in Devonshire, in 1704. He was educated partly at home, under his father, who kept a school at Totnes, partly under other preceptors, but chiefly (being obliged to return home from consumptive complaints) by his own private care and application. At the age of nineteen, he was admitted at Hart hall (now Hertford college) in Oxford, took his bachelor’s degree in 1716, was ordained deacon in 1717, and priest in 1719, soon after which he was presented to the living of Houghton-parva in Northamptonshire. In this retreat he laid the foundation of his great proficiency in the Anglo-Saxon language. He became master of arts in 1722.
, a learned English gentleman, was descended from a family in Dorsetshire,
, a learned English gentleman, was descended from a family in Dorsetshire, and born
in 1579. Being sent to Westminster school, he was admitted scholar upon the foundation, and thence elected
student of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1596. Four years
afterwards he commenced B. A. about which time he became heir to a considerable estate, was made a justice of
peace, and knighted by king James in 1613. He obtained
a seat in the House of Commons in several parliaments; but
he is entitled to a place in this work as a man of learning,
and author of several books, which had considerable reputation in their day. He died June 14, 1636, and was
interred in the chancel of the church at Cobham in Surrey.
The night before he died, being exhorted by a friend to
give some testimony of his constancy in the reformed religion, because it was not unlikely that his adversaries
might say of him, as they did of Beza, Reynolds, King
bishop of London, and bishop Andrews, that they recanted
the protestant religion, and were reconciled to the church
of Rome before their death; he professed, that if he had a
thousand souls, he would pawn them all upon the truth of
that religion established by law in the church of England,
and which he had declared and maintained in his “Via
tuta.
” Accordingly, in his funeral sermon by Dr. Daniel
Featly, he is not only styled “a general scholar, an accomplished gentleman, a gracious Christian, a zealous patriot, and an able champion for truth; but
” one that
stood always as well for the discipline, as the doctrine of
the church of England; and whose actions, as well as writings, were conformable both to the laws of God and canons
and constitutions of that church."
, a learned Protestant theologian, was born at Winendeen in the
, a learned Protestant theologian,
was born at Winendeen in the territory of Wittemberg, in
the year 1552. He was educated at Tubingen, at the expence of the duke of Saxony, and became a minister of
the church of Wittemberg in 1577. He was one of the
first to sign the “Concord,
” and was deputed, with James
Andreas, to procure the signature of the divines and ministers in the electorate of Saxony. He died at Dresden,
where he was then minister, February 14, 1601, aged 50,
leaving a great number of works, both in German and Latin. The principal are, 1. “Explanations of Genesis,
” in
six parts, or six volumes, 4to, each of which bears the
name of the patriarch whose history it explains. 2.
“Comraentaries on the two first chapters of Daniel,
” 2 vols. 4to.
3. “A Paraphrase on the History of the Passion,
” 4to, or
12mo. 4. “Explanation of Psalm CI,
” 8vo. 5. “Commentaries on the Minor Prophets,
” 4to, published at Leipsic, Commentaries on the Epistle to the
Hebrews.
” 7. “Centuria qutestionum de articulis libri
Christiana; Concordia?,
” 4to. 8. “Christianismus, Papismus, Calvinismus,
” 8vo. 9. “Harmonia Calvinianorum et
Photinianorum in Doctrina de Sacra Cena,
” 4to. 10. “Vindiciae Lyserianse, an sincretismus in rebus fidei cum Calvinianis coli prodest,
” 4to. II. “Disputationes IX. Anti Steiniance quibus examinatur defensio concionis Irenicse
Pauli Steinii,
” 4to. 12. “Harmonia Evangelistarum continuata ad Christianam Harmoniam et ejusdem Epitome,
”
8vo. 13. “Disput. de Deo patre Creatore coeli et terrae,
”
4to. 14. “De seternitate Filii Dei,
” 4to. 15. “De sacramentis decades duae,
” 4to. He published also the
“History of the Jesuits,
” written by Elias Hasenmuller,
who having quitted that society, and turned Lutheran, retired to Wittemberg, and died there before his work was
printed. Father Gretser attacked this history, and Lyserus
answered him by “Strena ad Gretserum pro honorario
ejus,
” 8vo.
, who in his Latin works called himself Cavellus, was titular primate of Armagh, and a learned writer in defence of Duns Scotus, whose opinions were
, who in his Latin works called himself Cavellus, was titular primate of Armagh, and a learned writer in defence of Duns Scotus, whose opinions were generally embraced by his countrymen. He was born in the county of Down, in Ireland, in 1571, and became a Franciscan friar. He studied at Salamanca, in Spain, and afterwards for many years governed the Irish Franciscan college at Louvain, dedicated to St. Anthony, in the founding of which he had been instrumental. In this college he was also professor of divinity, which office he filled afterwards in the convent of Ara Cceli at Rome, was definitor-general of his order, and at length advanced by the pope to the see of Armagh; but died at Rome, as he was preparing for his journey to Ireland, Sept. 22, 1626, in the fifty -fifth year of his age. He was buried in the church of St. Isidore, under a monumental stone, and inscription, placed there by the earl of Tyrone. He was reckoned a man of great learning, and one of the best schoolmen of his time. His works, which consist chiefly of commentaries on and a defence of Scotus, were in substance incorporated in Wading' s edition of Scotus’s works, printed at Lyons, 1639, in 12 vols. folio.
, a learned French priest, was born at Paris about 1640, and pursued
, a learned French priest, was born at
Paris about 1640, and pursued his divinity studies at the
university of his native city, where he took his degrees.
About this time he was appointed secretary to the council
for managing the domains and finances of the queen, consort to Lewis XIV.; and when he took holy orders, in 1685,
he was immediately appointed canon and rector of the
church of St. Opportune, at Paris. He was a very diligent student as well in profane as in sacred literature, and
was celebrated for his popular talents as a preacher. He
died in 1721, leaving behind him a great number of works
that do honour to his memory, of which we shall mention
“A chronological, historical, and moral abridgment of
the Old and New Testament,
” in 2 vols. 4to “Scriptural
Knowledge, reduced into four tables;
” a French version
of the apocryphal “Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs;
”
of which Grosseteste, bishop of Lincoln, gave the first
Latin translation, Grabe the first Greek edition, from
Mss. in the English universities, and Whiston an English
version (S The History of the Four Ciceros,“in which he attempts to prove, that the sons of Cicero were as illustrious as their father. Mace (Thomas), a practitioner on the lute, but more
distinguished among lovers of music by a work entitled
” Music’s Monument, or a Remembrancer of the best
practical Music, both divine and civil, that has ever been
known to have been in the world," 1676, folio, was born
in 1613, and became one of the clerks of Trinity-college,
Cambridge. He does not appear to have held any considerable rank among musicians, nor is he celebrated
either as a composer or practitioner on the lute: yet his
book is a proof that he was an excellent judge of the instrument; and contains such variety of directions for the
ordering and management of it, and for performing on it,
as renders it a work of great utility. It contains also many
particulars respecting himself, many traits of an original
and singular character; and a vein of humour which, far
from being disgusting, exhibits a lively portraiture of a
good-natured gossiping old man. Dr. Burney recommends
its perusal to all who have taste for excessive simplicity
and quaintness, and can extract pleasure from the sincere
and undissembled happiness of an author, who, with exalted notions of his subject and abilities, discloses to his
reader every inward working of self-approbation in as undisguised a manner, as if he were communing with himself
in all the plenitude of mental comfort and privacy. There
is a print of him prefixed to his book, from an engraving
of Faithorne, the inscription under which shews him to
have been sixty-three in 1676: how long he lived afterwards, is not known. He had a wife and children.
, a learned Scotch clergyman, was born at Irvine, in Argyleshire,
, a learned Scotch clergyman,
was born at Irvine, in Argyleshire, in 1721, educated at
the university of Glasgow, and afterwards, as was the custom at that time, heard a course of lectures at Leyden.
After his return he was admitted into the church, and in
May 1753, was ordained minister of Maybole, on which
living he continued during sixteen years. Here he composed his two celebrated works, the “Harmony of the Gospels,
” and his “New Translation of the Epistles,
” both
which were very favourably received, and greatly advanced
his reputation in the theological world. In 1763 he published a second edition of the “Harmony,
” with the addition of six discourses on Jewish antiquities; and a third
appeared in 1804, in 2 vols. 8vo. In 1763 also he published another work of great merit, entitled “The Truth
of the Gospel History.
” On account of these publications,
the university of Edinburgh conferred upon him the degree of D. D. In 1769 he was translated to the living of
Jedburgh, and after three years, became one of the ministers of Edinburgh, which situation he retained during
the remainder of his useful life. He was particularly active and zealous in promoting charitable institutions, especially the fund established by act of parliament, for a
provision to the widows and fatherless children of ministers
in the church of Scotland. As an author, Dr. Mackhight
occupied a considerable portion of his time in the execution of his last and greatest work on the apostolical epistles.
This was the result of an almost unremitting labour during
thirty years: he is said to have studied eleven hours in
each day, and before the work was sent to the press, the
whole ms. had been written five times with his own hand.
A specimen was published in 1787, containing his version
of the epistles to the Thessalonians; and in 1795 the whole
appeared in four vols. 4to, under the title of “A New Literal Translation from the original Greek of all the Apostolical Epistles; with a commentary, and notes, philosophical, critical, explanatory, and practical,
” with essays on
several important subjects, and a life of the apostle Paul,
which includes a compendium of the apostolical history.
Having finished this great work, he was desirous of enjoying the remainder of his days free from laborious pursuits,
and refused, though earnestly solicited, to undertake a
similar work with regard to the Acts of the apostles. In a
very short time after, the decline of his faculties became
manifest, and about the close of 1799 he caught a violent
cold, the forerunner of other complaints that put an end
to his life in January 1800. Having early acquired a taste
for classical literature, he studied the writers of antiquity
with critical skill, and was well acquainted with metaphysical, moral, and mathematical science. As a preacher,
without possessing the graces of elocution, he was much
admired for his earnestness of manner, which rendered his
discourses highly interesting and useful.
, a learned Jesuit, was born at Bergamo in 1536, and was instructed
, a learned Jesuit, was born at Bergamo in 1536, and was instructed by
his uncles Basil and Chrysostom Zanchi, canons regular
of that city, in Greek, Latin, philosophy and theology.
His studies being finished he went to Rome, where his
talents became so well known that several princes invited
him to settle in their dominions, but he gave the preference to Genoa, where in 1563 he was appointed professor
of eloquence, with an ample salary. He continued in that
office two years, and was chosen to the office of secretary
of state; but in 1565, he returned to Rome, where he
entered into the society of Jesuits. He spent six years as
professor of eloquence in the Roman college, during which
he translated, into the Latin language, the history of the
Indies by Acosta, which was published in 1570. He then
went to Lisbon at the request of cardinal Henry, and compiled from papers and other documents with which he was
to be furnished, a complete history of the Portuguese conquests in the Indies, and of the progress of the Christian
religion in that quarter. He returned to Italy in 1581,
and some years after was placed, by Clement VIII. in the
Vatican, for the purpose of continuing, in the Latin language, the annals of Gregory XIII. begun by him in the
Italian of this he had finished three books at the time of
his death, which happened at Tivoli Oct. 20, 1603. Soon
after he entered among the Jesuits he wrote the life of
Ignatius Loyola; but his principal work is entitled “Historiarum Indicarum,
” lib. XVI. written in a very pure style,
which has been frequently reprinted. The best edition is
in two volumes 4to, printed at Bergamo in 1747. The
purity of his style was the effect of great labour. Few
men ever wrote so slowly; nothing seemed to please him,
and he used to pass whole hours in polishing his periods;
but we cannot readily credit all that has been reported on
this subject, as that he never could finish above twelve or
fifteen lines in a clay; that he was twelve years in writing
his history of the Indies, and that, to prevent his mind
being tainted with bad Latin, he read his breviary in Greek.
There are, however, some other particulars of his personal
history which correspond a little with all this. He disliked
the ordinary commons of the Jesuits’ college, aftid had always something very nice and delicate provided for him,
considering more substantial and gross food as incompatible with elegant writing; yet with all this care, he was of
such an irascible temper as to be perpetually giving offence,
and perpetually asking pardon.
, a learned Jesuit, was born in the French province of Bugey ou
, a
learned Jesuit, was born in the French province of Bugey
ou the borders of Savoy, in 1670. From the age of twenty-eight he had made himself so completely master of
Chinese learning of all kinds, that he was considered as a
prodigy, and in 1703, was sent as a missionary into that
country, where he was highly esteemed by the emperor
Kam-Hi, who died in 1722. By that prince he was employed, with other missionaries, to construct a chart of
China, and Chinese Tartary, which was engraved in
France in 1732. He made also some separate maps of particular provinces in that vast empire, and the emperor was
so pleased with these performances, that he fixed the author at his court. Mailla likewise translated the “Great
Annals
” of China into French, and transmitted his manuscript to France in 1737, comprising the complete history
of the Chinese empire. The first volumes appeared in
1777, under the care of the abbe Grosier, and the whole
was completed by him in 1785, making thirteen volumes
4to. The style of the original is heavy, and contains many
long and tedious harangues, which the editor has suppressed: it gives many lively and characteristic traits of
men and manners. Mailla died at Pekin June 28, 1748,
having lived forty -five years in China, and attained his
seventy-ninth year. He was a man of a lively but placid
character, of an active and persevering spirit, which no
labours repressed. The late emperor Kien Long paid the
expences of his funeral, which was attended by a procession of seven hundred persons.
, a learned historian and antiquary, first professor of history
, a learned historian and antiquary, first professor of history in his native city, was born
at Geneva in 1730, became afterwards professor royal of
the belles lettres at Copenhagen, a member of the academies of Upsal, Lyons, Cassel, and of the Celtique academy of Paris. Of his life no account has yet appeared.
He joined an extensive acquaintance with history and general literature to great natural talents. The amenity of
his disposition caused his company to be much sought,
while his solid qualities procured him friends who deeply
regretted his loss. The troubles of Geneva during the first
revolutionary war deprived him of the greatest part of his
fortune; and he was indebted, for the moderate competence he retained, to pensions from the duke of Brunswick
and the landgrave of Hesse; but the events of the late war
deprived him of both those pensions. The French government is said to have designed him a recompense, but this
was prevented by his death, at Geneva, Feb. 8, 1807. His
works were: 1. “Histoire de Danernarck,
” to the eighteenth century, the best edition of which is that of 1787.
2. A translation of Coxe’s “Travels,
” with remarks and
additions, and a relation of his own Travels in Sweden, 2
vols. 4to. 3. Translation of the Acts and form of the
Swedish government, 12mo. 4. “Histoire de Hesse,
” to
the seventeenth century, 3 vols. 8vo. 5. “Histoire de la
rnaison de Brunswick,
” to its accession to the throne of
Great Britain, 3 vols. 8vo. 6. “Histoire des Suisses,
”
from the earliest times to the commencement of the late
revolution, Geneva, 1803, 4 vols. 8vo. 7. “Histoire de la
Ligne Anseatique,
” from its origin to its decline, Northern Antiquities; or a Description of the
manners, customs, religion, and laws, of the ancient
Danes, and other northern nations including those of our
own Saxon ancestors. With a translation of the Edda, or
system of Runic mythology, and other pieces from the
ancient Islandic Tongue. Translated from M. Mallet’s
Introduction a l'Histoire de Danemarck,
” &c. 1770, 2 vols,
8vo. To this Dr. Percy has added many valuable and curious notes, and Goranson’s Latin version of the “Edda.
”
It was very justly said, at the time, by the Monthly Reviewer, that Dr. Percy had, in this instance, given a translation more valuable than the original.
cathedral of Munster, and celebrated for his inquiries into typographical antiquities, was certainly a learned man, but very turbulent and ambitious. Hence it happened
, dean of the cathedral of
Munster, and celebrated for his inquiries into typographical antiquities, was certainly a learned man, but very turbulent and ambitious. Hence it happened that he was
named to two bishoprics without taking possession of either,
and that he died in prison for his opposition to another
prelate. The emperor Ferdinand I. appointed him to the
bishopric of Ratzebourg, and he was, a few days after,
elected to the see of Minden. But his ambition was to be
bishop of Munster, and not succeeding, in 1650, he intrigued and raised seditions against the bishop who had
succeeded, till in 1655, he was degraded from his dignity
of dean. Nor yet warned, he continued his machinations,
and in 1657, the bishop had him arrested and confined in
the castle of Otteinzheim. Here he continued till his
death, which happened suddenly, March 7, 1664. He
wrote in Latin, 1. “De natura et usu Literarum,
” Munster, De ortu et progressu artis Typographica;,
” Cologne, Monumenta Typographica,
” vol. I. De Archicancellariis S. R. imperil,
” Munster, Paralipomenon de Historicis Gracis,
” Cologne,
, a learned Dominican, born in 1566, at Xativa, taught philosophy
, a learned Dominican, born
in 1566, at Xativa, taught philosophy and divinity with
great reputation in his order. Baronius, hearing of his
abilities, persuaded his general to send for him to Rome,
that he might have the benefit of his advice. Malvenda
accordingly gave Baronius great assistance, and was employed, at the same time, to correct all the ecclesiastical
books of his order, which he did with much accuracy. He
died May 7, 1628, at Valencia in Spain, aged sixty-three.
His most esteemed works are, a treatise “De Anti-Christo,
”
the best edition of which is that of Valencia, A new Version of the Hebrew Text of the Bible, with
Notes,
” Lyons, Annales Ordinis
Praedicatorum,
” Naples,
a lady named Pellegrini, of birth equally illustrious. As soon as he arrived at an age competent for a learned education, he was placed in the college of Parma, where
, a statesman and elegant writer, was born at Borgo Taro, a small town of the dukedom of Parma, on the 14th April, 1714. He was the eldest son of Marcel marquis of Ozzano, of an ancient family amongst the Parmesan nobility, and of a lady named Pellegrini, of birth equally illustrious. As soon as he arrived at an age competent for a learned education, he was placed in the college of Parma, where he went through all his studies with assiduity and success; and in the earliest period of his youth displayed that peculiar fondness for the belles lettres and fine arts, which afterwards constituted his predominant and almost exclusive passion. On quitting college, he repaired to his native place, where his father, with a view of giving him some knowledge of domestic economy, associated him in the management of his large estate, and thus gave him for some time rather more occupation than was compatible with his literary pursuits. After his father’s death he married a lady of noble birth, of the name of Antini; and soon added to his other occupations that of superintending the education of his children. In this way he spent many years, on his manor of Borgo Taro, and occasionally gave specimens of his talents in painting and poetry. His performances in the former art were not numerous or highly distinguished, and were only intended as presents to his friends; but in poetry he reached the highest degree of merit, and seemed to have well availed himself of those favourable circumstances which the spirit of the age had introduced. The abbe" Frugoni was then one of the most conspicuous leaders of the new poetical band; and having fixed his residence at Parma, he naturally became, in that small metropolis, the head of a school, in which, by exploding the frequent antitheses, the inflation of style, the wantonness of conceits, and the gigantic strains of imagination, he introduced an easy, regular, descriptive, sentimental, and elegant poesy, and what was more remarkable, gave to blank verse a strength and harmony till then unknown. Mr. Manara, although a professed admirer of Frugoni and his disciples, did not choose to be of their number as far as regarded their enthusiasm, imagery, rapidity of thoughts, and luxury of versification. He was conscious that his own poetical fire was like his temper, endowed with gentleness and sensibility; and with this spirit wrote those elegant eclogues, which soon proved rivals to the pastoral songs of the celebrated Pompei; and in the opinion of the best judges, united the flowing style of Virgil with the graces of Anacreon. His sonnets, too, though not numerous, might be put in competition with those of Petrarch.
, a learned physician and laborious historian of that science, was
, a learned physician and laborious historian of that science, was horn June 19, 1652,
at Geneva, where his father was an eminent merchant. His
father’s brother, author of a work on fevers, was physician
to the king of Poland. Manger, having finished his classical studies at the age of fourteen, bestowed two years on
philosophy, and then studied theology for five years, when,
changing his destination, he entered on a course of medical reading (for he says he had no teacher but his books),
and made such proficiency, that in 1678, he received his
doctor’s degree at Valence, along with the celebrated
Hartman. On his return home he entered upon practice,
to which he joined the laborious perusal of many medical
works, which served as the foundation of his own publications. In 1699, the elector of Brandenburgh appointed
him, by letters patent, his first physician, and the kings
of Prussia continued this title to him during his life. He
was dean of the faculty at Geneva at the time of his death,
Aug. 15, 1742, in the ninetieth year of his age. His works
are: l.“Messis Medico-spagyrica, &c.
” Geneva, Pauli Barbetti Opera omnia
Medica et Chirurgica,
” with additional cases and illustralions. 3. “Bibliotheca Anatomica,
” Compendium
Medicinae Practicum,
” of J. And. Sehmitz. 5. The
“Pharmcopeia Schrodero-Hoffmanniana.
” 6. The “Tractatus de Febribus,
” of Franc. Pieus; and, 7. The “Sepulchretum
” of Bonetus, to which he added several remarks and histories. 8. In 1695, he published his “Bibliotheca Medico-Practica,
” four vqls. folio; a vast collection of practical matter relative to all the diseases of the
human body, arranged in alphabetical order. 9. “Bibliotheca Chemica curiosa,
” Bibliotheca Pharmaceutico Medica,
” Bibliotheca Chirurgica,
” Theatrum Anatomicum, cum Eustachii
Tabulis Anatomicis,
” Traite de la Peste recueilli des meilleurs Auteurs,
” Nouvelles Reflexions sur l'Origine, la
Cause, la Propagation, les Preservatifs, et la Cure de la
Peste,
” 12mo. 15. His “Observations sur la Maladie qui
a commence depuis quelques annees a attaquer le gros
Betail,
” was a collection of the opinions of the Genevese
physicians concerning the distemper of horned cattle. The
last work of Manget was his “Bibliotheca Scriptorum Medicorum veterum et recentiorum,
” at which he laboured
when at least eighty years of age, and published it in 1731,
in four vols. folio. It is the most important of his productions, being an useful collection of medical lives, and
catalogues of writings. It has not been so much thought
of since the appearance of Haller’s Bibliotheca, and particularly of Eloy’s; but the plans are different, and Manget’s, as well as the rest of his voluminous compilations,
may be yet consulted with advantage. Although he was so
intent on accumulating information, and reprinting scarce
works and tracts, that he did not employ his judgment always, either in selection or arrangement, yet those, who,
like himself, wish to trace the progress of medical knowledge, will find his works of great use. They contain, indeed, the substance of many libraries, and a variety of
treatises which it would not be easy to procure in their separate form.
, a learned English divine, was born at Leeds in 1684, and was educated
, a learned English divine, was
born at Leeds in 1684, and was educated at St. John’s-college, Cambridge, where he was admitted to his degrees,
that of B. A. in 1707, M. A. 1711, LL.D. 1719, and D.D.
1725. He was also a fellow of the society of antiquaries,
and rector of St. Mildred, Bread-street, London. He was
early distinguished by his “Practical Discourses upon the
Lord’s Prayer, preached before the Honourable Society of
Lincoln’s Inn; published by the special order of the Bench,
”
Remarks upon
Nazarenus; wherein the falsity of Mr. Toland’s Mahometan Gospel, and his misrepresentations of Mahometan
sentiments in respect of Christianity, are set forth; the
history of the old Nazaraeans cleared up, and the whole
conduct of the first Christians, in respect to the Jewish
laws, explained and described.
” The author then stiled
himself “Rector of St. Nicholas’s in Guilford,
” to which
he was instituted in Plain Notions of our Lord’s
Divinity,
” a sermon preached on Christmas-day; in June
The eternal Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ,
”
a Visitation-sermon in October that year, “The Holiness
of Christian-churches,
” a sermon preached at Sunderland,
on consecrating a new church there; and in 1720, “The
providential Sufferings of good men,
” a 30th of January
sermon before the House of Commons. In 1719, Dr. Mangey wrote “A Defence of the Bishop of London’s Letter,
”
8vo and, besides the sermons already mentioned, published five single ones, in 1716, 1726, 1729, 1731, and
1733. On May 11, 1721, he was presented to a prebend,
the fifth stall in the cathedral church of Durham, being at
that time chaplain to Dr. Robinson bishop of London, and
vicar of Yealing, or Ealing, in the county of Middlesex.
He was advanced to the first stall of Durham, Dec. 22,
1722; and, when treasurer of the chapter, greatly advanced the fines upon the tenants, and improved the rents
of his prebendal lands nearly a hundred pounds a year.
He was one of the seven doctors in divinity created July 6,
1725, when Dr. Bentley delivered the famous oration prefixed to his Terence; and at the end of 1726 he circulated
proposals for an edition of “Philo Judaeus,
” which he completed in Philonis Judaei Opera
omnia quas reperiri potuerunt,
” 2 vols. folio. He died
March 6, 1755, and was interred in the cathedral of Durham, where is an elegant Latin inscription to his memory,
composed by Dr. Sharp, then a prebendary and archdeacon
of Northumberland. His manuscript remarks on the New
Testament came into the possession of Mr. Bowyer, who
extracted from them many short notes, which are printed
in his “Conjectures.
” A very elegant inscription to Dr.
Mangey by Dr. Taylor is prefixed to “Lysias Fragmenta.
”
, a learned author, born at Lucca in 1612, became a member of the
, a learned author, born at Lucca
in 1612, became a member of the congregation of regular
clerks, “de la Mere de Dieu.
” He obtained a name in
the literary world by an edition of the Koran, published at
Padua in 1698, in 2 vols. folio, and entitled “Alcorani
Textus universus, Arabice et Latine,
” to which he subjoined notes, with a refutation, and a life of Mahomet.
The argumentative part, however, is not always solid; the
critics in Arabic have found several faults in the printing
of that language; and the editor appears to be more versed
in the Mussulman authors than in philosophy or theology.
Maracci had a large share in the edition of the Arabic
Bible printed at Rome in 1671, in 3 vols. folio; and was
certainly very successful as a professor of Arabic, in the
college della Sapienza. Innocent XI. respected his virtues and knowledge, chose him for his confessor, and
would have raised him to the purple, had not his great
modesty declined that honour. He died in 1700. Niceron
recounts a long list of his works.
, a learned astronomer and mathematician, was born in 1665 at Perinaldo
, a learned astronomer and mathematician, was born in 1665 at Perinaldo in the county of Nice, a place already honoured by the birth of his maternal uncle, the celebrated Cassini. Having made a considerable progress in mathematics, at the age of twentytwo his uncle, who had been a long time settled in France, invited him there, that he might himself cultivate the promising genius of his nephew. Maraldi no sooner applied himself to the contemplation of the heavens, than he conceived the design of forming a catalogue of the fixed stars, the foundation of the whole astronomical edifice. In consequence of this design, he applied himself to observe them with the most constant attention; and he became by this means so intimate with them, that on being shown any one of them, however small, he could immediately tell what constellation it belonged to, and its place in that constellation. He has been known to discover those small comets, which astronomers often take for the stars of the constellation in which they are seen, for want of knowing precisely what stars the constellation consists f, when others, on the spot, and with eyes directed equally to the same part of the heavens, could not for a long time see any thing of them.
, a learned German critic, was born at Arnheim, a town of Gueldres,
, a learned German critic,
was born at Arnheim, a town of Gueldres, in 1548. His
father, who was a man of rank and learning, observing in
him a more than ordinary inclination for books, took particular care of his education. He had him taught at home
the elements of the Latin tongue, and then sent him to
school at Deventer, where he learned the Greek under
Noviomagus. Marcilius, having made a great progress in
both languages, was removed thence to the university of
Louvain, where he applied himself to philosophy and civil
law; and, having finished his studies, went to Paris, and
thence to Toulouse, where he taught polite literature many
years. Returning to Paris, he taught rhetoric in 1578, in
the college of Grassins, and afterwards read lectures in several other colleges successively. In 1602, he was made
royal professor of the Latin tongue, and the belles lettres:
and died March 15, 1617. Though he was not a critic of
the first rank, yet he did not deserve the contemptuous
treatment which Scaliger has given him. He published an
edition in Greek and Latin of “Pythagoras’s Golden
Verses,
” at Paris, Historia Strenarum,
” Lusu’s de Nemine,
” &c. and some poems and orations.
ss, but, as our authority states, “finding that he became a poor husbandman in proportion as he grew a learned one, he prudently forsook what indeed he had no great
, an eminent optician, was born
at Worplesdon, in Surrey, in 1704, and began life as a
plough-boy at Broad-street, a hamlet belonging to that
parish. By some means, however, he contrived to learn
reading, writing, and arithmetic, so as to be soon enabled
to teach them to others. For some time he continued to
assist in the farming business, but, as our authority states,
“finding that he became a poor husbandman in proportion
as he grew a learned one, he prudently forsook what indeed he had no great inclination for,
” and having a strong
inclination to mathematics and philosophical speculations,
now entered upon such a course of reading and study as in
some measure supplied the want of a learned education.
The historian of Surrey says that he first taught reading
and writing at Guildford. It was probably some time after
this that a legacy of five hundred pounds bequeathed to
him by a relation encouraged his laudable ambition, and
after purchasing books, instruments, &c. and acquiring
some knowledge of the languages, we find him, in 1735,
settled at Chichester, where he taught mathematics, and
performed courses of experimental philosophy. At this
time he published his first work, “The Philosophical
Grammar; being a view of the present state of experimental physiology, or naturaf philosophy, &c.
” London,
8vo. When he came up to London we have not been
able to discover, but after settling there he read lectures
on experimental philosophy for many years, and carried
on a very extensive trade as an optician and globe-maker
in Fleet-street, till the growing infirmities of old age compelled him to withdraw from the active part of business.
Trusting too fatally to what he thought the integrity of
others, he unfortunately, though with a capital more than
sufficient to pay all his debts, became a bankrupt. The
unhappy old man, in a moment of desperation from this
unexpected stroke, attempted to destroy himself; and the
wound, though not immediately mortal, hastened his death,
which happened Feb. 9th, 1782, at seventy-eight years
of age.
