, 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
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.
aste by the overflowing of the Loire in 1733, the duke, by his speedy help, saved a multitude of men who were perishing in the water, and furnished even the necessary
When Orleannois was laid waste by the overflowing of
the Loire in 1733, the duke, by his speedy help, saved a
multitude of men who were perishing in the water, and
furnished even the necessary grain for sowing the lands.
It is universally known that, in 1739 and 1740, his liberality had no bounds but the people’s wants. He extended his alms not only to the poor catholics in Berlin,
and throughout Silesia, but to those of the Indies and
America. This great man also founded charity-schools in
several places, and communities of men and women for
the instruction of youth; a college at Versailles; a divinity
chair in the Sorbonne, for explaining the Hebrew text of
the holy scriptures. At Orleans he established foundations
of midwives, and of surgeons for cutting for the stone.
He purchased several very useful secrets, which he made
public; and his gardens were filled with scarce and valuable simples from the most remote climates, for the relief
of the sick. Anxious about. the public good to his last
moments, he bequeathed to the seminary of the Trentetrois, a sum sufficient for the re-establishment of the scholarships; and from that time the young divines of this
seminary have been taught Hebrew in the Sorbonne. These
charitable occupations did not prevent his acquiring great
learning. He applied with incredible success to the study
of St. Thomas, Estius, the most valuable treatises in defence of religion, the fathers, the best ecclesiastical authors, the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, and Greek languages,
that he might have the satisfaction of reading the hoi?
scriptures in the original text. He also devoted some time
to studying history, geography, botany, chemistry, natural philosophy, and painting. So rapid was his progress,
that, in the last seven or eight years of his life, he cited
texts of scripture almost always from memory, with the
variations of the Hebrew, Greek, anoWulgate. The Greek
fathers were as familiar to him as the Latin; and he explained with facility Plato’s Dialogues, and other profane
authors. The duke of Orleans honoured the literati with
his patronage, and encouraged them by his bounty, preferring those whose researches contributed to the glory of
religion, or the public welfare. In the codicil of his* will.,
he leaves an annuity to the abb Frangois, and explains
his motive in the following terms: “Being desirous to take
upon myself to return the obligation which the public are
under to S. abbe
” Francois, author of a late work on the
proofs of our religion, and to enable him to continue such
useful labours, I give and bequeath to the foresaid S. Abbe
Francois, five hundred livres annual-rent and annuity.“Ivlothwiths’tanding the immense sums which this prince
spent, both in France and in foreign counrries, he discharged the accumulated debts of his own house,
” restored
its exhausted finances, and considerably increased its domains. Though humble and plain in his private life,
he was grand and noble on public occasions. It is well
known with how much magnificence he went into Alsace to espouse the queen in his majesty’s name; how
liberal he was to the soldiers while colonel-general of the
French infantry, and in what manner he celebrated the
dauphin’s birth, the marriage of the duke of Chartres, &c.
Gay and lively in conversation, he became serious the moment that any one began to talk to him on business. His
austerities and application to study having brought on a
long and painful illness, he waited for the approach of
death with an incredible firmness and courage, speaking of
it with the greatest tranquillity. He died February 4, 1752,
aged forty-eight years and six months, universally regretted. He left many works in manuscript, principally
literal translations, paraphrases, and commentaries on part
of the Old Testament; a literal translation of the Psalms
from the Hebrew, with a paraphrase, and notes; several
dissertations against the Jews; a literal translation of St.
Paul’s Epistles from the Greek, with a paraphrase, notes,
and pious reflections, and several other curious treatises
and dissertations on different subjects. His modesty would
not permit him to print any of his writings he bequeathed
them, with his library, to the Dominicans.
, a Jesuit who acquired a considerable reputation in his own country as a historian,
, a Jesuit who acquired
a considerable reputation in his own country as a historian, was born at Bourges in 1644. He was a teacher
of the belles lettres in different colleges for several years,
and became a celebrated preacher. Some separate lives
which he published, in an agreeable style, and with judicious reflections, first attracted the public attention, but
his reputation chiefly arose from his historical writings.
Voltaire says that father D'Orleans was the first who chose
revolutions for his subject, and adds, that the idea was
not more happy than the execution. His “History of the
Revolutions of England
” met with the universal approbation of the French critics, and would have been, says
Palissot, a perfect model, had the author concluded with
the reign of Henry V11I, but after that he was no longer
allowed to be impartial. English critics, however, have a
less favourable opinion of his qualifications for writing such
a history; and Echard, who translated part of the work,
“History of the Revolutions in England under the family
of the Stuarts, from 1603 to 1690,
” Histoire des Revolutions d'Angleterre,
” Paris, Histoire des Revolutions d' Espagne,
” ibid. Histoire de M. Constance, premier minister du roi de Siam, et de la derniere revolution de cet
etat,
” ibid. Histoire des deux conquerants Tartares Chimchi et Camhi, qui ont subjugue la
Chine,
” ibid. Sermons et instructions Chretiennes sur diverses matieres,
”
assorted library. The place of his retirement was Ealing, where he was often visited by his friends, who appear to have loved him with great affection. Amongst these
, an eminent historian, the son of Dr.
Alexander Orme, a physician and surgeon in the service of
the East India company, was born at Anjengo, in the Travancore country, in 1728. He was sent to England for hi
education, and was entered at Harrow-school when he
was only six years of age. After he left school, he was
a year in the office of the accomptant-general of the African company, to be initiated in commercial transactions,
and then embarked for Calcutta, where he arrived in 1742.
As soon as he engaged in the company’s service, he acquired the highest reputation for the zeal with which he
entered into their interests, and at the same time acquired such knowledge of the institutions, manners, and
customs of the natives of India, that, in 1752, when some
regulations were thought necessary in the police of Calcutta, he was desired to give his opinion on the subject.
He accordingly drew up the greater part of “A general
idea of the Government and People of Indostan.
” In The History' of the Military Transactions
of the British nation in Itidostan, from the year 1745,
” the
first volume of which, bringing down the history to 1756,
was published in 1763, and extremely well received by
the public. The East India company, duly sensible of his
merits, and of the importance of his historical researches,
not only gave him free access to all their records, but appointed him to be their historiographer, with a salary of
400l. per annum. To obtain the most accurate information respecting the war which was to be the subject of
the second volume, he went over to France in 1773, where
he was furnished liberally with various authentic documents, but it was not till 1778 that the work was brought
to its completion. This contained all the events which
took place in the English settlements in India from 1756
to 1763, with an investigation of the rise and progress of
the English commerce in Bengal, and an account of the
Mahommedan government from its establishment in 1200.
In 1782 Mr. Orme published a work entitled “Historical
Fragments of the Mogul empire of the Marattoes, and of
the English concerns in Indostau from the year 1659.
”
This, which was an octavo volume, was his last publication, for though his literary pursuits were unremitted, yet
his health was unequal to the exertions required for the
composition. In 1792 he left the metropolis to enjoy in
retirement the society of. his friends, and the recreation
afforded by a well- assorted library. The place of his retirement was Ealing, where he was often visited by his
friends, who appear to have loved him with great affection.
Amongst these may be mentioned general Richard Smith,
Mr. Robarts, one of the court of directors, Mr. Dairy mple,
sir George Baker, and the late Mr. Owen Cambridge.
But his books were his chief companions; and such was
the active curiosity of his mind, that at the age of seventy
he found in them a constant source of amusement. He
continued his studies to the last month of his life, and a
great many of his books bear interesting evidence of the
strict attention with which he perused them; for their
margins are filled with observations in his own hand writing. In the beginning of January 1801, he fell into a
state of weakness and languor that prognosticated his
speedy dissolution; and he expired on the 14th of that
month, in the seventy-third year of his age.
Mr. Or me was not known to be married, even to those who were most in his confidence; but in a letter from him to a particular
Mr. Or me was not known to be married, even to those who were most in his confidence; but in a letter from him to a particular friend, which, agreeably to the directions he left, was delivered according to its address, after his death, he acknowledges his marriage: and, in consequence of that acknowledgment, the court of directors settled a small annuity on his widow. He left no children.
culiarities. His general manner was sensible, easy, and polite. Of the qualities of his heart, those who knew him long and intimately thought very highly. He was zealous
Mr. Orme was somewhat above the middle stature, and his countenance expressed much shrewdness and intelligence. In his personal habits he seems not to have had any striking peculiarities. His general manner was sensible, easy, and polite. Of the qualities of his heart, those who knew him long and intimately thought very highly. He was zealous in the service of those whom he really loved: -but as it was not his custom to make professions of friendship, his acts sometimes surpassed expectations. His powers of conversation were very considerable; and such was the extent of his knowledge, the readiness of his thoughts, and the facility of his expression, that he generally illustrated, in a pleasing, often in a forcible, manner, whatever subject he talked on. Ancient literature was one of his favourite topics and he conversed on it with no common degree of learning and critical exactness, yet without any sort of pedantry or affectation. He loved to talk of music and painting, and was a good judge of both.
r, John Ormerod, a younger brother of this house, married a Lancashire lady of the name of Whitaker, who from the contiguity of the estate of Ormerod and Holme, was
, a polemical writer of the time of James I. was descended paternally from a Lancashire family, which assumed the name of an estate in that county, in the reign of Henry III. of which it still continues the possession. His grandfather, John Ormerod, a younger brother of this house, married a Lancashire lady of the name of Whitaker, who from the contiguity of the estate of Ormerod and Holme, was most probably of the family of the Whitakers of the latter place. It is not unlikely that this relationship to the learned divinity-professor of Cambridge, might influence the subject of this article in his choice of his university, and in his theological studies.
1619, and three daughters, by his wife Johanna, daughter of Richard Hinckson, esq. of Goham in Kent, who survived him to 1638. Their wills are extant in the Prerogative
His labours were rewarded by the valuable rectory of HuntspilT in Somersetshire: where he continued resident, at the visitation of that county by the proxies of Camden in 1623. In this place he died, in 1626, leaving issue one son Richard, born in 1619, and three daughters, by his wife Johanna, daughter of Richard Hinckson, esq. of Goham in Kent, who survived him to 1638. Their wills are extant in the Prerogative office in London.
, a famous Spanish Jew, was carefully educated in that religion by his parents, who were Jews, though they outwardly professed themselves Roman
, a famous Spanish
Jew, was carefully educated in that religion by his parents,
who were Jews, though they outwardly professed themselves Roman catholics; abstaining from the practice of
Judaism in every thing, except only the observation of the
fast of expiation, in the month Tisis, or September. Our
author studied the scholastic philosophy as it was then
taught in Spain, and became such an adept that he was
made professor of metaphysics in the university of Salamanca: but, afterwards applying himself to the study of
physic, he practised that art at Seville with success, till,
being accused of Judaism, he was thrown into the inquisition, and suffered the most dreadful cruelties, in order to
force him to confess. According to his own account, he
was put into a dark dungeon, so straight, that he could
scarce turn himself in it; and suffered so many hardships,
that his brain began to be disturbed. He frequently asked
himself, “Am I indeed that Don Balthasar Orobio, who
walked freely about in Seville, who was entirely at ease,
and had the blessings of a wife and children!
” sometimes
imagining that his past life was only a dream, and that the
dungeon where he then lay was his true birth-place, and to
all appearance would prove the place of his death. At
other times, he used to form metaphysical arguments, and
resolve them, acting the three different parts of opponent,
respondent, and moderator, at the same time. In this
whimsical way he diverted himself from time to time, but
when examined by the inquisitors, constantly denied that
he was a Jew. At length he was put to the torture, in the
most cruel manner, yet without extorting any confession
from him, and his tormentors, after three years’ confinement, finding themselves baffled by his perseverance, ordered his wounds to be cured, and so discharged him. As
soon as he had got his liberty, he resolved to quit the Spanish dominions; and, going to France, was made professor
of physic at Thoulouse. The theses, which he made as
candidate for this place, were upon putrefaction and he
maintained them with such a metaphysical subtlety as
embarrassed all his competitors. He continued in this city
some time, still outwardly professing the popish religion:
but at last, growing weary of dissembling, he repaired to
Amsterdam, where he was circumcised, took the name of
Isaac, and professed Judaism; still continuing here also to
practise physic, in which he was much esteemed. Upon
the publication of Spinoza’s “Tractatus Theologico-Politicus,
” he saw its fallacy, but did not think it worthy of
an answer, until Bredenbergh, who had at one time written a confutation of it, published another treatise as objectionable as that of Spinosa’s. Orobio then took up his
pen against both the authors, and published a piece to
that purpose, entitled “Certamen philosophicum adversus
J. B. principia,
” Arnica collatio cum Judæo, &c.
” Orobio died in
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,
, 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 the works of Aristotle; and the opinion is contradicted by the general testimony of the ancients, who relate, that Orpheus was a native of Thrace, who flourished
, the most celebrated of all the Greeks in the fabulous ages, was distinguished as a teacher of religion and philosophy, and his name became as illustrious among the Greeks, as that of Zoroaster among the Persians, of Buddas among the Indians, or of Thoth, or Hermes, among the Egyptians. But it has happened to Orpheus, as to many other wise men of antiquity, that spurious writings have been ascribed to him, and modern tenets have been obtruded upon the world under the sanction of his name. It has even been questioned, whether Orpheus ever existed. Cicero asserts, on the authority of Aristotle, that there was no such person as the poet Orpheus. But no passage of tjiis kind is at present to be found in the works of Aristotle; and the opinion is contradicted by the general testimony of the ancients, who relate, that Orpheus was a native of Thrace, who flourished before the Trojan war, and passed the greater part of his life in Greece.
ecame an eminent master of philosophy, poetry, and music.” Thus qualified, he came among the Greeks, who were at that time a rude and unenlightened people, and by the
Diodorus Siculus relates, that, “having been instructed
in the religious tenets and ceremonies of his own country $
he travelled into Egypt, where he acquired a knowledge of
the mysteries of religion, and became an eminent master
of philosophy, poetry, and music.
” Thus qualified, he
came among the Greeks, who were at that time a rude and
unenlightened people, and by the united powers of poetry,
religion, and philosophy, civilized their manners, while
wonders have been ascribed by the poets to the power of
his music.
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
, 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.
ermon to the united congregations. In the following month, he had the misfortune to lose his father, who died at the age of fifty- two. This event was not only a great
In April 1741, died Mr. Berry, the minister of the Presbyterian meeting at Shrewsbury; and about the same time Mr. Dobson, the pastor of the Independent Church in that town, to which Mr. Orton’s father belonged, removed to Walsall, in Staffordshire. These two societies being thus vacant, concurred in an invitation to Mr. Orton, to accept the pastoral charge among them, promising, that in that case they would unite together in one congregation. Accordingly, having accepted their offer, he removed, in October 1741, to Shrewsbury, and, on the 18th of that month, preached his first sermon to the united congregations. In the following month, he had the misfortune to lose his father, who died at the age of fifty- two. This event was not only a great personal affliction to Mr. Orton, but brought upon him such a weight of cares, in addition to his various duties as a minister, that his health was materially injured; the consequence of which was, that he was laid under the necessity of having several assistants, in succession: as Mr. Francis Boult, who continued at Shrewsbury till the end of the year 1745; Mr. Moses Carter, who died in 1747; and Mr. Joseph Fownes. By Dr. Doddridge’s death Mr. Orton lost his much-honoured tutor, father, and friend, whose life he afterwards published. In March 1752, Mr. Orton was invited to assume the pastoral charge of the congregation belonging to Dr. Doddridge. Upon this his people at Shrewsbury were alarmed; and, apprehending that he might listen to the application, they sent him a most respectful, affection-r ate, and unanimous address, to intreat that he would not leave them. A separate address, to the same purpose, was made to him by the young persons of the society. He had no inclination to quit a situation in which he was comfortable and useful; especially as there were some circumstances at Northampton that were of a discouraging nature. Nevertheless, he thought it a proper piece of respect to take some time to consider of the invitation, which at length he declined.
ed that he might have the advice of a very able and skilful physician (Dr. Johnstone, of Worcester), who always proved himself a faithful and tender friend. He continued
Mr. Orton’s quitting his pastoral connection with the
dissenters at Shrewsbury, was attended with unhappy consequences. A contest arose with respect to the choice of
an assistant to Mr. Fownes, which, at length ended in a
separation. The larger number of the society thought it
their duty to provide themselves with another place of worship; and with these Mr. Orton concurred in opinion. He
esteemed himself, says his biographer, bound to countenance them upon every principle of conscience, as a Christian, a Dissenter, a Minister, and a Friend to Liberty.
Though Mr. Fownes continued at the old chapel, this circumstance did not occasion any diminution in the friendship
and affection subsisting between him and Mr. Orton. One
almost unavoidable effect of the division was, its being accompanied with a bad spirit, in several persons, on both
sides of the question. The height to which the matter was
carried, rendered Mr. Orton’s situation at Shrewsbury
greatly uncomfortable, and materially affected his health.
He found it necessary, therefore, to retire to another place;
and at length, in 1766, he fixed at Kidderminster, to
which he was principally led that he might have the advice
of a very able and skilful physician (Dr. Johnstone, of Worcester), who always proved himself a faithful and tender friend. He continued at Kidderminster for the
remainder of his clays; and although prevented, by the bad
state of his health, from ever again appearing in the pulpit, he still retained the same zeal for promoting the great
objects of the Christian religion. What he could not perform as a preacher, he was solicitous to effect as a practical
writer. Previously to his resignation of the pastoral office
his only publications were, his Funeral Sermon for Dr. Doddridge, printed in 1752; a Fast Sermon in 1756, occasioned by the earthquake at Lisbon; and “Three Discourses on Eternity, and the Importance and Advantage of
looking at Eternal Things,
” published in Memoirs of the Life, Character,
and Writings of Dr. Doddridge.
” In Religious Exercises
recommended: or, Discourses on the Heavenly State, considered under the Idea of a Sabbath.
” In Discourses to the Aged.
” Our author’s next
publication, which appeared in Christian Zeal; or three Discourses on the Importance of seeking the Things of Christ more than our own.
” These
seem to have been intended to check the se!6sh and clamorous zeal which then appeared among the Dissenters
for matters of a worldly kind, and to direct it to the support and advancement of real practical religion. In 1775,
Mr. Orton committed to the press three farther Discourses,
under the title of “Christian Worship,
” which have been,
translated into Welch. Two volumes of “Discourses on
Practical Subjects
” were the production of the next year.
Mr. Orion’s last publication, which appeared in 1777, was
entitled “Sacramental Meditations or, Devout Reflections on various Passages of Scripture, designed to assist
Christians in their attendance on the Lord’s Supper, and
their Improvement of it.
” These meditations, which are
fifty in number, are all founded on different texts of the
Sacred Writings, and are, what the author himself used
in the administration of the sacrament, according to the
method observed among Dissenters from the Church of
England.
written in defence of his excellent friend, Dr. Adams, at that time vicar of St. Chad’s, Shrewsbury, who had been violently attacked by the writer of a piece, which
Besides these several publications, all of which appeared
with his name, Mr. Orton, in 1770, was the author of two
anonymous tracts, entitled “Diotrophes admonished,
” and
“Diotrophes re-adrnonished.
” They were written in defence of his excellent friend, Dr. Adams, at that time
vicar of St. Chad’s, Shrewsbury, who had been violently
attacked by the writer of a piece, which made a considerable noise in its day, called “Pietas Oxoniensis.
” There is
one small publication by Mr. Orton, hitherto omitted,
which was the earliest piece printed by him, having first
appeared in 1749, and we apprehend without his name.
The title of it is “A Summary of Doctrinal and Practical
Religion, by way of question and answer; with an introduction, shewing the Importance and Advantage of a Religious Education.
” So well has this tract been received,
that it has gone through seven editions. In the course of
his ministerial service, he delivered a short and plain exposition of the Old Testament, with devotional and practical reflections; which exposition and reflections have recently been published, from the author’s manuscripts, for
the use of families, by the reverend Robert Gentleman, of
Kidderminster, Worcestershire, in six large volumes, octavo. The first volume appeared in 1788, and the last in
1791; but the work has not attained any great share of
popularity. The other posthumous publication is, “Letters to a young Clergyman,
”
rdam, July 28, 1696, of a family originally from France. He was intended for commerce by his father, who nevertheless gave him a classical education under David Hoogstraten
, a very learned critic, and the correspondent of many eminent English scholars, was born at Amsterdam, July 28, 1696, of a family originally from France. He was intended for commerce by his father, who nevertheless gave him a classical education under David Hoogstraten and the celebrated Hemsterhuis. It was Peter Bdrman, however, who prevailed on his father to change his destination, and allow him to become a scholar by profession. He was accordingly sent, in 1715, to the university of Leyden, where he studied the Greek language and literature under James Gronovius; history, antiquities, and rhetoric under Peter Burman, the oriental languages underHey man and Schaaf, and jurisprudence under Schulting and No.odt. Before his academical course was completed, viz. in 1718, he visited England, where one of his brothers John-Leonard was settled as a merchant. His object on this visit was to form an acquaintance with some of the literati of that age; but principally to inspect the public libraries in London, Oxford, and Cambridge. He remained, however, here only from July to the beginning of Autumn, when he returned to Leyden; and, having finished his studies, took the degree of doctor of law Feb. 3, 1721. He then went to the Hague, with a view to the bar, but became dissatisfied with the profession, and seems from this time to have relinquished every pursuit but that of general literature. In 1723 be began his travels by visiting Antwerp, Brussels, Louvain, and lastly France, where he spent a twelvemonth. At Paris he became acquainted with many eminent characters, particularly Monfaucon, Sallier, Fraguier, Sevin, Chamillart, Bouquet, Boivin, and Tournemine, who respectively introduced him to the societies of the learned, and to the most noted libraries and museums. In the month of August 1724, he returned to Amsterdam; but had not been long there before the dangerous illness of one of his brothers rendered it necessary for him to revisit London, where he remained a year, employed as he had been at Paris, in the company of the learned, and among the libraries. Here he became intimate with Bentley, Chishull, Sherard, Cunningham, Mead, Potter, Hutchinson, Markland, Wasse, &c. &c.
eath of this labprious and acute critic, which took place Sept. 13, or 14, 1751. He left a son John, who was born in 1734. What D'Orville published is to be found in
He published, in 1750, in quarto, a new edition of
“Chereas and Callirhoe;
” and a new edition of the Greek
Anthology was expected from him, for which he had some
valuable materials, and one of Theocritus, perhaps also
one of Catullus, Tibulius, and Propertius but all these
undertakings were frustrated by the unexpected death of
this labprious and acute critic, which took place Sept. 13,
or 14, 1751. He left a son John, who was born in 1734.
What D'Orville published is to be found in a collection, in
imitation of one begun in England by Jortin, in 1731, under the title of “Observationes Miscellaneae,
” a work of
profound erudition, which he edited along with Burman,
as far as Jo vols. 8vo; and after Burman’s death, D'Orville
published four additional volumes, under the title of “Observationes Miscellaneae Novae,
” the last of which was
completed a few clays before his death. Of his dissertations inserted in these volumes, two have been greatly admired, “Exercitatio de inscriptionibus Deliacis,
” and
“Diatribe in Inscriptiones quasdam,
” &c. Some years
after his death, his travels and observations in Sicily were
published by Peter Burman, the younger, under the title
“Simula, quibus Siciliae veteris rudera, additis antiquitatum tabulis illustrantur,
” &c.
many years, and the original purchase does honour to the two individuals, Dr. Raine, and Mr. Banks, who afterwards disposed of the Mss. to the university of Oxford,
But what renders some account of James Philip D'Orville
iriore interesting in this country is, that his Long celebrated
library and collection of manuscripts have been recently
purchased from his heirs. So rich a treasure has not been
imported into this country for many years, and the original
purchase does honour to the two individuals, Dr. Raine,
and Mr. Banks, who afterwards disposed of the Mss. to
the university of Oxford, which did not hesitate a moment
to add them to their incomparable library. Of these it
would be unnecessary in this place to give any account, as
they are amply detailed in the catalogue published at the
Clarendon press in 1806, “Codices Manuscript!, et impressi cum notis manuscriptis, olim D'Orvilliani, qui in
Bibi. Bodleiana apud Oxonienses adservantur,
” 4to. About
the same time D'Orville’s library of printed books were
sold by auction in London, among which were many volumes with copious ms notes, which certainly ought to
have been classed with the manuscripts.
lish writer of considerable abilities, was born about 1589. He was descended from an ancient family, who had been long seated at Chicksand, near Shefford, in Bedfordshire,
, an English writer of considerable abilities, was born about 1589. He was descended
from an ancient family, who had been long seated at Chicksand, near Shefford, in Bedfordshire, where his grandfather, and father, sir John Osborne, were men of fortune,
and, according to Wood, puritans, who gave him what
education he had at home, but never sent him to either
school or university. This he appears to have afterwards
much regretted, on comparing the advantages of public
and private education. As soon, however, as he was of
age, he commenced the life of a courtier, and being taken
into the service of the Pembroke family, became master of
the horse to William earl of Pembroke. Upon the breaking
out of the civil wars, he sided with the parliament, but not
in all their measures, nor all their principles; yet they
conferred some public employments upon him; and, having
married a sister of one of Oliver’s colonels, he was enabled
to procure his son John a fellowship in All-souls’ college,
Oxford, by the favour of the parliamentary visitors of that
university, in 1648. After this he resided there himself,
purposely to superintend his education; and also to print
some books of his own composition. Accordingly, among
others, he published there his “Advice to a Son,
” the first
part in godly ministers,
” as Wood calls them,
they drew up a complaint against the said books, as instilling atheistical principles into the minds of the youth,
and proposed to have them publicly burnt. Although this
sentence was not carried into execution, there appeared so
many objections to the volumes, that an order passed the
27th of July, 1658, forbidding all booksellers, or any other
persons, to sell them. But our author did not long survive this order, dykig Feb. 11, 1659, aged about seventy.
For the accusation of atheism there seems little foundation;
but many of his sentiments are otherwise objectionable,
and the quaintness of his style, and pedantry of his expression, have long ago consigned the work to oblivion. His
other publications were, 1. “A seasonable Expostulation,
with the Netherlands,
” &c. Persuasive
to mutual compliance under the present government.
”
3. “Plea for a free State compared with Monarchy.
” 4.
“The private Christian’s non ultra,
” &c. 1G56, 4to. 5.
A volume in 8vo, containing, “The Turkish policy, &c.
a Discourse upon Machiavel, &c. Observations upon the
King of Sweden’s descent into Germany a Discourse upon
Piso and Vindex, &c. a Discourse upon the greatness
and corruption of the Court of Rome another upon the
Election of Pope JLeo X. Political occasion for the defection from the Church of Rome a Discourse in vindication
of Martin Luther.
” Besides these were published, 1.
“Historical Memoirs on the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth
and King James.
” 2. “A Miscellany of sundry Essays,
&c. together with political deductions from the History
of the Earl of Essex,
” c. Other pieces have been ascribed to him on doubtful authority. A collection of his
works was published in 1689, 8vo and again, 1722, in 2
vols. 12mo.
inburg, and began to preach at the latter place in 1522. He is generally numbered among the worthies who promoted the reformation and among other services of great importance,
, a divine of considerable eminence, was a native of Bavaria, and born in 1498. He
studied at Wittemburg and Nureinburg, and began to
preach at the latter place in 1522. He is generally numbered among the worthies who promoted the reformation
and among other services of great importance, contributed
very much to enlighten the mind of the celebrated Cranmer, who became acquainted with him while abroad negociating some matters for Henry VI II. The unrestrained
conversation of Osiander appeared to our countryman, at
first, as a kind of libertinism it sounded harshly in his
ear: and he would ask,“if such an opinion were false,
how could it possibly possess itself of the minds of the
greatest and most learned men of all ages, through such a
tract of time?
” But Osiander carried him boldly still higher
into antiquity. “Tell me not,
” said he, “what Austin says,
and Jerome; but what Peter says, and Paul. Read your
Bible; and say honestly, whether such and such doctrines
are not plainly repugnant to such and such passages of
Scripture?
” Osiander, however, in the end did not in all
things adhere to his own advice, and became the cause of
great disturbances in the Lutheran churches.
n account of his pride and arrogance. He shamefully treated the excellent Melancthon in his old age, who bore his insolence with a truly Christian spirit. Osiander died
This doctrine was opposed by many eminent divines; but
Osiander persisted, and drew up a confession of faith,
which was printed by order of the duke of Brandenburg,
but highly disapproved by the Lutheran divines assembled
at Augsburg. He was a studious and acute divine; but
disposed to adopt novel and mystical opinions, and much
disliked on account of his pride and arrogance. He shamefully treated the excellent Melancthon in his old age, who
bore his insolence with a truly Christian spirit. Osiander
died suddenly at Konigsberg, where he was minister and
professor, in 1552. He wrote “Harmonia Evangelica
”
“Epistola ad Zninglium de Eucharistia;
” “Dissertationes
dure, de Lege et Evangelic et Justificatione;
” “Liber de
Imagine Dei, quid sit.
” His son Luke was a Lutheran
minister, and wrote an institution of the Christian religion,
and other works. He died at Tubingen in 1604. And
there was another Luke Osiander, who was chancellor of
Tubingen, who died in 1638, and who left behind him a
treatise “On the Omnipresence of Christ as Man.
”
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
, 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.
His works were collected and published at Rome, 1592, in 4 vols, folio, by Jerome Osorio his nephew, who prefixed his uncle’s life to the edition. The titles of his
He is much commended for his piety and charity. He
maintained several learned men in his palace, and at meals
had some portion out of St. Barnard’s works read; after
which all present were at liberty to propose any difficulties
that occurred upon it. As a writer, Du Pin observes, that
his diction is easy and elegant; for which reason he is
called the Cicero of Portugal, as being a great imitator of
Cicero, both in style, choice of subjects, and manner of
treating them. His compositions are not intermixed with
quotations, but consist of connected reasonings. He does
not endeavour, in his “Commentaries
” and “Paraphrases,
”
to explain the terms of the text, but to extend the sense
of it, and shew its order and series fully, that young divines may improve their diction, and learn to write elegantly, both as Christian philosophers, orators, and divines.
His works were collected and published at Rome, 1592,
in 4 vols, folio, by Jerome Osorio his nephew, who prefixed his uncle’s life to the edition. The titles of his
works are, “De nobilitate civili, et de nobilitate Christiana;
” “De gloria,
” printed with the foregoing. Some
have thought this last to have been written by Cicero; and
that Osorio found it, and published it as his own. “De
regis institutione et disciplina;
” “De rebus Emanuelis
regis invictissimi virtute et auspicio gestis;
” of which a
new edition was published at Coimbra, De
justitia caelesti, lib. x. ad Reginaldum Polum Cardinalem;
”
“De vera sapientia, lib. v. ad Gregorium XIII. P. M.;
”
besides paraphrases and commentaries upon several parts
of scripture. He wrote a piece to exhort our queen Elizabeth to turn papist; which was answered by Walter Haddon, master of the requests to that queen.
nch affairs at Rome. He continued in this service till the death of the cardinal protector, in 1586; who by will left him 4000 crowns, and offered him a diamond worth
This was the first step towards making his fortune; for the same friend being afterwards made archbishop of Thoulouse, and appointed by Henry III. ambassador in ordinary at the court of Rome in 1580, engaged D‘Ossat to be secretary to the embassy; and the archbishop dying in 1581, his secretary was employed in the same character by cardinal d’Este, protector of the French affairs at Rome. He continued in this service till the death of the cardinal protector, in 1586; who by will left him 4000 crowns, and offered him a diamond worth 20,000 crowns, to keep as a security till the legacy should be paid; but D‘Ossat generously refused the pledge, though he had no hopes of ever receiving the legacy. Before this time he had entered into the church, and been ordained priest; and during his residence with the cardinal, acquired a knowledge of the intrigues of the court of Rome, and displayed so much political ability, that he was -continued in the secretaryship under cardinal de Joyeuse, who succeeded d’Este. This was done by the express command of Henry ill. that he might be a kind of political tutor to that cardinal, who, being then only twenty-six years of age, had not gained sufficient experience; and he conducted himself so agreeably to Joyeuse, that he presented him in 1588 to the priory of St. Martyn du Vieux Bellesme; and the same year he was a second time invested with the post of counsellor to the praesidial court of Melun, which he had obtained before he left Paris.
gly opposed both by the Spaniards and the princes of the house of Lorrain, and also by the Hugonots, who were naturally averse to their beloved prince’s being reconciled
Upon Henry the Fourth’s abjuring the Protestant religion in 1593, the papal absolution for him was obtained by D‘Ossat; which was deemed a master-stroke of his abilities. The favour was strongly opposed both by the Spaniards and the princes of the house of Lorrain, and also by the Hugonots, who were naturally averse to their beloved prince’s being reconciled to the see of Rome; but every difficulty was removed by the artful management of D’Ossat, who dissipated all the scruples of Clement VIII. a pope by nature extremely diffident; so that the affair was resolved on before the arrival of James Davy, afterwards cardinal Du Perron, who, indeed, by the figure that he made, quickened the execution . The king, in consideration of this service, nominated D‘Ossat, in 1596, to the bishopric of Rennes, to which the bull was signed gratuitously by the pope. Sept. 1597, he was appointed counsellor of state, on which occasion he took the oath before the duke of Luxemburg, then the French ambassador at Rome; who, having leave to return home in 1598, the superintendency of the French affairs was committed to D’Ossat, till another ambassador should be appointed; and, May the following year, he was created a cardinal. The king had solicited this favour for some time, his low birth being made an objection. Nor indeed was his fortune even now equal to this high station; but he resolved not to lay aside the modesty and temperance he had hitherto observed, and in that spirit refused an equipage and some fine furniture which were sent him three weeks after his promotion, by cardinal de Joyeuse, in whose house he had received the compliments of the cardinals upon his election. The legacy, however, already mentioned, of cardinal d'Este, happened unexpectedly to be paid to him the following year, 1600; and so seasonably, that, as he himself declared, he should otherwise have been almost ruined. Some time after, the pope gave him the abbey of Nant, in Rouerge. Upon cardinal de Joyeuse returning to France this year, he was appointed vice-protector of the French nation; and in that quality was affable, easily accessible, and kind to those who had occasion to apply to him. All these preferments were highly agreeable to Henry IV. who the same year added to them the bishopric of Bayeux, the revenues of which were richer than those of Rennes. This, however, he resigned in 1603, finding the affairs of the court would not permit him to reside in his diocese; and he had scarcely made this sacrifice when he died, March 13, 1604, in his 68th year. His corpse was interred in the church of St. Lewis, at Rome, where there is a monument erected to his memory.
portant and delicate affairs. His dispatches, continues this writer, are as useful to an ambassador, who hopes to succeed in his employment, as the Bible and the “Corpus
Father Tarquinio Galucci made his funeral oration, or
panegyric; the sum of which is, that he united the most
exact probity with the most consummate policy, and therefore was universally esteemed. He was a man, says
Perrault, of an incredible penetration and he laid his measures with such true discernment, and executed them with
such diligence, that it is scarce possible to mark a single
false step in the numerous affairs which he negociated.
