, a learned and amiable clergyman, and some time Greek professor of the university of Cambridge, was descended from an ancient family in Pembrokeshire, and was the
, a learned and amiable clergyman,
and some time Greek professor of the university of Cambridge, was descended from an ancient family in Pembrokeshire, and was the son of major Lort, of the Welsh
fusileers, who was killed at the battle of Fontenoy, in 1745.
He was born in 1725, and was admitted of Trinity-college,
Cambridge, in 1743, from whence he removed into the
family of Dr. Mead, to whom he was librarian until the
death of that celebrated physician, in 1754; and while in
that situation probably acquired the taste for literary history
and curiosities which enabled him to accumulate a very
valuable library, as well as to assist many of his contemporaries in their researches into biography and antiquities.
In the mean time he kept his terms at college; and proceeded A. B. in 1746; was elected fellow of his college in
1749; and took his degree of M. A. in 1750. In 1755 he
was elected a fellow of the society of antiquaries, and was
many years a vice-president, until his resignation in 1788.
During this time he made some communications to the
“Archxologia,
” vols. IV. and V. In 1759, on the resignation of Dr. Francklin, he was appointed Greek professor
at Cambridge, and in 1761 he took the degree of B. D.
and was appointed chaplain to Dr. Terrick, then bishop of
Peterborough. In January 1771 he was collated by Dr.
Cornwallis, archbishop of Canterbury, to the rectory of St.
Matthew, Friday-street, on which he resigned his Greek
professorship; and in August 1779 he was appointed chaplain to the archbishop, and in the same year commenced
D.D. In April 1780, the archbishop gave him a prebend
of St. Pau Ps (his grace’s option) and he continued at Lambeth till 1783, when he married Susanna Norfolk, one of
the two daughters of alderman Norfolk, of Cambridge. On
the death of Dr. Ducarel, in 1785, he was appointed by
archbishop Moore, librarian to the archiepiscopal library at
Lambeth. He was also for some years librarian to the
duke of Devonshire. In April 1789, he was presented by
Dr. Porteus, bishop of London, to the sinecure rectory Jqf
Fulham, in Middlesex; and in the same year was instituted to the rectory of Mile-end, near Colchester. He
died Nov. 5, 1790, at his house in Savile-row; his death
was occasioned by a fall from a chaise while riding near
Colchester, which injured his kidnies, and was followed
by a paralytic stroke. He was buried at his church in Friday-street, of which he had been rector nineteen years. A
monumental tablet was put up to his memory, which also
records the death of his widow, about fifteen months afterwards. They had no issue.
Dr. Lort was well known to the learned of this and other countries, as a
Dr. Lort was well known to the learned of this and other
countries, as a man of extensive literary information, and
a collector of curious and valuable books, at a time when
such articles were less known and in less request than at
present. He was very generally and deservedly esteemed
by his numerous acquaintance. An artless simplicity
formed the basis of his character, united to much kindness
and liberality. With talents and learning that might have
appeared to great advantage from the press, Dr. Lort was
rather anxious to assist the labours of others than ambitious
of appearing as the author of separate publications. Except
a few occasional sermons, a poem on the peace of Aix-laChapelle among the Cambridge congratulations, and some
anonymous contributions to the Gentleman’s Magazine,
and other literary journals and newspapers, we can only
mention, as an original work, “A Short Commentary on
the Lord’s Prayer; in which an allusion to the principal
circumstances of our Lord’s temptation is attempted to be
shewn;
” printed in 8vo, Family Expositor.
” Mr. Nichols has printed, from the pen of Dr. Lort, a curious
“Inquiry into the author, or rather who was not the author,
of The Whole Duty of Man.
” The same gentleman acknowledges his obligations to Dr. Lort for assistance in
some of his valuable labours. To Grander also Dr. Lort
communicated much information. Biography had been
always his study, and most of his books were filled with
notes, corrections, and references of the biographical
kind. He had likewise compiled many ms lives, which
were dispersed at his death. Of some of these the editor
of this Dictionary has been enabled to avail himself. His
library was not remarkable for external splendour, but it
contained a great number of rare and valuable articles, and
formed a sale of twenty-five days, at Messrs. Leigh and
Sotheby’s, in 1791. The produce was 1269/1; and his
prints sold for 40 1l.
, surnamed Secundus, a distinguished modern Latin poet, was nephew to a celebrated abbot of the monastery of Solitaire,
, surnamed Secundus, a distinguished
modern Latin poet, was nephew to a celebrated abbot of
the monastery of Solitaire, in the county of Hanau, in
Germany, who in 1543 established the protestant religion
in his society, and died in 1567. He was born Nov. 2,
1528, at Solitaire, received the early part of his education
at a convent in his native place, and pursued his tnaturer
studies at Francfort, Marpurg, and Wittemburg, at which last
place he contracted an intimacy with Melancthon and Camerarius. During the war in Saxony in 1546, when Melancthon and his colleagues were obliged to leave Wittemburg,
Lotich being in great perplexity what to do, at length
entered, among the troops of John Frederic, elector of
Saxony, with some of his fellow-students; but in 1548 we
find him again at Erfurth, and afterwards at Wittemburg,
pursuing his studies. In 1550 he visited France with some
young persons to whom he was governor, and he continued
there nearly four years. He afterwards went to Italy,
where he had nearly been destroyed by poison prepared
for another purpose: he recovered from the effects of it,
but was subject to frequent relapses, one of which carried
him off in the year 1560. He had taken his degree
of doctor of physic at Padua, and in 1557 was chosen professor in that science at Heidelberg. In this situation he
was honoured with the friendship of the elector-palatine,
and by the excellence of his disposition, and the singular
frankness and sincerity of his character, rendered himself
universally beloved. A collection of his Latin poems was
published in 1561, the year after his decease, with a dedicatory epistle by Joachim Camerarius, who praises him
as the best poet of his age. This has been often reprinted,
but a complete and correct edition of all his works was
published at Amsterdam in 1754, 2 vols. 4to, by Peter
Burman, nephew of the celebrated writer of those names.
Lotich had a younger brother Christian, likewise a poet,
and educated by his uncle, the abbot. A collection of his
poems was published in 1620, along with those of his
relation John- Peter Lotich, a physician of eminence, and
grandson of the above- mentioned Christian, who exercised
his profession at Minden and at Hesse, and became
professor of medicine at Rintlen in Westphalia. He
died very much regretted in 1652. His principal works
are, “Conciliorum et Observationum Medicinalium;
”
“Latin Poems;
” “A Commentary on Petronius,
” and
“A History of the Emperors Ferdinand II. and III.
” in
four volumes, is attributed to him.
, a French poet, was born in 1642, of a respectable family at Toulouse. He was originally
, a French poet, was born in
1642, of a respectable family at Toulouse. He was originally secretary of the embassy to M. de St. Remain, ambassador in Switzerland, and went to Siam, 1687, as envoy
extraordinary from the French king. On his return to
France, he was entrusted with a secret commission in SpaVi
and Portugal, s-trpposed to have had for its object the detachment of those two courts from the alliance which had
produced the revolution in England; but his design transpiring, he was arrested at Madrid, and with difficulty obtained his liberty. M. dela Loubere attached himself afterwards to the chancellor de Pontchartrain, and travelled
with his son. He was admitted into the French academy
in 1693, and that of the belles lettres in 1694; and retired
at last to Toulouse, where he married at sixty, established
the Floral Games, and died March 26, 1729, aged eightyseven. His works are, Songs, Vaudevilles, Madrigals,
Sonnets, Odes, and other poetical pieces; an account of
his voyage to Siam, 2 vols. 12rno, and a treatise “de la
Resolution des Equations,
” 1729, 4 to. &c. Of his voyage
to Siam, there is an English translation, published in 1693,
folio. It is the only one of his productions now in request.
There is reason to think he was not much admired by
some of the academicians. It being by means of M. de
Pontchartrain that he was admitted into the French academy, Fontaine said,
, an eminent French surgeon, was born at Metz, February 13, 1723. He attained to great reputation
, an eminent French surgeon, was
born at Metz, February 13, 1723. He attained to great
reputation in his profession, and was honoured with the numerous appointments of secretary of the royal academy of
surgery at Paris, consulting surgeon to the king’s forces,
surgeon-major to the hospital La Charité, doctor in surgery
of the faculty of Halle, in Saxony, honorary member of the
royal college of physicians of Nancy, and member of many
of the learned societies, not only in France, but in foreign
countries. He died, May 20, 1792, and desired to be interred among the poor in the burial-ground of the hospital
de la Salpetriere. In addition to the surgical part of the
“Encyclopédie,
” which M. Louis wrote, and to several
interesting papers presented to the academy of surgery, he
was author pf a great number of works on medical, chirnrgical, and anatomical subjects, the principal of which we
shall mention 1. “Observations sur l'Electrical,
” &c.
Paris, Essai sur la Nature de PAme, oft
l‘on tache d’expliquer son union avec le corps,
” ibid. Cours de Chirurgie pratique sur les plaies
d'armes a feu,
” ibid. Observations et llemarques sur les eHets du virus cancereux,
” &c. ibid. Posiiiones Anatomico-chirurgicae de capite ejusque
vulneribus,
” ibid. Lettre sur la certitude des
signes de la mort, avec des observations et des experiences
sur les noyes,
” ibid. Experiences sur la
Lithotomie,
” Memoire sur une question anatomique, relatif a la jurisprudence,
” &.c. Memoire sur la lgitimite des naissances
pr^tendues tardives,
” Recueil d‘Observations d’Anatomie et de Chirurgie, pour servir de base
a la Theorie des lesions de la t^te par contrecoup,
” Histoire de PAcademie Royale de Chirurgie depuis
son dtablissement jusqu'en 1743,
” printed in the fourth
volume of the memoirs. His last publication was a translation of M. Astruc’s work “De Morbis Venereis,
” into
French. In addition to these works, M. Louis also translated Boerhaave’s Aphorisms of Surgery, with Van Swieten’s Commentary; and wrote several eulogies on deceased
members of the academy of surgery, and various controversial tracts, especially concerning the disputes between
the physicians and surgeons of Paris, in 1748, &.C.
, an able advocate in the seventeenth century, and master of requests to queen Margaret, was born at Reinville, a village two leagues from Beauvais. He died
, an able advocate in the seventeenth
century, and master of requests to queen Margaret, was
born at Reinville, a village two leagues from Beauvais. He
died in 1646. His works are, I. “L'Histoire et les Antiqnités de Beauvuis,
” vol. I. Nomenclatura et Chronologia rerum Ecclesiasticarum
Dioecesis Bellovacensis,
” Paris, Hist, des
Antiquity’s du Diocese de Beauvais,
” Beauvais, lh.3.5, 8vo.
4. “Anciennes Remarques sur la Noblesse Beaiuoisme, et
de plusieurs Families de France,
” Abrég6 d: s Constitutions et Reglemens
pour les Etu;les et Reformes du Convent des Jacobins de
Beauvais,
” and addressed it to tht- king, in Remarques sur l'Histoire
de Langnedoc,
” 4to 2.“Abrégé de l‘Histoire d’Aquitaine,
Guienne, et Gascogne, jusqu'à present,
” foourdeaux, La France dans sa Splendeur,
” 2 vols. 12mo.
4. “Ahrege* de I'Histoire de Provence,
” 2 vols. 12mo, with
additions to the same history in 2 vols. folio. 5. “Projet
de I'Histoire du Pays de beanjolots,
” 8vo. 6. “Hist, des
Troubles de Provence deputs 1481 jusqu'en 159S,
” 2 vols.
12mo. 7. “Le Mercure Hollandois. ou Ifs Conquetes du
Roi, lepuisn7J, jusqira la fin de 1679,
” 10 vols 12mo.
This last may be useful, and is the best of Peter Louvet’s
works; but Hoik of the rest are much esteemed.
, a presbyterian divine of considerable tame in the time of Cromw< II, was born at Cardiff in Glamorganshire, in 1618. In his earlier days
, a presbyterian divine of considerable tame in the time of Cromw< II, was born at Cardiff in Glamorganshire, in 1618. In his earlier days he was of a dissipated turn; and his religious education, at least, must have been neglected by his parents, if what his biographer says be true, that he was fifteen years of age before he ever heard a sermon. The effect of this sermon, however, preached by Mr. Erbery, was such that he became not only reformed, but so strict and precise in his religious duties, as to give offence to his father, who at length placed him as an apprentice in London. His son, who was averse to this measure, earnestly intreated that he might be sent to the university; to which having obtained a very reluctant consent, he became a servitor of New Inn, Oxford, in 1635. Here, however, as his father denied him a proper support, he subsisted by the help of the above-mentioned Mr. Erbery, and such supplies as his mother could afford. After taking a bachelor’s degree in arts, he went into holy orders, and preached frequently at St. Peter in the Bayley, but his principles were so unacceptable, that after he had taken his master’s degree, and had refused to subscribe the canons enjoined by archbishop Laud, relative to the prelates and the Book of Common Prayer, he was expelled the congregation of masters.
hen his wishes were accomplished, by the establishment of the presbyterian government in England, he was ordained, according to their method, in Aldermanbury church,
On leaving Oxford, he went to London, where his fixed aversion to the hierarchy prevented his promotion to any living, and procured his being silenced, on which he went to Scotland to obtain presbyterian ordination; but, according to the laws of that church, he could not be ordained without settling there. On his return to England, he preached occasionally at various places, always introducing sentiments of the bitterest hostility to the church of England. At length, when his wishes were accomplished, by the establishment of the presbyterian government in England, he was ordained, according to their method, in Aldermanbury church, London, in January 1644. Next year he gave proof that he had as little prudence as moderation, by going to Uxbridge, when the commissioners for the treaty of peace were there, and preaching a sermon, in which he inveighed with great violence against his majesty’s commissioners, who complained of the insult to those of the parliament. He was, in consequence, sent for to London, and although acquitted by order of the House of Commons, yet, according to Neal, was confined to his house during the treaty, and then discharged. That language must have been very gross which induced the parliament to act thus towards one of their greatest favourites.
He was next appointed one of the Assembly of Divines, and minister
He was next appointed one of the Assembly of Divines,
and minister of St. Lawrence Jury, and is said also to have
been chosen minister of St. Anne’s, Aldersgate-street. He
was one of the London ministers who signed a declaration
against the king’s death. He was afterwards engaged in a
plot, which cost him his life, and was known at the time by
the name of Love’s plot, either because he was a principal
agent, or a principal sufferer. Mr. Love, we have already
noticed, was a presbyterian, and when he found that the
independents were gaining the ascendancy, he united with
various gentlemen and ministers of his own way of thinking to assist the Scotch (before whom Charles II. had taken the covenant, and by whom he had been crowned,) in
their endeavours to advance that sovereign to the crown of
England. Cromwell, howev&r, was too watchful for the
success of such a design in London; and the chief conspirators being apprehended, Mr. Love and a Mr. Gibbons
were tried and executed, the rest escaping by interest, or
servile submission. Mr. Love appears on his trial to have
used every means to defeat its purpose, and was certainly
more tenacious of life, than might have been expected
from the boldness of his former professions. Great intercessions were made to the parliament for a pardon: his
wife presented one petition, and himself four; several
parishes also, and a great number of his brethren interceded with great fervour; but all that could be obtained
was the respite of a month. It is said that the affairs of
the commonwealth being now at a crisis, and Charles II.
having entered England with 16,000 Scots, it was thought
necessary to strike terror in the presbyterian party, by
making an example of one of their favourite ministers.
Some historians say that Cromwell, then in the north, sent
a letter of reprieve and pardon for Mr. Love, but that the
post-boy was stopped on the road by some persons belonging to the late king’s army, who opened the mail, and
finding this letter, tore it in pieces, exclaiming that “he
who had been so great a firebrand at Uxbridge, was not
fit to live.
” Whatever truth may be in this, he was executed, by beheading, on Tower-hill, Aug. 22, 1651. He
was accompanied at his death by the three eminent nonconformists, Simeon Ashe, Edmund Calamy, and Dr. Manton. The latter preached a funeral sermon for him, in
which, while he avoids any particular notice of the cause
of his death, he considers him, as the whole of his party
did, in the light of a saint and martyr. The piety of his
life, indeed, ereated a sympathy in his favour which did
no little harm to the power of Cromwell. Thousands began to see that the tyranny of the republic would equal all
they had been taught to hate in the mo larchv. The government, we are told, expressed some displeasure at Dr.
Manton’s intention of preaching a funeral sermon, and their
creatures among the soldiers threatened violence, but he
persisted in his resolution, and not only preached, but
printed the sermon. The loyalists, on the other hand,
considered Love’s death as an instance of retributive justice. Clarendon says that he “was guilty of as much treason as the pulpit could contain;
” and his biographers have
so weakly defended the violence of his conduct during the
early period of the rebellion, as to leave this fact almost
indisputable. His works consist of sermons and pious
tracts, on various subjects, mostly printed after his death,
and included in three volumes, 8vo. They were all accompanied by prefaces from his brethren, of high commendation.
ter, assumed this name (from his wife’s, De L'Amour) when he first attached himself to the stage. He was one of the sons of Mr. Dance the city surveyor, whose memory
, an actor and dramatic writer, assumed
this name (from his wife’s, De L'Amour) when he first attached himself to the stage. He was one of the sons of
Mr. Dance the city surveyor, whose memory will be transmitted to posterity on account of the clumsy edifice which
he erected for the residence of the city’s chief magistrate.
Our author received, it is said, his education at Westminster school, whence he removed to Cambridge, which,
it is believed, he lett without taking any degree. About
that time a severe poetical satire against sir Robert Waipole, then minister, appeared under the title of “Are
these things so?
” which, though written by Mr. Miller,
was ascribed to Pope. To this Mr Love immediately
wrote a reply called “Yes, they are, what then?
” which
proved so satisfactory to Walpole that he made him a
handsome present, and gave him expectations of preferment. Elated with this distinction, with the vanity of a
young author, and the credulity of a young man, he considered his fortune as established, and, neglecting every
other pursuit, became an attendant at the minister’s levees,
where he contracted habits of indolence and expence,
without obtaining any advantage. The stage now offered
itself as an asylum from the difficulties he had involved
himself in, and, therefore, changing his name to Love, he
made!is first essays ID strolling companies. He afterwards
performed both at Dublin and Edinburgh, and at the latter place resided some years as manager. At length he
received, in 1762, an invitation to Drury-lane theatre,
where he continued during the remainder of his life. In
1765, with the assistance of his brother, he erected a new
theatre at Richmond, and obtained a licence for performing in it; but did not receive any benefit from it, as the
success by no means answered his expectations. He
died about the beginning of 1774. He neither as an actor
or author attained any great degree of excellence. His
performance of Falstaff was by much the best, but the
little reputation which he acquired by it was entirely
eclipsed by the superiority of gen;iis which his successor,
Mr. Henderson, di-splayed in the representation of the
same character As an author, he has given the world
“Pamela, a Comedy,
” Biographia Dramatica.
”
, an elegant poet of the seventeenth century, was the eldest son of sir William Lovelace of Woolwich, in Kent,
, an elegant poet of the seventeenth century, was the eldest son of sir William Lovelace
of Woolwich, in Kent, and was born in that county about
1618. He received his grammar-learning at the Charterhouse; and, in 1634, bt came a gentleman-commoner of
Gloucester hall, Oxford, being then, as Wood observes,
“accounted the most amiable and beautiful person that
eye ever beheld a person also of innate modesty, virtue,
and courtly tieponmerit, which made him then, and especially after, when he retired to die great city, much admired and adored by the female sex.
” In 1636 he was
created M. A. and, leaving the university, retired, as Wood
phmses it, in great splenlour to the court; where being
taken into the favour of lord Goring he became a soldier,
and was fir.it an ensign, and aiterwards a captain. On the
pacification at Berwick he returned to his native country,
and took possession of his estate, worth about five hundred
pounds per annum; and, about the same time, was deputed
by the county to deliver the Kentish petition to the House
of Commons, which Diving offence, he was ordered into
custody, and confined in the Gate-house, whence he was
released on giving bail of 40,000*. not to go beyond the
lines of communication without a pass from the Speaker.
During the time of his confinement to London he lived
beyond the income of his estate, chiefly to support the
credit of the royal cause; and, in 1646, he formed a regiment for the service of the French king, was colonel of it,
and wounded at Dunkirk. In 1648 he returned to England with his brother, and was again committed prisoner to
Peter-house in London, where he remained till after the
king’s death. At that period he was set at liberty, but,
“having then consumed all his estate be grew very melancholy, which at length brought him into a consumption, became very poor in body and purse, was the object
of charity, went in ragged cloaths (whereas when he was in his glory he wore cloaths of gold and silver), and mostly
lodged in obscure and dirty places, more befitting the worst
of beggars and poorest of servants.
” He died in a very
poor lodging in Gunpowder-alley, near Shoe-lane, in 1658,
and was buried at the west end of St. Bride’s church, tyis
pieces, which are light and easy, had been models in
their way, were their simplicity but equal to their spirit;
but they were the offspring of gallantry and amusement,
and seldom received a requisite degree of polish. Under
the name of Lucasta, which is the title to his poems, contained in two volumes (the latter published by his brother Dudley Posthumus Lovelace, in 1659), he compliments
a Miss Lucy Sacheverel, a lady, according to Wood, of
great beauty and fortune, whom he was accustomed to call
*' Lux Casta.“On the report of Lovelace’s death of his
wounds, at Dunkirk, she married. Winstanly has, and
not improperly, compared him to sir Philip Sidney. He
wrote also two plays,
” The Scholar,“a comedy, and
” The
Soldier," a tragedy.
, a modern poet whose personal history has been neglected, was, according to the preface to his poems, “a gentleman of fortune,
, a modern poet whose personal
history has been neglected, was, according to the preface
to his poems, “a gentleman of fortune, who passed the
greater part of his years in the neighbourhood of Hampton, in Middlesex, where he lived greatly beloved by those
who best knew him. He was an admirable scholar, of very
amiable manners, and of universal benevolence, of which
all his writings bear strong testimony. The little pieces
which compose (his works) were chiefly written on such
incidents as occasionally arose in those societies of intimate acquaintance which he most frequented. After his
death, which happened in 1775, his poems being dispersed
in the hands of different friends, to whom they had been
given by himself, many people expressed to his only brother, Anthony, Lovibond Collins, esq. a wish to have them
collected together, and preserved. This gentleman, equally
zealous for the reputation of a brother he affectionately
loved, hath put into the editor’s hands those pieces he hath
selected for that purpose.
”
beloved, the public might reasonably have expected a more detailed account. His father, we are told, was a director of the East India company, and died in 1737, leaving
Of a man of so many virtues, and so greatly beloved, the public might reasonably have expected a more detailed account. His father, we are told, was a director of the East India company, and died in 1737, leaving him probably that fortune on which he was enabled to pass his days in the quiet enjoyment of the pleasures of rural life. He died September 27, 1775, at his house at Hampton, but the register of that parish is silent on his interment. We have been informed also that he was married, and not very happily.
When the “World” was conducted by Edward Moore, and his many noble and learned c
When the “World
” was conducted by Edward Moore,
and his many noble and learned contributors, Mr. Lovibond
furnished five papers; of which Nos. 93 and 94 contain
some just remarks on the danger of extremes, and the impediments to conversation. In Nos. 132 and 134 he opposes the common erroneous notions on the subject of Providence with considerable force of argument, and concludes with some ironical remarks, not ill applied. In No.
82 he first published “The Tears of Old May Day,
” the
most favourite of all his poems. The thoughts are peculiarly ingenious and happy, yet it may be questioned
whether it is not exceeded by his “Mulberry Tree,
” in
which the distinguishing features of Johnson’s and Garrick’s
characters are admirably hit off the frivolous enthusiasm
of the one, and the solid and sturdy veneration of the other
for our immortal bard, are depicted with exquisite humour.
Julia’s printed letter appears to haVe been a favourite with
the author. There are some bursts of genuine passion,
and some tenderness displayed occasionally, but it wants
simplicity. It was probably suggested by Pope’s Eloisa,
and must suffer in proportion as it reminds us of that inimitable effort. His “Lines on Rural Sports
” are both
poetical and moral, and contain some interesting pictures
sweetly persuasive to a humane treatment of the brute
creation. His love verses, some of which are demi-platonic,
are tender and sprightly. The Miss K P < was Miss
Kitty Phillips, a relation of the family, now ennobled by
the title of MilforJ. The “Tale of the Hitchin Convent;
”
the “Lines to a young Lady,
” a very good actress; the
“Verses to Mr. Woodeson,
” and those on converting that
gentleman’s house into a poor-house, are all distinguished
by original turns of thought. His pieces were generally
circulated in private, as he had not the ambition of an
author, and was contented to please those whom he intended to please; yet he never attempted, any subject
which he did not illustrate by novelty of manner, and upon
the whole may be considered as among the most successful
of that class who are rather amateurs, than professional
poets.
, a clergyman of Scotland, and an ingenious natural historian, was born at Edzal in Forfarshire, in 1746. He was educated at the
, a clergyman of Scotland, and an ingenious natural historian, was born at Edzal in Forfarshire, in 1746. He was educated at the colleges of Aberdeen and St. Andrew’s, and afterwards was tutor in the family of Graham, at Stromness in Orkney. During his residence at this place, Mr. (now sir Joseph) Banks and Dr. Soiander arrived at the island on their return from the last voyage of discovery, in which capt. Cook lost his life; and Mr. Low, having early acquired a taste for natural history, was much noticed by those distinguished philosophers, and was requested to accompany them in their excursions through the Orkneys, and also to the Shetland islands, which he accordingly lid.
In 1774- he was ordained minister of Birsay and Haray, a parish in Pomona, or
In 1774- he was ordained minister of Birsay and Haray,
a parish in Pomona, or main-land of Orkney, and from
this time devoted himself to the duties of his charge, which
he continued to fulfil for the remainder of his lite. He
employed his leisure chiefly in the study of nature, and his
success was highly creditable, considering the many disadvantage-; of a remote situation. Sir Joseph Banks, with
his accrstouied zeal for the promotion of science, introduced him to Mr. Pennant, by whose advice he engaged
to un n nake a “Fauna Orcadensis,
” and a “Flora Orcadensi.s,
” ti.e Hrst of which was published in Flora
” iias not been discovered. A tour through the islands of Orkney and Shetland,
Containing hints relating to their ancient, modern, and
natural history, was also prepared by Mr. Low for the
press, and previous to his decease, he made a translation
of Torfeus’s “-History of Orkney.
” The Mss. of the
“Fauna,
” the tour and the translation just mentioned,
with his zoological collections, came into the possession of
Mr. George Paton, an eminent antiquary of Edinburgh,
after whose decease they were purchased by different persons. Mr. Low died in 1795. His “Fauna
” forms a very
interesting and valuable addition to the natural history of
the British islands.
, a surgeon of the sixteenth century, was born in Scotland. In a work entitled “A Discourse on the whole
, a surgeon of the sixteenth century,
was born in Scotland. In a work entitled “A Discourse
on the whole Art of Chirurgery,
” published at Glasgow in
The Poor Man’s Guide,
” and speaks of an intended publication concerning the diseases of women. He died in
1612. The “Discourse on Chirurgery
” appears to have
been in esteem, as it reached a fourth edition in 1654,
but it is founded more on authority than observation.
Ames mentions another work of his with the title “An
easy, certain, and perfect method to cure and prevent the
Spanish Sickness; by Peter Lowe, doctor in the Facultie of
Chirurgerie at Paris, chirurgeon to Henry IV
” London,
1596, 4to.
, an eminent physician and anatomist, was born at Tremere, in Cornwall, about 1631. He was descended from
, an eminent physician and anatomist, was born at Tremere, in Cornwall, about 1631. He
was descended from a good family, and received a liberal
education, being admitted as king’s scholar at Westminster
school, and thence elected to Christ-church college, Oxford, in 1649, where he took the degree of M. A. in 1655,
and then studied medicine. The celebrated Dr. Willis,
who employed him as coadjutor in his dissections, found
him so able an assistant, that he afterwards became his
steady friend and patron, and introduced him into practice. In 1665, Lower took the degree of M. D.; and in
the same year published a defence of Dr. Willis’s work on
fevers, entitled “Diatribae Thomae Willisii M. D. et Prof.