, a learned popish writer, whose name is so much connected with
, a learned popish writer, whose
name is so much connected with some protestant writers of
eminence as to deserve a brief notice here, was born at
Maxfield, near Winchelsea, in Sussex, and was admitted
one of the original scholars of St. John’s college, Oxford,
in 1557, by sir Thomas White, the founder. In 1564 he
proceeded M. A. and was afterwards taken into the family
of Thomas, duke of Norfolk, as tutor to his children, and
particularly to Philip, earl of Surrey. Such had been
Martin’s reputation at college, that when the duke paid a
visit to St. John’s, one of the society, in a Latin address to
his grace, introduced his name with this panegyric: “Habes,
illustrissime dux, Hebraeum nostrum, Grsecum nostrum,
poetam nostrum, decus et gloriam nostrum,
” implying
that Martin was their best Hebrew and Greek scholar and
poet, and an ornament to their college. Having embraced
the Roman catholic religion, which he chose no longer to
conceal, he went to the English college at Douay in 1570,
where he was ordained priest in 1573, and licentiate in
divinity in 1575. After a visit in the following year to
Rome, he returned to Doway and taught Hebrew, and
gave lectures on the Scriptures. When the college was
removed to Rheims, he undertook to translate the Bible
into English from the Vulgate, and Dodd is of opinion
that what is called “The Rheims translation,
” may be
entirely ascribed to him. It was. not, however, published
at one time. The New Testament appeared first atRheims
and Antwerp, with Bristow’s notes, and the Old Testament several years afterwards, with the editor, Dr. Worthington’s notes. The New Testament, as we have noticed,
under their respective articles, was answered by Fulk and
Cartwright. Martin died Oct. 28, 1582, atRheims. He
published some other works, a list of which may be seen,
in Wood and Dodd, but is scarcely worth transcribing.
Camden says that in 1584 a book of his appeared in which
queen Elizabeth’s gentlewomen were exhorted to serve her
as Judith had served Holofernes. The catholic "writers,
however, deny this, and apparently with justice.
, a learned Benedictine of the congregation of St. Maur, was born
, a learned Benedictine of the congregation of St. Maur, was born at Tanjaux in Upper Languedoc, in 1694, and became a Benedictine in 1709. After
having taught the learned languages in his native province,
he removed to the capital in 1727. He was there regarded as a man of a singular and violent temper; rather
whimsical as a scholar, and not always sufficiently prudent
or modest as a writer; yet he was one of the ablest authors produced by the congregation of St. Maur, and
would have been excellent had he met with any judicious
friend to correct the sallies of his too active imagination.
His latter years were much embittered by the gravel and
the gout, under the torments of which complaints he suffered, with great piety, a kind of lingering death, which
did not dismiss him from his sufferings till 1751, when he
was in his seventieth year. He wrote, 1. “A treatise on
the Religion of the ancient Gauls,
” Paris, History of the Gauls, &c. from their origin to the
foundation of the French monarchy,
” An Explication of several difficult
Texts of Scripture,
” Paris, An Explanation of ancient Monuments, &c. wiih an examination of an edition of St. Jerom,
and a treatise on Judicial Astrology,
” Paris, 173u, 4to.
Besides a vast scope of erudition, this book is adorned by
many lively traits, and a very animated style. 5. “A
Project for an Alphabetical Library,
” containing much
learning, and many misplaced witticisms. 6. “A Translation of -the Confessions of St. Augustin,
” which is exact,
and is accompanied with judicious notes.
oix at Toulouse, about 1629, and, after copying some things out of it, he gave it to James Spieghel, a learned German, and his preceptor in the Hebrew tongue. Spieghel
, a Dominican friar, and eminent
orientalist, who flourished in the thirteenth century, was
born at Sobiras in Catalonia; and was one of those of his
order who were appointed, at a general chapter held at Toledo in 1250, to study Hebrew and Arabic, in order to
confute the Jews and Mahometans. The occasion of it was
this: Raymond de Pennafort, general of the order, having
a strong desire to extirpate Judaism and Mahometanism,
with which Spain was infected, procured an order from this
chapter, that the religious of his society should apply
themselves to the study of Hebrew and Arabic. This task
he imposed on Martin among others; and he obtained a
pension of the kings of Arragon and Castile, for such as
should study those languages, pn purpose that they might
be able to exert themselves in the conversion of infidels.
Martin accordingly applied himself to those studies with
great success; and, having sufficiently studied the works
of the rabbins, they furnished him with such arguments, as enabled him to combat the Jews very skilfully. This appears from his “Pugio fidei,
” which waa
finished, as we learn from himself, in Pugio fidei
” that could be recovered, In short, the Dominican order interested themselves so much in it, that they
bore the charges of the impression. Some assert, that
Martin wrote another book, entitled, “Capistrum Judaeorum,
” and also “A Confutation of the Alcoran;
” and that
a copy of the “Pugio fidei,
” written by his own hand in
Latin and Hebrew, was preserved at Naples in the convent
of St. Dominic. The great knowledge which he has discovered of the books and opinions of the Jews, has made
some imagine that he was of that religion; but this is
thought to be a mistake. The time of Martin’s death is
uncertain.
, a learned German divine of the Protestant persuasion, was born
, a learned German divine of
the Protestant persuasion, was born in 1572, and studied
at Paderborn, under the celebrated Piscator. In his twenty-third year he was called to officiate as minister in the
courts of the counts of Nassau Dillembourg; the following
year was appointed professor in the college of Paderborn,
and in 1592 was appointed regent of the schools. He was
afterwards called to be rector of the school at Bremen,
and, in 1618, was deputed by the magistrates of Bremen
to the synod of Dort, where he maintained the opinions
of Cameron, Amyraut, Dai lie, and others; but signed
all the acts of the synod. He died in 1630, leaving behind
him many theological treatises, now forgotten, and a “Lexicon philologicum, in quo Latinae et a Latinis auctoribus
usurpatae turn purae, turn barbaroe voces ex originibus declarantur, &c.: accedit Cadmus Graeco-Phoanix etGlossarium Isidori,
” Utrecht,
, a learned English lawyer, the eldest son of Alexander Maynard,
, a learned English lawyer, the eldest son of Alexander Maynard, esq. of Tavistock, in Devonshire, was born thereabout 1602. In 1618 he entered as a commoner of Exeter college, Oxford, where, as we have often seen in the case of gentlemen of the law, he took only one degree in arts, and then went to the Middle Temple. After the usual routine of study he was called to the bar, and in 1640 obtained a seat in parliament for Totness. The part he took in the political contests of the day, procured him to be appointed one of the managers of the evidence against the earl of Strafford, and that against archbishop Laud. Yet in 1644 he was appointed, with Bulstrodte Whitlocke, at the particular desire of the lord chancellor of Scotland, and other commissioners from that kingdom, to consult with them and general Fairfax concerning the best method of proceeding against Cromwell as an incendiary between the two kingdoms. He was also one of the laymen nominated in the ordinance of the Lords and Commons to sit with the assembly of Divines, whose object was to establish the presbyterian form of church government in England. Notwithstanding this, we find him in 1647 opposing the violence of the parliament-army, for which he and serjeant Glynn were sent to the Tower; and when the parliament voted that no more addresses should be sent to the king, he told them that by such a vote they dissolved themselves. He even went farther, and after being secluded from his seat in the House of Commons for two months, he broke in among them, and pleaded for the life of the king with such strength of reasoning, that Cromwell several times demanded that he should be brought to the bar of the House.
, a learned -English divine, was born in 1586, of a good family,
, a learned -English divine,
was born in 1586, of a good family, at Berden, in Essex.
When he was about ten years old, both he and his father
fell sick of the small pox; which proving mortal to the
father, the son fell under the care of a Mr. Gower, to whom
his mother was soon after married. He was sent to school
first to Hoddesdon, in Hertfordshire, and then to Wethersfield, in Essex. While he was at this last school, going to
London upon some occasion, he bought “Bellarmine’s
Hebrew Grammar
” and though his master, who had no
skill in that language, told him it was a book not fit fof
him, yet he studied it with so much eagerntss, that in a
little time he attained considerable skill in Hebrew. In
1602, he was sent to Christ’s-college, in Cambridge; where,
although he had an uncommon impediment in his speech,
which would not suffer him to shew himself to advantage,
he was soon distinguished for his abilities and learning.
Not long after his entrance upon philosophical studies, he
became disquieted with scepticism: for, meeting with a
book in a fellow-student’s chamber, either “Sextus Empiricus,
” or some other of the Pyrrhonic school, he began,
upon the perusal of it, to move strange questions to himself, and even to doubt whether the To Ilav, the whole
frame of things, as it appears to us, were any thing more
than a mere phantasm, or imagination; and, till his principles were settled, his life, as he professed, was utterly
without comfort.
, a learned and worthy bencher of LincolnVinn, was born in 1666.
, a learned and worthy
bencher of LincolnVinn, was born in 1666. In conjunction with Mr. Peere Williams, Mr. Melmoth was the publisher of “Vernon’s Reports,
” under an order of the court
of chancery. He had once an intention of printing his own
“Reports;
” and a short time before his death, advertised
them at the end of those of his coadjutor Peere Williams,
as then actually preparing for the press. They have, however, not yet made their appearance. But the performance for which he justly deserves to be held in perpetual
remembrance, is, “The Great Importance of a Religious
Life.
” It is a singular circumstance that the real author
of this most admirable treatise should never have been
publicly known until mentioned in the Anecdotes of
Bowyer. It was ascribed by Walpole in his “Royal and
Noble Authors,
” to the first earl of Egmont. Of this work
Mr. Melmoth’s son says, in the short preface which accompanies it, that “It may add weight, perhaps, to the reflections contained in the following pages, to inform the
reader, that the author’s life was one uniform exemplar of
those precepts, which, with so generous a zeal, and such
an elegant and affecting simplicity of style, he endeavours
to recommend to general practice. He left others to contend for modes of faith, and inflame themselves and the
world with dndless controversy; it was the wiser purpose
of his more ennobled aim, to act up to those clear rules of
conduct which Revelation hath graciously prescribed. He
possessed by temper every moral virtue; by religion every
Christian grace. He had a humanity that melted at every
distress; a charity which not only thought no evil, but
suspected none. He exercised his profession with a skill
and integrity, which nothing could equal, but the disinterested motive that animated his labours, or the amiable
modesty which accompanied all his virtues. He employed
his industry, not to gratify his own desires no man indulged himself less not to accumulate useless wealth no
man more disdained so unworthy a pursuit it was for the
decent advancement of his family, for the generous assistance of his friends, for the ready relief of the indigent.
How often did he exert his distinguished abilities, yet refuse the reward of them, in defence of the widow, the fatherless, and him that had none to help him In a word, few
have ever passed a more useful, not one a more blameless
life y and his whole time was employed either in doing
good, or in meditating it. He died on the 6th day of
April, 1743, and lies buried under the cloister of Lincoln’sinn chapel.
” This passage is repeated in a short tract entitled “Memoirs of a late eminent Advocate,
” published in
from early youth performed the paiuful but indispensable
duty of communing with his own heart, with the severest
and most impartial scrutiny.
” This appears by a copy of
a letter from some eminent casuit, whom he had consulted
respecting certain religious scruples. He was afterwards
perplexed respecting taking the oaths at the revolution,
which happened when he had the prospect of being admitted to the bar. On this occasion he consulted the celebrated Mr. Norris of Bemerton, and a correspondence took
place, part of which is* published in the “Memoirs.
” It
is probable that he was at last convinced of the lawfulness
of the oaths, as he was called to the bar in 1693. There
are other letters and circumstances given in these “Memoirs,
” which tend to raise the character of Mr. Melmoth
as a man of sincerity and humility, not, however, perhaps,
unmixed with what may now be reckoned a degree of superstitious weakness.
, in Latin Menckenius, a learned German writer, was born of a good family at Oldenburg,
, in Latin Menckenius, a learned
German writer, was born of a good family at Oldenburg,
in Westphalia, in 1644. He cultivated his first studies in
his native place; and at seventeen went to Bremen, where
he applied himself to philosophy. He stayed there one
year, and removed to Leipsic, where he was admitted master of arts in 1664; and afterwards visited the other universities, Jena, Wittemberg, Groningen, Franeker, Utrecht,
Leyden, and Kiel. Upon his return to Leipsic, he applied himself for some time to divinity and civil law. In
1668 he was chosen professor of morality in that university;
and, in 1671, took the degree of licentiate in divinity.
He discharged the duties of his professorship with great
reputation till his death, which happened in 1707. He was
five times rector of the university of Leipsic, and seven
times dean of the faculty of philosophy. He published
several works; many of his own, and some of other people.
The edition of sir John Marsham’s “Canon Chronicus,
”
at Leipsic, in 4to, and a new edition of “Camden’s Annals of queen Elizabeth,
” were procured by him. But his
most considerable work, and what alone is sufficient to
perpetuate his name, is the “Acta eruditorum
” of Leipsic,
of which he was the first author, and in which he was
engaged till his death. When he had formed that design,
he began a correspondence with the learned men of all
nations, in order to inform himself of what passed in the
republic of letters. For the same purpose he took a journey to Holland, and thence to England. He afterwards
formed a society of several persons of eminent abilities, to
assist him in the work, and took all proper measures to
render it lasting. The elector of Saxony contributed, by
his generosity, to the success of the design. The first
volume was published at Leipsic, in 1682, in 4to. Our
author continued to publish, with the assistance of colleagues, every year a volume while he lived, with supplements from time to time, and an index once in ten years.
His share ends with the thirtieth volume.
, a learned bibliographer and miscellaneous writer, familiarly known
, a learned bibliographer
and miscellaneous writer, familiarly known in France by
the title of the abbe de St. Leger, was born at Lyons,
April 1, 1734. He entered when young, into the congregation of St. Genevieve, of which he became librarian, at
the time that the learned Pingre, his predecessor in that
office, went to observe the transit of Venus. In 1764,
when Louis XV. visited this library, he was so much
pleased with Mercier’s intelligent manner of displaying its
treasures, that he appointed him abbe of St. Leger at
Soisson, a preferment which then happened to be vacant
Mercier often travelled to Holland and the Netherlands to
visit the libraries and learned men of those countries, and
was industriously following his various 'literary pursuits,
when the revolution interrupted his tranquillity, and reduced him to a state of indigence. This he could have
borne; but the many miseries he witnessed around him,
and particularly the sight of his friend the abbe Poyer
dragged to the scaffold, proved too much for his constitution. He continued to linger on, however, until May 13,
1799, when death relieved him. He was a man of great
learning and research, as his works evidently shew, and in
his private character, social, communicative, and amiable.
His works are, 1. “Lettre sur la Bibliographic de Debure,
”
Lettre a M. Capperonier,
” on the
same subject, which was followed by a third, printed in
the “Journal de Trevoux.
” 3. “Lettre sur le veritable
auteur du Testament Politique du cardinal de Richelieu,
”
Paris, Supplement a l‘Histoire de l’imprimerie de Prosper Marchand,
” Lettre sur la Pucelle D'Orleans,
” Dissertation sur Pauteur du livre de
PImitation de Jesus-Christ.
” 7. “Notice du livre rare,
intitule* Pedis Admirandte, par J. d'Artis.
” 8. “Notice
de la Platopodologie d'Antoine Fiance, medecin de Besangon,
” a curious satire by Fiance. 9. “Lettre a un ami,
sur la suppression de la Charge de Bibliothecaire du roi en
France,
” (Paris), Notice sur les tornbeaux des dues de Bourgogne.
” 11. '“Lettres sur differentes editions rares du 15 siecle,
” Paris, Observations
surPEssai d'un projet de Catalogue de Bibliotheque.
” 13.
“Description* d'une giraffe vue a Fano.
” 14. “Notice
raisonnée des ouvrages de Gaspard Schott, Jesuite,
” Bibliotheque de Romans traduits du Grec.
”
Lettre sur le projet de decret
concernant les religieux, proposee a PAssemblee Nationale
par M. Treilhard,
” Lettre sur un nouveau Dictionnaire Historique portatif en 4 vols. 8vo.
” This,
wbich appeared in the *' Journal de Trevoux," contains a
sharp critique upon the first volumes of Cbaudon’s Dictionary. Mercier bestowed great pains in correcting and
improving his copy of this work, which fell in the hands of
thcs editors of the last edition of the Diet. Hist. Mercier
was frequently employed in the public libraries; and those
of Soubise and La Valliere owe much of their treasures to
his discoveries of curious books. He was also a frequent
writer in the Journal de Trevoux, the Journal des S9avans,
the Magazin Encyclopedique, and the Annee Litteraire.
He left some curious manuscripts, and manuscript notes
and illustrations of many of his books.
, a learned and eminent physician, was born at Forli, in Romagna,
, a learned and eminent physician, was born at Forli, in Romagna, Sept 30, 1530.
He was educated according to Niceron at Padua, and according to Eloy at Bologna. It seems, however, agreed
that he received his doctor’s degree in 1555, and began to
practice at Forli. In 1562 he was sent as ambassador to
pope Pius IV. at Rome, where he was honoured with the
citizenship, and upon a pressing invitation determined to
reside in a place which presented so many opportunities
for the pursuit of his favourite studies. During his abode
at Rome, besides his professional concerns, he studied
classical literature, and the monuments of antiquity, and
produced a learned and elegant work, which acquired him
much celebrity in the literary world, and which was first
published at Venice in 1569, under the title of “De Arte
Gymnastica Libri sex,
” 4to. It was many times reprinted,
and its merit occasioned his being appointed professor of
medicine in the university of Padua. In 1573 he was
called to Vienna by the emperor Maximilian II., to consult respecting a severe illness under which that personage
laboured; and his treatment was so successful, that he returned loaded with valuable presents, and honoured with
the dignities of a knight and count palatine. In 1587 he
removed to a professorsip at Bologna, which has been
partly attributed to a degree of dissatisfaction or self-accusation, in consequence of an error of judgment, which had
been committed by him and Capivaccio, several years
before, when they were called to Venice, in order to give
their advice respecting a pestilential disorder which prevailed in that city. On this occasion both he and his colleague seem to have fallen into the mistake of several
medical theorists, of denying the reality of contagion;
and their counsels were said to have been productive of
extensive mischief. Nevertheless his reputation appears
to have suffered little from this error; for he was invited
by Ferdinand, the grand duke of Tuscany, to settle at
Pisa in 1599, where he was ordered a stipend of eighteen:
hundred golden crowns, which was ultimately raised to two
thousand. Here he died Nov. 9, 1606, and was interred,
with great honours, in a chapel, which he had himself
erected at Forli. He left a large property in money and
effects, among which was a valuable collection of pictures;
and he made a great number of charitable bequests.
Mercuriali was a voluminous writer, as the following catalogue of his works will evince. He was a learned commentator on Hippocrates, and edited a classified
Mercuriali was a voluminous writer, as the following
catalogue of his works will evince. He was a learned commentator on Hippocrates, and edited a classified collection
of his works. Like the learned of his age, however, he
was bigotted to the doctrines of the ancients, and fond of
hypothetical reasoning, to the disparagement of sound
observation; and he strongly imbued his pupils with the
same erroneous principles. His first publication was a
tract entitled “Nomothesaurus, seu Ratio lactandi Infantes.
” His second, the work “De Arte Gymnastica,
”
before-mentioned. 3. “Variarum Lectionum in Medicinse
Scriptoribus et aliis, Libri iv.
” Venice, De
Morbis Cutaneis, et omnibus corporis humani Excrementis,
” ib. Tractatus de Maculis pestiferis et Hydrophobia,
” Basle, De Pestilentia in universum, proesertim vero de Veneta et Patavina,
” Venice Hippocratis Opera Grsece et Latine,
” ibid. De Morbis Muliebribus Praelectiones,
” Basle, De Morbis puerorum Tractatus locupletissimi,
” Venice, De Venenis et Morbis venenosis,
” ibid.
De Decoratione liber,
” ib. Consultationes et Responsa Medicinalia.
” Four volumes were
successively published in Tractatus de
Compositione Medicamentorum, De Morbis oculorum et
auriura,
” ibid. De Hominis Generatione,
”
Commentarii in Hippoc. Coi Prognostica,
Prorrhetica,
” &c. ibid. Medicina Practica,
seu, de cognoscendis, discernendis, et curandis omnibus
humani corporis affectibus,
” Francfort, Opuscula aurea et selectiora,
” Venice,
es at Berlin, was born at Leichstal, near Basil, Sept. 27, 1723, of a reputable family, and received a learned education, with the particulars of which, however, we
, perpetual secretary of the academy of sciences at Berlin, was born at Leichstal, near Basil, Sept. 27, 1723, of a reputable family, and received a learned education, with the particulars of which, however, we are unacquainted. In 1750 he was invited from Holland to Berlin, on the recommendation of Maupertuis, and died in that city Feb. 12, 1807, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. The best known of his works were French translations of Claudian, and of Hume’s Essays, the latter, published at Amsterdam, 1759 1764, 5 vols. 12mo, enriched with commentaries and refutations of the most objectionable principles. He translated also some of Michaelis’s works. The Memoirs of the Academy of Berlin contain several of his pieces on philosophical subjects and on geometry. One of the best is a parallel between the philosophy of Leibnitz and Kant, which was much noticed on its first appearance. Merian bore an estimable private character, and preserved all the activity and vigour of youth to a very advanced age. A few days before his death he officiated as secretary at a sitting of the academy, to celebrate, according to custom, the memory of the Great Frederic.
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne, born in the diocese of Limoges,
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne,
born in the diocese of Limoges, was curate of Montmartre,
and afterwards canon and grand penitentiary of Paris.
Having preached against some persons belonging to the
court, who were supposed to be favourable to the reformed
religion, he was confined in the castle at the Louvre, 1527,
by order of Francis I. and then banished to Nantes, from
whence he returned to Paris, 1530. Merlin was appointed
grand vicar of Paris, and curate of la Magdelaine. He
died September 26, 1541. He was the first who published
a “Collection of Councils;
” of which there are three editions. It is said to be a compilation of great accuracy and
impartiality. Merlin also published editions of “Richard
de St. Victor, Peter de Blois, Durand de St. Pour$ain, and
Origen;
” and has prefixed to the works of the latter an
Apology, in which he undertakes to clear Origen from the
errors imputed to him. He had a violent dispute on this
subject with Noel Beda.
, a learned French writer, was born at Oyse, in the province of
, a learned French writer, was born at Oyse, in the province of Maine, Sept. 8, 1588. He cultivated the belles lettres at the college of la Flche; and afterwards went to Paris, and studied divinity at the Sorbonne. Upon his leaving the schools of the Sorbonne, he entered himself among the Minims, and received the habit of that order, July 17, 1611. In 1612 he went to reside in the convent of Paris, where he was ordained priest. He then applied himself to the Hebrew language, which he learned of father John Bruno, a Scotch Minim. From 1615 to 1619, he taught philosophy and theology in the convent of Nevers; and then returned to Paris, where he spent the remainder of his life. Study and conversatioa were afterwards his whole employment. He held a correspondence with most of the principal men of his time; being as it were the very centre of communication between literary men of all countries, by the mutual correspondence which he managed between them; and was in France what Mr. Collins was in England. He omitted no opportunity to engage them to publish their works; and the world is obliged to him for several excellent discoveries, which would probably have been lost, but for his encouragement; and on all accounts he had the reputation of being one of the best men, as well as philosophers, of his time. He was the chief friend and literary agent of Des Cartes, in particular, with whom he had contracted a friendship while he studied at la Flche, which continued to his death. He was that philosopher’s chief agent at Paris. Thus, when Mersenne gave out in that city, that Des Cartes was erecting a new system of physics upon the foundation of a vacuum, and found the public very indifferent to it on that very account, it was said, that he immediately sent intelligence to Des Cartes, that a vacuum was not then the fashion at Paris; which made that philosopher change his system, and adopt the old doctrine of a plenum. In the mean time, Mersenne’s residence at Paris did not hinder him from making several journies into foreign countries; for he went to Holland in 1629, and stayed a year there; and he was in Italy four times; in 1639, 1641, 1644, and 1646. He fell sick, in 1648, of an abscess in the right side, which the physicians took to be a bastard pleurisy and bled him several times to no purpose. At last it was thought proper to open the side but he expired in the midst of the operation, when he was almost sixty years of age. He ordered the physicians at his death to open his body, which they did, and found an abscess two inches above the place where they had opened his side; so that, if the incision had been made at the proper place, his life might possibly have been saved.
, or Meetkercke, or Mekerchus (Adolphus), a learned writer, was born at Bruges in 1528, and passed the greater
, or Meetkercke, or Mekerchus
(Adolphus), a learned writer, was born at Bruges in 1528,
and passed the greater part of his life in the service of the
revolted states of the Low Countries, as counsellor of state,
and envoy to the foreign potentates. He was employed
on an embassy to queen Elizabeth in the latter part of his
life, an office which was probably very agreeable to him, as
he was a protestant, and had resided here for the quiet enjoyment of his religion for some time before he was appointed on the embassy. He appears to have been an ornament and delight of the age in which he lived, second to
none in literary accomplishments, and was a man also of
great benevolence and amiable temper. Grief for the loss
of his son is said to have hastened his death, which took
place at London in 1591, in his sixty-fourth year. He was
buried in the church of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, under a
monument which, when that church was rebuilt, was conveyed to Julians, near Buntingford, in Hertfordshire, the
seat of his descendants who settled in this country, and
where some of them are still living. The present owner
of the estate is in possession, among others, of a folio ms.
of Greek and Latin poetry by his ancestor, the subject of
this article, with additions by his son Adolphus, who died
without issue, and by his son Edward, D. D. of Christchurch, Oxford, professor of Hebrew in that university, and
prebendary of Winchester. He became professor in 1621,
and died in 1660. Foppen asserts that sir Adolphus, as
the ambassador was called, declared in writing, on his
death-bed, that there was no true religion out of the catholic church, and that his daughter was so struck with this
as to return to Bruges, and to the Roman catholic religion.
As far as respects the daughter, this may be true, but her
father certainly died in the protestant faith, as appears by
the inscription on his monument, which Foppen is obliged to confess, is written “stylo acatholico.
” Sir AdoU
phus published in 1565, not a translation of some pieces of
Bion and Moschus, as it has been erroneously called, but
the first edition of “Bion and Moschus,
” printed at Bruges
in Theocriti Epigrammata,
” and published a treatise “De veteri et recta
pronuntiatione linguae Graecas Commentarius,
” Bruges,
Fasti Consulares,
” “Vitae Caesarum,
”
“Magna Grsecia,
” &c. and in his political character published “A Collection of the Proceedings at the Peace of
Cologne, in 1579.
”
, a learned Dutchman, was born in 1579 at Losdun, a town near the
, a learned Dutchman, was born
in 1579 at Losdun, a town near the Hague, where his
father was minister. At six years of age his father began
to teach him the elements of the Latin language; and the
year after sent him to a school at the Hague, where he
continued four years. He was then removed to Leyden,
and made so great a progress in literature, that at twelve
he could write with fluency in Latin. He advanced with
no less rapidity in the Greek language, for which he conceived a particular fondness; insomuch that at thirteen he
made Greek verses, and at sixteen wrote a “Commentary
upon Lycophron,
” the most obscure of all the Greek
authors. When he had finished the course of his studies,
and gained the reputation of a person from whom much
might be expected, the famous John Barnevelt intrusted
him with the education of his children; and he attended
them ten years, at home and in their travels. This gave
him an opportunity of seeing almost all the courts in Europe, of visiting the learned in their several countries, and
of examining the best libraries. As he passed through
Orleans, in 1608, he was made doctor of law. Upon his
return to Holland, the curators of the academy of Leyden
appointed him, in 1610, professor of history, and afterward of Greek; and the year following, the States of
Holland chose him for their historiographer. In 1612 he
married a lady of an ancient and good family, by whom
he had a son, called after his own name, who died in the
flower of his age, yet not till he had given specimens of
his uncommon learning, by several publications.
, a learned orientalist, professor of divinity, Greek, and oriental
, a learned orientalist, professor of divinity, Greek, and oriental languages, and director of the divinity school of Halle, was born at Kettenburg, in Hohenstein, July 26, 1668. His father sent him
in 1683 to Brunswick, to learn trade, but a few months
after, he allowed him to be placed at the school of St. Martin in that city, where the rector, M. Msering, cultivated
his talents, and found him capable of instructing some of
the younger scholars. An illness obliging him to leave this
place, he continued his studies at Nordhausen, and in
1688 at Leipsic, where he went through courses of philosophy and divinity, and also studied the oriental languages and rabbinical Hebrew. In 1694 he quitted Leipsic for the university of Halle, where he taught the Greek,
Hebrew, and Chaldeewith great reputation. Here he published, with the assistance of professor Francke, who mentions him respectfully in his “Pietas Hallensis,
” a work
entitled “Conamina brevioris Manuductionis ad
Doctrinam de Accentibus Hebraeorum Prosaicis.
” In 1696 he
published another piece, entitled “Epicrisis philologica de
reverendi Michaelis Beckii, Ulmensis, Disquisitionibus philologicis, cum responsionibus ad Examen XIV. Dictor.
Gen.
” In 1699, he succeeded Francke in the Greek professorship at Halle, and in 1707 was made keeper of the
university library. He was afterwards nominated professor
of divinity in ordinary, and admitted to the degree of D. D.
In 1732 he was made senior of the faculty of divinity, and
inspector of the theological seminary. He died in 1738,
at about the age of seventy. He was author of many works
besides those already mentioned, the titles of which are
enumerated in our authority.
concise natural eloquence; and although the poverty of his parents deprived him of the advantages of a learned education, he had, by his own application, acquired,
Micheli is described by his contemporaries as a man of
the most pleasing, modest, and liberal manners, no less
ready to communicate, than eager to acquire, knowledge.
His friend Cocchi informs us, that “he was endued with a
clear and concise natural eloquence; and although the
poverty of his parents deprived him of the advantages of a
learned education, he had, by his own application, acquired, with wonderful felicity, a knowledge of Latin.
”
“The writings of the most eminent botanists were so familiar to him, that he had learned to express his ideas in Latin,
by no means amiss, he having a very quick perception as
to any barbarous expressions.
”
sals” against these “Remarks,” which, however, he dkl not ascribe to Middleton, but to Dr. Colbatch, a learned fellow of his college, and casuistical professor of
Middleton’s animosity to Bentley did not end here. The
latter having in 1720 published “Proposals for a new
edition of the Greek Testament, and Latin Version,
” Middleton, the following year, published, 5. “Remarks, Paragraph by Paragraph, upon the Proposals, &c.
” and at
setting out, “only desires his readers to believe, that they
were not drawn from him by personal spleen or envy to
the author of them, but by a serious conviction, that he
had neither talents nor materials proper for the work he had
undertaken.