Wicquefort, speaking of his abilities, observes, that he had
given proofs of his skill in negociations in that which he
transacted, with the grand duke of Tuscany, for the restitution of the island of If; in that with pope Clement VIII.
in order to reconcile Henty IV. to the church of Rome;
in that of the invalidity of the said king’s marriage with
queen Margaret of Valois, which had been valid near thirty
years; in that of the dispensation with regard to the marriage between Catharine of Bourbon, sister to Henry, with
the duke of Bar, a papist, then a protestant; and in several other very important and delicate affairs. His dispatches,
continues this writer, are as useful to an ambassador, who
hopes to succeed in his employment, as the Bible and the
“Corpus Juris
” to such lawyers and divines as would succeed in their respective professions. These letters of our
minister were first published under the title of “Lettres du
Cardinal D'Ossat,
” at Paris,
learned languages, and to learn German at the same time, under the care of professor John Henry Ott, who was his intimate friend. After a dilfgent application here for
, one of the most celebrated Swiss divines of the latter age, was born at Neufchatel, Nov. 25, 1663. He was the only son of John Rtfdolph Ostervald, minister of Neufchatel, Inhere the family of Ostervald had been settled for nearly three centuries, and had produced many persons eminent in the army and at the bar. His father determined to give him the best education, with a view to the ministry, should his inclination lead that way. Accordingly, in 1676, he took him to Zurich, to be instructed in the learned languages, and to learn German at the same time, under the care of professor John Henry Ott, who was his intimate friend. After a dilfgent application here for eighteen months, young Ostervald returned home in Oct. 1677, and continued his classical studies tinder Mr. D'Aubigne, principal of the college of Neufchatel. A year after he was sent to Saumur, where he maintained some learned theses with such ability, that the degree of master of arts was conferred upon him with every testimony of respect, although he had not yet reached his sixteenth year. In Sept. 1680, he took a voyage to Rochelle, where he was introduced to some eminent literary characters; and the following year, removed to Orleans, and began the study of divinity under the celebrated Pajou, which he continued afterwards under Mr. Allix, and the celebrated Claude, at Paris. His fellow student here was Mr. Charles Tribolet, his relation, and afterwards his colleague at Neufchatel; few friends, we are told, have been more closely connected, or more similar in sentiment on all occasions.
About this time, his father’s health decaying, he sent for our student, who arrived at Neufchatel in April 1682. In July following his father
About this time, his father’s health decaying, he sent for
our student, who arrived at Neufchatel in April 1682. In
July following his father died, after having the satisfaction
to hear his son deliver two probation sermons the preceding month. Mr. Ostervald, who was still conscious that
he had much to learn, went to Geneva in October of the
same year, and became acquainted with the most eminent
teachers there, particularly the divinity professor Tronchin,
with whom he afterwards corresponded. On his return to
Neufchatel in May 1683, he underwent the usual examinations, and received imposition of hands in July; but he
afterwards used to regret that he had been thus honoured
too early in life, for he was not yet quite twenty. The
office of deacon of Neufchatel being vacant in 1686, Ostervald was appointed, and acquitted himself with great credit, in the instruction of youth, which was the principal
duty he had to perform, and in the performance of it he
composed his vety popular “Catechism.
” In The Triumvirate of Swiss theologians,
” and lasted to their
deaths.
eputation. The last mentioned treatise was published in English in 1781, by the rev. Thomas Stevens, who considered it as the most complete that had then appeared, under
In 1700, the clergy of Neufchatel chose Mr. Ostervald
for their dean, an annual office to which he was frequently
re-elected, and held it at one time for three successive
years. In 1700, also, the London society for the propagation of the Gospel chose him a member, and had before
so far honoured him as to cause his “Abridgment of the
Sacred History
” prefixed to his Catechism, to be translated
into Arabic, in order to be sent to the East Indies. The
year that he was first chosen dean was distinguished by the
introduction of a new version of the Psalms in the churches,
and various regulations of great utility in the modes of
theological study and discipline, in all which he took an
active part. He began also from this time to give a complete course of instructions to divinity students, which he
carried on for forty-five years with great success and approbation. Such indeed was the fame of his lectures, that
some of his pupils, eager to diffuse their usefulness more
extensively, published some part of them, without either
his knowledge or consent. In this way his “Ethica Christiana
” was published in Latin, at London, in Compendium Theologiae,
” and “Trait4 du Ministere Sacre,
” were
also published in the same manner. Against all these
Ostervald advertised, that they were published without his
knowledge, and that he would not be responsible for their
errors. Even this, however, had very little effect on the
sale, so highly was every thing valued of which he was the
reputed author; and, after all, there were not any errors
faund in them which could affect his reputation. The last
mentioned treatise was published in English in 1781, by
the rev. Thomas Stevens, who considered it as the most
complete that had then appeared, under the title of “Lectures on the exercise of the Sacred Ministry.
”
2. The principal opponent Ostervald met with was Philip Naude, the mathematical professor at Berlin, who objected that in a treatise on the sources of the corruptions
Mr. Ostervald had a considerable hand in the new liturgy
which was introduced in the beginning of the last century
in the churches of Neufchatel and Vallagin, btit this was
not printed until 1713, soon after which an English translation appeared. Before tbis, in 1699, his first avowed
publication appeared, under the title of “Traite des
Sources de la Corruption,
” which was also translated into
English, and is one of the “Tracts
” published by Dr. Watson, the present bishop of Llandaff, in 1782. The principal opponent Ostervald met with was Philip Naude, the
mathematical professor at Berlin, who objected that in a
treatise on the sources of the corruptions that exist in the
world, he had kept too much out of sight that great source,
the fall of man. Ostervald’s next publication was his celebrated “Catechism,
” already mentioned, which no sooner
appeared than it was translated into various languages, but
not received among the divines of his own country without
considerable opposition. The clergy of the canton of
Berne, in particular, drew up their sentiments on it, accusing the author of omitting many doctrines which they
thought essential in a work of this description. "To this an
answer was also drawn up, which may be seen in our
authority, but is too uninteresting at this time to be extracted. The objections of the divines of Berne seem to
hinge chiefly on tbis, that Ostervald’s catechism is more
moral than evangelical. Their opposition, however, does
not seem to have lessened its popularity; and his biographer
mentions the high respect which many eminent divines of
the church of Rome entertained for it and its author, particularly Fenelon, Colbert, and Bignon.
h, eleventh, and twelfth centuries, was continued to 1210, by Otho de St. Blaise. Otho of Frisingen, who was an able Aristotelian, also wrote a treatise on the end of
, so called, because he was bishop
of that diocese in the twelfth century, was son of Leopold,
marquis of Austria, and Agnes, daughter of the emperor
Henry IV. He studied in the university at Paris, and retiring afterwards to the Cistertian monastery of Morimond
in Burgundy, became abbot there. In 1138, he was made
bishop of Frisingen, accompanied the emperor Conrad to
the Holy Land, and died at Morimond, September 21, 1158,
leaving a “Chronicle
” in seven books, from the creation
to. Life of the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa.
” Each of these works may be found in the collections by Pistorius, Muratori, &c. and also separately.
” 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
, 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.
ge, Cambridge, the probability of which rests only on a copy of verses sent to him by Duke the poet, who was his intimate friend. At Cambridge, however, he could not
, one of the first names in the English drama, was born at Trottin in Sussex, March 3, 1651—
2, the son of the rev. Humphrey Otway, rector of Woolbeding. From Winchester-school, where he was educated,
he was entered, in 1669, a commoner of Christ-church,
but left the university without a degree, whether for want
of money, or from impatience of academical restraint, or
mere eagerness to mingle with the world, is not known.
The anonymous writer of his life in one of the editions of
His works, reports that he removed from Oxford to St.
John’s-college, Cambridge, the probability of which rests
only on a copy of verses sent to him by Duke the poet,
who was his intimate friend. At Cambridge, however, he
could not have remained long, if ever he paid more than a
visit to it, for he appeared in London in 1672 in the character of the king in Mrs. Behn’s “Forced Marriage,
” and
found himself unable to gain any reputation on the stage.
If he ever went to Cambridge, it must have been after this
period, for Duke himself was not entered of Trinity-college
until 1675.
asonable to expect that a great dramatic poet should without difficulty become a great actor that he who can feel, could express that he who can excite passion, should
Dr. Johnson has endeavoured to account for his failure on the stage with more precision than perhaps was necessary, as the circumstance is far from being uncommon. This kind of inability, says that eminent critic, he shared with Shakspeare and Jonson, as he shared likewise some of their excellences. It seems reasonable to expect that a great dramatic poet should without difficulty become a great actor that he who can feel, could express that he who can excite passion, should exhibit with great readiness its external modes but since experience has fully proved, that of those powers, whatever be their affinity, one may be possessed in a great degree by him who has very little of the other; it must be allowed that they depend upon different faculties, or on different use of the same faculty that the actor must have a pliancy of mien, a flexibility of countenance, and a variety of tones, which the poet may be easily supposed to want; or that the attention of the poet and the player have been differently employed; the one has been considering thought, and the other action; one has watched the heart, and the other contemplated the face.
; and Otway is said to have been at this time a favourite companion of the dissolute wits. But as he who desires no virtue in his companion has no virtue in himself,
In 1677 he produced “Titus and Berenice,
” a translation, with some alterations from Racine, in three acts, and
written in rhyme, and “The Cheats of Scapin,
” a farce
partly from Moliere, which were acted together with considerable success. The custom of annexing farces to plays
was about this time introduced. These were followed in
]678, by his comedy of “Friendship in Fashion,' 7 which
bad some success, but we know not whether the author
was at this time in London. It is certain that in 1677, he
went abroad; a circumstance which is thus introduced by
Dr. Johnson:
” Want of morals, or of decency, did not in
those days exclude any man from the company of the
wealthy and the gay, if he brought with him any powers of
entertainment; and Otway is said to have been at this time
a favourite companion of the dissolute wits. But as he
who desires no virtue in his companion has no virtue in
himself, those whom Otway frequented had no purpose of
doing more for him than to pay his reckoning. They
desired only to drink and laugh: their fondness was without
benevolence, and their familiarity without friendship.
Men of wit, says one of Otway’s biographers, received at
that time no favour from the great but to share their riots
“irom which they were dismissed again to their own narrovy circumstances. Thus they languished in poverty without the support of eminence.
”
this play, that it is the work of a man not attentive to decency, nor zealous for virtue; but of one who conceived forcibly, and drew originally, by consulting nature
The Soldier’s Fortune,“and its second part
” The
Atheist,“produced in 1681 and 1684, were both successful, but better suited to the manners of that age than to
those of the present. The incidents and characters in
both may be traced to other plays, and neither is worthy
of the talents which, in 1682, gave to the theatre
” Venice
Preserved,' 1 a tragedy, whose permanent fame, like that
of the Orphan, renders it only necessary to say that his
powers of poetry and of language were now exerted with
greater energy. The striking passages are in every mouth;
and the public seems to judge rightly of the faults and excellences of this play, that it is the work of a man not
attentive to decency, nor zealous for virtue; but of one who
conceived forcibly, and drew originally, by consulting
nature in his own breast.
he first mouthfuL All this, I hope, is not true; and there is this ground of better hope, that Pope, who lived near enough to be well informed, relates in Spence’s Memorials,
All this was performed before he was thirty-four years
old; for he died April 14, 1685, “in a manner,
” says Dr.
Johnson, “which I am unwilling to mention. Having
been compelled by his necessities to contract debts, and
hunted, as is supposed, by the terriers of the law, he retired to a public-house (the Bull, according to Anthony Wooo 1 ), on Tower-hill, where he is said to have died of
want; or, as it is related by one of his biographers^ by
swallowing, after a long fast, a piece of bread which charity
had supplied. He went out, as is reported, almost naked
in the rage of hunger, and, finding a gentleman in a
neighbouring coffee-house, asked him for a shilling. The
gentleman gave him a guinea; and Otway going away
bought a roll, and was choaked with the first mouthfuL
All this, I hope, is not true; and there is this ground of
better hope, that Pope, who lived near enough to be well
informed, relates in Spence’s Memorials, that he died of a
fever caught by violent pursuit of a thief that had robbed
one of his friends. But that indigence, and its concomitants, sorrow and despondency, pressed hard upon him,
has never been denied, whatever immediate cause might
bring him to the grave.
”
rton in the notes to his “Essay on Pope,” and in the. following words: “Otway had an intimate friend who was murdered (not robbed) in the street. One may guess at his
Pope’s account of Otway’s death was first related by Dr.
Warton in the notes to his “Essay on Pope,
” and in the.
following words: “Otway had an intimate friend who was
murdered (not robbed) in the street. One may guess at his
sorrow, who has so feelingly described true affection in his
* Venice Preserved.' He pursued the murderer on foot,
who fled to France, as far as Dover, where he was seized
with a fever, occasioned by the fatigue, which afterwards
carried him to his grave in London.
” The robber, we find,
is by this account a murderer, and as Dr. Warton was alt
ways more correct as to minor facts than Dr. Johnson, it is
probable that he relates the story as he heard it, but it is
to be traced to Spence, who was informed by Dennis, the
critic, that “Otway had a friend, one Blakiston, who was
shot; the murderer fled towards Dover, and Otway
pursued him. In his return he drank water, when violently
heated, and so got the fever which was the death of him.
”
And Dennis in the Preface to his “Observations on Pope’s
translation of Homer,
” Otway died in
an alehouse,
” which is not inconsistent with the preceding
account, as he generally lived in one; but whether the
story of the guinea and the loaf can be introduced with any
probability to heighten the poet’s distress, we do not pretend to determine. It would not perhaps be very wrong
to conjecture that both accounts might be true, but his
contemporaries have left us no precise documents. Dr.
Johnson has remarked that Otway appears by some of his
verses to have been a zealous loyalist, and had what was
in those times the common reward of loyalty, he lived and
died neglected.
of expression. But nature is there, which is the greatest beauty.” This is high praise from Dryden, who could not but be conscious that Otway excelled him in the pathetic.
When Otway first began to rise into reputation, Dryden
spoke slightingly of his performances, but afterwards acknowledged their merit, though perhaps somewhat coldly.
In his preface to Du Fresnoy, he says, “To express the
passions which are seated in the heart by outward signs, is
one great precept of the painter’s, and very difficult to
perform. In poetry the very same passions and motions of
the mind are to be expressed; and in this consists the
principal difficulty, as well as the excellency of that art.
This (says Du Fresnpy) is the gift of Jupiter; and to speak
in the -ame heathen language, we call it the gift of our
Apollo, not to be obtained by pains or study, if we are not
born to it. For the motions which are studied, are never
so natural as those which break out in the height of a real
passion. Mr. Otway possessed this part as thoroughly as
any of the ancients and moderns. I will not defend every
thing in his * Venice Preserved;‘ but I must bear this testimony’to his memory, that the passions are truly touched
in it, though perhaps there is somewhat to be desired both
in the grounds of them, and in the height and elegance of
expression. But nature is there, which is the greatest
beauty.
” This is high praise from Dryden, who could not
but be conscious that Otway excelled him in the pathetic.
s 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
, 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.
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
, 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,
accordingly published, together with his “Circles of Proportion,” in 1633, 4to, by William Forster, who had been taught the mathematics by Oughtred, but was then himself
, an English divine, celebrated
for his uncommon skill in the mathematics, was born at
Eton, in Buckinghamshire, about 1573, or, according to
Aubrey, March 5, 1574. His father was a scrivener there,
and taught his son writing and arithmetic. He was afterwards bred a scholar upon the foundation of that school,
and was elected thence, in 1592, to King’s college, in
Cambridge; of which, after the regular time of probation,
he was admitted perpetual fellow. He did not neglect the
opportunity his education gave him, of improving himself
in classical learning and philosophy, as appears from some
of his works, written in very elegant Latin; but his genius
leading him particularly to the mathematics, he applied
himself chiefly to that study. He began at the fountain
head, and read all the ancient authors in the science, as
Euclid, Apollonius, Archimedes, Diophantus, &c. in perusing whose works, he did not content himself, as he tells
us in the preface to his “Clavis,
” with barely learning
their positions, but was diligent in looking into the sagacity of their invention, and careful to comprehend the peculiar force and elegance of their demonstrations.
After he had been at Cambridge about three years, he
invented an easy method of geometrical dialling; which,
though he did not publish it' till 164-7, was yet received
with so much esteem, that Mr. (afterwards sir) Christopher
Wren, then a gentleman-commoner of Wadham college,
in Oxford, immediately translated it from the English into
Latin. This treatise was added to the second edition of
his “Clavis,
” with this title, “A most easy way for the
delineation of plain Sun-dials, only by Geometry,
” &c.
In Circles of Proportion,
” in
hich he became so eminent, that his house, we are told, was continually filled with ydtmg gentlemen, who came thither for instruction. Among these Aubrey mentions Seth
At length, having received holy orders from Dr. Bilson,
bishop of Winchester, he was, in Feb. 1605, instituted to
the vicarage of Shalford, in Surrey, which he resigned on
being presented in 1610 to the rectory of Albury, near
Guilford, to which he now repaired, and continued his
mathematical pursuits, as he had done in college, without
neglecting the duties of his office. Still, however, the
mathematical sciences were the darling object of his life,
and what he called “the more than Elysian Fields,
” and
in which he became so eminent, that his house, we are
told, was continually filled with ydtmg gentlemen, who
came thither for instruction. Among these Aubrey mentions Seth Ward, afterwards bishop of Salisbury, sir Jonas
Moore, sir Charles Scarborough, and sir Christopher Wren.
He taught them all gratis, and although Mr. Ward remained half a year in his house, he would accept of no
remuneration for his board. Lord Napier, in 1614, publishing at Edinburgh his “Mirifici Logarithmorum canonis
descriptio, ejusqtie usus in utraque trigonometria, &c.
”
it immediately fell into the hands of Mr. Briggs, then geometry-reader of Gresham college, in London; and that
gentleman, forming a design to perfect lord Napier’s plan,
consulted Oughtred upon it who probably wrote his
“Treatise of Trigonometry
” about the same time, since
it is evidently formed upon the plan of lord Napier’s “Canon.
” In prosecuting the same subject, he invented, not
many years after, an instrument called “The Circles of
Proportion,
” which was published with the horizontal instrument mentioned above. All such questions in arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and navigation, as depended
upon simple and compound proportion, might be wrought
by it; and it was the first sliding rule that was projected
for those uses, as well as that of gauging. Mr. Oughtred,
however, modestly disclaimed any extraordinary merit in
it, and next to lord Napier and Mr. Briggs, expressly
gives the honour of the invention to Mr. Edmund Gunter.
, William Lilly, the famous astrologer, applied to sir Bulstrode Whitelocke and all his old friends, who appeared so numerous in his behalf, that though the chairman
Notwithstanding all Oughtred’s mathematical merit, he
was, in 1646, in danger of a sequestration by the committee
for plundering ministers; in order to which, several articles
were deposed and sworn against him; but, upon his day
of hearing, William Lilly, the famous astrologer, applied
to sir Bulstrode Whitelocke and all his old friends, who
appeared so numerous in his behalf, that though the chairman and many other presbyterian members were active
against him, yet he was cleared by the majority. This
Lilly tells us himself, in the “History of his own Life,
”
where he styles Oughtred the most famous mathematician
then of Europe. “The truth is,
” continues this writer,
“he had a considerable parsonage and that alone was
enough to sequester any moderate judgment besides, he
was also well known to affect his majesty.
” His merit,
however, appeared so much neglected, and his situation
was made so uneasy at home, that his friends procured
several invitations to him from abroad, to live either in
Italy, France, or Holland, but he chose to encounter all
his difficulties at Albury. Aubrey informs us that the
grand duke invited him to Florence, and offered him 500l.
a year, but he would not accept it because of his religion.
From the same author we learn that he was thought a
very indifferent preacher, so bent were his thoughts on
mathematics; but, when he found himself in danger of
being sequestered for a royalist, " he fell to the study of
divinity, and preached (they sayd) admirably well, even
in his old age.
usions. We more admire his mathematical enthusiasm. “He has told bishop Ward, and Mr. Elias Ashmole ( who was his neighbour) ‘on this spot of ground, or leaning against
“He was more famous abroad for his learning, and more
esteemed than at home. Several great mathematicians
came over into England on purpose to be acquainted with
him. His country neighbours (though they understood not his worth) knew that there must be extraordinary worth
in him, that he was so visited by foreigners.
” “When
Seth Ward, M. A. and Charles Scarborough, M. D. came,
as in a pilgrimage, to see and admire him, they lay at the
inue at Sheeres (the next parish); Mr. Oughtred had
against their coming prepared a good dinner, and also he
had dressed himselfe thus; an old red russet cloak, cassock
that had been black in days of yore, girt with an old leather
girdle, an old-fashioned russet hat, that had been a bever
tempore R. Eliz. When learned foreigners came and saw
how privately he lived, they did admire and bless themselves, that a person of so much worth and learning should
not be better provided for.
” Aubrey seems to confirm the
report that he was not uninfected with astrological delusions. We more admire his mathematical enthusiasm.
“He has told bishop Ward, and Mr. Elias Ashmole (who was his neighbour) ‘on this spot of ground, or leaning
against this oak, or that ash, the solution of such or such a
problem came into my head, as if infused by a divine
genius, after I had thought of it without success for a year,
two, or three.’
” “His wife was a penurious woman, and
would not allow him to burn candle after supper, by which
means many a good notion is lost, and many a problem
unsolved; so that Mr. Henshaw (one of his scholars) when
he was there, bought candle, which was a great comfort to
the old man.
”
eard 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,
, 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.
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.
, 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,
”
e he lay unnoticed till some time after the restoration of Charles II. when Cosin, bishop of Durham, who had been his secretary, erected a monument in 1669, with a Latin
, an English bishop, and styled by
Camden a “prodigious learned man,
” was born in 1559,
and, after a proper foundation in grammar-learning, at
Hadley school, was sent to St. John’s college, Cambridge,
and became a scholar there: but, afterwards removing to
Trinity-college, was chosen fellow of that society. In
1596 he was appointed regius professor of divinity, when
he took the degree of D. D. and, about the same time,
was elected master of Catharine-hall in the same university.
In 1601 he had the honour to succeed the celebrated Dr.
Alexander Nowell in the deanry of St. Paul’s, London, by
the recommendation of his patron sir Fulk Greville, and
queen Elizabeth; and, in the beginning of James’s reign,
he was chosen prolocutor of the lower house of convocation. In 1612 he was appointed one of the first governors
of the Charter-house hospital, then just founded by Thomas Sutton, esq. In April 1614, he was made bishop of
Litchfield and Coventry; and, in 1618, translated to Norwich, where he died May 12, 1619. He was buried in
that cathedral, where he lay unnoticed till some time after
the restoration of Charles II. when Cosin, bishop of Durham, who had been his secretary, erected a monument in
1669, with a Latin inscription, in which he is declared
to be, “Vir undequaque doctissimus, et omui enconiio
major.
”
Wood observes, that he had the character of being the
best scholastic divine in the English nation; and Cosin,
who perhaps may be thought to rival him in that branch
of learning, calls himself his scholar, and expressly declares that he derived all his knowledge from him. He is
allso celebrated by Smith, for his distinguished wisdom,
erudition, and piety. In the controversy, which in his
time divided the reformed churches, concerning predestination and grace, he held a middle opinion, inclining rather to Arminianism , and seems to have paved the way
for the reception of that doctrine in England, where it
was generally embraced a few years afterwards, chiefly by
the authority and influence of archbishop Laud. Overall
had a particular friendship with Gerard Vosius and Grotius; and was much grieved to see the love of peace, and
the projects of this last great man to obtain it, so ill requited. He laboured heartily himself to compose the differences in Holland, relative to the Quinquarticular controversy; as appears in part by his letters to the two learned
correspondents just mentioned, some of which are printed
in the “Præstantium et eruditorum virorum epistolæ
ecclesiasticæ et theologicæ,
” published by Limborch and
Hartsoeker, as an historical defence of Arminianism.
not like a convocation entering into such a theory of politics, so he wrote a long letter to Abbot, who was afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, but was then in the
But our bishop is known in England chiefly by his “Convocation-Book,
” of which Burnet gives the following account: “There was a book drawn up by bishop Overall,
four-score years ago, concerning government, in which its
being of a divine institution was positively asserted. It
was read in convocation, and passed by that body, in order
to the publishing of it; in opposition to the principles laid
down in the famous book of Parsons the Jesuit, published
under the name of
” Doleman.“But king James did not
like a convocation entering into such a theory of politics,
so he wrote a long letter to Abbot, who was afterwards
archbishop of Canterbury, but was then in the lower-house.
By it he desired that no further progress should be made
in that matter, and that this book might not be offered to
him for his assent; there that matter slept. But Sancroft,
archbishop of Canterbury, had got Overall’s own book into
his hands; so, in the beginning of this (K. William’s) reign,
he resolved to publish it, as an authentic declaration that
the Church of England had made in this matter; and it was
published, as well as licensed, by him a very few days before he came under suspension, for not taking the oaths
(October 1689). But there was a paragraph or two in it
that they had not considered, which was plainly calculated
to justify the owning the United Provinces to be a lawful
government; for it was there laid down, that when a
change of government was brought to a thorough settlement, it was then to be owned and submitted to as a work
of the providence of God; and part of king James’s letter
to Abbot related to this.
” But what gave this book much
consequence on its revival was, that the celebrated Dr.
Sherlock acknowledged that he became reconciled to take
the oaths to the new government, at the revolution, by
the doctrines above-mentioned in Overall’s work.
Bishop Montague of Norwich, who was a great admirer of bishop Overall, very frequently and confidently
Bishop Montague of Norwich, who was a great admirer of bishop Overall, very frequently and confidently affirmed that Vossius’s Pelagian history was compiled out of bishop Overall’s collections. Overall also is named among the translators of the Bible; and Mr. Churton notices the share he had in the church catechism, of which he is universally said to have written what regards the sacraments.
own ignorance and inexperience; and he found in sir Thomas Overbury a judicious and sincere adviser, who endeavoured to instill into him the principles of prudence and
Soon after his arrival he contracted an intimacy with
the infamous favourite of Jarnes I. Robert Carr, afterwards
earl of Somerset. This man’s history is too well known to
render it necessary to dwell upon it in this place. Intoxicated as he was with an advancement at court, of which he
was so unworthy, he was not wholly insensible of his own
ignorance and inexperience; and he found in sir Thomas
Overbury a judicious and sincere adviser, who endeavoured
to instill into him the principles of prudence and discretion;
and so long as he was content to be ruled by Overbury’s
friendly counsels, he enjoyed, what Hume says is rare, the
highest favour of the prince, without being hated by the
people. It is easy, therefore, to see what attached Carr
to Overbury; and the latter, who could not but perceive
the inferiority of the royal favourite, appears to have connected himself with him from motives of ambition, which,
for a time, he had every prospect of gratifying. In 1608
he was knighted by the influence of Carr, and his father
was appointed one of the judges for Wales. The year
following, sir Tnornas made another tour on the continent,
which is said to have produced “Observations upon the
Provinces United; and on the State of France,
” Lond.
e of England, than he remembered his friendship for the unfortunate families of Howard and Devereux, who had suffered for their attachment to the cause of Mary and to
His connection with Carr, now viscount Rochester, continued to be mutually agreeable until the latter engaged in an amour with the countess of Essex, the particulars of which reflect disgrace, not only on the parties immediately concerned, but on the reign in which such shameful transactions could be carried on with impunity. No sooner, says Hume, had James mounted the throne of England, than he remembered his friendship for the unfortunate families of Howard and Devereux, who had suffered for their attachment to the cause of Mary and to his own. Having restored young Essex to his blood and dignity, and conferred the.titles of Suffolk and Northampton on two brothers Of the house of Norfolk, he sought the farther pleasure of uniting those families by the marriage of the earl of Essex with lady Frances Howard, daughter of the earl of Suffolk. She was only thirteen, he fourteen years of age; and it was thought proper, till both should attain the age of puberty, that be should go abroad and pass some time in his travels. He returned into England after four years absence, and was pleased to find his countess in the full lustre of beauty, and possessed of the love and admiration of the whole court. But when he claimed the privileges of an husband, he met with nothing but symptoms of aversion and disgust; nor could his addresses, or the persuasions of her friends, overcome her obstinacy; and disgusted at last with her reiterated denials, he gave over the pursuit, and separating himself from her, thenceforth abandoned her to her own will, antS it is said that although he discovered her attachment to Rochester, he took little notice of it.
cluded without consulting Overbury, with whom Rochester was accustomed to share all his secrets, and who, in fact, had been privy to his connection with lady Essex,
With Rochester she had already carried on a criminal
intercourse, which, instead of satiating their desires, made
them lament their unhappy fate, and long for an union
that should be indissoluble. So momentous an affair,
however, could not be concluded without consulting Overbury, with whom Rochester was accustomed to share all
his secrets, and who, in fact, had been privy to his connection with lady Essex, and had even promoted it by
dictating to Rochester those ingenious and passionate letters by which, in a great measure, the lady was won. Like
an experienced courtier, says Hume, he thought that a
conquest of this nature would throw a lustre on the young
favourite, and would tend still farther to endear him to
James, who was charmed to hear of the amours of his court.
But when Rochester hinted his design of obtaining a divorce and marrying the countess, Overbury used every
method to dissuade him from the attempt, representing
how difficult it would be to procure a divorce, and how
disgraceful to marry the woman whose mind these two
friends had combined to debauch! And, in what the historian calls the “zeal of friendship,
” he went so far as to
threaten Rochester, that he would separate himself for ever
from him, if he could so far forget his honour and his
interest as to prosecute the intended marriage.
to the private character of that monarch. The cpuntess died afterwards of a cancer, despised by all who knew her; and Somerset himself lived to share the just contempt
In the mean time, sir Thomas Overbury’s father came to town, and petitioned the king for his discharge. He likewise applied to Somerset, to whom several pressing letters were also written by sir Thomas himself; but all to no purpose. Sjr Thomas had no suspicion at first of the complicated villainy of Somerset in the affair of his refusing the embassy to Russia, nor that his imprisonment was his friend’s contrivance; but, discovering it at length by his delays to procure his liberty, he expostulated with him by letter in the severest manner, and even proceeded to threats. This terrified Somerset so much, that he charged the lieutenant of the Tower to look to Overbury well; for if ever he came out, it would be his ruin, or one of the two must die. During these delays many attempts were made to poison Overbury; none of which succeeded till a glyster was given him, Sept. the 14th, which, after operating in the most violent manner, put an end to his life, about five the next morning. His corpse, being exceedingly offensive, was interred about three the same day in the Tower chapel. Immediately after his death, some suspicion of the true cause of it was rumoured about; but the great persopages concerned prevailed so far as to make it be believed that he died of a disorder contracted before his imprisonment. The whole, however, was discovered about two years after, when the inferior agents were all apprehended, tried, and executed; but the earl of Somerset and his countess, although both tried and condemned, were pardoned by the king the following year, 1616, lest, as it has been said, he should make discoveries not very creditable to the private character of that monarch. The cpuntess died afterwards of a cancer, despised by all who knew her; and Somerset himself lived to share the just contempt of mankind.
he was so far from violating his trust and confidence, that he remains now one example among others, who have suffered in their persons or their fortunes for a freedom
Sir Thomas’s character is represented by Weldon in the
following terms: “in this manner fell sir Thomas Oververbury, worthy of a longer life and a better fate; and, if
I may compare private men with princes, like Germanicus
Caesar; both by poison procured by the malice of a woman,
both about the 33d year of their age, and both celebrated
for their skill and judgment in poetry, their learning, and
their wisdom. Overbury was a gentleman of an ancient
family, but had some blemishes charged upon his character, either through a too great ambition, or the insolence
of a haughty temper. After the return from his travels,
the viscount Rochester embraced him with so entire a
friendship, that, exercising by his majesty’s special favour
the office of secretary provisionally, he not only communicated to sir Thomas the secrets, but many times gave
him the packets and letters unopened, before they had
been perused by the king himself: which, as it prevailed
too much upon his early years, so as to make him, in the
opinion or some, thought high and ambitious, yet, he was
so far from violating his trust and confidence, that he remains now one example among others, who have suffered
in their persons or their fortunes for a freedom of advice,
which none but sincere friends will give, and many are such
ill friends to themselves as not to receive.
”
death had actually confessed the murder. 2. ' Queries proposed to the serious Consideration of those who impose upon others in things of divine and supernatural Revelation,
Dying without issue, sir Thomas’s estate came to hi
younger brother, whose son, sir Thomas Overbury, was
also the author of some pieces. These are, I. “A true
and perfect Account of the Examination, Trial, Condemnation, and Execution, of Joan Perry and her two sons,
for the supposed Murder of William Harrison, written by
way of letter to Thomas Shirley, M. D. in London, 1676,
”
4to. This is one of the most remarkable incidents in story.
Harrison was not really murdered, but conveyed away
alive by a gang of Mohocks, and carried to Turkey;
where, corning into the hands of a physician, he acquired
some skill in that faculty; and at length, after many years
absence, found means of getting away, and returned home,
to the great astonishment of every body, since the sufferers for his supposed death had actually confessed the
murder. 2. ' Queries proposed to the serious Consideration of those who impose upon others in things of divine
and supernatural Revelation, and prosecute any upon the
account of Religion with a desire of their candid and
Christian Resolution thereof;“printed in 1677. In answer
to which there came out the same year
” AtaxiaD Obstaculum; an answer to certain queries, intituled, Queries proposed,“&c. Upon this, sir Thomas wrote a reply, entitled, 3.
” Ratiocinium Vernaculum or, a Reply to
Ataxiae Obstaculum," &c.
great force of eloquence in the court of the centumviri. He was likewise made one of the triumviri, who were magistrates of great authority, and tried capital causes.