Oxon. de Febribus Vindicatio adversus Edm. de Meara
Ormondiensem Hibern. M. D.
” 8vo, a work of considerable learning and force of argument, but not without some
fallacies, as he afterwards himself admitted. But his most
important work was, his “Tractatus de Corde, item de
motu et calore Sanguinis, et Chyli in eum transitu,
” which
was first printed in London in
, was a noted cavalier in the reign of king Charles I. He was born
, was a noted cavalier in
the reign of king Charles I. He was born at a place called
Tremare in Cornwall. During the heat of the civil wars
he took refuge in Holland, where, being strongly attached
to the Muses, he had an opportunity of enjoying their society, and pursuing his study in peace and privacy. He
died in 1662. He was a very great admirer of the French
poets, particularly Corneille and Quinault, on whose works
he has built the plans of four out of the six plays which he
wrote. The titles of his dramatic works are, 1. “Phoenix
in her Flames.
” 2. “Polyeuctes or, The Martyr.
” 3.
“Horatius.
” 4. “Inchanted Lovers.
” 5. “Noble Ingratitude.
” 6. “Amorous Phantasm.
” All those, except
the first, were written during the usurpation. He translated from the French the first and third volumes of “The
Innocent Lady, or Illustrious Innocents.
” But the most
considerable of his translations, was “A Relation in form
of a Journal of the voyage and residence of Charles II. in
Holland from May 25, to June 2, 1660,
” fol. finely printed,
with good engravings of the ceremonies, and several copies
of bad verses by the translator.
, a learned dissenting clergyman, was born in 1680. He was originally destined for the law, and in
, a learned dissenting clergyman, was born in 1680. He was originally destined for the law, and in 1697 entered as a student in the Middle-Temple, but in about two years he changed his purpose and determined to study divinity. With this view he went over to Holland in 1699, where he studied partly at Utrecht and partly at Leyden. In 1710, after being admitted to the ministry among the dissenters, he settled with the congregation at Claphana, as assistant to Mr. Grace, whom he succeeded as their pastor, and was ordained in 1714. In this situation he continued to his death, preaching twice each Sunday until within a few weeks of that event. He distinguished himself, from the period of his academical studies, in metaphysics and divinity: and, to the close of his life, he was an indefatigable reader, and acquired an extraordinary stock of useful knowledge, particularly in Jewish learning and antiquities, to which last he was much devoted. The result of this application appeared in the learned works he published, and which constituted his chief fame; for as a pulpit orator, it does not appear that he was much admired. Dr. Chandler, who preached his funeral sermon, gives him a very high personal character. He died May 3, 1752, in the seventy-third year of his age.
His pen was first employed, in 1716, in a kind of periodical work, called
His pen was first employed, in 1716, in a kind of periodical work, called the “Occasional Papers,
” which now
form three volumes, 8vo, and in which he wrote, No. I.
(vol. H.) “On Orthodoxy
” and No. VI. “On the danger
of the Chqrcb.
” His colleagues in this paper were Mr.
Simon Brown, Dr. Grosvenor, Dr. Evans, and others. The
subjects are in general on points in controversy with the
church. In 1718, he wrote a treatise against Collins, the
title of which, says his biographer, is forgotten, but it is
mentioned by the accurate Leland, as “The Argument
from prophecy, in proof that Jesus is the Messiah, vindicated, in some considerations on the prophecies cf the Old
Testament, as the grounds and reasons of the Christian religion.
” It was not printed, however, until The Principles of
Popery schismatical.
” He had published before this, two
occasional sermons. Another of his pamphlets, entitled
“An Argument to prove the Unity and Perfections of
God d prioi'i,
” uas more admired for its novelty and ingenuity than usefulness: but the works of Mr. Lowman
on which his reputation is most securely founded, are, 1.
“A Dissertation on the Civil Government of the Hebrews,
”
in answer to Morgan’s “Moral Philosopher.
” This, whicU
appeared in A rationale of the Ritual
of the Hebrew Worship: in which the design and usefulness
of that ritual are explained and vindicated from objections/ 1
1748. 3.
” A Paraphrase and Notes upon the Revelation
of St. John,“4to, twice, and 8vo, lately. 4.
” Three
(posthumous) Tracts," on the Schechina, the Logos, &c.
, a distinguished divine, was the son of William Lowth, apothecary and citizen of London,
, a distinguished divine, was the
son of William Lowth, apothecary and citizen of London,
and was born in the parish of St. Martin’s Ludgate, Sept.H,
1661. His grandfather Mr. Simon Lowth, rector of Tylehurst in Berks, took great care of his education, ad initiated him early in letters. He was afterwards sent to
Merchant-Taylors’ school, where he made so great a progress that he was elected thence into St. John’s-college in
Oxford in 1675, before he was fourteen. Here he regularly took the degrees of master of arts, and bachelor in
divinity. His eminent worth and learning recommended
him to Dr. Mew, bishop of Winchester, who made him his
chaplain, and in 1696 conferred upon him a prebend in
the cathedral-church of Winchester, and in 1699 presented
him to the rectory of Buriton, with the chapel of Petersfield, Hants. His studies were strictly confined within
his own province, and solely applied to the duties of his
function; yet, that he might acquit himself the better, he
acquired an uncommon share of critical learning. There
is scarcely any ancient author, Greek or Latin, profane or
ecclesiastical, especially the latter, whose works he had
not read with accuracy, constantly accompanying his reading with critical and philological remarks. Of his collections in this way, he was, upon all occasions, very communicative. His valuable notes on “Clemens Alexandrinus
” are to be met with in Potter’s edition of that father; and his remarks on “Josephus,
” communicated to
Hudson for his edition, are acknowledged in his preface;
as also those larger and more numerous annotations on
the “Ecclesiastical Historians,
” inserted in Reading’s edition of them at Cambridge. The author also of the “BibJiotheca Biblica
” was indebted to him for the same kind
of assistance. Chandler, late bishop of Durham, while engaged in his defence of Christianity from the prophecies
o the Old Testament, against Collins’s discourse of the
“Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion,
” and in
his vindication of the “Defence,
” in answer to “The Scheme
of Literal Prophecy considered,
” held a constant correspondence with him, and consulted him upon many difficulties that occurred in the course of that work. But the most
valuable part of his character was that which least appeared in the eyes of the world, the private and retired
part, that of the good Christian, and the useful parishpriest. His piety, his diligence, his hospitality, and beneficence, rendered his life highly exemplary, and greatly
enforced his public exhortations. He married Margaret
daughter of Robert Pitt, esq. of Blandford, by whom he
had three daughters and two sons, one of whom was the
learned subject of our next article. He died May 17, 1732,
and was buried, by his own orders, in the church-yard at
Buriton, near the South side of the chancel; and on the inside wall is a plain monument with an inscription.
, a very learned and eminent prelate, and second son to the preceding, was born Nov. 27, 1710. He received his education at Winchester-school,
, a very learned and eminent prelate, and second son to the preceding, was born Nov. 27,
1710. He received his education at Winchester-school,
und while there gave the first specimen of his“great abilities, in a poem, entitled
” The Genealogy of Christ, as it
is represented on the East window of Winchester-college
chap-el,“since inserted in Pearch’s Collection of Poems.
He also, as an exercise, in 1729, wrote another poem, entitled
” Catharine Hill," the place where the Winchester
scholars are allowed to play on holidays. From Winchester
he was elected to New-college, Oxford, in 1730, where he
took his degree of M. A. June 8, 1737. At Oxford he
was not more distinguished for proficiency in his studies,
than for the excellence of his taste, and the politeness of
his manners: and being now more immediately under
Wykeham’s roof, he conceived the design, which he afterwards so ably accomplished, of investigating the history
of his college, and writing the life of that wise and munificent founder. The first distinction he obtained in the university was the office of professor of poetry, which was
conferred upon him in 1741, on the resignation of his
friend Mr. Spence. In performing the duties of this office
he struck out a new path, by giving a course of lectureg
on Hebrew poetry, which have since added so much to hii
reputation.
f the third book of Horace;” a spirited performance, severely reproving the vices of the times. This was afterwards inserted in Dodsley Collection, vol. III. and was
In 1746, Mr. Lowth published “An Ode to the people
of Great Britain, in imitation of the sixth ode of the third
book of Horace;
” a spirited performance, severely reproving the vices of the times. This was afterwards inserted in Dodsley Collection, vol. III. and was followed by
his “Judgment of Hercules,
” in his friend Mr. Spence’s
“Poly metis .
” His first preferment in the church was
to the rectory of Ovington, in Hampshire, which he received from bishop Hoadly. In 1748, he accompanied Mr:
Legge, afterwards chancellor of the Exchequer, to Berlin, who went to that court in a public character; and with
whom, from his earliest years, Mr. Lowth lived on terms
of the mosc intimate and uninterrupted friendship. In tha
following year he became acquainted with the duke of
Devonshire, in consequence of his attending his brothers
lord George and lord Frederic Cavendish, on their travels,
and especially at Turin, which place was their principal
residence during th*. ir absence from this country. The
duke was so amply satisfied with the conduct of Mr. Lowth,
as the travelling tutor of his brothers, that he afterwards
proved his steady friend and patron. In 1750, bishop
Hoadly conferred on him the archdeaconry of Winchester, and in 1753, the rectory of East Wooclhay, in Hampshire.
e occasion; and the choice of his subject, which lay out of the beaten paths ol criticism, and which was highly interesting, not only in a literary, but a religious
ID this last mentioned year he published his Poetrylectures, under the title of “De Sacra Poesi Hebraeorum
Praelectiones academicc,
” 4to, of which he gave the public an enlarged edition in 1763, 2 vols. 8vo. The second
volume consists of additions made by the celebrated Michaelis. To this work, as we have already noticed, the
duties of his professoiship gave occasion; and the choice
of his subject, which lay out of the beaten paths ol criticism,
and which was highly interesting, not only in a literary, but
a religious view, afforded ample scope for the poetical,
critical, and theological talents of the author. In these
prelections, the true spirit and distinguishing character of
the poetry of the Old Testament are more thoroughly entered into, and developed more perfectly, than ever had
been done before Select parts of this poetry are expressed
in Latin composition with the greatest elegance and force;
the general criticism which pervades the whole work is
such as might be expected from a writer of acknowledged
poetical genius and literary judgment; and the particular
criticism applied to those passages of the original Hebrew,
which he has occasion to introduce, in order either to express the sense, or correct the words of k, is a pattern for
that kind of sacred literature: nor are the theological subjects which occur in the course of the work, and are necessarily connected with it, treated with less ability. To
the “Prelections
” is subjoined a “Short Confutation of
bishop Hare’s system of Hebrew Metre,
” in which he
shows it to be founded on laUe reasoning, on apetitio princigiiy that would equally prove a different and contrary
system true This produced the fir>t and most creditable
controversy in which Mr Lowth was engaged. The Harian
metre was defended by Dr. Thomas Edwards, of Cambridge,
(see his life,) who published a Latin letter to Mr. Lowth,
to which the latter replied in a “Larger Confutation,
” addressed to Dr. Edwards in Larger
Confutation,
” which from the subject may be supposed dry and
uninteresting to the majority of readers, is yet, as a piece
of reasoning, extremely curious; for" there never was a
fallacy more accurately investigated, or a system more
complete!) refuted, than that of bisnop Hare.
ace, for these preferments, which were accordingly given to him by Dr. Trevor, bishop of Durham, who was not a little pleased to rank among his clergy a gentleman of
In July 1754-, probably as a reward for the distinguished
ability displayed in his “Praelectiones,
” he received the
degree of D. D. conferred by the university in the most
honourable manner in their power, by diploma; and in
1755 he went t > Irela d as first chaplain to Uie marquis of
Harrington (afterwards duke of Devonshire, and then)
lord lieutenant. In consequence of this appointment he
had the offer of the bishopric of Limeric, but this * he
exchanged with Dr Lesl.e, prebendary of Durham, and
rector of Sedgefiild, near that place, for these preferments, which were accordingly given to him by Dr. Trevor, bishop of Durham, who was not a little pleased to
rank among his clergy a gentleman of such rare accomplishments.
ain information of the manners of the times, and of many of the public transactions in which Wykeham was concerned, with such an account of the origin and foundation
In 1758 he published that admirable specimen of recondite biography, his “Life of William of Wykeham,
” 8vo,
founder of Winchester and New colleges. It is collected
from authentic evidences, and affords the most certain information of the manners of the times, and of many of the
public transactions in which Wykeham was concerned, with
such an account of the origin and foundation of his college,
as was scarcely to be supposed recoverable at so remote a
period. This work has gone through three editions. In
the dedication to bishop Hoadly, Dr. Lowth gives the
sanction of his approbation to a decision which Hoadly, as
visitor, had recently made respecting the wardenship of
Winchester college. This produced a sarcastic address to
him, which he replied to in a pamphlet entitled “An
Answer to an anonymous Letter to Dr. Lowth concerning
the late Election of a Warden of Winchester college.
”
This was written in his usual masterly manner.
The next work of importance with which he favoured the public was his “Short Introduction to English Grammar,” first published
The next work of importance with which he favoured
the public was his “Short Introduction to English Grammar,
” first published in
In 1765 Dr. Lowih was elected a fellow of the royal societies of London and Gottingen;
In 1765 Dr. Lowih was elected a fellow of the royal
societies of London and Gottingen; and in the same year
was involved in a controversy with bishop Warburton. On
this subject we shall be brief, but we cannot altogether
agree with former biographers of Lowth and Warburton, in
considering them as equally blameable, and that the contest reflected equal disgrace on both. In all contests the
provoking party has more to answer for than the provoked.
We lament that it was possible for Warburton to discover
in the amiable mind of Lowth that irritability which has in
some measure tainted the controversy on the part of the
latter and we lament that Lowth was not superior to the
coarse attack of his antagonist; but all must allow that the
attack was coarse, insolently contemptuous, and almost intolerable to any man who valued his own character. Lowth
bad advanced in his Prelections an opinion respecting the
Book of Job, which Warburton considered as aimed at his
own peculiar opinions. This produced a private correspondence between them in 1756, and after some explanations the parties seem to have retired well satisfied with
each other. This, however, was not the case with Warburton, who at the end of the last volume of a new edition
of his “Divine Legation,
” added “An appendix concerning
the Book of Job,
” in which he treated Dr. Lowth with
every expression of sneer and contempt, and in language
most grossly illiberal and insolent. This provocation must
account for the memorable letter Dr. Lowth published
entitled “A Letter to the right rev. author of the Divine
Legation of Moses demonstrated, in answer to the Appendix to the fifth volume of that work; with an appendix,
containing a former literary correspondence. By a laic
professor in the university of Oxford,
” 8vo. Few pamphlets of the controversial kind were ever written with more
ability, or more deeply interested the public than this.
What we regret is the strong tendency to personal satire;
but the public at the time found an apology even for that
in the overbearing character of Warburton, and the contemptuous manner in which he, and his under-writers, as
Hard and others were called, chose to treat a man in all
respects their equal at least. It was, therefore, we think,
with great justice, that one of the monthly critics introduced an account of this memorable letter, by observing,
that “when a person of gentle and amiable manners, of
unblemished character, and eminent abilities, is calumniated and treated in the most injurious manner by a
haughty and over-bearing colossus, it must give pleasure
to every generous mind to see a person vindicating himself
with manly freedom, resenting the insult with proper spirit,
attacking the imperious aggressor in his turn, and taking
ample vengeance for the injury done him. Such is the
pleasure which every impartial reader, every true republican in literature, will receive from the publication of the
letter now before us.
” 1
This was followed by “Remarks on Dr. Lowth’s Letter to the bishop of
This was followed by “Remarks on Dr. Lowth’s Letter
to the bishop of Gloucester,
” anonymous, but now known
to have been written by Mr. Towne, archdeacon of Stow
in Lincolnshire; to which is annexed “The second epistolary Correspondence
” between Warburton and Lowth,
in which Warburton accuses Lowth of a breach of confidence in publishing the former correspondence. A more
petty controversy arose from Dr. Lowth’s letter, between
him and Dr. Brown, author of “Essays on the Characteristics,
” who fancied that Lowth had glanced at him as one
of the servile admirers of Warburton. He therefore addressed “A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Lowth,
” which was
answered in “A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Brown,
” written in
a polite and dispassionate manner. It was followed by
two anonymous addresses to Dr. Brown, censuring him for
having introduced himself and his writings into a dispute
which had nothing to do with either f.
* " The real merit of Warburton was is seldom candid or impartial. A late
* " The real merit of Warburton was is seldom candid or impartial. A late
ile the merits of an insignificant controflatterers exalted the master-critic far versy, his victory was clearly estaabove Aristotle and Longinus, as- blished by the
mercy or moderation; and his servile the merits of an insignificant controflatterers exalted the master-critic far versy, his victory was clearly estaabove Aristotle and Longinus, as- blished by the silent confession of Warsaulted every modern dissenter who burton and his slaves." Gibbon’s Merefused to consult the oracle, and to enoirs, 4to, p. 136.
opposition, and the zeal of opposition Lowth; ampng these was Richard CumIn June 17 66 Dr. Lowth was promote* to the see of
opposition, and the zeal of opposition Lowth; ampng these was Richard
CumIn June 17 66 Dr. Lowth was promote* to the see of St.
David’s, and about four mouths after was translated to that
of Oxford. In this high office he remained till 1777, when
he succeeded Dr. Terrick in the see of London. In 1778
he published the last of his literary labours, entitled “Isaiah:
a new Translation, with a preliminary dissertation, and
notes, critical, philological, and explanatory,
” His design in this work was not only to give an exact and faithful representation of the words and sense of the prophet,
by adhering closely to the letter of the text, and treading
as nearly as may be in his footsteps; but to imitate the
air and manner of the author, to express the form and
fashion of the composition, and to give the English reader
some notion of the peculiar turn and cast of the original.
For this he was eminently qualified, by his critical knowledge of the original language, by his understanding more
perfectly than any other writer of his time the character
and spirit of its poetry, and by his general erudition, both
literary and theological. In the preliminary dissertation
the form and construction of the poetical compositions of
the Old Testament are examined more particularly, and
at large, than even in the “Prelections
” themselves; and
such principles of criticism are established as must be the
foundation of all improved translations of the different,
and especially of the poetical books of the Old Testament.
In this instance the translation of the evangelical prophet,
who is almost always sublime or elegant, yet often obscure
notwithstanding all the aids of criticism, was executed in a
manner adequate to the superior qualifications of the
learned prelate who undertook it; and marked out the way
for other attempts of a like kind, at a time when the hopes
of an improved version was cherished by many, and when
sacred criticism was cultivated with ardour. In our account of Michael Dodson we have mentioned an attempt
to censure some part of this admired translation, which
was ably repelled by the bishop’s relative, Dr. Sturges.
ied, the king made an offer of the archiepiscopal see to Dr. Lowth; but this dignity he declined. He was now advanced in life, and was
When archbishop Cornwallis died, the king made an offer of the archiepiscopal see to Dr. Lowth; but this dignity he declined. He was now advanced in life, and was
recently experienced some severe strokes of domestic calamity. Mary, his eldest daughter, of whom he was passionately fond, died in 1768, aged thirteen. On her mausoleum
so good an account, that were we di- Monthly Review, or Gentleman’s Mato flatter him, no language of giuuut. tormented by a cruel and painful disorder, the stone, and had recently experienced some severe strokes of domestic calamity. Mary, his eldest daughter, of whom he was passionately fond, died in 1768, aged thirteen. On her mausoleum the doctor placed the following exquisitely beautiful and pathetic epitaph:
His second daughter, Frances, died as she was presiding at the tea-table, in July 1783; she was going to place
His second daughter, Frances, died as she was presiding
at the tea-table, in July 1783; she was going to place a
cup of coffee on the salver. “Take this,
” said she, “to
the bishop of Bristol;
” immediately the cup and her hand
fell together upon the salver, and she instantly expired.
His eldest son also, of whom he was led to form the highest
expectations, was hurried to the grave in the bloom of
youth. Amid these scenes of distress, the venerable bishop,
animated by the hopes which the religion of Jesus alone
inspires, viewed, with pious resignation, the king of terrors
snatching his dear and amiable children from his fond
embrace, and at length met the stroke with fortitude,
and left this world in full and certain hope of a better. He
died Nov. 3, 1787, aged seventy-seven, and was buried at
Fulham.
Several occasional discourses, which the bishop was by his station at different times called upon to deliver, were
Several occasional discourses, which the bishop was by
his station at different times called upon to deliver, were of
course published, and are all worthy of his pen. That
“On the Kingdom of God,
” preached at a visitation at
Durham, was most admired for liberality of sentiment, and
went through several editions. Some of his poetical effusions have been already mentioned, and others appear in
podsley’s and Nichols’s Collections, the Gentleman’s Magazine, &c. With such various abilities, equally applicable
either to elegant literature or professional studies, bishop
Lowth possessed a mind that felt its own strength, and
decided on whatever came before it with promptitude and
firmness a mind fitted fur the high station in which he
was placed. He had a temper, which, in private and domestic life, endeared him in the greatest degree to those
who were most nearly connected with him, and towards
others produced an habitual complacency and agreeableness of manners; but which, as we have seen, was susceptible of considerable warmth, when it was roused by
unjust provocation or improper conduct.
, an English clergyman, was born iir Northamptonshire about 1630, and is supposed to have
, an English clergyman, was born iir
Northamptonshire about 1630, and is supposed to have
been the son of Simon Lowth, a native of Thurcaston in
Leicestershire, who was rector of Dingley in that county in
1631, and was afterwards ejected by the usurping powers.
This, his son, was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge,
where be took his master’s degree in 1660. He was afterwards rector of St. Michael Harbledown in 1670, and vicar
of St. Co.Miius and Damian on the Blean in 1679, both in,
Kent. On Nov. 12, 1688, king James nominated him,
and he was instituted by bishop Sprat, to the deanery of
Rochester, on the death of Dr. Castillon, but never obtained possession, owing to the following circumstances.
The mandate of installation bad issued in course, the
bishop not having allowed himself time to examine whether
the king’s presentee was legally qualified; which happened
not to be the case, Mr. Lowth being only a master of arts,
and the statute requiring that the dean should be at least
a bachelor of divinity. The bishop in a day or two discovering that he had been too precipitate, dispatched letters
to the chapter clerk, and one of the prebendaries, earnestly
soliciting that Mr. Lowth might not be installed; and afterwards in form revoked the institution till he should have
taken the proper degree. On Nov. 27 Mr. Lowth attended
the chapter, and produced his instruments, but the prebendaries present refused to obey them. He was admitted
to the degree of D.D.Jan. 18 following, and on March
19 again claimed instalment, but did not obtain possession,
for which, in August of this year, another reason appeared,
viz. his refusing to take the oaths of allegiance; in consequence of which he was first suspended from his function,
and afterwards deprived of both his livings in Kent. He
lived very long after this, probably in London, as his death
is recorded to have happened there on July 3, 1720, when
he was buried in the new cemetery belonging to the parish
of St. George the Martyr, Queen Square. He published,
1. “Letters between Dr. Gilbert Burnet and Mr. Simon.
Lowth,
” History of the Reformation.
” 2. “The subject
of Church Power, in whom it resides,
” &c. A Letter to Edward Stillingfleet, D. D. in answer to the
Dedicatory Epistle before, his ordination-sermon, preached
at St. Peter’s Cornhill, March 15, 1684, with reflections.
on some of Dr. Burnet’s letters on the same subject,
” an honour,
” bishop
Nicolson says, “which he (Lowth) had no right to expect;
”
Lowth had submitted this letter both to Stillingfleet and
Tillotson, who was then dean of Canterbury, but, according to Birch, “the latter did not think proper to take the
least public notice of so confused and unintelligible a
writer.
” Dr. Hickes, however, a suffering nonjuror like
himself, calls Lowfeh “a very orthodox and learned divine,
”
and his book an excellent one. His only other publication,
was “Historical Collections concerning Deposing of Bishops,
”
, the founder of the order of Jesuits, was born in 1491, of a considerable family, at the castle of Loyola,
, the founder of the order of Jesuits, was born in 1491, of a considerable family, at the castle of Loyola, in the province of Guipuscoa in Spain. He was educated in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, and entered very early into the military profession. He was addicted to all the excesses too common in that line of life, but was at the same time a good officer, and one who sought occasions to distinguish himself. His valour was conspicuous at Pampeluna in 1521, when it was besiege,d by the French, and there he had his leg broken by a cannon-shot. During the confinement occasioned by this wound, he formed a resolution of renouncing the world, of travelling to JtTUS;de and dedicating his life to the service ol Go.,. He is said to have imbibed his ardour of zeal by reading the legends of the saints, as Don Quixote began his errantry l<\ reading the old romances; though some have denied that Loyola knew the use of letters. But whether he read, or had these things read to him, he certainly conceived an ardour of religious activity, which has not otten bem equalled.
ted with a Moor on the perpetual virginity of the blessed virgin, and after his antagonist left him, was seized with such a fit of enthusiasm as to pursue the Moor in
He had no sooner been restored to health than he went
to bang up his arms over the altar of the blessed virgin at
Montst rrat, to whom he devoted his services on March
24, 1522; for he carried the laws of chivalry to his religious observances. In his way he disputed with a Moor on
the perpetual virginity of the blessed virgin, and after his
antagonist left him, was seized with such a fit of enthusiasm as to pursue the Moor in order to put him to death,
but could not find him. Having watched all night at
Montserrat, sometimes standing, and sometimes kneeling,
and having devoted himself most earnestly to the virgin^,
he set out before day-b eak in a pilgrim’s habit to Manresa.
Here he took his lodging among the poor of the town hospital, and he practised mortifications of every kind for
above a year. He suffered his hair and nails to grow
begged from door to door; fasted six days in the week
whipped himself thrice a day was seven hours every day
in vocal prayer lay without any bedding upon the ground,
and all to prepare himself for his adventures to Jerusalem.
It was here also that he wrote his book of “Spiritual Exercises,
” in Spanish; a Latin translation of which, by
Andrew Frusius, he published at Rome in 1548, when it
was favoured with the approbation of pope Paul III. As
it has been commonly reported that Loyola could not read,
which, however, we think improbable, as he was of a
good family, educated at court, and an officer in the
army, Allegambe, in his lives of the Jesuits, gives the
following solution: “Lewis de Ponte, a person of undoubted credit, relates how faithful tradition had handed it
down to father Lainez, general of the Jesuits, that these
exercises were revealed to our holy father (Ignatius of Loyola) by God himself; and that Gabriel the archangel
had declared to a certain person, in the name of the
blessed virgin, how she had been their patroness, their
founder, and helper; had prompted Loyola to begin this
work, and had dictated to him what he should write.
”
Perhaps the truth was, that Loyola either took his materials
from other works, or was assisted in composing his book,
by some other person.
and morals; but Loyola soon laid it aside, and applied himself to the stiuly of. Thomas a Kempis. It was, he thought, like so much ice, which abated the fervour of his
Having embarked at Barcelona, in order to go to Jerusalem, he arrived at Cajeta in five days; but, as he would
not proceed in his enterprise till he had received the pope’s
benediction, he went to Rome on Palm-Sunday, in 153;
and after paying his respects to Hadrian VI. departed foe
Venice. He embarked there on the 14th of July, 1523,
arrived at Joppa the last of August, and at Jerusalem the
4th of September. Having gratified his devout curiosity
in that country, he returned to Venice, where he embarked
for Genoa; and from thence came to Barcelona, where he
stopped, as at the most convenient place with respect to
the design he had of studying the Latin tongue. The miraculous adventures, the e^tatic visions, which he bad
during this voyage, were innumerable; and it would be
endless to transcribe, from his historians, on these occasions.
Bishop Stillingfleet has drawn a good proof from them, that
the institution of the Jesuits, as well as other monks, is
founded originally in fanaticism. Loyola began to learn
the rudiments of grammar in 1524, and soon came to read
the “Enchiridion militis Christiani
” of Erasmus; a work
of great purity of style and morals; but Loyola soon laid
it aside, and applied himself to the stiuly of. Thomas a
Kempis. It was, he thought, like so much ice, which
abated the fervour of his devotion, and cooled the fire of
divine love in him; for which reason he took an aversion
to it, and would never read the writings of Erasmus, nor
even suffer his disciples to read them.