” Middleton might believe himself sincere in
all this, but no such conclusion can be drawn from the
pamphlet, which carries every proof of malignant arrogance.
The very motto which he borrowed from one of Burmairs
orations, “Doctus criticus & adsuetus urere, secare, inclementer omnis generis librns tractare, apices, syllabas,
”
&c. implies the utmost personal animosity, and could have
been thought “happily chosen,
” only at a time when
Bentley’s temper was better known than his learning.
Bentley defended his “Proposals
” against these “Remarks,
” which, however, he dkl not ascribe to Middleton,
but to Dr. Colbatch, a learned fellow of his college, and
casuistical professor of divinity in the university. It has
been said that he very well knew the true author, but was
resolved to dissemble it, for the double pleasure it would
give him, of abusing Colbatch, and shewing his contempt
of Middleton. His treatment of Colbatch, however, being
as unjustifiable as that which he had received from Dr.
Middleton, provoked the vice-chancellor and heads of the
university, at a meeting in Feb. 1721, to pronounce his
book a most scandalous and malicious libel, and they resolved to inflict a proper censure upon the author, as soon
as he should be discovered: for no names had yet appeared in the controversy. Middleton then published,
with his name, an 'answer to Bentley’s Defence, entitled,
, a learned French canonist, was born at Paris, March 17, 1698.
, a learned French canonist, was
born at Paris, March 17, 1698. In his younger years he
went through a complete course of education, and even
then gave proofs of those talents in theology and general
literature which constituted the reputation of his future
life. After studying with care and success the Oriental
languages, the holy Scriptures, the fathers, church history, and the canon law, he received his degree of doctor
of divinity in April 1722. After this his attention was
particularly directed to the history and antiquities of the
laws and customs of his country, which made him often be
consulted by political and professional men, and procured
him the esteem and confidence, among others, of the celebrated chancellor D'Aguesseau. Mignot, however, amidst
these advantages, which opened an easy way to promotion,
indulged his predilection for a retired life, and was so little
desirous of public notice that he seldom, if ever, put his
name to his works; but he was not allowed to remain in
obscurity, and, although somewhat late in life, he was
elected a member of the academy of inscriptions, to whose
memoirs he furnished some excellent papers on topics of
ancient history. He died July 25, 1771, in the seventythird year of his age, leaving the following works, which
were all much esteemed in France: 1. “Trait 6 des prets
de commerce,
” Paris, Les Droits de l'etat et du prince sur les
biens du clerge,
” Histoire des
demeles de Henry II, avec St. Thomas de Cantorbery,
”
1756, 12mo, a work, if well executed, of some importance
in English history. 4. “Histoire de la reception du Concile de Trente dans les etats catholiques,
” Amst. Paraphrase sur les Psaumes,
” and some
paraphrases on other parts of the Bible. He published
also a few religious works, a Memoir on the liberties of the
Gallican church, and “La Verite de l'Histoire de PEglise
de St. Omer,
”
, a learned English divine, the second son of John Milner of Skircoat,
, a learned English divine, the second
son of John Milner of Skircoat, near Halifax in Yorkshire,
was born probably in Feb. 1627-8, as he was baptised on
the 10th of that month. After being educated at the
grammar-school of Halifax, he was sent at fourteen years
of age to Christ’s college, Cambridge, where he took the
degrees of B. A. and M. A. at the regular periods. He was
first curate of Midleton in Lancashire, but was forced
thence, on sir George Booth’s unsuccessful attempt to restore king Charles II. a little before the fight at Worcester. After this he retired to the place of his nativity,
where he lived till 1661, when Dr. Lake, then vicar of
Leeds, and his brother-in-law, gave him the curacy of
Beeston, in his parish. In 1662 he took the degree of
B. D, and the same year was made minister of St. John’s
in Leeds. He was elected vicar of Leeds in 1673, and in
1681 was chosen prebendary of Ripon. In 1688, not being
satisfied about the revolution, he removed from his vicarage, and was deprived of all his preferments; on which he
retired to St. John’s college, Cambridge, where he spent
the remainder of his days, continuing a nonjuror till his
death, which happened in St. John’s college, Feb. 16, 1702,
in his seventy- fifth year. He left an only son, Thomas
Milner, M. A. vicar of Bexhili in Sussex, who proved a
great benefactor to Magdalen college, Cambridge. Dr.
Gower, lady Margaret’s professor at Cambridge, gave the
following character of Mr. John Milner to Mr. Thoresby
“Great learning and piety made him really a great man
he was eminent in both, and nothing but his humility and
modesty kept him from being more noted for being so. I
had the happiness of much of his conversation, but still
desired more. He was a blessing to the whole society, by
the example he gave in every thing good. He died beloved, and much lamented here, and his memory is honourable and precious among us, and will long continue so.
”
and partly refers a more ample consideration of them to some future opportunity of discourse. It is a learned, elegant, and ingenious performance, although critical
, a father of the primitive
church, flourished in the third century. He is said to have
been an African by birth, but little is known of his history,
except tiiat he was a proselyte to Christianity, resided at
Rome, and followed the profession of a lawyer. He is now
known by his excellent dialogue, entitled “Octavius.
” At
what time he wrote it is a contested point, but as he appears to have imitated Tertullian, and to have been copied
by Cyprian in his treatise “De idolornm vanitate,
” it
may probably be referred to the reign of the emperor Caracalla. The speakers in this dialogue are Caecilius, a
heathen, and Octavius, a Christian; and Minucins, as their
common friend, is chosen to moderate between the two
disputants. Octavius is made to encounter the arguments
of Caecilius, and maintains the unity of God, asserts his
providence, vindicates the manners of Christians, and
partly attempts to explain their tenets, and partly refers a
more ample consideration of them to some future opportunity of discourse. It is a learned, elegant, and ingenious
performance, although critical objections may be made to
the form of the dialogue, and to some of the sentiments.
This work was, for a considerable time, attributed to Arnobius; but in 1560, Francis Baldwin, a learned lawyer,
published it at Heidelberg, in 8vo, and made the discovery in a preliminary dissertation, that Minucius was its
true author. It has, since that time, gone through many
editions, of which the best is that printed at Cambridge
in 1712, with the dissertation of Baldwin prefixed, and
w Commodiani Instructiones adversus Gentium Deos,"
added in the way of appendix. We have likewise an
excellent translation of it, with notes and illustrations,
published by sir D. Dalrymple, lord Hailes, in 1781, from
the preface to which part of the above account is taken.
, a learned man, who held the place of perpetual secretary to the
, a learned man, who held
the place of perpetual secretary to the French academy,
was born in Provence in 1674, and lived to the age of
eighty-six. He is chiefly known, as an author, by 1. “A
translation of Tasso’s Jerusalem delivered,
” which has
gone through several editions, but has since been superseded by a better, written by M. le Brun. Mirabauu took
upon him, rather too boldly, to retrench or alter what he
thought unpleasing in his author, 2. “A translation of
the Orlando Furioso,
” which has the same faults. He
wrote also a little tract entitled “Alphabet de la Fee Gracieuse,
”
, a learned German, was born at Brussels in 1573; and was first
, a learned German, was born at
Brussels in 1573; and was first almoner and librarian of
Albert, archduke of Austria. He was an ecclesiastic, and
laboured all his life for the good of the church and of his
country. He died in 1640. His works are, 1.“Elogiaillustrium Belgii scriptorum,
” Opera Historica
et Diplomatica.
” This is a collection of charters and diplomas, relating to the Low Countries. The best edition is
that of 1724, 4 vols. in folio, by Foppens, who has made
notes, corrections, and additions to it. 3. “Rerum Belgicarum Chronicon;
” useful for the history of the Low
Countries. 4. “De rebus Bohemicis,
” 12mo. 5. “Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica.
” 6. “Vita Justi Lipsii,
” &c. Penetration, and exactness in facts and citations, are usually
esteemed the characteristics of this writer.
, a learned monk and historian of the order of the Camaldoli, was
, a learned monk and
historian of the order of the Camaldoli, was born at Venice
Sept. 10, 1708, and after a course of study, during which
he distinguished himself by arduous application, and acquired the fame of great learning, he became, in 1732,
professor of philosophy and theology in the monastery of
St. Michael at Venice. Being also appointed master of
the novices, he remained in that office until 1747, when
he removed to Faenza, as chancellor of his order. Here
he first began to form the plan and collect materials for
his celebrated work, the “Annales Camaldulenses,
” in
which he had the assistance of father Anselm Costadoni.
In 1756 he was chosen abbe of his order in the state of
Venice, and became, of course, head of the monastery of
St. Michael. In 1764 he was appointed general of his
order, and went to Rome, where he was received with
every mark of respect by pope Clement XIII. He died at
St. Michael’s Aug. 14, 1777. His annals were published
in 1773, under the title of “Arinales Camaldulenses ordinis S. Benedicti ab anno 907 ad annum 1764, &c.
”
Venice, 9 vols fol. His other works were,. “Memorie
del monistero della santissima Trinita irr Fv.erza,
” Faenza,
Ad scriptores rerum Itahcarum Cl. Mnratorii
accessiones historicge Faventinae,
” &c. Venice, De litteratura Faventinorum, sive de viris dociis, et
scriptoribus urbis Faventinae (Faenza), appendix ad accessiones hist. Faventinas,
” Venice, Bibliotheca
codicum manuscriptorum monasterii S. Michaeiis Venetiaruhi, cum appendice librorum impressorum seculi XV.
”
ibid. 1779, fol.
, a learned French poet, was born in Dijon, the capital of Burgundy,
, a learned French poet,
was born in Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, June 15, 1641,
He was a man of parts and learning, had a decided taste
for poetry; and, in 1671, had a fair opportunity of displaying his talents. The subject of the prize of poetry,
founded by the members of the French academy at this
time, was, “The Suppressing of Duelling by Lewis XIV.
”
As this was the first contest of the kind, the candidates
were numerous and eager; but la Monnoye succeeded,
and had the honour of being the first who won the prize
Founded by the French academy; by which he gained a
reputation that increased ever after. In 1673, he was a
candidate for the new prize, the subject of which was,
“The protection with which his Gallic majesty honoured
the French academy;
” but his poem came too late. He
won the prize in The glory of arms and learning under Lewis XIV;
” and that also of 1677, on “The
Education of the Dauphin.
” On this occasion, the highest
compliment was made him by the abbe* Regnier; who said,
that “it would be proper for the French academy to elect
Mr. de la Monnoye upon the first vacancy, because, as he
would thereby be disqualified from writing any more, such
as should then be candidates would be encouraged to
write.
” It was indeed said, that he discontinued to write
for these prizes at the solicitation of the academy; a circumstance which, if true, reflects higher honour on him
than a thousand prizes. He wrote many other successful
pieces, and was no less applauded in Latin poetry than in
the French. Menage and Bayle have both bestowed the
highest encomiums on his Latin poetry. His Greek and
Italian poems are likewise much commended by the French
critics.
, a learned and ingenious English lady, was the daughter of Matthew
, a learned and ingenious English lady, was the daughter of Matthew Robinson, esq. of West Layton, in Yorkshire, of Coveney, Cambridgeshire, and of Mount Morris in Kent, by Elizabeth daughter and heiress of Robert Drake, esq. She was born at York, Oct. 2, 1720, but lived, for some of her early years, with her parents at Cambridge, where she derived great assistance in her education from Dr. Conyers Middleton, whom her grandmother had taken as a second husband. Her uncommon sensibility and acuteness of understanding, as well as her extraordinary beauty as a child, rendered her an object of great notice and admiration in the university, and Dr. Middleton was in the habit of requiring from her an account of the learned conversations at which, in his society, she was frequently present: not admitting of the excuse of her tender age as a disqualification, but insisting, that although at the present time she could but imperfectly understand their meaning, she would in future derive great benefit from the habit of attention inculcated by this practice. Her father, a man of considerable intellectual powers, and taste, was proud of the distinguished notice bestowed on his daughter, and contributed to increase in her the vivacity of wit with which she naturally abounded. In her early education, however, Mrs. Montague did not receive those strong impressions of the truth of divine revelation which she acquired at a later period, from her intimacy with Gilbert West and lord Lyttelton. It was reserved for the influence of the steady principles of Christianity, to correct the exuberant spirit of her genius, and to give the last touches of improvement to her character.
Boetie, in 1571; and ten years afterwards translated the “Natural Theologie” of Raimond de Sebonda, a learned Spaniard, and prefixed prefaces to both.
The first edition of Montaigne’s Essays was published
by himself in 1580, 8vo, in two books only, which were
augmented afterwards to the present number. Of the
subsequent editions, those by P. Coste are reckoned the
best, and of these, Tonson’s edition, 1724, in 3 vols. 4to,
is praised by the French bibliographers, as the most beautiful that has ever appeared. We have also two English
translations. Montaigne’s life was first written by the
president Bouhier, and prefixed to a supplementary volume of his works in 1740. Montaigne appeared once as
the editor of some of the works of Stephen de la Boetie, in
1571; and ten years afterwards translated the “Natural
Theologie
” of Raimond de Sebonda, a learned Spaniard,
and prefixed prefaces to both.
in Latin. At the end of this work, are John Comnenus’s description of Mount Athos, Gr. and Lat. with a learned preface; and a dissertation by the president Bouhier
In 1706, Montfaucon published in 2 vols. folio, a collection of the ancient Greek ecclesiastical writers, with a
Latin translation, notes, dissertations, &c. The most considerable part of this collection is “Eusebius of Caesarea’s
Commentary upon the Psalms,
” mentioned by St. Jerome,
and which we overlooked in our account of Eusebius.
Here is also Eusebius’s commentary on Isaiah, and some
inedited works of St. Athanasius, for which reason this
ic Collectio nova patrum“(for such is its title) is recommended as a companion to Montfaucon’s edition of Athanasius’s works. A second edition of both was published at
Padua in 1777, 4 vols. folio; but although it professes to
be improved
” curis novissimis,“it does not enjoy the reputation of the originals. In 1708 he published one of
his most important works, and which alone would have
given him strong claims on the learned world, his
” PaltEOgraphia Graeca, sive de ortu et progressu literarum Graecarum, et devariis omnium sasculorum scriptionis Graecye
generibus; itemque de abbreviationibus et notis variarum
artiam et disciplinarum. Additis figuris et schematibus
ad fidem manuscriptorum codicum,“folio. This invaluable work has done the same in reference to the discovery of the age of Greek Mss. which the
” De re diploir.atica" of Mabillon has done to ascertain the age of those
in Latin. At the end of this work, are John Comnenus’s
description of Mount Athos, Gr. and Lat. with a learned
preface; and a dissertation by the president Bouhier on
the ancient Greek and Latin letters.
, a learned Benedictine of the congregation of St. Maur, was born
, a learned Benedictine of the congregation of St. Maur, was born 1685, at Rheims, and died
1724, aged 39. He composed some hymns in Latin, which
are much admired, and assisted father Constant in his
“Collection of the Popes’ Letters,
” to which he wrote the
dedication and preface. This preface having displeased
the court of Rome, Mopinot defended it by several letters. He also wrote the epistle dedicatory which is prefixed to the “Thesaurus Anecdotorum;
” and had finished
the second volume of the Collection of the Popes’ letters
before his death.
, M. A. and F. S. A. a learned and indefatigable antiquary and biographer, the son
, M. A. and F. S. A. a learned and
indefatigable antiquary and biographer, the son of Stephen Morant, was born at St. Saviour’s in the isle of Jersey, Oct. 6, 1700; and, after finishing his education at
Abingdon-school, was entered Dec. 16, 1717, of Pembrokecollege, Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A. June
10, 1721, and continued till Midsummer 1722; when he
was preferred to the office of preacher of the English
church at Amsterdam, but never went to take possession.
He took the degree of M. A. in 1724, and was presented
to the rectory of Shellow Bowells, April 20, 1733; to the
vicarage of Bromfield, Jan. 17, 1733-4; to the rectory of
Chicknal Smeley, Sept. 19, 1735; to that of St. Mary’s,
Colchester, March 9, 1737; to that of Wickham Bishops,
Jan. 21, 1742-3; and to that of Aldham, Sept. 14, 1745.
All these benefices are in the county of Essex. In 1748
he published his “History of Colchester,
” of which only
An Introduction to
the Reading of the New Testament, being a translation
of that of Mess, de Beausobre and Lenfant, prefixed to
their edition of the New Testament,
” The Translation of the Notes of Mess, de Beausobre
and Lenfant on St. Matthew’s Gospel,
” The
Cruelties and Persecutions of the Romish Church displayed, &c.
” 1 epitomised those Speeches, Declarations,
&c. which Rapin had contracted out of Rushworth in the
Life of King James I. King Charles I. &c.
” 1729, 1730.
5. “Remarks on the 19th Chapter of the Second Book of
Mr. Selden’s Mare Clausum.
” Printed at the end of Mr.
Fallens “Account of Jersey,
” 1 compared
Rapin’s History with the 20 volumes of Rymer’s Fcedera,
and Acta Publica, and all the ancient and modern Historians,
and added most of the notes that were in the folio edition,
”
1728, 1734. This is acknowledged at the end of the preface in the first volume of Rapin’s History. 7. “Translation of the Notes in the Second Part of the Othman History,
by Prince Cantemir,
” The History of England, by way of Question and
Answer,
” for Thomas Astley, Hearne’s Ductor Historicus,
” and made
large additions thereto, for J. Knapton. 10. “Account
of the Spanish Invasion in 1588, by way of illustration to
the Tapestry Hangings in the House of Lords and in the
King’s Wardrobe. Engraved and published by J. Pine,
”
1739, folio. 11. “Geographia Antiqua & Nova; taken
partly from Dufresnoy’s ‘ Methode pour etudier la Geographic;’ with Ceilarius’s Maps,
” A
Summary of the History of England,
” folio, and “Lists at
the end of Mr. TindaPs Continuation of Rapin’s History,
in vol. III. being 55 sheets. Reprinted in three volumes,
”
8vo. 13. “The History and Antiquities of Colchester,
”
All the Lives
in the Biographia Britannica marked C. 1739, 1760, 7 vols.
folio. I also composed Stiliingfleet, which hath no mark
at the end.
” 15. “The History of P:ssex,
” I prepared the Rolls of Parliament for
the Press
” (as far as the 16 Henry IV.) Other works in
ms.: 17. “An Answer to the first Part of the Discourse
of the Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion, in
a Letter to a Friend, 1724. Presented in ms. to Edmund
Gibson, bishop of London.
” Never printed. This was
the beginning of Mr. Morant’s acquaintance with the bishop, whom he acknowledged as his only patron, and who
gave him several livings in the county of Essex. 18. “The
Life of King Edward the Confessor.
” 19. About 150
Sermons.
, a learned Italian lady, was born at Ferrara, in 1526. Her father
, a learned Italian lady, was born at Ferrara, in 1526. Her father taught the belles lettres in several cities of Italy: and his reputation as a teacher advanced him to be preceptor to the young princes of Ferrara, sons of Alphonsus I. The uncommon parts and turn for literature which he discovered in his daughter, induced him to cultivate them; and she soon made a very extraordinary progress. The princess of Ferrara was at that time studying polite literature, and a companion in the same pursuit being thought expedient, Morata was called to court; where she was heard, by the astonished Italians, to declaim in Latin, to speak Greek, to explain the paradoxes of Cicero, and to answer any questions that were put to her. Her father dying, and her mother being an invalid, she was obliged to return home, in order to tuke upon her the administration of the family affairs, and the education of three sisters and a brother, all which sho conducted with judgment and success. But some have said that the immediate cause of her removal from court, was a dislike which the duchess of Ferrara had conceived against her, by the misrepresentations of some of the courtiers. In the mean time, a young Oerman, named Grunthlcrus, who had studied physic, and taken his doctor’s degree at Ferrara, fell in love with her, and married her. Upon this she went with her hushand to Germany, and took her little brother with her, whom she carefully instructed in the Latin and Greek languages. They arrived at Augsburg in 1548; and, after a short stay there, went to Schweinfurt in Franconia, but had not been long there, before Schweinfurt was besieged and burnt. They escaped, however, with their lives, but remained in great distress until the elector Palatine invited Grunthler to be professor of physic at Heidelburg. He entered upon this new office in 1554, and be'gan to enjoy some degree of repose; when illness, occasioned by the hardships they had undergone, seized upon Morata, and proved fatal Oct. 26, 1555, before she was quite twenty-nine years old. She died in the Protestant religion, which she embraced upon her coming to Germany, and to which she resolutely adhered. Her husband and brother did not long survive her, and were interred in the same grave in the church of St. Peter, where is a Latin epitaph to their memory.
, a learned ecclesiastic, was born at Blois, of protestant parents,
, a learned ecclesiastic, was born at
Blois, of protestant parents, in 1591. He was instructed
in the belles lettres at Rochelle, and afterwards went to
Leyden, where he attained a critical knowledge of the
Greek, Latin, and Oriental tongues, and applied himself
to philosophy, law, mathematics, and divinity. Returning to France, he went to settle at Paris, where he gained
an acquaintance with cardinal du Perron, and was induced
by him to embrace the Roman catholic religion. Some
time after, he entered into the congregation of the oratory,
lately established, and began to make himself known by
his learning and his works. In 1626 he published some
“Exercita'ions upon the original of Patriarchs and Primates, and the ancient usage of ecclesiastical censures,
dedicated to pope Urban VIII.
” He undertook, in 1628,
the edition of the “Septuagint Bible,
” with the version
made by Nobilius; and put a preface to it, in which he
treats of the authority of the Septuagint; commends the
edition of it that had been made at Rome by order of
Sixtus V. in 1587, which he had followed; and maintains,
that we ought to prefer this version to the present Hebrew
text, because this has been, he says, corrupted by the
Jews. Before this work was ready to appear, he gave the
public, in 1629, a “History,
” written in French, of the
deliverance of the church by the emperor Constantine,
and of the greatness and temporal sovereignty conferred
on the Roman church by the kings of France; but this
performance was not well received at Rome, and Morin
was obliged to promise that he would alter and correct it.
He published, soon after, “Exercitations upon the Samaritan Pentateuch;
” for the sake of establishing which, he
attacks the integrity of the Hebrew text. The Polyglott
being then printing at Paris, Morin took upon himself the
care of the Samaritan Pentateuch; but his endeavours to
exalt this, together with the Greek and Latin versions of
the Bible, at the expence of the Hebrew, made him very
obnoxious to some learned men; and he was attacked by
Hottinger and Buxtorf in particular. This, however, enhanced his merit at the court of Rome; and cardinal Barberini invited him thither, by order of the pope, who received him very graciously, and intended to employ him
in the re-union of the Greek to the Roman church, which
was then in agitation. He was greatly caressed at Rome,
and intimate with Lucas Holstenius, LeoAllatius, and all
the learned there. After having continued nine years at
Rome, he was recalled, by order of cardinal Richelieu, to
France, where he spent the remainder of his life in learned
labours, and died of an apoplexy at Paris, Feb. 28, 1659.
, a learned critic, was born in 1531, at Paris. His taste for the
, a learned critic, was born in 1531, at Paris. His taste for the belles lettres induced him to visit Italy, where Paul Manutius employed him in his printingoffice at Venice. He afterwards taught Greek and cosmography at Vicenza, but was called from 'thence by the duke of Ferrara, in 1555. Morin at length acquired the esteem of St. Charles Boromeo, and pope Gregory XIII. and Sixtus V. engaged him in the edition of the Greek Bible of the LXX. 1587, the Latin translation is 1588, fol. and in the edition of the Vulgate, 1590, fol. He died in 1608. He was well acquainted with the belles lettres and languages, and has left among his works published by Quetif in 1675, an excellent treatise on the proper use of the sciences, of which Dupin has given a long analysis, as well as of his other works, and bestows great praise on his extensive knowledge of languages and ecclesiastical history.
, a learned French protestant, was the son of Isaac Morin, a merchant
, a learned French protestant, was the son of Isaac Morin, a merchant of Caen, and born in that city, Jan. 1, 1625. Losing his father at three years of age, his mother designed him for trade; but his taste for learning beginning to show itself very early, she determined to give him a liberal education. Accordingly he studied the classics and philosophy at Caeu, and then removed to Sedan, to study theology under Peter du Moulin, who conceived a great friendship for him. He afterwards pursued the same studies under Andrew Rivet, and made a great proficiency in the Oriental languages under Golius. Returning to his country in 164-9, he became a minister of two churches in the neighbourhood of Caen, where he was much distinguished by his uncommon parts and learning, and had several advantageous offers made him from other countries, but he preferred his own. In 1664, he was chosen minister of Caen; and his merits soon connected him in friendship with Huetius, Segrais, Bochart, and other learned townsmen. The revocation of the edict of Nantz, in 1685, obliging him to quit Caen, he retired with his wife and three children to Leyden, but soon after was called to Amsterdam, to be professor of the Oriental tongues in the university there; to which employment was joined, two years after, that of minister in ordinary. He died, after a long indisposition both of body and mind, May 5, 1700.
, a learned English bishop, first of Worcester and afterwards of
, a learned English bishop, first of Worcester and afterwards of Winchester, was sou of Francis Morley, esq. by a sister of sir John Denham, one of the barons of the Exchequer, and born in Cheapside, London, Feb. 27, 1597. He lost his parents when very young, and also his patrimony, by his father being engaged for other people’s debts. However, at fourteen, he was elected a king’s scholar at Westminster-school, and became a student of Christ-church, Oxford, in 1615; where he took the first degree in arts in 1618, and that of M. A. in 1621. After a residence of seven years in this college, he was invited to be chaplain to Robert earl of Carnarvon and his lady, with whom he lived till 1640, without seeking any preferment in the church. At the end of that time, and in his forty-third year, he was presented to the rectory of Hartfield in Sussex, which being a sinecure, he exchanged for the rectory of Mildenhall in Wiltshire; but, before this exchange, Charles I. to whom he was chaplain in ordinary, had given him a canonry of Christ-church, Oxford, in 1641, the only preferment he ever desired; and of which he gave the first year’s profit to his majesty, towards the charge of the war, then begun. In 1642 he took his degree of D. D. and preached one of the first solemn sermons before the House of Commons; but so little to their liking, that he was not commanded to print it, as all the preachers had been. Yet he was nominated one or the assembly of divines, but never appeared among them, as he preferred to remain with the king, and promote his majesty’s interest. Among other services the king employed him to engage the university of Oxford not to submit to the parliamentary visitation; and such was his success, that the convocation had the spirit to pass an act for that purpose, with only one dissenting voice, although they were then under the power of the enemy. Afterwards he was appointed by the university, with other assistants named by himself, to negociate the surrender of the Oxford garrison to the parliamentary forces, which he managed with great address. Such a decided part, however, could not fail to render him obnoxious; and accordingly in 1647, the committee for reforming the university voted his cauonry vacant. He was offered at the same time to hold it and what else he had, if he would give his word not to appear openly against them and their proceedings; but he preferred suffering with his celebrated colleagues Fell, Sanderson, Hammond, &c. Accordingly in 1648 he was deprived of all his preferments, and imprisoned for some little time. Some months before, he ha been permitted to attend upon the king at Newmarket, a one of his chaplains, and he was one of the divines who as sisted the king at the treaty of Newport in the Isle of Wight. In March 1648-9, he prepared the brave lord Capel for death, and accompanied him to the scaffold on Tower-hill. In 1649 he left England, and waited upon king Charles II. at the Hague, who received him very graciously, and carried him first into France, and afterwards to Breda, with him. But, the king not being permitted to take his own divines with him, when he set out upon his expedition to Scotland, in June 1650, Morley withdrew to the Hague; and, after a short stay there, went and lived with his friend Dr. John Earle at Antwerp, in the house of sir Charles Cotterel. After they had thus continued about a year together, sir Charles being invited to be steward to the queen of Bohemia, and Dr. Earle to attend upon James duke of York in France, Morley then removed into the family of the lady Frances Hyde, wife of sir Edward Hyde, in the same city of Antwerp; and during his residence there, which was three or four years, he read the service of the Church of England twice every day, catechised once a week, and administered the communion once a month, to all the English in that city who would attend; as he did afterwards at Breda, for four years together, in the same family. But, betwixt his going from Antwerp and his coming to Breda, he officiated at the Hague about two years, as chaplain to the queen of Bohemia, without expecting or receiving any reward. As he had been happy at home in the acquaintance and friendship of many eminent men, such as lord Falkland, sir Edward Hyde, Dr. Hammond, Dr. Sanderson, Mr. Chillingworth, Dr. Sheldon, Waller, with whom he had resided at Beaconsfield, &c. so he was also abroad, in that of Bochart, Salmasius, Daniel Heinsius, Rivet, &c.
, a learned physician and antiquary, was a native of Westmoreland,
, a learned physician and antiquary, was a native of Westmoreland, where he was born in 1716, and practised physic with considerable reputation at Kendal about 1745. At what time he removed to London we have not been able to discover, as very few particulars of his life have been recorded, but it was probably about 1751, when he was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians. In 1752 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society; and on the first establishment of the British Museum, in 1756, he was appointed under-librarian of the manuscripts and medal department. In 1760 he was elected one of the secretaries to the Royal Society, which situation he held till 1774; and in 1776, on the death of Dr. Maty, he was appointed principal librarian of the British Museum. He was also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and of the Imperial Academy of Petersburgh. He died Feb. 10, 1799, aged eighty-three, and was buried in the cemetery near the London road, Twickenham. In 1744 he married Miss Mary Berkeley, a niece of Lady Betty Germaine, by whom he had an only daughter, Elizabeth, married to James Dansie, esq. of Herefordshire. He married, secondly, in 1772, Lady Savile (mother of the amiable Sir George Savile), who died Feb. 10, 1791: in which year he married to his third wife Elizabeth Pratt, a near relation of Lady Savile. Dr. Morton was a man of great uprightness and integrity, and much admired as a scholar.
, a learned English bishop in the seventeenth century, was of the
, a learned English bishop in the
seventeenth century, was of the same family with cardinal
Morton, and was the sixth son of nineteen children of Mr.
Richard Morton, an eminent mercer and alderman of York,
by Elizabeth Leedale his wife. He was born at York,
March 20, 1564, and was 6rst educated there under Mr. Pullen, and afterwards at Halifax under Mr. Maud. In 1582
he was sent to St. John’s college in Cambridge, and placed
under the tuition of Mr. Anthony Higgon, afterwards dean
of Rippon, who left him to the care of Mr. Henry Nelson,
afterwards rector of Hougham ia Lincolnshire, who lived
to see his pupil bishop of Durham, and many years after.