, one of the finest poets of the Augustan age, was the son of a Roman knight, and a native of Sulmo, a town in the county of the Peligni, now Abruzzo. He was born in the year of Rome 7 Jo; that memorable year when the consuls, Hirtius and Pansa, were slain in the battle of Mutina against Antony. From his youth, his inclinations lay towards poetry; which, however, upon his father’s entreaties, he forsook, and, with a view to the practice of the law, studied eloquence under those eminent masters, Aurelius Fuscus and Porcius Latro, whose characters Seneca has drawn, and also mentions Ovid’s improvements under them. Such was his diligence and success, that he determined several private causes very judiciously, and frequently pleaded with great force of eloquence in the court of the centumviri. He was likewise made one of the triumviri, who were magistrates of great authority, and tried capital causes.
epudiated soon after marriage; but seems to have b^en affectionately attached to the third, Perilla, who appears indeed to have deserved the praises he bestows on her
Soon after he had put on the toga virilis, which was done at seventeen, Augustus honoured him with the latus davits, an ornament worn only by persons of quality; but, upon the death of his elder brother, by which he came to an easy fortune, he bad adieu to law and the bar, and devoted himself entirely to poetry and pleasure; and being a man of wit, he soon became the companion and favourite of the wits of his day, Tibullus, Severus, Sabinus, Flaccus, &c. and the learned Hyginus is said likewise to have been his intimate friend. He soon discovered a genius adapted to all kinds of poetry; in which he might have been without a competitor, if his fancy had been regulated a little by judgment; but in his time custom laid no extraordinary restraint on the luxuriances of the pen, and Ovid was probably most flattered for those indecencies for which he is now most censured. He married thrice, and two of his wives he repudiated soon after marriage; but seems to have b^en affectionately attached to the third, Perilla, who appears indeed to have deserved the praises he bestows on her beauty and virtue. With her he lived very happily during his long course of prosperity; and she proved a great consolation to him in that reverse which he experienced in his latter days.
of his own; but this, however, has been called in question. Oviedo is thought to have been the first who recommended the use of the wood of guiacum in the disorder,
, in Spanish Gonçalo Hermandez de Oviedo Y Valdes, a Spanish historian,
was born at Madrid, about the year 1478. He was educated among the pages in the court of Ferdinand king of
Arragon, and Isabella queen of Castile, and happened to
be at Barcelona in 1493, when Columbus returned from his
first voyage to the island Haiti, which he called Hispaniola, and which now is known by the name of St. Domingo. Curiosity led him to obtain from Columbus and
his companions an account of what was most remarkable in
their voyages; and the information he obtained, and the
services he rendered Spain during the war of Naples, induced Ferdinand to send him to the Island of Haiti, as
intendant and inspector-general of the trade of the new
world. The ravages which the syphilis had made during
that war, led him to inquire into the most efficacious remedies for this malady, which was supposed to have come
from the West Indies. His inquiries were also extended
to every thing which regards the natural history of these
regions and on his return to Spain, he published “Summario de la Historia general y natural de les Indias Occidentales,
” Toledo, La Historia general y
natural de las Indias Occidentales,
” Salamanca,
ars to have attained high consequence in his profession. He was a witness to the will of Henry VIII. who left him a legacy of 100l. It is reported that Edward VI. was
, an eminent English physician, was
born in the diocese of Worcester, and educated at Mertoncollege, Oxford, of which he became probationer-fellow
in 1519. Having studied physic, he took his doctor’s
degree in that faculty in 1527, and soon after was appointed
physician to Henry VIII. and held the same office in the
two succeeding reigns. In 1544 he was constituted a fellow of the college of physicians, and appears to have attained high consequence in his profession. He was a witness to the will of Henry VIII. who left him a legacy of
100l. It is reported that Edward VI. was brought into the
world by Dr. Owen’s means, who performed the Caesarian
operation on his mother, queen Jane Seymour. From this
circumstance, whether truly or falsely related, we may
conclude him to have been a practitioner in midwifery, as
well as in physic. In the first year of queen Mary he was
very instrumental in obtaining an act for the confirmation
and enlargement of the powers granted to the college of
physicians. Some time after, in the same reign, when a
difference took place between the college of physicians
and the university of Oxford, concerning the admission of
an illiterate person to a degree, who was rejected by the
college upon their examination; cardinal Pole, then chancellor of the university, was appealed to, and obliged the
university to consult Dr. Owen and Dr. Thomas Huys, the
queen’s physician, “de instituendis rationibus quibus
Oxoniensis academia in admittendis Medicis uteretur.
”
An agreement was accordingly made, which the chancellor
approved and ratified by his authority. Dr. Owen died
Oct. 10, 1558, of an epidemic intermittent, and was buried
in St. Stephen’s, Walbrook. Leland intimates that he had
written several pieces on medical subjects, but none of
them were preserved. Tanner mentions that he wrote a
work entitled " A meet Diet for the new ague set forth by
Mr. Dr. Owen, Lond. 1558, fol. In 1553, Edward VI.
granted Durham-college, in Oxford, to our George Owen
and William Martyn, which the following year they sold
to sir Thomas Pope, who founded Trinity -college on the
scite. Previous to this, Dr. Owen received a grant of
Godstowe nunnery, with its adjoining estates, and this
nunnery he converted into a dwelling-house with some alterations and improvements.
Such are the outlines of the life of a gentleman who certainly is entitled to a more ample memorial; one who to very
Such are the outlines of the life of a gentleman who certainly is entitled to a more ample memorial; one who to very extensive and profound literature, added the most amiable manners, the strictest attention to the duties of his station, and the most exemplary conduct in his several relations, both public and domestic. He had a truly pious frame of mind, and was perhaps superior in biblical erudition to most of his contemporaries.
this ms. containing the whole Pentateuch, but that the four last came into the hands of a Frenchman, who never returned them to the owner. This valuable ms. was nearly
This learned divine published, 1. “Harmonia Trigonometrica, or A short treatise on Trigonometry,
” The intent and propriety of the Scripture Miracles considered and explained,
” Observations on the Four Gospels, tending chiefly to ascertain
the times of their publication, and to illustrate the form
and manner of their composition,
” Short
directions to young Students in Divinity, and Candidates
for Holy Orders,
” An Enquiry into the
present state of the Septuagint version of the Old Testament,
” Thevintent and propriety of the
Scripture Miracles considered and explained, in a series
of Sermons preached at Bow, in 1769, 1770, and 1771,
at Boyle’s Lecture,
” Crjtica
Saera, or a short introduction to Hebrew Criticism,
” 177$,
8vo. This was criticised in a work entitled “Critica Sacra examined, or an attempt to shew that a new method
may be found to reconcile the seemingly glaring variations
in parallel passages of Scripture, and that such variations
are no proofs of corruptions,
” &c. Supplement to Critica Sacra; in which the principles of that
treatise are fully confirmed, and the objections of Mr.
Raphael Baruh are clearly answered,
” Collatio Codicis Cottoniani Geneseos cum editione Romana a viro clarissimo Joanne Ernesto Grabe jam olim
facta, nunc demum summa curaedita, 1778,
” 8vo. This
ancient and beautiful ms. was said to have been brought
into England in the reign of Henry VIII. by two Greek
bishops. Queen Elizabeth made a present of it to sir John
Fortescue, from whom it descended to the Cotton Library.
Walton says, that there were five volumes of this ms. containing the whole Pentateuch, but that the four last came
into the hands of a Frenchman, who never returned them
to the owner. This valuable ms. was nearly destroyed by
the fire which so greatly damaged the Cotton Library in
1731. 10. “Critical Disquisitions; containing some remarks, 1. on Masius’s edition of the Book of Joshua, and,
2. on Origen’s celebrated Hexapla,
” A
brief account, historical and critical, of the Septuagint
Version of the Old Testament. To which is added, A Dissertation on the comparative excellency of the Hebrew and
Samaritan Pentateuch,
” &c. The Modes
of Quotation used by the Evangelical writers explained and
vindicated,
”
mstances, owing to indolence or imprudence. He had a rich uncle, upon whom lay his chief dependence, who was either a papist, or at least popishly inclined; yet, Owen’s
, in Latin called Audoenus, an English epigrammatist, was born at Armon, in Caernarvonshire; and being bred at Winchester-school, under Dr. Bilson, was chosen thence a scholar of New-college, in Oxford, of which he became probationer fellow in 1582, and actual fellow in 1584. He proceeded LL. B. in 1690, but quitting his fellowship the next year, taught school atTrylegh, near Monmouth; and about 1594 was chosen master of the free-school founded by Henry VIII. at Warwick. He generally laboured under necessitous circumstances, owing to indolence or imprudence. He had a rich uncle, upon whom lay his chief dependence, who was either a papist, or at least popishly inclined; yet, Owen’s genius being peculiarly turned for epigrams, he was not able to resist the charm of the following satirical distich upon that religion:
dness of his relation and countryman Williams, bishop of Lincoln, and lord keeper of the great seal, who contributed to support him several years during his life; and,
This he printed, among others, in 1606, at London; and
the book, coming into the inquisitor’s hands at Rome, was
put into the “Index Expurgatorius
” on which the uncle
struck him out of his will, and resolved to take no more
notice of him. He often, however, experienced the kindness of his relation and countryman Williams, bishop of
Lincoln, and lord keeper of the great seal, who contributed to support him several years during his life; and,
after his death, which happened in 1622, erected a monument to his memory, with his bust in brass, crowned with
laurel, on the pillar next to the consistory stairs at St.
Paul’s cathedral, London, where he was interred. Under
the bust was an epigram, intimating that his person was
little as well as his fortune, and both less than his fame.
of Henry Owen, first a schoolmaster at Stokenchurch, and afterwards vicar of Stadham in Oxfordshire ( who was reputed a puritan), and was born at Stadham in 1616. He
, the most eminent and learned of the nonconformist divines, was descended of an ancient and reputable family in Wales. He was the second son of Henry Owen, first a schoolmaster at Stokenchurch, and afterwards vicar of Stadham in Oxfordshire (who was reputed a puritan), and was born at Stadham in 1616. He was sent to a school at Oxford, kept by Mr. Edward Sylvester, in All Saints’ parish; and in his twelfth year was admitted of Queen’s college, where Thomas, afterwards bishop Barlow, was his tutor. Here he took his degrees in arts, that of master in 1636, at which time Anthony Wood does not omit to inform us that he took the oaths of allegiance, &c. During his residence at college, he pursued his various studies with incredible diligence, allowing himself for several years, not above four hours’ sleep in a night; yet he did not neglect useful exercise, and for the sake of his health sometimes partook of the recreations usual among his fellows, such as leaping, throwing the bar, ringing of bells, &c. To this diligence in study he allows that he was prompted by an early ambition to raise himself to such eminence in church or state as might be practicable, without at this time feeling any extraordinary predilection for either. He confessed that he was of an aspiring mind, affected popular applause, and was desirous of honour and preferment, and he paid the age the compliment to think that superiority of learning was the readiest way to obtain these objects. He likewise goes so far as to allow that at this time he felt no concern for the honour of God, or for serving his country unless in subserviency to his own interest; but, whatever were his motives, it is certain that he became at college a very distinguished scholar.
e till the age of twenty-one, maintained chiefly by an uncle, a gentleman of a good estate in Wales, who having no children of his own, intended to have made him his
He remained here till the age of twenty-one, maintained chiefly by an uncle, a gentleman of a good estate in Wales, who having no children of his own, intended to have made him his heir, as his father had a large family. About this time, we are told by most of his biographers, archbishop Laud, who was also chancellor of Oxford, imposed several superstitious rites on the university, upon pain of expulsion, and that Mr. Owen had then received such light, that hifr conscience would not submit to these impositions; but what these impositions, or superstitious rites were, they have not informed us. It is probable they related to the academical habits, the wearing of which Laud enjoined very strictly, but which will scarcely now be thought of sufficient importance to trouble the conscience of any man. Mr. Owen, however, like many other good and wise men of his party, began with scruples on small matters, which obstinacy and perseverance magnified into objects of the most serious importance. That he was serious could not be doubted, for his hopes of rising could no longer be indulged; his friends, we are told, forsook him as one infected with puritanism, and he became so much the object of resentment from the Laudensian party, as they were called, that he was forced to leave college.
ided supporter of the measures of the parliament. The first consequence of this was, that his uncle, who was a zealous royalist, resented his conduct, settled his estate
With this dislike to the discipline of the university, he appears to have connected at the same time many perplexing thoughts respecting his spiritual state, which ended in a sort of melancholy that lasted about five years, during which he seemed alienated from his friends and accustomed pursuits. He was roused to activity, however, as soon as the rebellion broke out, on which occasion he appeared a decided supporter of the measures of the parliament. The first consequence of this was, that his uncle, who was a zealous royalist, resented his conduct, settled his estate upon another, and died without leaving him any thing. About this time, however, sir Robert Dormer, of Ashcot, in the parish of Great Milton, took him into his family as chaplain, and tutor to his eldest son, a task for which he was eminently fitted; and he afterwards became chaplain to John lord Lovelace of Hurley, in Berkshire, a loyalist, who treated Mr. Owen with respect, from an opinion of his great learning; but when this nobleman went to joint the king’s army, Mr. Owen came up to London, and took lodgings in Charter-house yard. While here, going one day to Aldermanbury church, with a view of hearing Mr. Caiamy, it happened that a stranger preached, and the effect of his discourse was to remove all those doubts with which Mr. Owen had been perplexed for some years, and to restore the tranquillity of his mind on religious matters.
, and the steps archbishop Laud took to encourage such opinions, having engaged the attention of all who meditated the changes, or reformation in church and state, which
Mr. Owen was admitted into orders about the time he
took his master’s degree, but had as yet obtained no preferment. During his abode in London, however, he wrote
his “Display of Arminianism,
” which was published in
for purging the
church of scandalous ministers;
” and Mr. White, the chairman of this committee, sent a special messenger to Mr.
Owen, to present him with the living of Fordham in Essex;
which offer he the more cheerfully embraced, as it gave
him an opportunity for the regular exercise of his ministry,
and he went thither to the great satisfaction, not only of
that parish, but of the country round. He continued at
this place about a year and a half, where his preaching was
so acceptable, that people resorted to his ministry from
other parishes. Soon after he came to Fordham, he married a lady, whose name is supposed to have been Rooke,
by whom he had several children, none of whom survived
him. In 1644 he published his discourse, “Of the Duty
of Pastors and People.
”
Upon a report that the sequestered incumbent of Fordham was dead, the patron, who had no kindness for Mr. Owen, presented another to the living;
Upon a report that the sequestered incumbent of
Fordham was dead, the patron, who had no kindness for Mr.
Owen, presented another to the living; on which the
people at Coggeshall, a market-town about five miles from
thence, earnestly invited him to be their minister; and the
earl of Warwick, the patron, very readily gave him the
living; and here he taught a more numerous congregation,
seldom fewer than two thousand, consisting of persons generally sober, religious, and discreet, who contracted an
uncommon and very steady regard for their pastor. Hitherto Mr. Owen had been a presbyterian in matters of
church government; but after diligent inquiry into the nature of church government and discipline, he became convinced that the congregational way, or the mode of independency, was most agreeable to the rule of the New Testament; and he published his opinion, with the several
reasons for it, in two quartos. Several ministers of the
presbyterian denomination were dissatisfied with this
change of Mr. Owen’s judgment, and particularly Mr.
Gawdry reproached him very unhandsomely, to whom he
returned, as he generally did, a much more civil answer.
He had formed a church at Coggeshall upon these congregational principles, which continued long; but his reputation as a divine and preacher was not coofined to this spot.
He was soon sent for to preach before the parliament:
this sermon is entitled “A Vision of free Mercy, &c.
” on
Acts xvi. 11. April 29, 1646. He pleads for liberty of
conscience and moderation towards men of different persuasions, &c. in an “Essay for the practice of Churchgovernment in the Country,
” which he subjoins to that
sermon. In Salus
electorum, sanguis Jesu:
” or, “The Death of Death in
the Death of Christ.
” He dedicated this book to Robert
earl of Warwick, where he pays his tribute of thanks to
his lordship for that privilege of opening the door for his
preaching the gospel at Goggeshall; and in his preface to
the reader he tells us, “That this performance was the result of more than seven years serious inquiry into the mind
of God about these things, with a perusal of all which he
could attain, that the wit of men in former or later days
hath published in opposition to the truth.
” He had indeed
such an opinion of this work, that although generally modest in speaking of himself, he scrupled not to declare,
that “He did not believe he should live to see a solid
answer given to it.
”
During the siege of Colchester, he became acquainted
with general Fairfax, who was quartered at Coggeshall for
some days; and when Colchester surrendered, he preached
a sermon on the day of thanksgiving, and another to
the parliamentary committee that had been imprisoned by
the enemy, but were now released. These two sermons
are entitled “Ebenezer, a Memorial of the Deliverance of
Essex County and Committee.
” He was again required to
preach before the House of Commons, Jan. 31, 1648-9,
the very next day after the murder of king Charles: much
was expected from this sermon, and an apology for
the bloody deed of the preceding day would infallibly
have led to preferment; but we are told “his discourse
was so modest and inoffensive, that his friends could make
no just exception, nor his enemies take an advantage of
his words another day.
” After this he frequently was appointed to preach before the parliament, and, on Feb.
1649, had Cromwell, for the first time, as one of his
hearers, who was highly pleased with the discourse. Cromwell was at this time preparing to go to Ireland, and meeting with Mr. Owen a few days afterwards, at general Fairfax’s house, he came directly up to him, and laying his
hand on his shoulder in a familiar way, said, “Sir, you
are the person I must be acquainted with.
” JMr. Owen
modestly replied, “That will be more to my advantage
than yours;
” to which Cromwell rejoined, “We shall soon
see that,
” and taking him by the hand led him into lord
Fairfax’s garden; and from this time contracted an intimate
friendship with him, which continued to his death. He
acquainted Mr. Owen with his intended expedition into
Ireland, and desired his company there to reside in the
college at Dublin; but he answered that the charge of the
church at Coggeshall would not permit him to comply with
his request. Cromwell, however, would have no denial,
and after some altercation, told the congregation at Coggeshall, that their pastor must and should go. He did not,
however, travel with the army, but arrived privately at
Dublin, and took up his lodgings in the college. Here he
frequently preached, and superintended the affairs of the
college, for about half a year, when he obtained Cromwell’s leave to return to Coggeshall, where he was joyfully
x received.
igher station, that of dean of Christ church, in room of Dr. Reynolds, afterwards bishop of Norwich, who had been placed in this office by the authority of the parliamentary
In Sept. 1650, Cromwell required Mr. Owen to go with
him to Scotland and when he found him averse to another
absence from his flock at Coggeshall, he procured an order
of parliament, which could not be disobeyed. He remained
at Edinburgh about half a year, and returning to Coggeshall, expected, as his biographers say, to have passed
the remainder of his days there. But the general reputation he had acquired, and his favouritism with Cromwell,
pointed him out for a higher station, that of dean of Christ
church, in room of Dr. Reynolds, afterwards bishop of
Norwich, who had been placed in this office by the authority of the parliamentary visitors. Mr. Owen appears
to have owed his promotion to the parliament itself, as appears by the following document “The House, taking into
consideration the worth and usefulness of Mr. John Owen,
student of QueenVcollege, M. A. has ordered that he be
settled in the deanry of Christ-church, Oxford, in the
room of,
” &c. This was the first intimation Mr. Owen had
of his appointment; but he afterwards received a letter
from the principal students of the college, signifying their
great satisfaction, and a commission from Cromwell, who
was at this time chancellor of the university, to act as vicechancellor. Accordingly he went to Oxfprd in 1651, and
on Sept. 26 of the following year, was admitted vicechancellor. About the same time he took his degree of
D. D. His rise seems calculated to have gratified the ambition he acknowledged in his youthful days, for he had
not been above twelve or fourteen years absent from Oxford, and was now only in his thirty-sixth year.
one of his persuasion to be placed at the head of the university, none was so proper as this person; who governed it several years with much prudence and moderation,
Granger remarks, that “Supposing it necessary for one
of his persuasion to be placed at the head of the university,
none was so proper as this person; who governed it several years with much prudence and moderation, when faction and animosity seemed to be a part of every religion.
”
It is certain that Dr. Owen’s administration was distinguished
for moderation, arising doubtless from his natural temper;
and that he was impartial in his patronage. At this time
the presbyterians had considerably the ascendancy, and it
was with such he most of all conversed in the university,
and, in the disposition of several vacant livings, he generally gave them to presbyterians: nor was he ever wanting
to oblige even the episcopal party, whom he suffered to
meet quietly, about three hundred every Sunday, at the
house of Dr. Willis, near Christ-church, where they celebrated divine service according to the liturgy of the church
of England; and though he was often urged to it, yet he
would never give them the least disturbance and if at any
time they met with opposition or trouble on that account,
it was from other hands, and always against his mind. In
his office also of commissioner for ejecting “scandalous
ministers,
” as the royalists were generally called, he frequently took the part of men of merit, and particularly in
the case of Dr. Edward Pococke. This moderation of temper in the exercise of power, gained him the love and
respect of the most; yet we must observe also, that he
would not suffer authority to be slighted, when there was
occasion to assert it. At an act, when one of Trinity-college was Terrae-filius, before he began, the doctor stood
up, and in Latin told him, he should have liberty to say
what he pleased, provided he would avoid profaneness,
obscenity, and personal reflections. The Terrse-filius began, and in a little time transgressed in all these particulars, and the doctor endeavoured to check him, but finding
that he paid no attention to his remonstrances, he sent his
beadles to pull him down, on which the scholars interposed,
and would not suffer them to come near him. Dr. Owen
then resolved to pull him down himself, and when his
friends dissuaded him lest the scholars should do him some
mischief, he exclaimed, “I will not see authority thus
trampled on,
” and actually seized on the offender and sent
him to prison. Dr. Owen was never deficient in personal
courage, for in 1654, having heard of some disturbances
in Wiltshire, which threatened to reach Oxford, he ordered
a troop of scholars to be raised and armed for the protection of the university; and Wood informs us that he often
appeared at the head of them, well mounted, with a sword
by his side and a case of pistols.
ciæ Evangelicæ, or, the Mystery of the Gospel vindicated, and Socinianism examined,” against Biddle, who had published two Socinian Catechisms. In the preface to this
During his vice-chancellorship, he was a frequent
preacher at St. Mary’s, and other places in the county,
and published some of his numerous works, particularly in
1654, his “Saint’s Perseverance,
” in answer to Goodwin’s
“Redemption redeemed;
” and in Vindiciæ
Evangelicæ, or, the Mystery of the Gospel vindicated,
and Socinianism examined,
” against Biddle, who had published two Socinian Catechisms. In the preface to this
work, which he wrote at the desire of the heads of houses
and many other divines of Oxford, is a succinct and perspicuous history of Spcimanism from its first appearance.
This was followed by his more popular treatise, often reprinted till this day, on Communion with God." In
1657 he was succeeded as vice-chancellor by Dr. Conant,
and in 1659, as dean of Christ-church by Dr. Reynolds.
For these changes his biographers no otherwise account
than as parts of that general change which the restoration
was about to effect. Dr. Owen, however, lost his vicechancellorship on the death of Oliver Cromwell, whose
successor, Richard, appointed Dr. Conant. The latter was
evidently an ejectment, and it is supposed the presbyterians had a hand in it.
reproached with the late protector’s services, and challenged for taking him away so soon. Goodwin, who had pretended to assure them in a prayer, a few minutes before
Bishop Burnet relates an extraordinary anecdote relative
to the death of Cromwell. He tells us, that Tillotson,
happening to be at Whitehall on a fast-day of the household, about a week after, went out of curiosity into the
presence-chamber, where the solemnity was kept; and
saw there on one side of the table the new protector, with
the rest of his family and, on the other, six preachers,
among whom were Dr. Owen, Dr. Goodwin, Mr. Caryl,
and Mr. Sterry, with whose sallies of enthusiasm Tillotson
was much disgusted, God being in a manner reproached
with the late protector’s services, and challenged for taking him away so soon. Goodwin, who had pretended to
assure them in a prayer, a few minutes before he expired,
that he was not to die, had now the confidence to say to
God, “Thou hast deceived us, and we are deceived.
”
And Sterry, praying for Richard, used words next -to blasphemy, “Make him the brightness of the father’s glory,
and the express image of his person.
” No particular expression of Owen, however, is recorded; and therefore
the fact does not particularly attach to him, but is rather
generally illustrative of the enthusiasm of the party.
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
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.
ays, we are told that his works procured him. the admiration and friendship of many persons of rank, who took great delight in his conversation. Among these are enumerated
On the death of the rev. Joseph Caryl, in 1673, Dr.
Owen was invited to succeed him in the charge of a very
numerous congregation in Leadenhall- street, and as he
had already a charge of the sme kind, the congregations
agreed to unite. In the following year he published “A
Discourse concerning the Holy Spirit;
” in Doctrine of Justification by Faith;
” and in Glorious
Mystery of the Person of Christ;
” all which, at least the
genuine editions of them, are still in considerable request.
Dr. Owen was in most of his works rather prolix, which has
given rise to abridgments of some of them, but as these are
executed sometimes by men not exactly according in his
principles, little reliance can be placed on their accuracy.
In his own days, we are told that his works procured him.
the admiration and friendship of many persons of rank,
who took great delight in his conversation. Among these
are enumerated the earl of Orrery, the earl ofAnglesea,
lord Willoughby of Parham, lord Wharton, lord Berkley,
sir John Trevor, one of the principal secretaries of state,
&c. Even Charles II. and the duke of York paid particular respect to him. It is said that when he was at Tunbridge, drinking the waters, the duke sent for him to his
tent, and entered into a long conversation on the subject
of nonconformity. The king went yet farther; for, after
his return to London, his majesty conversed with him for
the space of two hours together, and after assuring him of
his favour and respect, told him he might have access to
his person as often as he pleased; said that he was sensible
of the wrong he had done to the dissenters; declared himself a friend to liberty of conscience, and concluded all by
giving Dr. Owen a thousand guineas to distribute among
those who had suffered most by the late severities. Whether
the professions of the king and the duke were sincere or
not, or whether this was an act of policy, or an involuntary respect paid to the talents and amiable private character of Dr. Owen, it appears that he was not afterwards
molested in the exercise of his ministry.
re given in the “Restituta,” vol. I. p. 141) abounds with anecdotes of those English Roman catholics who had fled for refuge to the foreign seminaries. 2. “The unmasking
, a controversial writer against the Jesuits, was born in Merionethshire in 1572, and educated
at Christ Church, Oxford, which he left without taking a
degree, “having,
” as Wood says, “some petty employment bestowed on him.
” He afterwards went to the continent, and entered into the society of the Jesuits in Spain,
but discovering that their conduct savoured more of worldly
policy than true religion, he made use of the information
he had picked up among them to expose their intrigues.
With this view he published, 1. “The Running Register;
recording a true relation of the state of the English colleges, seminaries, and cioysters of all forraigne parts. Together with a brief and compendious discourse of the lives,
practices, couzenage, impostures and deceits of all our
English monks, friars, Jesuits, and seminarie priests in
general,
” Lond. Restituta,
” vol. I. p. The
unmasking of all popish monks, friars, and Jesuits; or, a
treatise of their genealogy, beginnings, proceedings, and
present state,
” &c. ibid. Speculum Jesuiticum, or the Jesuit’s Looking-glass; wherein they may
behold Ignatius (their patron) his progress, their own pilgrimage,
” &c. ibid. Europe Speculum.
”
Owen was living in
ous disposition procured him still better success elsewhere. Among his scholars were two foreigners, who expressing their uneasiness to him at being disappointed of
For a maintenance he first went to Lyons to teach the mathematics, in which he had considerable encouragement; and after some time his generous disposition procured him still better success elsewhere. Among his scholars were two foreigners, who expressing their uneasiness to him at being disappointed of some bills of exchange for a journey to Paris, he asked them how much would do, and being told 50 pistoles, he lent them the money immediately, even without their note for it. Upon their arrival at Paris, mentioning this generous action to M. Daguesseau, father of the chancellor, this magistrate was touched with it; and engaged them to invite Ozanam to Paris, with a promise of his favour. The opportunity was eagerly euibraced; and the business of teaching the mathematics here soon brought him in a considerable income: but he wanted prudence for some time to make the best use of it. He was young, handsome, and sprightly; and much aduicted both to gaming and gallantry, which continually drained his purse. Among others, he had a love intrigue with a woman, who lodged in the same house with him, and gave herself out for a person of condition. However, this expence in time led him to think of matrimony, and he soon after married a young woman without afortune, but for this defect she made amends by her modesty, virtue, and sweet temper; so that though the state of his purse was not amended, yet he experienced a long course of domestic happiness. He had twelve children by her, who all died young; and he was lastly rendered quite unhappy by the death of his wife also, which happened in 1701. Neither did this misfortune come single: for the war breaking out about the same time, on account of the Spanish succession, it swept away all his scholars, who, being foreigners, were obliged to leave Paris. Thus he sunk into a very melancholy state; under which, however, he received some relief, and amusement, from the honour of being admitted this same year an eleve of the royal academy of sciences.
ch no outward symptoms appeared. In that persuasion he refused to engage with some foreign noblemen, who offered to become his scholars; alleging that he should not
He seems to have had a pre-sentiment of his death, from some lurking disorder within, of which no outward symptoms appeared. In that persuasion he refused to engage with some foreign noblemen, who offered to become his scholars; alleging that he should not live long enough to carry them through their intended course. Accordingly he was seized soon after with an apoplexy, which terminated his existence in less than two hours, on the 3d of April, 1717, at 77 years of age.
h ca.ne into his head. The count at the same time procured his horoscope to be taken by a physician, who was greatly infatuated with astrology, and who followed exactly
We are told that he knew too much of astronomy to give into judicial astrology; and obstinately refused all that was offered him to engage him to calculate nativities. Once indeed he submitted to the importunity of a count of the empire, whom he had sufficiently warned not to believe him. He drew up by astronomy the scheme of his nativity, and then without employing the rules of astrology, foretold him all the instances of good fortune, which ca.ne into his head. The count at the same time procured his horoscope to be taken by a physician, who was greatly infatuated with astrology, and who followed exactly all the rules of that art. Twenty years after the count informed Mr. Ozanam, that all his predictions were come to pass, and that none of the physician’s had their effect. This account gave him a very different satisfaction from what was intended. The count thought to compliment him upon his skill in astrology, but it only served to confirm him in his opinion of the absurdity of that pretended science.
aul’s cathedral and St. Thomas’s Hospital, all of them posts of considerable emolument; a gentleman, who was a native of the same country with him, who had known him
Mr. Ozell had the good fortune to escape all those vicissitudes and anxieties in regard to pecuniary circumstances which too frequently attend on men of literary abilities; for, besides that he was, from his earliest setting out in life, constantly in possession of very good places, having been for some years auditor-general of the city and bridge accounts, and, to the time of his decease, auditor of the accounts of St. Paul’s cathedral and St. Thomas’s Hospital, all of them posts of considerable emolument; a gentleman, who was a native of the same country with him, who had known him from a school-boy, and it is said lay under particular obligations to his family, dying when Mr. Ozell was in the very prime of life, left him such a fortune as would have been a competent support for him if he should at any time have chosen to retire from business entirely, which, however, it does not appear he ever did. He died Oct. 15, 1743, and was buried in the vault of a church belonging to the parish of St. Mary Aldermanbury; but in what year he was born, and consequently his age at the time of his death, are particulars that we do not find on record. Mr. Ozell was a man of application, but of no ta’ste or genius, yet acquired some reputation for his numerous translations, and would have deserved more had he confined his labours to serious works, where a reader may be content with a literal meaning; but it was his misfortune to undertake works of humour and fancy, which were qualities he seemed not to possess himself, and therefore could not do justice to in others. Moliere, particularly, is an author of that superior genius, that it would require abilities almost equal to his own to translate him in such a manner as to give him, in the clothing of our own language, the air and manner of a native.
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,
, 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.
e either held that, or the office of private secretary, or some confidential situation, under Henry, who employed him in affairs of high political importance. In 1515,
On his return to. England, he was sent for to court, probably in consequence of the character given of him by his deceased patron, cardinal Bambridge; and became such a favourite with Henry VIII. that he appointed him, as some say, secretary of state, which Mr. Lodge doubts; but it seems certain, that he either held that, or the office of private secretary, or some confidential situation, under Henry, who employed him in affairs of high political importance. In 1515, he was sent to the court of Vienna, where the object of his embassy was to engage the emperor Maximilian to dispossess the French king Francis 1. of the duchy of Milan, his royal master being alarmed at the progress of the French arms in Italy. Pace succeeded in his negociation, so far as to persuade the emperor to undertake this expedition; and he also engaged some of the Swiss cantons to furnish him with troops; but the scheme was ultimately so unsuccessful that Maximilian was obliged to make peace with France. Pace, however, profited so much by his acquaintance with this emperor, as to acquire a/very useful knowledge of his character; and when he afterwards offered to resign his crown in favour of Henry VIII. he was enabled to give his sovereign the best advice, and to assure him, that Maximilian had no other design, by this apparently liberal offer, than to obtain another subsidy, and that, in other respects, very little credit was due to his word. In this opinion cardinal Wolsey, at home, seems to have concurred.
that his royal master had started too late, and that tven the electors of Mentz, Cologn, and Triers, who were disposed to favour his pretensions, pleaded, with a shew
In 1519, Maximilian died, and the kings of France and
Spain immediately declared themselves candidates for the
Imperial throne. Henry, encouraged by the pope, was
also induced to offer himself as a candidate, and Pace was
ordered to attend the diet of the empire, sound the opinions of the electors, and endeavour to form a judgment of the likelihood of his success. Pace, however,
soon discovered that his royal master had started too late,
and that tven the electors of Mentz, Cologn, and Triers,
who were disposed to favour his pretensions, pleaded,
with a shew of regret, that they were pre-engaged. The
election fell on Charles V. In 1516, Pace was instituted treasurer of Lichfield, which he resigned in 1522,
on being made dean of Exeter. In 1511), he succeeded
Colet as dean of St. Paul’s; and some say, held also the
deanery of Sarum, but this is not quite clear, although he
is called dean of Salisbury by Herbert, in his “Life and
Reign of Henry VIII.
” In 1521, he was made prebendary
of Combe and Harnham, in the church of Sarum, and we
find mention of some other church preferments he held
from 1516 to 1522, but they are so dubiously related that
it is difficult to give them in due order.
zeal as Wblsey expected. Such are the reasons assigned by some historians for Wolsey’s displeasure, who is said to have ordered matters in such a manner, that for nearly
It was at this time, however, that Pace fell under cardinal Wolsey’s displeasure; the effects of which are said to have been very serious. The cardinal is thought to have been enraged against him, first, because he had shewn a readiness to assist Charles duke of Bourbon with money, for whom the cardinal had no great affection: and, secondly, because he had not forwarded the cardinal’s design of obtaining the papal chair with so much zeal as Wblsey expected. Such are the reasons assigned by some historians for Wolsey’s displeasure, who is said to have ordered matters in such a manner, that for nearly the space of two years, Pace received no instructions from his court as to his proceedings at Venice; his allowance for expences was also withdrawn, and no answer returned to his letters. On one occasion, when the Venetian ambassador residing in London asked Wolsey whether he had any commands for the English ambassador at Venice, he answered Paceus decipit Begem: and this singular treatment, we are told, so affected Pace that he became insane. As soon as the king was informed of this, Pace was ordered home; and, being carefully attended by physicians at the king’s command, was restored in a short time to his senses, and amused himself by studying the Hebrew language, with the assistance of Robert Wakefield. In the interval, he was introduced to the king at Richmond, who expressed much satisfaction at his recovery; and admitted him to a private audience, in which he remonstrated against the cardinal’s cruelty to him. But the cardinal was too powerful at this time, and when urged by the king to answer the charge against him, he summoned Pace before him, and sat in judgment, with the duke of Norfolk and others, who condemned Pace, and sent him to the Tower of London; where he was confined for two years, till discharged at length by the king’s command. Pace, thus degraded, and depressed in body and mind, resigned his deanries of St. Paul and Exeter, a little before his death; and, retiring to Stepney for his health, died there, in 1532, when not quite fifty years of age.
above 5000 monks under his care. His sister founded a convent of nuns on the other side of the Nile, who lived in a community, and practised great austerities. St. Pachomius
, a celebrated abbot of Tabenna in
Egypt, was born about the year 292, of heathen parents.