Loyola was thought in two years to have made a progress sufficient for
Loyola was thought in two years to have made a progress sufficient for being admitted to the lectures of philosophy; upon which he went to Alcala de Henares, in 1526. His mendicant life, his apparatus, and that of four companions, who had already espoused his fortune, together with 'the instructions he gave to those who flocked about him, brought him at length under the cognizance of the inquisition. Inquiries were made concerning his life and doctrines; and it being observed, that a widow with her daughter had undertaken a pilgrimage on foot, as beggars, under his direction, he was thrown into prison. He obtained his release upon promising not to vent feis opinions for four years but, this restraint not suiting at all with his design, he determined not to comply with it and, therefore, going to Salamanca, he continued to discourse on religious matters, as before. He was thrown again into prison, and was not discharged till he had made some promises, as at Alcala de He-nates. He then resolved to go to Paris, where he arrived in Feb. 1528, with a firm resolution to pursue his studies vigorously; but the wretched circumstances to which he was reduced, being forced to beg about the streets, and to retire to St. James’s hospital, were great obstacles to his design; not to mention, that he was then impeached before the inquisition. Notwithstanding these difficulties, he went through a course of philosophy and divinity, and prevailed over a certain number of companions, who bound themselves by a vow to enter upon his new way of life. They did this in the church of iMontmartre, on the 15th of August, 1534; and renewed thc'ir vow twice in the same place, and on the same day, with the same ceremonies. At first they were but seven in number, including Loyola; but were at last increased to ten. They agreed, that Loyola should return to Spain to settle some affairs, that afterwards he-should proceed to Venice,>nd that they should all set out from Paris, Jan. 25, 1537, to meet him. Ribadeneira says that Loyola came a-begging to England in 1531, and found his account in it.
he went by sea to Genoa; am! travelled from thence to Venice, where they met him, Jan. 8, 1537. This was somewhat sooner than the time agreed on; yet he was there before
He went to Spain in 1535, preached repentance there,
and drew together a prodigious crowd of auditors. He
exclaimed, among other things, against the licentious livcsT
of the priests. After transacting the affairs which his associates had recommended to his care, he went by sea to
Genoa; am! travelled from thence to Venice, where they
met him, Jan. 8, 1537. This was somewhat sooner than
the time agreed on; yet he was there before them, and
had employed his time in making converts; and what was
of much greater consequence to the forwarding his grand
scheme, he had got acquainted with John Peter Caraffa,
who was afterwards pope, by the name of Paul III. As
they had bound themselves by a vow to travel to Jerusalem, they prepared for that expedition; but were first determined to pay their respects to the pope, and obtain his
benediction and leave.- Accordingly they went to Rome,
and were gratified in their desires. Having returned to
Venice, in order to embark, they found no opportunity
thewar with thp- grand seignior having put an entire stop
to the peregrination of pilgrims by sfca. They resolved,
however, not to be idle, and therefore dispersed theiriselvei
among the towns in the Venetian territories. It was resolved at length, that Loyola and two others, Faber and
Laynez, should go to Rome, and represent to the pope the
intentions of the whole company; and that the rest, in the
mean time, should be distributed into the most famous universities of Italy, to insinuate piety among the young stqdents, and to increase their own number with such as God
should call in to them. But, before they separated, they
established a way of life, to which they were all to conform;
and bound themselves to observe these following rules:
“First, that they should lodge in hospitals, and live only
upon alms. Secondly, that they should be superiors by
turns, each in his week, lest their fervour should carry them
too far, if they did not prescribe limits to one another for
their penances and labour. Thirdly, that they should
preach in all public places, and every other place where
they could be permitted to do it; should set forth in their
sermons the beauty and rewards of virtue, with the deformity and punishments of sin, and this in a plain, evangelical manner, without the vain ornaments of eloquence.
Fourthly, that they should teach children the Christian
doctrine, and the principles of good manners: and, Fifthly,
that they should take no money for executing their functions; but do all for the glory of God, and nothing else.
”
They all consented to these articles; but, as they were often
asked, who they were, and what was their institute, Ignatius declared to them in precise terms what they were to
answer: he told them that being united to fight against
heresies and vices, under the standard of Jesus Christ, the
only name which answered their design was, “The Society
of Jesus.
”
g agreed on, he next conferred with his companions about his institute; and at several assemblies it was resolved, that to the vows of poverty and chastity, which they
Ignatius, Faber, and Laynez, came to Rome about the
end of 1537, and at their first arrival had an audience of
his holiness Paul III. They offered him their service; and
Loyola undertook, under his apostolical authority, the reformation of manners, by means of his spiritual exercises,
and of Christian instructions. Being dismissed for the
present, with* some degree of encouragement, Loyola proposed soon after to his companions the founding of a new
order; and, after conferring with Faber and Laynez about
it, sent for the rest of his companions, who were dispersed
through Italy, The general scheme being agreed on, he
next conferred with his companions about his institute;
and at several assemblies it was resolved, that to the vows
of poverty and chastity, which they had already taken, they
should add that of obedience; that they should elect a
superior general, whom they must obey as God himself;
that this superior should be perpetual, and his authority
absolute; that wheresoever they should he sent, they
should instantly and cheerfully go, even without any viaticum, and living upon alms, if it should be so required;
that the professed of their society should possess nothing,
either in particular or in common; but that in the universities they might have colleges with revenues and rents, for
the subsistence of the students. A persecution in the mean
time was raised against Loyola at Rome, who, however,
went on with his great work, in spite of all opposition.
Some of his companions were employed upon great occasions by the pope; and two of them, Simon Kodriguez and
Francis Xavier, were sent to the Indies, with no less than
the title of “Apostles of the new world.
”
hat their number should never exceed threescore; and again in 1543, without any restrictions. Loyola was created general of this new order in 1541, and made Rome his
Loyola had already presented the pope with the plan of
his new society; and he now continued his application with
more waruuh than ever, that it might be approved by the
holy see. Accordingly Paul III. confirmed it in 1540, on
condition that their number should never exceed threescore; and again in 1543, without any restrictions. Loyola
was created general of this new order in 1541, and made
Rome his head- quarters, while his companions- dispersed
themselves over the whole earth. He employed himself in
several occupations, as the conversion of the Jews, the reforming of lewd women, and the assisting of orphans. Rome
was at that time full of Jews, who were, many of them,
ready to embrace Christianity, if they had not feared poverty; upon which, Paul III. at Loyola’s request, enacted,
that they should preserve all their possessions; and that if
any of them, who might be well born, should turn Christians, contrary to their parents’ consent, the whole substance of the family should devolve to them. Julius Hi.
and Paul IV. added a new ordinance, namely, that all the
synagogues in Italy should be taxed every year at a certain.
sum, to be applied to the maintenance of the proselytes.
There was at that time a convent of Magdalenes, into
which such dissolute women as were desirous of leaving
their infamous course of life, were admitted, provided they
would oblige themselves to lead a conventual life for the
rest of their days, and take all the vows of their order. But
Loyola, thinking this condition, and some others, too severe,
founded a new community of this kind of penitents, into
which maids and married women might be indifferently admitted. It was called “The community of the grace of
the blessed Virgin.
” He caused apartments to be built in
St. Mary’s church; and he frequently conducted them thither himself. He was sometimes told, that he lost his time,
for that such women were never heartily converted; to
which he replied, “If I should hinder them but one night
from offending God, I should think' my time and labour
well employed.
”
He died thirty- five years after what has been called his conversion, a,nd sixteen after his society was founded, and had lived to see his followers spread over the
Calumny levelled all her artillery at him from every quarter; notwithstanding which, he employed his utmost endeavours to heighten the glory of his order, and settle it on a firm foundation. Some women would have submitted to his discipline; but the great trouble, which the spiritual direction of three of that sex had given him, obliged him to free his society for ever from that perplexing task. Having got his order confirmed by pope Julius III. in 1550, he would have resigned his employment of general; but, the Jesuits not permitting him, he continued in it till his death, which happened July 31, 1556, in his sixty-sixth year. He died thirty- five years after what has been called his conversion, a,nd sixteen after his society was founded, and had lived to see his followers spread over the face of the whole earth, and giving laws, under him, to almost all nations. He was of a middle stature, rather low than tall; of a brown complexion, bald-headed, his eyes deep set and full of fire, his forehead large, and his nose aquiline. He halted a little, in consequence of the wound he received at the siege of Pampeluna; but he managed himself so well in walking, that it was hardly perceived. It was not pretended at first, that Loyola wrought any miracles; but when his canonization began to be talked of, his miracles became innumerable, and were confirmed by all sorts of witnesses. Paul V. beatified him in 1609; Gregory XV. inserted him in the catalogue of saints in 1622; Innocent X. and Clement IX. increased the honours that were paid him.
w years, in the old world, as well as in America, and the rapidity with whic, it multiplied after it was once established. In 1545, t suits were but eighty in all; in
But whatever honours might be paid to Loyola, nothing can be more surprising in his history, than the prodigious power which his order acquired, in so few years, in the old world, as well as in America, and the rapidity with whic, it multiplied after it was once established. In 1545, t suits were but eighty in all; in 1545, they had ten houses; in 1549, they had two provinces, one in Spain, another in Portugal, and twenty-two houses. In 1556, when Loyola died, they had twelve great provinces; in 1608, Ribacleneira reckons twenty-nine provinces, two vice-provinces, twenty-one professed houses, 293 colleges, thirty-three houses of probation, ninety-three other residences, and 1Q>5 81 Jesuits. But in the last catalogue, which was printed at Rome in 1679, they reckoned thirty-five provinces, two vice-provinces, thirty-three professed houses, *78 colleges, forty-eight houses of probation, eighty-eight seminaries, 160 residences, 106 missions, and in all 17,655 Jesuits, of whom 7870 were priests. What contributed chiefly to the prodigious increase of this order, in so short a time, wafr the great encouragement they received from the popes, as well as from the kings of Spain and Portugal, on account of the service it was supposed they might render to these several powers. Various sects of religion were at that time combining against popery; in Germany especially, where Lutheranism was prevailing. The Jesuits were thought a proper order to oppose these incursions; and so far might be useful to the pope. The Spaniard found his account in sending them to the Indies, where, by planting Christianity, and inculcating good manners, they might reduce barbarous nations into a more nvili/ed form, and by such means make them better subjects; and the Jesuits were not unlikely to succeed in these employments, whether we consider their manners, discipline, or policy. They carried a great appearance of holiness, and observed a regularity of conduct in their lives and conversations, which gave them great influence over the people; who, on this account, and especially as they took upon them the education of youth without pay or reward, conceived the highest opinion of, and reverence for them. Their policy, too, within themselves, was wisely contrived, and firmly established. They admitted none into their society thai were not perfectly qualified in every respect. Their discipline was rigid, their government absolute, their obedience most submissive and implicit.
, a learned protestant divine, was born at Langoworde, in Friesland, about 1556, and studied at
, a learned protestant divine, was
born at Langoworde, in Friesland, about 1556, and studied
at Bremen, Wittemberg, and Geneva, where he diligently
attended the lectures of Beza, Casaubon, and Francis Portus. At Newstadt also he heard the lectures of the learned
Zachary Ursinus, who had so high an opinion of him as to
recommend him as his own successor in the chair of logic;
but this honour he declined. Soon after he became pastor
of a congregation at Embden, the duties of which office he
discharged with singular fidelity and zeal. In 1584 he was
appointed preacher to the governor and deputies of the
states of Friesland, and professor of divinity in the new
liniversity of Franeker, which offices he filled with reputation nearly forty years, and was in that time often employed in very important affairs. He died at Franeker,
Jan. 21, 1625, at the age of sixty-nine. He was author of
many learned pieces against Bellannin, Socinus, Arminius,
Vorstius, Grotius, and the other defenders of the cause of
the remonstrants. One of his best works is that “De Papa
Romano,
”
, in Latin Lubieniecius, a celebrated Socinian divine, was descended from a very noble family, related to the house of
, in Latin Lubieniecius, a celebrated Socinian divine, was descended from a very noble family, related to the house of Sobieski, and born at Racow in that kingdom, in 1612—3. His father, a minister, bred him up with great care under his own eye; and, even while he was a school-boy, brought him into the diet of Poland, in order to introduce him to the acquaintance of the grandees, and instruct him in knowledge suitable to his birth, fn 1644 he sent him to Thorn in Saxony, where, young as he was, he joined the two Socinian deputies at the conference then held in that city, for the re-union of different religions among the reformed, drew up a diary of the conference, and then attended a young nobleman as travelling tutor through Holland and France, where he acquired the esteem of several learned men, with whom he conferred on subjects of religion, and on the death of his father, in 1648, he returned to Poland.
In 1652 he married the daughter of a zealous Socinian, and was appointed ro:idjntor to John Ciachovuis, minister of Siedlieski;
In 1652 he married the daughter of a zealous Socinian, and was appointed ro:idjntor to John Ciachovuis, minister of Siedlieski; and the synod of Czarcow having admitted him into the ministry, he was appointed pastor of that tliurch; but, on the Swedish invasion in 1655, he retired to Cracow with his family, where he employed himself in offices of devotion with the Hungarian Unitarians, who were come thither with prince Ragotski. At the same time he insinuated himself much into the king of Sweden’s favour; and the city reverting again to the dominion of Poland in 1657, he followed the Swedish garrison, with a view to obtain of that prinpe, that the Unitarians, who had put themselves under his protection, might be comprehended in the general amnesty, by the treaty of peace with Poland. On his arrival at Wolgast in October this year, he was well received by the Swedish monarch, and conversed intimately upon his religion with some Swedish lords; but when the peace was concluded at Oliva, he was disappointed in his object, and the Unitarians were excepted out of the general amnesty granted to all other dissenters from popery.
th many particulars from foreign countries. With this news he entertained the nobility; and, when it was read to the king (Frederic III.) he was so delighted with it,
On this, instead of returning into Poland, he embarked for Copenhagen, in order to seek a settlement there for his exiled brethren, and arrived in that city in Nov. 1-660, where he made himself very acceptable to the Danish nobility. He had an extensive epistolary correspondence, which furnished him with many particulars from foreign countries. With this news he entertained the nobility; and, when it was read to the king (Frederic III.) he was so delighted with it, that he created a new place for him, that of secretary for transcribing these news-letters for his majesty’s use, and he was promised an annual pension for it. The king, who never received him at court, but often heard him discourse on religious subjects, engaged his confessor in a controversy with Lubienietski in the royal presence. But this giving umbrage to the Lutheran divines, Frederick found it necessary to tell him privately that all he could grant him was to connive at his followers settling at Altena. On this he returned, in 1661, to Stetin, in Pomerania, but his principles being equally obnoxious there, he was obliged to go to Hamburgh, whither he sent his family the next year, 1662. He had now three, several conferences with queen Christina, upon points of Socinianism, in the presence of some princes; and the king endeavoured to persuade the magistrates to suffer him to live quietly, but his intercession did not prove sufficient; and being several times commanded to retire, he went to the king at Copenhagen, in 1667.
His next remove was to Fredericksburg, where he obtained leave to settle with his
His next remove was to Fredericksburg, where he obtained leave to settle with his banished brethren, aad a promise not to be disturbed in the private exercises of their religion. He acquainted the brethren with this news, and spared no pains nor cost, even to the impairing of his own estate, that he might settle them there; he also supported them at his own expence. But neither did they enjoy this happiness long. The duke of Holstein-Gottorp, without whose knowledge the above permission had been granted, at the persuasion of John Reinboht, one of his chaplains, and the Lutheran superintendant, banished them both from that city, and from all his dominions. In this exigence he returned to Hamburgh, by the advice of his friends, who had also procured him the title of secretary to the king of Poland, in hopes to oblige the magistrates to let him live quietly in that city; the king of Denmark likewise interceded again for him, all which prevailed for a considerable time, but at last the magistrates sent him positive orders to remove. Before, however, he could obey this order, he had poison given him in his meat, of which he died May 18, 1675, having lamented in verse the fate of his two daughters, who fell a sacrifice to the same poison two days before . His body was buried at Altena, against all the opposition that the Lutheran ministers could make. He had obtained a retreat for his banished brethren at Manheim, in the Palatinate, that elector being a prince of latitudinarian principles in matters of religion.
Lubienietski was composing his History of the Reformation of Poland at the time
Lubienietski was composing his History of the Reformation of Poland at the time of his death, and nil that was
found among his manuscripts Whs printed in Holland, in
1685, 8vo, with an account of his life prefixed, whence
the materials of this memoir are taken. He wrote several
books, the greater part of which, however, have not been
printed: the titles of them may be seen in “Bibliotheca
Antitrinitariorum,
” p. Theatrum Cometicum,
”
printed at Amsterdam, History of Comets from the flood to
1665,
” an elaborate work, containing a minute historical
account of every single comet that had been seen or recorded. On the subject of comets, it appears he had corresponded with the most celebrated astronomers in Europe.
They who had the care of the impression committed so
many rogueries, that he was obliged to take a journey to
Holland on the occasion.
The Socinians, who look upon him as a saint, if not a martyr, pretend that he was favoured with a very remarkable revelation during the siege
The Socinians, who look upon him as a saint, if not a
martyr, pretend that he was favoured with a very remarkable
revelation during the siege of Stetin; and the following
story is told in his life: “Two powerful reasons ei aged
Lubienietski to pray that God would be pleased to cause
this siege to be raised: his wife and children were in the
town; and there was a Swedish count, who promised that
be would turn Socinian, in case Lubienietski could by his
prayers prevent the taking of it. This minister, animated
by the private interest of his family, and by the hopes of
gaining an illustrious proselyte to his religion, continued
three weeks fasting and praying; after which he went to
meet the count, and assured him that the town would not
be taken. The count, and the persons about him, treated
this as the effect of a delirium; and were the more confirmed in that opinion, as Lubienietski fell sick the moment he left them. But they were all extremely surprised,
when, at the end of six days, there came news that the
siege was raised; since it was impossible that any person
should have acquainted Lubienietski with that good news,
when he first told it. However, when the count was called
upon to perform his promise, he answered, That he had
applied to God in order to know whether he should do well
to embrace that minister’s religion, and that God had confirmed him in the Augsburg confession.'
”
, an Augustine friar, and geographer to the French king, was born at Paris, Jan. 29, 1624, took the monk’s habit early, passed
, an Augustine friar, and geographer to the French king, was born at Paris, Jan. 29, 1624,
took the monk’s habit early, passed through all the offices
of his order, became provincial-general of the province of
France, and at last assistant- general of the Augustine
monks of France at Rome. He applied himself particularly to the subject of the benefices of France, and of the
abbies of Italy, and acquired that exact knowledge which
enabled him to compose, both in France and at Rome,
' The Geographical Mercury;“” Notes upon the Roman
Martyrology, describing the places marked in it;“”A
history of the French Abbeys;“” The present state of the
Abbeys of Italy;“” Orbis Augustinianus, or an account
of all the houses of his order;“with a great number of
maps and designs, engraved by himself, a very curious
work in oblong quarto. He also wrote notes upon
” Plutarch’s Lives -,“and we have geographical tables of his,
printed with the French translation of Plutarch by the
abbe* Tallemant. He also prepared for the press notes to
archbishop
” Usher’s Chronology;“”A Description of Lapland;“and several other works; especially
” A Geography of all the places mentioned in the Bible,“which is
prefixed to
” Usher’s Annalsi“He likewise wrote notes
upon.
” Stephanas de urbibus." He died in the convent of
the Augustine fathers in St. Germain, at Paris, March
17, 1695, aged seventy-one.
, one of the most learned protestants of his time, was born at Westersted, in the county of Oldenburg, March 24, 1556,
, one of the most learned protestants
of his time, was born at Westersted, in the county of Oldenburg, March 24, 1556, of which place his father was
minister, who sent him first to Leipsic, where he prosecuted his studies with great success, and for further improvement went thence to Cologne. After this he visited
the several universities of Helmstadt, Strasburg, Jena,
Marpurg, and, last of all, Rostock, where he was made
professor of poetry in 1595. Having there read lectures
with great applause for ten years, he was advanced to the
divinity chair in the same university, in 1605. In 1620
he was seized with a tertian ague, under which he laboured
for ten months before it put a period to his life in June
162 1. He has the character of having been a good Greek
scholar, and was well skilled in the Latin language, in
which he made good verses, and he had much reputation
as an orator, a mathematician, and a divine. He published
several books, namely, 1. “Antiquarius, sive priscorum
et minus usitatorum vocabulorum brevis et dilucida interpretatio.
” 2. “Clavis Graecae linguae.
” 3. “Anacreon,
Juvenal, and Persius, with notes.
” 4. “Horace and Juvenal, with a paraphrase.
” 5. “The Anthologia, with a
Latin version,
” Epistolae veterum Grsecorum, Greece et Latine, cum methodo conscribendarum
epistolarum.
” 7. “Commentaiies upon some of the Epistles
of St. Paul.
” 8. “Monotessaion,sive historia evangelica,
”
&c. &c. i. e. a harmony of the four Evangelists. 9. “Nonni Dionysiaca,
” in Greek and Latin, at Francfort, Latin Poems,
” inserted in the third volume of
“Deliciae ^oetarum Germanorum.
”
But that which attracted most attention, though not very deservedly, was his, 11. “Phosphorus, de prima causa et natura mali, tractatus
But that which attracted most attention, though not very
deservedly, was his, 11. “Phosphorus, de prima causa et
natura mali, tractatus hypermetaphysicus,
” &c. printed at
Rostock in Phosphorus; or an hypermetaphysical treatise
concerning the origin and nature of Sin.
” In this piece he
established two co-eternal principles (not matter and a vacuum, or void, as Epicurus did, but) God and the nihilum,
or nothing. God, he supposed, is the good principle, and
nothing the evil principle. He added, that sin was nothing
else but a tendency towards nothing; and that sin had
been necessary in order to make known the nature of good;
and he applied to this nothing all that Aristotle says of the
first matter. This being answered by Grawer in his “AntiLubinus,
” in Apologeticus quo Alb. Graw. calumniis respondetur, &c.
” printed at Rostock, and reprinted there
in Anti-Lubinus.
” Lubin likewise published the next year, 13. “Tractatus de causa peccati, ad
theologos Augustinae confessionis in Germania.
” But, notwithstanding all these works, posterity has justly considered
him as better acquainted with polite literature than with
divinity.
, a learned cardinal, was born in 1617, of an obscure family at Venozza in the Basilicate,
, a learned cardinal, was born in
1617, of an obscure family at Venozza in the Basilicate,
and raised himself by his learning and merit. He died
February 5, 1683, aged sixty-six. He left Notes on the
Council of Trent, in Latin; a curious “Account of the
Court of Rome,
” in Italian, Rome, Theatrum
justitiae et veritatis.
” The best edition of this last is that
printed at Rome, 21 vols. fol. bound in 12.
, a celebrated Roman poet, was a native of Cordova, in Spain, where he was born Nov. lh> in
, a celebrated Roman poet, was a native of Cordova, in Spain, where he was born Nov. lh> in the year 37. His father Annseus Mela, a Roman knight, a man of distinguished merit and interest in his country, was the youngest brother of Seneca the philosopher; and his mother, Acilia, was daughter of Acilius Lucanus, an eminent orator, from which our author took his name. When only eight months old he was carried to Rome and carefully educated under the ablest masters in grammar and rhetoric, a circumstance which renders it singular that critics have endeavoured to impute the defects in his style to his being a Spaniard; but it is certain that his whole education was Roman. His first masters were Palaemon, the grammarian, and Flavius Virginius, the rhetorician. He then studied under Cornutus, from whom he imbibed the sentiments of the stoic school, and probably derived the lofty and free strain by which he is so much distinguished. It is said he completed his education at Athens. Seneca, then tutor to the emperor Nero, obtained for him the office of quaestor: he was soon after admitted to the college of augurs, and considered to be in the full career of honour and opulence. He gave proofs of poetical talents at a very early age, and acquired reputation by several compositions; a circumstance peculiarly unfortunate for him, as it clashed with the vanity of the emperor, who valued himself on his powers as a poet and musician. On one occasion Lucan was so imprudent as to recite one of his own pieces, in competition with Nero; and as the judges honestly decided in favour of Lucan, Nero forbad him to repeat any more of his verses in public, and treated him with so much indignity that Lucan no more looked up to him with the respect due to a patron and a sovereign, but took a part in the conspiracy of Piso and others against the tyrant; which being discovered, he was apprehended among the other conspirators. Tacitus and other authors have accused him of endeavouring to free himself from punishment by accusing his own mother, and involving her in the crime of which he was guilty. Mr. Hayley has endeavoured to rescue his name from so terrible a charge; and it is more likely that it was a calumny raised by Nero’s party to ruin his reputation. Be this as it may, his confessions were ofno avail, and no favour was granted him but the choice of the death he would die; and he chose the same which had terminated the life of his uncle Seneca. His veins were accordingly opened; and when he found himself growing cold and faint through loss of blood, he repeated some of his own lines, describing a wounded soldier sinking in a similar manner. He died in the year 65, and in the twentyseventh year of his age. Of the various poems of Lucan, none but his Pharsalia remain, which is an account of the civil wars between Caesar and Pompey, but is come down to us in an unfinished state. Its title to the name of an epic poem has been disputed by those critics, who, from the examples of Homer and Virgil, have maintained that machinery, or the intervention of supernatural agency, is essential to that species of composition. Others, however, have thought it rather too fastidious to refuse the epic name to a poem because not exactly conformable to those celebrated examples. Blair objects, tliat although Lucan’s subject is abundantly heroic, he cannot be reckoned happy in the choice of it, because it has two defects, the one its being too near the times in which he lived, which deprived him of the assistance of fiction and machinery; the other that civil wars, especially when as fierce and cruel as those of the Romans, present too many shocking objects to be fit for epic poetry, gallant and honourable achievements being a more proper theme for the epic muse. But Lucan’s genius seems to delight in savage scenes, and he even goes out of his way to introduce a long episode of Marius and Sylla’s proscriptions, which abounds with all the forms of atrocious cruelty. On the merits of the poetry itself there are various opinions. Considered as a school book, Dr. Warton has classed it with Statins, Claudian, and Seneca the tragedian, authors into whose works no youth of genius should ever be suffered to look, because, by their forced conceits, by their violent metaphors, by their swelling epithets, by their want of a just decorum, they have a strong tendency to dazzle and to mislead inexperienced minds, and tastes unformed, from the true relish of possibility, propriety, simplicity and nature. On the other hand it has been said, that although Lucan certainly possesses neither the fire of Homer, nor the melodious numbers of Virgil, yet if he had lived to a maturer age, his judgment as well as his genius would have been improved, and he might have claimed a more exalted rank among the poets of the Augustan age. His expressions are bold and animated; his poetry entertaining; and it has been asserted that he was never perused without the warmest emotions, by any whose minds were in unison with his own.
, surnamed Brugensis, from being a native of that city, was a doctor of Louvain, and dean of the church of St. Omer. He
, surnamed Brugensis, from being a
native of that city, was a doctor of Louvain, and dean of
the church of St. Omer. He studied under Arias Montanus, and acquired an extensive knowledge of the Greek,
Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac languages. He has left,
1. “Critical notes on the Holy Scriptures,
” Antwerp,
3 vols. 4to, which are commended by Simon, in his Critical History. 2. Latin commentaries on the New Testament, in 3 vols. folio. 3. Concordances of the Bible, published at Cologne in 8vo, by Egmond, in 1684, which are
convenient in size, and printed with correctness and beauty.
He died Feb. 19, 1619.
, a French traveller, was the son of a merchant at Rouen, and born there in 1664. From
, a French traveller, was the son of a merchant at Rouen, and born there in 1664. From his youth he felt a strong inclination for travelling, which he gratified by several voyages to the Levant, Egypt, Turkey, and other countries. He brought home a great number of medals and other curiosities for the king’s cabinet, who made him his antiquary in 1714, and ordered him to write the history of his travels. Louis XV. sent him again to the Levant in 1723, whence he brought abundance of curiosities for the king’s library; particularly medals and manuscripts. His passion for travelling reviving again in 1736, he went to Madrid; and died there in 1737, after an illness of eight months. His travels, which were edited by Baudelot de Dairval, Fourmont, and Banier, are not ill written, and sufficiently amusing; yet not of the first authority, being supposed to contain some exaggerated, and some false representations. They consist of 7 vols. 12mo, published in 1699 1714.