In the beginning of November 1584, he was chosen to a
scholarship of Constable’s foundation, peculiar to his native county of York; and in 1586 took the degree of bachelor of arts, and in 1590 that of master, having performed the exercises requisite to each degree with great
applause. He continued his studies at his father’s charge
until March 17, 1592, when he was admitted fellow, of the
foundation of Dr. Keyson, merely on account of his merit,
against eight competitors for the place. About the same
time he was chosen logic lecturer of the university, which,
office he discharged with ^reat skill and diligence, as appeared from his lectures found among his papers. The
same year he was ordained deacon, and the year following
priest by Richard Rowland, bishop of Peterborough. He
continued five years after this in the college, pursuing his
private studies, and instructing pupils. In 1598 he took
the degree of bachelor of divinity; and ahout the same
year was presented to the rectory of Long Marston four
miles from York. He was afterwards made chaplain to the
earl of Huntingdon, lord president of the North, who selected him for his zeal and acuteness in disputing with the
Romish recusants. It was queen Elizabeth’s command to
his lordship, to prefer arguments to force with these people: and this she expressed, as the earl used to say, in the
words of scripture, “Nolo mortem peccatoris.
” Afterwards, when lord Huntingdon was dead, and lord Sheffield
was appointed lord president, Morton held a public conference before his lordship and the council, at the manor-,
house at York, with two popish recusants, then prisoners
in the castle. In 1602, when the plague raged in that
city, he behaved with the greatest charity and resolution.
The year following, the lord Eure being appointed ambassador-extraordinary to the emperor of Germany, and king
of Denmark, Morton attended him as chaplain, along with
Mr. Richard Crakenthorp, and took this opportunity to
make a valuable collection of books, as well as to visit the
universities of Germany. At his return he became chapJain to Roger earl of Rutland, and was afterwards presented
by archbishop Matthews to a prebend in the cathedral of
York. In 1606 he took the degree of doctor of divinity;
and about the same time was sworn chaplain in ordinary to
king James I. and preferred to the deanery of Gloucester,
June 22, 1607. While he was dean there, the lord Eure
above mentioned, then lord president of Wales, appointed
him one of his majesty’s council for the marches. In 1609,
he was removed to the deanery of Winchester; and while
there, the bishop (Bilson) collated him to the rectory of
Alesford. In the same year, Dr. Sutcliff, dean of Exeter,
founding a college at Chelsea, for divines to be employed
in defending the protestant religion against the papists, he
was appointed one of the fellows. About this time, he
became acquainted with Isaac Casaubon. In 1615, he
was advanced to the see of Chester and, in 1618, to that
of Lichfield and Coventry about which time he became
acquainted with Antonio de Dominis, abp. of Spalato,
whom he endeavoured to dissuade from returning to Rome.
The archbishop’s pretence for going thither was, to attempt
an unity between the church of Rome and that of England, upon those terms which he had laid down in his
book entitled “De Repnblica Christiana.
”
, a learned English clergyman, the eldest son of Robert Moss, of
, a learned English clergyman, the eldest son of Robert Moss, of Posswick, in Norfolk, was born at Gillingham in that county, in or about 1666. His father had an estate which enabled him to provide handsomely for his four sons; Robert, the subject of this article, Samuel, who was brought up- as a merchant William, who died possessed of his father’s estate at Posswick and Charles Moss, M. D. Robert, after being educated at the public school at Norwich, was entered as a sizar of Bene‘t college, Cambridge, in 1682, and distinguished himself so much in his academical studies, that, after having taken his bachelor’s degree, he was chosen to a Norfolk fellowship, and became eminent also as a successful tutor. H’e received deacon’s orders in 1688, and priest’s in 1690. In 1693 he was appointed one of the twelve university preachers. His sermons at St. Mary’s were always attended by a full audience, as well as his disputations in the schools, in which he shewed a clear and distinguishing head, reasoned justly and closely in defending a question, and urged his objections with great acuteness when he bore the part of the opponent, always expressing himself with great ease and fluency, and in elegant Latin. After he had kept a divinity-act in the schools, in 1696, for the degree of B. D. there being a public commencement that year, he voluntarily undertook another on that occasion in St. Mary’s, where the commencement was held before the erection of the new regent-house, and acquitted himself in both to the general satisfaction; particularly, in maintaining the necessity of believing our Saviour as the true God, against the doctrine of Episcopius.
, was a learned and pious Irish prelate, of whose early history we find
, was a learned and pious Irish
prelate, of whose early history we find no account. Mr.
Nichols, in his “Anecdotes,
” says that he “appears to
have been appointed to be minister of St. Peter’s, Paul’s
Wharf, London, after the sequestration of Edward Merbury;
” but this is quite, inconsistent with bishop Kenn’s
account of him, in his funeral sermon on lady Margaret
Maynard. There he says that Dr. Mossom, during the
usurpation, was silenced, plundered, and persecuted. After the restoration we can trace him more exactly. He
was made, in 1660, dean of Christ Church, Dublin, and
in 1662, prebendary of Knaresborough in the cathedral of
York. From thence he was promoted to the see of Derry
in March 1666, with which he held his deanery of Christ
Church, but resigned his prebend. He died at Londonderry, Dec. 21, 1679, and was buried in the cathedral.
Harris mentions his book entitled “The Preacher’s Tripartite,
” Lond. Variae colloquendi Formulas, in usum condiscipulorum in palaestra
literaria sub paterno moderamine vires Minervales exercentium, parthn collects, partim composite a Roberto
Mossom,
” Lond. Narrative panegyrical
on the life, &c. of George Wild, bishop of Derry,
” Zion’s prospect in its first view, in a summary
of divine truths, viz. of God, Providence, decrees,
” &c.
, a learned English divine, born in 1578, at Dorney in Buckinghamshire,
, a learned
English divine, born in 1578, at Dorney in Buckinghamshire, was the son of the rev. Lawrence Mountague, vicar
of that place. He was educated at Eton school, on the
foundation, and was elected thence to King’s college,
Cambridge, in 1594, where he obtained a fellowship. After
taking his bachelor’s degree in 1598, and that of M. A. in
1602, he entered into orders, and obtained the living of
Wotton-Courtney in the diocese of Wells, and also a prebend of that church. The editor of his life in the Biog.
Brit, says that his next promotion was to a fellowship of
Eton college, where he assisted sir Henry Savile in preparing his celebrated edition of St. Chrysostom’s works;
and in 1610, he published there, in 4to, “The two Invectives of Gregory Nazianzen against Julian,
” with the notes
of Nonnus; but although the latter part of this may be true,
he was not chosen fellow of Eton until April 29, 1613, in
which year also (May 14) he was inducted into the rectory
of Stamford Rivers in Essex, then in the gift of Eton college. On the death of Isaac Casaubon, he was requested
by the king to write some animadversions on the Annals of
Baronius, for which he was well qualified, having made
ecclesiastical history very much his study from his earliest
years. He had in fact begun to make notes on Baronius
for his private use, which coming to the ears of the king,
James I., himself no contemptible theologian, he intimated
his pleasure on the subject to Mr. Mountagu, who began
to prepare for the press in 1615. He was at this time
chaplain to his majesty, and the following year was promoted to the deanery of Hereford, which he resigned soon
after for the archdeaconry, and was admitted into that
office Sept. 15, 1617. In July 1620, he proceeded bachelor of divinity, and with his fellowship of Eton held, by
dispensation, a canonry of Windsor.
t. Stephen, Coleman-street, with a monument, on which he is styled citizen and draper of London, and a learned antiquary. It appears that he collected the arms of
This author, of whom various particulars, with specimens of his works, may be seen in our authorities, died m
his eightieth year, Aug. 10, 1633, and was buried in the
parish church of St. Stephen, Coleman-street, with a monument, on which he is styled citizen and draper of London, and a learned antiquary. It appears that he collected
the arms of the county of Middlesex, lately transferred
from sir Simeon Stuart’s library to the British Museum
and was in 1618 the editor of a reprint of Stow’s “Survey
of London,
” with additions.
, a learned Italian antiquary, and one of the most voluminous writers
, a learned Italian antiquary, and one of the most voluminous writers of his age
and country, was born at Vignola in the duchy of Modena,
Oct. 21, 1672. He was educated at Modena, and his inclination leading him to the church, as a profession, he
went through the regular courses of philosophy and divinity, but without neglecting polite literature, to which he
was early attached. Bacchiiri recommended the ecclesiastical writers to his attention, and he at length became
so devoted to general reading, as to pay little attention to
his destined profession. In 1695, the knowledge of books
which he had accumulated, procured him the place of one
of the librarians of the celebrated Ambrosian collection at
Milan; and although he had by this time received his doctor’s degree and been admitted into orders, it was now
that he entered upon that course of study and research
which distinguished him in future life. His first publication was vols. I and II. of his “Anecdota Latina,
” printed
at Milan in Vita et Rime di Carlo M. Maggi,
” printed at Milan,
5 vols. and in 1703 published his “Primi disegni della
Republica Letteraria d'ltalia;
” this was followed by “Prolegomena, &c. in librum, cui titulus, Elucidatio Augustiniange de divina gratia doctrinae,
” Cologn, Lettere ai generosi e cortesi Letterati d'ltalia,
” Venice, Delia Perfetta Poesia Italiana, &c.
” 2 vols. a very ingenious dissertation on Italian poetry, which occasioned a
prolonged controversy, now no longer interesting. Two
editions, however, were afterwards published, with critical
notes by Salvini, the one in 1724, 2 vols. 4to. and the
other, which is esteemed the best, in 1748. He published
also at Bologna in 1707, “Lettera in disesa del March.
G. G. Orsi;
” and “Introduzione alle paci private,
” Modena, Riflessioni
SDpra il buon gusto, &c.
” of which a second part appeared
at Naples in Osservazioni sopra una lettera intitolata, II dominio temporale della sede Apostolica sopra la citta di
Comacchio,
” &c. Modena, 1708; and “Epistola ad Jo.
Albert. Fabricium,
” Anecdota Grseca,
” Gr. & Lat. 4to, which, as well as his
“Anecdota Latina,
” (completed in 4 vols. at Padua, 1713)
were taken from Mss. in the Ambrosian library. He
published also before 1715 some other works of lesser value,
which, however, showed how intense his labours were, for
he had accepted of some preferments in the church, the
duties of which he performed with great assiduity, and wai
particularly distinguished for his humane care of the poor,
who indeed shared the greater part of the profits of his
benefices, and the rest went to the repairs or furniture of
the churches under his care.
, a learned Spanish physician, divine, and botanist, was born at
, a learned Spanish physician, divine, and botanist, was born at Cadiz in 1734.
He studied medicine at his native place and at Seville, and
having obtained much reputation, was appointed professor
of anatomy at Madrid, where he signalized himself by his
physiological knowledge. In 1760 the marquis della Vega,
being appointed viceroy of New Granada, solicited Mutis
to accompany him as his physician. On his arrival at
Santa Fe de Bogota, the capital of New Granada, Mutis,
by permission of the viceroy, undertook to introduce the
mathematics as a branch of study in the university, and his
lectures on that subject were heard with attention and admiration, and he was at length, by the authority of the
Spanish government, established professor of philosophy,
mathematics, and natural history, at Santa Fe. While
enjoying this post, some unfortunate speculations in the
mines, which exhausted his pecuniary resources, occasioned his taking orders in the church, and his clerical
duties now shared a considerable portion of his time. Part
of it likewise was employed in botanical researches, and
he corresponded with Linnæus, to whom he sent numerous
specimens [of his own discover) 7 particularly the Mutisia,
so named in honour of him by Linnæus. In 1776 he
settled at Sapo, in the government of Mariquita, where he
had many enviable opportunities of discovering and collecting singular plants and flowers. In 1778 don Antonio
Caballeroy Gorgora, the new archbishop, on his arrival at
Santa Fe, discovered the superior merits of Mutis, and
determined to extricate him from his difficulties, and procure him a pension, with the appointment of botanist and
astronomer to the king. Accordingly, under the patronage of this liberal prelate, he became the superintendant
of a botanical school for investigating the plants of America.
In 1783, attended by some of his pupils, and several
draughtsmen, he made a tour through the kingdom of New
Granada; and by his diligence much new light was thrown
upon the history of the Peruvian bark, and its various
species. He also taught his countrymen the culture and
the value of indigo. His health having suffered from the
climate of Mariquita, he was directed to repair to Santa
F, and to fix on some of his pupils, whose y; uth and
constitutions might be more adequate to such labours. In
1797 he had an opportunity to visit Paris, to consult with
Jussieu, and the other eminent botanists of that capital,
concerning the composition of a “Flora Bogotensis,
” and
to make himself master of all the new improvements and
discoveries. He remained at Paris till 1801, when he went
back to Madrid. Whether he subsequently returned to
his native country, we know not, but in 1804 he was appointed to the professorship of Botany, and superintendance of the royal garden at Madrid. Although his advancing age made repose now in some measure necessary,
he continued to be serviceable to the government of his
native country, and to the prosperity of that in which he
had so long been naturalized. He lived to an advanced
age, but of the precise date of his death we are not
informed.
, a learned divine and antiquary, was born in 1740, at Norwich,
, a learned divine and antiquary, was born in 1740, at Norwich, of reputable parents. His father, who was of a Scotch family, had his son’s grammatical education completed at Amsterdam. Thence he was removed to Bene't college, Cambridge, where his ingenuous and open temper gained him the love and esteem of the whole society, who elected him a fellow, after he had taken his degree of B. A. in 1764. In 1767 he took the degree of M. A. and was frequently honoured for his application and proficiency in every branch of academic studies. Having entered into holy orders, he served the sequestration of Hinxton in Cambridgeshire for some years, to which he was presented by bishop Mavvson, and was junior proctor of the university in 1771. He was afterwards elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and became one of his majesty’s justices of peace for the county of Cambridge. In this situation he was eminently conspicuous for his correct knowledge and mild administration of the laws; and he filled the office of chairman at the sessions of Cambridge and Ely with moderation, justice, and impartiality, at once distinguishing himself as the gentleman, the lawyer, and the divine.
, a learned rabbi, who flourished in the fifteenth century, was
, a learned rabbi, who flourished in the
fifteenth century, was the first Jew who compiled a Hebrew concordance to the bible, principally, as he allowed,
from Latin concordances. It was entitled “Light to the
Path,
” or “Meir Netib,
” and was first printed at Venice
in
, a learned French writer and bibliographer, was born at Paris in
, a learned French
writer and bibliographer, was born at Paris in the beginning of February 1600, and having discovered a strong
inclination in his earliest years for reading, his parents
determined to give him every benefit of education. After
studying Latin, and being initiated in the principles of religion, in a community of the religious, he was sent to the
university, where he made such proficiency in humanity
and philosophy, as to be admitted to the degree of master
of arts much before the usual age. He then, principally
by the advice of his friends, began to study with a view to
the church; but this was not agreeable to his sentiments,
which were more free in matters of religion than consisted
with a cordial profession of the prevailing tenets. He
therefore soon preferred the study of medicine, and in 1626
attended the lectures with such application as to acquire a
name in the world. Henry de Mesmes, president-a-mortier, hearing of him, appointed him to that for which it
appeared afterwards he was best qualified, the office of librarian; and it was for this patron’s use that he wrote his
excellent little work, entitled “Avis pour dresser une
Bibliotheque,
” printed at Paris in Traite des plus belles Bibliotheques.
”
. 12mo, with notes and reflections by Louis du May. 5. “Bibliographia Politica,” Leyden, 1642, 16mo, a learned work, but not very correct. 6. “Hieronymi Cardani vita,”
While at Padua he lost his father, which obliged him to
return to Paris to settle his affairs. In 1628, the faculty of
medicine chose him to make the ordinary harangues at the
admission of licentiates, which he performed entirely to
their satisfaction. One of these, in Latin, on the origin
and dignity of the medical school at Paris, was printed
there in 1628, in octavo. He was then recommended by
one of his friends to cardinal Bagni, who appointed him
his librarian and Latin secretary. He took him also to
Rome in 1631, and Naud had an opportunity of forming
an acquaintance with the celebrated Peiresc, as the cardinal
travelled by the way of Beaugensier, on purpose to see his
old friend, who complimented him very warmly on having
acquired for a librarian a young man of Naude’s extensive
knowledge of books. While on this journey, Naude went
to Padua, where, in 1633, he received the degree of
doctor of philosophy and medicine, in order to support
the character of physician to Louis XIII. with which he
had been honoured. On the death of cardinal Bagni, in
1640, he intended to return to France, but had so many
liberal offers to remain in Italy, that he changed his mincl,
and determined to attach himself to cardinal Barberini.
There is much difference of dates amongst his biographers
respecting his return from Paris. All we can decide is,
that he acted there as librarian to cardinal Mazarine, and
that he collected for him a library of 40,OO0 volumes, the
greatest that had then appeared in France. But the cardinal died in 1642, and he consequently could not have
long been in his service. Perhaps he was employed to
make purchases for this library when in Italy, &c. The
cardinal appears not to have rewarded him with much liberality, and in 1648 we find him complaining of being
neglected. He had, however, a greater mortification to
undergo in 1652, when this fine collection was sold by order of the parliament. He is said to have been greatly irritated on this occasion, and bought all the medical books
it contained for 3500 livres Isaac Vossius now recommended him to Christina queen of Sweden, with whom
he resided a few months as librarian, or rather to fill up
that station in the absence of Vossius, who was at this time
in disgrace. Isiaude, however, neither liked the employment nor the people, and took an early opportunity to give
in his resignation; on which occasion the queen, and some
other persons of rank, testified their regard for him by various presents. The fatigue of his journey on returning
brought on a fever, which obliged him to stop at Abbeville,
where he died July 29, 1653. Naude was a man of great
learning, and in his private conduct, correct, prudent, and
friendly. His sentiments, as we have noticed, were on
some subjects, very liberal, but on others he deserves less
praise. While he played the freethinker so far as to despise
some parts of the belief of his church, he could gravely
vindicate the massacres of St. Bartholomew, as a measure
of political expedience. His works are very numerous.
To the few already mentioned we may add, 1. “Le Marfore, ou Discours contre les libelles.
” Paris, Instruction & la France sur la verit de l'histoire des
freres de la Rose-croix,
” ibid. Addition a Thistoire de
Louis XI.
” ibid. 1630. 4. “Consideration politique sur
les coups d'Etat, par G. N. P.
” Rome, (i. e. Paris), Bibliographia Politica,
”
Leyden, Hieronymi Cardani vita,
” Paris, Jugement de tout ce qui a ete imprim6 contre le
cardinal Mazarin depuis Jan. 6, jusqu'au 1 Avril, 1649,
”
Paris, 1641, 4to. This curious work, which is of great rarity,
is sometimes called “Mascurat,
” and consists of a dialogue
between St. Ange, a librarian, L e. Naude, and Mascurat,
a printer, i. e. Camusat. 7. “Avis a Nosseigneurs du
pariement sur la vente de la Bibliotheque du cardinal Mazarin,
” 1G52, 4to. 8. “Nundaeana et Patiniana,
” Paris,
a learned Italian scholar and poet, was born at Venice, of a patrician
a learned Italian scholar and poet, was born at Venice, of a patrician family, in 1483, and was instructed in Latin and Greek at Venice and Padua, under Sabellicus and Marcus Musurus. In the Latin language and composition he acquired great facility and taste, as appeared by his subsequent productions; and also cultivated Italian poetry, in his youth, with equal success. He appears to have embarked both in military and political life. He attended his friend Livanius, the Venetian general, in some of his expeditions and one of his most elegant Latin poems was a funeral elogy on that officer. His political talents recommended him t6 the office of Venetian ambassador at the court of Charles V. when the Italian States began to take the alarm at that monarch’s apparent projects of aggrandizement. He was afterwards deputed on a similar mission to Francis I.; but too great solicitude on this occasion is supposed to have been fatal to him. After travelling with great speed to France, he had scarce paid his respects to the monarch when he was seized with a fever, at Blois, and died in 1529, in his forty-sixth year.
, a learned and pious English gentleman, was born June 22, 1656,
, a learned and pious English gentleman, was born June 22, 1656, at London. He was the son of Mr. John Nelson, a considerable Turkey merchant of that city, by Delicia his wife, sister of sir Gabriel Roberts, also a London merchant. His father dying when he was but two years old, he was committed to the care of his mother, and her brother sir Gabriel, who was appointed his guardian. His first education was at St. Paul’s school, London; but, after some time, his mother wishing to have him more under her eye, took him home to her house at Dryfield, near Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, and procured the learned Dr. George Bull, then rector of Suddington in that neighbourhood, to be his tutor. As soon as he was fit for the university, he was sent to Trinity college, Cambridge, first as pensioner, and afterwards was admitted a fellow commoner. It is not improbable, that Dr. (afterwards archbishop) Tillotson was consulted on this occasion, as he was intimately acquainted with the guardian, sir Gabriel Roberts: however, it is certain that Mr. Nelson was early known to that eminent divine, and very much esteemed by him.
, the son of Callistus Xanthopulus, a learned monk of Constantinople, is placed by Wharton at 1333,
, the son of Callistus Xanthopulus, a learned monk of Constantinople, is placed by
Wharton at 1333, but by Lardner in 1325. He wrote in
Greek an “Ecclesiastical History,
” in twenty-three books,
eighteen of which are still extant, containing the transactions of the church from the birth of Christ to the death of
the emperor Phocas in the year 610. We have nothing
left besides the arguments of the five other books, from the
commencement of the reign of the emperor Heraclius to
the end of that of Leo the philosopher, who died in the
year 911. He dedicated this history to the emperor Andronicus Palseologus the elder: it was translated into Latin,
by John Langius, and has gone through several editions,
the best of which is that of Paris, in 1630. There is only
one manuscript of this history, which was said to be formerly in the library of Matthias, king of Hungary, and
now in that of Vienna. Nicephorus was no more than
thirty years of age when he compiled it, and it is said to
abound in fables, and therefore has been treated with contempt by Beza, and by Gesner. Some other pieces are
ascribed to our author. Labbe, in his preliminary discourse
prefixed to the “Byzantine Historians,
” has given a catalogue of the emperors and patriarchs of Constantinople,
composed by Nicephorus. His abridgment of the Bible
in iambic verse was printed at Basil in 1536, and Dr. Hody
has attributed to him a small piece which he published in
Greek and Latin, during his controversy with Mr. Dodwell, under the title of “Anglicani Schismatis Redargutio.
” His homilies on Mary Magdalen are also inserted
in Bandini “Monumenta,
”
Dr. Lawrence. In 1748 he was appointed lecturer on surgery to the college, and began his course with a learned and elegant dissertation on the “Anima Medica,” which
In 1745 Dr. Nichols left Oxford finally, and was succeeded in his professorship by Dr. Lawrence. In 1748
he was appointed lecturer on surgery to the college, and
began his course with a learned and elegant dissertation on
the “Anima Medica,
” which was published as a separate
work in The Petition of the unborn Babes to the Censors of the Royal College of Physicians in London,
” in which Dr. Nesbitt, Dr. Maule, Dr.
JBarrowby principally, and sir William Browne, yir Edward
Hulse, and the Scots, were the objects of his satire.
“a considerable preferment, bestowed in a most obliging and generous manner.” 4. “The Advantages of a learned Education,” a sermon preached at a school-feast, 1698,
That he deserved more attention, will appear from the
following list of his useful publications. 1. “An Answer
to an Heretical Book called `The naked Gospel,' which
was condemned and ordered to be publicly burnt by the
Convocation of the University of Oxon, Aug. 19, 1690,
with some Reflections on Dr. Bury’s new edition of that
book,
” A short History of Socinianism,
”
printed with the answer before-mentioned; and dedicated
to his patron the earl of Montague. 3, “A Practical
Essay on the Contempt of the World,
” sir John Trevor, master of the rolls,
” to whom
the author acknowledges his obligations for “a considerable preferment, bestowed in a most obliging and generous
manner.
” 4. “The Advantages of a learned Education,
”
a sermon preached at a school-feast, The
Duty of Inferiors towards their Superiors, in five practical
discourses; shewing, I. The Duty of Subjects to their
Princes. II. The Duty of Children to their Parents.
III. The Duty of Servants to their Masters. IV. The
Duty of Wives to their Husbands. V. The Duty of Parishioners and the Laity to their Pastors and Clergy. To
which is prefixed a dissertation concerning the divine
right of Princes,
” 1701, 8vo. 6. “An Introduction to a
Devout Life, by Francis Sales, bishop and prince of Geneva; translated and reformed from the Errors of the
Romish edition. To which is prefixed, a Discourse of the
Rise and Progress of the Spiritual Books in the Romish.
Church,
” A Treatise of Consolation to
Parents for the Death of theirChildren written upon the
occasion of the Death of the Duke of Gloucester and addressed to the most illustrious Princess Anue of Denmark,
”
God’s Blessing on Mineral Waters;
” a
Sermon preached at the chapel at Tunbridge Wells,“1702,
4to. 9.
” A Conference with a Theist, in five parts; dedicated to the Queen’s most excellent Majesty,“1703,
8vo; of which a third edition, with the addition of two
Conferences, the one with a Machiavelian, the other with
an Atheist, all carefully revised and prepared for the pres$
by the author, was published in 1723, 2 vols. 8vo. This
was particularly designed, says Leland, by the learned and
ingenious author, in opposition to the
” Oracles of Reason,“published by Blount; and he has not left any material part of that work unanswered. 10.
” A Practical Essayon the Contempt of the World; to which is prefixed, a Preface to the Deists and vicious Libertines of the
Age,“1704, 2d edit. 8vo. 11.
” The Religion of a Princes
shewing that the Precepts of the Holy Scriptures are the
best maxims of Government,“1704, 8vo, in opposition to
Machiavel, Hobbes, c. and written when the queen gave
up the tenths and first fruits to the inferior clergy. 12.
” Defensio Ecclesiae Anglicanae,“1707, 12mo. 13.
” A
Paraphrase on the Common Prayer, with Notes on the
Sundays and Holidays,“1708, 8vo. 14.
” Afflictions the
lot of God’s children, a Sermon on the Death of Prince
George,“1709, 8vo. 15.
” A Comment on the Book of
Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments,“&c. 1710, folio. This volume has the royal licence prefixed, and a list of more than 900 subscribers. In his
dedication to the queen, he notices, as what never happened before, that all the copies were bespoke or paid for
before the day of publication. It still continues to be
printed in 8vo. The late sir James Stonhouse, in a letter
to the rev. Thomas Stedman, dated 1793, says of this
work,
” I would have you recommend it to every family
in your parish as it will shew them the use of the common
prayer and psalms, as read in our churches, and be a
standard book from father to son.“16.
” A Supplement
to the Commentary on the Book of Common Prayer,“1711, folio. In the preface to this supplement, Dr. Nichols mentions
” a long fit of illness with which God had
pleased to visit him, and a very unestablished state of
health both before and after it.“This illness appears soon
to have ended in his death. 17.
” Historic Sacroe Libri
VII. Ex Antonii Cocceii Sabellici Eneadibus concinnatum,
in usum Scholarurn et Juventutis Christianae,“1711, 12mo.
18
” A Commentary on the first fifteen, and part of the
sixteenth Articles of the Church of England,“1712, fol.
39.
” A Defence of the Doctrine and Discipline of the
Church of England; first written in Latin, for the use of
foreigners, by William Nichols, D. D. and translated into
English by himself,“1715, 12mo. Dr. Nichols was
reckoned a very excellent scholar, and was known abroad as
well as at home by the learned correspondence he kept
with foreigners of eminence. A volume of such correspondence with JaUlonski, Osterwald, Wetstein, &c. was
presented by his widow Catharine Nichols to the archbishop
of Canterbury, Oct. 28,* 1712, to be deposited either in
Lambeth or St. Martin’s library, and is now among the
valuable Mss. at Lambeth, No. 676. He died in the end
of April 1712, and was buried in St. Swithin’s church
May 5. It may not be improper to distinguish this pious
divine from his name-sake William Nichols, M. A. and
rector of Stockport, in Cheshire, who was a student
of Christ church, Oxford, and. published, 1.
” De Literis
jnventis Libri sex ad illustrissinuum Principem Thomam,
Herbertum, Pembrokiae Comitem,“&c. 1711, 8vo. 2.
” Oratio corarn venerabili Spcietate promovenda Religione
Christiana habita Londini, Dec. 29, 171.&,“12mo; and,
3.
” Περι Αρχων Libri Septem. Accedunt Liturgica,"
1717, 12mo.
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne, and Dominican, was born in 1594,
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne,
and Dominican, was born in 1594, at Monza, a village
in the diocese of Verdun, near Stenay. After taking a
doctor’s degree in 1632, he taught theology in tl?e house
of his order at Paris, for about twenty years. He was
elected prior in 166 1, and died May 7, 1673, aged seventyeight. He was the editor of a good edition of the “Summary
” of St. Thomas, with notes, and of all that doctor’s
works, Lyons, 1660, 19 vols. fol. He also published five
Dissertations on several points of ecclesiastical discipline,
againstM.de Launoi, 12mo; “Judicium, seu censorium
suffragium de propositions Antonii Arnaldi,
” &c. 4to,
which last he likewise published in French by the title of
“Avis deliberatif,
” &c. 4to. This relates to the much
contested proposition of M. Arnauld, that “Grace failed
in St. Peter,
” and it was answered by M. Arnauld, Nicole,
and de la Lane. He was the author of other works, in
which are some singular opinions, but which are now of
little consequence. He must, however, be distinguished
from Philip Nicolai, a learned divine, who died in 1608,
and from Melchior Nicolai, a celebrated professor of
divinity at Tubingen, who died in 1659. Both these
wrote commentaries and controversial treatises, noticed in
“Freheri Theatrum,
” and our other authorities.
, a learned English prelate and antiquary, was both by the father
, a learned English prelate and antiquary, was both by the father and mother’s side of Cumberland extraction. His grandfather was Joseph Nicolson, of Averas Holme in that county, who married Radigunda- Scott, heiress to an estate at Park Broom, in the parish of Stanvvix which estate descended to Catherine eldest surviving daughter of our prelate. His father, who married Mary daughter of John Brisco of Grofton, esq. was a clergyman, of Queen’s college, Oxford; and rector of Orton near Carlisle. He was born at Orton in 1655, and in 1670 was entered of Queen’s college, under the tuition of Dr. Thos. Barlow, afterwards bishop of Lincoln, and took his degree of B. A. in 1676. While here he became known to sir Joseph Williamson, then secretary of state, the great benefactor to Queen’s college, and the patron of many of its scholars, who in 1678 sent him to Leipsic to learn the septentrional languages. While there he translated into Latin an essay of Mr. Hook’s, containing a proof of the motion of the earth from the sun’s parallax, which was printed at Leipsic by the professor who had recommended the task.