He bore arms at the age of twenty, and was so touched
with the charitable works of some Christians, that he returned to Thebais when the war ended, and embraced
Christianity. He afterwards placed himself under the direction of a solitary named Palemon, and made so astonishing a progress in religion with this excellent master, that
he became founder of the monastery of Tabenna, on the
banks of the Nile, peopled Thebais with holy solitaries,
and had above 5000 monks under his care. His sister
founded a convent of nuns on the other side of the Nile,
who lived in a community, and practised great austerities.
St. Pachomius died May 3, 348. We have some of his
“Epistles
” remaining, a “Rule,
” and some other pieces
in the library of the fathers. M. Arnauld D'Andilly has,
translated a life of him into French, which may be found
among those of the fathers of the desert.
igher orders, he was appointed professor of philosophy in the college of Genoa; and was one of those who first dared, to explode, from the schools of Italy, the old
, antiquary and librarian to
the duke of Parma, and historiographer of the order of
Malta, was born at Turin, Nov. 13, 1710. After studying
in the university of Turin, he took the religious habit in
the order of the Theatins, at Venice, and then went to
Bologna to study mathematics and natural philosophy under
the celebrated Beccari. It appears that he began his subsequent literary career with the last-mentioned pursuit;
and that as soon as he had attained the higher orders, he
was appointed professor of philosophy in the college of
Genoa; and was one of those who first dared, to explode,
from the schools of Italy, the old rooted prejudices of fantastic systems, and to substitute for them the eternal truths
discovered by Newton. He did not, however, long remain in the professorship of philosophy, at Genoa, but
quitted philosophy for divinity, and devoted ten years to
preaching and the composition of sermons, by neither of
which he acquired much reputation; but within this period
he published some orations, his “Treatise on the Antiquities of Hipa Transone,
” the ancient Cupra; and three years
after, his “Explanation of an ancient engraved Stone.
”
such an excellent “Catalogue raisonne*e” of its articles as deserves to be adopted as a model by all who are at the head of large bibliographical establishments.
From a confidential declaration to count Cayius, it appears, that Mr Paciaudi was highly satisfied with his employment. He considered it as an opportunity of rendering useful his extensive erudition, without those inconveniencies which attend the necessary intercourse with the
world. He therefore engaged in the business with a zeal
bordering on enthusiasm. Besides the acquisition which
he made of the excellent library of count Pertusati at Home,
in 1762, he went to Paris in search of other books; and
such was his exertion, that, in less than six years, he collected more than sixty thousand volumes of the best xvorks
of every kind, and thus erected one of the most copious
libraries in Italy. He also compiled such an excellent
“Catalogue raisonne*e
” of its articles as deserves to be
adopted as a model by all who are at the head of large
bibliographical establishments.
intrigues, and lost the favour of his sovereign. He had been intimately connected with the minister who then happened to be disgraced, and was in some measure involved
Notwithstanding so many signal services to the court of
Parma, Paciaudi fell a victim to mean intrigues, and lost
the favour of his sovereign. He had been intimately connected with the minister who then happened to be disgraced, and was in some measure involved in the same
misfortune. He forfeited his places. But, conscious of
his own integrity, he did not choose to leave Parma, and
patiently waited for the transit of the storm. His innocence being soon ascertained, he was restored to his several
functions, and to the good opinion of the prince. He
made, however, of this favourable event, the best use that
a prudent man could do; he endeavoured to secure himself against a similar misfortune in future, by soliciting
permission to retire to his native country; and this “voluntary exile,
” says M. Dacier, in the eulogy of Paciaudi,
“banished the last remains of suspicion against him.
Nothing was now remembered but his merit and his zeal:
his loss was severely felt; and the most engaging
solicitations were made to him to resume his functions. In vain
did he plead in excuse his advanced age, and the necessity
of repose; his excuses were not admitted, and he was
finally obliged to return to Parma.
”
metic at the age of thirteen. For farther proficiency he was sent to Padua, with his brother Fabius, who afterwards became a physician of eminence, and is mentioned
, an eminent lawyer and philosopher, called Pacius de Beriga, from the name of a country seat belonging to his father’s family, near Vicenza, was born at the latter city in 1550. His parents bestowed every pains on his education, and he is said to have made such progress in his first studies as to have composed a treatise on arithmetic at the age of thirteen. For farther proficiency he was sent to Padua, with his brother Fabius, who afterwards became a physician of eminence, and is mentioned with great honour by the medical biographers. Julius, after taking his degree of doctor in law, returned to his own country, where, in the course of his extensive reading, he became acquainted with the sentiments of the reformers, and concealed his attachment to them with so little care, that he was menaced by the horrors of the inquisition, from which he escaped to Geneva. This step being attended with the Joss of his property, he gained a livelihood for some lime by teaching youth, until his character becoming known, he was encouraged to give lectures on civil Jaw, which he did for ten years with great success and reputation. At Geneva also he married a lady whose family had fled from Lncca for the cause of religion, and had a family of ten children by her.
ght together from all parts a numerous concourse of students, among whom was the celebrated Peiresc, who induced him to return to the Roman catholic religion. After
In 1585 he accepted the offer of the law professorship at
Heidelberg, which he held lor ten years, and then removed to Sedan, where he taught logic for some time; but
the war which took place induced him to return again to
Geneva, and thence to Nismes, where he was appointed
principal of the college. His next settlement, which he
hoped would have been final, was at Montpellier, where
he was made regius professor of law, and where he certainly acquired a high reputation, and brought together
from all parts a numerous concourse of students, among
whom was the celebrated Peiresc, who induced him to
return to the Roman catholic religion. After various
changes of place, however, he fixed at last at Valence in
Dauphinl, where he died in 1635, at the age of eightyfive. His principal works were, 1. “Corpus Juris Civilis,
”
Geneva, Consuetudines Feudorum,
” ibid.
Justiniani Imperatoris institutionum Libri
quatuor,
” &c. ibid. fol. 4. “Aristotelis Organum, hoc
est libri omnes ad logicam pertimntes, Gr. et Lat.
” Morgiis, Sapientissimi Curopalatae de officialibus Palatii Constantinopolitani, et officiis magnae ecclesiae libellus, Or et Lat.
” Htidelberg, Aristotelis naturalis auscultationis libri octo.
” Gr. and Lat.
Francfort, Aristotelis de anima libri tres,
Gr. et Lat.
” ibid. Aristotelis de Ccelo
libri quatuor,
” &c. Gr. et Lat. ibid. Doctrina Peripatetica tomi tres,
” Aureliae Allobrogum (Geneva)
, an English poetical and miscellaneous writer, the son of John Pack, of Stoke- Ash, in Suffolk, who, in 1697 was high sheriff of that county, was born about 1680.
, an English poetical and miscellaneous writer, the son of John Pack, of Stoke- Ash, in
Suffolk, who, in 1697 was high sheriff of that county, was
born about 1680. He was educated at Merchant Taylors’
school, whence, at the age of sixteen, he removed to St.
John’s college, Oxford, and remained there two years, at
the end of which his father entered him of the Middle
Temple, intending him for the profession of the law. His
proficiency, as a law student, must have appeared in a very
favourable light to the benchers of this honourable society,
as he was at eight terms standing admitted barrister, when
he was not much above twenty years of age. But habits of
study and application to business not agreeing either with
his health or inclination, he went into the army, and his
first command, which he obtained in March 1705, was
that of a company of foot. He served afterwards abroad
under general Stanhope, and the duke of Argyle, who for
his distinguished bravery promoted him to the rank of
major, and ever after honoured him with his patronage
and friendship. Some of the best of major Pack’s effusions were in celebration of his grace’s character, at a time
when there was a jealousy between him and the du.ke of
Marlborough. The major died at Aberdeen in Sept. 1728,
where his regiment happened then to be quartered. He
published first a miscellany of poems in 1718, dedicated to
colonel Stanhope, which sold rapidly, and when it came
to a second edition was enlarged by some prose pieces. In
1719 he published the “Life of Pomponius Atticus,
” with
remarks addressed to the duke of Aygyle; in 1720, “Religion and Philosophy, a Tale;
” and in New
Collection
” of poetical miscellanies, to which he prefixed
the “Lives of Miltiades and Cymon,
” from Cornelius Nepos. His “Whole Works
” were afterwards collected and
published in one vol. 8vo, 1729. In all he discovers considerable taste, vivacity, and learning. His connections, as
well as his principles, appear to have been of the superior
cast.
cording to his last biographer, he was held in high esteem by C. Lelius, and particularly by Cicero, who affirmed him to be superior to Sophocles in his tragedy of “Niptra,”
, a Latin tragic poet, was a native
of Brindisi, the ancient Brundusium, and nephew to Ennius. He flourished at Rome about 154 B. C. According to his last biographer, he was held in high esteem by
C. Lelius, and particularly by Cicero, who affirmed him
to be superior to Sophocles in his tragedy of “Niptra,
”
and classed“him in the first rank of tragic poets. They
are said likewise to have looked upon every one as an
enemy to Roman literature who had temerity enough to
despise his tragedies, particularly his
” Antiope.“We
have nothing, however, of his works left except some
fragments in Maittaire’s
” Corpus Poetarum." Pacuvius
was a painter also, as well as a poet; and Pliny speaks of one
of his pictures which was placed in the temple of Hercules,
and was admired by the connoisseurs of those times. He
died at Tarentum, when beyond his ninetieth year. He
wrote his own epitaph, which is preserved in Aulus Gellius.
Annibale di Leo, who was also born at Brindisi, published
in 1764 a dissertation on his life and writings, in order to
do honour to his native place, which certainly would not
have been less honoured if he had omitted to tell us that
among the eminent men of Brindisi, was M. Lenius Strabo,
the first inventor of bird-cages.
e he had another loss, which he felt with no less sensibility, viz. that of the constable of Luynes, who died there of a scarlet fever. The constable was a near relation
, an eminent
French mathematician, was born at Avignon, in Provence,
March 3, 1604, and entered the army at fourteen, for
which he had been educated with extraordinary care. Ir>
1620 he was engaged at the siege of Caen, in the battle of
the bridge of Ce, and other exploits, in which he signalized
himself, and acquired a reputation above his years. He
was present, in 1G21, at the siege of St. John d'Angeli, as
also at that of Clerac and Montauban, where he lost his
left eye by a musket-shot. At this siege he had another
loss, which he felt with no less sensibility, viz. that of the
constable of Luynes, who died there of a scarlet fever.
The constable was a near relation to him, and had been
his patron at court. He did not, however, sink under his
misfortune, but on the contrary seemed to acquire fresh
energy from the reflection that he must now trust solely
to himself. Accordingly, there was after this time, no
siege, battle, or any other occasion, in which he did not
signalize himself by some effort of courage and conduct.
At the passage of the Alps, and the barricade of Suza, he
put himself at the head of the forlorn hope, consisting of
the bravest youths among the guards; and undertook to
arrive the first at the attack by a private way which was
extremely dangerous; but, having gained the top of a very
steep mountain, he cried out to his followers, “See the
way to glory!
” and sliding down the mountain, his companions followed him, and coming first to the attack, as
they wished to do, immediately began a furious assault;
and when the army came up to their support, forced the
barricades. He had afterwards the pleasure of standing
on the left hand of the king when his majesty related this
heroic action to the duke of Savoy, with extraordinary
commendations, in the presence of a very full court. When
the king laid siege to Nancy in 1633, our hero had the
honour to attend his sovereign in drawing the lines and
forts of circumvallation. In 1642 his majesty sent him to
the service in Portugal, in the post of field-marshal; but
that year he had the misfortune to lose his eye-sight.
rtification; and, in 1645, gave to the public his “Treatise of Fortification.” It was allowed by all who understood the science, that nothing superior had then appeared
Disabled now from public service, he re-assumed, with
greater vigour than ever, the study of the mathematics
and fortification; and, in 1645, gave to the public his
“Treatise of Fortification.
” It was allowed by all who
understood the science, that nothing superior had then
appeared on that subject; and, whatever improvements
have been made since, they have been derived in a manner
from this treatise, as conclusions from their principles.
In 1651 he published his “Geometrical. Theorems,
” which
shew a perfect knowledge of all parts of the mathematics.
In 1655 he printed a paraphrase, in French, of the “Account,
” in Spanish, “of the River of the Amazons,
” by
father de Rennes, a Jesuit; and we are assured, that blind
as he was, yet he drew the chart of that river, and the
parts adjacent, which is seen in this work. Of this work
an English translation was published by W. Hamilton in
1661, 3vo.
e view is to rise in the army, but even to a degree of perfection above that of the ordinary masters who teach that science. He had so particular a genius for this kind
His character is that of an universal genius; and, having
turned himself entirely to the art of war, and particularly
to the branch of fortification, he made extraordinary progress in it. He understood mathematics, not only better
than is usual for a gentleman whose view is to rise in the
army, but even to a degree of perfection above that of the
ordinary masters who teach that science. He had so particular a genius for this kind of learning, that he obtained
it more readily by meditation than by reading, and accordingly spent less time on mathematical books than he did in
those of history and geography. He had also made morality and politics his particular study; so that he may be
said to have drawn his own character in his “Homme Hero'ique,
” and to have been one of the completes! gentlemen of his time. Louis XIII. was heard to say several
times, that the count de Pagan was one of the most worthy,
most adroit, and most valiant men in his kingdom. That
branch of his family which removed from Naples to France
in 1552, became extinct in his person.
resolved upon; and it appears that Mr. Singleton was confirmed in the place, being the sixth person who held it after Page.
, an English divine, was born in 1590, at Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, and entered of Baliol College, Oxford, in 1606. Here he took his degrees in arts, and in 1619 was chosen fellow of All Souls. In 1629, by the interest of Laud, he succeeded Dr. Denison, as master of the free school of Reading. In 1634 he was admitted D. D. but ten years after was deprived of his school by the parliamentary commissioners for Berkshire. He held, however, the rectory of East Locking in that county, to which he had been presented by his college, until his death, which happened Feb. 14, 1663, at the rectory -house. He was buried in the chancel of his own church. At the restoration he had obtained a writ of restitution to the school, which was publicly read, he being present, as appears by the diary of the corporation; but, after some debate it was carried that Mr. Singleton, the then master, should have notice before an answer was resolved upon; and it appears that Mr. Singleton was confirmed in the place, being the sixth person who held it after Page.
tary, advised Dr. Page to withdraw his work from the press, if already in it. Laud, on the contrary, who was then bishop of London, ordered it to be printed, viewing
Dr. Page was thought well versed in the Greek fathers,
an able disputant, and a good preacher. He wrote “A
Treatise of justification of Bowing at the name of Jesus, by
way of answer to an appendix against it,
” Oxford, Examination of such considerable reasons as
are made by Mr. Prynne in a reply to Mr. Widdowes concerning the same argument,
” printed with the former.
The fate of this publication was somewhat singular. The
point in dispute was at this time eagerly contested. Archbishop Abbot did not think it of sufficient importance to
be allowed to disturb the peace of the church, and, by his
secretary, advised Dr. Page to withdraw his work from the
press, if already in it. Laud, on the contrary, who was
then bishop of London, ordered it to be printed, viewing
the question as,a matter of importance, it being a defence
of a canon of the church; and it accordingly appeared.
Dr. Page was also the author of “Certain animadversions
upon some passages in a Tract concerning Schism and
Schismatics,
” by Mr. Hales of Eton, Oxon. The Peace Maker, or a brief motive to unity and charity
in Religion,' 1 Loud. 1652, I6mo; a single sermon, and a
translation of Thomas a Kempis, 1639, 12mo, with a large
epistle to the reader. Wood mentions
” Jus Fratrum, or
the Law of Brethren," but is doubtful whether this belongs
to our Dr. Page, or to Dr. Samuel Page, vicar of Deptford, who died in 1630, and was the author of some pious
tracts. It belongs, however, to neither, but to a John
Page, probably a lawyer, as the subject is the power 6f
parents in disposing of their estates to their children.
, 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
, 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.
y 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
, 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.
He had a son Ephraim, who was born in 1575, and educated also at Christ Church, where
He had a son Ephraim, who was born in 1575, and
educated also at Christ Church, where he became so uncommon a proficient in languages, that at the age of twenty-six, he is said to have understood and written fifteen or
sixteen, ancient and modern. His only preferment was to
the church of St. Edmund the King, Lombard-street,
London, from which he uas driven by the usurping party,
for his loyalty. In religious sentiments he does not appear
to have differed from his father; but he adhered to the
king and constitution, which was then an unpardonable
crime. He retired to Deptford in Kent, where he died in
April 1647, aged seventy-two. In addition to the other
causes of his sufferings, he wrote much against the Independents, baptists, and other sectaries, as appears by his
“Iferesiography
” yet, in Christianographia, or a description of the multitudes
and sundry sorts of Christians in theworld, not subject to
the pope,
” &c. Lond. Treatise of the religion of
the ancient Christians in Britany;
” and his " Hasresiographia, or a description of the Heresies of later times,' 7
ibid. 1645, &c. 4to. Of this there have been at least four
editions,
and he was likewise encouraged in his labours by the succeeding popes, Hadrian VI. and Clement VII. who licensed the printing of it. It appears, by a letter of Picus
, an Italian of great skill in
Oriental languages and biblical learning, was born at Lucca
in 1466, and afterwards became an ecclesiastic of the order
of St. Dominic, and resided for the greater part of his life
at Lyons. He was deeply and accurately skilled in the
Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabic tongues, but
especially in the Hebrew. In the course of his studies he
was led to conceive that the Vulgate translation of the
Scriptures was either not by Jerome, or greatly corrupted;
and he therefore undertook to make a new one, following
Jerom only where he conceived that his version corresponded with the original. This design, so very soon after
the restoration of letters, is calculated to give us a very
high opinion of Pagninus’s courage and learning, and appeared in so favourable a light to pope Leo X. that he
promised to furnish him with all necessary expences for
completing the work; and he was likewise encouraged in
his labours by the succeeding popes, Hadrian VI. and
Clement VII. who licensed the printing of it. It appears,
by a letter of Picus Mirandula to Pagninus, that he had
spent twenty-five years upon this translation. It is the
first modern translation of the Bible from the Hebrew
text; and the Jews who read it affirmed, that it agreed
entirely with the Hebrew, and was as faithful, and more
exact than the ancient translations. The great fault of
Pagninus was, that he adhered too closely and servilely to
the original text; and this scrupulous attachment made
his translation, says father Simon, “obscure, barbarous,
and full of solecisms. He imagined, that, to make a faithful translation of the Scriptures, it was necessary to follow
exactly the letter, according to the strictness of grammar.
This, however, is quite contrary to his pretended exactness, because two languages seldom agree in their ways of
speaking; and therefore, instead of expressing the original in its proper purity, he defaces and robs it of its ornaments.
” Father Simon, nevertheless, allows the great
abilities and learning of Pagninus; and all the later commentators and translators of the Scriptures have agreed in
giving him his just commendation. Huetius, though he
seems to think father Simon’s criticism of him well
grounded, yet makes no scruple to propose his manner
as a model for all translators of the sacred books: “Scripture interpretandae rationibus utile nobis exemplar proposuit Sancius Pagninus.
”
at Lyons in 1528. He was also the author of an “Hebrew Lexicon and an Hebrew Grammar; which Buxtorf, who calls him” Vir linguarum Orientalium peritissimus," made great
He afterwards translated the “New Testament
” from
the Greek, and dedicated it to pope Clement VII. It was
printed with the former at Lyons in 1528. He was also
the author of an “Hebrew Lexicon and an Hebrew Grammar; which Buxtorf, who calls him
” Vir linguarum Orientalium peritissimus," made great use of in compiling
his. He died in 1536, aged seventy. Saxius places his
birth in 1471, and his death in 1541. Though he appears.
to have lived and died a bigoted Catholic, Luther spoke
of him, and his translations, in terms of the highest applause.
Calvinistes,” 2 vols. 1673, 12mo. Mosheim therefore very improperly places him in the class of those who explained the doctrines of Christianity in such a manner as
, a French Protestant divine, was born
in 1626, and studied, with great success and approbation,
at Saumur; after which he became minister of a place
called Marchenoir in the province of Dunois. He was an
able advocate against the popish party, as appears by his
best work, against father Nicole, entitled “Examen du
Livre qui porte pour titre, Prejugez legitimes centre les
Calvinistes,
” 2 vols. 1673, 12mo. Mosheim therefore very
improperly places him in the class of those who explained
the doctrines of Christianity in such a manner as to diminish the difference between the doctrines of the reformed
and papal churches; since this work shews that few men.
wrote at that time with more learning, zeal, and judgment
against popery. Pajon, however, created some disturbance
in the church, and became very unpopular, by explaining
certain doctrines, concerning the influence of the Holy
Spirit, in the Arminian way, and had a controversy with
Jurieu on this subject. The consequence was, that Pajon,
who had been elected professor of divinity at Saumur,
found it necessary to resign that office after which he
resided at Orleans, as pastor, and died there Sept. 27, 1685,
in the sixtieth year of his age. He left a great many works
in manuscript; none of which have been printed, owing
partly to his unpopularity, but, perhaps, principally to his
two sons becoming Roman Catholics. A full account of his
opinions may be seen in Mosheim, or in the first of our
authorities.
e, the ability displayed in his pamphlet attracted the notice of one of the commissioners of excise, who sent him to America, with a strong recommendation to Dr. Franklin,
, a political and infidel writer of great
notoriety, was born in 1737, at Thetford, in Norfolk.
His father was a staymaker, a business which he himself
carried on during his early years at London, Dover, and
Sandwich. He afterwards became an exciseman and grocer, at Lewes in Sussex; and, upon the occasion of an
election at Shoreham, in 1771, is said to have written an
election song. In the following year he wrote a pamphlet,
recommending an application to parliament for the“increase of the salaries of excisemen; but, for some misdemeanours, was himself dismissed from his office in 1774.
In the mean time, the ability displayed in his pamphlet
attracted the notice of one of the commissioners of excise,
who sent him to America, with a strong recommendation
to Dr. Franklin, as a person who could be serviceable at
that time in America. What services were expected from
him, we know not, but he arrived at a time when the
Americans were prepared for the revolution which followed,
and which he is supposed to have promoted, by scattering
among the discontented his memorable pamphlet, entitled
” Common Sense."
His first engagement in Philadelphia was with a bookseller, who employed him as editor of the Philadelphia Magazine, for which
His first engagement in Philadelphia was with a bookseller, who employed him as editor of the Philadelphia
Magazine, for which he had an annual salary of fifty pounds
currency. When Dr. Rush of that city suggested to Paine
the propriety of preparing the Americans lor a separation
from Great Britain, he seized with avidity the idea, and
immediately beg^n the above mentioned pamphlet, which,
when finished, was shewn in manuscript to Dr. Franklin
and Mr. Samuel Adams, and entitled, after some discussion, “Common Sense,
” at the suggestion of Dr. Rush.
For this he received from the legislature of Pennsylvania,
the sum of 500l.; and soon after this, although devoid of
every thing that could be called literature, he was honoured
with a degree of M. A. from the university of Pennsylvania, and vvas chosen a member of the American Philosophical Society. In the title-page of his “Rights of Man,
”
he styled himself “Secretary for foreign affairs to the
Congress of the United States, in the late war.
” To this
title*, however, he had no pretensions, and so thorough a
republican ought at least to have avoided assuming what he
condemned so vehemently in others. He was merely a
clerk, at a very low salary, to a committee of the congress;
and his business was to copy papers, and number and file
them. From this office, however, insignificant as it was,
he was dismissed for a scandalous breach of trust, and then
hired himself as a clerk to Mr. Owen Biddle of Philadelphia; and early in \1&0, the assembly of Pennsylvania
chose hiii) as cierk. fn 1782 he printed at Philadelphia,
a letter to the abbé Raynal on the affairs of North Amer ca, in which he undertook to clear up the mistakes in
Raynal’s account of the revolution; and in the same yer
he also printed a letter to the earl of Shelburne, on his
speech in parliament, July 10, 1782, in which that nobleman had prophesied that, “When Great Britain shall acknowledge American independence, the sun of Britain’s
glory is set for ever.
” It could not be difficult to answer
such a prediction as this, which affords indeed a humiliating instance of want of political foresight. Great Britain
did acknowledge American independence, and what is
Great Britain now? In 1785, as a compensation for his
revolutionary writings, congress granted him three thousand dollars, after having rejected with great indignation
a motion for appointing him historiographer to the United
States, with a salary. Two only of the states noticed by
gratuities his revolutionary writings. Pennsylvania gave
him, as we have mentioned, 500l. currency; and NewYork gave him an estate of more than three hundred acres,
in high cultivation, which was perhaps the more agreeable
to him, as it was the confiscated property of a royalist. lu
1787 he came to London, and before the end of that year
published a pamphlet on the recent transactions’ between
Great Britain and Holland, entitled “Prospects on the
Rubicon.
” In this, as may be expected, he censured the
Cneasures of the English administration.
oots, to prison at the Luxemburgb, and Paine narrowly escaped being guillotined, amidst the hundreds who then underwent that fate, or were murdered in other ways.
He had long cherished in his mind a most cordial hatred
against his native country, and was now prepared in some
measure for that systematic attack on her happiness which
he carried on, at intervals, during the remainder of his
life. Being released, in November 1789, from a sponging-house where he was confined for debt, he beheld with
delight the proceedings of the French, and hastened to that
country, but made no long stay at this time; and finding,
on his return to London in 1790, Mr. Burke’s celebrated
work on the French revolution, he produced, within a tew
months, the first part of his “Rights of Man,
” and in 17.')2,
the second part. Had these been left to the natural demand of the public, it is probable they might have passed
unnoticed by government, but the industry with which
they were circulated by the democratic societies of that
period, among the lower classes of society, betrayed intentions which it would have been criminal to overlook; and
prosecutions were accordingly instituted against the author
and publishers. The author made his escape to France,
and never returned to this country more. His inveteracy
against her establishments, however, continued unabated,
and perhaps was aggravated by the verdict which expelled
him from the only nation where he wished to propagate
his disorganizing doctrines, and where he had at that
time many abettors. When the proceedings of the latter had roused the loyal part of the nation to address the
throne in behalf of our constitution, Paine published “A
Letter to the Addressers,
” the object of which was to procure a national convention in contempt of the parliament.
This likewise was circulated by his partizans with no small
industry. In the mean time, although ignorant of the
French language, he was chosen a member of the French
convention, and in consistency with his avowed malignity,
gave his vote for a declaration of war against Great Britain.
His adopted country, however, was not very grateful for
his services, for when Robespierre gained the ascendancy,
he sent Paine, with that mad enthusiast Anacharsis Cloots,
to prison at the Luxemburgb, and Paine narrowly escaped
being guillotined, amidst the hundreds who then underwent that fate, or were murdered in other ways.
doned his former opinions; and I was more inclined to that belief, when I understood from his nurse ( who is a very serious, and, I believe, pious woman,) that he would
The closing scene of his life, as related by his medical
attendant, Dr. Manley, is too instryctive and admonitory
to be omitted. “During the latter part of his life,
” says
this physician, “though his conversation was equivocal, his
conduct was singular. He would not be left alone night
or day. He not only required to have some person with
him, but he must see that he or she was there, and would
not allow his curtain to be closed at any time; and if, as
it would sometimes unavoidably happen, he was left alone,
he would scream and holla, until some person came to him.
When relief from pain would admit, he seemed thoughtful
and contemplative, his eyes being generally closed, and
his hands folded upon his breast, although he never slept
without the assistance of an anodyne. There was something remarkable in his conduct about this period (which comprises about two weeks immediately preceding his death), particularly when we reflect, that Thomas Paine was
author of the
” Age of Reason." He would call out during
his paroxysms of distress, without intermission, ‘ O Lord
help -me, God help me, Jesus Christ help me, O Lord help
me,’ &c. repeating the same expression without any the
least var ation, in a tone of voice that would alarm the
house. It was this conduct which induced me to think
that he had abandoned his former opinions; and I was
more inclined to that belief, when I understood from his
nurse (who is a very serious, and, I believe, pious woman,) that he would occasionally inquire, when he saw her
engaged with a book, what she was reading, and being
answered, and at the same time asked whether she should
read aloud, he assented, and would appear to give particular attention. The book she usually read was * Hobart’s
Companion for the Altar/
e, 1809, about nine in the morning, died this memorable man, aged seventy-two years and five months; who at the close of the eighteenth century had well nigh persuaded
On the 8th of June, 1809, about nine in the morning, died this memorable man, aged seventy-two years and five months; who at the close of the eighteenth century had well nigh persuaded the common people of England to think> that all was wrong in that government and that religion which their forefathers had transmitted to them, and under which they had enjoyed so many blessings. He had the merit of discovering, that the best way of diffusing discontent and revolutionary fanaticism was by a broad display, in their naked and barbarous forms, of those infidel and anarchical elements, which sophistry had, till his time, refined above the perceptions of the vulgar. By stripping the mischief of the dress, though still covering it with the name and boast of philosophy, he rendered it as familiar to the capacity as it was flattering to the passions of the mob; and easy to be understood in proportion to the ascendancy of the baser qualities of the mind.
edible sources of intelligence; from persons with whom Paine passed great part of his existence; and who, though not appearing to have much intercourse together, agree
In perusing a man’s writings, a picture of the author himself is sometimes insensibly drawn in the imagination of the reader. By the perusal of the works of Thomas Paine, a most disgusting idea is presented to our thoughts both of the man and his manners. This idea is completely verified by the account which Mr. Cheetham has given us of his person and deportment. The paintings of Zeuxis attained a sort of ideal perfection by combining the scattered excellencies of the human countenance to conceive the countenance, or the mind, of Mr. Thomas Paine, now that death has withdrawn the living model, we must condense into an imaginary focus all the offensiveness and malignity that are dispersed throughout actual existence. Mr. Cheetham seems to have no hostility towards the man, and to be disposed to draw no inferences against him but what fairly arise from the facts. We may add too, that his facts appear to be collected from very credible sources of intelligence; from persons with whom Paine passed great part of his existence; and who, though not appearing to have much intercourse together, agree in the substance of their communications on this subject.
of this name; one an Athenian, placed by the poets before the time of Homer; one a native of Puros, who lived under Artaxerxes Mnemon; and one, a grammarian and philosopher,
was a Greek philosopher, of whom a treatise in explication of ancient fables has been several times reprinted in Greek and Latin; the best edition is that of Fischer, Lips. 1761. But little is known of him, and there are several ancient writers of this name; one an Athenian, placed by the poets before the time of Homer; one a native of Puros, who lived under Artaxerxes Mnemon; and one, a grammarian and philosopher, born at Athens or in Egypt, posterior to Aristotle. Which of these is author of the work already noticed, is not at all certain.
ed it as much as. possible. At Sienna he married ajoung woman, of whom he was passionately fond, and who brought him four children, two boys and two girls. He was also
, an excellent writer in the sixteenth century, was born at Veroli, in the Campagna di Roma, and descended of noble and ancient families by both his parents. He was baptised by the name of Anthony, which according to the custom of the times, he altered to the classical form of Aonius. He applied himself early to the Greek and Latin languages, in which he made great progress, and then proceeded to philosophy and divinity. The desire he had of knowledge, prompted him to travel through the greatest part of Italy; and to listen to the instructions of the most famous professors in every place he visited. His longest residence was at Rome, where he continued for six years, till that city was taken by Charles V. when the disorders committed by the troops of that prince leaving no hopes of enjoying tranquillity, he resolved to depart, and retire to Tuscany. He had at this time a great inclination to travel into France, Germany, and even as far as Greece; but the narrowness of his fortune would not admit of this. On his arrival in Tuscany, he chose Sienna for his abode, to which he was induced by the pleasantness of the situation, and the sprightliness and sagacity of the inhabitants: and accordingly he sold his estate at Veroli, with the determination never to see a place any more, where, though he was born, yet he was not beloved. He purchased a country-house in the neighbourhood of Sienna, called Ceciniano, and pleased himself with the fancy of its having formerly belonged to Cecina, one of Cicero’s clients. Here he proposed to retire on his leisure- days, and accordingly embellished it as much as. possible. At Sienna he married ajoung woman, of whom he was passionately fond, and who brought him four children, two boys and two girls. He was also professor of polite letters, and had a great number of pupils.
But his career was disturbed by a quarrel he had with one of his colleagues, who was enraged to see his own reputation eclipsed by the superior
But his career was disturbed by a quarrel he had with
one of his colleagues, who was enraged to see his own
reputation eclipsed by the superior lustre of Palearius.
We are not told the particular point upon which the contest commenced; but it is certain that our professor was
defended by Peter Aretin, who, perhaps more to revenge
his own cause, or gratify a detracting humour, than from
any respect for Palearius, composed, against his envious
rival, an Italian comedy or farce, which was acted upon
the stage at Venice; and so poignant was the ridicule,
that the subject of it thought proper to quit Sienna, and
retire to Lucca. Hither he was followed some time after,
though with much reluctance, by Palearius, concerning
which we have the following account: Anthony Bellantes,
a nobleman of Sienna, being impeached of several misdemeanors, employed Palearius to plead his cause, who
made so excellent a speech before the senate of that city
in his defence, that he was acquitted and dismissed; but,
the same nobleman having some time after accused certain
monks of robbing his grandmother, employed his advocate
again to support the charge. The monks accused, making
oath of their innocence, were cleared by the court, but
were incensed at the prosecution, and aspersed Palearius
both in their sermons, and on all other occasions, as an
impious wretch, unfit to be harboured in a Christian country. They also declared him a heretic, because he disapproved several superstitious practices; neither did they
approve of the book he had written on the “Death of
Christ.
” Palearius, however, defended himself with so
much strength of reason and eloquence, that the accusations were dropped. Yet finding himself still exposed to
vexatious persecutions, he thought proper to accept of an
invitation to teach polite literature at Lucca.
n, where he hoped that he was now settled in peace for life, but the event proved otherwise. Paul V. who had been a Dominican monk, coming to the pontificate in 1566,
Although he had here a handsome gratuity, and was
only to attend his scholars one hour in the twenty-four,
yet it was entirely owing to the expences of his family that
he engaged in this employment, which was otherwise irksome to him. He passed, however, some years at Lucca,
before he obtained the offer of several immunities, and a
handsome stipend from the magistrates of Milan, where he
hoped that he was now settled in peace for life, but the event
proved otherwise. Paul V. who had been a Dominican
monk, coming to the pontificate in 1566, determined to
show his bigotry against every thing that had the appearance of heresy, and therefore ordered the cause of Palearius to be re-heard. On which Palearius was suddenly
arrested at Milan, and carried to Rome, where they found
it not difficult to convict him of having said “That the
German doctors who followed Luther were to be commended in respect to some points; and that the court of
the inquisition was erected for the destruction of men of
learning.