, a learned English divine, of Welch extraction, was son of Mr. Richard Lucas of Presteign in Radnorshire, and born
, a learned English divine, of Welch
extraction, was son of Mr. Richard Lucas of Presteign in
Radnorshire, and born in that county in 1648. After a
proper foundation of school learning, he was sent to Oxford, and entered of Jesus college, in 1664. Having taken
both his degrees in arts, he entered into holy orders about
1672, and was for some time master of the free-school at
Abergavenny; but being much esteemed for his talents in
the pulpit, he was chosen vicar of St. Stephen’s, Coiemanstreet, London, and lecturer of St. Olave, Southwark, in,
1683. He took the degree of doctor in divinity afterwards,
and was installed prebendary of Westminster in 1696.
His sight began to tail him in his youth, but he lost it
totally about this time. He died in June 1715, and was
interred in Westminster-abbey; but no stone or monument marks his grave. He was greatly esteemed for his
piety and learning, and his writings will preserve his fame.
He wrote “Practical Christianity;
” “An Enquiry after
Happiness;
” “The Morality of the Gospel;
” “Christian
Thoughts for. every Day of the Week;
” “A Guide to
Heaven;
” “The Duty of Servants;
” and several other
“Sermons,
” in five volumes. He also wrote a Latin translation of the “Whole Duty of Man,
” which was published
in
, a Greek author, was born at Samosata, the capital of Comagene; the time of his birth
, a Greek author, was born at Samosata, the capital of Comagene; the time of his birth is uncertain, though generally fixed in the reign of the emperor Trajan; but Mr. Moyle, who has taken some pains to adjust the age of Lucian, fixes the fortieth year of his age to the 164th year of Christ, and the fourth of Marcus Antoninus; and consequently, his birth to the 124th year of Christ, and the eighth of Adrian. His birth was mean; and his father, not being able to give him any learning, resolved to breed him a sculptor, and in that view put him apprentice to his brother-in-law; but, taking a dislike to the business, he applied himself to the study of polite learning and philosophy; being encouraged by a dream, which he relates in the beginning of his works, and which evidently was the product of his inclination to letters. He tells us also himself, that he studied the law, and practised some time as an advocate; but disliking the wrangling oratory of the bar, he threw off his gown, and took up that of a rhetorician. In this character he settled first at Antioch; and passing thence into Ionia in Greece, he travelled into Gaul and Italy, and returned at length into his own country by the way of Macedonia. He lived four and twenty years after the death of Trajan, and even to the time of Marcus Aurelius, who made him register of Alexandria in Egypt. He tells us himself, that when he entered upon this office, he was in extreme old age, and had one leg in Charon’s boat. Suidas asserts that he was torn to pieces by dogs. He died, however, in the year 214, aged 90.
ttention to his wit by omitting the objectionable passages. The best editions of the original, which was first printed in 1496, at Florence, are those of Bourdelot,
As Lucian made a figure in various employments, his works exhibit him sometimes as a rhetorician and panegyrist; in others he is distinguished chiefly as a pleader; in a few he assumes a more serious tone, and reasons on the subject before him in a vein of manly sense, united to deep observation and knowledge of mankind. Of far the greater part of his " Dialogues/' however, the leading and prominent feature is ridicule, in dispensing which he is so often guilty of obscenity and impiety, that moralists in all ages have united in condemning him. In this country he has, notwithstanding, found many translators, Spence, Mayne, Hickes, Carr, and Francklin, who have doubtless bespoke attention to his wit by omitting the objectionable passages. The best editions of the original, which was first printed in 1496, at Florence, are those of Bourdelot, Paris, 1615, folio; of Grevius, Amst 1687, 2 vols. 8vo; of Hemsterhusius, ibid. 1743, 4 vols. 4 to, edit. opt. which has been followed by all subsequent editors.
lis of Sardinia, is known in ecclesiastical history as the author of a schism, the occasion of which was, that Lucifer would not allow the decree made in the council
, bishop of Cagliari, the metropolis of Sardinia, is known in ecclesiastical history as the author of a
schism, the occasion of which was, that Lucifer would not
allow the decree made in the council of Alexandria, A. D.
362, for receiving the apostate Arian bishops. This he
opposed so resolutely, that, rather than yield, he chose to
separate himself from the communion of the rest, and to
form a new schism, which bore his name, and -soon gained
a considerable footing, especially in the West; several
persons no less distinguished for piety than learning, and
among the rest Gregory, the famous bishop of Elvira,
having adopted his rigid sentiments. As Lucifer is honoured by the church of Rome as a saint, where his festival is kept on the 20th of May, Baronius pretends that he
abandoned his schism, and returned to the communion of
the church, before his death. But his contemporary,
Ruffinus, who probably knew him, assures us, that he died
in the schism which he had formed, A D. 370. His works
are written in a harsh and barbarous style. According to
Lardner, they consist very much of passages of the Old
and New Testament, cited one after another, which he
quotes with marks of the greatest respect. He farther
adds, that the works of this prelate have not yet been published with all the advantage that might be wished. The
titles of these works are, “Ad Constantinum Imperatorem,
lib. ii.
” “De Regibus Apostaticis
” “De non conveniendo cum Hereticis
” “De non parcendo Delinquentibus
in Deum
” “Quod moriendurn sit pro Filio Dei
” and
“Epistola brevis ad Florentium.
” They were collected
together, and published at Paris by John Till, bishop of
Meaux, in 1568, and at Venice about 1780, in fol. with
additions.
, an ancient Latin poet, and a Roman knight, was born at Suessa, in the county of the Aurunci, about the year
, an ancient Latin poet, and a Roman knight, was born at Suessa, in the county of the Aurunci, about the year 148 B. C. He served under Scipio
Africanus in the war with the Numantines, and was very
much esteemed by him and Laelius. He wrote thirty books
of “Satires,
” in which he lashed several persons of quality
by name, and with great severity; and if he was not the
inventor of that kind of poem, he certainly was the first
considerable satirist among the Romans. Horace says,
, a celebrated Roman poet and philosopher, born about the year 96 B. C. was sent at an early age to Athens, where, under Zeno and Pheodrus,
, a celebrated Roman poet
and philosopher, born about the year 96 B. C. was sent at
an early age to Athens, where, under Zeno and Pheodrus,
he imbibed the philosophical tenets of Epicurus and Empedocles, and afterwards explained and elucidated them in
his celebrated work, entitled “De Rerum Natura.
” In
inis poem the writer has not only controverted all the popular notions of heathenism, but even those points which
are fundamental in every system of religious faith, the
existence of a first cause, by whose power all things were
and are created, and by whose providence they are supported and governed. His merits, however, as a poet,
have procured him in all ages, the warmest admirers; and
undoubtedly where the subject admits of elevated sentiment and descriptive beauty, no Roman poet has taken a
loftier flight, or exhibited more spirit and sublimity; the
same animated strain is supported almost throughout entire
books. His poem was written and finished while he laboured under a violent delirium, occasioned by a philtre,
which the jealousy of his mistress or his wife had administered. The morality of Lucretius is generally pure,
but many of his descriptions are grossly licentious. The
best editions are those of Creech, Oxon. 1695, 8vo; of
Havercamp, Lugd. Bat. 1725, 4to, and of the celebrated
Gilbert Wakefield, Lond. 3 vols. 4to, which last is exceedingly rare, on account of the v fire which destroyed the
greater part of the impression. Mr. Good, the author of
the best translation of Lucretius, published in 1805, has
reprinted Waketield’s text, and has given, besides elaborate
annotations, a critical account of the principal editions and
translations of his author, a history of the poet, a vindication of his character and philosophy, and a comparative
statement of the rival systems of philosophy that flourished
in the time of Lucretius, to whom Mr. Good traces the inductive method of the illustrious Bacon, part of the sublime physics of sir Isaac Newton, and various chemical
discoveries of our own days, perhaps a little too fancifully,
but with great ingenuity and display of recondite learning.
, one of the chiefs of the republican party during the civil wars, was descended of an ancient and good family, originally of Shropshire,
, one of the chiefs of the republican party during the civil wars, was descended of an ancient and good family, originally of Shropshire, and thence removed into Wiltshire, in which county he wag born, at Maiden- Bradley, about 1620. After a proper foundation in grammar, he was sent to Trinity-college in Oxford, where he took the degree of batchelor of arts in 1636, but removed to the Temple, to study the law, as a qualification for serving his country in parliament, his ancestors having frequently represented the county of Wiltshire. His father, sir Henry Ludlow, who was a member of the long parliament and an enemy to the measures of the court, encouraged his son to engage as a volunteer in the earl of Essex’s life-guard. In this station he appeared against the king, at the battle of Edge-hill, in '1642; and, having raised a troop of horse the next summer, 1643, he joined sir Edward Hungerford in besieging Wardour-castle. This being taken, he was made governor of it; but being retaken the following year, 1644, by the king’s forces, he was carried prisoner to Oxford. After remaining here some time, he was released by exchange, went to London, and was appointed high-sheriff of Wiltshire by the parliament. He then appears to have declined a command under the earl of Essex, but accepted the post of major in sir Arthur Haslerig’s regiment of horse, in the army of sir William Waller, and marched to form the blockade of Oxford. From Oxford, however, he was immediately sent, with a commission from sir William, to raise and command a regiment of horse, and was so successful as to be able to join Waller with about five hundred horse, and was engaged in the second battle fought at Newbury. Upon new modelling the army, he was dismissed with Waller, and was not employed again in any post, civil or military, till 1645, when he was chosen in parliament for Wiltshire in the room of his father, who died in 1643.
blishment of an equal commonwealth, in which he differed from another pure republican, Lilburne, who was for new-modelling the parliament first, and then, as a natural
Soon after the death of the earl of Essex, Sept. 1646, Ludlow had reason to suspect, from, a conversation with Cromwell, who expressed a dislike to the parliament and extolled the army, that his ambition would lead him to destroy the civil authority, and establish his own; and therefore he gave a flat negative to the vote for returning Cromwell thanks, on his shooting ' Arnell, the agitator, and thereby quelling that faction in the army. In the same spirit of what has been called pure rep ublicanism, he joined in the vote for not addressing the king, and in the declaration for bringing him to a trial: and soon alter, in a conference with Cromwell and the leaders of the army, he harangued upon the necessity and justice of the king’s execution, and, after that, the establishment of an equal commonwealth, in which he differed from another pure republican, Lilburne, who was for new-modelling the parliament first, and then, as a natural consequence, putting the king to death. Ludlow induced the Wiltshire people to agree to the raising of two regiments of foot, and one of horse, against the Scots, when they were preparing to release the king from Carisbrook- castle. After which, he went to Fairfax, at the siege of Colchester, and prevailed with him to oppose entering into any treaty with the king; and when the House of Commons, on his majesty’s answer from Newport, voted that his concessions were ground for a future settlement, Ludlow not only expressed his dissatisfaction, but had a principal share both in forming and executing the scheme of forcibly excluding all that party from the house by colonel Pride, in 1648. Agreeably to all these proceedings, he sat upon the bench at the trial and condemnation of the king, concurred in the vote that the House of Peers was useless and dangerous, and became a member of the council of state.
the chief command. Soon after this, the rebellion being suppressed, a considerable part of the army was disbanded, the pay of the general and other officers reduced,
When Cromwell succeeded Fairfax, as captain-general
of the army, and lord-lieutenant of Ireland, he, as an artful stroke of policy, nominated Ludlow lieutenant-general
of horse in that kingdom, which being confirmed by the
parliament, Ludlow went thither, and discharged the office
with diligence and success, till the death of Ireton, lorddeputy, Nov. 1651, whom, in his “Memoirs,
” he laments
as a staunch republican. He now acted as general, by an
appointment from the parliament commissioners, but without that title, which Cromwell, of whose ambitious views
be constantly expressed a jealousy, as constantly found
one pretext or other to keep from being conferred on him;
and in the following year, 1652, Fleetwood went thither
with the chief command. Soon after this, the rebellion
being suppressed, a considerable part of the army was
disbanded, the pay of the general and other officers reduced, and necessary steps taken for satisfying the arrears
due to them, which Ludlow says fell heavier upon him
than others, as in supporting the dignity of the station he
had spent upwards of 4500l. in the four years of his service
here, out of his own estate, over and above his pay.
At home, in the mean time, Cromwell was become sovereign, under the title of protector. This being esteemed
by Ludlow an usurpation, he endeavoured by every means
in his power to hinder the proclamation from being read in
Ireland; and being defeated in that attempt, he dispersed
a paper against Cromwell, called “The Memento:
” for
which he was dismissed from his post in the army, and
ordered not to go to London by Fleetwood, now deputy of
Ireland. Soon after, being less narrowly watched by
Henry Cromwell, who succeeded in that office, he found
means to escape and cross the water to Beaumaris; but was
there seized and detained till he subscribed an engagement, never to act against the government then established.
But this subscription being made with some reserve, he
was pressed, on his arrival in London, Dec. 1655, to make
it absolute; which he refused to do, and endeavoured to
draw major-general Harrison, and Hugh Peters, into the
same opinion. Cromwell, therefore, after trying in vain,
in a private conference, to prevail upon him to subscribe,
sent him an order from the council of state, to give security in the sum of 5000l. not to act against the new government, within three days, on pain of being taken into
custody. Not obeying the order, he was apprehended by
the president’s warrant; but the security being given by
his brother Thomas Ludlow, though, as he says, without
his consent, he went into Essex, where he continued till
Oliver died. He was then returned in the new parliament
called upon Richard’s accession to the protectorate; and,
either from connivance or cowardice on the part of the
government, was suffered to sit in the house without taking the oath required of every member, not to act or contrive any thing against the protector. He was afterwards
very active in procuring the restoration of the Rump parliament; in which, with the rest, he took possession of
his seat again, and the same day was appointed one of the
committee of safety. Soon after this, he obtained a regiment, by the interest of sir Arthur Haslerig; and in a little time was nominated one of the council of state, every
member of which took an oath to be true and faithful to the
commonwealth, in opposition to Charles Stuart, or any
single person. He was likewise appointed by parliament
one of the commissioners for naming and approving officers
in the army.
hich all the officers were to receive new commissions from Fleetwood, and that a committee of safety was appointed, consisting of twenty-one members, of which he was
But the Wallingford-house party, to remove him out of the way, recommended him to the parliament, for the post of commander in chief of the forces in Ireland, in the room of Henry Cromwell, and he accordingly arrived, with that command, at Dublin, in August 1659; but in September, receiving Lambert’s petition to parliament, for settling the government under a representative and select senate, he procured a counter petition to be signed by the officers of the army near Dublin, declaring their resolution of- adhering closely to the parliament and soon after, with the Consent of Fieetwood, set out for England. On his arrival at Beaumaris, hearing that the army had turned the parliament oat of the house, and resumed the supreme power, he hesitated for some time about proceeding on his journey, but at length resolved upon it; and on his arrival at Chester, finding an addition made to the army’s scheme of government, by which all the officers were to receive new commissions from Fleetwood, and that a committee of safety was appointed, consisting of twenty-one members, of which he was one, and that he was also continued one of the committee for nomination of officers, he set out for London the next day, and arrived there Oct. 29, 1659. The Wallingford-house p;irty prevailing to have a new parliament called, Ludlow opposed it with great fervour, in defence of the Hump, and proposed to qualify the power of the army by a council of twenty-one under the denomination of the Conservators of liberty; but being defeated in this, by the influence of the Wallingford-house party, he resolved to return to his post in Ireland, and had the satisfaction to know, before he left London, that it was at last carried to restore the old parliament, which was done two or three- days after. In Ireland, however, he was far from being well received. Dublin was barred against him, and landing at Duncannon, he was blockaded there by a party of horse, pursuant to an order of the council of officers, who likewise charged him with several crimes and misdemeanors against the army. He wrote an answer to this charge; but, before he sent it away, received an account, that the parliament had confirmed the proceedings of the council of officers at Dublin against him; and, about a week after, he received a letter from them, signed William Lenthall, recalling him home.
ce, but the approach of general Monk gave a new turn to public affairs. Ludlow, who waited upon him, was so far deceived as to believe that Monk was inclined to a republic.
Upon this, he embarked for England; and in the way, at Mi.lford-Comb, found by the public news, that sir Charles Coote had exhibited a charge of high treason against him. On his arrival at London, he took his place in the house; and, obtaining a copy of his charge, moved to be heard in his defence, but the approach of general Monk gave a new turn to public affairs. Ludlow, who waited upon him, was so far deceived as to believe that Monk was inclined to a republic. On learning Monlc’s real design, however, he first applied to sir Arthur Haslerig, to draw their scattered forces together to oppose Monk; and that proposal not being listened to, he endeavoured, with the other republicans, to prevent the dissolution of the Rump, by ordering writs to be issued to fill up the vacant seats; but the speaker refused to sign the warrants. He also pressed very earnestly to be heard concerning the charge of high treason, lodged against him from Ireland, to no purpose; so that when the members secluded in 16448 returned to the house, with Monk’s approbation, he withdrew himself from it, until being elected for the borough of Hindon, (part of his own estate) in the convention parliament, which met the 24th of April, 1660, he took his seat in the House of Commons in pursuance of an order he had received, tQ attend his duty there. He now also sent orders to collect his rents, and dispose of his effects in Ireland; but was prevented by sir Charles Coote, who seized both, the stock alone amounting to 1500l.; and on the vote in parliament, to apprehend all who had signed the warrant for the king’s execution, he escaped by shifting his abode very frequently. During his recess, the House was busy in preparing the bill of indemnity, in which he was, more than once, very near being inserted as one of the seven excepted persons; and a proclamation being issued soon after the king’s return, for all the late king’s judges to surrender themselves in fourteen days time, on pain of being left out of the said act of indemnity, he consulted with his friends, whether he should not surrender himself according to the proclamation. Several of these, and even sir Harbottle Grimston, the speaker, advised him to surrender, and engaged for his safety; but he chose to follow the more solid and friendly opinion of lord Ossory, son to the marquis of Ormond, and determined to quit England. He instantly took leave of his friends, and went over London bridge in a coach, to St. George’s church, in the borough of Southwark; where he took horse, and travelling all night, arrived at Lewes, in Sussex, by break of day the next morning. Soon after, he went on board a small open vessel prepared for him; but the weather being very bad, he quitted that, and took shelter in a larger, which had been got ready for him, but struck upon the sands in going down the river, and lay then a-ground. He was hardly got a-board this, when some persons came to search that which he had quitted, without suspecting any body to be in the boat which lay a-shore, so that they did not examine it, by which means he escaped; and waiting a day and a night for the storm to abate (during which the master of the vessel asked him, whether he had heard that lieutenant-general Ludlow was confined among the rest of the king’s judges), the next morning he put to sea, and landed at Dieppe that evening, before the gates were shut.
Soon after his departure, a proclamation was published, for apprehending and securing him, with a reward
Soon after his departure, a proclamation was published, for apprehending and securing him, with a reward of 300l.; one of these coming to his hands, in a packet of letters, in which his friends earnestly desired he would remove to some place more distant from England, he went first to Geneva; and after a short stay there, passing to Lausanne, settled at last at Vevay , in Switzerland, though not without several attempts made to destroy him, or deliver him to Charles II. There he continued under the protection of those States till the Revolution in 1688, in which some thought he might have been usefully employed to recover Ireland from the Papists. With this design he came to England, and appeared so openly at London, that an address was presented by king William, from the House of Commons, Nov. 7, 1689, that his majesty would be pleased to put out a proclamation for the apprehending of colonel Ludlow, attainted for the murder of Charles I. upon which he returned to Vevay, where he died in 1693, in his 73d year. Some of his last words were wishes for the prosperity, peace, and glory of his country. His body was interred in the best church of the town, in which his lady erected a monument of her conjugal affection to his memory.
t Cromwell; and undoubtedly, in point of honesty, he has the advantage. “Ludlow,” it has been said, “ was sincerely and steadily & republican Cromwell not attached to
The friends of Ludlow have endeavoured to exalt his
character by contrasting him with his antagonist Cromwell;
and undoubtedly, in point of honesty, he has the advantage.
“Ludlow,
” it has been said, “was sincerely and steadily
& republican Cromwell not attached to any kind of government, but of all kinds liked that the least. Ludlow
spoke his mind plainly, and was never taken for any other
than he professed himself to be; Cromwell valued himself
upon acting a part, or rather several parts, and all of them
equally well: and when he performed that of a Commonwealth’s-man, he performed it so admirably, that though
Ludlow knew him to be a player by profession, yet he now
thought he had thrown off the mask, and appeared what he
really was. Ludlow was entirely devoted to the parliament,
and would have implicitly obeyed their orders upon any
occasion whatsoever, especially after it was reduced to the
Rump; Cromwell never undertook any business for them,
but with a view to his own interest.
” Warburton says of
Ludlow, “he was a furious, mad, but I think apparently
honest, republican and independent.
” After his death, came
out the “Memoirs of Edmund Ludlow, esq.
” &c. Switzerland, printed at Vevay, in the canton of Bern, 1698, in
2 vols. 8vo, and there was a third volume, with a collection
of original papers, published in 1691), 8vo. The same year
a French translation of the first two volumes was printed in
the same size at Amsterdam. Another edition of the whole
was printed in folio, at London, 1751. The first edition was
attacked in 1698, in a pamphlet, entitled, “A modest vindication of Oliver Cromwell;
” the author of which published another piece, entitled, “Regicides not Saints,
”
and, in A letter from major-general Ludlow to
E. S. (Edward Seymour), &c. Amsterdam.
” Mr. Wood
observes, this was printed at London, and was written by
way of preface of a larger work to come, to justify the
murder of king Charles I. not by Ludlow, but by some
malevolent person in England: in answer to which, there
came out, “The Plagiary exposed, &c.
” Lond.
, a learned orientalist, was born at Erfurt in Thuringia, June 15, 1624, of one of the best
, a learned orientalist, was born at Erfurt in Thuringia, June 15, 1624, of one of the best families in the city, then in reduced circumstances. He began
his studies at home, under very insufficient masters, and
having acquired some knowledge of the Greek and Latin
languages, applied himself to the French, Italian, and
Spanish, and afterwards to those of the East. He also
made some progress in physic and law, but without any
view to a profession. In 1645 he went to Leyden, a
studied the languages under Erpenius, Golius, and other:
eminent teachers, and likewise maintained some disputations in law. After residing here ahove a year, he was appointed travelling tutor to a young man of family, with
whom he went to France, and at Caen contracted a friendship with Bochart, and taught t him the elements of the
Ethiopic language. He afterwards went with his pupil to
England but the rebellion being at its height at this time,
he soon returned to Holland. The baron de Rosenhahn,
ambassador from Christina queen of Sweden at the court
of France, happened to have in his retinue a brother of Ludolf, who recommended our author to that nobleman so
effectually, that he sent for him from Holland to Paris, to
be preceptor to his two sons. Soon after, in 1619, he sent.
him to Rome, to search for papers and memoirs, which
John Magnus, archbishop of Upsal, was said to have conveyed formerly to Rome, and which Christina was desirous
to recover. Ludolph performed this journey in company
with two Polish gentlemen, of whom he learned their language. At Rome he found no manuscripts relating to
Sweden; but this journey was not useless to himself, for
by his conversation with four Abyssinians, then at Rome,
be perfected himself in the knowledge of the Ethiopic language. Immediately after his return to Paris he was obliged to go to Sweden with the ambassador, where he found
a great many learned men at queen Christina’s court, and
had an opportunity of learning there the Portuguese, Moscovite, an. I Finland languages. In 1652, Ernest duke of
Saxe-Gotha sent for him to his court, and made him his
Aulic-counsellor, and governor to the princes his sons, and
employed him in various political affairs and negociations.
In 1678 he desired leave to retire, resolving upon a private
life, and went to Fraucfort, where he had a commission
from the dukes of Saxony to act in their names in the conferences held there in 1681 and 1682, in order to settle a
pacification between the emperor, the empire, and France.
The elector palatine likewise gave him the direction of
some of his revenues; and the electors of Saxony honoured
him with the titles of their counsellor and resident. But
Abyssinia was the chief object of the attention of our author,
who concerted measures to form an alliance between that
remote nation and the powers of Europe. He had addressed
himself for that purpose, in 1679, to the court of Vienna,
who referred him to the English and Dutch, as more
capable of contributing to that great design. He vyent, there- i
fore, to England in 168,'i, but did not find any disposition
there to execute his scheme for establishing a commerce
with the Abyssinians, and although he found rather more
encouragement in Holland, the scheme was defeated by
the Abyssinians themselves. In 1684, Ludolph returned
to Francfort, having passed through France, and began to
apply himself vigorously to the writing of his “History of
Ethiopia.
” In
n, Flemish, English, Polish, Sclavonic, and the ancient language of Sclavonia, and of the Finnes. He was equally esteemed for his manners as for his talents; and was
He understood twenty-five languages: Hebrew, and that
of the Rabbins; the Samaritan, Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic,
learned, literal, and vulgar; Greek, learned and vulgar;
Ethiopic, learned and vulgar, Called Amharic; Coptic, Persian, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German,
Flemish, English, Polish, Sclavonic, and the ancient language of Sclavonia, and of the Finnes. He was equally
esteemed for his manners as for his talents; and was very
communicative; hardy and indefatigable in business, and
so much inured to study, that he had always a book open
before him at his ordinary repasts. He left a son, Christian Ludolph, who was the only child he had, and was
counsellor and secretary to the duke of Saxe-Eysenach. '
His works are: 1. “Schola Latinitatis, &c.
” Gothae,
Historia Kthiopica, &<.
” Franc. Epistola Ethiopice scripta,
” De bello
Turcico feliciter conficiendo, &c.
” Franc. Remarque* sur les pensees enjouez & serieux, &c.
”'
Leipsic, Epistolse Samaritans Sichetnitarum ad Jobum Ludolphum, &c.
” Leipsic, Specimen commentarii in historian! Ethiopicam,
” Comaientarins in historiam Ethiopicam, &c.
” Franc.
Appendix ad hist. Ethiopicam illiusque
commentarium, &c.
” ibid. Jugerrtent
d‘un anonyme sur une lettre a un ami touchant une systeme
d’etymologie Hebraique.
” II. “Dissertatio de locustis,
&c.
” Franc. Grammatica Amharicae
liiifmse qua; est vernacula Habessinorum,
” ibid. Lexicon Amharico-Latinnm, &c.
” ibid. 1699, folio. 15.
” Gratnmatica linguae Ethiopian,
secunda,“ibid. 1702, folio. 16.
” Psalterium Davidis,
Ethiopice & Latine, &c.“ibid. 1701, 4to. J7.
” Theatre
historique de ce que s’est passé en Europe, pendant le xvii
siécle,“in German,
” avec des figures de Remain de Hoog,“ibid. 2 vols. folio. 18.
” Confessio fidei Claudii Regis
Ethiopicse," &c. in 4to.
, also a native of Erfurt, and born in 1655, was son to George Henry Ludolpb, a counsellor of that city, and
, also a native of Erfurt, and born in 1655, was son to George Henry Ludolpb, a counsellor of that city, and nephew to the preceding Job Ludolpb, who had some share in the care of his education, and* the regulation of his studies. He thus became qualified for the post he afterwards enjoyed, of secretary to Mr. Lenthe, envoy from Christian V. king of Denmark, to the court of Great Britain. This gentleman, for his faithfulness and ability, recommended him afterwards to prince George of Denmark, and in 1680 he became his secretary, which office he enjoyed for some years, until, being incapacitated by illness, he was discharged, with a handsome pension. After his recovery, he took a resolution to visit some foreign countries, particularly Russia, which then was hardly known to travellers; and, as he had some knowledge of the Russian language before be left England, he easily became acquainted with the principal men of that country. He also met with some Jews there, with whom he frequently conversed, and became so great a master of the Hebrew tongue, that he could talk with them in that language; and he gave such uncommon proofs of his knowledge, that the Russian priests took him for a conjuror. He also understood music, and had the honour to play before the czar at Moscow, who expressed the utmost surprise and delight at his performance. Ludolph returned to London in 1694, when he was cut for the stone. As soon as his health would permit, in gratitude for the civilities he had received in Russia, he undertook to write a grammar of their language; by which the natives might be taught their own tongue in a regular form. This book was printed by the university press at Oxford, and published in 1696. This essay, as he says in his preface, he hoped might be of use to traders and travellers; as it was an introduction to the knowledge of a language, which was spoken through a vast tract of country, from Archangel as far as Astracan, and from Ingermania as far as the confines of China.