, a learned Frenchman, was born at Nismes in the beginning of the
, a learned Frenchman, was born at
Nismes in the beginning of the sixteenth century. He came
to Paris early in life, and acquired the esteem of the learned
men of that time. He was also so favourably received at
court, that in 1559 he was made master of requests in the
lung’s household, and the same year was sent as ambassador to Portugal. Of the nature of his embassy, or his talents in executing its duties, we have no information; but
he was the means while in that country of introducing the
use of tobacco in Europe. Of this herb, then called Petun,
he received some seeds from a Dutchman, who had them
from Florida. It then became an object of cultivation or
importation in France, and the name Nicotiana was given
to it in honour of him. This, it has been observed by Dr.
Johnson, is a proper compliment, for a plant is a monument
of a more durable nature than a medal or an obelisk; and
yet, he adds, “as a proof that even this is not always sufficient to transmit to futurity the name conjoined with
them, the Nicotiana is now scarcely known by any other
term than that of tobacco.
”
on navigation, the first part of which was published there in 1793. In 1789 he was chosen member of a learned society, distinguished by the motto of Felix Mentis,
Nieuwland’s talents and diligence recommended him to the notice of his country. In 1786, he was appointed a member of the commission chosen by the college of admiralty at Amsterdam, for determining the longitude, and improving marine charts. On this labour he was employed eight years, and had also a considerable share in preparing a nautical almanack. While at Amsterdam, where he had been invited to give lectures on mathematics, he wrote his useful and excellent treatise on navigation, the first part of which was published there in 1793. In 1789 he was chosen member of a learned society, distinguished by the motto of Felix Mentis, whose object was chemical experiments; and contributed many very valuable papers to it. In July 1793 he was invited to the university of Leyden, to be professor of philosophy, astronomy, and the higher mathematics, in the room of the celebrated Damen; and the admiralty of Amsterdam requested him to continue his nautical researches, which he did with great assiduity till the period of his death. The only variation which he now made in his studies related to natural philosophy, for with the mathematics he was already sufficiently acquainted. He applied himself, therefore, to the experimental part, and spared no pains or labour to become perfect in it; which would certainly have been the case, had he not been snatched from science and his friends at the early age of thirty. He died of an inflammation in his throat, accompanied with a fever, Nov. 13, 1794.
a learned Italian, was born at Sessa, in the kingdom of Naples,
a learned Italian, was born at
Sessa, in the kingdom of Naples, in 1473. About 1500,
he was appointed professor of philosophy at Padua, where
he composed a treatise “De Intellectu et Duemonibus,
” in
which he maintained that there is but one soul, which animates all nature. This raised many opponents, and he was
forced to publish his treatise with amendments in 1492,
fol. reprinted 1503 and 1527. He afterwards gained so
much reputation by his other works, however insignificant
they may now appear, that the most celebrated universities
of Italy offered him professorships with large stipends; and
he had a salary of a thousand crowns in gold, when professor at Pisa, about 1520. Pope Leo X. had such a
value for Niphus, that he made him count palatine, permitted him to quarter his arms with those of the Medici
family, and granted him power to create masters of arts,
bachelors, licentiates, doctors of divinity, civil and canon
law, to legitimate bastards, and to ennoble three persons.
The letters patent which conveyed these singular privileges,
are dated June 15, 1521. Niphus was a philosopher in
theory only, being remarkable even in old age for levity
and intrigue. He also loved high living; and such were
the charms of his conversation, that he had easy access to
the nobility and ladies of rank. The year in which he died
is not exactly known, but it is certain that he was living in
1545, and dead in 1550, and that he was above seventy
at the time of his death. He left Commentaries in Latin
on Aristotle and Averroes, 14 vols. fol.; some smaller
works on subjects of morality and politics, Paris, 1645,
4to a treatise “on the Immortality of the Soul,
” against
Pomponatius, Venice, 1518, fol. “De amore, de pulchro,
Veneris et Cupidinis venales,
” Leydae,
, a learned Italian, was born at Verona, of a family that had produced
, a learned Italian, was born at
Verona, of a family that had produced several men of letters about the beginning of the sixteenth century. In early
life he became introduced to John-Matthew Giberti, bishop of Verona, at whose house he had an opportunity of
profiting by the conversation of various learned men. The
Greek appears to have been his favourite study, and his
fame was established by his able translations from that language. In September 1545, he was employed, with two
other persons of consequence at Verona, to furnish provisions for that city, at a time when a scarcity was apprehended; but not long after we find him at the council of
Trent, where he delivered an harangue that was published
at the end of his “Apostolicae Institutiones.
” In
, a learned physician at Antwerp, who flourished in the seventeenth
, a learned physician
at Antwerp, who flourished in the seventeenth century,
was the author of a curious treatise, entitled “Pieteticon,
sive de Re cibaria;
” containing several remarks illustrative
of those passages in the Latin Roman poets, particularly
Horace, Juvenal, and Persius, which relate to the luxury
of the old Roman tables. It was published in 4to in 1646,
at Antwerp. He renewed the opinion of the ancient physicians, who have written “De salubri Piscium alimento,
”
or the wholesomeness of a fish diet; and endeavoured to
shew, that, according to them, fish is especially a proper
aliment for sedentary persons, for the aged, sick, and such
as are of a weak constitution, as it generates blood of a
moderate consistence, which suits their habit. In this
work Nonius complains of the Arabians, who, in translating the Greek physicians, have omitted all passages
relating to fish; because the Arabs eat little of this kind
of aliment, which in that hot and dry country is rarely to
be met with. Nonius also printed a very large commentary in 1620, upon the Greek medals, and those of
Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Tiberius, which had been
engraved about fifty-five years before by Goltzius, and
published in folio at that time by James de Bye, another
celebrated engraver. Besides these, he wrote “Hispania;
seu de Oppidis Fluminibusque Hispanise,
” Icthyophagia, seu de Usu Piscium,
” and “Epicaedium
Justo Lipsio,
” &c.
, a learned English divine and Platonic philosopher, was born in
, a learned English divine and Platonic
philosopher, was born in 1657, at Collingborne-Kingston,
in Wiltshire, of which place his father, Mr. John Norris,
was then minister. After being educated in grammar, &c,
at Winchester school, he was entered of Exeter college in
Oxford in 1676; but was elected fellow of All Souls in
1680, soon after he had taken his degree of bachelor of
arts. From his first application to philosophy, Plato became his favourite author; by degrees he grew deeply
enamoured with beauties in that divine writer, as he
thought him, and took an early occasion to communicate
his ideal happiness to the public, by printing an English
translation of a rhapsody entitled “Effigies Arnoris,
” but
which he called “The Picture of Love unveiled,
” in
1693, 8vo. 15. “Two treatises concerning the divine light. The first being an answer to a letter of a learned Quaker (Mr. Vickris), which he is pleased to call A
His works were, 1. “The picture of Love unveiled,
”
already mentioned. 2. “Hierocles upon the golden verses
of the Pythagoreans,
” Oxford, An idea
of Happiness, in a letter to a friend, inquiring wherein the
greatest happiness attainable by man in this life doth consist,
” London, A Murnival of Knaves;
or Whiggism plainly displayed and burlesqued out of countenance,
” London, Tractatus adversus
Reprobationis absolutae Decretum, nova methodo & snccinctissimo compendio adornatus, & in duos libros digestus,
” London, Poems and discourses occasionally written,
”
Lond. The institution and life of Cyrus,
” from
Xenophon, Lond. A collection of Miscellanies, consisting of Poems,
Essays, Discourses, and Letters occasionally written,
” Oxford, 1637, 8vo. The fifth edition, carefully revised, corrected, and improved by the author, was printed at London, 1710, in 8vo. - This has been the most popular of all
his works, and affords the picture of a truly amiable mind.
9. “The theory and regulation of Love, a moral essay,
”
Oxford, Reason and Religion; or the
grounds and measures of Devotion considered from the nature of God and the nature of man, in several contemplations. With exercises of devotion applied to every contemplation,
” Lond. Reflections upon
the conduct of human life with reference to the study of
learning and knowledge; in a letter to the excellent lady,
the lady Mashana,
” Lond. Visitation sermon on John xi. 15. preached at
the Abbey Church at Bath, July the 30th, 1689. The
” Reflections*' were reprinted with large additions, in 1691,
8vo. 12. “Christian blessedness; or discourses upon the
Beatitudes of our Lord and Saviour 4 Jesus Christ,
” Lond.
Cursory reflections
upon a book called e An Essay concerning Human Understanding.'
” 13. “The charge of Schism continued;
being a justification of the author of * Christian Blessedness,' for his charging the Separatists with Schism, notwithstanding the toleration. In a letter to a city friend,
”
Lond. Practical discourses upon several divine subjects, vols. II. and III.
” The third volume
was printed in 1693, 8vo. 15. “Two treatises concerning
the divine light. The first being an answer to a letter of
a learned Quaker (Mr. Vickris), which he is pleased to call
A just reprehension to John Morris for his unjust reflections
on the Quakers in his book entitled Reflections upon the
conduct of human life, &c. The second being a discourse
concerning the grossness of the Quakers’ notion of the
light within, with their confusion and inconsistency in explaining it,
” Lond. Spiritual counsel;
or the father’s advice to his children,
” Lond. Letters concerning the Love of God, between the author
of the `Proposal to the Ladies,' and Mr. John Norris
wherein his Jate discourse, shewing that it ought to be
intire and exclusive of all other loves, is further cleared
and justified,
” Lorid. Practical Discourses; vol. IV.
” Lond. 1698, 8vo. To
which he subjoined “An Admonition concerning two late
books, called ‘ A Discourse of the Love of God,’
” &c.
19. “An Essay towards the Theory of the Ideal or Intelligible World; considering it absolutely in itself. Part I.
”
Lond. The Second Part, being the relative part of it; wherein the intelligible World is considered
with relation to human understanding; whereof some account is here attempted and proposed,
” was printed at
London, A Philosophical Discourse
concerning the Natural Immortality of the Soul, wherein
the great question of the Soul’s Immortality is endeavoured
to be rightly stated and cleared,
” Lond. The natural Mortality of the
Human Souls clearly demonstrated from the Holy Scriptures, and the concurrent Testimonies of the Primitive
Writers,
” Lond. A Treatise concerning
Christian Prudence; or the Principles of Practical Wisdom
fitted to the use of Human Life, designed for the better
Regulation of it,
” Lond. A Practical
Treatise concerning Humility; designed for the Furtherance and Improvement of that great Christian Virtue, both
in the Minds and Lives of Men,
” Lond. 8vo. There are
some of his letters to Mrs. Thomas, in “Pylades and Corinna,
” vol. II. p. 199.
, son of the preceding, had a learned education in the university of Cambridge. He had been
, son of the preceding,
had a learned education in the university of Cambridge.
He had been made knight of the Bath as early as 1616,
at the creation of Charles prince of Wales, and had stood
as the eldest son of a peer, at the state in the house of
lords, at sixty-three, and was an eminent instance of filial
duty to his father, before whom he would not put on his
hat, or sit down, unless enjoined to do it. He was bred
in the best manner; for besides the court, and choicest
company at home, he was sent to travel, and then into the
army, and served as a captain under sir Francis Vere.
He sat in many parliaments, until secluded by that which
condemned the king. After this he lived privately in the
country, at Tostock, in Suffolk; and towards the latter
end of his life, entertained himself with justice-business,
books, and (as a very numerous issue required) oeconomy.
He published a little tract on that subject, entitled “Observations and advices Œconomical,
” Lond. Passages
relating to the Long Parliament,
” with an apologetic, or
rather recantation preface; for he had at first been active
against the King. He wrote also the “History of the
Life of Edward Lord North, the first Baron,
” Lord Orford says, “sensibly, and in a very good style,
” though
this critic seems to think he fails in impressing the reader
with much respect for his ancestor. After his death appeared a volume of essays, entitled “Light in the way to
Paradise; with other occasionals,
” Lond.
, a learned Benedictine of the congregation of St. Maur, was born
, a learned Benedictine of
the congregation of St. Maur, was born at Dieppe in 1647$
and devoted his early years to the study of ecclesiastical
antiquities, in which he was allowed to have attained very
great knowledge. His first literary employment was on an
edition of the works of Cassiodorus, which he prepared for
the press in conjunction with father Garet, contributing
the life, prefaces, and tables. He was next engaged on
the works of St. Ambrose, published in 1686 1691. His
most important work was his “Apparatus ad Bibliothecam
max. veterum Patrum,
” Paris, Bibl. Patrum,
” 27 vols.
folio, but which is not always found with it. It contains
a number of curious and learned dissertations on the lives,
writings, and sentiments, of the fathers, with illustrations
of many obscure passages. In 1710, Nourry published
“Lucius Caecilius de mortibus persecutorum,
” 8vo, which
he contended was not the production of Lactantius (see Lactantius) but although he has supplied many useful
notes and comments on this work, he failed in making converts to this last opinion. Nourry died at Paris, March 24,
1724, aged seventy-seven.
, a learned Italian monk, was born at Verona, in 1594. He entered
, a learned Italian monk, was born
at Verona, in 1594. He entered among the Theatins when
he was about eighteen years of age, and after passing his
noviciate at Venice, took the vows in 1614. He afterwards studied philosophy and divinity, was ordained priest
in 1621, and exercised the various functions of his office
and order, applying at his leisure hours to study, and writing the many works enumerated by his biographers. The
principal of these are, “Comment, in quatuor Evangel, et
Acta Apostol.
” in 4 vols. folio; “Adagia Sanctorum Patrum,
” in 2 vols. folio; “Eiectra Sacra, in quibus qua ex
Latino, Grseco, Hebraico, et Chaldaico fonte, qua ex antiquis Hebraeorum, Persarum, GnecoruiD, Romanorum,
aliarumque Gentium ritibus, qusedam divinse Scripturae loca
noviter explicantur et illustrantur,
” in 3 vols. folio. He
died at Verona Jan. 14, 1650, aged fifty-six.
ormation were also frequently published under the protection of his name, as one acknowledged “to be a learned and faithful preacher of God’s word, and an earnest
In 1572 he completed the endowment at one and the
same time, of a free- school at Middleton in Lancashire,
and of thirteen scholarships in Brazen-nose college and
as these benefactions were both of them established by
royal patent (her majesty also of her free bounty encouraging and assisting him), he chose that the school should
be called queen Elizabeth’s school, and the scholars queen
Elizabeth’s scholars. This benefaction to the college was
peculiarly seasonable, as in consequence of a severe plague
at Oxford, in the preceding year, and for want of exhibitions to assist them in their studies, some of the scholars
were compelled to go about requesting alms, having licence so to do, as an act of parliament required, under
the common seal of the university. Nowell was at all times
a zealous patron of learning, and was much looked up to
in that character, as appears not only by his being frequently consulted on schemes for the promotion of liberal
education, but also by the numerous dedications of learned
books to him. Books that had a tendency to inculcate the
principles of the reformation were also frequently published
under the protection of his name, as one acknowledged
“to be a learned and faithful preacher of God’s word, and
an earnest furtherer of all godliness.
” In 1580 the queen
granted him a licence of non-residence for three months
and fourteen days, that he might visit his scholars of Brasen-nose, and the school at Middleton, her majesty “having long, by sure proof, known his experience and skill in
business, as well as earnest desire and constant solicitude
for the training up of youth in learning and virtue.
” It
was indeed his great success as a preacher, and his eminence as an opponent of popery, that procured him the
honour of having his works proscribed in the “Index librorum prohibitorum;
” and his name, together with that of
Fox, Fleetwood the recorder, and others; inserted at Rome
in a “bede-roll,
” or list of persons, that were to be dispatched, and the particular mode of their death, as by
burning or hanging, pointed out. Campion, the great
emissary from Rome, being apprehended, Nowell, and May
dean of Windsor, held, in August 1581, a conference with
him in the Tower, of which an account was afterwards
published under the title of “A True Report of the disputation or rather private conference had in the Tower of
London, with Ed. Campion Jesuite, &c.
” Lond. in
consideration of his constant preaching of the word of God,
during the space of almost forty years;
” and because he
had lately resigned the rectory of Hadham and prebend of
Willand, as being, through age and imbecility of body,
not equal to the duties of them; nor likely, on account of
his extreme age and infirm health, long to enjoy either his
present or any future preferment. He lived, however, to
succeed to a canonry of Windsor in 1594. In 1595, on
the death of Mr. Harris, the fourth principal of Brasennose college, Nowell was chosen to succeed him. This
election of a man now on the verge of ninety was perhaps
intended or accepted rather as a compliment, than with a
view to the performance of much actual service, and ac-r
cordingly he resigned it in a few months.
, a learned German, was descended from a family, which came originally
, a learned German, was descended
from a family, which came originally from Schlestadt, and
had been raised to nobility in the person of his great-grandfather by the emperor Rodolphus II. in 1604. Ulric
was born, July 23, 1646, at Strasburg, where he had the
first part of his education, and then proceeded to study
the sciences at Montbelliard and Altorf. He inherited both
the inclination and taste of his ancestors, who were all
distinguished by the posts they held, either in the university, or in the senate of Strasburg. The study of the
Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues was almost the first
amusement of his infancy; and he learned, with equal
facility, French, Spanish, and Italian. At fifteen^ he was
so good a rhetorician, that he composed and pronounced a
Latin speech in public, with universal applause. The method prescribed by his preceptors was, to suffer him to
read only the ancient authors, and to derive the principles
of eloquence from the purest sources, Demosthenes, Cicero,
Quintilian, Longinus, &c. He also pursued the same plan,
in his course of philosophy; Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras, being principally recommended to him. His general
knowledge at length settled in jurisprudence and history:
in both which he excelled, and filled the chairs of both in
the university with great distinction, being admired, not
more for the great extent of his knowledge, than for his
perspicuity in communicating it. He gave an account of
all ages as if he had lived in them; and of all laws as if
he had been the maker of them. With all this, he spoke
of such subjects as he knew best, like a man who sought
rather to be informed than to decide. As soon as he had
taken his licentiate’s degree, he resolved to travel for farther
improvement. In this view, he went first to Vienna in
Austria, with Mr. Kellerman, the Muscovite ambassador,
and visited the libraries and learned men wherever he
came. He commenced author at nineteen, when he published a kind of “Commentary upon Scipio’s Dream,
” and
“A Dissertation upon the Principles of Civil and Political
Prude-nee.
”
ot so highly valued, as this editor’s additions are of doubtful authority. Among Gesner’s letters is a learned “Epistola Graeca de Oxymeli helleborato, aiiisque ad
, one of a family' of physicians of
considerable eminence, was born at Augsburgh, Oct. 17,
1524. When he had finished his medical studies under
his father, a physician of Augsburgh, who died in 1572,
and at the university, he soon became noted as a practitioner, and in 1564 was appointed inspector of the apothecaries, and perpetual vicar to the dean of the college of
physicians. He died in 1605. He published a “Pharmacopoeia
” in Imperatorum Romanorum Numismata
a Pompeio M. ad Heraclium,
” Strasburgh, 4to and folio.
This is an excellent book of general reference, being a list
of all the coins in every reign, digested into the years in
which they were apparently struck. It was first printed
in 1579, and again in 1600, which is the best edition.
One afterwards published by Mezzabarba is not so highly
valued, as this editor’s additions are of doubtful authority.
Among Gesner’s letters is a learned “Epistola Graeca de
Oxymeli helleborato, aiiisque ad rem medicam spectantibus,
” written by Occo, who was an excellent Greek
scholar.
History of Montanism' has finished a dissertation which he has promised me to prefix to that book*.“ A learned Letter of Ockley’s to Mr. W. Wotton is printed among
I
ago,* by Abu Jaafar Ebn Tophail:“translated from the
Arabic, and illustrated with figures, 8vo. The design of
the author, who was a Mahometan philosopher, is to shew,
how human reason may, by observation and experience,
arrive at the knowledge of natural things, and thence to
supernatural, and particularly the knowledge of God and
a future state: the design of the translator, to give those
who might be unacquainted with it, a specimen of the
genius of the Arabian philosophers, and to excite young
scholars to the reading of eastern authors. This was the
point our Rabbi had Constantly in view; and, therefore,
in his
” Oratio Inauguralis,“for the professorship, it was
with no small pleasure, as we imagine, that he insisted
upon the beauty, copiousness, and antiquity, of the Arabic
tongue in particular, and upon the use of Oriental learning
in general; and that he dwelt upon the praises of Erpenius,
Golius, Pocock, Herbelot, and all who had any ways contributed to promote the study of it. In 1713, his name
appeared to a little book, with this title,
” An Account of
South-West Barbary, containing what is most remarkable
in the territories of the king of Fez and Morocco; written
by a person who had been a slave there a considerable
time, and published from his authentic manuscript: to
which are added, two Letters; one from the present king
of Morocco to colonel Kirk; the other to sir Cloudesly
Shovell, with sir Cloudesly’s answer,“&c. 8vo. While
we are enumerating these small publications of the professor, it will be but proper to mention two sermons one,
” Upon the Dignity and Authority of the Christian Priesthood,“preached at Ormond chapel, London, in 1710;
another,
” Upon the Necessity of instructing Children in
the Scriptures,“at St. Ives, in Huntingtonshire, 1713. To
these we must add a new translation of the second
” Apocryphal Book of Esdras,“from the Arabic version of it, as
that which we have in our common Bibles is from the vulgar Latin, 1716. Mr. Whiston, we are told, was the person who employed him in this translation, upon a strong
suspicion, that it must needs make for the Arian cause he
was then reviving; and he, accordingly, published it in
one of his volumes of
” Primitive Christianity Revived.“Ockley, however, was firmly of opinion, that it could serve
nothing at all to his purpose; as appears from a printed
letter of his to Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Thirl by, in which are
the following words:
” You shall have my ' Esdras’ in a
little time; A learned Letter of Ockley’s to Mr. W. Wotton is printed
among the
” Miscellaneous Tracts of Mr. Bowyer,
xed, “An Account of the Arabians or Saracens, of the Life of Mahomet, and the Mahometan Religion, by a learned hand:” that is, by the learned Dr. Long, master of
But the most considerable by far of all the professor’s
performances is, “The History of the Saracens;
” begun
from the death of Mahomet, the founder of the Saracenical empire, which happened in 632, and carried down
through a succession of Caliphs, to 705. This “History,
”
which illustrates the religion, rites, customs, and manner
of living of that warlike people, is very curious and entertaining; and Ockley was at vast pains in collecting materials from the most authentic Arabic authors, especially
manuscripts, not hitherto published in any European language; and for that purpose resided a long time at Oxford,
to be near the Bodleian library, where those manuscripts
were reposited. It is in 2 vols. 8vo; the first of which was
published in 1708; the second, in 1718: and both were
soon after republished. A third edition was printed, in the
same size, at Cambridge, in 1757; to which is prefixed,
“An Account of the Arabians or Saracens, of the Life of
Mahomet, and the Mahometan Religion, by a learned
hand:
” that is, by the learned Dr. Long, master of Pembroke-hall, in Cambridge.
ty years of age. He was buried in a church at Galway, where his humble monument is yet shown. He was a learned, pious, and amiable prelate, and held in such veneration
, archbishop of Tuam, was otherwise called Maurice de Portu, from having been born
near the port of Baltimore, in the county of Cork, though
others say he was born at Down, or Galway. He was
some time a student at Oxford, where he became a Franciscan. He afterwards travelled to Italy, and studied philosophy, and school-divinity at Padua. About 1480 he
removed to Venice, where he was employed by Octavian,
Scott, and Locatelli, as corrector of the press, which was
then considered as an employment worthy of the greatest
scholars. In 1506, after he had taken his degree of D. D.
at Padua, pope Julius II. made him archbishop of Tuam
in Ireland. In 1512 he assisted at the first two sessions of
the Lateran council, and in the following year set out for
Ireland, but died at Galway, May 25, 1513, where he
landed, before he could take possession of his archbishopric. He was at this time not quite fifty years of age. He
was buried in a church at Galway, where his humble monument is yet shown. He was a learned, pious, and amiable prelate, and held in such veneration by some authors,
that they have given him the name of “Flos Mundi,
” the
flower of the world. His works are, 1. “Expositio in questiones dialecticas Divi Joan. Scoti in Isagogen Porphyrii,
”
Ferrara, Commentaria
doct. subtilis Joan. Scoti in XII. lib. metaphysics Aristotelis,
” &c. Venet. 1507, fol. 3. “Epithemata in insigne
formalitatum opus de mente doctoris subtilis,
” &c. Venice,
Theorems for the
explanation of the sense of Scotus.
” 4. “Dictionarium
sacra? scripturee,
” &c. Venice, Enchiridion fidei,
”
, a learned civilian, was born at Dantzic May 4, 1631. His father
, a learned civilian, was
born at Dantzic May 4, 1631. His father originally intended him for commercial life, and sent him to Holland
with that view; but as he betrayed a stronger inclination
to study, and employed all his leisure hours in acquiring
knowledge that could be of no use in trade, he was permitted to enter upon a regular course of academic instruction at Leyden. At this university, which he entered in
1650, he was enabled to profit by the instructions of those
learned contemporaries, Salmasius, Daniel Heinsius, Boxhornius, Golius, &c. and he had not been here above two
years before he published an excellent edition of Minutius
Felix, in quarto, dedicated to Christina queen of Sweden. Both Niceron and Morhoff accuse him of plagiarism in this work; but Chaufepie defends him, and apparently with justice. Besides the belles-lettres, he studied law, both at Leyden and Utrecht, and took his doctor’s degree at the former in 1654. Next year he visited
England and France, and meant to have proceeded to
Italy; but hearing at Geneva that the plague raged there,
he went a second time to England and France, and
returned to Holland in 1657. He afterwards resided, partly
at Utrecht, and partly at Leyden and the Hague, until
1667, when he was appointed professor of law at Grofiingen. The conformity of his ideas with those of Puffendorf occasioned a great intimacy between them. Oisel
accumulated a large library, a catalogue of which was
published about the time of his death, which happened
June 20, 1686. His other works were principally an edition of Aulus Gellius, Leyden, 1666, 8vo, and a treatise
entitled “Thesaurus selectorum numismatum antiquorum
aere expressorum,
” Amst.
, a learned, but somewhat enthusiastic divine, was born in 1718,
, a learned, but somewhat enthusiastic divine, was born in 1718, and educated at the Charter-house, and at St. John’s college, Cambridge, where
he proceeded B. A. 1739. At this time he appears to have
conceived those notions which interrupted his regular ad*vancement, and was ordained deacon in the Moravian
church. He afterwards offered himself as a candidate for
priest’s orders in the church of England; but, when the
bishop intimated the invalidity of his first orders, Mr.
Okely would not be ordained priest on such terms, and
therefore adhered, through life, to the Moravian congregations, and was highly esteemed by the few who lived in
communion with him, on account of his piety, benign
temper, and liberal sentiments. He died at Bedford May
9, 1794, in his seventy-sixth year. The peculiar turn of
his mind may be understood from the titles of his publications: 1. A translation from the High Dutch, of “Twenty-one Discourses, or Dissertations, upon the Augsburgh
Confession, which is also the Brethren’s Confession of
Faith, delivered by the ordinary of the Brethren’s Churches
before the seminary,
” &c. Psalmorum
aliquot Davidis Metaphrasis Graeca Joannis Serrani,
” &c.
The Nature and Necessity of the new
creature in Christ, stated and described, according to the
heart’s experience and true practice, by Johanna Eleanora
de Mellari translated from the German,
” 1772, 8vo, 4,
“The divine visions of John Englebrecht,
” A faithful Narrative of God’s gracious dealings
with Kiel,
” A Display of God’s Wonders, done upon the person, &c. of John Englebrecht,
” &c.
The indispensable necessity of Faith, in order
to the pleasing God being the^ substance of a discourse
preached at Eydon in Northamptonshire,
”
, a learned prelate, was born at Hermanstadt, in 1493. After various
, a learned prelate, was born at
Hermanstadt, in 1493. After various preferments, he was
nominated by Ferdinand, king of Hungary, bishop of Zagrat, and chancellor of the kingdom. He was afterwards
elevated to the see of Agria, and being present at the famous siege of that town by the Turks in 1552, he contributed greatly to the spirited and successful defence made
by the inhabitants. In 1553 he was appointed archbishop
of Strigonia, and held two national councils at Tyrnau, the
acts of which were printed at Vienna in 1560, and was instrumental in founding the first Jesuits’ college in Hungary
$rt Tyrnau. In 1562 he was created palatine of the kingdom, in which quality he crowned Maximilian as king of
Hungary. He died at Tyrnau in 1568; leaving behind
him, as monuments of his industry and learning, “A Chronicle of his own Times:
” “A History of Attila,
” Presb.
A Description of Hungary.
” His life is given
in father Muszka’s history of the Palatines of Hungary,
printed in 1752, folio.
, who wrote his name sometimes Grubendol, reversing the letters, was a learned German, and born in 1626, in the duchy of Bremen, in
, who wrote his name sometimes Grubendol, reversing the letters, was a learned
German, and born in 1626, in the duchy of Bremen, in
the Lower Saxony, being descended from the counts of
Oldenburg, in Westphalia, whence his name. During the
long English parliament in Charles I.'s time, he was appointed consul for his countrymen, in which post he continued at London after the usurpation of Cromwell; but,
being discharged from that employment, he was made
tutor to the lord Henry Obrien, an Irish nobleman, whom
he attended to the university of Oxford, and in 1656 entered himself a student, chiefly for the sake of admission
to the Bodleian library. He was afterwards tutor to William lord Cavendish, and was acquainted with Milton,
among whose “Epistolae familiares,
” are four letters to
Oldenburg. During his residence at Oxford he became
also acquainted with the members of that little association
which gave birth to the royal society; and, upon the foundation of this latter, he was elected fellow; and, when the
society found it necessary to have two secretaries, he was
chosen assistant to Dr. Wilkins. He applied himself with
extraordinary diligence to the business of this office, and
began the publication of the “Philosophical Transactions;
”
with No. 1. in 1664. In order to discharge this task with
greater credit to himself and the society, he held a correspondence with more than seventy learned persons, and
others, upon a vast variety of subjects, in different parts
of the world. This fatigue would have been insupportable,
had he not, as he told Dr. Lister, answered every letter
the moment he received it, a rule which cannot be too
warmly recommended, whether in cases of business, literature, or pleasure. Among Oldenburg’s correspondents
may be mentioned the celebrated Robert Boyle, with
whom he had a very intimate friendship; and he translated
several of that gentleman’s works into Latin.