” He was then condemned to be burnt, which
sentence was executed the same year, 1566. He was
greatly respected by the most eminent scholars of his time,
such as Bembusj Sadoletus, Sfondratus, Philonardus, cardinals; Benedictus Lampridius, Anthony Flaminius, and
Andreas Alciatus; besides others, whose names may be
seen in the catalogue to the last edition of his “Letters,
”
containing the names of his literary correspondents.
iter. 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
, 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.
ptly called Palestrina, and is supposed to have been born some time in 1529. All the Italian writers who have mentioned him, say he was the scholar of Gaudio Mell. Fiamingo,
, called by Dr.
Burney the Homer of the most ancient music that has been
preserved, was, as his name imports, a native of the ancient
Proeneste, now corruptly called Palestrina, and is supposed
to have been born some time in 1529. All the Italian
writers who have mentioned him, say he was the scholar of
Gaudio Mell. Fiamingo, by which name they have been,
generally understood to mean Claude Goudimel, of whom
we have given some account in vol. XVI.; but this seems
doubtful, nor is there any account of his life on which
reliance can be placed. All that we know with certainty
is, that about 1555, when he had distinguished himself as
a composer, he was admitted into the Pope’s chapel, at
Rome; in 1562, at the age of thirty three, he was elected
maestro di capella of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the same
city; in 1571 was honoured with a similar appointment
at St. Peter’s; and lastly, having brought choral harmony
to a degree of perfection that has never since been exceeded, he died in 1594, at the age of sixty-five. Upon
his coffin was this inscription, “Johannes Petrus Aloysius
Praenestinus Musicae Princeps.
”
e composition, in six parts, was performed at Easter 1555, before the pope and college of cardinals, who found it so grave, noble, elegant, learned, and pleasing, that
By the assistance of signor Santarelli, Dr. Burney procured at Rome a complete catalogue of all the genuine
productions of Palestrina, which may be classed in the
following manner: masses in four, five, and six parts,
twelve books; of which lib i. appeared at Rome in folio,
1554, when the author was in the twenty-fifth year of his
age; and in that city only went through three several
editions during his life. Lib. ii. of his masses, which includes the celebrated composition entitled “Missa Papse
Marcelli,
” was published likewise at Rome, in
ccessful writers of his time, was born at Peterborough in July 1743, and was educated by his father, who was the head master of Giggleswick school, in Yorkshire, vicar
, a very celebrated English divine,
and one of the most successful writers of his time, was
born at Peterborough in July 1743, and was educated by his
father, who was the head master of Giggleswick school, in
Yorkshire, vicar of Helpstone in Northamptonshire, and a
minor canon of Peterborough. In his earliest days he manifested a taste for solid knowledge, and a peculiar activity
of mind. In Nov. 1758 he was admitted a sizar of Christ’s
college, Cambridge, and before he went to reside there
was taught the mathematics by Mr. William Howarth, a
master of some eminence at Dishworth, near Rippon. In
December 1759, soon after he took up his residence in the
university, he obtained a scholarship, and applied to his
studies with such diligence as to make a distinguished
figure in the public schools, particularly when he took his
bachelor’s degree in 1763. He was afterwards employed
for about three years as assistant at an academy at Greenwich; in 1765 he obtained the first prize for a prose Latin
dissertation; the subject proposed was “A comparison
between the Stoic and Epicurean philosophy, with respect
to the influence of each on the morals of a people,
” in
which he took the Epicurean side.
in the cathedral church of Carlisle, and thus became coadjutor in the chapter to his friend Mr. Law, who was now archdeacon; but in 1782, upon Dr. Law’s being created
While at Appleby, he published a small volume selected
from the Book of Common Prayer, and the writings of
some eminent divines, entitled “The Clergyman’s Comr
panion in visiting the Sick.
” This useful work at first appeared without his name, but it has passed through nine
editions, and is now printed among his works. In June
1780, he was collated to the fourth prebendal stall in the
cathedral church of Carlisle, and thus became coadjutor in
the chapter to his friend Mr. Law, who was now archdeacon; but in 1782, upon Dr. Law’s being created an
Irish bishop, Mr. Paley was made archdeacon of the
diocese, and in 1785, he succeeded Dr. Burn, author
of “The Justice of Peace,
” in the chancellorship. For
these different preferments he was indebted either to the
venerable bishop of Carlisle, Dr. Law, or to the dean and
chapter of the cathedral church. While his residence was
divided between Carlisle and Dalston, Mr. Paley engaged
in the composition of his celebrated work, “The Elements
of Moral and Political Philosophy;
” but hesitated long as
to the publication, imagining there would be but fewreaders for such a work; and he was the more determined
on this point after he had entered on the married state,
thinking it a duty that he owed his family to avoid risking
any extraordinary expense. To remove this last objection,
Dr. John Law presented a living then in his gift to Mr. Paley,
on the promise that he would consider it as a compensation for the hazard of printing, and he immediately set
about preparing his work for the press, which appeared
in 1785, in quarto. Of a work * so generally known and
admired, and so extensively circulated, it would be unnecessary to say much. Although the many editions which
came rapidly from the press stamped no ordinary merit on
it, yet some of his friends appear to have not been completely gratified. They expected, that from his intimacy
with Jebb, and the latitudinarian party at Cambridge, he
would have brought forward those sentiments which Jebb
in vain endeavoured to disseminate while at the university;
and they were surprized to find that his reasoning on subscription to articles of religion, and on the British constitution, in which he not only disputes the expediency
of reform in the House of Commons, but vindicates the
influence of the crown in that branch of parliament, was
diametrically opposite to their opinions and wishes.
, an Italian poet, who flourished in the sixteenth century, was born at Stellada, in
, an Italian poet, who
flourished in the sixteenth century, was born at Stellada,
in Ferrara, upon the bank of the Po. We are told by
some, that his true name was Pietro Angelo Manzolli, of
which “Marcello Palingenio
” is the anaigram . He is
chiefly known by his “Zodiacus Vitae,
” a poem in twelve
books, dedicated to Hercules II. of Este, duke of Ferrara.
Some say he was physician to that prince, but this will admit of a doubt; at least it is certain he was not so when he
wrote the dedication to his “Zodiac.
” This poem, on
which he had employed several years, brought him into
trouble, as it contained many sarcastic attacks on monks
and church-abuses and his name therefore appears in the
“Index librorum prohibitorum,
” as a Lutheran heretic of
the Brst class, and as an impious author. It is thought, he
carries too far the objections of libertines and scoffers at
religion; otherwise his work is interspersed with judicious
maxims, and some have considered it as a truly philosophical satire against immorality and prejudice. In the
close of the dedication, he declares himself a good catholic,
so far as to submit all his opinions to the censure of the
church; and this declaration might perhaps have secured
him against the inquisition, had the affair related only to
some particular tenet; but it could not acquit him of that
impiety, which Palingenius was, not without reason, suspected to teach. In his third book, for instance, he inculcates the doctrine of Epicurus without the least reserve.
He published this book in 1536, and again at Basil, in1537 ; and seems not to have lived long after that date.
Gyraldus, who wrote about 1543, relates, that, after his
burial, his body was ordered to be dug up, in order to be
burnt; which execution was prevented by the duchess of
Ferrara, who, it is thought, had received him at her court
among the Lutherans.
It was first put in practice by Joseph Hanon, a native of Strasbourg, and was suggested by a German, who sold to Hanon the method of composing the colours applied upon
, an ingenious artist, was born at Agen in France, about 1524. He was brought up as a common labourer, and was also employed in surveying. Though destitute of education, he was a very accurate observer of nature; and in the course of his surveys, he conceived the notion that France had been formerly covered by the sea, and propagated his opinion at Paris, against a host of opponents, with the greatest boldness. It was considered as a species of heresy. For several years after, he employed himself in trying different experiments, in order to discover the method of painting in enamel. But some person presenting him with a beautiful cup of that kind of stone-ware called by the French faience, because it was first manufactured in a city of Italy called Faenza, the sight of this cup inflamed him with an insurmountable desire to discover the method of applying enamel to stoneware. At this time he was ignorant of even the first rudiments of the art of pottery, nor was there any person within, his reach from whom he could procure information. His experiments were, therefore, unsuccessful, and he wasted his whole fortune, and even injured his health, without gaining his object. Still he gave it up only for a time, and when a few years of industry and frugality had put it in his power, he returned to his project with more ardour than ever. The same fatigues, the same sacrifices, the same expences Were incurred a second time, but the result was different. He discovered, one after another, the whole series of operations, and ascertained the method of applying enamel to stone-ware, and of making earthenware superior to the best of the Italian manufacture. He was now treated with respect, and considered as a man of genius. The court of France took him under its protection, and enabled him to establish a manufactory, where the manufacture of the species of stone-ware which he had invented was brought to a state of perfection. The only improvement which was made upon it afterwards in France, was the application of different colours upon the enamel, and imitating the paintings which had been executed long before on porcelain vessels. This improvement scarcely dates farther back than thirty or forty years. It was first put in practice by Joseph Hanon, a native of Strasbourg, and was suggested by a German, who sold to Hanon the method of composing the colours applied upon the porcelain of Saxony. These vessels were soon after superseded by the Queen’s ware of the celebrated Wedgewood, which both in cheapness, beauty, and elegance of form, far surpassed any thing of the kind that had appeared in Europe.
e of chemistry, and applied his knowledge to the improvement of agriculture. He was the first person who formed a collection of natural history at Paris, upon which
After Palissy had thus succeeded in his favourite object,
he pursued the science of chemistry, and applied his knowledge to the improvement of agriculture. He was the first
person who formed a collection of natural history at Paris,
upon which he gave lectures at the rate of half a crown
each person, a large sum for that period, but he entered
into an obligation to return the money fourfold, provided
it were found that he taught any thing that proved false.
In 1563 he printed at Rochelle “Recepte veritable par
laquelle tous les hommes de la France pourront apprendre
a augmenter leur tresors,
” &c. which, after his death,
was reprinted under the title of “Moyen de devenir riche,
”
in 2 vols. 8vo. In 1580 he published “Discours admirable de la Nature des Eaux, et Fontaines, de Metaux, des
Sols, des Saline, des Pierres, des Terres,
” &c. This work
was exceedingly valuable in the then existing state of
knowledge, and in it he first taught the true theory of
springs, and asserted that fossil-shells were real sea- shells
deposited by the waters of the ocean. He also pointed out
the use of marie and of lime in agriculture.
nza in Lombardy. As soon as he had learned the principles of art from Trissino, the celebrated poet, who was his townsman, he went to Rome, and applying himself with
, a celebrated Italian architect,
was born in 1518 at Vicenza in Lombardy. As soon as he
had learned the principles of art from Trissino, the celebrated poet, who was his townsman, he went to Rome,
and applying himself with great diligence to study the ancient monuments, he entered into the spirit of their architects, and formed his taste upon them. On his return he
was employed to construct various edifices, and obtained
great reputation throughout Italy, which abounds in monuments of his skill, particularly the palace Foscari, at Venice, and the Olympic theatre at Vicenza, where he died
in 1580. He excelled likewise in the theory of his art,
as appears by his publications, which are still in the highest
reputation. His first was his treatise on architecture, “I
quattro libri dell' Architettura,
” Venice, Fabriche antiche designate da Andrea Palladio, e date in luce
da Riccardo Conte de Burlington,
” fol. This collection
of Palladio' s designs is very scarce, as the noble editor
printed only a limited number of copies for his friends.
Palladio also composed a small work, entitled “Le Antichita di Roma,
” not printed till after his death. He illustrated Caesar’s “Commentaries,
” by annexing to Badelli’s
translation of that work, a preface on the military system
of the Romans, with copper-plates, designed, for the most
part, by his two sons, Leonida and Orazio, who both died
soon after. Palladio was modest in regard to his own
merit, but he was the friend to all men of talents; his
memory is highly honoured by the votaries of the fine
arts; and the simplicity and purity of his taste have given,
him the appellation of the Raphael of architects.
urgery at Berlin, was born in that city, Sept. 22, 1741, and educated at first under private tutors, who spoke with astonishment of the progress he made. So early as
, a celebrated naturalist, the
son of Simon Pallas, professor of surgery at Berlin, was
born in that city, Sept. 22, 1741, and educated at first
under private tutors, who spoke with astonishment of the
progress he made. So early as the fifteenth year of his
age, he entered upon a course of lectures on medicine and
the branches connected with it; and two years afterwards
was enabled to read a course of public lectures on anatomy.
Yet while thus occupied in his professional labours, he
found leisure to prosecute the study of insects, and other
classes of zoology, for which he seems to have very early
conceived a predilection, and in which he particularly excelled. In the autumn of 1758 he went to the university
of Halle, and in 1759 to Gottingen; and during his residence at the latter, among other ingenious researches, his
attention was drawn to the worms which breed in the intestines. This produced a treatise entitled “De infestis
viventibus intra viventia,
” in which he has with singular
accuracy described those worms which are found in the
human body.
ontracted with the most celebrated naturalists in Holland, and particularly with those of the Hague, who had just begun to form a literary society the free access which
The intimacy he now contracted with the most celebrated
naturalists in Holland, and particularly with those of the
Hague, who had just begun to form a literary society the
free access which he had to the museum of the prince of
Orange, and other curious cabinets; the systematic catalogues of those collections that he drew up, and several of
which he gave to the public; contributed to advance his
knowledge of the productions of nature in the various parts
of the globe, and enabled him to collect such materials as
gave birth to those accurate compositions on zoology,
which have deservedly distinguished him as the first zoologist of Europe. One of his earliest works in this branch of
science, which rendered him eminently conspicuous, was
his “Elenchus- Zoophytorum.
” In a dedication prefixed
to his “Miscellanea Zoologica,
” published in the same
year, the author lays before the prince of Orange a plan
for a voyage to the Cape of Good Hope, and to the other
Dutch settlements in the East Indies, and which, impelled
by his wonted ardour for scientific knowledge, he offered
to undertake and superintend. This project was strongly
recommended by Gaubius, and approved by the prince;
but was prevented from being carried into execution by
the author’s father; who not only refused his consent to
his taking such a distant expedition, but even recalled him
to Berlin: in obedience to his father’s wishes, but with
great reluctance, he quitted Holland in November 1766.
e extreme parts of Siberia; and he was the most calculated for that expedition, as the elder Gmelin, who had been his precursor in those regions, had almost entirely
He made his appearance among the Russians at a critical
period. The empress had already ordered the Academy
of Sciences to send astronomers into various parts of the
Russian empire, to observe the transit of Venus over the
sun’s disk in 1769. Being just returned from a voyage
down the Volga, and from visiting the interior provinces
of European Russia, she had perceived the deficiencies of
the topographical and geographical accounts, and anticipated the advantage of deputing learned and skilful men to
visit the distant provinces of her extensive dominions. For
this purpose Catharine had directed the academy to send,
in company with the astronomers, the most able naturalists
and philosophers. Pallas instantly offered to accompany
this expedition; and was as eagerly accepted. He was
immediately charged with drawing out general instructions
for the naturalists, and was gratified with the choice of his
associates. To him was submitted, at his own request, the
conduct of the expedition to the east of the Volga, and towards the extreme parts of Siberia; and he was the most
calculated for that expedition, as the elder Gmelin, who
had been his precursor in those regions, had almost entirely neglected the zoology of those remote districts.
Pallas employed the winter previous to his departure in
forming a systematic catalogue of the animals in the cabinet of the Academy of Sciences; in putting into order the
celebrated collection of professor Breyn of Dantzic, lately
purchased by prince Orlof; in preparing for the press six
numbers of his “Spicilegia Zoologica,
” which were printed
during his absence, under the direction of Dr. Martin; and
in forming the necessary arrangements and notices for his
intended expedition.
il of their antiquities, history, productions, and commerce. He has discriminated many of the tribes who wander over the various districts, and near the confines of
The account of this extensive and interesting tour was published by Dr. Pallas in five volumes, 4to, which greatly extended his fame, and established his character. The author, in this valuable work, has entered into a geographical and topographical description of the provinces, towns, and villages, which he visited in his tour, accompanied with an accurate detail of their antiquities, history, productions, and commerce. He has discriminated many of the tribes who wander over the various districts, and near the confines of Siberia; and specified with peculiar precision their customs, manners, and languages; he has also rendered his travels invaluable to the naturalist, by the many important discoveries in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, with which he has enriched the science of natural history.
isting in the worship of the Dalai Lama. It is the religion of Thibet and of the Mandshur sovereigns who now sit upon the throne of China. “A work,” as Mr. Tooke, in
Two years afterwards, in 1776, the professor published
his collections relative to the political, physical, and civil
history of the Mongul tribes; in which he throws new
light on the annals of a people, whose ancestors conquered
Russia, China, Persia, and Hindoostan, and, at more than
one period, established perhaps a larger empire than ever
was possessed by any single nation. Mr. Pallas here proves
unquestionably that the Mongul tribes are a distinct race
from the Tartars; that they differ from them in their features, language, and government; and resemble them in
nothing except in a similar propensity to a roving life. He
intended a second volume, describing their religious establishment, consisting in the worship of the Dalai Lama.
It is the religion of Thibet and of the Mandshur sovereigns
who now sit upon the throne of China. “A work,
” as
Mr. Tooke, in his Russia Illustrata, Introd. p. cxi. justly
observes, " that will enrich the stock of human knowledge
with discoveries, the greatest part entirely new, and which
no person but Mr. Pallas is able to communicate. 1 * Whether, however, this second volume ever made its appearance, we have our doubts.
re particularly as it appears in the Russian empire. This treatise appeared so curious to Mr. Tooke, who was also, as a member of the academy, present at that sitting,
In the same year in which Dr. Pallas printed his “Elenchus Zoophytorum,
” he also published a treatise under the
title of “Miscellanea Zoologica quibus novae imprimis atque obscurae animalium species describuntur, et observationibus iconibusque illustrantur.
” This work is in a great
measure incorporated into a subsequent publication made
the next year on his return to Berlin, entitled “Spicilegia
Zoologica,
” and was continued in numbers, or fasciculi,
till Russia Illustrata.
” In Novae species quadrupedum e Gliriumordine,
”
describing numbers of the rat genus and their anatomy.
In 1781 he brought out “Enumeratio plantarum quae in
horto Procopii & Demidof Moscua vigent,
” or catalogue of
the plants in M Demidofs gardens at Moscow. His newnorthern collections on various subjects in geography, natural history, and agriculture, came forth the same year;
to which were afterwards added two more volumes.
In 1782 he put forth two fasciculi or numbers of “Icones
insectarum prsesertim Russiae Siberieeque peculiarium.
” In
Flora Russica;
”
a splendid work, executed at the empress Catharine’s expence. About this period her majesty conceived the idea
of collecting from all quarters of the globe a universal vocabulary, the superintendance whereof she committed to
our author, which necessarily for a time retarded his zoological researches. Exclusive of these separate publications, he printed in the acts of the imperial academy of
sciences, various zoological and botanical dissertations.
him a present of 10,000 rubles towards his establishment. Here in 1800 he was visited by Dr. Clarke, who in his late travels, has given some interesting particulars
Not long after this he was distinguished by a peculiar
mark of imperial favour, in being appointed member of
the board of mines, with an additional salary of 200l. per
annum, and honoured with the order of St. Vlodimir. The
empress also purchased his ample collection of natural history, in a manner highly flattering to the author, and honourable to herself. She riot only gave hi.n five thousand
rubles more than he had valued it at, but informed him that
it should remain in his possession during his life. In 1784
the care of putting in order and publishing the papers of
Gmelin and proft ssor Gultenstaedt, was consigned to Dr.
Pallas, which he executed with great diligence and accuracy; but, for some reason, the first volume only of Gultenstaedt’s remains has appeared. In 1794, Dr. Palias travelled
to the Crimea, and on his return published his “Physical
and Topographical picture of Tauri;!a.
” On his’ return,
finding his health, by long and incessant labours, upon the
decline, so as to render it necessary for him to remove to a
warm climate, he pitched upon Taurida, and his munificent
patroness, the empress, granted him an estate in that province, and gave him a present of 10,000 rubles towards
his establishment. Here in 1800 he was visited by Dr.
Clarke, who in his late travels, has given some interesting
particulars of his interviews with him. It does not appear
that Dr. Pallas was judicious in selecting this place as one
in which health could be promoted, nor was he in other
respects without disappointments which embittered his declining days. He survived Dr. Clarke’s departure,
however, upwards of ten years, when determining once more
to see his brother and his native city, he took a journey to
Berlin, where he died Sept. 8, 1811, in the 71st year of
his age. The collection of dried plants, made by Pallas
for his own use, was purchased of him by Mr. Cripps, the
companion of Dr. Clarke, and now forms a part of the valuable museum of A. B. Lambert, esq.
nsures of the abuses of the court of Rome, that he might have been ranked among those honourable men who had contributed to enlighten his countrymen, had he not been
, one of the wits of Italy,
the son of Jerome Pallavicino, was born at Placentia about
1615, or from that to 1620. Less from inclination, than
from some family reasons, he entered the congregation of
the regular canons of Latran, and took the habit, with the
name of Mark Anthony, in their house at Milan. After
commencing his studies here with much success, he went
to Padua for further proficiency. He then settled at Venice, where he was chosen a member of the academy of
the Incogniti. Here he became captivated by a courtezan,
whoso charms proved irresistible; and, in order to have
the lull enjoyment of them without restraint, he obtained
leave from his general to make the tour of France, but in
fact continued privately at Venice, while he had the art to
impose upon his friends, by sending them frequently, in
letters, feigned accounts of his travels through France. He
afterwards went to Germany, about 1639, with duke
Amalfi in the character of his chaplain. During this
residence in Germany, which lasted about sixteen months,
he addicted himself to every species of debauchery; and
having a turn for satire, employed his pen in repeated
attacks on the court of Rome in general, and on the Barbarini family in particular. The chief vehicle of his satire
was a publication called “The Courier robbed of his mail,
”
and this as well as his other works contained so many just
censures of the abuses of the court of Rome, that he might
have been ranked among those honourable men who had
contributed to enlighten his countrymen, had he not been
as remarkable for his indecencies, which were so gross that
many of his works were obliged to be published under concealed names. His personal attacks on the pope, and the
Barbarini family, naturally roused their indignation; and
after much search for him, one Charles Morfu, a Frenchman of a vile character, engaged to ensnare him, and
having insinuated himself into his friendship, at length exhorted him to go with him to France. He flattered him
with the extraordinary encouragement which was given to
men of letters by cardinal Richelieu; and, to deceive him
the more, even produced feigned letters from the cardinal,
inviting our author to France, and expressing a desire he
had to establish in Paris an academy for the Italian tongue,
under the direction of Pallavicino. Pallavicino, young,
thoughtless, and desperate, and now fascinated by the
prospect of gain, left Venice much against the advice of
his friends, and went first to Bergamo, where he spent a
few days with some of his relations, who entertained his
betrayer. They then set out for Geneva, to the great
satisfaction of our author, who proposed to get some of his
works printed there, which he had not been able to do in
Italy. But Morfu, instead of conducting him to Paris,
took the road to Avignon; where, crossing the bridge of
Soraces, in the county of Venaissin (in the pope’s territories), they were seized by officers on pretence of carrying contraband goods, and confined. Morfu was soon discharged, and liberally rewarded; but Pallavicini, being
carried to Avignon, was thrown into prison; and, after
being kept there for some months, was brought to trial,
and was beheaded in 1643 or 1644. Those who are desirous of farther information respecting this young man’s
unfortunate history, may be amply gratified in the prolix:
articles drawn up by Bayle, and particularly Marclmnd.
His works were first published collectively at Venice, in
1655, 4 vols. 12mo. This edition, according to Marchand,
contains only such of his works as had been permitted to
beprinted in his life-time. Those which had been prohibited were afterwards printed in 2 vols. 12 mo, at Villafranca, a fictitious name for Geneva, 1660. Among these
is a piece called “II divortio Celeste,
” which some deny
to be his. It is a very coarse satire on the abuses of the
Romish church, and was translated and published in English in 1679, under the title of “Ciirist divorced from the
church of Rome because of their lewdness,
” Lond. 8vo.
pope Urban VIII. to whom his conduct was so acceptable, that he was appointed one of those prelates who assist in the assemblies called congregations at Rome. He was
, an eminent cardinal, was
the son of the marquis Alexander Pallavicini and Frances
Sforza, and born at Rome in 1607. Although the eldest
son of his family, yet he chose the ecclesiastical life, and
was very early made a bishop by pope Urban VIII. to whom
his conduct was so acceptable, that he was appointed
one of those prelates who assist in the assemblies called
congregations at Rome. He was also received into the
famous academy of the Humoristi, among whom he often
sat in quality of president. He was likewise governor of
Jesi, and afterwards of Orvietto and Camerino, under the
above pontiff. But all these honours and preferments were
insufficient to divert him from a design he had for some
time formed of renouncing the world, and entering into the
society of the Jesuits, where he was admitted in 1638. As
soon as he had completed his noviciate he taught philosophy, and then theology. At length Innocent X. nominated him to examine into divers matters relating to the
pontificate; and Alexander VII. created him a cardinal in
1657. This pope was an old friend of Pallavicino, who had
been serviceable to him when he came to Rome with the
name of Fabio Chigi. Pallavicino had even contributed to
advance his temporal fortune, and had received him into
the academy of the Humoristi; in gratitude for which,
Chigi addressed to him some verses, printed in his book
entitled “Philomathi Museb juveniles.
” When Pallavicino
obtained a place in the sacred college, he was also appointed at the same time examiner of the bishops; and he
was afterwards a member of the congregation of the holy
office, i. e. the inquisition, and of that of the council, &c.
His promotion to the cardinalate wrought no change in his
manner of life, which was devoted to study or to the duties
of his office. He died in 1667, in his sixtieth year.
er to England, with a recommendation to queen Mary, probably from a relation, one Rango Pallavicino, who belonged to Edward Vlth’s household. Mary, who had then restored
, was of the same family with the preceding cardinal, and merits a brief notice here, as being in some degree connected with our history, although the figure he makes in it has not been thought the most reputable. The family of Pallavicino, or, as sometimes spelt, Palavicini, is one of the most noble and ancient in Italy, and its branches have extended to Rome, Genoa, and Lombardy. Many of them appear to have attained the highest ranks in church, state, and commerce. Sir Horatio, the subject of this article, belonged to the Genoese branch, and was born in that city, but leaving Italy, went to reside in the Low Countries, whence, after marrying two wives, one a person of low birth, whom he did not acknowledge, and the other a lady of distinction, he came over to England, with a recommendation to queen Mary, probably from a relation, one Rango Pallavicino, who belonged to Edward Vlth’s household. Mary, who had then restored the Roman catholic religion, appointed Horatio collector of the papal taxes to be gathered in this kingdom; but at her death, having a large sum of money in his hands, he abjured the religion of Rome, and thought it no harm to keep the money. This transaction, however, does not appear to have much injured his character, or perhaps time had effaced the remembrance of it, for in 1586 queen Elizabeth gave him a. patent of denization, and in the following year honoured him with knighthood. He appears to have been a man of courage, and warmly espoused the interests of the nation at a most critical period. In 1588 he fitted out and commanded a ship against the Spanish armada, and must have rendered himself conspicuous on that occasion, as his portrait is given in the tapestry in the House of Lords, among the patriots and skilful commanders who assisted in defeating that memorable attack on the liberty of England. The queen also employed him in negociations with the German princes, and in raising loans, by which he very opportunely assisted her, and improved his own fortune. He died immensely rich, July 6, 1600, and was buried in the church of Baberham, in Cambridgeshire, near which, at Little Shelford, he had built a seat, in the Italian style, with piazzas. He had likewise two considerable manors in Essex, and provbably. landed property in other counties. His widow, about a year after his death, married sir Oliver Cromwell, K. B. and his only daughter, Baptina, was married to Henry Cromwell, esq. son to this sir Oliver, who was uncle to the usurper. He left three sons, but the family is now unknown in England.
tudies, in which he appears to have been instructed and encouraged by his relation, Louvain Gelliot, who published a work on armorial bearings. In his twenty -fifth
, historiographer, printer, and bookseller to the king, and genealogist of the duchy of Burgundy, was born at Paris, March 19, 1608. In his youth
he showed a taste for genealogy, and heraldic studies, in
which he appears to have been instructed and encouraged
by his relation, Louvain Gelliot, who published a work on
armorial bearings. In his twenty -fifth year he settled at
Dijon, where he married Vivanda Spirinx, the daughter of
a printer and bookseller, with whom he entered into business. At his leisure hours, however, he still continued
his heraldic researches, and laboured with so much perseverance in this study as to produce the following works:
1. “Le parlement de Bourgogne, avec les armoiries,
” &c.
Genealogie des comtes d'Amanze,
” fol.
3. “La vraie et parfaite science des Armoiries de Gelliot,
avec de plus de 6000 ecussons,
” Histoire
genealogique de comtes de Chamilli.
” 5. " Extraits de
la hambre des comptes de Bourgogne, fol. He left also
thirteen volumes of ms collections respecting the families
of Burgundy. It is an additional and remarkable proof of
his industry and ingenuity, that he engraved the whole of
the plates in these volumes with his own hand. His history
of the parliament of Burgundy was continued by Petitot,
and published in 1733. Palliot died at Dijon in 1698, at
the age of eighty-nine.
endeavoured to embody in the first works which he produced after his return to Venice, and there are who have discovered in them an union of the best maxims of the Roman
, the Young, so called in contradistinction of the preceding Jacob, his great-uncle,^ may be considered as the last master of the good, and the first of the bad period of art at Venice. Born in 1544, he left the scanty rudiments of his father Antonio, a weak painter, to study the works of Titian, and particularly those of Tintoretto, whose spirit and slender disengaged forms were congenial to his own taste. At the age of fifteen he was taken under the protection of the duke of Urbino, carried to that capital, and for eight years maintained at Rome, where, by copying the antique, Michael Angelo, Raphael, and more than all, Polidoro, he acquired ideas of correctness, style, and effect: these he endeavoured to embody in the first works which he produced after his return to Venice, and there are who have discovered in them an union of the best maxims of the Roman and Venetian schools: they are all executed with a certain facility which is the great talent of this master, but a talent as dangerous in painting as in poetry. He was not, however, successful in his endeavours to procure adequate employment: the posts of honour and emolument were occupied by Tintoretto and Paul Veronese, and he owed his consideration as the third in rank to the patronage of Vittoria, a fashionable architect, sculptor, and at that time supreme umpire of commissions: he, piqued at the slights of Paul and Robusti, took it into his head to favour Palma, to assist him with his advice, and to establish his name. Bernini is said to have done the same at Rome, in favour of Pietro da Cortona and others, against Sacchi, to the destruction of the art; and, adds Mr. Fuseli, as men and passions resemble each other in all ages, the same will probably be related of some fashionable architect of our times. Palma, overwhelmed by commissions, soon relaxed frdnl his womed diligence; and his carelessness increased when, at the death of his former competitors, and of Leonardo Corona, his new rival, he found himself alone and in possession of the field. His pictures, as Cesare d'Arpino told him, were seldom more than sketches; sometimes, indeed, when time and price were left to his own discretion, in which he did not abound, he produced some work worthy of his former fame; such as the altar-piece at S. Cosmo and Datniano; the celebrated Naval Battle of Francesco Bembo in the public palace; the S. Apolloniaat Cremona; St. Ubaldo and the Nunziata at Pesaro; the Finding of the Cross at Urbino: works partly unknown to Ridolfi, but of rich composition, full of beauties, variety, and expression. His tints fresh, sweet, and transparent, less gay than those of Paul, but livelier than those of Tintoretto, though slightly laid on, still preserve their bloom. In vivacity of expression he is not much inferior to either of those masters; and his Plague of the Serpents at St. Bartolomeo may vie for features, gestures, and hues of horror, with the same subject by Tintoretto in the school of St. Rocco: but none of his pictures are without some commendable part; and it surprises that a man, from whom the depravation of style may be dated in Venice, as from Vasari at Florence, and Zuccari at Rome, should still preserve so many charms of nature and art to attract the eye and interest the heart. He died in 1628, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
as a determined enemy to any religious test whatever. Tests, indeed, must have been obnoxious to one who passed through all the accustomed deviations from Calvinism,
, a dissenting writer of the last century, was born in Southwark, where his father was an undertaker, and of the Calvinistic persuasion. Under whom he received his classical education is not known. In 1746 he began to attend lectures, for academical learning, under the rev. Dr. David Jennings, in Wellclose square, London. Soon after, leaving the academy, about 1752, he was, on the rev. James Read’s being incapacitated by growing disorders, chosen as assistant to officiate at the dissenting meeting in New Broad-street, in conjunction with Dr. Allen; and on the removal of the latter to Worcester, Mr. Palmer was ordained sole pastor of this congregation in 1759. He continued in this connection till 1780, when the society, greatly reduced in its numbers, was dissolved. For a great part of this time he filled the post of librarian, at Dr. Williams’s library, in Red- Cross-street. After the dissolution of his congregation he wholly left off preaching, and retired to Islington, where he lived privately till his death, on June 26, 1790, in the sixty-first year of his age. He married a lady of considerable property, and during the latter years of his life kept up but little connection with the dissenters. He was a man of considerable talents, and accounted a very sensible and rational preacher. His pulpit compositions were drawn up with much perspicuity, and delivered with propriety. He allowed himself great latitude in his religious sentiments, and was a determined enemy to any religious test whatever. Tests, indeed, must have been obnoxious to one who passed through all the accustomed deviations from Calvinism, in which he had been educated, to Socinianism.
ayer,” 1773, 12mo. There has been a second edition of these prayers, which are much admired by those who call themselves rational dissenters. 2. “Free thoughts on the
He published, besides some occasional sermons, 1. “Prayers for the use of families and persons in private; with a
preface, containing a brief view of the argument for prayer,
”
Free thoughts on the inconsistency of conforming to any religious test, as a condition of Toleration, with the true principle of Protestant
Dissent,
” Observations in defence of the Liberty of Man, as a moral agent; in answer to Dr. Priestley’s
Illustrations of Philosophical Necessity,
” In defence of the Illustrations
of Philosophical Necessity,
” Mr. Palmer published, 4. “An
Appendix to the Observations in defence of the Liberty
of Man, as a moral agent, &c.