Turkish ship in his passage to Alexandria is not the least remarkable thing in his travels. While he was on board, he was reading our Saviour’s sermon on the mount in
Ludolph did not here conclude his travels. He had a
great desire to go into the East, and to inform himself of
the state. of the Christian church in the Levant. He began
this journey in March 1698, and in November following
arrived at Smyrna. Hence he travelled to Jaffa, from Jaffa
to Jerusalem, from Jerusalem to Cairo; and made manyuseful observations relating to the productions of nature
and art, and the government and religion of the countries
through which he passed. The conversation he had with
the commander of a Turkish ship in his passage to Alexandria is not the least remarkable thing in his travels.
While he was on board, he was reading our Saviour’s sermon on the mount in the New Testament in Arabic, which
was printed in that language at the charge of Mr. Boyle.
The captain, having listened some time, asked, “what
book that was r
” to which Ludolph answering, “that it was
the system of the Christian religion,
” he replied, “that
could not possibly be, since they practised quite the contrary.
” To this Ludolph rejoined, “that he was mistaken;
and that he did not wonder at it, as the Turks had little
opportunity of conversing with any other than sailors and
merchants, few of whom they reckoned to be good Christians,
” c. The Turk seemed to be very-well satisfied,
and afterwards was extremely kind to him.
In 1709, when a vast number of Palatines came over into England, Ludolph was appointed one of the commissioners by her majesty to manage
In 1709, when a vast number of Palatines came over into England, Ludolph was appointed one of the commissioners by her majesty to manage the charities of her subjects to these unhappy strangers, and to find out ways to employ them to the best advantage. He died Jan. 25, 1710, aged 54.
, a botanical writer, was born in Silesia in 1709,. and educated for the medical profession.
, a botanical writer,
was born in Silesia in 1709,. and educated for the medical
profession. Having a strong bias towards natural history,
he was appointed to accompany Hebenstreit in his expedition to the north of Africa, and soon after his return in
1733, became professor of medicine at Leipsic. In 1737
be published a “Programma
” in support of the doctrine
of the sexes of plants, from his own observations upon the
date palm, but two years afterwards advanced some objections to the Linnaean system of arrangement by the organs
of impregnation, under the title of “Observationes in Metbodum Plantarum Sexualem Cel. Linnaei,
” in which he
very unjustly attempts to deprive him of the merit of originality, by insinuating that this system had been “indicated by others;
” without saying by whom. In other dissertations he betrays an uncommon propensity to find fault
with Linnæus; but, as his late biographer observes, such
critics are useful to science, as they promote inquiry and
examination; and it must be allowed that Lud wig justly
blames Linnæus for confounding the bulbous Fumari<e a$
one species, and he may also be correct in some other femarks. The late lord Bute has well observed, that Ludwig, like Haller, was only a Linnasan in disguise, having
frequently applied principles in unison with his, if not
imbibed from, him, to build systems, and to exercise criticism, against him.
, a Spanish Jesuit and cardinal, was born Nov. 28, 1583, at Madrid. His talents began to appear so
, a Spanish Jesuit and cardinal, was born Nov. 28, 1583, at Madrid. His talents began to appear so early, that it is said he was able, at three years of age, to read not only printed books, but manuscripts. He maintained theses at fourteen, and was sent to study the taw, soon after, at Salamanca; where he entered into the order f the Jesuits in 1603, against his father’s wish. After finishing his course of philosophy among the Jesuits of Pampeluna, and of divinity at Salamanca, he was sent to Seville by his superiors, on his father’s death, to take possession of his patrimony, which was very considerable, and Which he divided among the Jesuits of Salamanca. He then taught philosophy five years after which, he was professor of divinity at Valladolid. The success with which he filled this chair, convinced his superiors that he was worthy of one more eminent: accordingly he received orders, in the fifth year of his professorship, to go to Rome, to teach divinity there. He set out in March 1621, and arrived at Rome in June the same year, having met with Bjanv dangers in travelling through the provinces of France. He taught divinity at Rome for twenty years, and attended wholly to that employ, without making his court to the cardinals, or visiting any ambassadors.
The publication of his works was in consequence of an order which his vow of obedience would
The publication of his works was in consequence of an
order which his vow of obedience would not suffer him to
refuse: he published accordingly, seven large volumes in
folio , the fourth of which he dedicated to Urban VIII.
Upon this occasion he went for the first time to pay his
respects to the pope, by whom he was very graciously received; and from that time so highly respected, that Urban made him a cardinal, in Dec. 1643, without any previous notice or solicitation. To this promotion, however,
he is said to have shown the greatest repugnance, and
would not permit the Jesuits’ college to discover any signs
of joy, or grant the scholars a holiday. He looked upon
the coach, which cardinal Barberifli sent him, as his coffin;
and when he was in the pope’s palace, he told the officers
who were going to put on his cardinal’s robes, that he was
resolved to represent first to his holiness, that the vows he
had made as a Jesuit would not permit him to accept of a
cardinal’s hat. He was answered, that the pope had dispensed with those vows. “Dispensations,
” replied he,
“leave a man to his natural liberty and, if I am permitted
to enjoy mine, I will never accept of the purple.
” Being
introduced to the pope, he asked whether his holiness, by
virtue of holy obedience, commanded him to accept the
dignity ' to which the pontiff answering, that he did;
Lugo acquiesced, and bowed his head to receive the hat.
Yet he constantly kept a Jesuit near his person, to be a
perpetual witness of his actions. He continued to dress
and undress himself; he would not suffer any hangings to
be put up in his palace; and established so excellent an
order in it, that it was considered as an useful seminary.
He died Aug. 20, 1660, leaving his whole estate to the
Jesuits’ college at Rome; and was interred, by his own
directions, at the feet of Ignatius Loyola, the founder of
the order.
While he was cardinal, he was very charitable and bestowed tlu> Jesuits’
While he was cardinal, he was very charitable and bestowed tlu> Jesuits’ bark, which then sold for its weight in gold, very liberally to persons afflicted with agues. He was iiic first that brought this febrifuge specific into France in 1650, when it was called cardinal de Lugo’s powder. He was undeniably a learned man, and had all that subtlety of genius which is the characteristic quality of the Spanish divines; and is said to be the first that discovered the philosophical sin, and the justice of punishing it eternally. His solution of this difficulty is somewhat extraordinary; for, having asserted that the savages might be ignorant of God inculpably, he observes that the Deity gave them, before their death, so much knowledge of himself as was necessary to be capable of sinning theologically, and prolonged their life till they had committed such sin, and thereby justly incurred eternal damnation. Among his other scholastic absurdities he has also the reputation of inventing the doctrine of inflated points, in order to remove the difficulties in accounting for the infinite divisibility of quantity, and the existence of mathematical points. It was a received opinion, that a rarefied body takes up a greater space than before, without acquiring any new matter; our cardinal applied this to a corpuscle, or atom, without parts or extension, which he supposes may swell itself in such a manner as to fill several parts of space.
, elder brother of the preceding, was born at Madrid in 1580, and became a Jesuit at Salamanca in
, elder brother of the preceding, was
born at Madrid in 1580, and became a Jesuit at Salamanca
in 1600, where he first employed himself in teaching the
rudiments of grammar: but he afterwards was professor of
philosophy, and was sent to the Indies. There he filled
the divinity-chair in the town of Mexico, and also in Santa
Fe. These posts, however, not being agreeable to tfhe
Retirement in which he desired to live, he returned to
Spain. In the voyage he lost the best part of his commentaries upon the “Summit
” of T. Aquinas, and narrowly escaped being taken prisoner by the Dutch. He
was afterwards deputed to Rome by the province of Castile,
to assist at the eighth general assembly of the Jesuits; and,
upon the conclusion of it, he was detained there by two
employments, that of censor of the books published by the
Jesuits, and that of Theologue general. But finding himselt to be courted more and more, from the time that his
brother was made a cardinal, he went back into Spain
where he was appointed rector of two colleges, or of a
college or school consisting of two divisions, as is that of
Westminster. He died in 1652, after writing several books,
the chief of which are, 1. Commentarii in primam partem
S. Thomae de Deo, trinitate, & angelis,“Lyons, 1647, 2
vols, folio. 2.
” De sacramentis in genere, &c.“Venice,
1652, 4to. 3.
” Discursus praevius ad theologiam moralem, &c.“Madrid, 1643, 4to. 4.
” Quasstiones morales
de sacramentis," Grenada, 1644, 4to.
, of Udina in the Venetian territory, was an eminent scholar in the sixteenth century. He was born in
, of Udina in the Venetian territory, was an eminent scholar in the sixteenth
century. He was born in 1523, and was remarkable for
the integrity of his life, part of which was employed in
teaching Greek and Latin at Reggio: he was afterwards
secretary to the duke of Parma, and died in 1568, at the
age of forty-five. He wrote, 1. “Parergon libri tres,
” inserted in the third volume of Gruter’s “Fax Critica;
” and
consisting of illustrations of various obscure passages in
ancient authors. 2. A Latin commentary on Horace’s Art
of Poetry, published in 4to, at Venice, in 1544. 3. A
treatise “de componendis Animi affectibus,
” Bale, 1562,
in 8vo.
, a physician, probably a relation of the preceding, was also born at Udina, and was not less distinguished by his acquisitions
, a physician, probably a relation of
the preceding, was also born at Udina, and was not less
distinguished by his acquisitions in literature, than by his
medical skill. He was author of the following works
“Aphorismi Hippocratis hexametro carmine conscripti,
”
Venice, De compescendis animi affectibus per
moralem philosophiam et medendi artem, Tractatus in tres
Libros divisus,
” Basle, Aphrodisiacus, sive de
Lue Venerea, in duos Tomos bipartitus, continens omnia
quaecumque hactenus de hac re sunt ab omnibus Medicis
conscripta,
” Venice,
, a celebrated Lombard historian of the tenth century, was born at Pavia. He was bred in the court of Hugo king of Italy,
, a celebrated Lombard historian of the
tenth century, was born at Pavia. He was bred in the
court of Hugo king of Italy, and was afterwards secretary
to Berengarius II. by whom, in the year 948, he was sent
ambassador to Cpnstantine Porphyrogenitus. After having long served Berengarius, he was disgraced, merely, as
it is said, because he censured some of the proceedings
with which the latter years of that prince were dishonoured.
His goods were confiscated, and he fled for refuge to Otho
emperor of Germany. Otho amply avenged his cause by
driving Berengarius from the throne; and in the year 963,
advanced Luitprandus to the bishopric of Cremona. In
the year 968 he sent him ambassador to the emperor Nicephorus Phocas. That emperor had taken great offence
that Otho had assumed the style of Roman emperor, and
Luitprandus, who undertook boldly to justify his master,
irritated him so much, that he received very harsh treatment, and was even thrown for a time into prison, nor was
he suffered to return into Italy till the expiration of the
year. The precise time of his death is not known. He
wrote the history of his own times in six books; the best
edition of which is that of Antwerp, in folio, published in
1640. His style is harsh, but he throws great light on the
history of the lower empire. He is among the “Scriptores
return Italicarum,
” published by Muratori. Luitprandus
was one of the bishops who subscribed the condemnation of
pope John XII.; and in the last six chapters of his book, he
gives a distinct account of all ilie transactions of that synod,
which was held at Rome by the bishops of Italy. The
lives of the popes, and the chronicle of the Goths, have
been falsely ascribed to him.
, superintendant of music to Louis XIV. was born at Florence in 1634, of obscure parents; but an ecclesiastic,
, superintendant of music to Louis XIV. was born at Florence in 1634, of obscure parents; but an ecclesiastic, discovering his propensity to music, taught him the practice of the guitar. At ten years of age he was sent to Paris, in order to be a page of Mad. de Montpensier, a niece of Louis XIV. but the lady not liking his appearance, which was mean and unpromising, he was removed into the kitchen as her under-scullian. This degradation, however, did not affect his spirit, for he used, at his leisure, to scrape upon a scurvy fiddle; and, being heard by some person who, had discernment, was mentioned to his mistress as a person of both talents and a hand for music. She then employed a master to teach him the violin; and in a few months he became so good a proficient, that he was removed from the kitchen to the chamber, and ranked among the musicians.
me became able to compose. Some of his airs being noticed by the king, he called for the author; and was so struck with his performance of them on the violin, of which
Being for some offence dismissed from the princess’s
service, he got himself entered among the king’s violins;
and in a little time became able to compose. Some of his
airs being noticed by the king, he called for the author;
and was so struck with his performance of them on the
violin, of which Lulli was now become A master, that in
1660 he created a new band, called “Les Petits Violons,
”
and placed him at the head of it. He was afterwards appointed sur-intendant de la musique de la chambre du Roy;
and upon this associated himself with Quinault, who was
appointed to write the operas; and being now become
composer and joint director of the opera, he not only detached himsek' from the former band, and instituted one of
his own, but, what is more extraordinary, neglected the
violin so much, that he had not even one in his house, and
never played upon it afterwards^ except to very few, and
in private. On the other hand, to the guitar, a trifling
instrument, he retained throughout life such a propensity,
that for his amusement he resorted to it voluntarily; and to
perform on it even before strangers, needed no incentive.
The reason of this seeming perverseness of temper has
been thus assigned: “The guitar is an instrument of small
estimation among persons skilled in music, the power of
performing on it being attained without much difficulty;
and, so far as regards the reputation of the performer, it is
of small moment whether he plays very well on it or not:
but the performance on the violin is a delicate and an arduous energy; which Lulli knowing, set too high a value
on the reputation he had acquired when in constant practice, to risk the losing of it.
”
In 1686, the king was seized with an indisposition which threatened his life; but,
In 1686, the king was seized with an indisposition which
threatened his life; but, recovering from it, Lulli was required to compose a “Te Deum
” upon the occasion, and
produced one not more remarkable for its excellence, than
for the unhappy accident which attended the performance
of it. He had neglected nothing in the composition of
the music and the preparations for the execution of it;
and, the better to demonstrate his zeal, he himself beat the
time; but with the care he used for this purpose, he gave
himself in the heat of action, a blow upon the end of his
foot; and this ending in a gangrene, which baffled all the
[efforts of] his surgeons, put an end to his life, March 22, 1687.
The following story is related of this musician in his
last illness. Some years before, he had been closely engaged in composing for the opera; from which his confessor took occasion to insinuate, that unless, as a testimony of sincere repentance, he would throw the last of his
compositions into the fire, he must expect no absolution.
He consented: but one of the young princes coming to
see him, when he was grown better, and supposed to be
out of danger, “What, Baptiste,
” says the prince, “have
you thrown your opera into the fire? You were a fool for
giving credit thus to a dreaming Jansenist, and burning
good music.
” “Hush, my lord,
” answered Lulli, “I
knew very well what I was about; I have a fair copy of
it.
” Unhappily this ill-timed pleasantry was followed by
a relapse: the gangrene increased, and the prospect of
inevitable death threw him into such pangs of remorse,
that he submitted to be laid upon an heap of ashes, with a
cord about his neck. In this situation he expressed a deep
sense of his late transgression; and, being replaced in his
bed, he, further to expiate his offence, sung to an air of
his own composing, the following words: Il faut mourir,
pecheur, il faut mourir. Lulli is considered as the person
who brought French music to perfection, and his great
operas and other pieces were long held in the highest
estimation. He was no less remarkable for his humourous
talents, than for his musical genius; and even Moliere, who
was fond of his company, would often say, “Now, Lulli,
make us laugh.
”
Lulli, says Dr. Burney, was a fortunate man to arrive in a country where music had been
Lulli, says Dr. Burney, was a fortunate man to arrive in a country where music had been so little cultivated, that he never had any rival, nor was there throughout the whole kingdom of France an individual who had the courage to doubt of his infallibility in his art. He was fortunate in so magnificent a patron, and still more fortunate in a lyric poet, who could interest an audience by all the powers of poetry, by the contexture of his fables, and variety and force of his characters. Lulli was rough, rude, and coarse in his manners, but without malice. His greatest frailties were the love of wine and money. There was found in his coffer 630,000 livres in gold, an exorbitant sum for the time in which he lived.
, was a native of Majorca, born in 1236. He was considered in his
, was a native of Majorca, born in 1236. He was considered in his own time as a prodigy of learning and sagacity, and honoured with the title of Doctor illuminatus. His logic, and his art of memory, have been particularly celebrated, but are not found to deserve the commendations they once received. After applying most diligently to almost all sciences, he lost his life in the character of a missionary. Having gone thither to preach the truths of the Gospel, he suffered great hardships in Africa, and died on his passage home, in March 1315, at the age of eighty. His body was carried to Majorca, where he was honoured as a martyr. His works were published collectively, within these few years, at Mentz; and treat of theology, morals, physic, chemistry, natural philosophy, law, &c. in a truly barbarous style, with much erudition and subtlety, but very little of sound judgment. There are few instances of a great fame so completely extinct as that of Raimond Lully. His art of memory, indeed, for which he was most celebrated, is a most ridiculous invention, wholly unworthy of notice, except, says Brucker, as a specimen of the artifice with which men, who have more ingenuity than honesty, frequently impose upon vulgar weakness and credulity.
, an eminent scholar, was the son of William Lupset, goldsmith and citizen of London.
, an eminent scholar, was the son
of William Lupset, goldsmith and citizen of London. He
was born in the parish of St. Mildred’s, Bread-street, in
1498, and was educated at St. Paul’s school under the
celebrated Lily. After this he is supposed to have studied some time at Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, whence he
went to Paris, and took his bachelor’s degree in arts. On
his return to England, he settled, about 1519, in Corpus
Christi college, Oxford, and succeeded John Clement in
the place of lecturer in rhetoric, founded by cardinal Wolsey; and such appears to have been his reputation, that the
university publicly thanked the cardinal for his recommendation of so able a man. In 1521 he proceeded M. A.
When Richard Pace was sent agent to Italy, Lupset accompanied him as his secretary, and in the course of his
travels became acquainted with many of the most learned
men of the time, particularly Pole, afterwards cardinal,
sir Thomas More, and Erasmus. After returning to
England, He was sent to France by cardinal Wolsey, as tutor
to his natural son Thomas Winter. In 1529 he was presented to the living of St. Martin’s Ludgate, and in 1530
was made prebend of Salisbury. He died in the flower of
his age, Dec. 27, 1532, having scarcely completed his
thirty-sixth year. He was reputed a man of very general
learning, and of great piety, modesty, and candour, in
all which respects Lelaiul and sir Thomas More have celebrated his praises. Wood says that he left a wife named
Alice, and thai she died in 1545.; but this Alice appears to
have been his mother. Lupset, being in priest’s orders,
and a prebendary of Salisbury, could not have been married. Wood likewise doubts his having studied at Cambridge, because Dr. Caius, who mentions this circumstance,
does not give his authority; but Caius was his contemporary at that university, and is, therefore sufficient authority
for the fact. Of his works, the following have been printed:
1. A Treatise of Charity,“1546, 8vo. a.
” An Exhortation to young Men,“1540, 8vu 3. V A. treatise teaching
how to die well,
” 1534. 4. “Epistolie varive,
” dated from
Corpus Christi college, and printed in “Epist. aliquot eruditorum vivorum,
” Basil,
, whom Granger, by mistake, calls Dr. Lupton, was one of the earliest publishers of biographical collections in
, whom Granger, by mistake, calls
Dr. Lupton, was one of the earliest publishers of biographical collections in English, but with his own history we
are almost totally unacquainted. We can only gather from
one of his dedications that he had served in the army several years, and from the contents of his two principal publications, that he was a man of piety, and an admirer of the
characters of those eminent fathers and divines who made
the greatest figure in the church from the earliest periods
to the reformation. The first of these is entitled “The
History of the Moderne Protestant Divines, &c. faithfully
translated out of Latin,
” Lond. farmers of the
custom-house.
” It contains twenty-two foreign lives, and
twenty-three English, translated from Holland’s “Heroologia, and Verheiden’s
” Effigies,“with each an engraved
head dopied, in small, from those in Holland and Verheiden. Mr. Churton has made particular mention of this
curious and very scarce volume in the preface to his elaborate life of dean Newell, and an account has since been
published in the Bibliographer. The other biographical
collection said to be by Lupton is a 4to volume, entitled
” The Glory of their Times, or the Lives of the Primitive
Fathers,“&c. London, printed by J. Okes, 1640. This
contains forty four lives, with heads of the same scale as.
the other, but of less value, as being mostly imaginary.
We know not on what authority this work is attributed to
Lupton, >as there is no mention of his name in any part of
the copy now before us, and the preface, or address to
the reader, is signed Typographies. From internal evidence,
however, we should be inclined to think it was his compilation. Lupton’s other productions werte,
” London and the
countrey carbonadoed and quartered into several chafacters,“1632, 8vo
” ObjectorUm reductio; or daily employment for the soule,“1634, 8vo
” Emblems of Rarities; or choice Observations out of worthy Histories, &c.“1636, l&tTio; and
” England’s command of the Seas; or
the English Seas guarded," 1653, 12mo.
, a learned Roman catholic writer, was born at Ypres, June 12, 1612, and at the early age of fifteen,
, a learned Roman
catholic writer, was born at Ypres, June 12, 1612, and at
the early age of fifteen, joined the society of the hermits
f St. Augustine. Having afterwards studied at Cologne,
he was sent to Louvain to teach philosophy; in which he
acquired such celebrity, as to secure the particular esteem
of the learned Fabio Chigi, then the papal nuncio in Germany, afterwards pope Alexander VII. In 1655, Lupus
was one of the deputies sent to Rome by the university of
Louvain, on some matters of importance with the papal
court; and on his return was appointed professor of divinity
At Louvain. Pope Clement IX. would willingly have made
him a bishop; and from Innocent XL and the grand duke
of Tuscany, he received repeated marks of esteem:
latter was desirotts of settling upon him a considerable pension, that he might attach him to his court. He died July
10, 16-81, at the age of seventy. Of his numerous
works the principal are, “Commentaries on the History
and Canons of the Councils,
” Treatise on Appeals to the Holy See,
” according to
the Ultramontane opinions, 4to a “Treatise on Contrition,
” 12mo; a collection of “Letters and Memorials respecting the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon,
” 2 vols.
4to; a great number of “Dissertations
” on various subjects; a “Commentary on Tertullian’s Prescriptions;
”
“The Life and Letters of St. Thomas of Canterbury,
” &c.
All the above were republished at Venice in 12 volumes,
folio, the first of which appeared in 1724.
, a female writer, very much admired in France for the romances which she produced, was the daughter of a coachman belonging to cardinal Fleury, and
, a female writer, very much admired in France for the romances which she produced, was
the daughter of a coachman belonging to cardinal Fleury,
and was born about 1682. Some have said that she was
the daughter of prince Thomas of Savoy, the prince de
Carignano’s elder brother, because prince Eugene shewed
her much kindness. She had, however, an education much
above her birth, which enabled her to compose the various
works which she has left us. M. Huet, to whom she accidentally became known, advised her to write romances, in
which she succeeded tolerably well with the help of M. Ignatius Lewis de la Serre, sieur de Langlade (author of nine or ten operas,) who was her intimate friend, after having
been her lover. This gentleman inherited an income of
25,000 livres, which he consumed by gaming, and died in
1756. Mademoiselle de Lussan was more admired for her
mental than for her personal qualities, for she squinted, and
bad a very brown skin, with a masculine voice and gait;
but she was gay, lively, extremely humane, constant in her
friendships, liable to anger, but never to hatred. She
died in 1758, aged seventy-five, in consequence of bathing
during an indigestion. Her works are, “La Comtesse de
Gondez,
” 2 vols. 12mo; “Anecdotes de Philippe Auguste,
”
6 vols. 12m<>, attributed to the abb de Boismorand. “Memoires de Charles VII.
” 12mo; “Anecdotes
” of Francis I.
3 vols. 12mo; of Henry II. 2 vols. 12mo; of Mary of England, 12mo; “La Vie de Crillon,
” 2 vols. 12mo. She
published also under her name a “History of Charles VI.
”
9 vols. 12mo; of Louis XI. 6 vols. and “L'Hist. de la derniere Revolution de Naples,
” 4 vols. but these three were
written by M. Baudot de Juilly, as we have mentioned in
his life. Mademoiselle de Lussan gave this gentleman half
of what she gained from these works, and half of her pension of 2000 livres.
, an illustrious German divine and reformer of the church, was the son of John Letter, or Lauther, which our reformer changed
, an illustrious German divine and
reformer of the church, was the son of John Letter, or
Lauther, which our reformer changed to Luther, and of
Margaret Lindeman, and born at Isleben, a town of Saxony,
in the county of Mansfelt, November 10, 1483. His father’s extraction and condition were originally but mean,
and his occupation that of a miner; it is probable, however,
that by his application and industry he improved the circumstances of his family, for we find him afterwards raised
to the magistracy of a considerable rank and dignity in his
province. Luther was initiated very early into letters;
and, having learned the rudiments of grammar while he
continued at home with his parents, was, at the age of
thirteen, sent to a school at Magdeburg. Here, however,
he remained only one year, for the circumstances of his
parents were at that time so very low, and so insufficient to
maintain him, that he was forced, as Melchior Adam relates, “Mendicato vivere pane,
” to beg his bread for support. From Magdeburg he was removed to a school at
Eysenach, a city of Thuringia, for the sake of being among
his mother’s relations; for his mother was descended from
an ancient and reputable family in that town. Here he
applied himself diligently to study for four years; and
began to discover all that force and strength of parts, that
acuteness and penetration, that warm and rapid eloquence,
which afterwards produced such wonderful effects.
In 1501 he was sent to the university of Erfurt, where he went through the
In 1501 he was sent to the university of Erfurt, where he went through the usual courses of logic and philosophy. But Luther did not find his account in these studies; did not feel that use and satisfaction arising from such verbose and thorny sciences as logic and philosophy then were, which he wanted and wished to feel. He very wisely, therefore, applied himself to read the best ancient writers, such as Cicero, Virgil, Livy, &c. and from them laid in such a fund of good sense as enabled him to see through the defects in the systems of the schools, as well as the superstitions and errors of the church. He took a master’s degree in the university when he was twenty; and read lectures upon Aristotle’s physics, ethics, and other parts of philosophy. Afterwards, at the instigation of his parents, he studied the civil law, with a view of advancing himself to the bar; but was diverted from this pursuit by an event which he considered as admonitory, and which, by wonderful gradations, led to his future eminence. Walking out into the fields one day, he was struck with lightning, so as to fall to the ground, while a companion was killed by his side; and this affected him so sensibly, that, without communicating his purpose to any of his friends, he withdrew himself from the world, and retired into the order of the hermits of St. Augustine.
ver seen before. This raised his curiosity to a high degree; he read it over with great avidity, and was amazed to find what a small portion of the scriptures was allowed
Here he employed himself in reading St. Augustine and the schoolmen; but, in turning over the books of the library, he found a copy of the Latin Bible, which he had uever seen before. This raised his curiosity to a high degree; he read it over with great avidity, and was amazed to find what a small portion of the scriptures was allowed to reach the ears of the people. He made his profession in the monastery of Erfurt, after he had been a novice one year; and took priest’s orders, and celebrated his first mass in 1507. The year after he wa removed from the convent of Erfurt to the university of Wittemberg which being just founded, nothing was thought more likely to bring it into immediate credit than the authority and presence of a man so celebrated for his great parts and learning as Luther. Here he read public lectures in philosophy for three years, not in that servile, dull, mechanical way in which lectures were usually read, but with so much active spirit and force of genius, as to make it presaged that a revolution might one day happen in the schools under his direction and management.
In 1512 seven convents of his order having a quarrel with their vicar-general, Luther was chosen to go to Rome to maintain their cause. He was indeed
In 1512 seven convents of his order having a quarrel
with their vicar-general, Luther was chosen to go to Rome
to maintain their cause. He was indeed a proper person
for such employments; for he was a man of a most firm
and steady temper, with a share of natural courage which
nothing could subdue. At Rome he saw the pope and the
court, and had an opportunity of observing also the manners of the clergy, whose hasty, superficial, and impious
way of celebrating mass he has severely noted. “I performed mass,
” says he, “at Home; I saw it also performed by others, but in such a manner that I never think
of it without the utmost horror.