, a learned traveller, whose German name was Oelschlager, was born
, a learned traveller, whose German name was Oelschlager, was born in 1599, or 1600,
at Aschersieben, a small town in the principality of Anhalt.
43is parents were very poor, and scarcely able to maintain
him, yet by some means he was enabled to enter as a student at Leipsic, where he took his degrees in arts and
philosophy, but never was a professor, as some biographers
have asserted. He quitted Leipsic for Holsteiu, where the
duke Frederic, hearing of his merit and capacity, wished to
employ him. This prince having a wish to extend the
commerce of his country to the East, determined to send
an embassy to the Czar Michael Federowitz, and the king of
Persia, and having chosen for this purpose two of his counsellors, Philip Crusius and Otto Bruggeman, he appointed
Olearius to accompany them as secretary. Their travels
lasted six years, during which Olearius collected a great
fund of information respecting the various countries they
visited. The Czar of Moscovy on his return wished to
have retained him in his service, with the appointment of
astronomer and mathematician; not, however, his biographers tell us, so much on account of his skill in these
sciences, as because the Czar knew that Olearius had very
exactly traced the course of the Volga, which the Russians
then wished to keep a secret from foreigners. Olearius
had an inclination, however, to have accepted this offer,
but after his return to the court of Holstein, he was dissuaded from it, and the duke having apologized to the
Czar, attached him to himself as mathematician and antiquary. In 1643, the duke sent him on a commission to
Moscow, where, as before, his ingenuity made him be
taken for a magician, especially as on this occasion he exhibited a camera obscura. In 1650 the duke appointed him
his librarian, and keeper of his curiosities. The library he
enriched with many Oriental Mss. which he had procured
in his travels, and made also considerable additions to the
duke’s museum, particularly of the collection of Paludanns,
a Dutch physician, which the duke sent him to Holland ta
purchase; and he drew up a description of the whole,
which was published at Sleswick in 1666, 4to. He also
constructed the famous globe of Gottorp, and an armillary
sphere of copper, which was not less admired, and proved
how much mathematics had been his study. He died Feb.
22, 1671. He published, in German, his travels, 1647,
1656, 1669, fol. Besides these three editions, they were
translated into English by Davies, and into Dutch and
Italian. The most complete translation is that, in French,
by Wicquefort, Amst. 1727, 2 vols. fol. who also translated
Olearius’s edition of Mandelso’s “Voyages to Persia,
” c.
fol. Among his other and less known works, are some
lives of eminent Germans “The Valley of Persian Roses,
”
from the Persian; “An abridged Chronicle of Holstein,
”
&c
Olearius, professor of Greek and theology in that university, and the grandson of Godfrey Olearius, a learned Lutheran divine. From his earliest years he discovered
, the most considerable of a
family of learned men of thU name, originally of Saxony,
was horn at Leipsic July 23, 1672. He was the son of
John Olearius, professor of Greek and theology in that
university, and the grandson of Godfrey Olearius, a learned
Lutheran divine. From his earliest years he discovered a
thirst for knowledge, and a capacity which enabled him to
rm.ke a distinguished figure during his studies. When his
academic course was completed, in his twenty-first year
he went to Holland, and then to England, attracted by
the reputation of the university of Oxford and the Bodleian
library, to which he gained admittance, and pursued his
learned inquiries there a year. On his return home he was
appointed professor of Greek at Leipsic; and in 1708 succeeded to the theological chair. In 1709 he obtained a
canonry at Meissen; was appointed inspector of the students maintained by the elector, and in 1714 assessor to
the electoral and ducal consistory. He died Nov. 10, 1715,
when only forty-three years of age. He was an able divine and philosopher, and particularly distinguished for a
critical knowledge of the Greek language. Among his
works are, I.-“Dissertatio de miraculo Piscinae Bethesdae,
”
Leipsic, Dissert, de adoratione Dei Patris
per Jesum Christum,
” ibid. Introduction to the Roman and German history, from the foundation of Rome to the year 1699,
” ibid.
History of the Apostles’ Creed,
” Philostratus,
” Gr.
& Lat. Leipsic, History of Philosophy,
” ibid. Observationes
sacrae in Evangelium Matthaei,
” Leipsic,
, a learned Portuguese Dominican of the sixteenth century, was born
, a learned Portuguese Dominican of the sixteenth century, was born at Azambaja. In
1545 he attended the council of Trent, as Theologian from
John III. king of Portugal. He refused a bishopric at his
return; but consented to the appointment of inquisitor of
the faith, and held the principal offices of the Dominican
order in his province. He died in 1563. He has Jeft
“Commentaries on the Pentateuch,
” Lisbon, Isaiah,
” Paris,
, a learned Italian antiquary, honorary chamberlain to Clement the
, a learned Italian antiquary, honorary chamberlain to Clement the XHIth, and perpetual secretary of the academy of Pesaro, in the Marche of Ancona, was born in that city on the 17th of June, 1708, of an ancient and illustrious family. His lively and active disposition, and an uncommon thirst for information, gave an early promise of his subsequent progress in the career of literature. After receiving at home the rudiments of a learned education, he went through the usual studies of polite literature, at the college of noblemen at Bologna. He then applied himself to the study of the civil and canon law at the university of Pisa, under the tuition of the illustrious civilian and literator Averani, until 1727, when he went to Rome in order to practise at the bar.
, a learned Lutheran divine, was born Feb. 14, 1642, at Altenburg,
, a learned Lutheran divine, was
born Feb. 14, 1642, at Altenburg, in Misnia. After some
school education, he studied at Jena and Kiel, and acquired great knowledge of the Oriental languages, under
the instructions of Matthias Wasmuth. Still ambitious to
add to his stock of learning, he pursued this object at
Utrecht under Leusden, at London under Edmund Castell
and Matthew Poole, and at Oxford under Pocock. On
his return to Germany in 1671, he failed as a candidate
for the place of assessor of the faculty of philosophy at
Kiel; but was more successful the following year at Jena,
where he took his degrees in philosophy, and taught the
Oriental languages. In 1675 he was invited to Kiel to be
Greek professor, on the recommendation of Wasmuth, his
old master; whom, in 1678, he succeeded in the chair of
Oriental languages, and held with it his Greek
professorship until 1683, when he resigned the latter to Daniel
Hasenmuller. In 1689 he took his degree of doctor, and
became at the same time professor of divinity; but his reputation rests chiefly on his skill in the Oriental languages;
and this he might have enjoyed without diminution, had
he not adopted the whimsical opinion of his master Wasmuth, and maintained the relationship between the Greek
and the Oriental languages, and the connection which the
dialects of the one have with those of the other. This chimerical scheme of subjecting the Greek to the rules of the
Hebrew, he defended in a small work, entitled “Graecismus facilitati suse restitutus, methodo nova, eaque cum
praeceptis He braicis Wasmuthianis et suis Orientalibus,
quam proxime harmonica, adeoque regulis 34 succincte absolutus,
” Kiel,
, a learned cardinal, was born at Florence in 1577. He went to study
, a learned cardinal, was born
at Florence in 1577. He went to study at Rome, and resided in a small boarding-house in the city, where he experienced the same temptation as the patriarch Joseph did,
and continued no less faithful to his duty. Cardinal Bellarmine being made acquainted with this young man’s virtues, placed him in a college for education. Oregius was
afterwards employed by cardinal Barberini to examine
Aristotle’s sentiments concerning the immortality of the
soul, that the pope might prohibit the reading of lectures
on this philosopher’s works, if it appeared that his writings
were contrary to that fundamental article of religion. Oregius pronounced him innocent, and published on that subject, in 1631, his book entitled “Aristotelis vera de rationalis animifc immortalitate sententia,
” 4to. Barberini at
length becoming pope, by the name of Urban VIII. created
him cardinal in 1634, and gave him the archbishopric of
Benevento, where he died in 1635, aged fifty-eight. He
left tracts “de Deo,
” “de Trinitate,
” “de Angelis,
” de
Opere sex dierum,“and other works printed at Rome, in
1637 and 1642, folio. Cardinal Bellarmine called Oregius
his
” Divine,“and pope Urban VIII. called him his
” Bellarmine." A complete edition of this cardinal’s works was
published by Nicholas Oregius, his nephew, in 1637, 1
vol. folio.
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne, and grand master of the college
, a learned doctor of
the Sorbonne, and grand master of the college de Navarre
in the fourteenth century, was a native of Caen, and preceptor to Charles V. who made him bishop of Lisieux in
1377. He died in 1382. His principal works are, 1. “A
Discourse on the Disorders of the Court of Rome.
” 2. An
excellent treatise “De Communicatione Idiomatum.
” 3.
A tract on coinage, in the library of the Fathers. 4. A
learned and curious treatise “De Antichristo,
” printed ift
torn. IX. of P. Martenne’s “Amplissima Collectio,
” &c. A
French translation of the Bible is also attributed to him,
but equally so to Raoul de Presle, and to Guyars des Moulins. He translated into French, by order of Charles V.
Aristotle’s books “de Ccelo
” and “de Mundo,
” his
“Ethics
” and “Politics
” and also Petrarch “dei Rimedi
dell‘una et l’Altra Fortuna.
”
m a forward conceit of his talents, he was already deeply infected with that “furor allegoricus,” as a learned modern calls it; that rage of expounding the Scriptures
, an illustrious father of the church, and a man
of great parts and learning, was born at Alexandria in
Egypt about the year 185; and afterwards obtained the
surname of Adamantius, either because of that adamantine
strength of mind which enabled him to go through so many
vast works, or for that invincible firmness with which he
resisted the sharpest persecutions. Porphyry represents
him as having been born and educated a heathen; but
JEusebius has clearly proved, that his parents were Christian. His father Leonides took him at first under his own
management, and trained him at home for some time: he
taught him languages and profane learning, but had a particular view to his understanding the Holy Scriptures;
some portion of which he gave him to learn and repeat
every day. The son’s inclination suited exactly with the
father’s design, so far as that he pursued his studies with
most extraordinary zeal and ardour: but being endued with
a quick apprehension and a strong imagination, would not
content himself with that sense which at first presented itself, but farther endeavoured to dive into mysterious and
allegorical explications of the sacred books. This probably
suggested to his father that he might fall into that mode of
interpreting, which in fact, proved afterwards the source
of all his errors, and he therefore cautiously advised him
not to attempt to penetrate too far in the study of the Holy
Scriptures, but to content himself with their most clear,
obvious, and natural sense. But it appears that from a
forward conceit of his talents, he was already deeply infected with that “furor allegoricus,
” as a learned modern
calls it; that rage of expounding the Scriptures allegorically, which grew afterwards to be even a distemper, and
carried him to excesses which can never be excused.
We will conclude our account of this eminent father with what a learned and candid critic of our own has delivered concerning
We will conclude our account of this eminent father
with what a learned and candid critic of our own has delivered concerning him. Origen, says Jortin, “was very
learned and ingenious, and indefatigably industrious. His
whole life, from his early years, was spent in examining,
teaching, and explaining, the scriptures; to which he
joined the study of philosophy, and all polite literature.
He was humble, modest, and patient under great injuries
and cruel treatment, which he received from Christians
and Pagans: for, though he ever had a considerable number of friends and admirers, on account of his amiable
qualities and accomplishments, he was persecuted and
calumniated by men, who had neither his learning nor his
virtue, degraded from the order of presbyters, driven from
his home, and excommunicated by one Demetrius, bishop
of Alexandria, who envied him, says Eusebius, for the reputation which he had gained. His inquisitive genius, and
his mixing philosophy with Christianity, led him, perhaps,
into some learned singularities and ingenious reveries; but
he was by temper far from dogmatizing in such points,
from fomenting schisms, and setting up himself for the
head of a party. He lived in times when Christians were not
so shackled with systems and determinations as they were
afterwards, nor so much exposed to disingenuous and illiberal objections; and had more liberty to pursue their
inquiries, and to speak their mind. He was ever extremely
sober and exemplary, practising what 'he preached to
others; and he lived and died poor, and destitute even
of common conveniences.
” It may be necessary to add,
that there was a sect of ancient heretics, who resembled, and even surpassed, the abominations of the Gnostics: they were called Origenians, but appear to have
derived their name from some person totally distinct from
the preceding Origen, whose followers were called Origenists.
, a learned Italian Jesuit, was born at Florence in 1554, and descended
, a learned Italian Jesuit, was
born at Florence in 1554, and descended from a noble
family. He entered the society in 1572, where he was
distinguished by the purity of his morals, and his general
proficiency in literature, particularly in the Latin tongue.
Having finished his studies, he took his master’s degree
with great credit, and for some time was Latin tutor, until
his tender health rendered the labours of teaching insupportable, and he was preferred to the easier offices of
rector of the college at Nola, and afterwards president of
the seminary for novices at Naples. In 1598 he was inviced to Rome, where he undertook to draw up a history
of the Jesuits; but died in 1606, when he had completed
only the first volume of that work, which was published at
Rome in 1615, folio, under the title of “Historiae Societatis Jesu Pars prima, sive Ignatius,
” and continued by
fathers Francis Sacchini, Everard, Jouvency, and Cordara,
the last of whom published his continuation in 1750. It
makes in all 7 vols. bound usually in six, but is rarely
found complete. Orlandini was also the author of “Anmice Litterae Societatis Jesu,
” for the years Vita Petri Fabri Soc. Jes.
” &c.
, a learned and pious prince of the s blood royal of France, was
, a learned and pious prince of the s blood royal of France, was the son of Philip duke of Orleans, afterwards regent, and of Mary Frances of Bourfron. He was born at Versailles, Aug. 4, 1703, and appeared first at court at the time the prince his father became regent of France. After the death of the regent he married Augusta Maria, of Baden, in 1724; a princess whose amiable qualifications made her death justly lamented by her consort, and people of all denominations. She died in 1726, having been married only two years. The prince, deeply affected with his loss, and sensible of the infelicity of titles^ pre-eminence, and all earthly enjoyments, sought for that comfort in the exercises of religion which courts cannot bestow. In 1730 he toot, in the abbey of St. Genevieve, an apartment mean and inconvenient, and in a manner sequestered from the world. He first retired to it only at the solemn festival, but resided in it more frequently after 1735; and, when he left the court in 1742, took up his constant residence there, nor returned more to his palace, except to attend the council, from which he seldom absented himself. In his retirement he practised the most rigid austerities; slept on a rough straw bed, rose early, passed several hours in prayer, fasted, drank nothing but water, and constantly deprived himself of the convenience of fire, even in the most inclement seasons; and was, in all his actions, an example of severe self-denial. His charitable disposition led him to relieve the indigent of every nation, found several public charities, and send missionaries to the remotest parts of the world.
, a learned Spanish ecclesiastic, flourished in the fifth century,
, a learned Spanish ecclesiastic, flourished in the fifth century, and was born at Tarragona in
Catalonia. He was a disciple of St. Augustin; and, in the
year 414, was sent to Africa by Eutropius and Paul, two
Spanish bishops, to solicit Augustin’s assistance against
heretics who infested their churches. He continued a year
with this doctor, and in that time made a great proficiency
in the knowledge of the Scriptures. In the year 415,
Augustin dispatched him to Jerusalem, to consult St. Jeroni
upon the origin of the soul; and Orosius on his return
brought into Africa the relics of the martyr St. Stephen;
whose body, as well as those of Nicomedes, of Gamaliel,
and his son Abiba, had been found during Orosius’s residence in Palestine. At length, by the advice of Augustin,
our author undertook the history we have of his in seven
books, under the title, as is said, of “Miseria humana;
”
containing an account of the wars, plagues, earthquakes,
floods, conflagrations, thunder and lightning, murder, and
other crimes, which had happened from the beginning of
the world to the year of Christ 416. The purpose of it
was to shew, against some heathen objectors, that these
calamities had not been more frequent, after the commencement of Christianity, than before; and farther, that
it was owing to the Christian religion, that the Roman
Cpmrnonwealth, which did not deserve to continue, was
nevertheless then still subsisting. It has gone through several editions: as, Paris, 1506, 1524, and 1526, folio; Cologne, 1536, 1542, 1561, and 1572, 8vo, with the “Apologia de Arbitrii libertate;
” at Mentz, in
in 1511, left Leonard, the father of Abraham, who was born in that city April 1527. In the course of a learned education, he particularly distinguished himself in
, a celebrated geographer, was
descended from a family originally seated at Augsburg:
but his grandfather William Ortelius settled, in 1460, at
Antwerp, and dying there in 1511, left Leonard, the father of Abraham, who was born in that city April 1527. In
the course of a learned education, he particularly distinguished himself in the languages and mathematics; and
afterwards he became so famous for his knowledge in geography, that he was called the Ptolemy of his time. He
travelled a great deal in England, Ireland, France, Italy,
and Germany, suffering no curiosity to escape his inquiries. In England he became acquainted with Camden (see Camden). When he had finished his travels, he fixed at
Antwerp, where he first published his “Theatrum orbis
terrse.
” This work procured him the honour of being
appointed geographer to Philip II. of Spain; and he afterwards published the following pieces: “Thesaurus Geographicus;
” “Deorum dearumque capita ex veteribus
numismatibus;
” “Aurei seculi imago, sive Gtrr manor urn
veterum mores, vita, ritus, et religio;
” “Itinerarium per
nonnuJlas Belgiue partes.
” He was possessed of many
rarities, in antique statues, medals, and shells. The greatest
men of that age were friends to him to his death, which
happened in June 1598. Justus Lipsius wrote his epitaph;
and several funeral eloges were made of him, which were
published, under the title of “Lachrymae,
” by Francis
Svveerts, who annexed an account of his life. All his works
are in Latin.
, a learned Portuguese divine, descended from an illustrious family,
, a learned Portuguese divine, descended from an illustrious family, was born at Lisbon in 1506. Discovering an extraordinary inclination for literature, he was sent, at thirteen, to the university of Salamanca; where having studied Greek and Latin, and law, he removed at nineteen to Paris, to be instructed in Aristotle’s philosophy, which was then the vogue. From Paris he went to Bologna, where he devoted himself to the study of the sacred Scriptures, and the Hebrew language; and he acquired such reputation, as a theologist, that, on his return home, John III. king of Portugal appointed him professor of divinity at Coimbra, Taking priest’s orders, the care of the church of Tavora was given him by Don Lewis infant of Portugal; and, soon after, the archdeaconry of Evora by cardinal Henry, archbishop of that province, and brother to king John; and at last he was nominated to the bishopric of Sylves in Algarva, by Catharine of Austria, that king’s widow, who was regent of the kingdom during the minority of her grandson Sebastian. When this prince became of age to take the administration of the kingdom into his own hands, he resolved upon an expedition against the Moors in Africa, much against the persuasions of Osorio who, to avoid being an eye-witness of the calamities he dreaded, made various pretences to go to Rome. Here pope Gregory XIII. gave him many testimonies of his esteem: but he had not been absent above a year, when the king recalled him home; and not long after, Sebastian was killed in the battle of Alcazer, against the Moors, Aug. 4, 1578. During the tumults in Portugal which succeeded this fatal event, Osorio took every means to prevent the people of his diocese from joining in them; but the miseries of his country at this juncture are said to have broke his heart, and he died of grief, Aug. 20, 1580, aged seventy-four.
, a learned professor of the mathematics and of the Hebrew language,
, a learned professor of the mathematics and of the Hebrew language, was born in the
county of Merckenstein, in Austria, in 1511. He studied
successively at the universities of Ingoldstadt, Leipsic, and
Basil, from which last he went to Memmingen, in Swabia,
on an invitation from the magistrates to become mathematical professor in that city; and afterwards to Tubingen,
and was elected professor of Hebrew, with which he joined
a course of lectures on the mathematics. In 1552 he accepted of the united professorships of mathematics and
Hebrew at Friburg, which he held for more than twentyseven years. He died in 1579, in the sixty-ninth year of
his age. He was author of “Commentaria in Theorias
Planetarum;
” “De primo mobili;
” “Commentaria in
Sphaeram Joannis de Sacrobosco;
” “In Almagestum Ptolomaei Annotationes;
” “Gentium Kalendarium;
” “Oratio funebris de Obitu Sebastiani Munsterii,
” written in the
Hebrew language. He likewise translated the New Testament into Hebrew, and wrote paraphrases on several
books of the Bible.
, a learned Swiss divine, was born in the canton of Zurich in 1617,
, a learned Swiss divine, was born
in the canton of Zurich in 1617, where he was first educated, but in 1635 was sent to study at Lausanne, Geneva,
and Groningen, and afterwards at Leyden and Amsterdam.
After this he visited England and France; and upon his
return to his native country, obtained the living of Dietlickon, which he held for twenty-five years. In 1651 he
was nominated to the professorship of eloquence at Zurich
in 1655, to that of Hebrew and in 1668, to that of ecclesiastical history. He died in 1682, leaving behind him several works which indicate great learning and acquaintance
with ecclesiastical history. Of these which are written in
Latin, the principal are, a treatise “On the Grandeur of
the Church of Rome;
” “Annals relating to the History of
the Anabaptists;
” “A Latin Discourse in favour of the
Study of the Hebrew Language;
” “A Latin Treatise oh
”
Alphabets, and the Manner of Writing in all Nations.“He
had a son, John Baptist Ott, born in 1661, who acquired
great celebrity by his knowledge of the oriental languages
and antiquities. He was pastor of a church at Zollicken,
and afterwards professor of Hebrew at Zurich. In 1715 he
was promoted to the archdeaconry of the cathedral in that
city. He was the author of several works of considerable
reputation: as,
” A Dissertation on Vows;“” A Letter on
Samaritan Medals, addressed to Adrian Reland:“both
these are written in the Latin language; a treatise in German,
” On the manuscript and printed Versions of the
Bible before the era of the reformation;“and
” A Dissertation on certain Antiquities discovered at Klothen, in 1724."
Thus far we learn from Moreri and the Dictionnaire Historique, but we suspect that this John Baptist was either
the John Henry Ott, librarian to archbishop Wake, or his
brother. Of this last we are told, that archbishop Wake
had received many civilities from his father in the early
part of his life, and recollecting this, and that he had many
children, appointed his son John Henry, whom he found in
England, to be Dr. Wilkins’s successor, as librarian at Lambeth. He also ordained him deacon and priest, and in.
June 1721, collated him to the rectory of Blackmanston, Kent. Mr. Ott obtained other promotions, the last
of which, in 1730, was a prebend of Peterborough. He
continued librarian till archbishop Wake’s death, in 1737.
The time of his own death we have not been able to ascertain.
, a learned French monk, originally of a family of Rheims, was born
, a learned French monk, originally
of a family of Rheims, was born at Mezieres, Feb. 11, 1638.
His father was a weaver, and designed to breed him to his
own business; but the son’s inclination leading him to literature, he retired in 1656, against the will of his parents,
among the Premontres, passed his noviciate in the abbey
of Verdun, and made his profession in November, 1658.
He was afterwards sent into France, where he spent four
years in the studies of philosophy and theology, with, however, very little assistance from his masters, who were very
ignorant; he then applied himself particularly to ecclesiastical history, which was his favourite study. Thus employed, he remained in obscurity for twenty years, among
those of his order, when his talents became known by one
of those apparently accidental circumstances which give a
turn to the lives of men. His superiors happened to place
him in 1678, in the abbey of Bucilly, in Champagne, and
Lewis XIV. on a journey in 1680, coming to this abbey,
stopped to dine. It was usual for such a guest to receive
the compliments of the society; and when Oudin found
that all the monks were afraid to appear, in order to address his majesty, he undertook the task, and acquitted
himself so well, that the king and court were surprized to
find, in so savage and solitary a place, a person of so much
address and good sense; and his majesty, greatly pleased
with his reception, ordered the abbey a purse of fifty louis
d'ors. Oudin’s abilities being thus discovered, he was sent
in 1614, by Michael Colbert, the principal and reformergeneral of this order, to visit the abbeys and churches belonging to them, and to take from their archives whatsoever
might be of use in his history. On this occasion he went
to all the convents in the Netherlands, returned to France
with a large collection of historical documents, and in 1685
wade the same researches in Lorrain, Burgundy, and Alsace. In 1688 he published “A Supplement of the Ecclesiastical Writers, omitted by Bellarmine,
” a work which
did him much honour, under the title “Supplementum de
scriptoribus vel scriptis ecclesiasticis a Bellarmino omissis,
ad annum 1460, vel ad artem typographical!! inventam.
”
He published afterwards a complete body of those works,
with the title of “Commentarius de scriptoribus ecclesias
antiquis, illorumque scriptis, adhunc extantibus in celebrioribus Europae bibliothecis, a Bellarmino, Possevino,
Phil. Labbeo, Gul, Caveo, Ellio, Du Pin,
” &c. 3 vols.
folio. This is his principal work; but if we may believe
Le Clerc, our author did not understand either Greek or;
Latin sufficient for it and it certainly abounds in errors,
a great many of which, however, belong to the press.
, a learned French Jesuit, was born November 1, 1673, at Vignory,
, a learned French Jesuit, was born
November 1, 1673, at Vignory, in Champagne. He was
carefully educated at Langres, by an uncle, who was an
ecclesiastic, and began his noviciate among the Jesuits
in 1691, His uncle bequeathed him an annuity of 400
livres on condition of his residing either at Paris or
Dijon. Accordingly he settled at Dijon, where he taught
rhetoric fifteen years, and theology fifteen years more,
with great applause. Besides Greek and Latin, he understood Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and English, and
had particularly studied antiquities, both sacred and profane. Father Oudin undertook to write commentaries on
the whole Bible, but could not finish them, being employed
by father Francis Retz, general of his order, in a general
history, or Bibliotheque of authors belonging to the Jesuits.
This important work had been begun by father Ribadeneira, and carried on to 1618. Alegambe continued it to
1643, and Sotwel to 1673. Other Jesuits were afterwards
successively employed to carry it on; but as they had published nothing, and only collected some undigested materials, it was thought that father Oudin would acquit himself better in the undertaking. The learned Jesuit did
indeed apply himself to it with indefatigable ardour during
the rest of his life, and drew up 1928 articles, but they
still remain in ms. He died at Dijon, of a dropsy in his
breast, April 28, 1752, aged seventy-nine. The principal
among his printed works are, 1. An excellent little poem
in Latin, which he wrote at the age of twenty-two, entitled “Somnia,
” 8vo and 12mo; and some other poems
in the same language, most of which are in “Poemata
Didascalica,
” 3 vols. 12mo; 2. Harangues in Latin, and
several Dissertations on different literary subjects, printed in
the abbe le Boeuf 's “Dissertations,
” 3 vols. 12mo; 3. Some
of the Lives of learned men in* Niceron’s “Memoires;
”
4. A Memoir, 4to, “in answer to the Ordinance of M. the
bishop of Auxerre,
” September 18, 1725, against some
propositions dictated by father le Moyne, a Jesuit; 5. “A
Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans,
” Publius Syrus,
” with
notes, Dijon,
, a learned professor of divinity of the university of Francfort
, a learned professor of divinity of the university of Francfort on the Oder, was born at
Dantzic, Oct.7, 1671. He was descended from the ancient and
noble family of Oisel or Loisel, which made a great figure
in Norman history; and one of his ancestors having come
to England with William the Conqueror, his descendants
were not extinct in the time of queen Elizabeth. Of this
descent, however, our learned professor seldom was heard
to boast. He had more pleasure in relating that his immediate ancestors were pious protestants, who, having escaped the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s day in France,
took refuge in Flanders; and that his great grandfather,
who had lost his all on that occasion, began trade and acquired great property, of which he was again stript during
the persecution under the duke of Alva, and obliged to
fly to Leyden with three hundred families, who established
the cloth manufactory there under his direction. One of
his uncles was James Ousel or Loisel, already mentioned
(see Oisel*), the editor of an excellent edition of the “Octavius
” of Minutius Felix, with notes, printed at Leyden
in 1652, 4to and 8vo, and reprinted in 1672. His father
Michael Ousel was a merchant, who died when this his sou
was very young, leaving him to the care of a step-mother,
who paid every possible attention to his education.
, a learned French ecclesiastic, of the seventeenth century, was
, a learned French ecclesiastic, of
the seventeenth century, was a native of Chinon in Tourraine, and a canon of Tours, He enjoyed the reputation
of an universal scholar; was a poet, mathematician, divine,
a controversial writer, and even a musician, although in
the latter character he appears to have escaped the very
minute researches of Dr. Burney in his valuable history of
that art. He had been music- master of the holy chapel at
Paris for ten years, before he became a canon of Tours.
He wrote a great many works, among which some of his
controversial pieces against the protestants, his “History
of Music from its origin to the present time,
” and his dissertation on Vossius’s treatise “De poematum cantu et
viribus rythmi,
” remain in manuscript. Those which were
published, are, 1. “Secret pour composer en musique par
un art nouveau,
” Paris, Studiosis sanctarum
scripturarum Biblia Sacra in lectiones ad singulos dies, per
legem, prophetas, et evangelium distributa, et 529 carminibus mnemonicis comprehensa,
” ibid. Motifs de
reunion a l‘eglise catholique, presentes a ceux de la religion pretendue-reforme*e de France, avec un avertissement
sur la reponse d’un ministre a Poffice du saint Sacrement,
”
ibid. Le motifs de la conversion du comte de
Lorges Montgommery,
” dedicated to Louis XIV. ibid.
1670. 5. “Defense de Tancienne tradition des eglises de
France, sur la mission des premiers predicateurs evangeliques dans les Gaules, du temps des apotres ou de leurs
disciples immediats, et de Pusage des ecrits des S. S.
Severe-Sulpice, et Gregoire de Tours, et de Tabus qu‘on en
faiten cette rnatiere et en d’autres pareilles,
” ibid. 178.