” A second Letter to the rev. John
Palmer,
” by Dr. Priestley. 5. “A summary view of the
grounds of Christian Baptism; with a more particular reference to the baptism of infants; containing remarks, argumentative and critical, in explanation and defence of the
rite. To which is added, a form of service made use of on
such occasions,
” 8vo.
o. It was reprinted at Venice in 1483, 4to. It was continued to the year 1482, by Matthias Palmieri, who, although almost of the same names, was neither his relation
, an Italian chronicler, was born
in 1405, at Florence; and after being educated under the
best masters, arrived at high political rank in the republic,
was frequently employed on embassies, and was promoted
to the great dignity of gonfalonier. He died in 1475. He
compiled a general “Chronicle
” from the creation to his
own time; of which a part only has been published, including the events from the year 447 to 1449. The first
edition was published, at the end of Eusebius’ Chronicle,
without date or place, but, as supposed, at Milan iti 1475,
4to. It was reprinted at Venice in 1483, 4to. It was
continued to the year 1482, by Matthias Palmieri, who,
although almost of the same names, was neither his relation
nor countryman. This Matthias was a native of Pisa, was
apostolical secretary, and accounted a very able Greek and
Latin scholar. He died in his sixtieth year, in 1483.
ers. But having advanced, among other singular opinions, that human souls were formerly those angels who remained neuter during the rebellion in heaven against their
Besides his “Chronicle,
” Matthew, or Matteo, Palmieri wrote in Latin the life of Nicolas Acciajuoli, grandseneschal of the kingdom of Naples, which is printed in
the thirteenth volume of Muratori’s “Script. Rer. Ital.;
” a
work on the taking of Pisa by the Florentines, “De captivitate Pisarum,
” printed in Muratori’s nineteenth volume,
and, in Italian, “Libro della vita civile,
” written in the
form of dialogues, and printed at Florence in 1529, 8vo.
It was translated into French by Claude des Hosiers, Paris,
1557, 5vo. Palmieri was also a poet. He composed in
the terza rima, in imitation of Dante, a philosophical, or
rather a theological, poem, which had great celebrity in
his day: its title was “Citta di Vita,
” and was divided
into three books, and an hundred chapters. But having
advanced, among other singular opinions, that human souls
were formerly those angels who remained neuter during
the rebellion in heaven against their Creator, and were
sent to the world below as a punishment, the Inquisition,
after his death, ordered his poem to be burnt, although it
had never been published, but read in manuscript. Some
assert, that he was burnt along with his poem but Apostolo Zeno has proved that he died peaceably in 1475, and
was honoured with a public funeral, by order of the state
of Florence, that Rinuccini pronounced his funeral oration, and that, during the ceremony, his poem was laid on
his breast, as his highest honour.
d not have obtained from Murillo the praises lavished on it by Luca Giordano; but of the machinists, who surrounded him, he was, perhaps, the least debauched by manner.
, a Spanish painter and writer on the art, was born at Bujalance, and studied at Cordova in grammar, philosophy, theology, and jurisprudence. The elements of art he acquired of Don Juan de Valdes Leal; and to acquaint himself with tht? style of different schools, went, in company of Don Juan de Alfaro, in 1678, to Madrid. Here the friendship of Carrenno procuring him the commission of painting the gallery del Cierzo, he pleased the king and the minister, and in 1688 he was made painter to the king. He was now overwhelmed with commissions, for many of which, notwithstanding the most surprising activity, he could furnish only the designs; their ultimate finish was left to the hand of his pupil Dionysius Vidal hut whatever was designed and terminated by himself, in fresco or in oil, possesses invention, design, and colour, in the essential; and what taste and science could add, in the ornamental parts. His style was certainly more adapted to the demands of the epoch in which he lived, than to those of the preceding one, and probably would not have obtained from Murillo the praises lavished on it by Luca Giordano; but of the machinists, who surrounded him, he was, perhaps, the least debauched by manner.
, a polite scholar, who flourished in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII. was a native
, a polite scholar, who flourished
in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII. was a native of
London, and educated there in grammar. He afterwards
studied logic and philosophy at Cambridge, at which university he resided till he had attained the degree of bachelor of arts; after which he went to Paris, where he spent
several years in the study of philosophical and other learning, took the degree of master of arts, and acquired such
excellence in the French tongue, that, in 1514, when a
treaty of marriage was negotiated between Louis XII. kinpr
of France, and the princess Mary, sister of king Henry
VIII. of England, Mr. Palsgrave was chosen to be her
tutor in that language. But Louis XII. dying almost immediately after his marriage, Palsgrave attended his fair
pupil back to England, where he taught the French language to many of the young nobility, and was appointed
by the king one of his chaplains in ordinary. He is said
also to have obtained some church preferments, but we
know only of the prebend of Portpoole, in the church of
St. Paul’s, which was bestowed upon him in April 1514,
and the living of St. Dunstan’s in the East, given to him
by archbishop Cranmer in 1553. In 1531, he settled at
Oxford for some time, and the next year was incorporated
master of arts in that university, as he had before been in
that of Paris; and a few days after was admitted to the
degree of bachelor of divinity. At this time he was
highly esteemed for his learning; and was the first author
who reduced the French tongue under grammatical rules,
or that had attempted to fix it to any kind of standard. This
he executed with great ingenuity and success, in a large
work which he published in that language at London, entitled “L'Eclaircissement de la Language Fran9ois,
” containing three books, in a thick folio, Acolastus,
” written by
Fullonius, and published it in Epistles.
”
to the first of the Institutes in 1554; and two years after, on the retirement of Matthew Gribaldi, who was second professor of the Roman law, Pancirolus succeeded
, the son of Albert Pancirolus, a
famous lawyer in his time, and descended from an illustrious family at Reggio, was born there April 17, 1523. He
learned Latin and Greek under Sebastian Corrado and Bassiano Lando, and made so speedy a proficiency in them,
that his father, thinking him fit for the study of the law at
fourteen, taught him the first elements of that faculty himself; and Guy studied them incessantly under his father
for three years, but without neglecting the belles lettres.
He was afterwards sent into Italy, in order to complete
his law-studies under the professors of that country. He
went first to Ferrara; and, having there heard the lectures
of Pasceto and Hyppolitus Riminaldi, passed thence to
Pavia, where he had for his master the famous Alciat, and
to Bologna and Padua, where he completed a course of
seven years study, during which he had distinguished
himself in public disputations on several occasions: and the
fame of his abilities having drawn the attention of the republic of Venice, he was nominated by them in 1547,
while only a student, second professor of the Institutes in
the university of Padua. This nomination obliged him to
take a doctor’s degree, which he received from the hands
of Marcus Mantua. After he had filled this chair for seven
years, he was advanced to the first of the Institutes in
1554; and two years after, on the retirement of Matthew
Gribaldi, who was second professor of the Roman law, Pancirolus succeeded him, and held this post for fifteen years.
At length, having some reason to be dissatisfied with his
situation, he resigned it in 1571, when Emanuel Philibert
duke of Savoy offered him the professorship of civil law,
with a salary of a thousand pieces of gold. Here his patron
the prince shewed him all imaginable respect, as did also
his son Charles Emanuel, who augmented his appointments with a hundred pieces. The republic of Venice
soon became sensible of the loss sustained by his departure,
and were desirous of recalling him to a vacant professorship in 1580. This Pancirolus at first refused, and would
indeed have been content to remain at Turin, but the air
of the place proved so noxious to him, that he lost one
eye almost entirely, and was in danger of losing the other;
the dread of which induced him to hearken to proposals
that were made afresh to him in 1582; and having a salary
of a thousand ducats offered to him, with the chair he had
so much wished for, he returned to Padua. The city of
Turin, willing to give him some marks of their esteem, at
his departure, presented him with his freedom, accompanied with some pieces of silver plate. He then remained
at Padua, where his stipend was raised to the sum of twelve
hundred ducats. Here he died in June 1599, and was interred in the church of St. Justin, after funeral service had
been performed for him in the church of St. Anthony;
where Francis Vidua of that university pronounced his funeral oration. He was author of a number of learned works,
of which the principal are: 1. “Commentarii in Notitiam
utriusque Imperii et de Magistratibus,
” Venice, De Numismatibus antiquis;
” 3. “De quatuordecim Regionibus Urbis Romae,
” printed in the Leyden edition of the Notitia, Rerum Memorabiliuui jam olim deperditarum, et contra recens atque ingeniose inventarum,
” De Claris Legum
Interpretibus.
”!
exandria; where from the time of St. Mark, founder of that church, there had always been some divine who explained the Holy Scriptures. The Ethiopians having requested
, a Christian philosopher, of the Stoic
sect, flourished in the second century. Some say he was
born in Sicily, others at Alexandria, of Sicilian parents.
He is said to have taught the Stoic philosophy in the reign
of Commodus, from A. D. 180, in the school of Alexandria; where from the time of St. Mark, founder of that
church, there had always been some divine who explained
the Holy Scriptures. The Ethiopians having requested
Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria, to send a proper person
to instruct them in the Christian religion, he sent Pantænus who gladly undertook the mission, and acquitted
himself very worthily in it. It is said, that he found the
Ethiopians already tinctured with the truth of Christian
faith, which had been declared to them by St. Bartholomew; and that he saw the gospel of St. Matthew in Hebrew, which had been left there by that apostle. St. Jerome says, that Pantænus brought it away with him, and
that it was still to be seen in his time in the Alexandrian
library; but this story is not generally credited, since no
good reason can be given, why St. Bartholomew should
leave a Hebrew book with the Ethiopians. Pantænus,
upon his return to Alexandria, continued to explain the
sacred books under the reign of Severus and Antoninus
Caracalla, and did great service to the church by his discourses. He composed some “Commentaries
” upon the
Bible, which are lost. Theodoret informs us that Pantænus
first started the remark, which has been followed by many
interpreters of the prophecies since, “That they are often
expressed in indefinite terms, and that the present tense
is frequently used both for the preterite and future tenses.
”
We may form a judgment of the manner in, which Pantænus explained the Scriptures, by that which Clemens
Alexandria as, Origen, and all those have observed, who
were trained up in the school of Alexandria. Their commentaries abound with allegories; they frequently leave
the literal sense, and find almost every where some mystery or other; in the explaining of which, they usually
shew more erudition than judgment. Mil ner observes, that
the combination of Stoicism with Christianity must have
very much debased the sacred truths; and we may be
assured that those who were disposed to follow implicitly
the dictates of such an instructor as Pantænus, must have
been furnished by him with a clouded light of the gospel.
Cave is of opinion that Pantænus’s death occurred in the
year 213.
tle 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 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.
re he died in 1805. No farther particulars have yet reached us of this learned and laborious writer, who has long been known here by his “Annales Typographiei, ab artis
, an eminent
bibliographer, was born at Sulzbach in the Upper Palatinate, March 16, 1729, and having been educated for the
church, took his doctor’s degree in divinity and philosophy, and became pastor of the cathedral church of St. Sebaldus at Nuremberg, where he died in 1805. No farther
particulars have yet reached us of this learned and laborious writer, who has long been known here by his “Annales Typographiei, ab artis inventæ origine ad annum
M. D. post Maittairii, Denisii, aliorumque doctissimorum
virorum curas in ordinem redacti, emendati et aucti,
” Nuremberg, Annals of ancient German Literature, or an account of books printed in
Germany frpm the invention of the art to 1520,
” Nuremberg, Account of the most ancient German
Bibles, printed in the fifteenth century, which are in the
library at Nuremberg,
” History of Bibles
printed at Nuremberg, from the invention of the Art,
”
Nuremberg, History of early Printing at Nuremberg to the year 1500,
” ibid.
rn at Rostino, in the island of Corsica, in 1726, was the son of Hiacente Paoli, a Corsican patriot, who, despairing of the freedom of his country, had retired with
, a very distinguished character in modern times, born at Rostino, in the island of Corsica, in 1726, was the son of Hiacente Paoli, a Corsican patriot, who, despairing of the freedom of his country, had retired with his family to Naples. Pascal was educated among the Jesuits, and at their college he made a rapid progress in his studies, and displayed an understanding equally solid and capacious. He appeared in so favourable a light to his countrymen, that he was unanimously chosen generalissimo, in a full assembly of the people, when he had attained but to the 29th year of his age. He began with new-modelling the laws of Corsica, and established the appearance, if not the reality, of subordination: he also instituted schools, and laid the foundation of a maritime power. In 1761 the government of Genoa, perceiving the change lately effected among the natives, sent a deputation to a general council, convoked at Vescovato, for the express purpose of proposing terms of accommodation; but it was unanimously resolved never to make peace with them, unless upon the express condition of Corsica being guaranteed in the full enjoyment of its independence. A memorial to the same effect was also addressed, at tfie same time, to all the sovereigns of Europe. But nothing was gained by this step; and in 1768, the Genoese, despairing of rendering the Corsicans subservient to their will, transferred the sovereignty of their island to France, on condition of receiving in lieu of it 40,000,000 of livres. Notwithstanding this, Paoli remained firm to his cause: and a vigorous war commenced, in which, for some time, the French were beaten, and in one instance their general was obliged to capitulate, with all his infantry, artillery, and ammunition; but an immense force bing now sent from France, overwhelmed the Corsican patriots; they were defeated with great slaughter, and Paoli, left with only about 500 men, was surrounded by the French, who were anxious to get possession of his 'person: he, however, cut his way through the enemy, and escaped to England with his friends, where they were received with every degree of sympathy and respect. Paoli was introduced at court, and the duke of Grafton, then prime minister, obtained for him a pension of 1200l. a-year, which he liberally shared with his companions in exile. From this time he lived a retired life, devoting himself chiefly to the cultivation of literature. During his retirement, which lasted more than twenty years, he was introduced to Dr. Johnson by Mr. Boswell, and lived in habits of intimacy with that eminent scholar. Much of their conversation is recorded by Mr. Boswell.
Paoli to Timoleon and Epaminondas. He was unquestionably a great man; but it is the opinion of those who have enjoyed the opportunity of studying his character, that
When the French revolution took place, the national convention passed a decree by which Corsica was numbered among the departments of France, and entitled to all the privileges of the new constitution, and Paoli was induced, by the promising appearance of affairs, and the solicitations of the French assembly, to return to the island. Accordingly he resigned his pension from the English court, took a grateful leave of the country in which he had been so hospitably entertained, and in the month of April 1790, presented himself at the bar of the national assembly at Paris, together with the Corsican deputies. Soon after this he embarked for Corsica, where he was received with an extraordinary degree of attachment and respect. He was elected mayor of Bastia, commander-in-chief of the national guard, and president of the department; and, in short, he at once acquired more authority in the island, than before its subjugation by the French. He was, however, not quite contented; he was ambitious of seeing Corsica wholly independent, which, upon the execution of Louis XVI. was the prevailing wish of the Corsicans. The French convention, however, meant nothing less, and at length declared Paoli a traitor. On this he resolved upon an expedient which, though it was a renunciation of independence, promised to secure all the advantages of real liberty. This was an union of Corsica with the crown of Great Britain; after effecting which, he returned to England, having unfortunately lost all his property, by the failure of a mercantile house at Leghorn, and passed the remainder of his life in great privacy. He died in London, February. 5, 1807, in the eighty-first year of his age. Few foreigners, however distinguished, have been so much caressed in England as general Paoli. By living in habits of familiarity with men of letters, his name and exploits acquired high celebrity: and Goldsmith, Johnson, and many others, equally eminent in the literary world, although differing in almost every thing else, cordially united in his praise. On the continent his reputation was greatly respected: it was usual to compare Paoli to Timoleon and Epaminondas. He was unquestionably a great man; but it is the opinion of those who have enjoyed the opportunity of studying his character, that he was a politician rather than a soldier: that he shone more in council than inarms; and that the leading feature of his public conduct was a certain degree of Italian policy, which taught him to refine and speculate on every event.
ius. He made way for the opinion several of the ancients held touching the temporal reign of Christ, who they supposed would come upon earth a thousand years before
, bishop of Hierapolis, a city of Phrygia in
Asia Minor, near to Laodicea, was the disciple of St. John
the Evangelist, or of another of that name; but Irenaeus
says positively, that he was the disciple of St. John the
Evangelist; for Polycarp was his disciple, and he says,
Papias was Polycarp’s companion. Papias wrote five books,
entitled “The Expositions of the Discourses of the Lord;
”
of which there are only some fragments left in the writings
of Irenaeus and Eusebius. He made way for the opinion
several of the ancients held touching the temporal reign of
Christ, who they supposed would come upon earth a thousand years before the day of judgment, to gather together
the elect, after the resurrection, into the city of Jerusalem, and let them there enjoy all felicity during that period. Irenaeus, who was of the same judgment, relates a
fragment he took out of Papias’s fourth book, where he
endeavours to prove that opinion from a passage in Isaiah;
and Eusebius, after having quoted a passage taken out of
Papias’s Preface, adds, “That that author relates divers
things which he pretended he had by unwritten tradition;
such as were the last instructions of our Lord Christ, which
are not set down by the Evangelists, and some other fabulous histories, amongst which number his opinion ought to
be placed touching the personal return of Christ upon earth
after the resurrection.
” The occasion of his falling into
that error,“says Eusebius again,
” was his misunderstanding of the discourses and instructions of the Apostles, as
not thinking that those expressions ought to bear a mystical sense; and that the Apostles used them only for illustration, for he was a man of a mean genius, as his books
manifest, and yet several of the ancients, and, among the
rest, Irenaeus, maintained their opinions on the authority
ofPapias."
, was one of a family of engravers on wood, who obtained considerable reputation in the seventeenth and eighteenth
, was one of a family of engravers
on wood, who obtained considerable reputation in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. He flourished about
1670, but attained less fame than his son John, who was
born at St. Quentin in 1661. The grandson John Baptist Michel was the most successful in his art, especially
in those engravings which represent foliage and flowers,
many beautiful specimens of which are inserted in his publication on the art of engraving in wood; and the whole
prove that he was a very skilful master in every branch of
the art he professed. The human figure he seems to have
been the least acquainted with, and has consequently failed
most in those prints into which it is introduced. He died
in 1776; about ten years before which event he published
in 2 vols. 8vo, his “Traite historique et pratique de la
gravure en bois,
” a work of great merit as to the theory of
an art, which, it is almost needless to add, has of late
years been brought to the highest perfection by some
ingenious men of our own country, led first to this pursuit by the excellent example and success of the Messrs.
Bewickes.
o grant that favour. But Turretin gave little heed to it; and M. de Maratiz, professor at Groningen, who had disputed the point warmly against Mr. Daille, opposed it
, some time a minister of the church of
England, and afterwards reconciled to that of Rome, was
the author of some pieces which made a great noise in the
seventeenth century. From an account of his life, published by himself, it appears that he was born at Blois in
1657, and descended from a family of the reformed religion. He passed through his studies in divinity at Geneva. That university was then divided into two parties
upon the subject of grace, called “particularists
” and
“universalists,
” of which the former were the most numerous and the most powerful. The universalists desired nothing more than a toleration; an J M. Claude
wrote a letter to M. Turretin, the chief of the predominant party, exhorting him earnestly to grant that favour. But Turretin gave little heed to it; and M. de
Maratiz, professor at Groningen, who had disputed the
point warmly against Mr. Daille, opposed it zealously;
and supported his opinion by the authority of those synods
who had determined against such toleration. There
happened also another dispute upon the same subject,
which occasioned Papin to make several reflections. M.
Pajon, who was his uncle, admitted the doctrine of efficacious grace, but explained it in a different manner from
the reformed in general, and Juneu in particular; and
though the synod of Anjou in 1667, after many long debates upon the matter, dismissed Pajon, with leave to
continue his lectures at Saumur, yet as his inU rest there
was not great, his nephew, who was a student in that university in 1633, was pressed to con iemn the doctrine,
which was branded with the appellation of Pajonism.
Papin declared, that his conscience would not allow him
to subscribe to the condemnation of either party; on which
the university refused to give him a testimonial in the
usual form. All these disagreeable incidents put him out
of humour with the authors of them, and brought him to
view the Roman catholic religion w;th less dislike than before. In this disposition he wrote a treatise, entitled “The
Faith reduced to its just hounds;
” in which he maintained,
that, as the papists professed that they embraced the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures, they ought to be tolerate' I by
the most zealous protestants. He also wrote several letters
to the reformed of Bourdeaux, to persuade them that they
might be saved in the Romish church, if they would be
reconciled to it,
riter added some pages to it, and printed it. These additions were ascribed by Jurieu to our author, who did not disavow the principal maxims laid down, which were condemned
This work, as might be expected, exasperated the protestants against him; and to avoid their resentment, he
crossed the water to England, in 1686, where James II.
was endeavouring to re- establish popery. There he receive 1 deacon’s and priest’s orders, irom the hands of
Turner, bishop of Ely; and, in 16S7, published a book
against Jurieu, entitled “Theological Essays concerning
Providence and Grace, &c.
” This exasperated that
minister so much, that when he knew Papin was attempting
to obtain some employ as a professor in Germany, he dispersed letters every where in order to defeat his applications; and, though he procured a preacher’s place at Hamburgh, Jurieu found means to get him dismissed in a few
months. About this time his “Faith reduced to just
bounds
” coming into the hands of Bayle, that writer added
some pages to it, and printed it. These additions were
ascribed by Jurieu to our author, who did not disavow the
principal maxims laid down, which were condemned in the
synod of Bois-le-duc in 1687. In the mean time, an offer
being made him of a professor’s chair in the church of the
French refugees at Dantzic, he accepted it: but it being
afterwards proposed to him to conform to the synodical decrees of the Walloon churches in the United Provinces,
and to subscribe them, he refused to comply; because
there were some opinions asserted in those decrees which
he could not assent to, particularly that doctrine which
maintained that Christ died only for the elect. Those who
had invited him to Dantzic, were highly offended at his
refusal; and he was ordered to depart, as soon as he had
completed the half year of his preaching, which had been
contracted for. He was dismissed in 168^, and not long
after embraced the Roman catholic religion; delivering his
abjuration into the hands of Bossuet, bishop of Meaux,
Nov. 15, 1690.
r, and finish other books upon the same subject, he died at Paris the 19th of June, 1709. His widow, who also embraced the Roman catholic religion, communicated these
Upon this change, Jurieu wrote a pastoral letter to those
of the reformed religion at Paris, Orleans, and Blois; in
which he pretended that Papin had always looked upon all
religions as indifferent, and in that spirit had returned to
the Roman church. In answer to this letter, Papin drew
up a treatise, “Of the Toleration of the Protestants, and
of the Authority of the Church.
” The piece, being approved by the bishop of Meaux, was printed in 1692: the
author afterwards changed its title, which was a little equivocal, and made some additions to it; but, while he was
employed in making collections to complete it farther, and
finish other books upon the same subject, he died at Paris
the 19th of June, 1709. His widow, who also embraced
the Roman catholic religion, communicated these papers,
which were made use of in a new edition printed at large
in 1719, 12mo. M. Pajon of the Oratory, his relation,
published all his “Theological Works,
”
s Bombastus, he afterwards changed, according to the custom of the age, into Paracelsus. His father, who was a physician, instructed him in that science, but, as it
, a man of a strange and paradoxical genius, and classed by Brucker among the Theosophists, was born, as is generally supposed (for his birth-place is a disputed matter), at Einfidlen near Zurick, in 1493. His family name, which was Bombastus, he afterwards changed, according to the custom of the age, into Paracelsus. His father, who was a physician, instructed him in that science, but, as it would appear, in nothing else, for he was almost totally ignorant of the learned languages. So earnest was he, however, to penetrate into the mysteries of nature, that, neglecting books, he undertook long and hazardous journeys through Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Hungary, Moscovy, and probably several parts of Asia and Africa. He not only visited literary and learned men, but frequented the workshops of mechanics, descended into mines, and thought no place mean or hazardous, if it afforded him an opportunity of increasing his knowledge of nature. He also consulted barber-surgeons, monks, conjurors, old women, quacks of every description, and every person who pretended to be possessed of any secret art, particularly such as were skilled in metallurgy. Being in this manner a self-taught philosopher and physician, he despised the medical writings of the ancients, and boasted that the whole contents of his library would not amount to six folios. He appears indeed to have written more than he ever read. His quackery consisted in certain new and secret medicines procured from metallic substances by the chemical art, which he administered with such wonderful success, that he rose to the summit of popular fame, and even obtained the professorship of medicine at Bail. One of his nostrums he called Azoth, which he said was the philosopher’s stone, the medical panacea, and his disciples extolled it as the tincture of life, given through the divine favour to man in these last days. But while his irregular practice, and arrogant invectives against other physicians, created him many enemies, his rewards were by no means adequate to his vanity and ambition; and he met frequently with mortifications, one of which determined him to leave Basil. A wealthy canon who happened to fall sick at that place, offered him a hundred florins to cure his disease, which Paracelsus easily effected with three pills of opium, one of his most powerful medicines. The canon, restored to health so soon, and apparently by such slight means, refused to stand to his engagement. Paracelsus brought the matter before the magistrate, who decreed him only the usual fee. Inflamed with violent indignation at the contempt which was thus thrown upon his art, he railed at the canon, the magistrate, and the whole city, and leaving Basil, withdrew into Alsace, whither his medical fame and success followed him. After two years, during which time he practised medicine in the principal families of the country, about the year 1530 he removed into Switzerland, where he conversed with Bullinger and other divines. From this time, he seems for many years to have roved through various parts of Germany and Bohemia. At last, in the year 1541, he died in the hospital of St. Sebastian, in Saltsburg.
ure, left his patients in such a state, that they soon after died of palsies or epilepsies. Erastus, who was for two years one of his pupils, wrote an entire book to
Different and even contradictory judgments have been formed by the learned concerning Paracelsus. His admirers and followers have celebrated him as a perfect master of all philosophical and medical mysteries, have called him the medical Luther, and have even been weak enough to believe that he was possessed of the grand secret of converting inferior metals into gold. But others, and particularly some of his contemporaries, have charged his whole medical practice with ignorance, imposture, and impudence. J. Crato, in an epistle to Zwinger, attests, that in Bohemia his medicines, even when they performed an apparent cure, left his patients in such a state, that they soon after died of palsies or epilepsies. Erastus, who was for two years one of his pupils, wrote an entire book to detect his impostures. We have mentioned his want of education, and it is even asserted, that he was so imperfect a master of his vernacular tongue, that he was obliged to have his German writings corrected by another hand. His adversaries also charge him with the most contemptible arrogance, the most vulgar scurrility, the grossest intemperance, and the most detestable impiety. Still it appears, that with all these defects, by the mere help of physical knowledge and the chemical arts, he obtained an uncommon share of medical fame; while to support his credit with the ignorant, he pretended to an intercourse with invisible spirits, and to divine illuminations.
isease, and of course he must have been successful in a degree, to which none of his contemporaries, who did not resort to that remedy, could attain. From his total
With regard to his system of chemistry, in which his real merit lies, the fundamental doctrines of it resolved every thing into three elements, salt, sulphur, and mercury, and were for a long time received, although in fact they were borrowed from his predecessor, Basil Valentine. His medical skill consisted principally in the bold administration of some powerful remedies, which had been heretofore thought too dangerous to be used, particularly opium, a drug with which, it is obvious, he would be able in many instances to afford great and speedy relief; but with which also few permanent cures could be effected, and much mischief would necessarily be produced, when it was misapplied. Antimony and mercury were also medicines which he liberally prescribed, and he used various preparations of them of the most active kind. He deserves the praise, however, of having been one of the first to employ mercury for the cure of the venereal disease, and of course he must have been successful in a degree, to which none of his contemporaries, who did not resort to that remedy, could attain. From his total ignorance of anatomy and rational physiology, his inability from want of literature to investigate the doctrines of the ancients, which he nevertheless boldly impugned, and his employment of a barbarous jargon, as well as his infatuated notions of magic, astrology, geomancy, and all the other branches of mystical imposture, he is, as a theorist, beneath contempt. We shall not pretend, therefore, to enter into any detail of the unintelligible jargon and absurd hypotheses which he employed, or to enumerate the immense farrago of treatises, which made their appearance under his name after his death, the notices of which occupy above nine quarto pages in the Bibliotheca of Haller: for the first we are unable to comprehend, and the latter would be a waste of time. The most complete edition is that of Geneva, 1658, 3 vols. folio.
, an able mathematician, was born in 1703, at a hamlet near Nismes, of industrious but poor parents, who were unable to give him education; he soon, however, found a
, or rather Deparcieux (Anthony), an
able mathematician, was born in 1703, at a hamlet near
Nismes, of industrious but poor parents, who were unable
to give him education; he soon, however, found a patron,
who placed him in the college at Lyons, where he made
astonishing progress in mathematics. On his arrival at
Paris, he was obliged to accept of humble employment
from the mathematical instrument makers, until his works
brought him into notice. These were, 1. “Table astronomiques,
” Traite
” de trigonometric rectiligne et spherique, avec un trait6 de gnomonique et des
tables de logarithmes,“1741, 4to. 3.
” Essai sur les probabilites de la dnre de la vie humame,“1746, 4to. 4.
” Reponse aux objections contrtr ce livre,“1746, 4to. 5.
” Additions a I'essai, c.“1760, 4to. 6.
” Memoires sur
la possibility et la facilit^ d‘amener aiipres de PEstrapade,
a Paris, les eaux de la riviere d’Yvette,“1763, 4to, reprinted, with additions, in 1777. It was always Deparcieux’s object to turn his knowledge of mathematics to
practical purposes, and in the memoirs of the academy of
sciences are many excellent papers which he contributed
with this view. He also introduced some ingenious improvements in machinery. He was censor- royal and member of the academy of sciences at Paris, and of those of
Berlin, Stockholm, Metz, Lyons, and Montpelher. He
died at Paris Sept. 2, 1768, aged sixty-five. He had a
nephew of the same name, born in 1753, who was educated at the college of Navarre at Paris, where he studied
mathematics and philosophy, and at the age of twentyfour gave public lectures. In 177y he began a course of
experimental philosophy, in the military school of Brienne;
after which, he occupied the philosophical professorship
at the Lyceum in Paris, where he died June 23, 1799, in
a state bordering on indigence. He wrote a
” Traité elementaire de Mathematiques,“for the use of students;
”Traite* des annuites, ou des rentes a terme,“1781, 4to
” Dissertation snr le moyen d‘elever l’eau par la rotation
d'une curde verticale sans fin,“Amst. 1782, 8vo
” Dissertation sur ies globes areostatiques,“Paris, 1783, 8vo.
He left also some unfinished works; and a
” Cours complet
de physique et de chimie," was in the press when he died.
this spirit he sometimes advanced very bold opinions in natural philosophy, which met with opposers, who charged him with starting absurdities: but he was ingenious
, an ingenious French mathematician and philosopher, was born at Pau, in the province of Gascony, in 1636; his faiher being a counsellor of the parliament of that city. At the age of sixteen he entered into the order of Jesuits, and made so great proficiency in his studies, that he taught polite literature, and composed many pieces in prose and v< rse with considerable delicacy of thought and style before he was well arrived at the age of manhood. Propriety and elegance of language appear to have been his first pursuits, lor which purpose he studied the belles lettres; but afterwards he devoted himself to mathematical and philosophical studies, and read, with due attention, the most valuable authors, ancient and modern, in those sciences. By such assiduity in a short time he made himself master of the Peripatetic and Cartesian philosophy, and taught them both with great reputation. Notwithstanding he embraced Cartesianism, yet he affected to be rather an inventor in philosophy himself. In this spirit he sometimes advanced very bold opinions in natural philosophy, which met with opposers, who charged him with starting absurdities: but he was ingenious enough to give his notions a plausible turn, so as to clear them seemingly from contradictions. His reputation procured him a call to Paris, as professor of rhetoric in the college of Louis the Great. He also taught the mathematics in that city, as he had before done in other places; but the high expectations which his writings very reasonably created, were all disappointed by his early death, in 1673, at thirty-seven years of age. He fell a victim to his zeal, having caught a contagious disorder by preaching to the prisoners in the Bicetre.
section, which he speedily removed. His services appear to have been amply acknowledged by the king; who spared him in the horrible massacre of St. Bartholomew’s, although
, a French surgeon of eminence, was
born at Laval, in the district of the Maine, in 1509. He
commenced the study of his profession early in life, and
practised it with great zeal both in hospitals and in the army;
and when his reputation was at its height, he was appointed
surgeon in ordinary to king Henry II. in 1552; and he
held the same office under the succeeding kings, Francis II.
Charles IX. and Henry III. To Charles IX. especially
he is said to have on one occasion conferred great professional benefits, when some formidable symptoms had been
produced by the accidental wound of a tendon in venesection, which he speedily removed. His services appear to
have been amply acknowledged by the king; who spared
him in the horrible massacre of St. Bartholomew’s, although
a protestant. “Of all those,
”' says the duke of Sully,
<c who were about the person of this prince (Charles IX.)
none possessed so great a share of his confidence as Ambrose Pare“, his surgeon. This man, though a Huguenot,
lived with him in so great a degree of familiarity, that, on
the day of the massacre, Charles telling him, the time was
now come when the whole kingdom would be catholics;
he replied, without being alarmed, * By the light of God,
sire, I cannot believe that you have forgot your promise
never to command me to do four things namely, to enter
into my mother’s womb, to be present in the day of
battie, to quit your service, or to go to mass.‘ The king
soon after took him aside, and disclosed to him freely the
trouble of his soul: * Ambrose,’ said he, * I know not what
has happened to me these two or three days past, but I
feel my mind and body as much at enmity with each other,
as if I was seized with a fever; sleeping or waking, the
murdered Huguenots seem ever present to my eyes, with
ghastly faces, and weltering in blood. I wish the innocent
and helpless had been spared!' The order which was published the following day, forbidding the continuance of the
massacre, was in consequence of this conversation.
” Pare",
after having been long esteemed as the first surgeon of his
time, and beloved for his private virtues, died Dec. 20,
1590, at the age of eighty-one; and as he was buried in
the church of St. Andrew, Eloy would from that circumstance infer that he died a Roman catholic, of which we
have no proof.
of his whole works were afterwards printed io German, Dutch, and French; and his pupil, Guillemeau, who was also surgeon to Charles IX. and Henry IV. translated them
Pare was not a man of learning, although we meet with
learned references and numerous quotations from the
ancients, in his writings; but he must be considered as a
bold and successful operator, and a real improver of his
art; particularly in the practice of tying divided arteries,
which he effected by drawing them out naked, and passing
a ligature over them; and in the treatment of gun-shot
wounds. Even in anatomy, in which he did not excel, he
was, by frequent dissections, enabled to add some observations of his own to what he had borrowed from Vesalius.
As an author he had high fame, and his works were universally read and translated into most of the languages of
Europe. His first treatise, “Maniere de trailer les playes
faites par harquebuses, fleches, &c.
” was published at Paris in Ambrosii Paraei, Opera,
novis iconibus elegantissimis illustrata, et Latinitate donata.
” This volume contains twenty -six treatises, and
there is no branch of surgery which is not touched upon in
the collection.
ome of these with a kind of commentary at the age of thirteen. At fourteen he was put under a master who taught rhetoric at Chartres. Here he happened to see a Dodecaedron,
, a French mathematician, was
born at Paris in 1666. He shewed early a propensity to
mathematics, eagerly perusing such books as fell in his
way. His custom was to write remarks upon the margins
of the books which he read; and he had filled some of
these with a kind of commentary at the age of thirteen.