” He often spoke afterwards with great pleasure of his journey to Rome; and
to say that he “wonld not bnt have made it for a
thousand florins,
” As soon as he had adjusted the dispute
which was the business of his journey, he returned to
Wittemberg, and was created doctor of divinity, at the
expence of Frederic, elector of Saxony, who had often
heard him preach, was perfectly acquainted with his merit,
and reverenced him highly. Luther, it appears, at first
declined the honour of this degree on account of his being,
in his own opinion, too young, for he was only in his
thirtieth year; but it was told him that “he must suffer
himself to be dignified, for that God intended to bring
about great things in the church by his means;
” which,
though it was certainly said in jest, proved at length a
very serious truth.
ng. The university, as we have observed, had been lately founded by Frederic, elector of Saxony, who was one of the richest and most powerful princes at that time in
He continued in the university of Wittemberg, where,
as professor of divinity, he employed himself in the business of his calling. The university, as we have observed,
had been lately founded by Frederic, elector of Saxony,
who was one of the richest and most powerful princes at
that time in Germany, as well as one of the most magnificent and bountiful; and who brought a great many
learned men thither, by large pensions and other encouragements, and amongst the rest Luther. Here then he
feegan in the most earnest manner to read lectures upon
the sacred books: he explained the epistle to the Romans,
and the Psalms, which he cleared up and illustrated in a
manner so entirely new, and so different from what had
been pursued by former commentators, that “there seemed,
after a long and dark night, a new day to arise, in the
judgment of all pious and prudent men.
” He settled the
precise difference between the law and gospel, which before had been confounded; refuted many errors, commonly
received both in "he church and the schools; and brought
many necessary truths to light, which might have bee
vainly sought in Scotus and Aquinas. The better to qualify himself for the task he had undertaken, he applied
himself attentively to the Greek and Hebrew languages;
to which, we are told, he was particularly excited by the
writings of Erasmus; who, though he always remained in
appearance a papist, or at least had nothing decided in
his character, yet contributed much to the impelling of
monkish ignorance, and overthrowing the kingdom of darkness. In the mean time, Luther, while he was active in
propagating truth and instruction by his lectures and
sermons, maintained an exemplary severity in his life and
conversation, and was a most rigid observer of that discipline
which he enjoined to others. This gained him vast credit
and authority, and made all he delivered, however new or
unusual, more readily accepted by. those who heard him.
In this manner was he employed when the general indulgences were published in 1517.
In this manner was he employed when the general indulgences were published in 1517. Leo X. who succeeded
Julius II. in March 1513, formed a design of building the
magnificent church of St. Peter’s at Rome, which was,
indeed, begun by Julius II. but still required very large
sums to be finished. The treasure of the apostolic chamber was much exhausted, and the pope himself, though of
a rich and powerful family, yet was far from being able to
do it at his own proper charge, on account of the excessive
debts he had contracted before his advancement to the
popedom. There was nothing new in the method of raising money by indulgences. This had been formerly on
several occasions practised by the court of Rome; and
none had been found more effectual. Leo, therefore, in
1517, published general indulgences throughout all Europe, in favour of those who would contribute any sum to
the building of St. Peter’s; and appointed persons in different countries to preach up these indulgences, and to
receive money for them. Albert of Brandenburg, archbishop of Mentz and Magdeburg, who was soon after made
a cardinal, had a commission for Germany; and Luther
assures us that he was to have half the money that was to
be raised, which does not seem improbable, for Albert’s
court was at that time very luxurious and splendid; and he
had borrowed 30,000 florins of that opulent family the Fuggers of Augsburg, to pay the pope for the bulls of his archbishopric, which sum he was bound to repay. Be this
however as it will, Albert gave out this commission to John
Tetzel, orTecelius, a Dominican friar, and others of his
order. These indulgences were immediately exposed to
sale; and Tetzel boasted of “having so large a commission from the pope, that though a man should have deflowered the virgin Mary, yet for money he might be pardoned.
” He added further, that “he did not only give
pardon for sins past, but for sins to come.
” A book came
out also at the same time, under the sanction of the archbishop, in which orders were given to the commissioners
and collectors to enforce and press the power of indulgences. These persons performed their offices with great
zeal indeed, but not with sufficient judgment and policy.
They over-acted their parts, so that the people, to whom
they were become very troublesome, saw through the
cheat;' being at length convinced, that under a pretence
of indulgences they only meant to plunder the Germans;
and that, far from being solicitous about saving the souls
of others, their only view was to enrich themselves.
r, who, being naturally warm and active, and in the. present case unable to repress his indignation, was determined to declare against them, whatever might be the c
These strange proceedings gave great offence at Wittemberg, and particularly inflamed the pious zeal of Luther, who, being naturally warm and active, and in the. present case unable to repress his indignation, was determined to declare against them, whatever might be the consequence*. Upon the eve of All Saints, therefore, in 1517, he publicly fixed up, at the church next to the castle of that town, a thesis upon indulgences; in the beginning of which he challenged any one to oppose it, either by writing or disputation. This thesis contained ninetyfive propositions; in which, however, he did not directly oppose indulgences in themselves, nor the power of the church to grant them, but only maintained, " That the pope could release no punishments but what he inflicted, and indulgences could be nothing but a relaxation of eccle* It has been said by F. Paul, in his century before Luther, viz. from 1450
Saxony and that Luther was prompt- about obtaining for himself or his order,
Saxony and that Luther was prompt- about obtaining for himself or his order,
by a desire of taking revenge for this was become very unpopular; when all
by a desire of taking revenge for this was become very unpopular; when all
injury offered to his order. Such was the princes of Europe, and many
injury offered to his order. Such was the princes of Europe, and many
the publication of indulgences in Ger- opposed it publicly, both in their dismany was not usually committed to courses and writings: nor wag this
the publication of indulgences in Ger- opposed it publicly, both in their dismany was not usually committed to courses and writings: nor wag this
live commission was principally in- in general, but solely to Tetzel. Fitrusted
live commission was principally in- in general, but solely to Tetzel. Fitrusted with the Dominicans; and they nally, Luther was never accused of
different periods under Julius II. was the reproaches of his contemporary
different periods under Julius II. was the reproaches of his contemporary
guardian of the "Franciscans was joined Rome from 1517 to 1546, and who
guardian of the "Franciscans was joined Rome from 1517 to 1546, and who
tack Albert, the archbishop of Ment7, under whose name and authority they were published. Of this he was himself aware; and, therefore, the very eve on which he fixed
This is the doctrine of Luther’s thesis; in which, if he
does not attack indulgences directly, he certainly represents them as useless and ineffectual. He also condemns
in it several propositions which he attributes to his adversaries, and inveighs against several abuses of which he
affirms them guilty, as for example, “The reserving ecclesiastical penances for purgatory, or commuting them into
the pains of purgatory; teaching that indulgences free men
from all the guilt and punishment of sin; preaching that
the soul, which they please to release out of purgatory,
flies immediately to heaven when the money is cast into
the chest; maintaining, that these indulgences are an
inestimable gift, by which man is reconciled to God; exacting from the poor, contrary to the pope’s intentions;
causing the preaching the word of God to cease in other
churches that they may have a greater concourse of people
in those where indulgences are preached; advancing this
scandalous assertion, that the pope’s indulgences hare
such a virtue, as to be able to absolve a man though he
has ravished the mother of God, which is a thing impossible; publishing, that the cross with the arms of the
pope, is equal to the cross of Christ, &c. Such positions
as these,
” says he, “have made people ask, and justly,
why the pope, out of charity, does not deliver all souls tfut
of purgatory, since he can deliver so great a number for
a little money, given for the building of a church? Whv
he suffers prayers and anniversaries for the dead, which
are certainly delivered out of purgatory by indulgences?
Why the pope, who is richer than several Croesuses, cannot build the church of St. Peter with his own money, but
at the expence of the poor r
” &c. In thus attacking indulgences, and the commissioners appointed to publish them,
Luther seemed to attack Albert, the archbishop of Ment7,
under whose name and authority they were published. Of
this he was himself aware; and, therefore, the very eve
on which he fixed up his thesis, he wrote a letter to him,
in which, after humbly representing to him the grievances
just recited, he besought him to remedy and correct them;
and concluded with imploring pardon for the freedom he
had taken, protesting that what he did was out of duty,
and with a faithful and submissive temper of mind.
proposed them to be discussed only in the way of disputation, till the church should determine what was to be thought of indulgences. He wrote to Jerom of Brandenburg,
Luther’s propositions concerning indulgences were no
sooner published, than Tetzel, the Dominican friar and
commissioner for selling them, maintained and published
at Franc fort, a thesis containing a set of propositions directly contrary to them. He also stirred up the clergy of
his order against Luther; anathematized him from the
pulpit as a most damnable heretic; and burnt his thesis
publicly at Francfort. Eight hundred copies of Tetzel’s
thesis were also burnt in return by some persons at Wittemberg; but Luther himself disowned having had any
hand in that procedure, and in a letter to Jodocus, a professor at Isenac, who had formerly been his master, asked
him “If he thought Luther ao void of common sense as to
do a thing of that kind in a place where he had not any
jurisdiction, and against a divine of so great authority as
Tetzel?
” Luther, indeed, although he perceived that his
propositions were very well liked, and entertained as perfectly sound and orthodox, yet behaved himself at first
with great calmness and submission. He proposed them
to be discussed only in the way of disputation, till the
church should determine what was to be thought of indulgences. He wrote to Jerom of Brandenburg, under whose
jurisdiction he was, and submitted what he had written to
that bishop’s judgment. He entreated him either to scratch
out with his pen, or commit to the flames, whatever should
teem to him unsound; to which, however, the bishop replied, that he only begged him to defer the publication
of his propositions; and added, that be wished no discourse had been started about indulgences. Luther complied with the bishop’s request; and declared that “it gave
him more pleasure to be obedient, than it would to work
miracles, if he was ever so able.
” And so much justice
must be done to Luther, even by those who are not of his
party, as to acknowledge that he was willing to be silent,
and to say nothing more of indulgences, provided the same
conditions might be imposed upon his adversaries.
son; and a quarrel begun by two private monks, ended as we shall see, in a mighty revolution. Luther was now attacked by adversaries innumerable from all sides; three
But the spirit of peace deserted the church for a season;
and a quarrel begun by two private monks, ended as we
shall see, in a mighty revolution. Luther was now attacked by adversaries innumerable from all sides; three of
the principal of whom were, John Eckius, divinity -professor
and vice-chancellor of the university of IngoUtadt, who
wrote notes upon his thesis, which Luther answered by
other notes; Sylvester Prierius, or Prierio, a Dominican,
and master of the holy palace; and one Jacob Hugostratus, a friar-preacher, who singled out some of his propositions, and advised the pope to condemn and burn him, if
he would not immediately retract them. Luther contented
himself with publishing a kind of manifesto against Hogostratus, in which he reproaches him with cruelty and ignorance; but as Prierius had drawn up his animadversions
in the form of a dialogue, to which was prefixed a dedication to the pope; and built all he had advanced against
Luther upon the principles of Thomas Aquinas, Luther,
in an epistle to the reader, opposed Holy Scripture to the
authority of this saint; and declared, among other things,
that “if the pope and the cardinals were, like this Dominican, to set up any authority against that of Scripture, it
could no longer be doubted that Rome was itself the very
seat of antichrist; and then happy would Bohemia and all
other countries be, who should separate themselves from it
as soon as possible.
”
his obedience to authority, went to the monastery of St. Augustine at Heidelberg/ while the chapter was held; and here maintained, April 26, a dispute concerning “
In 1518, Luther, though dissuaded from it by his
friends, yet, to shew his obedience to authority, went to
the monastery of St. Augustine at Heidelberg/ while the
chapter was held; and here maintained, April 26, a dispute
concerning “justification by faith,
” which Bucer, who
was present, took down in writing, and afterwards communicated to Beatus Rhenanus, not without the highest
commendations. Luther has given an account of this dispute, and says, that “the doctors there opposed him with
such moderation and good manners, that he could not but
think the better of them for it. And although the doctrine
he maintained was perfectly new to them, yet they all acquitted themselves very acutely, except one of the juniors,
who created much mirth and laughter by observing, that
if the country peopl9 were to hear what strange positions
were admitted, they would certainly stone the whole assembly.
”
In the mean time, the zeal of his adversaries grew every day more active against him; and he was at length accused to Leo X. as an heretic. As soon as he returned
In the mean time, the zeal of his adversaries grew every
day more active against him; and he was at length accused
to Leo X. as an heretic. As soon as he returned therefore
from Heidelberg, he wrote a letter to that pope, in the most
submissive terms; and sent him at the same time an explication of his propositions about indulgences. He tells his holiness in this letter, that “he was greatly troubled at being
represented to him as a person who opposed the authority
and power of the keys and pope; that this accusation amazed him, but that he trusted to his own innocency.
” Then
he sets forth the matter of fact, and says, that the “preachers of the jubilee thought all things lawful for them under
the pope’s name, and taught heretical and impious propositions, to the scandal and contempt of the ecclesiastical
power, and as if the decretals against the abuses of collectors did not concern them; that they had published
books, in which they taught the same impieties and heresies, not to mention their avarice and exactions; that they
had found out no other way to quiet the offence their il!
conduct had given, than by terrifying men with the name
of pope, and by threatening with fire, as heretics, all those
who did not approve and submit to their exorbitances;
that being animated with a zeal for Jesus Christ, and
pushed on by the heat of youth, he had given notice of
these abuses to the superior powers; whose not regarding
it had induced him to oppose them with lenity, by publishing a position which he invited the most learned to dispute with him. This,
” says he, “is the flame which they
say has set the whole world on fire. Is it that I have not
a right, as a doctor of divinity, to dispute in the public
schools upon these matters? These theses were made only
for my own country; and I am surprised to see them
spread into all parts of the world. They were rather disputable points than decisions; some of them obscure, and
in need of being cleared. What shall I do? I cannot,
draw them back, and yet I see I am made odious. It is a
trouble to me to appear in public, yet I am constrained
to do it. It is to appease my adversaries, and give satisfaction to several persons, that I have published explications of the disputes I have engaged in; which I now do
under your holiness’s protection, that it may be known how
sincerely I honour the power of the keys, and with what
injustice my adversaries have represented me. If I were
such a one as they give out, the elector of Saxony woirld
not have tolerated me in his university thus long.
” He
concludes in the following words: “I cast myself, holy
father, at your feet, with all I am and have. Give me
life, or put me to death; confirm or revoke, approve or
disapprove, as you please. I own your voice as that of
Jesus Christ, who rules and speaks by you; and if I have
deserved death I refuse not to die.
” This letter is dated
on Trinity Sunday, he did not pretend to advance or defend any thing contrary to the Holy
Scripture, or to the doctrine of the fathers, received and
observed by the church of Rome, or to the canons and decretals of the popes; nevertheless, he thought he had the
liberty, either to approve or disapprove the opinions of St.
Thomas, Bonaventure, and other schoolmen and canonists,
which are not grounded upon any text.
”
The emperor Maximilian was equally solicitous with the pope, about putting a stop to the
The emperor Maximilian was equally solicitous with the pope, about putting a stop to the propagation of Luther’s opinions in Saxony; since the great number of his followers, and the resolution with which he defended them, made it evident beyond dispute that if he were not immediately checked he would become troublesome both to the church and empire. Maximilian therefore applied to Leo in a letter dated Aug. 5, 1518, and begged him to forbid by his authority, these useless, rash, and dangerous disputes; assuring him also that he would strictly execute in the empire whatever his holiness should enjoin. The pope on his part ordered Jerom de Genutiis, bishop of Ascula, or Ascoli, auditor of the apostolic chamber, to cite Luther to appear at Rome within sijcty days, that he might give an account of his doctrine to the auditor and master of the palace, to whom he had committed the judgment of the cause. He wrote at the same time to Frederick the elector of Saxony, to pray him not to protect Luther and let him know that he had cited him, and had given cardinal Cajetan, his legate in Germany, the necessary instructions upon that occasion. He exhorts the elector to put Luther into the hands of this legate, that he might be carried to Rome; assuring him that, if he were innocent, he would send him back absolved, and if he were guilty, would pardon him upon his repentance. This letter to Frederic was dated Aug. 23, 1518, and it was by no means unnecessary; for though Luther had nothing to trust to at first but his own personal qualities, his parts, his learning, and his courage, yet he was afterwards countenanced and supported by this elector, a prince of great personal worth. At the same time also the pope sent a brief to cardinal Cajetan, in which he ordered him to bring Luther before him as soon as possible; and to hinder the princes from being any impediment to the execution of this order, he denounced the punishments of excommunication, interdiction, and privation of goods against all who should receive Luther, and give him protection; and promised a plenary indulgence to those who should assist in delivering him up.
In the mean time Luther, as soon as he understood what was transacting about him at Rome, used all imaginable means to
In the mean time Luther, as soon as he understood what
was transacting about him at Rome, used all imaginable
means to prevent his being carried thither, and to obtain a
hearing of his cause in Germany. The university of Wittemberg interceded for him, and wrote a letter to the
pope, to excuse him from going to Rome, because his
health would not permit it; and assured his holiness that he
had asserted nothing contrary to the doctrine of the church,
and that all they could charge him with was his layingdown some propositions in disputation too freely, though
without any view of deciding upon them. The elector
also was against Luther’s going to Rome, and desired of
cardinal Cajetan, that be might be heard before him, as
his legate in Germany. Upon these addresses, the pope
consented that the cause should be tried before cardinal
Cajetan, to whom he had given power to decide it. Luther, therefore, set off immediately for Augsburg, poor,
and on foot, as he says in his narrative, and carried with
him letters from the elector*. He arrived here in October
1518, and upon an assurance of his safety, was admitted
into the cardinal’s presence. The legate told him that he
did not intend to enter into any dispute with him, but
should only propound three things to him, on the pope’s
behalf; and he did admonish him, “First, to become a
sound member of the church, and to recant his errors;
secondly, to promise that he would not teach such pernicious doctrines for the future; and thirdly, to take care
that the peace of the church was not broken by his means.
”
Luther beseeched the legate to acquaint him what his errors were, who alleged to him a decretal of Clement VI.
in which “the merits of Jesus Christ are affirmed to be a
treasure of indulgences,
” which he the said Luther-denied;
and objected to him also his teaching, that “faith was necessary for all who should receive the sacrament, so as to
obtain any benefit by it.
” Luther replied, that “he had
read the decretal of Clement, which the legate alleged;
but did humbly conceive that it was not of sufficient authority to retract any opinion which he believed to be conformable to Holy Scripture.
” The legate had then recourse to the authority of the pope, who, he said, “could
only decide upon the sense of Scripture;
” upon which
Luther desired time to deliberate upon what the legate had
proposed to him, and so the dispute ended for that day.
The next day, which was Oct. 12 r Luther returned to a second conference with the legate,
The next day, which was Oct. 12 r Luther returned to a second conference with the legate, accompanied with four counsellors of the empire, and a notary; and brought with
d no fault, and could not retract errors of which he had not been convinced, nor even heard; that he was firmly persuaded of his having advanced nothing contrary to
of such a conflagration. You will act Rescue’s Leo.
him a protestation, in which he declared that “he honoured and would obey the holy church of Rome in all
things; that if he had said or done any thing contrary to
its decisions, he desired it might be looked upon as never
said or done;
” and for the three propositions made to him
by the legate, he declared, “That, having sought only the
truth, he had committed no fault, and could not retract
errors of which he had not been convinced, nor even heard;
that he was firmly persuaded of his having advanced nothing contrary to Scripture and the doctrines of the fathers;
that, nevertheless, being a man, and subject to error, he
would submit himself to the lawful determination of the
church; and that he offered, further, to give reasons in
this place, and elsewhere, of what he had asserted, answer
the objections, and hear the opinions of the doctors of the
famous universities of Basil, Friburg, Louvain,
” &c. The
legate only repeated what he had said the day before about
the authority of the pope, and exhorted Luther again to
retract. Luther answered nothing, but presented a writing
to the legate, which, he said, contained all he had to answer. The legate received the writing, but paid no regard
to it; he pressed Luther to retract, threatening him with
the censures of the church, if he did not; and commanded
him not to appear any more; in his presence, unless he
brought his recantation with him. Luther was now convinced that he had more to fear from the cardinal’s power
than from disputations of any kind; and therefore, apprehensive of being seized if he did not submit, withdrew
from Augsburg upon the 20th. But, before his departure,
he published a formal appeal to the pope, in which he declared, that “though he had submitted to be tried by cardinal Cajetan, as his legate, yet he had been so borne
down and injured by him, that he was constrained at length
to appeal to the judgment of his holiness.
” He wrote likewise a letter to the cardinal, and told him that “he did
not think himself bound to continue any longer at Augsburg; that he would retire after he had made his appeal;
that he would always submit himself to the judgment of
the church; but for his censures, that as he had not deserved, so he did not value them.
”
Though Luther was a man of invincible courage, jet he was animated in some measure
Though Luther was a man of invincible courage, jet
he was animated in some measure to these firm and vigorous proceedings by an assurance of protection from Frederic of Saxony; being persuaded, as he says in his letter
to the legate, that an appeal would be more agreeable to
that elector, than a recantation. On this account, the
first thing which the legate did, after Luther’s departure,
was to send an account to the elector of what had passed
at Augsburg. He complained that Luther left him without taking leave, and without his knowledge; and although
he had given him hopes that he would retract and submit,
yet had retired without affording him the least satisfaction.
He acquainted the elector that Luther had advanced and
maintained several propositions of a most damnable nature,
and contrary to the doctrine of the holy see. He prays
him to discharge his conscience, and to keep unspotted
the honour of his illustrious house, by either sending him
to Rome, or banishing him from his dominions. He assured him that this matter could not continue long as it
was at present, but would soon be prosecuted at Rome;
and that, to get it out of his own hands, he had written
to the pope about it. When this letter, Oct. 25, 1518,
was delivered to the elector, he communicated it to Luther,
who immediately drew up a defence of himself against it.
In this defence he offers to the elector to leave his country,
if his highness thought proper, that he might be more at
liberty to defend himself against the papal authority, without bringing any inconveniences upon his highness by that
means. But his friends advised him very wisely to remain
in Saxony; and the university of Whtemberg presented
an address to the elector, praying him to afford Luther so
much favour and protection, that he might not be obliged
to recant his opinions, till it was made appear that they
ought to be condemned. But this address was needless;
the elector was resolved not to desert Luther, and told the
legate in an answer, Dec. the 18th, that he “hoped he
would have dealt with Luther in another manner, and not
have obliged him to recant before his cause was heard
and judged; and that there were several men in his own
and in mher universities, who did not think Luther’s doctrine either impious or heretical; that if he had believed
it such, there would have been no need of admonishing
him not to tolerate it; that Luther not being convicted of
heresy, he could not banish him from his states, nor send
him to Rome; and that, since Luther offered to submit
himself to the judgment of the universities, he thought
they ought to hear him, or at least shew him the errors
which he taught in his writings.
” Luther, seeing himself
thus supported, continued to teach the same doctrines at
Wittemberg, and sent a challenge to all the inquisitors to
come and dispute with him; offering them not only a safe
conduct from his prince, but assuring them also of good
entertainment, and that their charges should be borne so
long as they remained in Wittemberg.
eral princes, as marks of his particular favour to them. Miltitius, or Miltitz, his chamberlain, who was a German, was intrusted with this commission; by whom the pope
While these things passed in Germany, Leo attempted
to put an end to these disputes about indulgences, by a decision of his own; and for that purpose, November the
9th, published a brief, directed to cardinal Cajetan, in
which he declared, that “the pope, the successor of St.
Peter, and vicar of Jesus Christ upon earth, hath power to
pardon, by virtue of the keys, the guilt and punishment
of sin, the guilt by the sacrament of penance, and the
temporal punishments due for actual sins by indulgences;
that these indulgences are taken from the overplus of the
merits of Jesus Christ and his saints, a treasure at the pope’s
own disposal, as well by way of absolution as suffrage; and
that the dead and the living, who properly and truly obtain these indulgences, are immediately freed from the
punishment due to their actual sins, according to the divine justice, which allows these indulgences to be granted
and obtained.
” This brief ordains, that “all the world
shall hold and preach this doctrine, under the pain of excommunication reserved to the pope; and enjoins cardinal
Cajetan to send it to all the archbishops and bishops of
Germany, and c:iuse it to be put into execution by them.
”
Luther knew very well that after this judgment made by
the pope, he could not possibly escape being proceeded
against, and condemned at Rome; and therefore, upon
the 28th of the same month, published a new appeal from
the pope to a general council, in which he asserts the superior authority of the latter over the former. The pope,
foreseeing that he should not easily manage Luther so long
as the elector of Saxony continued to support and protect
him, sent the elector a golden rose, such an one as he
used to bless every year, and send to several princes, as
marks of his particular favour to them. Miltitius, or Miltitz, his chamberlain, who was a German, was intrusted
with this commission; by whom the pope sent also letters
in Jan. 1519, to the elector’s counsellor and secretary, in
which he prayed those ministers to use all possible interest
with their master, that he would stop the progress of Luther’s errors, and imitate therein the piety of his ancestors.
It appears by Sectendorf 's account of Miltitz’s negotiation,
that Frederick had long solicited for this bauble from the
pope; and that three or four years before, when his electoral highness was a bigot to the court of Rome, it had
probably been a most welcome present. Bat it was now
too late: Luther’s contests with the see of Rome had
opened the elector’s eyes, and enlarged his mind; and
therefore, when Miltitz delivered his letters, and discharged
his commission, he was received but coldly by the elector,
who valued not the consecrated rose, nor would receive it
publicly and in form, but only privately, and by his proctor; and to the remonstrances of Miltitz respecting Luther, answered that he would not act as a judge, nor oppress a man whom he had hitherto considered as innocent.
It is thought that the death of the emperor Maximilian,
who expired on the 12th of this month, greatly altered the
face of affairs, and made the elector more able to determine Luther’s fate. Miltitz thought it best, therefore, to
try what could be done by fair and gentle means, and to
that end came to a conference with Luther. He poured
forth many commendations upon him, and earnestly intreated him that he would himself appease that tempest
which could not but be destructive to the church. He
blamed at the same time the behaviour and conduct of
Tetzel; whom he called before him, and reproved with so
much sharpness, that he died of melancholy a short time
after. Luther, amazed at all this civil treatment, which
he had never before experienced, commended Miltitz
highly, owned that, if they had behaved to him so at lirst,
all the troubles occasioned by these disputes, had been
avoided; and did not forgt-t to cast the blame upon Albert
archbishop of Mentz, who had increased these troubles by
his severity. Miltitz also made some concessions; as, that
the people had been seduced by false opinions about indulgences, that Tetzel had given the occasion, that the
archbishop had employed Tetzel to get money, that Tetzel
had exceeded the bounds of his commission, &c. This
mildness and seeming candour on the part of Miltitz gained
so wonderfully upon Luther, that he wrote a most submissive letter to the pope, on March 13, 1519. Miltitz,
however, taking for granted that they would not be contented at Rome with this letter of Luther’s, written, as it
was, in general terms only, proposed to refer the matter
to some othec judgment; and it was agreed between them
that the elector of Triers should be the judge, and Coblentz the place of conference; but this came to nothing;
for Luther afterwards gave some reasons for not going to
Coblentz, and the pope would not refer the matter to the
elector of Triers.
in which they exhorted him to constancy and perseverance, owning, that the divinity which he taught was the pure, sound, and orthodox divinity. Many great and learned
During all these treaties, the doctrine of Luther spread,
and prevailed; and he himself received great encouragement at home and abroad. The Bohemians about this time
sent him a book of the celebrated John Huss, who had fallen
a martyr in the work of reformation; and also letters, in
which they exhorted him to constancy and perseverance,
owning, that the divinity which he taught was the pure,
sound, and orthodox divinity. Many great and learned
men had joined themselves to him: among the rest Philip
Melancthon, whom Frederic had invited to the university
of Wittemberg in August 1518, and Andrew Carolostadius, archdeacon of that town, who was a great linguist.