This was addressed to the clergy and people of To'irs by
the author, who held the same sentiments as M.de Ma re a,
respecting St. Denis. 6. “L‘Art de la science des Nombres,
en Francois et en Latin, avec un preface de i’excellence de
Farithmetique,
” ibid. Architecture harmonique, ou application de la doctrine des proportions, de la
musique a ^architecture, avec un addition a cet ecrit,
”
ibid. Calendarium novum, perpetuum, et
irrevocable,
” Breviarium Turonense, renovatum, et in melius restitutum,
”
, a learned English divine, was the son of a gentleman of good estate,
, a learned English divine, was the son of a gentleman of good estate, whose house was situated at the foot of Mount Cad da- reddris, near Dolgelly, in the county of Merioneth, and was born in 1716. He was educated at Ruthen school, Denbighshire, and in 1735 entered of Jesus-college, Oxford, where he took his degrees in arts. The natural bent of his inclination led him to mathematical studies, which he pursued with great ardour and perseverance during the first part of his residence at the university. Intending, however, to follow the profession of physic, he proceeded to the degree of B. M. the 17th Oct. 1746, and finally became D.M. March 29, 1753, He practised for three years, but seems to have changed his purpose, and being admitted into orders, accepted of a curacy in Gloucestershire. He was chaplain to sir Matthew Featherstonehaugh, by whom he was presented to the living of Terling, in Essex, which he resigned in 1760, upon obtaining the rectory of St. Olave, Hart-street. In 1775 he received from Dr. Barrington, now bishop of Durham, then canon residentiary of St. Paul’s, the living of Edmonton. On the 3d of September 1760, he married miss Mary Butts, daughter of the bishop of Ely; and after a long and lingering illness, died the 14th October, 1795, leaving one son, the rev. Henry Butts Owen, to whom he had some years resigned the living of St. Olave’s, and four daughters.
tate, and might have risen to considerable preferment had he chosen to conform. In 1661 he published a learned and elaborate work, “De natura, ortu, progressu, et
The short time he remained at Oxford, he preached at
St. Peter’s in the East, to a crowded congregation who regretted his being now excluded from St. Mary’s; and after
leaving Oxford, he retired to Stadham, where he had purchased an estate. According to Baxter, he is supposed to
have had a particular hand in restoring the members of the
old parliament, who compelled Richard Cromwell to resign; but this seems a disputable point. We are more
certain that at the meeting of his brethren at the Savoy in
1658, he took an active part, and had a principal hand in
drawing up the confession of faith of what were called the
congregational churches. On the restoration of Charles II.
he was not in possession of any church preferment, but
had formed a congregation at Stadham, where he continued
to preach for some time until he settled in London. Here
he contracted an acquaintance with some of the most eminent persons in church and state, and might have risen to
considerable preferment had he chosen to conform. In
1661 he published a learned and elaborate work, “De natura, ortu, progressu, et studio veras Theoiogiae,
” 4to. The
following year, one John Vincent Lane, a Franciscan
friar, published a work called “Fiat Lux,
” in which, under
the pretence of recommending moderation and charity,
he endeavoured to draw over his readers to the church of
Rome, as the only infallible cure of all religious animosities. Two editions of this work were printed before it fell
under Dr. Owen’s notice; but it was, at length, sent to
him by a person of distinction, with a request that he would
write a reply to it. This he readily undertook, and, in
the same year, published his “Animadversions on Fiat
Lux. By a Protestant.
” This produced an answer from
Lane, and another tract from Owen, entitled “A Vindication of Animadversions on Fiat Lux;
” but there was
some difficulty in obtaining a licence for this last book,
when the bishops who were appointed by act of parliament the principal licensers of divinity-books had examined it: they made two objections against it. 1.
That upon all occasions when he mentions the evangelists
and apostles, even St. Peter himself, he left out the title
of saint. 2. That he endeavours to prove that it could not
be determined that St. Peter was ever at Rome. To the
first the doctor replied, that the title of evangelist, or
apostle, by which the scripture names them, was much
more glorious than that of saint; for in that name all the
people of God were alike honoured; yet to please them he
yielded to that addition; but as to the other objections, he
would by no means consent to any alteration, unless they
could prove him to be mistaken in his assertion, and rather
chose his book should never see the light than to expunge
what he had written upon that subject; and in all probability it would not have been printed, had not sir Edward
Nicholas, one of his majesty’s principal secretaries of state,
who was informed of the matter, written to the bishop of
London to license it notwithstanding this objection. This
book recommended him to the esteem of the lord chancellor Hyde, who, by sirBulstrode Whitlocke, sent for him,
and acknowledged the service of his late books against Fiat
Lux; assuring him that he had deserved the best of any
English protestant of late years; and that for these performances the church was bound to own and advance him;
and at the same time he offered him preferment if he would
accept it: the chancellor moreover told him there was one
thing he much wondered at, that he being so learned a
man, and so well acquainted with church history, should
embrace that novel opinion of independency, for which,
in his judgment, so little could be said. The doctor replied, that indeed he had spent some part of his time in
reading over the history of the church, and made this
offer to his lordship, if he pleased, to prove that this. was
that way of government which was practised in the church
for several hundred years after Christ, against any bishop
he should think fit to bring to a disputation with him upon
this subject. “Say you so
” said the chancellor, “then I
am much mistaken.
” Other conversation passed between
them, particularly about liberty of conscience The lord
chancellor asked him what he would desire With respect *tb
liberty and forbearance in the matters of religion. To
which the doctor replied, “That the liberty he desired
was for protestants, who assented to the doctrine of the
church of England.
” This was afterwards misrepresented,
as if he meant to exclude all others from the exercise of
their religion, which he often declared was not his meaning.
, a learned judge, and author of a book of reports, was the son
, a learned judge, and author of a
book of reports, was the son of Richard Owen, esq. of
Condover, in Shropshire, and educated in Oxford, but in
what college seems doubtful. Having taken a degree in
arts, he left the university, and repairing to Lincoln’s Inn,
London, studied law, and became an eminent counsellor.
In 1583 he was elected Lent-reader of that society. In
1590 he was made serjeant at law, and- queen’s serjeant
soon after. He arrived at length at the dignity of judge of
the common pleas, which office he is said to have executed
during five years with great abilities and integrity. He
died in December 1598, and was buried on the south side
of the choir in Westminster abbey, where a monument was
erected to his memory. He had the reputation of a learned
man, and a patron of learning. His “Reports in the
King’s Bench and Common Pleas, in the reign of queen
Elizabeth, and some few cases in the time of king James,
”
(which last could not have been his) were printed in folio,
in 1656. Though there is a vacancy in the pages of this
volume from 77 to 80 inclusive, the book is perfect.
, a learned English divine, was born in Derbyshire in 1625, and
, a learned English
divine, was born in Derbyshire in 1625, and in 1641 was
admitted of Trinity college, Cambridge, where he took
the degree of B. A. in 1645, and according to his epitaph,
seems to have been fellow of that college, as he was afterwards of Christ’s. In this last he took the degree of M. A.
in 1649, and that of D. D. in 1660. His first preferment
was in Lincolnshire, and he appears to have succeeded Dr.
Josias Shute in the rectory of St. Mary Woolnoth, which
he resigned in 1666. On July 30, 1669, he was installed
archdeacon of Leicester, to which he was collated by Dr.
William Fuller, bishop of Lincoln. In July 1670 he was
also installed prebendary of Westminster, and was some
time rector or minister of St. Margaret’s, Westminster.
He died August 23, 1679, aged fifty-four, and was interred
in Westminster abbey, where a monument was erected to
his memory, with a Latin inscription. In this he is recorded as “a complete divine in all respects, a nervous and
accurate writer, and an excellent and constant preacher.
”
It is also noticed that intense application to study brought
on the stone, which at last proved fatal to him. He was
an accomplished scholar in the Oriental languages, as appears by his excellent work “De Sacrifices,
” Loud. Desiderata,
” a fragment
of one of Dr. Owtram’s sermons.
, a learned Englishman, was born about 1432, at or near Winchester,
, a learned Englishman, was born about 1432, at or near Winchester, as is generally supposed, and was educated at the charge of Thomas Langton, bishop of that diocese, who employed him, while a youth, as his amanuensis. The bishop, pleased with his proficiency, and particularly delighted with his early turn for music, which he thought an earnest of greater attainments, bestowed a pension on him sufficient to defray the expences of his education at Padua, at that time one of the most flourishing universities in Europe. Accordingly he studied there for some time, and met with Cuthbert Tonstall, afterwards bishop of Durham, and William Latimer, whom he called his preceptors. On his return, he studied for some time at Queen’s-college, Oxford, of which his patron Langton had been provost; and was soon after taken into the service of Dr. Christopher Bambridge, who succeeded Langton in the office of provost, and became afterwards a cardinal. He attended him to Rome, about the beginning of the sixteenth' century, and continued there until the cardinal’s death in 1514. He appears, before this, to have entered into holy orders, for in the beginning of this year, and while abroad, he was made prebendary of Bugthorp, in the church of York, in the room of Wolsey, afterwards the celebrated cardinal; and in May of the same year, was promoted to the archdeaconry of Dorset, on the resignation of his friend Langton, at which time, as Willis supposes, he resigned the prebend of Bugthorp.
t Venice, and at Rome. In the first of these cities, during the years 1747, 48, and 49, he published a learned “Dissertation on a Statue of Mercury,” in 4to; “ObserTations
The precise date of Father Paciaudi’s most meritorious
labours may be properly fixed at 1747, the thirty-sixth of
kis life; and, from that time to 1760, he was seen almost
in a state of continual preregrination at Naples, at Florence,
at Venice, and at Rome. In the first of these cities,
during the years 1747, 48, and 49, he published a learned
“Dissertation on a Statue of Mercury,
” in 4to; “ObserTations on some foreign and odd Coins,
” likewise in 4to
and, “A Series of Medals representing the most remarkable Events of the Government of Malta,
” in folio. At
Florence appeared in Treatise on the
ancient Crosses and Holy Monuments which are found at
iui
” at Venice, in the same year, his unrivalled
work, “De sacris Christianorum Balneis
” and at Rome,
from De Athletarum
Cubistesi.
” His position, in this disquisition, was, that
the Greeks, though they placed dancing in the same rank
as the military march, considered it as an art tending to
regulate, adjust, and beautify the movements of the body,
and divided it into four genera according to its various application to religious ceremonies, warlike exercises, theatrical performances, and domestic enjoyments; yet the
cubistic art, whose object is to teach jumping and uncommon corporeal exertions, although perfectly known, was
never held in great estimation in ancient Greece.
d ecclesiastical history, in which he excelled. He printed in the Journal des Savans, Nov. 11, 1686, a learned “Dissertation upon the Consular Office,” in which he
, a famous Cordelier, and one of the
ablest critics of his time, was born at Rognes, a small town
in Provence, March 31, 1624. He took the monk’s habit
in the convent of the Cordeliers at Aries, and professed
himself there in 1641. After he had finished the usual
course of studies in philosophy and divinity, he preached
some time, and was at length made four times provincial
of his order. These occupations did not hinder him from
applying to chronology and ecclesiastical history, in which
he excelled. He printed in the Journal des Savans, Nov.
11, 1686, a learned “Dissertation upon the Consular Office,
” in which he pretends to have discovered the rules,
according to which the Roman emperors took the dignity
of consul at some certain times more than others, but in
this he is not thought to have been successful. His most
considerable work is “A Critique upon the Annals of Baronius;
” in which he has rectified an infinite number of
mistakes, both in chronology and in facts. He published
the first volume of this work, containing the first four centuries, at Paris, in 1689; with a dedication to the clergy
of France, who allowed him a pension. The whole work
was printed after his death, in four volumes, folio, at Geneva, in 1705, by the care of his nephew, father Francis
Pagi, of the same order. It is carried to the year 1198,
where Baronius ends. Pagi was greatly assisted in it by
the abbe* Longuerue, who also wrote the eloge of our
author, which is prefixed to the Geneva edition. Another
edition was published at Geneva in 1727. It is a work of
great utility, but the author’s chronology of the popes of
the first three centuries is not approved by the learned.
He has also prefixed a piece concerning a new chronological period, which he calls “Graeco-Romana,
” and uses
for adjusting all the different epochas, which is not without its inconveniences. Our author wrote some other
works of inferior note before his death, at Aix, in Provence,
June 7, 1699. His character is that of 'a very able historian, and a learned and candid critic. His style has all the
simplicity and plainness which suits a chronological narration. He held a correspondence with several learned men,
as Stillingfleet, Spanheim, Cuper, Dodwell, the cardinal
Noris, &c.
maintenance. This appeared particularly hard in his case, as, according to every authority, he was “ a learned, peaceable, and good divine, who had formerly complied
, or rather Paget (Eusebius), a Puritan divine, was born at Cranford in Northamptonshire, about
1542, and at the age of twelve years came to Oxford,
where he was first choirister, and afterwards student of
Christ Church. He made, according to Wood, a considerable progress in logic and philosophy, but, although a
noted sophister, left the university without taking a degree.
As Wood passes immediately to his being presented to the
rectory of St. Anne’s, Aldersgate-street, that biographer
seems to have known nothing of the intermediate events.
On his leaving Oxford, he became vicar of Oundle, and
rector of 'Langton in his native county, where, in 1573, he
was first prosecuted for nonconformity. He was afterwards
preferred to the rectory of Kilkhampton in Cornwall, and
although he had acquainted both his patron and ordinary
that there were some things in the book of Common Prayer
with which he could not comply, and they had promised,
that if he would accept the cure, he should not be molested on that account, yet a prosecution was commenced
against him, which ended in his losing all his preferments,
and even a school which he attempted to establish for his
maintenance. This appeared particularly hard in his case,
as, according to every authority, he was “a learned, peaceable, and good divine, who had formerly complied with
the customs and devotions of the church, and had been indefatigable in the ministry.
” He appears to haye remained
some years under ecclesiastical censure; but at last, in
September 1604, was promoted to the rectory of St. Anne
and St. Agnes, Aldersgate-street, which he held till his
death in May 1617, in the seventy- fifth year of his age.
His remains were interred in this church. An account of
his prosecution may be seen in the Harleian Mss. 813, fol.
14, b. and an abridgment of it in Neal’s “History of the
Puritans.
” He was the author of a sermon “on Tithes
”
another “of Election
” a Latin “Catechism,
” Lond.
Harmony of the
Gospels,
” ibid. The History of the Bible,
briefly collected, by way of question and answer.
” It does
not appear when this first appeared, but it was afterwards
printed at the end of several of the old editions of the
Bible.
, a learned Italian cardinal, descended from an illustrious family,
, a learned Italian cardinal,
descended from an illustrious family, was born at Bologna,
Oct. 4, 1524. He was intended for the profession of the
civil and canon law, in which some of his family had acquired fame, and he made great progress in that and other
studies. His talents very early procured him a canonry of
Bologna; after which he was appointed professor of civil
law, and obtained the title of the new Alciatus from his
emulating the judgment and taste of that learned writer.
Some business requiring his presence at Rome, he was appointed by ca'rdinal Alexander Farnese, who had been his
fellow-student at Bologna, and who was then perpetual
legate of Avignon, governor of Vaisson, in the county of
Venaissin, but hearing of the death of his mother, he made
that a pretence for declining the office, and therefore returned to his professorship at Bologna. The Farnese family
were, however, determined to serve him in spite of his
modesty, and in 1557 obtained for him the post of auditor
of the rota. When Pope Pius IV. opened the council of
Trent, Paleotti was made proctor and counsellor to his legates, who, in truth, did nothing of importance without
his advice. Of this council Paleotti wrote a history, which
still remains in ms. and of which Pallavicini is said to have
availed himself in his history. After this council broke up
he resumed his functions at Rome, where in 1565 he was
raised to the dignity of the purple by Pius IV. and by
Pius V. he was created bishop of Bologna, but the see
upon this occasion was erected into an archbishopric to do
honour both to Paleotti and his native country. Being a
conscientious man, he was always so assiduous in the duties
of his diocese, that it was with the greatest reluctance
the popes summoned him to attend the consistories and
other business at Rome. He died at Rome, July 23, 1597,
aged seventy-three. He was author of several works of
considerable merit, on subjects in antiquities, jurisprudence, and morals. Of these the most considerable are
the following: “Archiepiscopale Bonnoniense
” “De imagiriibus Sacris, et Profanis,
” De Sacri Consistorii Consultationibus
”
“De Nothis, Spuriisque Filiis,
” Francfort, De
Bono Senectutis
” Pastoral Letters, &c.
, a learned and pious divine, was the second son of sir Thomas Palmer,
, a learned and pious divine, was
the second son of sir Thomas Palmer, knt. of Wingham, in
Kent, where he was born in 1601. He was educated at
St. John’s college, Cambridge, but was afterwards chosen
fellow of Queen’s. In 1626 archbishop Abbot licensed
him to preach a lecture at St. Alphage’s church in Canterbury, every Sunday afternoon; but three years after, he
was silenced, on a charge of nonconformity, for a time, but
was again restored, the accusation being found trifling.
Although a puritan, his character appeared so amiable that
bishop Laud presented him in 1632 with the vicarage of
Ashwell, in Hertfordshire, and when the unfortunate prelate
was brought to his tri,.l, he cited this as an instance of his
impartiality. At Ashwell Mr. Palmer became no less popular than he had been at Canterbury. In the same year
he was chosen one of the preachers to the university of
Cambridge, and afterwards one of the clerks in convocation. In 1643, when the depression of the hierarchy had
made great progress, he was chosen one of the assembly of
divines, in which he was distinguished for his moderation,
and his aversion to the civil war. He preached also at
various places in London until the following year, when
the earl of Manchester appointed him master of Queen’s
college, Cambridge. He preached several times before
the parliament, and appears to have entered into their
views in most respects, although his sermons were generally
of the practical kind. He did not live, however, to see the
issue of their proceedings, as he died in 1647, aged fortysix. Granger gives him the character of a man of uncommon learning, generosity, and politeness, and adds, that he
spoke the French language with as much facility as his
own. Clark enters more fully into his character as a
divine. His works are not numerous. Some of his parliamentary sermons are in print, and he had a considerable
share in the “Sabbatum Redivivum,
” with Cawdry; but
his principal work, entitled “Memorials of Godliness,
”
acquired great popularity. The thirteenth edition was
printed in 1708, 12mo.
, a learned Fleming, was the son of Adolphus, counsellor of state
, a learned Fleming, was the son
of Adolphus, counsellor of state to the emperor Charles V.
and born at Bruges in 1536. He was educated at Louvain
and Paris, and became afterwards a learned divine and
critic. Obtaining a canonry in the church of Bruges, he
collected a library, and formed a design of giving good
editions of the fathers; but the civil wars obliged him to
retire to St. Omer’s, of which place the bishop made him
archdeacon. Some time after, Philip II. king of Spain
named him to the provostship of St. Saviour at Utrecht,
and after that to the bishopric of St. Omer’s: but, as he
went to Brussels to take possession of it, he died at Mons
in Huinault, in 1587. He is chiefly known for his critical
labours upon “Tertullian and Cyprian;
” of both which
writers he published editions, and prefixed lives. “The
commentaries of this author upon Tertullian,
” says Dupin,
“are both learned and useful but he digresses too much
from his subject, and brings in things of no use to the understanding of his author:
” and he passes much the same
judgment of his labours upon Cyprian. All the later editors, however, of these two fathers have spoken well of Pamelius, and have transcribed his best notes into their editions.
, a learned physician and historian, was born at Basil June 13,
, a learned physician and historian, was born at Basil June 13, 1522. In his early education he made very considerable proficiency, but it ap
pears that his friends differed in their opinions as to his
profession, some intending him for a learned profession,
and some for a printer, which they conceived to be connected with it. At length after a due course of the languages and polite literature, he studied divinity according
to the principles of the reformed religion, but changing
that design, he taught dialectics and natural philosophy at
Basil for about forty years. He then, at an advanced age,
studied medicine, took the degree of doctor in that faculty,
and practised with much reputation until his death, March
3, 1595, in the seventy-third year of his age. He composed various works both in medicine and history, some in
Latin and some in German, and translated certain authors
into the latter language. His most useful work, nowscarce, was an account of the eminent men of Germany,
published at Basil in 1565, fol. under the title of “Posographia heroum et illustrium virorum Germanise,
” dedicated to the emperor Maximilian II. who honoured him
with the title of Count Palatin. He published also a Latin
history of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, 1581, folio.
' Historia Militaris ordinis Johannitarum, Rhodiorum aut
Melitensium Equitum;“” Chronographia Ecclesiae Christi,“ibid, 1568;
” Diarium Historicum,“1572; and, in
his youth,
” Comoedia de Zaccheo publicanorum principe,"
1546, 8vo.
, a learned scholar of the sixteenth century, was born at Verona
, a learned scholar of the
sixteenth century, was born at Verona in 1529. He discovered an attachment to history and antiquities in his
earliest years, and entered into the order of the Augustins.
As soon as he had made profession, the general of his
order sent him to Rome to complete his studies, and in
1553 he was appointed to instruct the novices. He then
taught scholastic theology at Florence for some time, but
his chief residence was at Rome, where he was patronized
by cardinal Marcello Cervini, afterwards pope Marcel 1 us II.
From thence he passed into the court of cardinal Alexander Farnese, with whom he travelled into Sicily in 1568,
where he died in his thirty-ninth year. One of his first
labours was an edition of the “Fasti Consulares,
” first
brought to light by Sigonius, which he published, illustrated with notes, at Venice in 1557. He published treatises also, “De Antiquis Romanorum Nominibus;
” “De
Principibus Romanis;
” “De Republica;
” “De Triumphis et Ludis Circensibus;
” and “Topographia Romae.
”
These valuable works are founded in a great measure upon
ancient inscriptions, of which he had collected and copied
nearly three thousand. Some time after, this collection,
which had come into the hands of cardinal Savelli, disappeared, and Maffei is of opinion that the collection published at Antwerp by Martin Sanctius, in 1588, and which
served as a foundation for Gruterus’s great work, was in
reality that of Panvinius. Panvinius was also a profound
investigator of sacred or Christian antiquities, as appears
by his works, “. De Ritu sepeliendi mortuos apud veteres
Christianos
” “De antiquo Ritu baptizandi Catechumenos;
” “DePrimatu Pein;
” “Chronicon Ecclesiasticum;
”
“De Episcopatibus Titulis, et Diaconis Cardinalium
”
“Annotationes et Supplementa ad Platinam de Vitis Pontificnm;
” “De Septem pnrcipuis Urbis Romse Basilicis;
”
“De Bibliotheca Vaticana.
” He had undertaken a general ecclesiastical history, for which he collected matter
sufficient to fill six large -manuscript volumes, which are
preserved in the Vatican. He wrote a chronicle of his
own order, and a history of his native city, Verona, including an account of its antiquities, printed many years
after his death.
, a learned canon of la Chapelle-au Riche, at Dijon, in which city
, a learned canon of la Chapelle-au Riche, at Dijon, in which city he was born, May
1, 1666, was the son of Philip Papillon, advocate to the
parliament. He was a man of literature, and an able critic, and furnished Le Long of the Oratory, Desmolets,
Niceron, and several others among the learned, with a
number of important memoirs and anecdotes. He died
February 23, 1738, at Dijon, aged seventy-two. His principal work is, “La Bibliotheqtie des Auteurs de Bourgogne,
” Dijon,
so published a "Saxon homily on the Sacrament,“translated out of Latin into that language, by Ælfric a learned abbot of St. Alban’s, about 900 years before; with two
Concerning his learning and zeal for the promotion of
learning, there is no difference of opinion. His skill in
ancient liturgies was such, that he was one of the first selected to draw up the Book of Common Prayer; and when
he came to be placed at the head of the church, he laboured much to engage the bishops, and other learned
men, in the revisal and correction of the former translations of the Bible. This was at length undertaken and
carried on under his direction and inspection, who assigned
particular portions to each of his assistants, which he afterwards perused and corrected, and spared no pains in getting it completed. It was first published in 1568, and has
usually been called the “Bishop’s Bible,
” and ran its
course with the Geneva translation, until the present version was executed, in the reign of king James. He also
published a "translated out of Latin into that language, by Ælfric a learned
abbot of St. Alban’s, about 900 years before; with two
epistles of the same, in which is not the least mention of
the doctrine of transubstantiation. He was the editor also
of editions of the histories of Matthew of Westminster and
Matthew of Paris, and of various other works, enumerated
by Tanner; some of which were either composed by him,
or printed at his expence. The work on which he is
thought to have spent most time was that
” but his share in this is a disputed
point among antiquaries. In his letter to the lord treasurer, to whom he presented a copy, he speaks of it as his
own collection, which had been the employment of his
leisure hours. Dr. Drake likewise, in the preface to his
edition of it, quotes a letter of the archbishop’s in the
college-library, in which he expressly styles it,
” My book
of Canterbury Predecessors;“and archbishop Bramhall
was of opinion, that the conclusion of the preface proved
Parker himself to have been the author. But notwithstanding these testimonies, the matter is doubtful. Selden was the first who called it in question, although without giving his reasons; and sir Henry Spelman considered
Dr. Ackworth to have been either the author or collector
of the work. Archbishop Usher thinks that Ackworth wrote
only the first part, concerning the British antiquities; and
he, Selden, and Wharton, ascribe the lives of the archbishops to Josselyn, and make Parker little more than the
director or encourager of the whole. And this certainly
seems to be confirmed by the copy now in the Lambethlibrary. This copy, which originally belonged to that library, but was missing from the year 1720, was replaced
in 1757 by Dr. Trevor, bishop of Durham, who found
it in the Sunderland-library. This, which Dr. Ducarel
thought the only perfect one existing, contains many
manuscript papers, letters, and notes, respecting archbishop Parker and the see of Canterbury; and, among
these, some proofs that Ackworth and Josselyn had a
considerable share in the composition of the work. At the
beginning of St. Augustine’s life we find this note:
” These
24 pages of St. Augustine’s life were thus begun by George
Acworth Dr. of laws, at the appointment of Matthew
Parker Abp.of Cant, and the lives of all the archbishops should have in this course been perfected—(some words not intelligible)—but deth prevented it.“This Dr.
Ackworth, as we have mentioned in our account of him
(vol. I.) was alive in 1576, but how long after is not known,
but as this is a year after our prelate’s death, there seems
some difficulty in understanding the latter part of this
note, without adopting archbishop Usher’s opinion above
mentioned. We also find in the Lambeth copy, on the
title-page of the history, the following note:
” This Historie was collected and penned by John Josselyn, one of
the sons of sir Thomas Josselyn, knight, by the appointment and oversight of Matthew Parker archbishop of Cant.
the said John being entertained in the said archb. house,
as one of his antiquaries, to whom, besides the allowance
afforded to him in his howse, he gave to hym the parsonage
of Hollinborn in Kent," &c.
peace, in word, in purity. He preached diligently, and exhorted the people that came to him. He was a learned man, as well in respect of human learning, as divine,
Strype, on the authority of his contemporary Becan,
who knew him well, gives him this character: “He was
naturally somewhat hasty; but soon appeased again. He
would speak his mind freely, and fear none in a good
cause. A true friend, and easily reconciled to any
against whom he had taken a displeasure. He appointed
in his diocese (that was large) for the better oversight
thereof, ten commissaries, to whom he, as occasion served,
sent instructions for the regulation and order of his see.
He could have been willing to allow a liberty of officiating
in the church, to such as could not conform to some of the
ceremonies of it, looking upon them as indifferent matters;
but upon command from above, he readily obeyed his
prince’s and metropolitan’s authority. He was a friend to
prophesies; that is, to the meetings of the ministers in
several appointed parish churches in his diocese, as in St.
Edmund’s Bury, &c. to confer together about the interpretation and sense of the scriptures. But the queen forbidding it, upon some abuses thereof, the archbishop signified to him her will, and he in obedience sent to his
archdeacons and commissaries, to have them forborn for
the future.
” “As for his life and conversation, it was
such as might be counted a mirror of virtue; wherein appeared nothing but what was good and godly; an example
to the flock in righteousness, in faith, in love, in peace,
in word, in purity. He preached diligently, and exhorted
the people that came to him. He was a learned man, as
well in respect of human learning, as divine, well seen iti
the sacred Scriptures; an earnest protestant, and lover of
sincere religion; an excellent bishop, a faithful pastor,
and a worthy example to -all spiritual ministers in his diocese, both for doctrine, life, and hospitality.
” This character is confirmed by Bale, in the dedication to Parkhurst,
of his “Reliques of Rome,
” printed in
Parmigiano was a learned designer; to his depth in design we must ascribe that
Parmigiano was a learned designer; to his depth in design we must ascribe that freedom of execution, those decided strokes of his pencil, which Albano calls divine, and
which add grace to the finish of his pictures; they have
not, indeed, all equal “impasto
” of colour, nor equal
effect, though some, for the amore with which they are
conducted, have been ascribed to Correggio such is the
Cupid scooping his bow, with the two infants at his feet,
one laughing, the other crying, of which there are several
repetitions. We see indeed, some of the pictures of Parmigiano so often repeated, that though we may grant them
the respect due to age, we can scarcely allow them all the
praise of originality. Such is, among his lesser works,
the picture of the Madonna with the Infant, St. John and
St. Catherine, and the head of St. Zaccharia, or some
other sainted elder, in the fore-ground; its duplicates are
nearly spread over every gallery of Italy. His altar-pieces
are not numerous, and the most valued of them is perhaps
that of St. Marguerita, in Bologna, a composition rich in
figures, contemplated with admiration, and studied by the
Caracci; Guido even preferred it to the St. Cecilia of
Raphael. The last of his works is the “Moses breaking
the Tables,
” at Parma, in which, says sir Joshua Reynolds,
we are at a loss which to admire most, the correctness of
drawing, or the grandeur of the conception. The etchings
of Parmigiano, models of freedom, taste, and delicacy, are
universally known.
, a learned antiquary, was a noble of Palermo, and secretary to
, a learned antiquary, was a noble of
Palermo, and secretary to the senate of that city, where
he died in 1629. He was author of several works, but is
principally known by his “Sicilia descrittacon Medaglie,
”
Palermo,
, the son of George Pasor, a learned professor of divinity and Hebrew in the academy of Herborne,
, the son of George Pasor, a learned professor of divinity and Hebrew in the academy of Herborne, by Apollonia his wife, daughter of Peter Hendschius, senator of that place, was born there April 12, 1599. Discovering a very docile disposition, he was carefully educated in the elements of Greek and Latin in his native place, until the appearance of the plague obliged him to be removed to Marpurg in 1614; but the following year he returned to Herborne, and again applied himself closely to his studies. In 1616, he was sent to Heidelberg; and, meeting there with skilful professors, he made such improvement, that he was employed as a tutor, and taught in private both mathematics and Hebrew. He was honoured also with the degree of M. A. by the university in Feb. 1617, and then studied divinity under David Pareus, Abraham Scultetus, and Henry Alting. In April 1620, he was appointed mathematical professor; which office he retained until Heidelberg was invested by the duke of Bavaria’s troops, in September 1622, when he lost his books and Mss. and narrowly escaped with his life to Herborne, where he found a comfortable employment in the academy till 1623. Proceeding thence to Ley den, he constantly attended the lectures of the most eminent Dutch divines, particularly those of Erpenius upon the Arabic tongue, and of Snellius upon divinity.