At fourteen he was put under a master who taught rhetoric at Chartres. Here he happened to see a Dodecaedron, upon every face of which was delineated a sun-dial,
except the lowest, on which it stood. Struck immediately
with the curiosity of these dials, he set about drawing one
himself; but, having a book which only shewed the practical part without the theory, it was not till some time
after, when his rhetoric-master came to explain the doctrine of the sphere to him, that he began to understand
how the projection of the circles of the sphere formed sundials. He then undertook to write a “Treatise upon Gnomonics,
” anr the piece was rude and unpolished enough;
but it was entirely his own. About the same time he wrote
also a book of “Geometry,
” at Beauvais.
and communicating these scruples to M. Sauveur, that friend recommended him to the marquis d'Aligre, who happened at that time to want a mathematician in his suite.
At length his friends sent for him to Paris, to study the law; and, in obedience to them he went through a course in that faculty, but this was no sooner finished, than, his passion for mathematics returning, he shut himself up in the college of Dormans, and, with an allowance of less than 200 livres a year, he lived content in this retreat, which he never left but to go to the royal college, in order to hear the lectures of M. de la Hire, or M. de Sauveur. As soon as he found himself able enough to teach others, he took pupils; and, fortification being a part of mathematics which the war had rendered very necessary, he turned his attention to that branch; but after some time began to entertain scruples about teaching what he knew only in books, having never examined a fortification elsewhere, and communicating these scruples to M. Sauveur, that friend recommended him to the marquis d'Aligre, who happened at that time to want a mathematician in his suite. Parent accordingly made two campaigns with the marquis, and instructed himself thoroughly by viewing fortified places, of which he drew a number of plans, though hq had never received any instruction in that branch. From this time he assiduously cultivated natural philosophy, and the mathematics in all its branches, both speculative and practical; to which he joined anatomy, botany, and chemistry, and never appears to have been satisfied while there was any thing to learn. M. de Billettes being admitted into the academy of sciences at Paris in 1699, with the title of their mechanician, nominated for his eleve or disciple, Parent, who excelled chiefly in that branch. It was soon found in this society, that he engaged in all the various subjects which were brought before them, but often with an eagerness and impetuosity, and an impatience of contradiction, which involved him in unpleasant disputes with the members, who, on their parts, exerted a pettish fastidiousness in examining his papers. He was in particular charged with obscurity in his productions; and indeed the fault was so notorious, that he perceived it himself, and could not avoid correcting it.
Frankenstein, to prosecute his studies under Christopher Schilling, a man of considerable learning, who was rector of the college. It was customary in those times for
, a celebrated divine of the reformed religion, was born Dec. 30, 1548, at Frankenstein in Silesia, and put to the grammar-school there, apparently with a design to breed him to learning; but his father marrying a second time, a capricious and narrow-minded woman, she prevailed with him to place his son apprentice to an apothecary at Breslau; and afterwards changing her mind, the boy was, at her instigation, bound to a shoemaker. Some time after, however, his father resumed his first design, and his son, about the age of sixteen, was sent to the college-school of Hirchberg, in the neighbourhood of Frankenstein, to prosecute his studies under Christopher Schilling, a man of considerable learning, who was rector of the college. It was customary in those times for young students who devoted themselves to literature, to assume a classical name, instead of that of their family. Schilling was a great admirer of this custom, and easily persuaded his scholar to change his German name of Wangler for the Greek one of Pareus, from wa^ice, a cheek, which Wangler also means in German. Pareus had not lived above three months at his father’s expence, when he was enabled to provide for his own support, partly by means of a tutorship in the family, and partly by the bounty of Albertus Kindler, one of the principal men of the place. He lodged in this gentleman’s house, and wrote a poem upon the death of his eldest son, which so highly pleased the father, that he not only gave him a gratuity for it, but encouraged him to cultivate his poetical talents, prescribing him proper subjects, and rewarding him handsomely for every poem which he presented to him.
t any expence to his family. Having thus succeeded in his request, he followed his master Schilling, who had been invited by the elector Frederic III. to be principal
In the mean time, his master Schilling, not content with
making him change his surname, made him also change
his religious creed, that of the Lutheran church, with regard to the doctrine of the real presence, and effected the
same change of sentiment throughout his school; but this
was not at first attended with the happiest effects, as
Schilling was expelled from the college, and Pareus’s father threatened to disinherit him; and it was not without
the greatest difficulty, that he obtained his consent to go
into the Palatinaie, notwithstanding he conciliated his father’s parsimony by assuring him that he would continue
his studies there without any expence to his family.
Having thus succeeded in his request, he followed his
master Schilling, who had been invited by the elector
Frederic III. to be principal of his new college at
Amberg, and arrived there in 1566. Soon after he was
sent, with ten of his school-fellows, to Heidelberg, where
Zachary Ursinus was professor of divinity, and rector of
the college of Wisdom. The university was at that time
in a most flourishing condition, with regard to every one
of the faculties; and Pareus had consequently every advantage that could be desired, and made very great proficiency, both in the learned languages and in philosophy
and divinity. He was admitted into the ministry in 1571,
and in May that year sent to exercise his function in a village called Schlettenbach, where very violent contests
subsisted between the Protestants and Papists. The elector palatine, his patron, had asserted his claim by main
force against the bishop of Spire, who maintained, that the
right of nomination to the livings in the corporation of
Alfestad was vested in his chapter. The elector allowed
it, but with this reserve, that since he had the right of patronage, the nominators were obliged, by the peace of
Passaw, to present pastors to him whose religion he approved. By virtue of this right, he established the reformed
religion in that corporation, and sent Pareus to propagate
it in the province of Schlettenbach, where, however, he
met with many difficulties before he could exercise his
ministry in peace. Before the end of the year he was called
back to teach the third class at Heidelberg, and acquitted
himself so well, that in two years’ time he was promoted to
the second class; but he did not hold this above six months,
being made principal pastor of Hemsbach, in the diocese
of Worms. Here he met with a people more ready to
receive the doctrines of the Reformation than those of
Schlettenbach, and who cheerfully consented to destroy
the images in the church, and other remains of former
superstition. A few months after his arrival he married
the sister of John Stibelius, minister of Hippenheim; and
the nuptials being solemnized Jan. the 5th, 1574, publicly
in the church of Hemsbach, excited no little curiosity and
surprize among the people, to whom the marriage of a
clergyman was a new thing. They were, however, easily
reconciled to the practice, when they came to know what
St. Paul teaches concerning the marriage of a bishop in
his epistles to Timothy and Titus. Yet such was the unhappy state of this country, rent by continual contests
about religion, that no sooner was Popery, the common
enemy, rooted out, than new disturbances arose, between
the Lutherans and Calvinists. After the death of the
elector Frederic III. in 1577, his son Louis, a very zealous
Lutheran, established every where in his dominions ministers of that persuas.nn, to the exclusion of the Sarramentariane, or Calvinists, by which measure Pareus lost his
living at Hemsbach, and retired into the territories of
prince John of Casimir, the elector’s brother. He was
now chosen minister at Ogersheim, near Frankenthal,
where he continued three years, and then removed to Winzingen, near Neustadt, at which last place prince Casimir,
in 1578, had founded a school, and settled there all the
professors that had been driven from Heidelberg. This
rendered Winzingen much more agreeable, as well as advantageous; and, upon the death of the elector Louis, in
1583, the guardianship of his son, together with the administration of the palatinate, devolved upon prince Casimir, who restored the Calvinist ministers, and Pareus obtained the second chair in the college of Wisdom at Heideiberg, in Sept. 1584. He commenced author two years
afterwards, by printing his “Method of the Ubiijuitarian
controversy;
” “Methodus Ubiquitariae coniroversise.
” He
also printed an edition of the “German Bible,
” with notes,
at Neustadt, in
which he was eased of the great fatigue he had undergone for fourteen years, in governing the youth who were educated at the college of Wisdom. Tossanus, professor
In 1591, he was made first professor in his college; in
1592, counsellor to the ecclesiastical senate; and in 1593,
was admitted doctor of divinity in the most solemn manner.
He had already held several disputes against the writers of
the Augsburg Confession, but that of 1596 was the most
considerable, in which he had to defend Caivin against
the imputation of favouring Judaism, in his Commentaries
upon several parts of Scripture. In 1595, he was promoted to the chair of divinity professor lor the Old Testament in his university; by which he was eased of the great
fatigue he had undergone for fourteen years, in governing
the youth who were educated at the college of Wisdom.
Tossanus, professor of divinity for the New Testament, dying in 1602, Pareus succeeded to that chair, and a few
years after he bought a house in the suburbs of Hei(lelburg, and built in the garden an apartment for his library, which he called his “Pareanum.
” In this ru- took great delight, and the whole house went uitfrw;irds by that name, the elector having, out of respect to him, honouivd it with several privileges and immunities. At the same time, his reputation spreading itself every where, brought young students to him from the remotest parts of Hungary and Poland. In 1617 an evangelical jubilee was instituted in memory
of the church’s deliverance from popery an hundred years
before, when Luther began to preach. The solemnity
lasted three days, during which orations, disputations,
poems, and sermons, were delivered on the occasion. Pareus also published some pieces on the subject, which
drew upon him the resentment of the Jesuits of Mentz;
and a controversy took place between them. The following year, 1618, at the instance of the States General,
he was pressed to go to the synod of Dort, but excused
himself on account of age and infirmities. After this time
he enjoyed but little tranquillity. The apprehensions he
had of the ruin which his patron the elector Palatine would
bring upon himself by accepting the crown of Bohemia,
obliged him to change his habitation. He appears to have
terrified himself with a thousand petty alarms, real or
imaginary, and therefore his friends, in order to relieve
him from this timidity of disposition, advised him to take
refuge in the town of Anweil, in the dutchy of DeuxPonts, near Landau, at which he arrived in Oct. 1621. He
left that place, however, some months after, and went to
Neustadt, where his courage reviving, he determined to
return to Heidelberg, wishing to pass his last moments at
his beloved Pareanum, and be buried near the professors
of the university. His wish was accordingly fulfilled; for
he died at Pareanum June 15, 1622, and was interred with
all the funeral honours which the universities in Germany
usually bestow on their members.
He left a son named Philip, who wrote the life of his father. Although Pareus was a great enemy
He left a son named Philip, who wrote the life of his
father. Although Pareus was a great enemy to innovations,
yet his “Irenicum
” proves that he was a friend to conciliation, and his services in promoting the reformed religion
were very extensive. His exegeticai works were published by his son at Francfort in 1647, in 3 vols. folio.
Among these are his “Commentary upon St. Paul’s Epistle
to the Romans,
” in Anti-Paraeus, sive determinatio de jure regio habita Cantabrigiae in scholis theologicis, 19 April, 1619, contra Davidem Paroeum, caeterosque reformats religionis antimonarchos,
” Cantab. The Concord of a Papist
and Puritan, for the coercion, deposition, and killing of
kings,
” Camb. 161O, 4to.
study of the classics, and published several laborious pieces; for which he was obliged to Vossius, who had a great respect for him, and made it his business to procure
, son of the preceding, trod in the
steps of his father, applied himself vigorously to the study
of the classics, and published several laborious pieces;
for which he was obliged to Vossius, who had a great respect for him, and made it his business to procure booksellers who would print his works. He was unfortunately
killed, in 1635, by a gang of highwaymen, or, as others say,
by some soldiers at the siege of Keiserslauteren. He was
a considerable master of Greek. His publications are, 1.
“The Poem of Musseus upon the Loves of Hero and Leander, with notes,
” Mellificium Atticum,
” a
thick 4to, being a collection of sentences extracted from
Greek authors, which he dedicated to the university of
Oxford. 3. MeduHa Historise Ecclesiastics,“in 1631; to
which he added
” Notes.“4. An edition of Lucretius,
Francfort, 1631, 8vo. 5.
” Historia Bavarico-Palatina,“1633. 6.
” Spicilegium subsecivum," or notes upon Quintilian, published in an edition of that author at London, in
1641, 8vo.
ight of applying for necessaries. He was a man, says the abb UAvocat, of the most devout temper, and who to great candour of mind joined great gentleness of manners.
, usually called the Abbe Paris, would
not have deserved notice here unless for certain impostures
connected with his name, in which, however, he had no
hand. He was born at Paris, and was the eldest son of a
counsellor to the parliament, whom he was to have succeeded in that office; but he preferred the ecclesiastical
profession; and, when his parents were dead, resigned
the whole inheritance to his brother, only reserving to
himself the right of applying for necessaries. He was a
man, says the abb UAvocat, of the most devout temper,
and who to great candour of mind joined great gentleness
of manners. He catechized, during some time, in the
parish of St. Come; undertook the direction of the clergy,
and held conferences with them. Cardinal de Noailles, to
whose cause he was attached, wanted to make him curate
of that parish, but found many obstacles to his plan; and
M. Paris, after different asylums, where he had lived extremely retired, confined himself in a house in the fauxbourg St. Marcoul, where, sequestered from the world, he
devoted himself wholly to prayer, to the practice of the
most rigorous penitence, and to labouring with his hands,
having for that purpose learnt to weave stockings. He
was one of those who opposed the bull Unigenitus, and
was desirous also to be an author, and wrote “Explications
of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans,
” to the “Galatians,
”
and “An Analysis of the Epistle to the Hebrews;
” but
acquired no reputation by these. He died May I, 1727,
at Paris, aged thirty-seven, and was interred in the little
church-yard belonging to St. Medard’s parish. Though
M. Paris had been useless to the Jansenists while alive, they
thought proper to employ him in working miracles after
his death; and stories were invented of miraculous cures
performed at his tomb, which induced thousands to flock
thither, where they practised grimaces and convulsions in
so ridiculous and disorderly a manner, that the court was
at last forced to put a stop to this delusion, by ordering
the church-yard to be walled up, January 27, 1732. Some
time before, several curates solicited M. de Vintimille, archbishop of Paris, by two requests, to make judicial inquiry
into the principal miracles attributed to M. Paris; and that
prelate appointed commissioners who easily detected the
impostnre, which would not deserve a place here had it
not served Hume and some other deists with an argument
against the real miracles of the gospel, the fallacy of which
argument has been demonstrated with great acuteness by
the late bishop Douglas, in his “Criterion.
”
inst the encroachments of the pope. Of this we have a clear, though unwilling, evidence in Baronius, who observes, that this author remonstrated with too sharp and bitter
, an English historian, was a Benedictine monk of the congregation of Clugny, in the monastery of St. Alban’s, the habit of which order he took in
1217. He was an universal scholar; understood, and had
a good taste both in painting and architecture. He was
also a mathematician, a poet, an orator, a divine, an historian, and a man of distinguished probity. Such rare
accomplishments and qualities as these, did not fail to
place him very high in the esteem of his contemporaries;
and he was frequently employed in reforming some monasteries, visiting others, and establishing the monastic discipline in all. He reproved vice without distinction of persons, and did not even spare the English court itself; at
the same time he shewed a hearty affection for his country
in maintaining its privileges against the encroachments of
the pope. Of this we have a clear, though unwilling,
evidence in Baronius, who observes, that this author remonstrated with too sharp and bitter a spirit against the
court of Rome; and that, except in this particular only,
his history was an incomparable work. He died at St.
Alban’s in 1259. His principal work, entitled “Historia
Major,
” consists of two parts: The first, from the creation
of the world to William the Conqueror; the second, from
that king’s reign to 1250. He carried on this history afterwards to the year of his death in 1259. Rishanger, a
monk of the monastery of St. Alban’s, continued it to
1272 or 1273, the year of the death of Henry III. It was
first printed at London in 1571, and reprinted 1640, 1684,
fol. besides several foreign editions. There are various
ms copies in our public libraries, particularly one which
he presented to Henry III. and which is now in the British
Museum. From Jiis Mss. have also been published “Vitas
duorum Offarum, Merciae regum, S, Albani fundatorum
”
<c Gesta viginti duo abbatum S. Albani“”Additamenta
chronicorum ad historian) majorern,“all which accompany
the editions of his
” Historia Major“printed in 1640 -and
1684. Among his unpublished Mss. are an epitome of
his
” Historia Major," and a history from Adam to the
conquest, principally from Matthew of Westminster. This
is in the library of Bene't college, Cambridge. The titles
of some other works, but of doubtful authority, may be
seen in Bale and Pits.
on of William lord Lovel of Tichmersh, by Alianore, daughter and heir of Robert Morley, lord Morley, who died 21 Henry Vlth. He was educated at Oxford, but at what college,
Parker (Henry) Lord Morley, a nobleman of literary taste in the reign of Henry VIII. was the son and heir
of sir William Parker, knight, by Alice, sister and heir of
Henry Lovel, and daughter of William Lovel, a younger
son of William lord Lovel of Tichmersh, by Alianore,
daughter and heir of Robert Morley, lord Morley, who
died 21 Henry Vlth. He was educated at Oxford, but at
what college, or at what time, does not appear. After
leaving the university, he retired to his estate in Northamptonshire, and in the 21st year of the reign of Henry
VIII. was summoned to parliament by the title of lord
Morley. He was one of the barons, who, in the year following, signed the memorable declaration to pope Clement Vji. threatening him with the loss of his supremacy
in England, unless he consented to the king’s divorce, but
he still remained a bigoted adherent to the popish religion.
In the 25th of the same reign, having a dispute for precedence with lord Dacre of Gillesland, his pretensions were
confirmed by parliament. Anthony Wood says, that “his
younger years were adorned with all kind of superficial
learning, especially with dramatic poetry, and his elder
with that which was divine.
” Wood adds, that he was
living, “an ancient man, and in esteem among the nobility,
in the latter end of Henry VIII.
” But from his epitaph,
which is inserted in Collins’s Peerage, it appears that he
died in Nov. 1556, aged eighty. His great grandson, Edward lord Morley, who married Elizabeth, sole daughter
and heir of William Stanley, lord Montegle, had issue
Mary, who by her husband Thomas Habington, of Henlip
in Worcestershire, was mother of William Habington the
poet, and was supposed to have been the person who wrote
to her brother William, lord Morley and Montegle, the
famous letter of warning respecting the gun-powder plot.
father dying when he was only twelve years of age, the care of his education devolved on his mother, who appears to have spared no pains in procuring him the best tutors
, the second protestant archbishop of Canterbury, a very learned prelate, and a great benefactor to the literature of his country, was born in the parish of St. Saviour’s, Norwich, Aug. 6, 1504. He was of ancient and reputable families both by the father’s and mother’s side. His father dying when he was only twelve years of age, the care of his education devolved on his mother, who appears to have spared no pains in procuring him the best tutors in such learning as might qualify him for the university, to which he was removed in September 1521. He was entered of Corpus Christi or Bene't college, Cambridge, and was at first maintained at his mother’s expense, but in six months after admittance that expense was in some measure relieved, by his being chosen, a scholar of the house, called a bible clerk. In 1524 he took his degree of bachelor of arts, and in 1526 was made subdeacon, under the titles of Barnwell, and the chapel in Norwich fields. While at college, he had for his contemporaries Bacon and Cecil, Bradford and Ridley, afterwards men of great eminence in state and church, and the two latter distinguished sufferers for the sake of religion.
In 1533, when Mr. Parker had reached his twenty-ninth year, Cranmer, who was now promoted to the archbishopric, granted him a licence
In 1533, when Mr. Parker had reached his twenty-ninth year, Cranmer, who was now promoted to the archbishopric, granted him a licence to preach through his province, as the king did a patent for the same throughout the kingdom, good and solid preachers being at that time very rare, The university, likewise, as he was much afflicted with a head-ache, readily passed a grace that he might preach covered, and showed him other marks of their regard. We have already noticed some of his celebrated contemporaries, and it may now be added, that he lived in great intimacy and friendship with Bilney, Stafford, Arthur, friar Barnes, Sowode, master of the college, Fowke, and many others, by whose means religion and learning were beginning to revive at Cambridge. For Bilney he had so great a veneration, that he went down to Norwich to attend his martyrdom, and afterwards defended him against the misrepresentations of sir Thomas More, who had asserted that he recanted at the stake. In the abovementioned year (1533) he was sent for to court, and made chaplain to queen Anne Boleyn, with whom he soon became a great favourite, she admiring his piety, learning, and prudence. A short time before her death, she gave him a particular charge to take care of her daughter Elizabeth, that she might not want his pious and wise counsel; and at the same time laid a strict charge upon the young princess, to make him a grateful return, if it should ever be in her power.
us papists, against whom he vindicated himself with great ability before the lord Chancellor Audley, who encouraged him to go on without fear. On the death of queen
In July 1535 he proceeded B. D. and in the same year was preferred by the queen to the deanry of the college of Stoke-Clare in Suffolk, which was the more acceptable, as affording him an agreeable retirement for the pursuit of his studies. His friend Dr. Walter Haddon used to call it Parker’s Tusculanum. Meeting here with many superstitious practices and abuses that stood in need of correction, he immediately composed a new body of statutes, and erected a school for the instruction of youth in grammar and the study of humanity, which by his prudent care and management soon produced the happiest effects. These regulations were so generally approved, that when the duke of Norfolk was about to convert the monastery at Thetford, of his own foundation, into a college of secular priests, he requested a sight of them for his direction. Mr. Parker now continued to be an assiduous preacher, often preaching at Stoke, and at Cambridge, and places adjacent, and sometimes at London, at St. Paul’s-cross. At what time he imbibed the principles of the reformers we are not told, but it appears that in these sermons he attacked certain Romish superstitions with such boldness, that articles were exhibited against him by some zealous papists, against whom he vindicated himself with great ability before the lord Chancellor Audley, who encouraged him to go on without fear. On the death of queen Anne in 1537, the king took him under his more immediate protection, appointed him one of his chaplains, and, upon new-modelling the church of Ely, nominated him to one of the prebends in the charter of erection.
ir present form, being assisted in this by his friend Dr. Mey, the civilian, and one of the visitors who confirmed them in the second year of Edward VI. All these regulations
In 1538 he made a visit to the university, where, after
having performed his exercises with general applause, he
commenced D. D. In 1542 he was presented by the chapter of Stoke to the rectory of Ashen in Essex, which he
resigned in 1544, and was presented to the rectory of Birmingham All Saints, in the county of Norfolk; but his
most important promotion that year, was to the mastership
of Bene't college, Cambridge, where he had been educated.
On this occasion he was recommended to the society by
the king, as the fittest person in every respect; and they
knowing his character, did not hesitate to elect him, and
he was admitted accordingly Dec. 4, 1544. He began his
government of the college with making some useful orders
concerning certain benefactions and foundations belonging
to the college; and, to prevent the college goods from
being embezzled, he caused exact inventories of them
to be made, and deposited in the common chest, ordering
at the same time that they should be triennially inspected
and renewed by the master and fellows. Finding likewise
their accounts in great confusion, occasioned principally
by the neglect of registering them in books belonging to
the society, he put them into such a method, that by
comparing the rentals, receipts, expenses, &c. together,
they might at any time appear as clear as possible, and
these he caused to be annually engrossed on parchment for
their better preservation. He also undertook the revisal of
the statutes, and reduced them to nearly their present
form, being assisted in this by his friend Dr. Mey, the
civilian, and one of the visitors who confirmed them in the
second year of Edward VI. All these regulations and
transactions, with some other matters relating both to the
college and university, he caused to be registered in a
book, called the Black Book, which has ever since been
in the custody of the master. The old statutes were indeed once more introduced in the time of queen Mary,
but continued no longer in force than to the first year of
Elizabeth’s reign, when the former were again revived,
and in 1568 finally reviewed, corrected, and approved by
her visitors. In 1545 he was elected vice-chancellor, in
which office he had an opportunity of exerting himself still
farther for the welfare of his college and the university at
large; and he gave such satisfaction, that within the space
of three years he was elected to the same office. On his
election, Dr. Haddon, the public orator, gave him this
character to his friend Cheke, “cujus tu gravitatem, consilium, literas, nosti, nos experimur;
” adding, “Catonem
aut Quintum Fabium renatum putes.
”
ret the daughter of Robert Harlstone, gent. of Mattishall in Norfolk, and sister of Simon Harlstone, who had lived some time at Mendlesham in Suffolk, where he was
In the same year, 1545, the society presented him to
the rectory of Land-Beach; but to his great mortification,
he was obliged to resign his beloved college of Stoke in
1547, although he laboured as much as possible to prevent its dissolution. To preserve, however, as far as he
could, the memory of its founder Edmund Mortimer, earl
of March, he brought away with him his arms painted on
glass, and placed them in a window of the master’s lodge;
and secured the books of history and antiquities, which
made part of that invaluable collection with which he afterwards enriched his college. The same year, and in the
forty-third of his age, he married Margaret the daughter
of Robert Harlstone, gent. of Mattishall in Norfolk, and
sister of Simon Harlstone, who had lived some time at
Mendlesham in Suffolk, where he was distinguished for his
piety and sufferings in the reign of queen Mary. Dr.
Parker had been attached to this lady for about seven years,
but they were prevented from marrying by the statute of
Henry VIII. which made the marriage of the clergy felony.
Mr. Masters conjectures that it was about this time he
drew up, in his defence, a short treatise still preserved in
the college library “De conjugio Sacerdotum,
” and another against alienation of the revenues of the church,
which Strype has printed in his Appendix, No. VII. It is
also probable that, on the increase of his family, he added
the long gallery to the master’s lodge. The lady he married proved a most affectionate wife, and had so much
sweetness of temper and amiable disposition, that bishop
Ridley is said to have asked, “If Mrs. Parker had a sister?
”
intimating that he would have been glad to have married
one who came near her in excellence of character.
o give a faithful account of this affair, he afterwards employed Mr. Nevile (see Nevile, Alexander), who wrote it in elegant Latin, and received for his reward an hundred
In 1549, when Kett’s rebellion broke out, Dr. Parker
happened to be on a visit to his friends at Norwich, where
he did great service by his exhortations and sermons; and
even ventured into the camp of the rebels, and, without
regarding the imminent danger to which this exposed him,
boldly inveighed against their rebellion and cruelty, exhorted them to temperance, sobriety, and submission, and
placed in the strongest light every argument and warning
that was likely to prevail. To give a faithful account of
this affair, he afterwards employed Mr. Nevile (see Nevile, Alexander), who wrote it in elegant Latin, and received for his reward an hundred pounds. In 1550 he lost
his most intimate friend Dr. Martin Bucer, who left him
one of his executors; and to testify his great regard for
that eminent reformer, he preached his funeral sermon.
In this, with great modesty and diffidence, he has drawn a
most excellent character of him, and indeed the whole is
written in a style so plain and uniform, as to be much superior to the common rate of sermons in those days. It
was printed by Jugge, under the title, “Howe we ought
to take the death of the godly, a sermon made in Cambridge at the burial of the noble clerck, D. M. Bucer. By
Matthew Parker, D. of Divinitie.
”
On the accession of queen Mary, however, the scene was changed, and he, with all the married clergy who would not part with their wives, and conform to those superstitious
In 1552 the king presented him to the canonry and prebend of Covingham, in the church of Lincoln, where he
was soon after elected dean, upon Dr. Taylor’s promotion
to that see. He had before been nominated to the mastership of Trinity-college, probably on the death of Dr. Redman in 1551, but this did not take effect. It is also said
that he declined a bishopric in this reign. On the accession of queen Mary, however, the scene was changed, and
he, with all the married clergy who would not part with
their wives, and conform to those superstitious rites and
ceremonies they had so lately rejected, were stript of their
preferments. He bore this reverse of fortune with pious
resignation. “After my deprivation
” (he says, in his private journal) “I lived so joyful before God in my conscience, and so neither ashamed nor dejected, that the
most sweet leisure for study, to which the good providence
of God has now recalled me, gave me much greater and
more solid pleasures, than that former busy and dangerous
kind of life ever afforded me. What will hereafter befall
me, I know not; but to God, who takes care of all, and
who will one day reveal the hidden things of men’s hearts,
I commend myself wholly, and my pious and most chaste
wife, with my two most dear little sons.
” It appears also
by a ms. in the college, quoted by Strype, that Dr. Parker
“lurked secretly in those years (the reign of queen Mary)
within the house of one of his friends, leading a poor life,
without any men’s aid or succour; and yet so well contented with his lot, that in that pleasant rest, and leisure
for his studies, he would never, in respect of himself, have
desired any other kind of life, the extreme fear of danger
only excepted. And therein he lived as all other good
men then did. His wife he would not be divorced from, or
put her away all this evil time (as he might, if he would, in those days, which so rigorously required it), being a woman
very chaste, and of a very virtuous behaviour, and behaving herself with all due reverence toward her husband.”
It may seem extraordinary that one who had so early imbibed the sentiments of the reformers, and had
It may seem extraordinary that one who had so early
imbibed the sentiments of the reformers, and had adhered
to them so constantly, should have escaped the vigilance
of the persecutors; and it is certain that strict search was
sometimes made for him, and that on one occasion, when
obliged to make his escape on a sudden, he got a fall from
his horse, by which he was so much hurt, that he never recovered it. Yet either from the remissness of his enemies,
or the kindness of his friends, he was enabled to secrete
himself, and notwithstanding the danger he was in, he
employed his time in study. Among other things, it was
during this alarming interval, that he wrote or rather enlarged a treatise, supposed to be drawn up by bishop
Ponet, in defence of priests’ marriages, against a book of
Dr. Martin’s, which he caused to be printed, but without
his name, in 1562. The title was “A Defence of Priests’
Marriages, established by the Imperial laws of the realm
of England; against a civilian, naming himself Thomas
Martin, doctor of the civil laws,
” &c. This work is noticed in our account of Dr. Martin, and a full account of
it is given by Strype, p. 504. Dr. Parker also employed
some part of his time in translating the book of Psalms into
various and elegant English metre, which was likewise
afterwards printed, but in what year is uncertain, unless
in 1567, as minuted with a pen in the copy which is in the
college library. This book, which Strype says he never
could get a sight of, is divided into three quinquagenes
with the argument of each psalm in metre placed before it,
and a suitable collect full of devotion and piety at the end.
Some copies of verses, and transcripts from the fathers and
others on the use of the psalms are prefixed to it, with a
table dividing them into Prophetici, Eruditorii, Consolatorii,
&c. and at the end are added the eight several tunes, with
alphabetical tables to the whole.
y, sir Nicholas Bacon, now lord-keeper of the great seal, and sir William Cecil, secretary of state, who well knew his worth. But he was now become enamoured of retirement,
On the accession of queen Elizabeth, he left his retreat
in Norfolk, and being on a visit to his friends at Cambridge, was sent for up to town by his old acquaintance
and contemporaries at the university, sir Nicholas Bacon,
now lord-keeper of the great seal, and sir William Cecil,
secretary of state, who well knew his worth. But he was
now become enamoured of retirement, and suspecting they
designed him for some high dignity in the church, of which
however no intimation had yet been given, he wrote them
many letters, setting forth his own inabilities and infirmities, and telling the lord-keeper in confidence, “he
would much rather end his days upon some such small preferment as the mastership of his college, a living of twenty
nobles per ann. at most, than to dwell in the deanry of
Lincoln, which is 200 at the least.
” These statesmen,
however, still considered him as in every respect the best
fitted for the archbishopric of Canterbury; and the reluctance he showed to accept it, and the letters he wrote both
to them and the queen, only served to convince all parties
that they had made a proper choice. He was accordingly
consecrated on Dec. 17, 1559, in Lambeth chapel, by
William Barlow, late bishop of Bath and Wells, and then
elect of Chichester; John Story, late bishop of Chichester,
and then elect of Hereford; Miles Coverdale, bishop of
Exeter, and John Hodgkin, suffragan bishop of Bedford.
An original instrument of the rites and ceremonies used on
this occcasion, corresponding exactly with the archbishop’s
register, is still carefully preserved in Bene't college library,
and proved of great service, when the papists, some years
after, invented a story that Parker was consecrated at the
Nag’s head inn, or tavern, in Cheapside. That this was a
mere fable has been sufficiently shown by many authors,
and is acknowledged even by catholic writers. Being thus
constituted primate and metropolitan, Dr. Parker endeavoured to fill the vacant sees with men of learning and
piety, who were well affected to the reformation; and soon
after his own consecration, he consecrated in his chapel at
Lambeth, Grindal, bishop of London; Cox, bishop of Ely;
Sandys, bishop of Worcester; Jewell, bishop of Salisbury;
and several others.
The subsequent history of archbishop Parker is that of
the church of England. He had assisted at her foundation,
and for the remainder of his life had a principal hand in
the superstructure. Referring, however, to ecclesiastic
history, and particularly to Strype’s invaluable volume, for
the full details of the archbishop’s conduct, we shall confine
ourselves to a few of the most prominent of those measures
in which he was personally concerned. Soon after his consecration he received a letter from the celebrated Calvin,
in which that reformer said that “he rejoiced in the happiness of England, and that God had raised up so gracious
a queen, to be instrumental in propagating the true faith
of Jesus Christ, by restoring the gospel, and expelling
idolatry, together with the bishop of Rome’s usurped
power.
” And then in order to unite protestants together,
as he had attempted before in king Edward’s reign, he
intreated the archbishop to prevail with her majesty, to
summon a general assembly of all the protestant clergy,
wheresoever dispersed; and that a set form and method
(namely of public service, and government of the church)
might be established , not only within her dominions,
but also among all the reformed and evangelical churches
abroad. Parker communicated this letter to the queen’s
council, and they took it into consideration, and desired
the archbishop to return thanks to Calvin; and to signify
that they thought his proposals very fair and desireable,
but as to church-government, to inform him, that the
church of England would adhere to the episcopal form.
The death of Calvin prevented any farther intercourse on
this subject, but Strype has brought sufficient evidence
that Calvin was not absolutely averse to episcopacy, and
that he was as zealous for uniformity as our archbishop,
who has been so much reproached for his endeavours to
promote it.
ced her to change her opinion on this matter, from the anecdote given in our account of dean Nowell, who incurred her displeasure by only presenting her with a prayer-book,
In 1561, archbishop Parker and some of the other prelates made an application to the queen against the use of
images, to which her majesty still discovered a very great
inclination, and it may be inferred that they induced her
to change her opinion on this matter, from the anecdote
given in our account of dean Nowell, who incurred her
displeasure by only presenting her with a prayer-book,
illustrated with engravings. In other respects she adhered
to many of her father’s notions, and when about this time
she took a journey into Essex and Suffolk, she expressed
great displeasure at finding so many of the clergy married,
and at observing so many women and children in cathedrals
and colleges. She had, indeed, so strong an aversion to
matrimony in the clergy, that it was owing to Cecil’s courage and dexterity, as appears by a letter of his to Parker,
that she did not absolutely prohibit the marriage of all
ecclesiastics. He was, however, obliged to consent to an
injunction, “that no head or member of any college or
cathedral, should bring a wife, or any other woman, into
the precincts of it, to abide in the same, on pain of forfeiture of all ecclesiastical promotions.