They desired, if possible, to draw over Erasmus to their
party; and to that end we find Melancthon thus expressing himself in a letter to that great man, dated Leipsic,
Jan. 5, 1519: “Martin Luther, who has a very great
esteem for you, wishes of all things that you would
thoroughly approve of him;
” and Luther himself wrote to
Erasmus, in very respectful and even flattering terms. The
elector of Saxony was desirous also to know Erasmus’s opinion of Luther, and might probably think, that as Erasmus
had most of the monks for his enemies, and some of those
who were warmest against Luther, he might easily be prevailed on to come over to their party. It would, indeed, have,
been a considerable object, if they could have gained this
point; for the reputation of Erasmus was so great, that if he
had once declared for Luther, almost all Germany would
have declared along with him.
him with so much violence, because he had submitted himself to the judgment of those whose office it was to determine, and man had endeavoured to convince him of his
But Erasmus, whatever he might think of Luther’s opinions, had neither his impetuosity,' nor his courage. He
contented himself, therefore, with acting and speaking in
his usual strain of moderation, and wrote a letter to the
elector Frederic, in which he declared “his dislike of the
'arts which were employed to make Luther odious; that he
did not know Luther, and so could neither approve nor
condemn his writings, because indeed he had not read
them; that however he condemned the railing at him with
so much violence, because he had submitted himself to the
judgment of those whose office it was to determine, and
man had endeavoured to convince him of his error that
his antagonists seemed rather to seek his death, than his
salvation; that they mistook the matter in supposing, that
all error is heresy; that there are errors in all the writings
of both ancients and moderns; that divines are of different
opinions; that it is more prudent to use moderate, than
violent means; that the elector ought to protect innocency,
and that this was the intent of Leo X.
” Erasmus wrote
also a friendly letter in answer to Luther’s, and told him,
that “his books had raised such an uproar at Louvain, as
it was not possible for him to describe; that he could not
have believed divines could have been such madmen, if he
had not been present, and seen them with his eyes; that,
by defending him, he had rendered himself suspected; that
many abused him as the leader of this faction, so they call
it; that there were many in England, and some at Louvain,
no inconsiderable persons, who highly approved his opinions; that, for his own part, he endeavoured to carry
himself as evenly as he could with all parties, that he might
more effectually serve the interests of learning and religion; that, however, he thought more might be done by
civil and modest means than by intemperate heat and passion;
that it would be better to inveigh against those who abuse
the pope’s authority, than against the popes themselves;
that new opinions should rather be promoted in the way of
proposing doubts and difficulties, than by affirming and deciding peremptorily; that nothing should be delivered with
faction and arrogance; but that the mind, in these cases,
should be kept entirely free from anger, hatred, and vainglory. I say not this,
” says Erasmus, “as if you wanted
any admonitions of this kind, bat only that you may not
want them hereafter, any more than you do at present.
”
When this letter was written, Erasmus and Luther ha<i
never seen each other: it is dated from Louvain, May 30,
151 y; and it is hardly possible to read it without suspecting, that Erasmus was entirely in Luther’s sentiments, if he
had possessed the courage to declare it. He concludes in
these words, which seem to imply as much: “I have dipped
into your commentaries upon the Psalms; they please
me prodigiously, and I hope will be read with great advantage. There is a prior of the monastery of Antwerp, who
says he was formerly your pupil, and loves you most affectionately. He is a truly Christian man, and almost the
only one of his society who preaches Christ, the rest being
attentive either to the fabulous traditions of men, or to their
own profit. I have written to Melarrcthon. The Lord Jesus
pour upon you his spirit, that you may abound more and
more every day, to his glory in the service of the church.
Farewell.
”
which Luther first, and afterwards Carolostadius, answered. The dispute thus depending, a conference was proposed at Leipsic, with the consent of George duke of Saxony,
In 1519 Luther had a famous dispute at Leipsic with
John Eckius. Eckius, as we have observed, wrote notes
upon Luther’s theses, which Luther first, and afterwards
Carolostadius, answered. The dispute thus depending, a
conference was proposed at Leipsic, with the consent of
George duke of Saxony, who was cousin-german to Frederic the elector; and accordingly Luther went thither at
the end of June, accompanied by Carolostadius and Melancthon. Melchior Adam relates that Luther could not
obtain leave to dispute for some time, but was only a spectator of what passed between Carolostadius and Eckius,
till Eckius got at last a protection for him from the duke.
It is certain, however, that they disputed upon the most
delicate points upon purgatory, upon indulgences; and
especially upon the authority of the pope. Luther objected to this last, as being an invidjous and unnecessary
subject; and that he would not have meddled with it, if
Eckius had not put it among the propositions which they
were to argue. Eckius answered, and it must be owned
with some reason, that Luther had first given occasion to
that question, by touching upon it himself, and teaching
several things contrary to the authority of the holy see. In
this dispute, after many texts of scripture, and many passages from the fathers, had been cited and canvassed by
both sides, they came to settle the sense of the famous
words, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build
my church.
” Luther asserted, That by rock is to be understood either power or faith: if power, then our Saviour
hath added to no purpose, “and I will give thee the keys,
&c.
” if faith, as it ought, then it is also common to all
other churches, and not peculiar to that of Rome. Eckius
replied, That these words settled a supremacy upon St.
Peter; that they ought to be understood of his person, according to the explication of the fathers; that the contrary
opinion was one of the errors of Wicklitf and John Hass,
which were condemned; and that he followed the opinion
of the Bohemians. Luther was not to be silenced with this,
but said, That although all the fathers had understood that
passage of St. Peter in the sense of Eckius, yet he would
oppose them with the authority of St. Paul and St. Peter
himself; who say, that Jesus Christ is the only foundation
and corner-stone of his church; and as to his following the
opinion of the Bohemians, in' maintaining a proposition
condemned with John Huss, that “the dignity of the pope
was established by the emperor,
” though he did not, he
said, approve of the schism of the Bohemians, yet he
should make no scruple to affirm, that, among the articles
condemned with John Huss, there were some very sound
and orthodox. This dispute ended at length like all others,
the parties not the least nearer in opinions, but more at
enmity with each other’s persons. It seems, however,
granted on all sides, that while Eckius made the best possible defence for his party, Luther did not acquire in this
dispute that success and applause which he expected;
and it is agreed also, that he made a concession to Eckius,
which he afterwards retracted, that the pope was head of
the church by human though not by divine right; which
made George duke of Saxony say, after the dispute was
over, “Sive Jure divino, siye hurnano sit papa, est tamen
papa:
” " Whether he be pope by divine right or human,
he is nevertheless pope/'
erwards Adrian VI. passed their censure on the 7th of November; and the censure of the lakter, which was made at the request of the divines of Louvain, was dated on
This same year 1519, Luther’s books concerning indulgences were formally censured by the divines of Louvain and Cologne. The former having consulted with the cardinal of Tortosa, afterwards Adrian VI. passed their censure on the 7th of November; and the censure of the lakter, which was made at the request of the divines of Louvain, was dated on the 30th of August. Luther wrote immediately against these censures, and declared that be valued them not: that several great and good men, such as Occam, Picus Mirandula, Laurentius Valla, and others, had been condemned in the same unjust manner; nay, he would venture to add to the list, Jerom of Prague and John Huss. He charged those universities with rashness, in being the first that declared against him; and accused them of want of proper respect and deference to the holy see, in condemning a book presented to the pope, on which judgment had not yet been passed. About the end of this year, Luther published a book, in which be contended for the communion being celebrated in both kinds. This was condemned by the bishop of Misnia, Jan. 24, 1520. Lnther, seeing himself so beset with adversaries’, wrote a letter to the new emperor, Charles V. of Spain, who was not yet come into Germany, and another to the elector of Mentz; in both which he humhly implores protection, till he should be able to give an account of himself and his opinions; adding, that he did not desire to be defended, if he were convicted of impiety or heresy, but only that he might not be condemned without a hearing. The former of these letters is dated Jan. 15, 1520; the latter, Feb. 4. The elector Frederic fell about this time into a dangerous illness, which threw the whole party into great consternation, and occasioned some apprehensions at Wittemberg: but of this he happily recovered.
While Luther was labouring to excuse himself to the emperor and the bishops of
While Luther was labouring to excuse himself to the
emperor and the bishops of Germany, Eckius had gone to
Rome, to solicit his condemnation: which, it may easily
be conceived, was not now very difficult to be obtained, as
he and his whole party were had in abhorrence, and the
elector Frederic wajs out of favour, on account of the protection which he afforded Luther. The elector excused
himself to the pope, in a letter dated April 1; which the
pope answered, and sent him at the same time a copy of a
bull, in which he was required “either to oblige Luther
to retract his errors, or to imprison him for the disposal of
the pope.
” This peremptory proceeding alarmed at first
the court of the elector, and many German nobles who
were of Luther’s party, but their final resolution was, to
protect and defend him. In the mean time, though
Luther’s condemnation was determined at Rome, Miltitz
did not cease to treat in Germany, and to propose means
of accommodation. To this end he applied to the chapter
of the Augustine friars there, and prayed them to interpose
their authority, and to beg of Luther that he would endeavour to conciliate the pope by a letter, full of submission
and respect. Luther consented to write, and his letter
bears date April the 6th; but matters had been carried too
far on both sides, ever to admit of a reconciliation. The
mischief Luther had done, and continued to do, to the
papal authority, was irreparable; and the rough usage and
persecutions he had received from the pope’s party had
now inflamed his active spirit to that degree, that it was
not possible to appease it, but by measures which the
pope and the court of Rome could never be expected to
adopt. At all events, the letter he wrote at this juncture
could not be attended with any healing ednsequences; the
style and sentiments were too irritating for a less degree of
pride than that which presided at Rome. In this epistle
Luther says, “that among the monsters of the age, with
whom be had been engaged for three years past, he had often
called to mind the blessed father Leo: that now he began
to triumph over his enemies, and to despise them: that,
though he had been obliged to appeal from his holiness to
a general council, yet he had no aversion to him: that he
had always wished and prayed for all sorts of blessings
upon his person and see: that his design was only to defend the truth: that he had never spoken dishonourably of
his holiness, but had called him a Daniel in the midst of
Babylon, to denote the innocence and purity he had preserved among so many corrupt men: that the court of
Rome was visibly more corrupt than either Babylon or
Sodom; and that his holiness was as a lamb among wolves,
a Daniel among lions, and an Ezekiel ampng scorpions:
that there were not above three or four cardinals of any
learning or piety: that it was against these disorders of
the court of Rome he was obliged to appear: that cardinal
Cajftan, who was ordered by his holiness to treat with
him, bad shewn no inclinations to peace: that his nuncio JVliltitz had indeed come to two conferences with
him, and that he had promised JVliltitz to be silent, and
submit to the decision of the archbishop of Triers; but
that the dispute at Leipsic had hindered the execution of
this project, and put things into greater confusion: that
Milt it/ hud applied a third time to the chapter of his order,
at whose instigation he had written to his holiness: and
that he now threw himself at his feet, praying him to impose silence upon his enemies: but that, as for a recantation on his part, be must not insist upon it, unless he
would increase the troubles; nor prescribe him rules for
the interpretation of the word of God, because it ought
not to be limited. Then he admonishes the pope not to
suffer himself to be seduced, by his flatterers, into a persuasion that he can command and require all things, that
he is above a council and the universal church, that he
alone has a right to interpret scripture; but to believe
those rather who debase, than those who exalt him.
”
would no longer communicate in it. The first step he took, after the publication of the pope’s bull, was to write against it; which he did in very severe terms, calling
Luther, now perceiving that all hopes of an accommodation were at an end, no longer observed the least reserve
or moderation. Hitherto he had treated his adversaries
with some degree of ceremony, paid them some regard;
and, not being openly separated from the church, did not
quite abandon the discipline of it. But now he kept no
measures with them, broke off all his engagements to the
church, and publicly declared, that he would no longer
communicate in it. The first step he took, after the publication of the pope’s bull, was to write against it; which
he did in very severe terms, calling it, “The execrable
bull of antichrist.
” He published likewise a book called
“The Captivity of Babylon
” in which he begins with a
protestation, “That he became every day more knowing:
that he was ashamed and repented of what he had written
about indulgences two years before, when he was a slave
to the superstitions of Rome: that he did not indeed then
reject indulgences, but had since discovered, tliat they
are nothing but impostures, fit to raise money, and to destroy the faith: that he was then content with denying the
papacy to be jure divino, but had lately been convinced
that it was the kingdom of Babylon: that he then wished a
general council would settle the communion in both kinds,
but npw plainly saw, that it was commanded by scripture:
that he did absolutely deny the seven sacraments, owning
no more than three, baptism, penance, and the Lord’s
supper,
” &c. About the same time also, he published
another treatise in the German language, to make the
court of Rome odious to the Germans; in which “he gives
a history of the wars raised by the popes against the emperors, and represents the miseries Germany had suffered
by them. He strives to engage the emperor and princes of
Germany to espouse his party against the pope,' by maintaining, that they had the same power over the clergy as
they had over the laity, and that there was no appeal from
their jurisdiction. He advised the whole nation to shake
off the pope’s power; and proposes a reformation, by
which he subjects the pope and bishops to the power of
the emperor, &c.
” Lastly, that he might not be wanting
in any thing which should testify his abhorrence of the proceedings in the court of Rome, Luther determined to treat
the pope’s bull and decretals in the same manner as they
had ordered his writings to be treated: and therefore, calling the students at Wittemberg together, he flung them
into a fire prepared for that purpose; saying, “Because
thou hast troubled the holy one of God, let eternal fire
trouble thee.
” This ceremony was performed, Dec. 10,
1520.
The bull of Luther’s condemnation was carried into Germany, and published there by Eckius, who had
The bull of Luther’s condemnation was carried into Germany, and published there by Eckius, who had solicited
it at Rome; and who, together with Jerom Aleander, a
person eminent for his learning and eloquence, was intrusted by the pope with the execution of it. In the mean
time, Charles V. of Spain, after he had adjusted the affairs
of the Low Countries, went into Germany, and was
crowned emperor, Oct. the 21st, at Aix-la-Chapelle. The
plague preventing his remaining long in that city, he went
to Cologne, and appointed a diet at Worms, to meet Jan.
the 6tb, 1521. Frederic, elector of Saxony, could not be
present at the coronation, but was left sick at Cologne,
where Aleander, who accompanied the emperor, presented
him with a brief, which the pope had sent by him, and by
which his holiness gave him notice of the decree he had
made against the errors of Luther. Aleander told the
elector, that the pope had intrusted himself and Eckius
with the affair of Luther, which was of the utmost consequence to the whole Christian world, and, it' there were
not a speedy stop put to it, would undo the empire: that
he did not doubt, but that the elector woifld imitate the
emperor, and other princes of the empire, who had received the pope’s judgment respectfully. He informed his
highness also, that he had two things to request of him in
the name of the pope: “First, That he would cause all
Luther’s books to be burnt; and, secondly, that he would
either put Luther to death, or imprison him, or send him
to the pope.
” The pope sent also a brief to the university of Wittemberg, to exhort them to put his bull in execution against Luther; but neither the elector nor the
university paid any regard to his briefs. Luther, at the
same time, renewed his appeal to a future council, in terms
very severe upon the pope, calling him tyrant, heretic,
apostate, antichrist, and blasphemer; and in it prays the
emperor, electors, princes, and lords of the empire, to
favour his appeal, nor suffer the execution of the bull, till
he should be lawfully summoned, heard, and convicted,
before impartial judges. This appeal is dated Nov. 17.
Erasmus, indeed, and other German divines, were of opinion that things ought not to be carried to this extremity,
foreseeing, that the fire which consumed Luther’s books
would soon put all Germany into a flame. They proposed,
therefore, to agree upon arbitrators, or to refer the whole
cause to the first general council. But these pacific proposals came too late; and Eckius and Aleander pressed
the matter so vigorously both to the emperor and the other
German princes, that Luther’s books were burnt in several
cities of Germany. Aleander also earnestly importuned
the emperor for an edict against Luther; but he found
many and great obstacles. Luther’s party was very powerful; and Charles V. was not willing to give so public an
offence to the elector of Saxony, who had lately refused
the empire, that he might have it.
y and friends, to be used at the diet of Worms: and, because the Lutherans insisted that the contest was chiefly about the jurisdiction of the pope, and the abuses of
To overcome these difficulties, Aleander gained a new
bull from Rome, which declared, that Luther had incurred,
by obstinacy, the penalty denounced in the first. He also
wrote to the court of Rome for the assistance of money
and friends, to be used at the diet of Worms: and, because the Lutherans insisted that the contest was chiefly
about the jurisdiction of the pope, and the abuses of the
court of Rome, and that they were only persecuted for the
sake of delivering up Germany to the tyranny of that court;
he undertook t.> shew, That Luther had broached many
errors relating to the mysteries of religion, and revived the
heresies of Wickliff and John Huss. The diet of Worms
was held in the beginning of 1521 where Aleandtrr, in
the absence of Luther, employed his eloquence and interest so successfully, that the emperor and princes of the
empire were about to execute the pope’s bull against
Luther with severity, and without delay The only way
wfhich the elector of Saxony and Luther’s friends could
invent to ward off the blow, was to say, “That it was not
evident, that the propositions objected tp were his that
his adversaries might attribute them to him falsely that
the books from which they were taken might be forged
and, above all, that it was not just to condemn him without summoning and hearing him.
” The emperor, therefore, with the consent of the princes of the diet, sent
Sturmius, an orh'cer, from Worms to Wittemberg, to conduct Luther safely to the diet. Sturmius carried w.th him
a “safe-conduct
” to Luther, signed by the emperor and
princes of the diet; and also a letter from the emperor,
dated March 21, 1521, and directed “To the honourable,
beloved, devout doctor, Martin Luther, of the order of St.
Augustine;
” in which he summoned him to appear at the
diet, and assured him, that he need not fear any violence
or ill treatment. Nevertheless, Luther’s friends were much
against his going; some telling him, that, by burning his
books, he might easily know what censure would be passed
on himself; others reminding him of the treatment they
had, upon a like occasion, shewn to John Huss. But
Luther despised all dangers; and, in a strain which is extremely characteristic of him, declared, that “If he knew
there were as many devils at Worms as tiles upon the
houses, he would go.
”
books for his that went under his name; and, secondly, Whether he intended to retract or defend what was contained in them.” These queries produced an altercation, which
He arrived accordingly at Worms April 16, where a
prodigious multitude of people were assembled, for the
sake of seeing a man of whom so much had no.w been
heard. When he appeared before the diet, he had two
questions put to him by John Eckius: “First, whether h$
owned those books for his that went under his name; and,
secondly, Whether he intended to retract or defend what
was contained in them.
” These queries produced an altercation, which lasted some days; but which ended at length
in this single and peremptory declaration of Luther, that
“unless he was convinced by texts of scripture or evident
reason (for he did not think himself obliged to submit to the pope or his councils), he neither could nor would retract any thing, because it was not lawful for him to act
against nis conscience.
” This being Luther’s final resolution, the emperor declared to the diet, That he was determined to proceed against him as a notorious heretic; but
that he intended, nevertheless, he should return to Wittemberg, according to the conditions laid down in his
“safe-conduct.
” Luther left Worms April the 26th, conducted by Sturmius, who had brought him and being arrived at Friburg, he wrote letters to the emperor and
princes of the diet, to commend his cause to them, and to
excuse himself for not submitting to a recantation. These
letters wt re conveyed by Sturmius, whom he sent back,
on pretence that he was then out of danger; but in reality,
as it is supposed, that Sturmius might not be present at
the execution of a scheme which had been concerted befofe
Luther set out from Worms; for, the elector of Satfony,
foreseeing that the emperor was going to make a bloody
edict against Luther, and finding it impossible to support
and protect him any longer without involving himself in
difficulties, resolved to have him taken away, and concealed. This was proposed to Luther, and accordingly
when he went from Eysenac, May the 3d, through a wood,
in his way to Wittemberg, he was suddenly set upon by
some horsemen in disguise, deputed for that purpose, who
pretended to take him by force, and carried him secretly
into the castle of Wittemberg. Melchior Adam relates,
that there were only eight nobles privy to this expedition,
which was executed with so much address and fidelity, that
no man knew what was become of him, or where he was.
This contrivance produced two advantages to Luther: as,
first, it caused people to believe that he was taken away by
the intrigues of his enemies, which made them dious, and
exasperated men’s minds against them; and, secondly, it
secured him against the pr isecution which the pope and
the empe or were making against him.
Before the diet of Worms was dissolved, Charles V. caused an edict to be drawn up, which
Before the diet of Worms was dissolved, Charles V. caused an edict to be drawn up, which was dated the 8th of May, and solemnly published on the 2oth in the assembly of the electors and princes held in his palace. In this edict, after declaring it to be the duty of an emperor, not only to defend the limits of the empire, but to maintain religion and the true faith, and to extinguish heresies in their original, he commands, That Martin Luther be, agreeably to the sentence of the pope, henceforward looked upon as a member separated from the church, a schismatic, and an obstinate and notorious heretic. He forbids all persons, under the penalty of high treason, loss of goods, and being put under the ban of the empire, to receive or defend, maintain or protect him, either in conversation or in writing; and he orders, that, after the twenty-one days allowed in his safe-conduct, he should be proceeded against according to the form of the ban of the empire, in what place soever he should be: or, at least, that he should be seized and imprisoned, till his imperial majesty’s pleasure should be further known. The same punishments are denounced against all the accomplices, adherents, followers, or favourers of Luther; and also all persons are forbidden to print, sell, buy, or read any of his books: and, because there had been published several books concerning the same doctrines, without his name, and several pictures dispersed that were injurious to the pope, cardinal, and bishops, he commands the magistrates to seize and burn them, uod to punish the authors and printers of those pictures and libels. Lastly, it forbids in general the printing of any book concerning matters of faith, which hath not the approbation of the ordinary, and some neighbouring university.
While the bull of Leo X. executed by Charles V. was thundering throughout the empire, Luther was safely shut up
While the bull of Leo X. executed by Charles V. was
thundering throughout the empire, Luther was safely shut
up in his castle, which he afterwards called his Hermitage,
and his Patmos. Here he held a constant correspondence
with his friends at Wittemberg, and was employed in composing books in favour of his own cause, and against his
adversaries. He did not however so closely confine himself, but that he frequently made excursions into the
neighbourhood, though always under some disguise or
other. One day he assumed the title and appearance of a
nobleman: but it may be supposed that he did not act his
part very gracefully; for a gentleman who attended him
under that character, to an inn upon the road, was, it
seems, so fearful of a discovery, that he thought it necessary to caution him against that absence of mind peculiar
to literary men; bidding him “keep close to his sword,
without taking the least notice of books, if by chance any
should fall in his way.
” He used sometimes even to go
out a hunting with those few who were in his secret;
which, however, we may imagine, he did more for health
than for pleasure, as indeed may be collected from his
own curious account of it. “I was,
” says he, “lately
two days a hunting, in which amusement I found both
pleasure and pain. We killed a brace of hares, and took
some unhappy partridges; a very pretty employment,
truly, for an idle man! However, I could not forbear
theologizing amidst dogs and nets; for, thought I to myself, do not we, in hunting innocent animals to death with
dogs, very much resemble the devil, who, by crafty wiles
and the instruments of wicked priests, is perpetually seeking whom he may devour? Again: We happened to
take a leveret alive, which I put into my pocket, with an
intent to preserve it; yet we were not gone far, before
the dogs seized upon it, as it was in my pocket, and worried it. Just so the pope and the devil rage furiously to
destroy the souls that I have saved, in spite of all my endeavours to prevent them. In short, I am tired of hunting these little innocent beasts; and had rather be employed, as I have been for some time, in spearing bears,
wolves, tigers, and foxes; that is, in opposing and confounding wicked and impious divines, who resemble those
savage animals in their qualities.
”
t immediately wrote him a letter, to prevent his being offended. The diet of Charles V. severe as it was, had given little or no check to Luther’s doctrine; for the
Weary at length of his retirement, he appeared publicly
again at Wittemberg, March 6, 1522, after he had been
absent about ten months. He appeared indeed without
the elector’s leave, but immediately wrote him a letter, to
prevent his being offended. The diet of Charles V. severe
as it was, had given little or no check to Luther’s doctrine;
for the emperor was no sooner gone into Flanders, than
his edict was neglected and despised, and the doctrine
seemed to spread even faster than before. Carolostadius,
in Luther’s absence, had acted with even more vigour than
his leader, and had attempted to abolish the use of mass,
to remove images out of the churches, to set aside auricular confession, invocation of saints, the abstaining from
meats; had allowed the monks to leave their monasteries,
to neglect their vows and to marry, and thus had quite
changed the doctrine and discipline of the church at Wittemberg: all which, though not against Luther’s sentiments, was yet blamed by him, as being rashly and nnseasonably done. The reformation was still confined to
Germany; it had not extended to France; and Henry V11I.
of England made the most rigorous acts to prevent its entering his realm; and to shew his zeal for the holy see,
wrote a treatise “Of the seven Sacraments,
” against Luther’s book “Of the captivity of Babylon;
” winch he presented to Leo X. in Oct. Defender of the Faith.
” Luther, however, paid no
regard to his dignity, but treated both his person and
performance in the most contemptuous manner. Henry
complained of this rude usage to the princes of Saxony;
and Fisher, bishop of Rochester, replied, in hehall'
of Henry’s treatise: but neither the king’s complaint,
nor the bishop’s reply, were attended with any visible
effects.
a loiter, July the 29tn, to the assembly of the States of Bohemia, in which he assured them, that he was labouring to establish their doctrine in Germany, and exhorted
Luther now made open war with the pope and bishops;
and, that he might make the people despise their authority
as much us possible, he wrote one book against the pope’s
bull, and another against the order falsely culled “the
order of bishops.
” The same year, New
Testament
” in the German tongue, which was afterwards
corrected by himself and Melancthon. This translation
having been printed several times, and in general circulation, Ferdinand, archduke of Austria, the emperor’s brother, made a very severe edict, to suppress its publication,
and forbade all the subjects of his imperial majesty to have
any copies of it, or of Luther’s other books. Some other
princes followed his example, which provoked Luther to
write a treatise “Of the secular power,
” in which he accuses them of tyranny and impiety. The diet of the empire was held at Nuremberg, at the end of the year; to
which Adrian VI. sent his brier', dated Nov. the 25th; for
Leo X, died Dec. 2, 1521, and Adrian bad been elected
pope the 9th of Jan. following. In this brief, among other
things, he informs the diet, that he had heard, with grief,
that Martin Luther, after the sentence of Leo X. which
was ordered to be executed by the edict of Worms, continued to teach the same errors, and daily to publish books
full of heresies: that it appeared strange to him, that so
large and so religious a nation could be seduced by a
wretched apostate friar: that nothing, however, could be
more pernicious to Christendom: and that, therefore, he
e.thorts them to use their utmost endeavours to make Luther, and the authors of these tumults, return to their
duty; or, if they refuse and continue obstinate, to proceed against them according to the laws of the empire, and
the severity of the last edict.
The resolution of this diet was published in the form of an edict, March 6, 1523; but it had
The resolution of this diet was published in the form of
an edict, March 6, 1523; but it had no effect in checking
the Lutherans, who still went on in the same triumphant
wanner. This year Luther wrote a great many tracts:
among the rest, one upon the dignity and office of the supreme magistrate; with which Frederic elector of Saxony
is said to have been highly pleased. He sent, about the
same time, a writing in the German language to the Waldenses, or Picards, in Bohemia and Moravia, who had applied to him “about worshipping the body of' Christ in the
eucharist.
” He wrote also another book, which he dedicated to the senate and people of Prague, “concerning
the institution of ministers of the church.
” He drew up a
form of saying mass. He wrote a piece entitled " Ad
Example of Popish Doctrine and Divinity;: ' which Dnpin calls a satire against nuns, and those who profess a
monastic life. He wrote also against the vows of virginity,
in his preface to his commentary on 1 Cor. vii.: and his exhortations here were, it seems, followed with effects; for,
soon after, nine nuns eloped from a nunnery, and were
brought to Wittemberg. Whatever offence this proceeding might give to the papists, it was highly extolled by
Luther; who, in a book written in the German language,
compares the deliverance of these nuns from the slavery of
a monastic life, to that of the souls whichJesus Christ has;
delivered by his death. This year he had occasion to lament the death of two of his followers, who were burnt ar
Brussels, and were the first who suffered martyrdom for
his doctrine. He wrote also a consolatory epistle to three
noble ladies at Misnia, who were banished from the duke
of Saxony’s court at Friburg, for reading his books.