, a learned Frenchman, was born in 1528 at Paris; of which city
, a learned Frenchman, was born in 1528 at Paris; of which city he was an advocate in parliament, afterwards a counsellor, and at last advocate-general in the chamber of accounts. He pleaded many years with very great success before the parliament, where he was almost constantly retained in the most difficult causes, and every day consulted as an oracle. He did not, however, confine his studies to the law; but was esteemed a general scholar. Henry III. gave him the, post of advocate of the chamber of accounts, which he filled with his usual reputation, and resigned it some time after to Theodore Paquier, his eldest son. He was naturally beneficent and generous; agreeable and easy in conversation his manner sweet, and his temper pleasant. He died at Paris, at the advanced age of eighty -seven, Aug. 31, 1615, and was interred in the church of St, Severin.
, a learned Italian antiquary and philologer, was born at Gubio
, a learned Italian antiquary
and philologer, was born at Gubio in the duchy of Urbino,
in Nov. 1694. His father, who was a physician at Todi,
designed him for the study of the law, which accordingly
he followed, but pursued with it that of antiquities, for
which he had a strong genius. After residing four years
at Rome he returned to Todi, and began to collect the
antiquities of that city and its environs. In 1726 he turned
his attention chiefly to the Etruscan antiquities, and collected a vast number of lamps, which he arranged in
classes. Having lost his wife in 1738, after twelve years
of happy union, he became an ecclesiastic, and was apostolic prothonotary, and vicar-general of Pesaro. In February 1780, he was overturned in his carriage, and died
in consequence of the fall. His works are, 1. “Lucernae
fictiles Musei Passerii,
” a splendid 4>ook in 3 vols. folio,
He had drawn up a fourth, on the lamps of the Christians,
but this has not been published. These came out in 1739,
1743, and 1751. 2. “Lettere Roncagliesi;
” Letters from
his villa at Roncaglia, on Etruscan antiquities, 1739. There
were seventeen letters, and a continuation was afterwards
published. 3. “In Thorns? Dempsteri Libros de Etruria
regali Paralipomena, quibus tabula? eidem operi additsG
illustrantur. Accedunt dissertatio de re numaria Etruscorum; de nominibus Etruscorum; et notoe in tabulas Eugabinas, auctore I. Baptista Passerio,
” Lucafc,
, a learned English prelate, successively bishop of Chichester and
, a learned English prelate, successively bishop of Chichester and Ely, was born at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, Sept. 8, 1626. His father was a
mercer of good credit in that place, and sent him to a
school, with a view to a learned education, which was kept
by one Merry weather, a good Latin scholar, and the translator of sir Thomas Browne’s “Religio Medici.
” In Mensa Mystica: or a Discourse concerning the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper; to which is
added, a Discourse concerning Baptism,
” Lond. 8vo. In
the following year he published “The Heart’s Ease, or a
remedy against all troubles; with a consolatory discourse,
particularly directed to those who have lost their friends
and dear relations,
” ibid. Jewish hypocrisy; a
caveat to the present generation,
” &c.
ce the doctrine of Plato, as more consonant to the Christian faith. His “Discussiones Peripatetics,” a learned, perspicuous, and elegant work, fully explains the reason
, a platonic philosopher and man of letters, was born, in 1529, at Clissa in
Illyricum, and was educated at Padua. In 1553 he began
to appear as an author by some miscellaneous Italian tracts.
In 1557, with the view of obtaining the patronage of the
duke of Ferrara, he published a panegyrical poem on the
house of Este, entitled “L'Eridano,
” in a novel kind of
heroic verse of thirteen syllables. After this, for several
years, he passed an unsettled kind of life, in which he
twice visited the isle of Cyprus, where he took up his
abode for seven years, and which he finally quitted on its
reduction by the Turks in 1571. He also travelled into
France and Spain, and spent three years in the latter
country, collecting a treasure of ancient Greek Mss.
which he lost on his return to Italy. In 1578 he was invited to Ferrara by duke Alphonso II. to teach philosophy
in the university of that city. Afterwards, upon the
accession of Clement VIII. to the popedom, he was appointed
public professor of the Platonic philosophy at Rome, an
office which he held with high reputation till his death, hi
1597. He professed to unite the doctrines of Aristotle and
Plato, but in reality undermined the authority of the former. He wholly deserted the obscurity of the Jewish
Cabbala, and in teaching philosophy closely followed the
ancient Greek writers. During his lecturing at Rome, he
more openly discovered his aversion to the Aristotelian
philosophy, and advised the pope to prohibit the teaching
pf it in the schools, and to introduce the doctrine of Plato,
as more consonant to the Christian faith. His “Discussiones Peripatetics,
” a learned, perspicuous, and elegant
work, fully explains the reason on which his disapprobation
of the Peripatetic philosophy was founded. He was one of
the first of the moderns who attentively observed the phenomena of nature, and he made use of every opportunity,
that his travels afforded him, for collecting remarks concerning various points of astronomy, meteorology, and
natural history. In one of his “Dialogues on Rhetoric,
”
he advanced, under the fiction of an Ethiopic tradition, a
theory of the earth which some have thought similar to
that afterwards proposed by Dr. Thomas Burnet. His
other principal works were, “Nova Geometria,
” Parallels Militari,
” Oracula Zoroastris, Hermetis Trismegisti, et aliorum ex scriptis Platonicorum collecta, Graece et Latine, prefixa Dissertation^
Historica,
”
, a learned Jew, born in that city, in 1353, embraced Christianity,
, a learned Jew, born in that city, in
1353, embraced Christianity, and entered the ecclesiastical profession after his wife’s decease. He was appointed
preceptor to John II. king of Castille; afterwards archdeacon of Trevigno, bishop of Carthagena, bishop of Burgos,
and is said to have died patriarch of Aquileia, August 29,
1435, aged 82. He has left additions to Nicholas de
Lyra’s “Postills;
” a treatise, entitled “Scrutinium Scripturarum,
” Mant. Hi>pama illustrata,
” 4 vols. fol. Gonsalvo, the second son, was bishop
of Placentia; and Alvarez, the third, published a History
of John II. king of Castille.
Muslims wrote a preface in Greek, which is prefixed to this edition, and addressed to John Lascaris, a learned Greek of the same age. Afterwards, in 1547, Romulus
, an ancient Greek writer, who has left
us a curious description of Greece, lived in the second
century, but very few particulars of his life are known.
Suidas mentions two of this name: one of Laconia, who
wrote concerning the Hellespont, Laconia, the Amphyclions, &c. another, who was a sophist or rhetorician of
Cicsarea in Cappadocia, lived at the same time with Aristides, and is mentioned by Philostratus, in his Lives of the
Orators. This last is supposed to be our Pausanias. He
was, according to the same Philostratus, “a disciple of the
famous sophist Herodes Atticus, whom he imitated in many
respects, but especially in composing without premeditation. His pronunciation was according to the manner of
the Cappadocians, who had a way of lengthening short
syllables, and shortening long ones. The character of his
composition was negligent, yet not without force. He
declaimed a long time at Rome, where he died very old,
though he continued all the while a member of the college
at Athens.
” His work is properly an account of a journey
through Greece, in which the author noted every thing
that was remarkable. All public monuments, as temples,
theatres, tombs, statues, paintings, &c. came within his
design: he took the dimensions of cities, which had formerly been great and famous, but were then in ruins; nor
did he hastily pass over places that were memorable for
illustrious transactions of old. By these observations he
throws much light upon the history and antiquities of
Greece; and clears up many passages in ancient authors,
which would otherwise have remained very perplexed and
obscure. His work has been recommended to modern travellers, and it is well known that Spon and VVheler made
great use of it.
Pausanias was first published at Venice in 1516, fol. by
Aldus, who was assisted by Marcus Musurus: Muslims
wrote a preface in Greek, which is prefixed to this edition,
and addressed to John Lascaris, a learned Greek of the
same age. Afterwards, in 1547, Romulus Amaseus published a Latin version of this work at Rome; and, three
years after, an edition was printed at Basil, with a new
Latin version by Abr. Loescherus. A better edition than
had yet appeared, with the Greek text of Aldus corrected
by Xylander, and the Latin version of Amaseus by Sylburgius, came out ut Francfort, 1583, in folio; from which
that of Hanover, 1613, in folio, was printed word for word.
But the best of all is that of Leipsic, 1696, in folio, with
the notes of Kuhnius. This learned man had already
given proof, by his critical labours upon JElian, D. Laertius, and Pollux, that he was very well qualified for a work
of this nature and his notes, though short, are very good.
When he undertook this edition of Pausanias he proposed
great advantages from four manuscripts in the king of
France’s library; but, upon consulting them on several
corrupt and obscure passages, he found that they did not
vary from Aldus’s copy. The main succours he derived
were from some manuscript notes of Isaac Casaubon, upon
the margin of Aldus’s edition; and, by the help of these,
and his own critical skill, he was enabled to correct and
amend an infinite number of places. A new edition, in 4
vols. 8vo, was published at Leipsic, in 1794 1797, by
Jo. Frid. Facius, which by the few who have had an opportunity of examining it, is thought excellent. It has very
correct indexes, and some aid from a Vienna and a Moscow manuscript. An English translation was published in
1794 by Mr. Thomas Taylor.
, a learned English prelate, was born at London, Sept. 8, 1690.
, a learned English prelate, was born at London, Sept. 8, 1690. He was the son of Thomas Pearce, a distiller, in High Holborn, who having acquired a competent fortune by his business, purchased an estate at Little Ealing, in Middlesex, to which he retired at the age of forty, and where he died in 1752, aged eighty-eight. His son, after some preparatory education at a school at Ealing, was removed in 1704 to Westminster school, where he was soon distinguished for his merit, and in 1707 was elected one of the king’s scholars. He remained at this school till the year 1710, when he was twenty years old. This long continuance of his studies has been attributed to the high opinion Dr. Busby entertained of him, who was accustomed to detain those boys longer under his discipline, of whose future eminence he had most expectation. That Dr. Busby had such a custom is certain, and that it was continued by his successor is probable, but Mr. Pearce could not have been under the tuition of Busby, who died in 1695. To this delay, however, without doubt, Mr. Pearce was greatly indebted for the philological reputation by which he was very early distinguished.
, a learned antiquary, the younger son of Robert and Elizabeth Peck,
, a learned antiquary, the younger son of Robert and Elizabeth Peck, was born in the parish of St. John the Baptist, at Stamford, in Lincolnshire, May 4, and baptized May 12, 1692. His mother’s maiden name was Jephson. It does not appear at what seminary he received the early part of his education; but it was probably at the grammar-school of his native town. He completed his studies at Trinity-college, Cambridge, where he took the degree of B. A. 1715; and of M. A. 1727.
, a learned anatomist, and a native of Dieppe, a considerable author
, a learned anatomist, and a native
of Dieppe, a considerable author of the seventeenth century, has rendered his name famous by his discovery of
the thoracic duct, and the receptacle of the chyle; with
which, however, some alledge that Bartholomeus Eustachius was acquainted before him. But the world is obliged
to Pecquet for shewing, beyond all contradiction, that the
lacteal vessels convey the chyle to this receptacle; and for
proving that it is thence carried, by particular vessels,
through the thorax, almost as high as the left shoulder,
and there thrown into the left subclavian vein, and so directly carried to the heart. He died at Paris, in February
1674. The work in which he published the discovery was
entitled “Experimenta nova Anatomica, quibus incognitnm hactenus Chyli Receptaculum, et ab eo per Thoracem
in Kamos usque subclavios Vasa lactea deleguntur;
” to
which was subjoined a dissertation, “De Circulatione Sanguinis et Chyli Motu,
” De Thoracis lacteis,
” in answer
to Kiolan and many subsequent editions have appeared.
, a learned antiquary, was born of a noble family at Mantua, in
, a learned antiquary, was born of a noble family at Mantua, in 1646. He
entered himself among the Jesuits, and became distinguished for his deep knowledge of history and antiquities.
His private character too was such as made him beloved by
every person who knew him. He was chosen by Hannuncio,
duke of Parma, to arrange his rich and curious cabinet of
medals, of which, in 1694, he began to publish an account
under the title of “I Cassari in oro raccolti nel Farnese
Musaeo o publicati colle loro congrue interpretazioni;
” and
be continued his labours till his death, Jan. 20, 1721. This
work, in its complete form, consists of ten vols. folio, and
bears the title of “Museo Farnese
” but is not held in so
much estimation on the continent as to bear a high price.
, a learned German divine and reformer, was born Jan. 8, 1478, at
, a learned German divine and reformer, was born Jan. 8, 1478, at Ruffach, in Alsatia. His family name was Kursiner, or Kirsner, but the name Pellican, which means the same thing in Latin as Kirsner in German, and is in neither very significant, was given him by his maternal uncle. Pellican began his studies at Ruffach in his sixth year, and under an excellent master, who inspired him with a love for literature; yet his difficulties were many, as, among other hindrances, he was obliged to write down every thing taught him, printing being then in its infancy, and no elementary treatise had issued from the press. His maternal uncle already mentioned, who lived at Heidelberg, and had often been rector of the university, hearing of the progress his nephew made in his studies, sent for him to that seminary, where he applied to the belles lettres and logic for about sixteen months, which was probably as long as his uncle could afford to maintain him. He returned therefore in Sept. 1492 to his parents, who were poor, and could give him little support, but got some employment as assistant to a schoolmaster, and had, what was then of great importance to him, the power of borrowing books from the convent of the Cordeliers. His frequent visits for this purpose brought on an acquaintance with those holy fathers, who conceived a very high opinion of Pellican, now in his sixteenth year, and appear to have found little difficulty in persuading him to enter their order, which accordingly he did in January 1493, but against the consent of his relations. He then commenced his theological studies, and in the following year was admitted to the order of subdeacon. In 1496, at the request of his uncle, he was sent to Tubingen, and recommended to Paul Scriptor, a very learned professor of philosophy and mathematics, under whom he profited much, and who conceived a great affection for his pupil. In 1499, meeting with a converted Jew, who was now one of his own order, Pellican expressed his wish to learn Hebrew, and with the assistance of this Jew accomplished the elementary part, although not without great difficulty. Melchior Adam mentions his enthusiastic joy on receiving the loan of a part of the Bible in Hebrew. Reuchlin, who came to Tubingen in 1500, gave Pellican some assistance in this language; and with this, and other helps, certainly very difficult to be procured at that time, and by indefatigable industry, he at length acquired such knowledge of it, as to be accounted, after Reuchlin, the first Hebrew scholar in Germany.
p in the protestant religion, and sent him to Castres to learn the belles lettres of Morns, or More, a learned Scotsman, who was principal of a college of the protestants
, a French academician, and a man of genius, was descended from an ancient
and distinguished family, and born at Beziers in 1624.
His mother, who was left a widow very young, brought
him up in the protestant religion, and sent him to Castres
to learn the belles lettres of Morns, or More, a learned
Scotsman, who was principal of a college of the protestants
at that place, and father of the famous Alexander More.
At twelve years of age he was removed to Montaubon to
study philosophy; and thence to Toulouse, where he applied himself to the law. He acquired a good knowledge
of the Latin, Greek, Spanish, and Italian languages; but
his love for the belles lettres did not make him neglect the
law, which he studied so diligently as to publish, when he
was not quite one-and-tweiuy, “A Commentary upon the
Institutes of Justinian,
” Paris, History of the French
Academy, from its establishment in 1635 to 1652,
” to that
society, who were so well pleased with it that they decreed
him the first vacant place in the academy, and that, in the
mean time, he should be empowered to come to all their
meetings, and give his vote as an academician; with a
proviso, however, that the like favour could not hereafter
be granted to any person, upon any consideration whatever.
This work of PtJlisson, which has always been reckoned a
master-piece, was printed at Paris, 1653, in 8vo.
, a learned physician, mathematician, and mechanist, was born at
, a learned physician, mathematician, and mechanist, was born at London, in 1694.
After studying grammar at a school, and the higher classics
under Mr. John Ward, afterwards professor of rhetoric at
Gresham college, he went to Leyden, and attended the
lectures of the celebrated Boerhaave, to qualify himself for
the profession of medicine. Here also, as well as in England, he constantly mixed with his professional studies
those of the best mathematical authors, whom he contemplated with great effect. From hence he went to Paris, to
perfect himself in the practice of anatomy, to which he
readily attained, being naturally dexterous in all manual
operations. Having obtained his main object, he returned
to London, enriched also with other branches of scientific
knowledge, and a choice collection of mathematical books,
both ancient and modern, from the sale of the valuable library of the abbe Gallois, which took place during his stay
in Paris. After his return he assiduously attended St.
Thomas’s hospital, to acquire the London practice of
physic, though he seldom afterwards practised, owing to
his delicate state of health. In 1719 he returned to Leyden, to take his degree of M. D where he was kindly entertained by his friend Dr. Boerhaave. After his return to
London, he became more intimately acquainted with Dr.
Mead, sir I. Newton, and other eminent men, with whom
he afterwards cultivated the most friendly connexions.
Hence he was useful in assisting sir I. Newton in preparing
a new edition of his “Principia,
” in writing an account of
his philosophical discoveries, in bringing forward Mr. Robins, and writing some pieces printed in the 2d volume of
that gentleman’s collection of tracts, in Dr. Mead’s * Treatise on the Plague," and in his edition of Cowper on the
Muscles, &c. Being chosen professor of physic in Gresham-college, he undertook to give a course of lectures on
chemistry, which was improved every time he exhibited it,
and was publisned in 1771, by his friend Dr. James Wilson.
In this situation too, at the request of the college of physicians, he revised and reformed their pharmacopoeia, in a
new and much improved edition. After a long and laborious life, spent in improving science, and assisting its
cultivators, Dr. Pemberton died in 1771, at seventy-seven
years of age.
, a learned divine, was born, according to Fuller, in Sussex, but
, a learned divine, was born, according to Fuller, in Sussex, but more probably at Egerton, in Kent, in 1591, and was educated at Magdalen
college, Oxford, on one of the exhibitions of John Baker,
of Mayfield, in Sussex, esq. Wood informs us that having
completed his degree of bachelor by determination, in
1613, he removed to Magdalen-hall, where he became a
noted reader and tutor, took the degree of M. A. entered
into orders, was made divinity reader of that house, became a famous preacher, a well-studied artist, a skilful
linguist, a good orator, an expert mathematician, and an
ornament to the society. “All which accomplishments,
”
he adds, “were knit together in a body of about thirtytwo years of age, which had it lived to the age of man,
might have proved a prodigy of learning.
” As he was a
zealous Calvinist, he may be ranked among the puritans,
but he was not a nonconformist. He died while on a visit
to his tutor, Richard Capel, who was at this time minister
of Eastington, in Gloucestershire, in the thirty-second
year of his age, April 14, 1623. His works, all of which
were separately printed after his death, were collected in
1 vol. fol. in 1635, and reprinted four or five times; but
this volume does not include his Latin works, “De formarum origine;
” “De Sensibus internis,
” and “Enchiridion
Oratorium,
” Bishop Wilkins includes Pemble’s Sermons
in the list of the best of his age.
, a learned judge, was born in Moorfields, May 16, 1675, and, as
, a learned judge, was born in Moorfields, May 16, 1675, and, as the anonymous author of his life says, was baptised by the name of Thomas son of Thomas Pengelly; but others have supposed that he was a natural son of Richard Cromwell the protector, For this supposition we find no other foundation than that Cromwell, who lived very privately in the neighbourhood, had known Mr. Pengelly from his youth, afterwards kept up a friendship with him, and died at his seat at Cheshunt, in August 1712. Mr. Pengelly was brought up to the bar, and becoming eminent in his profession, was made a serjeant May 6, 1710; knighted May 1, 1719, and in June following appointed his majesty’s prime Serjeant at law, on the decease of sir Thomas Powis. He sat as member for Cockermouth, in Cumberland, in the parliaments called in 1714 and 1722. He was made chief baron of the exchequer Oct. 16, 1726, on the death of sir Jeffery Gilbert; and his conduct on the bench corresponded with the high reputation he had acquired at the bar. He died of an infectious fever, caught at Taunton assizes, April 14, 1730. He excelled in profound learning, spirit, justice, and generosity, and dared to offend the most powerful, if he thought their conduct reprehensible. He was a florid, yet convincing orator, an excellent judge, a pious Christian, and an accomplished, sprightly companion. By a humane codicil in his will, dated in 1729, he left a considerable part of his fortune to procure the discharge of persons confined for debt, which was accordingly done by his executor Mr. Webb. There is a copy of this will published in his life, but the name of his residuary legatee is for some reason omitted. The anonymous history of Oliver Cromwell, first printed in 1724, has been supposed to have been written by him, but this is doubtful. It has been also attributed to Dr. Gibson, bishop of London.
, second earl of Egmont, and son to the preceding, was born at Westminster, Feb. 24, 1711; and after a learned education at home, and the advantages of travelling,
, second earl of Egmont, and son to the preceding, was born at Westminster, Feb. 24, 1711; and after a learned education at home, and the advantages of travelling, was chosen in 1731 (though then under age) a burgess for Harwich; and on Dec. 31, 174T, unanimously elected representative for the city of Westminster; as he was in 1747 for Weobly in Herefordshire. In March 1747, he was appointed one of the lords of the bedchamber to Frederick prince of Wales, in which station he continued till the death of that prince. In 1754, he was elected a member of parliament for the borough of Bridgwater, in the county of Somerset; and on January 9, 1755, was sworn one of the lords of his majesty’s most honourable privy-council. He was likewise appointed one of the privy-council upon the accession of his present majesty to the throne; and was again elected in April 1761, for the borough of IIchester, in the county of Somerset, but was next day rechosen for the borough of Bridgwater, for which place he made his election. On May 7, 1762, his lordship was called up to the house of peers in Great Britain, by the title of lord Lovel and Holland, baron Lovel and Holland, of Enmore, in the county of Somerset, two of those baronies which were forfeited by attainder of Francis viscount Lovel, in the 1st of Henry VII. On Nov. 27, 1762, the king was pleased to appoint, him one of the postmastersgeneral, in the room of the earl of Besborough; but this he resigned on Sept. 10, 1763, in consequence of being appointed first lord of the admiralty, which office he resigned also in Sept. 1766. His Lordship died at his house in Pall Mall, Dec. 4, 1770, and was buried at Charlton, in Kent.
day, he was placed at the age of four years under the protection of his uncle, Dr. Thomas Percival, a learned physician, resident at the same place; but of his parental
, an eminent physician, was
born at Warrington, September 29, 1740. Having lost
both his parents in one day, he was placed at the age of
four years under the protection of his uncle, Dr. Thomas
Percival, a learned physician, resident at the same place;
but of his parental guidance he was also deprived at the
age of ten, after which his education was directed with the
most kind and judicious attention by his eldest sister. His
literary pursuits commenced at a private school in the
neighbourhood of Warrington, whence he was removed,
at the age of eleven, to the free grammar-school of that
town, where he exhibited great promise of talent, and
much industry. In 1757 he became one of the first pupils
of a dissenting academy then established at Warrington,
where he pursued with unabating diligence the classical
studies in which he had already made considerable progress, and in particular had attained, great facility and elegance in Latin composition, The study of ethics, however,
appears to have principally engaged his attention here, as
it did afterwards throughout the whole of -his life, and
formed the basis of all his works, except those on professional subjects. It appears that before Mr. Perceval
went to Warrington academy, his family was induced to
quit communion with the church of England, and to espouse the tenets of protestant dissent. This was in one
respect peculiarly unfortunate for him who had thoughts of
entering the university of Oxford; but now, after studying
the thirty-nine articles, he determined against subscription, and consequently relinquished the advantages of academical study at either English university. He therefore
went in 1761 to Edinburgh, and commenced his studies in
medical science, which he also carried on for a year in
London. In 1765 he removed to the university of Leyden,
with a view to complete his medical course, and to be admitted to the degree of doctor of physic. Having accordingly defended in the public schools his inaugural
dissertation “De Frigore,
” he was presented with the diploma of
M. D. July 6, 1765. On his return, which was through
France and Holland, at the close of the same year, he
joined his family at Warrington, and soon after married
Elizabeth, the daughter and only surviving child of Nathaniel Bassnett, esq. merchant, of London. In 1767 ho
removed with his family to Manchester, and commenced
his professional career with an uncommon degree of success,
, a learned Northern antiquary, was born Oct. 6, 1654, at Strengnes
, a learned Northern antiquary, was born Oct. 6, 1654, at Strengnes in Sudermania,
and was the son of Lawrence Frederic Peringer, professor
of rhetoric and poetry. Having acquired great skill in
northern antiquities, he was in 1689 appointed professor
at Upsal; in 1693, secretary and antiquary to the king of
Sweden, and in 1719 counsellor to the chancery for antiquities. When appointed secretary to the king he changed
his name from Peringer to Peringskiold. He died March
24, 1720. His principal works, which are very much valued by Swedish historians and antiquaries, are, 1. “Snarronis Sturlonidac Hist, regum Septentrionalium,
” with
two translations, Historia Wilkinensium,
Theodorici Veronensis, ac Niflungorum,
” c. copied from
an ancient Scandinavian ms. with a translation, 1715, fol.
3. M Hist. Hialmari regis,“from a Runic ms. this is inserted in Hickes’s Thesaurus, 4.
” Monumenta SuecoGothica," 2 vols. fol. 1710—1719, &c. &c.
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne, was born at Cormery, in Touraine,
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne,
was born at Cormery, in Touraine, in 1500. He took the
Benedictine habit in the abbey of this name, 1517, and
died there about 1559, aged near sixty. Among his writings are four “Dialogues,
” in Latin, on the origin of the
French language, and its resemblance to the Greek, Paris,
1555, 8vo; some tracts in defence of Aristotle and Cicero,
against Peter Ranius, 8vo Latin translations of some books
of Plato, Aristotle, St. John Damascenus, &c. “Loci
Theologici,
” Paris,
, a learned German, was of a family originally of Teutorp, a small
, a learned German, was of a
family originally of Teutorp, a small town in Westphalia:
their name was Voorbrock; but being changed for Perizonius (a Greek word of similar import, implying something of the nature of a girdle) by one who published an
“Epithalamium,
” with this name subscribed, it was ever
after retained by the learned part of the family. Anthony
Perizonius, the father of the subject of this article, was
rector of the school of Dam, professor of divinity and the
Oriental languages, first at Ham, and afterwards at Deventer; at which last place he died in 1672, in his fortysixth year, he published, in 1669, a learned treatise,
“De Ratione studii Theologici.
”
, a learned and pious divine, was born at Marton in Warwickshire,
, a learned and pious divine, was born at Marton in Warwickshire, in 1558, and educated in Christ’s college, Cambridge. His conduct here was at iirst *o dissolute that he was pointed at as an object of contempt, which recalled him to his senses, and in a short time, by sobriety and diligent application, he regained his character both as a scholar and a man, and took his degrees at the statutable periods with approbation. In 1582 he was chosen fellow of his college, and entered into holy orders. His first ministrations were confined to the prisoners in Cambridge jail. Recollecting what he had been himself, with all the advantages of education, and good advice, he compassionated these more ignorant objects, and prevailed upon the keeper of the prison to assemble them in a spacious room, where he preached to them every sabbath. This was no sooner known than others came to hear him; and so much was he admired, that he was immediately chosen preacher at St. Andrew’s church, the first and only preferment he ever attained.
, a learned prelate of the fifteenth century, was born at Sasso
, a learned prelate
of the fifteenth century, was born at Sasso Ferrato, of an
illustrious but reduced family. Being obliged to maintain,
himself by teaching Latin, he brought the rudiments of that
language into better order, and a shorter compass for the
use of his scholars; and going afterwards to Rome, was
much esteemed by cardinal Bessarion, who chose him for
his conclavist or attendant in the conclave, on the death of
Paul II. It was at this juncture that he is said to have
deprived Bessarion of the papacy by his imprudence; for
the cardinals being agreed in their choice, three of them
went to disclose it, and to salute him pope; but Perot
would not suffer them to enter, alledging that they might
interrupt him in his studies. When the cardinal was informed of this blunder, he gave himself no farther trouble,
and only said to his conclavist in a mild, tranquil tone,
“Your ill-timed care has deprived me of the tiara, and you.
of the hat.
” Perot was esteemed by several popes, appointed governor of Perugia, and afterwards of Ombria,
and was made archbishop of Siponto, 1458. He died 1480,
at Fugicura, a country house so called, which he had built
near Sasso Ferrato. He translated the first five books of
“Polybius,
” from Greek into Latin, wrote a treatise “De
generibus metrorum,
” Rudimenta Grammatices,
” Rome, Cornucopia, seu Latinae Linguae Commentarius,
” the
best edition of which is that of
he left very little property to his children, six sons and two daughters. He gave them all, however, a learned education; the daughters as well as the sons being taught
, perhaps better known by his classical appellation of Dionysius Petavius, was born at Orleans Aug. 21, 1583. His father, Jerome Petau, although a merchant, was a man of considerable literature, and rather more attentive to matters of taste than of commerce: the consequence of which was, that he left very little property to his children, six sons and two daughters. He gave them all, however, a learned education; the daughters as well as the sons being taught Latin and Greek, and able to write verses in both languages. But we find, that with all his learning, Jerome was a superstitious bigot to his religion; which his biographer, father Oudin, as warm a zealot as himself, says was at one time in danger of being shaken by some of his Protestant friends, who were very numerous in Orleans. Nay, he was, according to Oudin, about to renounce Popery altogether, and retire with his family, when an extraordinary accident prevented his design. A part of his house tell down, and so frightened him, that, while he lay buried under the ruins, he made a vow, that if ever he escaped, he would break off all acquaintance with the Protestants; and being dug out alive and unhurt, he kt-pt his vow, and endeavoured to give his children the *ame dislike to the Protestant faith as he had formerly determined to give them to the Roman Catholic.