” Archbishop Parker took the liberty to remonstrate with the queen against
this order, and on this interview she treated the institution
of matrimony with contempt, declared to him that she repented her making any of them bishops, and wished it had
been otherwise; nay, threatened him with injunctions of
another nature, which his grace understood to be in favour
of the old religion. In his letter to Cecil on this occasion,
he assures him that the bishops have all of them great reason to be dissatisfied with the queen; that he repents his
having engaged in the station in which he was; and that
the reception which he had from her majesty the day
before, had quite indisposed him for all other business, and
he could only mourn to God in the bitterness of his soul;
but if she went on to force the clergy to any compliance,
they must obey God rather than men, and that many of
them had conscience and courage enough to sacrifice their
lives in defence of their religion.
en to the ecclesiastic habits by a considerable number of divines, and those men of worth and piety, who seemed to be of opinion that popery might consist in dress as
But, whatever our archbishop might suffer from the despotic caprices of the queen, he had yet more trouble with the dissentions which appeared in the church itself, and never ceased to prevail, in a greater or less degree, until the whole fabric was overturned in the reign of Charles I. These first appeared in the opposition given to the ecclesiastic habits by a considerable number of divines, and those men of worth and piety, who seemed to be of opinion that popery might consist in dress as well as doctrine. By virtue of the clause in the act of uniformity, which gave the queen a power of adding any other rites and ceremonies she pleased, she set forth injunctions ordering that the clergy should wear seemly garments, square caps, and copes, which had been laid aside in the reign of king Edward. Many conformed to these in every circumstance, but others refused the cap and surplice, considering them as relics of popery, and therefore both superstitious and sinful. The queen, enraged at this opposition, which was favoured even by some of her courtiers, wrote a letter to the two archbishops, reflecting with some acrimony on it, as the effect of remissness in the bishops; and requiring them to confer with her ecclesiastical commissioners, that an exact order and uniformity might be maintained in all external rites and ceremonies; and that none hereafter should be admitted to any ecclesiastical preferment, but those who were disposed to obedience in this respect. Archbishop Parker, accordingly, with the assistance of several of his brethren, drew up ordinances for the due order in preaching and administering the sacraments, and for the apparel of persons ecclesiastical. According to these, the preachers were directed to study edification, and to manage controversy with sobriety; exhorting the people to frequent the communion, and to obey the laws, and the queen’s injunctions. All the licences for preaching were declared void and of no effect, but were to be renewed to such as their bishops thought worthy of the office; and such as preached unsound doctrine were to be denounced to the bishop, and not contradicted in the church. These who had licences were to preach once in three months; and those who were unlicensed, were to read homilies. In administering the sacrament, the principal minister was to wear a cope, but at all other prayers only the surplice; in cathedrals they were to wear hoods, and preach in them; the sacrament was to be received by every body kneeling; every minister saying the public prayers, or administering the sacraments, was to wear a surplice with sleeves; and every parish was to provide a communion-table, and to have the ten commandments set on the east wall above it. The bishops were to give notice when any persons were to be ordained, and none were to be ordained without degrees. Then followed some rules about wearing apparel, caps, and gowns; to all which was added, a form of subscription to be required of all who were admitted to any office in the church; that they would not preach without licence, that they would read the Scriptures intelligibly, that they would keep a register-book, that they would use such apparel in service-time especially as was appointed, that they would keep peace and quiet in their parishes, that they would read some of the Bible daily, and in conclusion, that they would observe uniformity, and conform to all the laws and orders already established for that purpose; and to use no sort of trade, if their living amounted to twenty nobles.
conformity with her wishes, and, in fact, in answer to her orders; but the opponents of the habits, who began to be called Puritans, applied to their friends at court,
It might have been expected that these ordinances
would have pleased the queen, as being in conformity with
her wishes, and, in fact, in answer to her orders; but the
opponents of the habits, who began to be called Puritans,
applied to their friends at court, and especially to her
great favourite Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, who prevailed so far with her majesty, that all her former resolution disappeared, and she refused to sanction the ordinances with her authority, telling the archbishop, that the
oath of canonical obedience was sufficient to bind the inferior clergy to their duty, without the interposition of the
crown. The archbishop, hurt at such capricious conduct,
and at being placed in such a situation between the court
and the church, told Cecil, that if the ministry persisted
in their indifference, he would “no more strive against
the stream, fume or chide who would;
” and it is most probable his remonstrances prevailed, for the above ordinances were a few days after published, under the name
of Advertisements; and he then proceeded upon them with
that zeal which procured him from one party the reproach
of being a persecutor, and from the other the honour of
being a firm friend and supporter of the church-establishment. The particular steps he took, the trials he instituted, and the punishments he inflicted, are detailed at
length by Strype and other church-historians; but on the
merit of his conduct there is great diversity of opinion.
It has been said, both in excuse and in reproach of his
measures, that he was too subservient to the queen. To us
it appears, that he took as much liberty in advising the
queen, and in contending with her humours, as any prelate
or statesman of her reign, and that what he did to promote uniformity in the church arose from a sincere, however mistaken opinion, that uniformity was necessary to the
advancement of the reformation, and in itself practicable.
All that is wrong in this opinion must be referred to the
times in which he lived, when no man conceived that an
established church could flourish if surrounded by sectaries, and when toleration was not at all understood in its
present sense.
as it known what became of them till they were discovered by Dugdale, in archbishop Sancroft’s time, who again replaced them in the midst of the area of the chapel,
He continued to struggle with the difficulties attending
his office and measures, until his seventy-first year, when,
finding himself in a declining condition, he signed his
will April 5, 1575, and died on May 17 following. He was
buried in his own chapel at Lamleth, with a Latin inscription by his friend Dr. Walter Haddon: but this was demolished, and his bones taken up and scattered, during the
usurpation; nor was it known what became of them till
they were discovered by Dugdale, in archbishop Sancroft’s
time, who again replaced them in the midst of the area of
the chapel, as a small marble stone facing the altar, with
this inscription upon it, now denotes, "
tions 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
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.
Essex, in 1571, on the authority of Newcourt, but Newcourt is evidently speaking of a Robert Parker, who held Bardfield-parva in 1559, and must have been a different
, was a puritan divine of considerable learning and reading, but his early history is very
variously represented. Mr. Brook, in his late “Lives of
the Puritans,
” places him as rector of North- Benflete, in
Essex, in 1571, on the authority of Newcourt, but Newcourt is evidently speaking of a Robert Parker, who held
Bardfield-parva in 1559, and must have been a different
person. On the other hand, Mr. Masters, in his History
of C. C. C. C informs us that he was in 1581 a pensioner
of Bene't college, Cambridge, and was made scholar of
the house in 1583, at which time he published a copy of
Latin verses on the death of sir William Buttes, and succeeded to a fellowship in the latter end of the year following. He was then A. B. but commenced A. M. in 1585,
and left the university in 1589. Both his biographers agree
that the person they speak of was beneficed afterwards at
Wilton, in Wiltshire, and the author of “A scholastical
Discourse against symbolizing with Anti-christ in ceremonies, especially in the sign of the Cross,
” printed in
Vindication of the Dissenters,
” owns that “his fancy was
somewhat odd as to his manner of handling his argument.
”
It contained at the same time matter so very offensive, that
a proclamation was issued for apprehending the author,
who, after many narrow escapes, was enabled to take refuge in Holland. Here some of his biographers inform us
that he was chosen minister of the English church at Amsterdam; but the magistrates of the city, being unwilling to
disoblige the king of England by continuing him their
pastor, he removed to Doesburgh, where he became chaplain to the garrison. Others tell us that he would have been
chosen pastor to the English church at Amsterdam, had not
the magistrates been afraid of disobliging king James.
According to Mr. Brook, it would appear that he had published his work “De Descensu
” before he left England,
but we can more safely rely on Mr. Masters, who had seen
the book, and who informs us that it was while he was at
Amsterdam that he published a treatise, “De Descensu
domini nostri Jesu Christi ad Inferos,
” 4to, which had
been begun by his learned friend Hugh Sandforcl, who
finding death approaching, committed the perfecting of it
to him. This he was about to do when compelled to leave
England. His preface is dated Amsterdam, Dec. 30, 1611.
He was also the author of a treatise “De Politia Ecclesiastica Christi et Hierarchicaopposita,
” published in as an Eminent servant of Christ, called
home to rest from his labours in the midst of his course.
”
The Bodleian catalogue assigns to him two other posthumous works, “A Discourse concerning Puritans,
” The Mystery of the Vials opened in the 16th
chapter of the Revelations.
” He left a son, Thomas,
author of a work called “Methodus gratioe divinse in traductione hominis peccatoris ad vitam,
” Lond. Meditations on the Prophecy of Daniel,
” and
died in
ice in 1649, in which office he gave sentence against the three lords, Capel, Holland, and Hamilton, who were beheaded. During Oliver’s usurpation he was made an assistant
, a man of some learning, and no
contemptible writer, but of despicable character, was born
in Sept. 1640, at Northampton, where his father, John
Parker, then practised the law. John had been bred to
that profession in one of the Temples at London, and inclining to the parliament against the king, was preferred
to be a member of the high court of justice in 1649, in
which office he gave sentence against the three lords, Capel, Holland, and Hamilton, who were beheaded. During
Oliver’s usurpation he was made an assistant committeeman for his county. In 1650, be published a book in defence of the new government, as a commonwealth, without a king or house of lords, entitled “The Government
of the People of England, precedent and present,
” with
an emblematical engraved title-page. In June 1655, when
Cromwell was declared protector, he was appointed one of
the commissioners for removing obstructions at Worcesterhouse, in the Strand, near London, and was sworn serjeant
at law next day. In Jan. 1659, he was appointed by the
rump-parliament one of the barons of the exchequer; but,
upon a complaint against him, was soon after displaced.
His character, however, appears to have been such, that
he was again made regularly serjeant at law, by the recommendation of chancellor Hyde, at the first call after
the return of Charles II.
e way to higher preferment. He now left Oxford, and resided at Lambeth, under the eye of his patron; who, in June 1670, collated him to the archdeaconry of Canterbury,
In 1665 he was elected a fellow of the royal society, and
published about the same time some physico-theological
essays, in Latin, with the title “Tentamina Physico-Theologica de Deo; sive Theologia Scholastica, ad normarn
novae et reformats philosophise concinnata,
” Lond. The Bulk and Selvedge of the World.
”
In A free and impartial Censure of
the Platonic Philosophy;
” and shortly after “An account
of the nature and extent of the Divine Dominion and Goodness, especially as they refer to the Origenian hypothesis
concerning the pre-existence of souls, together with a
special account of the vanity and groundlessness of the hypothesis itself,
” Oxon. 166o, 4to. About Michaelmas, 1667,
archbishop Sheldon appointed him one of his chaplains, a
proof that at this time he was in estimation; and this seems
to have led the way to higher preferment. He now left
Oxford, and resided at Lambeth, under the eye of his patron; who, in June 1670, collated him to the archdeaconry of Canterbury, in the room of Dr. Sancroft, afterwards archbishop. On Nov. 26, the same year, having accompanied William prince of Orange on his visit to Cambridge,
he bad the degree of D. D. conferred upon him. On Nov. 18,
1672, he was installed prebendary of Canterbury and had
the rectories of Ickham and Chartham, in Kent, conferred
upon him by the archbishop about the same time. About
this time he published some of those writings against the
presbyterians which involved him in a controversy. The
first of these was his “Discourse of Ecclesiastical Polity,
wherein the authority of the civil magistrate over the consciences of subjects in matters of external religion is asserted.
” This was first answered by the anonymous author
of “Insolence and Impudence triumphant,
” &c. Truth and Innocence vindicated.
”
He then published “A Defence and Continuation of Ecclesiastical Polity (against Dr. Owen),
” Lond. Toleration discussed,
” &c. A Discourse in
Vindication of bishop Bramhall and the Church of England, from the fanatic charge of Popery,
” &c. This was
prefixed to a “Treatise
” of the said bishop, written in his
own defence, &c. our author, in the same humourous taste, wrote
” A Reproof to the Rehearsal Transprosed,“1673, 8vo. Wood, however, observes, that,
” finding himself beaten in this cudgelling way, his high spirit
was abated for ever after, and though Marvell replied to
his ‘ Reproof,’ yet he judged it more prudent to lay down
the cudgels. It put him upon a more sober, serious, and
moderate way of writing.“(See Marvell.) Parker’s last
publication in this controversy was
” A free and impartial
Inquiry into the causes of that very great esteem and honour the Nonconformist Ministers are in with their followers,“1673, 8vo. In 1678 he published his
” Disputationes de Deo et providentia divina,“&c. 4to, which is
highly commended by Dr. Henry More in the general preface to his works. This was followed by other works, entitled
” Demonstration of the divine authority of the Law
of Nature, and of the Christian Religion,“1681, 4to
” The Case of the Church of England briefly stated in the
three first and fundamental principles of a Christian Church.
I. The Obligation of Christianity by Divine Right. II.
The Jurisdiction of the Church by Divine Right. III. The
institution of Episcopal Superiority by Divine Right,“London, 8vo;
” An account of the Government of the
Christian Church, in the first six hundred years; particularly shewing, I. The Apostolical practice of Diocesan
and Metropolitical Episcopacy. II. The usurpation of patriarchal and papal authority. III. The war of two hundred
years between the bishops of Rome and Constantinople, of
universal supremacy,“London, 1683, 8vo;
” Religion
and Loyalty, or, a demonstration of the power of the
Christian Church within itself, supremacy of sovereign
powers over it, and duty of passive obedience and nonresistance to all their commands, exemplified out of records,“&c. 8vo and the year following, the second part
of the same work, containing
” the history of the concurrence of the imperial and ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the
Government of the Church, from the beginning of the
reign of Jovian to the end of Justinian," 1685, 8vo.
o be in no better a condition than Buda was before it was taken, and that they were next to Atheists who defended that faith. So very notorious was his conduct, that
Having now openly rejected the church of England,
which he had sacrificed to his ambition, he became one of
the Romish mercenaries, prostituting his pen in defence
of transubstantiation, and the worship of saints and images.
The papists, it is certain, made sure of him as a proselyte;
one of whom, in a letter from Liege, informs his correspondent that he even proposed in council, whether it
was not expedient that at least one college in Oxford should
be allowed to be catholics, that they might not be forced
to be at such charges by going beyond the seas to study.
In the same spirit, having invited two popish noblemen,
with a third of the church of England, to an entertainment, he drank the king’s health, wishing a happy success
to all his affairs; adding, that the religion of the protestants in England seemed to him to be in no better a
condition than Buda was before it was taken, and that
they were next to Atheists who defended that faith. So
very notorious was his conduct, that the more prudent and
artful of the popish party condemned it. Father Peter, a
Jesuit, and privy-counsellor to king James, in a letter to
father la Chaise, confessor to Louis XIV. uses these expressions: “The bishop of Oxford has not yet declared
himself openly; the great obstacle is his wife, whom he
cannot rid himself of; his design being to continue a
bishop, and only change communion, as it is not doubted
but the king will permit, and our holy father confirm;
though I don't see how he can be farther useful to us in
the religion he is in, because he is suspected, and of no
esteem among the heretics of the English church; nor do
I see that the example of his conversion is like to draw
many others after him, because he declared himself so
suddenly. If he had believed my counsel, which was to
temporize for some longer time, he would have done better;
but it is his temper, or rather zeal, that hurried him on to
it.
” These two letters were first printed in a “Third Collection of Papers relating to the present juncture of affairs
in England,
” &c. \6S9 9 4to, and have been since inserted
in Echard’s and Rapin’s histories.
ed to be read when the book which occasioned them was long ago sunk.” He left a son of his own name, who was an excellent scholar, and a man of singular modesty. He
It must have been as the last effort of a desperate cause
when he sent a “Discourse
” to James, persuading him to
embrace the protestant religion, with a “Letter
” to the
same purpose, which was printed at London in 1690, 4to.
His works have but few readers at this day; and Swift
observes, that “MarvelPs remarks on Parker continued to
be read when the book which occasioned them was long
ago sunk.
” He left a son of his own name, who was an
excellent scholar, and a man of singular modesty. He
never took the oaths after the revolution. He married a
bookseller’s daughter at Oxford, where he resided with a
numerous family of children to support which he published some books, particularly, 1 “An English Translation of Tully de finibus, 1702,
” 8vo, in the preface to
which he has some animadversions upon Locke’s Essay concerning Human Understanding. 2. “An abridgment of
the Ecclesiastic Histories of Eusebius, Socrates, Sozornen,
and Theotloret,
” Reverendi admodum in Christo
patris Samuelis Parkeri episcopi de rebus sui temporis commentariorum libri quatuor,
” Bibliotheca Biblica,
” printed at Oxford in 5 vols. 4to, the first
of which appeared in two parts in 1720, and the fifth in
1735, with an account of the other writings of the author,
and some particulars of his life, drawn up by Dr. Thomas
Haywood, of St. John’s college, to whom were attributed
most of the dissertations in the work. He describes it as
“being a new Comment upon the five Books of Moses,
extracted from the ancient fathers, and the most famous
critics both ancient and modern, with occasional annotations or dissertations upon particular difficulties, as they
were often called for.
” Mr. Parker died July 14, 1730,
in his fiftieth year, leaving a widow and children. The
metrical paraphrase of Leviticus xi. 13, &c. in vol. Hi.
was written by Mr. Warton, of Magdalen college, father
to the late learned brothers, Joseph and Thomas Warton;
and the “Fragment of Hyppolitus, taken out of two Arabic
Mss. in the Bodleian,
” in the fourth vol. was translated by
the late Dr. Hunt. Mr. Parker never was in orders, as he
could not reconcile his mind to the new government; but
he associated much and was highly respected by many
divines, particularly nonjurors, as Dr. Hickes, Mr. Collier,
Mr. Dodwell, Mr. Leslie, Mr. Nelson, and Dr. Grabe,
whose liberality lessened the difficulties which a very large
family occasioned. He appears to have had a place in the
Bodleian library, as Mr. Wheatly, in a letter to Dr. Rawlinson, dated Dec. 1739, says, “Sam. Parker’s son I had
heard before was apprenticed to Mr. Clements: but the
account you give me of his extraordinary proficiency is
new. If it be true also, I hope some generous patron of
learning will recall him from the bookseller’s shop, and
place him in his father’s seat, the Bodleian library.
” This
son, Sackville Parker, was afterwards for many years an
eminent bookseller at Oxford, and one of the four Octogenarian booksellers, who died in 1795 and 1796, namely,
James Fletcher, at eighty-six; Sackville Parker, at eightynine; Stephen Fletcher, at eighty -two, and Daniel Prince,
at eighty-five. They were all born at Oxford, except
James Fletcher. The present worthy bookseller, Mr. Joseph Parker, is nephew and successor to Mr. Sackville
Parker.
an divinity. Yet we find him recorded in the life of Jewell, as the tutor of that excellent prelate, who entered of Merton college in 1535, and as “prudently instilling,
, an eminent prelate of the sixteenth century, was born at Guild ford, in Surrey, in 1511,
and was the son of Mr. George Parkhurst of that place.
He was educated there in the grammar school adjoining
to Magdalen college gate, under Thomas Robertson, a
very famous teacher. He was elected fellow of Merton
college in 1529, and three years after, proceeding in arts,
entered into holy orders. Anthony Wood says that he was
at this time better esteemed for poetry and oratory than
divinity. Yet we find him recorded in the life of Jewell,
as the tutor of that excellent prelate, who entered of Merton college in 1535, and as “prudently instilling, together
with his other learning, those excellent principles into this
young gentleman, which afterwards made him the darling
and wonder of his age.
” Among other useful employments, we find him collating Coverdale and Tindal’s translations of the Bible along with his pupil, of whom he
conceived a very high opinion, and on one occasion exclaimed “Surely Paul’s Cross will one day ring of this
boy,
” a prophecy which was remarkably fulfilled in Jewell’s
celebrated sermon there in 1560. Parkhurst, it is true,
was a poet and an orator, but he had very early examined
the controversy that was about to end in the reformation,
and imbibed the spirit of the latter. In 1548, according
to a ms note of Baker, he was presented by Thomas lord
Seymour to the rich benefice of Bishop’s Cleve in Gloucestershire, which he held three years in commendam,
and where he did much good by his hospitality and charity;
but the author of Jewell’s life says that he held this living
in 1544, and when in that year Jewell commenced master
of arts, he bore the charges of it. Nor, says Jewell’s biographer, “was this the only instance wherein he (Jewell)
did partake of this good man’s bounty, for he was wont
twice or thrice in a year to invite him to his house, and not
dismiss him without presents, money, and other things that
were necessary for the carrying on his studies. And one
time above the rest, coming into his chamber in the morning, when he was to go back to the university, he seized
upon his and his companions purses, saying, What mo'ney, I
wonder, have these miserable, and beggardly Oxfordians?
And finding them pityfully lean and empty, stuffed them
with money, till they became both fat and weighty.
”
Strype, on the authority of his contemporary Becan, who knew him well, gives him this character: “He was naturally somewhat
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
ong the commendatory verses is a copy by dean Nowell, to whom two of the epigrams are addressed, and who was not likely to have commended indecencies, if we could suppose
His works have not much connexion with his profession,
all, except his letters, being Latin poetry on sundry occasions. He was indeed one of the translators of the Bishops’ Bible, of which his share was the Apocrypha from
the book of Wisdom to the end; but he is best known to
the curious by his “Ludicra, sive Epigrammata juvenilia.
”
In T572 he sent a copy of these to his old and dear friend
Dr. Wilson, master of St. Catherine’s, as a new-year’s gift,
and styled them his “good, godly, and pleasant epigrams;
”
and they were in the following year printed by Day, in a
small 4to volume. Why Anthony Wood should give the
report that these epigrams were as indecent as Martial’s,
when he adds at the same time that “he cannot perceive
it,
” seems unaccountable; but even Blomefield has adopted
this false accusation. Many of them appear to have been
first printed at Zurich in 1558, where they were written,
and republished now. Among the commendatory verses
is a copy by dean Nowell, to whom two of the epigrams
are addressed, and who was not likely to have commended
indecencies, if we could suppose our pious prelate capable
of publishing such. “His epigrams,
” says archdeacon
Churton, “affording notices of persons and things not
elsewhere easily found, are on the Grecian rather than the
Roman model, not sparkling with wit, but grave and didactic.
” The other works attributed to bishop Parkhurst
are, 1. “Epigrammata in mortem duorum fratrum Suffolciensium, Caroli et Henrici Brandon,
” Lond. Epigrammata
seria,
” ibid. Summa et
synopsis Nov. Test, distichis ducentis sexaginta comprehensa.
” 3. “Vita Christi, carm. Lat. in lib. precum privat.
” ibid.
e presented to the vicarage of Epsom in Surrey, the late rev. Jonathan Boucher (see Boucher), as one who in his opinion had given the best proofs of his having a due
, a late learned divine and lexicographer, was the second son of John Parkhurst, esq. of Catesby, in Northamptonshire, by Ricarda Dormer, daughter of judge Dormer. He was born in June 1728, was educated at Rugby school in Warwickshire, and was afterwards of Clare-hall, Cambridge, where he took his degree of B. A. in 1748, that of M. A. in 1752, and was many years fellow of his college. Being a younger brother, he was intended for the church, and entered into orders, but becoming heir to a very considerable estate, he was relieved from the usual anxieties respecting preferment, and was now a patron himself. Still he continued to cultivate the studies becoming a clergyman and in the capacity of a curate, but without any salary, he long did the duty, with exemplary diligence and zeal, in his own chapel at Catesby, which, after the demolition of the church of the nunnery there, served as a parish-church, of which also he was the patron. When several years after, in 178 4, it fell to his lot to exercise the right of presentation, he presented to the vicarage of Epsom in Surrey, the late rev. Jonathan Boucher (see Boucher), as one who in his opinion had given the best proofs of his having a due sense of the duties of his office. It was by marriage he had become patron of this living, having in 1754 married Susanna Myster, daughter, and, we believe, heiress of John Myster, esq. of Epsom.
eney supposed, queen Elizabeth; but rather the queen of Charles I.; and it is to the honour of those who edited the new impression, in 1656, that this dedication was
His first publication was his “Paradisi in Sole Paradisus terrestris, or a choice Garden of all sorts of Rarest
Flowers, &c.; to which is annexed a Kitchen Garden,
” &c.
This was printed at London, anno much corrected and enlarged,
”
appeared in 1656, after the decease of the author. Both
editions are dedicated “to the Queen’s most excellent
Majesty,
” which could hardly have been, as Dr. Pulteney
supposed, queen Elizabeth; but rather the queen of
Charles I.; and it is to the honour of those who edited the
new impression, in 1656, that this dedication was not then
suppressed. About a thousand plants, either species or
varieties, are described in this book, of which 780 are
figured, in wood cuts, partly copied from Clusius and
Lobel, partly original, but all of them coarse and stiff,
though sometimes expressive. Numerous remarks are interspersed, respecting the botanical history or medical virtues of the plants, as well as their culture; but the latter
subject is, for the most part, given in the introductory
chapters, which display no small degree of intelligence
and experience. This book affords a very correct and
pleasing idea of the gardens of our ancestors, at the time
it was written -, and has been considered, by the learned
authors of the Hortus Kewensis," unequivocal authority
as to the time when any particular species was introduced
or cultivated among us. Though our kitchen-gardens had
not arrived at such perfection as they attained in king
William’s days, and have since preserved, there is reason
to think the science of horticulture declined considerably
after the time of Parkinson, previous to its restoration at
the end of the seventeenth century. It is no small praise
to Parkinson’s work, that the late Mr. Curtis held it in
particular estimation, always citing it in his Magazine with peculiar pleasure and respect.
tany in England till the time of Ray; one or other, or both, being the inexhaustible resource of all who had any love for plants, or any interest in inquiring into their
In 1640 our author published his principal work, the
“Theatrum Botanicum, or Theatre of Plants, or an Herbal
of large extent;
” &c. a ponderous folio of
la mort dudit Parmentier et son frere, composee par Pierre Crignon.“This book is very rare. Crignon, who published it, was Parmentier' s particular friend, and thus
, a French author and poet,
whose works are now scarce, as well as obsolete, was
originally a merchant at Dieppe, where he was born in 1494,
and became famous by means of his voyages, and his taste
for the sciences. He died in the island of Sumatra, A. D.
1530, being then only thirty-six. The collection of his
verses in 4to, printed in 1536, is entitled “Description
nouvelle des Dignites de ce Monde, et de la Dignite de
l'homme,
” composee en rithme Franchise et en maniere
d‘exhortation, par Jean Parmentier: avec plusieur chants
Royaulx, et une Moralite a l’Honneur de la Vierge, mise
par personaiges; plus la deploration sur la mort dudit Parmentier et son frere, composee par Pierre Crignon.“This book is very rare. Crignon, who published it, was
Parmentier' s particular friend, and thus speaks of him
” From the year Another work by him is entitled
” Moralites tres-excellens en Thonneur de la benoiste Vierge Marie; mise en
rime Franchise et en personnaiges, par Jehan Parmentier,“Paris, 1531,4to, black letter. This also is extremely scarce,
but is reprinted in the
” Description nouvelle," &C.
s; others, that he was plundered by them of his pictures, though his person was safe the first party who came taking only a few, while those who followed swept away
, whose family name was Francis Mazzuoli, is more generally called Parmigiano, from Parma, where he was born in 1503. He studied under two uncles, Michele and Philip, but the chief modelof his imitation was Correggio, from whose works, compared with those of Michael Angelo, Raphael, and Julio, he formed that peculiar style for which he is celebrated. He displayed his natural genius for painting so very early, that at sixteen he is said to have produced designs which would have done honour to an experienced painter. His first public work, the St. Eustachius, in the church of St. Petronius, in Bologna, was done when he was a boy. In 1527, when Rome was sacked by the emperor Charles V. Parmigiano was found, like Protogenes at Rhodes, so intent upon his work as not to notice the confusion of the day. The event is variously related; some say that he escaped, like the ancient artist, from all violence, by the admiration of the soldiers; others, that he was plundered by them of his pictures, though his person was safe the first party who came taking only a few, while those who followed swept away the rest. His turn for music, and particularly his talent for playing on the lute, in some degree seduced him from his principal pursuit; and Vasari says he was much diverted from his art by the quackery of the alchymists; but this fact has by some writers been questioned. He died of a violent fever, in 1540, at the early age of 36.
Parmigiano had a cousin and pupil, G. Mazzuoli, who is little known beyond Parma and its districts, though for “impasto,”
Parmigiano had a cousin and pupil, G. Mazzuoli, who
is little known beyond Parma and its districts, though for
“impasto,
” and the whole mystery of colour, he has few
equals. There is reason to believe that several pictures
ascribed to Francis, especially those of a stronger and
gayer tone, have been painted by this artist. He was
more attached to the style of Correggio than Francis, and
seized its character with great felicity in the Nuptials of
St. Catherine, in the church del Carmine. He excelled
in perspective, and in the Last Supper, in the refectory of
S. Giovanni, placed and painted a colonnade with all the
illusion of Pozzo. To the most harmonious chiaro-scuro,
he added grandeur, variety, vivacity, in fresco. None of
his fellow artists equalled him in copiousness, fertility, and
execution; and to these perhaps we may ascribe the inequality perceptible in his works. He flourished about
1580, and had a son Alexander, who painted in the dome
of Parma, in 1571. He was a feeble imitator of the family style.
purchased estates in that kingdom. These, with the lands he had in Cheshire, descended to the poet, who was horn in 1679, in Dublin. In this city he was educated, and
, a very pleasing English poet, was descended from an ancient family, settled for some centuries at Congleton, in Cheshire. His father, of the same name, wns attached to the republican party in the reign of Charles I.; and on the restoration found it convenient to go over to Ireland, carrying with him a large personal fortune, with which he purchased estates in that kingdom. These, with the lands he had in Cheshire, descended to the poet, who was horn in 1679, in Dublin. In this city he was educated, and entered of Trinity-college, Dublin, at the age of thirteen. He became M. A. in 1700, and in the same year was ordained deacon, although under the canonical age, by a dispensation from the primate. Three years after he was admitted into priest’s orders, and in 1705, Dr. Ashe, bishop of Clogher, conferred upon him the archdeaconry of Clogher. About the same time, he married miss Anne Minchin, an amiable lady, by whom he had two sons, who died young, and a daughter who long survived him.
the King’s-bt-nch in Ireland, and father to the Irish chancellor of the Exchequer, sir John Parnell, who died in 1801. justly founded, are, his “Rise of Woman;” the
Having been warmly recommended by Swift to archbishop King, this prelate gave him a prebend in 1713, and
in May 1716, presented him to the vicarage of Finglass,
in the diocese of Dublin, worth 400l. a-year. “Such notice,
” says Dr. Johnson, “from such a man, inclines me
to believe, that the vice of which he has been accused was
not gross, or not notorious.
” But he enjoyed these preferments little more than a year, for in July 1717 he died
at Chester, on his way to Ireland, in his thirty-eighth year.
Dying without male issue, his estate, but considerably embarrassed by his imprudence, devolved to his nephew, sir
John Parnell, bart. one of the justices of the King’s-bt-nch
in Ireland, and father to the Irish chancellor of the Exchequer, sir John Parnell, who died in 1801.
justly founded, are, his “Rise of Woman;
” the “Fairy
Tale;
” the “Hymn to Contentment;
” “Health;
” the
“Vigil of Venus
” the “Night-piece on Death
” the
<c Allegory on Man,“and
” The Hermit.“These have
been respectively criticised by his biographers Goldsmith
and Johnson, and have stood the test of nearly a century.
” His praise,“says Dr. Johnson,
” must be derived from
the easy sweetness of his diction,; in his verses there is
more happiness than pains: he is sprightly without effort,
and always delights, though he never ravishes: every
thing is proper, yet every thing seems casual."
years of age. He was educated in grammar at a country school, under the care of some popish priests, who were at that time the only schoolmasters for the Latin-tongue.
, an English divine, was the son of
Richard Parr, likewise a divine, and was born at Fermoy,
in the county of Cork, where, we presume, his father was
beneficed, in 1617; and this singularity is recorded of his
birth, that his mother was then fifty-five years of age. He
was educated in grammar at a country school, under the
care of some popish priests, who were at that time the only
schoolmasters for the Latin-tongue. In 1635, he was sent
to England, and entered as a servitor of Exeter college,
Oxford, where his merit procured him the patronage of
Dr. Piideaux, the rector, by whose interest, as soon as
he had taken his bachelor’s degree in arts, in 1641, he was
chosen chaplain-fellow of the college. He found here
another liberal patron and instructor in the celebrated
archbishop Usher, who, in 1643, retired to this college
from the tumult then prevailing through the nation and
observing the talents of Mr. Parr as a preacher, made him
his chaplain; and, about the end of that year, took him
with him to Glamorganshire. On his return with this prelate, he obtained the vicarage of Ryegate in Surrey, on the
presentation of Mr. Roger James, gent, son of sir Roger
James, knight, whose sister he married, a widow lady of
considerable property. In doctrinal points he appears to
have concurred with the assembly of divines, who were
mostly Calvinists; but it seems doubtful whether he ever
took the Covenant. In 1649, he resigned his fellowship
of Exeter college, and continued chaplain to archbishop
Usher, while that prelate lived. In 1653, he was instituted
to the living of Camberweli in Surrey, and appears to have
been some time rector of Bermondsey, where his signature occurs in the register of 1676, and he is thought to
have resigned it in 1682. At the Restoration he was created D. D. and had the deanery of Armagh, and an Irish
bishopric, offered to him, both which he refused; but
accepted a canonry of Armagh. He remained vicar of
Camberweli almost thirty-eight years, and was greatly beloved and followed. Wood, in his quaint way says, “He
was so constant and ready a preacher at Camberweli, that
his preaching being generally approved, he broke two conventicles thereby in his neighbourhood that is to say, that
by his out- vying the Presbyterians and Independents in
his extemporarian preaching, their auditors would leave
them, and flock to Mr. Parr.
” All who speak of him indeed concur in what is inscribed on his monument, that
<c he was in preaching, constant in life, exemplary in
piety and charity, most eminent a lover of peace and
hospitality and, in fine, a true disciple of Jesus Christ.“He died at Camberweli Novembers, 1691, and was buried in the church-yard, where the above monument was
erected to his memory. His wife died before him. Dr.
Parr wrote
” Christian Reformation: being an earnest
persuasion to the speedy practice of it: proposed to all,
but especially designed for the serious consideration of his
dear kindred and countrymen of the county of Cork in
Ireland, and the people of Ryegate and Camberweli in
Surrey,“Lond. 1660, 8vo. He published also three occasional sermons; but the most valuable present he made
to the publick was his
” Life of Archbishop Usher," prefixed to that prelate’s Letters, printed in folio, 1686. It is the
most ample account we have of Usher; and few men could
have enjoyed better opportunities of knowing his real character. Wood mentions Dr. Thomas Marshall’s intention
of enlarging this, as noticed in oiir account or' him.