In the beginning of 1524, Clement VII. sent a legate into Germany to the diet which was to be held at Nuremberg. This pope had succeeded Adrian, who
In the beginning of 1524, Clement VII. sent a legate
into Germany to the diet which was to be held at Nuremberg. This pope had succeeded Adrian, who died in Oct.
1523, and had, a little before his death, canonized Benno,
who Was bishop of Meissen in the time of Gregory VII.
and one of the most zealous defenders of the holy se.
Luther, imagining that this was done directly to oppose
him, drew up a piece with this title, “Against the new
Idol and Devil set up at Meissen;
” in which he treats the
memory of Gregory with great freedom, and does not spare
even Adrian. Clement VII.'s legate, therefore, represented to the diet at Nuremberg the necessity of enforcing the
execution of the edict of Worms, which had been strangely
neglected by the princes of the empire; but, notwithstanding the legate’s solicitations, which were very pressing, the
decrees of that diet were thought so ineffectual, that they
were condemned at Rome, and rejected by the emperor.
It was in this year that the dispute between Luther and
Erasmus began about free-will. Erasmus had been much
courted by the papists to write against Luther; but had
hitherto avoided the task, by saying, “that Luther was
too great a man for him to write against, and that he had
learned more from one short page of Luther, than from all
the large books of Thomas Aquinas.
” Besides, Erasmus
was all along of opinion, that writing would not be found
an effectual way to end the differences, and establish the
peace of the church. Tired out, however, at length with
the importunities of the pope and the catholic princes, and
desirous at the same time to clear himself from the suspicion
of favouring a cause which he would not seem to favour,
he resolved to write against Luther, though, as he tells
Melancthon, it was with some reluctance; and he chose
free-will for the subject. His book was entitled “A diatriba, or Conference about Free-will,
” and was wriuen
with much moderation, and without personal reflections.
He tells Luther in the preface, “that he ought not to take
his differing from him in opinion ill, because he had allowed
himself the liberty of differing from the judgment of popes,
councils, universities and doctors of the church.
” Luther
was some time before he answered Erasmus’s book, but
at last published a treatise “De servo arbitrio, or, Of the
Servitude of Man’s Will;
” and though Melancthon had
promised Krasmus, that Luther should answer him with
civility and moderation, yet Luther had so little regard to
Melancthon’s promise, that he never wrote any thing more
severe. He accused Erasmus of being carelrsn about religion, and little solicitous what became of it, provided the
world continued in peace; and that his notions were rather
philosophical than Christian. Erasmus immediately
replied to Luther,- in a piece called “Hyperaspistes
”. in
the first part of which he answers his arguments, and in the
second his personal reflections.
In October 1524, Luther threw off the monastic habit; which, though not premeditated and designed, was yet a very proper preparative to a step he took the year after;
In October 1524, Luther threw off the monastic habit;
which, though not premeditated and designed, was yet a
very proper preparative to a step he took the year after;
we mean, his marriage with Catherine de Bore. Catherine cie Bore was a gentleman’s daughter, who had been a
nun, and was one of those whom we mentioned as escaping
from tue nunnery in 1523. Luther had a design to marry
her to Glacius, a minister of Ortamuncien; but she did not
like Glacius, and Luther married her himself, June 13,
1525. This conduct of his was blamed not only by the
catholics, but, as Melancthon says, by those of his own
party. He was even for some time ashamed of it himself;
aud owns, “that his marriage had made him so despicable,
that he hoped his humiliation would rejoice the angels,
and vex the devils.
” Melancthon found him so afflicted
with what he had done, that he wrote some letters of consolation to him: he adds, however, that “this accident
may possibly not be without its use, as it tends to humble
him a little: for it is dangerous,
” says he, “not only for a
priest, but for any man, to be too much elated and puffed
up; great success giving occasion to the sin of a high
mind, not only, as the orator says, in fools, but sometimes
even in wise men.
” It was not so much the marriage, as
the circumstances of the time, and the precipitation with
which it was done, that occasioned the censures passed
upon Luther. He married very suddenly, and at a time
when Germany was groaning under the miseries of war,
which was said at least to be owing to Lutheranism. It
was thought also an indecent thing in a man of forty-two
years of age, who was then, as he declared, restoring the
gospel and reforming mankind, to involve himself in marriage with a woman of six and twenty, upon any pretext.
But Luther, as soon as he had recovered himself a little
from this abashment, assumed his former air of intrepidity,
and boldly supported what he had done with reasons. “I
took a wife,
” says he, “in obedience to my father’s commands, and hastened the consummation, in or 1 r to prevent impediments, and stop the tongues of slanderers.
” It
appears from his own confessions, that,this reformer was
very fond of Mrs. de Bore, and used to call her his Catherine; which occasioned some slanderous reflections and
therefore, says he, “I married of a sudden, not only that J
might not be obliged to hear the clamours which I knew
would be raised against me, but to stop the mouths of those
who reproached me with Catherine de Bore.
” Luther
also gives us to understand, that he did it partly as concurring with his grand scheme of opposing the catholics.
“See,
” says he, “because they are thus mad, I have so
prepared myself, that, before I die, I may be found by
God in the state in which I was created, and, if possible,
retain nothing of my former popish life. Therefore let
them rave yet more, and this will be their last farewell;
for my mind presages, that I shall soon be called by God
unto his grace: therefore, at my father’s commands, I have
taken a xtife.
” In another letter he speaks thus: “1 hope
I shall live a little longer, and I would not deny this last
obedience to my father, who required it in hopes of issue,
and also to confirm the doctrines I have taught.
”
Luther, notwithstanding, was not himself altogether satisfied with these reasons. He did
Luther, notwithstanding, was not himself altogether satisfied with these reasons. He did not think the step he
bad taken could be sufficiently justified upon the principles
of human prudence; and therefore we find him, in other
places, endeavouring to account for it from a supernatural
impulse. “The wise men amongst us are greatly proyoked,
” says he; “they are forced to own the thing to be
of God, but the disguise of the persons under which it is
transacted, namely, of the young woman and myself,
makes them think and say every thing that is wicked.
”
And elsewhere: “The Lord brought me suddenly, when
I was thinking of other matters, to a marriage with Catherine (le Bore, the nun.
” His party seem also to have favoured this supposition. Thus says Melancthon: “As for the* unreasonableness and want of consideration in this marriage, on which account our adversaries will chiefly slander us, we must take heed lest that disturb us: for perhaps there is some secret, or something divine couched under it, concerning which it does not become us to inquire too curiously; nor ought we to regard the scoffs of those who exercise neither piety towards God, nor virtue towards men.
” Bnt whether there was any thing divine in
it or not, Luther found himself extremely happy in his
new state, and especially after his wife had brought him a
son. “My rib Kate,
” says he in the joy of his heart, “desires her compliments to you, and thanks you for the favour of your kind letter. She is very well, through God’s
mercy. She is obedient and complying with me in all
things, and more agreeable, I thank God, than I could
have expected; so tuat I would not change my p iverty for
the wealth of Croesus.
” He was heard to say, Seckeiulorf
tells us, “that he would not exchange his wile for the
kingdom of France, nor for the riches of the Venetians,
and that for three reasons: first, because she had been
given him by God, at the time when he implored the assistance of the Holy Ghost in finding a good wife: secondly,
because, though she was not without faults, yet she had
fewer than other women: and, thirdly, because she religiously observed the conjugal fidelity she owed him.
”
There was at first a report, that Catherine de Bore was
brought to bed soon after her marriage with Luther; but
Erasmus, who wrote that news to one of his friends, acknowledged the falsehood of it a little after, in one of his
letters, dated the 13th of March, 1526: “Luther’s marriage is certain; the report of his wife’s being so speedily
brought to bed is false; but I hear she is now with child.
If the common story be true, that antichrist shall be born
of a monk and a nun, as some pretended, how many thousands of antichrists are there in the world already? I was
in hopes that a wife would have made Luther a little
tamer: but he, contrary to all expectation, has published,
indeed, a most elaborate, but as virulent a book against
me, as ever he wrote. What will become of the pacific
Erasmus, to be obliged to descend upon the stage, at a
time of life when gladiators are usually dismissed from the
service; and not only to fight, but to fight with beasts!
”
h to call a diet at Spires by his letters, May 24, 1525. After he had given the reasons why the diet was not held the year before, as it was appointed, he said, “That
In the mean time the disturbances in Germany increased
everyday; and the war with the Turks, which brought
the empire into danger, forced Charles V. at length to call
a diet at Spires by his letters, May 24, 1525. After he
had given the reasons why the diet was not held the year
before, as it was appointed, he said, “That it was not because he thought that the imperial diets ought not to meddle
with matters of religion; for he acknowledged, that, on
the contrary, it was his duty to protect the Christian religion, to maintain the rights settled by their ancestors, and
to prevent novelties and pernicious doctrines from arising
and spreading but that, being certified that th<- edict of
Worms was not executed in some parts of Germany, that
there had been commotions and rebellions in some places,
that the princes and members of the empire had many
quarrels among themselves, that the Turk was ready to
break in upon the territories of the empire, and that there
were many disorders which needed a reformation, he had
therefore appointed an imperial diet to meet at Augsburg
upon the 1st of October.
” Few of the princes, however,
being able to meet at Augsburg, on account of the popular
tumults which prevailed, the diet was prorogued, and fixed
again at Spires, where it was held in June 1526. The
emperor was not present in person: but Ferdinand his
brother, and six other deputies, acted in his name. The
elector of Saxony, and the landgrave of Hesse, who were
of Luther’s party, came to it. At the opening of it, upon
the 25th, the emperor’s deputies proposed such things as
were to be the subject of consultation, and said, “That it
was the emperor’s design, that the members of this diet
should prescribe the means of securing the Christian religion, and the ancient discipline of the church derived to
us by tradition; the punishments they should suffer, who
did any thing contrary; and how the popish princes might
assist each other best, in executing the edict of Worms.
”
The deputies nominated to debate this matter, were, among
others, the landgrave of Hesse, Sturmius deputy of Strasburg, and Cressy deputy of Nuremberg, who embraced
Luther’s doctrine; so that they could form no resolution
conformable to the edict of Worms, but disputes ensued,
and things were likely to end in a rupture. The elector
of Saxony, landgrave of Hesse, and their party, were
ready to withdraw; but Ferdinand, and the emperor’s deputies, foreseeing that if the diet broke up with these animosities, and came to no conclusion, all Germany would
be in danger of falling into quarrels, took pains to pacify
them, and brought them at last to make the following resolution viz. “That it being necessary, for the wel fart- m
religion and the public peace, to call a national council in
Germany, or a general one in Christendom, which should
be opened within a year, deputies should be sent to the
emperor, to desire him to return to Germany as soon as
he could, and to hold a council; and that, in the mean
time, the princes and states should so demean themselves
concerning the edict of Worms, as to be able to give an
account of their carriage to God and the emperor.
”
y were not less so in Italy; for a quarrel arose between the pope and the emperor, during which Rome was twice taken, and the pope imprisoned. While the princes were
Before this resolution of the diet appeared, the elector
of Saxony, and landgrave of Hesse, proposed to the deputies of Strasbiirji and Nuremberg, to nuke1 league in the
defence of those who should follow the new doctrine, and
to bring the cities of Francfort and Ulm into it; but the
deputies could then give no other answer, than that they
would consult their cities about it. Affairs were now in
great confusion in Germany; and they were not less so
in Italy; for a quarrel arose between the pope and the
emperor, during which Rome was twice taken, and the
pope imprisoned. While the princes were thus employed
in quarrelling with each other, Luther persisted in carrying
on the work of the Reformation, as well by opposing the
papists, as by combating the anabaptists and other fanatical
sects; which, having taken the advantage of his contest
^with the church of. Rome, had sprung up and established
themselves in several places. In 1527, Luther was suddenly seized with a coagulation of the blood about the
heart, which had like to have put an end to his life; but
recovering from this, he was attacked a second time with a
spiritual temptation, which he calls, “Colaphum Satanae,
a blow of Satan.
” He seemed, as he tells us, to perceive
at his left ear a prodigious beating, as it were of the waves
of the sea, and this not only wiihin, but also without his
head; and so violent withal, that he thought every moment
he was going to expire. Afterwards, when he felt it only
in the inner part of his head, he grew almost senseless,
was all over chilly, and not able to speak: but, recovering
himself a little, he applied himself to prayer, made a confession of his faith, and lamented grievously his unworthiness of martyrdom, which he had so often and so ardently
desired. In this situation, he made a will, for he had a
son, and his wife was again with child, in which he recommanded his family to the care of heaven: “Lord God,
”
says he, “I thank thee, that thou wouldst have me poor
upon earth, and a beggar. I have neither house, nor land,
nor possessions, nor money, to leave. Thou hast given me
a wife and children take them, I beseech thee, under thy
care, and preserve them, as thou hast preserved me.
” He
was, however, permitted to recover from this terrible condition; but he often spoke of it afterwards to his friends
as one of the severest bufferings he had ever received from
Satan. Perhaps our medical readers will be disposed to
consider it in a very different light.
The troubles of Germany still continuing, the emperor was forced to call a diet at Spires in 1529, to require the assistance
The troubles of Germany still continuing, the emperor
was forced to call a diet at Spires in 1529, to require the
assistance of the princes of the empire against the Turks,
who had taken Buda, and to Bud out some means of allaying the contests about religion, which increased daily. In
this diet were long and violent debates, utter winch the
decree of the former diet oi Spues was again agreed to, in
which it was ordered, that concerning me execution of
the edict of Worms, the princes of the empire should act
in such a manner, as that they might give a good account
of their management to God and the emperor, but, because some had taken occasion from these general terms,
to maintain all sorts of new doctrines, they made a new
decree in this diet, to explain that of the former; by which
it was appointed, “That in those places where the edict
of Worms had hitherto been observed, they should still
keep to the execution of it, nil a council should be called
by the emperor; that those, who had taken up new opinions, and could not be brought to quit them without the
hazard of some sedition, should be quiet for the future,
and not admit of any alterations till the meeting of the
council; that the new doctrine about the eucharist, which
had been started of late, should not be entertained; that
the mass should not be left off, nor the celebration of it
be hindered, even in those places where the reformed doctrine prevailed; that the anabaptists should be proscribed;
that the ministers of the word of God should preach it
according to the interpretation of the church, and should
abstain from speaking of any other doctrines, till the council should meet; that all the provinces of the empire should
live in peace, and not commit acts of hostility upon one
another, under a pretence of religion; and that one prince
should not protect the subjects of another.
”
The elector John of Saxony (for Frederic was dead), the elector of Brandenburg, Ernest and Francisdukes of
The elector John of Saxony (for Frederic was dead), the elector of Brandenburg, Ernest and Francisdukes of Lunenburg, the landgrave of Hesse, and the prince of Anhalt, protested against this decree of the diet. Their reasons were, 4t Ttiat they ought not to do any thing to infringe upon the determination of the former diet, which had granted liberty in religion, till the holding of the council; that that resolution, having been taken by the unanimous consent of all the members of the empire, could not be repealed but by the like consent; that, in the diet of Nuremberg, the original cause of all the differences in religion was searched into, and that, to allay them, they had offered to the pope eighty articles, to which his holiness had given no answer; that the effect of their consultations had always been, that the best way to end disputes and reform abuses was to hold a council; that they could not suffer opinions to be forced from them, which th^y judged true and agreeable to the word of God, before the council was held; that their ministers had proved, by invincible arguments taken out of Scripture, that the popish mass was contrary to the institution of Jesus Christ, and the practice of the apostles, so that they could not agree to what uas ordered in the diet; that they knew the judgment of their churches concerning the presence of the body and blood of Christ in the eucharist; but that they ought not to make a decree against those who were of a contrary opinion, because they were neither summoned nor heard: that they could indeed venture to approve of the clause about preaching the gospel according to the interpretation received in the church, since that did not determine the matter, it being yet in dispute what was the true church; that there was nothing more certain than the word of Go4 itself, which explains itself, and therefore they would take care, that nothing else should be taught but the Old and New Testament in their purity; that they are the only infallible rule, and that all human traditions are uncertain; that the decree of the former diet was made for the preservation of peace, but that this last would infallibly beget wars and troubles. For these reasons they could not approve of the decree of the diet, but yet would do nothing that should be blame- worthy, till a council, either general or national, should be held." Fourteen cities, viz. Strasburg, Nuremberg, Ulm, Constance, Retlingen, Windsheim, Memmingen, Lindow, Ketnpten, Hailbron, Isny, Weissemburg, Nortlingen, S. Gal, joined in this protestation, which was put into writing, and published the 19th of April, 1529, by an instrument, in which they appealed from all that should be done, to the emperor, a future council, either general or national, or to unsuspected judges; and accordingly they appointed deputies to send to the emperor, to* petition that this decree might be revoked. This was the famous protestation, which gave the name of Protestants to the reformers in Germany.
p a form of it at Nuremberg. The deputies of the princes and cities being met at Swaback, the affair was there proposed; but the deputies of the elector of Saxony alledging,
After this, the protestant princes laboured to make a
firm league among themselves, and with the free cities,
that they might be able to defend each other against the
emperor, and the catholic princes. This league had been
several times proposed before; but, after the protestation
just related, they judged it necessary not to delay it any
longer, and so drew up a form of it at Nuremberg. The
deputies of the princes and cities being met at Swaback,
the affair was there proposed; but the deputies of the
elector of Saxony alledging, that since this league was
made for the security of the true Christian doctrine, they
ought all unanimously to agree about this doctrine; they
ordered, therefore, that a summary of their doctrine, contained in several heads, should be read, that it might be
received, and approved unanimously by the whole assembly. The deputies of the protestaius at the diet of Spires
soon after, viz. Sept. 12, waited upon the emperor at Placentia, where he stayed a little, as he returned from his
coronation at Bologna; and assured him, that “their masters had opposed the decree of that diet for no other reason, but because they foresaw it would occasion many
troubles; that they implored his imperial majesty not to
think ill of them, and to believe, that they would bear their
part in the war against the Turks, and other charges of
the empire, according to their duty; that they begged his
protection, and a favourable answer to the memorial they
had presented him.
” The emperor, content with their submjssion, promised them an answer, when he had communicated it to his council: and Oct. 13, sent them word in
writing, that “the decree of the diet seemed to prevent
all innovations, and preserve the peace of the empire;
that the elector of Saxony, and his allies, ought to approve
of it; that he desired a council as much as they, though
that would not have been necessary, if the edict of Worms
had been duly executed that what had been once enacted
by the major part of the members of the diet could not be
disannulled by the opposition of some of them; that he
had written to the elector of Saxony and others, to receive
and execute the decree of the diet; and hoped they would
the sooner submit to his order, because an union and
peace were necessary at this time, when the Turk was in
Germany.
”
rite into Germany upon pain of death. One of the deputies, who happened to be absent when this order was given, wrote immediately to the senate of Nuremberg an account
The deputies having received this answer, drew up an
act of appeal, and caused it to be presented to the emperor; which enraged him so extremely, that he confined
them to their lodgings, and forbade them to write into
Germany upon pain of death. One of the deputies, who
happened to be absent when this order was given, wrote
immediately to the senate of Nuremberg an account of
what had passed; and this was transmitted to the elector
of Saxony, the landgrave of Hesse, and other confederates,
who met at Smalkald in November. Here it was first of
all proposed, to agree upon a confession of faith; which
accordingly was prepared, and afterwards offered at the
diet of Augsburg, in June 1530. The emperor would not
suffer it to be read in a full diet, but only in a special assembly of the princes and other members of the empire;
after which the assembly was dismissed, that they might
consult what resolutions should be formed. Some thought
that the edict of Worms should be put in execution;
others were for referring the matter to the decision of a
certain number of honest, learned, and indifferent persons;
a third party were for having it confuted by the catholic
divines, and the confutation to be read in a full diet before the protestants; and these prevailed. The protestants
afterwards presented an apology for their confession; but
the emperor would not receive it; they were, however,
both made public. This confession of faith, which was
afterwards called “The confession of Augsburg,
” was drawn
up by Melancthon, the most moderate of all Luther’s followers, as was also the apology. He revised and corrected
it several times, and, as Dupin tells us, could hardly please
Luther at last. Maimbourg says, however, that Luther
was exceedingly pleased with it, when Melancthon sent
him a copy of it; and Seckendorf allows that Luther was
very glad of the opportunity which was offered of letting
the world know what he and his followers taught. It was
signed by the elector of Saxony, the marquis of Brandenburg, Ernest and Francis dukes of Brunswick and Lurtenburg, the landgrave of Hesse, the princes of Anhalt, and
the deputies of the cities of Nuremberg and Retlingen.
to do but to sit down and contemplate the mighty work he had finished; and the remainder of his life was spent in exhorting princes, states, and universities, to confirm
Luther had now nothing else to do but to sit down and
contemplate the mighty work he had finished; and the
remainder of his life was spent in exhorting princes, states,
and universities, to confirm the reformation which had
been brought about through him, and in publishing from
time to time such writings as might encourage, direct, and
aid them. The emperor threatened temporal punishments
with armies, and the pope eternal with bulls and anathemas; but Luther cared for none of their threats. His
friend and coadjutor Melancthon was not so indifferent,
owing to the moderation and diffidence of his temper; and
hence we find many of Luther’s letters, written on purpose
to comfort him under his anxieties. “I am,
” says he, in
one of these letters, “much weaker than you in private
conflicts, if I may call those conflicts private which I have
with the devil; but you are much weaker than me in public. You are all diffidence in the public cause; I, on the
contrary, am very sanguine, because I am confident it is a
just and a true cause, the cause of God and of Christ,
which need not look pale and tremble; whereas the case
is very different with me in my private conflicts, who am a
very miserable sinner, and therefore have great reason to
look pale and tremble. Upon this account it is, that I
can be almost an indifferent spectator amidst all the noisy
threats and bullyings of the papists; for if we fall, the
kingdom of Christ falls with us; and, if it should fall, I
had rather fall with Christ, than stand with Caesar.
” So
again a little farther: “You, JNlelancthon, cannot bear
these disorders, and labour to have things transacted by
reason, and agreeable to that spirit of calmness and moderation which your philosophy dictates. You might as
well attempt to be mad with reason. Do not you see that
the matter is entirely out of your power and management,
and that even Christ himself forbids your measures to take
place?
” This letter was written in
In 1534 the Bible translated by him into German was first printed, as the old privilege, dated “at Bibliopolis,
In 1534 the Bible translated by him into German was
first printed, as the old privilege, dated “at Bibliopolis,
under the elector’s own hand, shews, and was published
the year after. He also published this year a book
” against
masses and the consecration of priests,“in which he relates
a conference he had with the devil upon those points; for
it is remarkable in Luther’s whole history, that he never
had any conflicts of any kind within, which he did not
attribute to the personal agency of the devil. In Feb.
1537, an assembly was held at Smalkald about matters of
religion, to which Luther and Melancthoii were called. At
this meeting Luther was seized with so dangerous an illness, that there was no hope of his recovery. He was
afflicted with the stone, and had a stoppage of urine for
eleven days. In this condition he insisted on travelling,
notwithstanding all his friends could do to prevent him:
his resolution, however, was attended with a good effect,
for the night after his departure he began to be better. As
he was carried along he made his will, in which he bequeathed his detestation of popery to his friends and
brethren; agreeably to what he often used to say,
” Pestis
cram vivus, moriens ero mors tua, papa;“that is,
” I was
the plague of popery in my life, and shall be its destruction in my death."
had indeed carried things to a violent extreme, yet what he had pleaded in defence of these measures was not entirely without foundation. They talked with a seeming
This year the court of Rome, finding it impossible to
deal with the protestants by force, began to have recourse
to stratagem. They affected therefore to think, that
though Luther had indeed carried things to a violent extreme, yet what he had pleaded in defence of these measures was not entirely without foundation. They talked
with a seeming shew of moderation; and Pius 111. who
succeeded Clement VII. proposed a reformation first among
themselves, and even went so far as to fix a place for a
council to meet at for that purpose. But Luther treated
this farce as it deserved to be treated; unmasked and detected it immediately; and, to ridicule it the more strongly,
caused a picture to be drawn, in which was represented the
pope seated on high upon a throne, some cardinals about
him with fox’s tails, and seeming to evacuate upwards and
downwards, “sursum deorsum repurgare,
” as Melchior
Adam expresses it. This was fixed against the title-page,
to let the readers see at once the scope and design of the
book which was, to expose that cunning and artifice with
which those subtle politicians affected to cleanse and purify
themselves from their errors and superstitions. Luther published about the same time “A Confutation of the pretended grant of Constanline to Sylvester bishop of Rome,
”
and also “Some letters of John Huss,
” written from his
prison at Constance to the Bohemians.
In this manner he was employed till his death, which happened in 1546. That year,
In this manner he was employed till his death, which
happened in 1546. That year, accompanied by Melancthon, he paid a visit to his own country, which he had not
seen for many years, and returned again in safety. But
soon after he was called thither again by the earls of Mansfelt, to compose some differences which had arisen about
their boundaries. He had not been used to such matters;
but because he was born at Isleben, a town in the territory
of Mansfelt, he was willing to do his country what service
he could, even in this way. Preaching his last sermon,
therefore, at Wittemberg, Jan. 17, he set off the 23d;
and at Hall in Saxony lodged with Justus Jonas, with
whom he stayed three days, because the waters were out.
The 28th he passed over the river with his three sons, and
Jonas and being in some danger, he said to the doctor,
“Do not you think it would rejoice the deril exceedingly,
if I and you, and my three sons, should be drowned
”
When he entered the territories of the earl of Mansfelt, he
was received by 100 horsemen or more, and conducted in
a very honourable manner; but was at the same time so
very ill that it was feared he would die. He said that these
fits of sickness often came upon him when he had any great
business to undertake: of this, however, he did not recover, but died Feb. 18, in his sixty-third year. A little
before he expired he admonished those that were about
him to pray to God for the propagation of the gospel
“because,
” said he, “the council of Trent, which had sat
once or twice, and the pope, will devise strange things
against it.
” Soon after, his body was put into a leaden
coffin, and carried with funeral pomp to the church at
Isleben, when Jonas preached a sermon upon the occasion.
The earls of Mansfelt desired that his body should be interred in their territories; but the elector of Saxony intsted upon his being brought back to Wittemberg, which
was accordingly done; and there he was buried with the
greatest pomp that perhaps ever happened to any private
mail. Princes, earls, nobles, aad students without
number, attended the procession; and Melancthon made his
funeral oration.
him; others, that his corpse stunk so abominably that they were forced to leave it in the way as it was carried to be interred. Similar slanders were even invented
A thousand falsehoods were invented by the papists
about his death. Some said that he died suddenly; others,
that he killed himself; others, that the devil strangled
him; others, that his corpse stunk so abominably that they
were forced to leave it in the way as it was carried to be
interred. Similar slanders were even invented about his
death, while he was yet alive for a pamphlet was published at Naples, and in other places of Italy, the year
before, wherein was given the following account: “Luther, being dangerously sick, desired to communicate, and
died as soon as he had received the viaticum. As he was
dying, he desired his body might be laid upon the altar,
to be adored; but that request being neglected, he was
buried. When, lo! at his interment there arose a furious
tempest, as if the world was at an end; and the terror was
universal. Some, in lifting their hands up to heaven, perceived that the host, which the deceased had presumed to
take, was suspended in the air; upon which it was gathered
up with great veneration, and laid in a sacred place, and
the tempest ceased for the present; but it arose the night
following with greater fury, and filled the whole town with
consternation; and the next day Luther’s sepulchre was
found open and empty, and a sulphureous stench proceeded from it, which nobody could bear. The assistants fell sick of it, and many of them repented, and returned to the catholic church.
” We have related this as a
specimen of the innumerable falsehoods that the papists
have invented about Luther; in which, as Bayle observes
very truly, they have shewn no regard either to probability,
or to the rules of the art of slandering, but have assumed all
the confidence of those who fully believe that the public will
blindly and implicitly receive their stories, be they ever so
absurd and incredible. Luther, however, to give the most
effectual refutation of this account of his death, published
an advertisement of his being alive; and wrote a book at
the same time to prove that “Papacy was founded by the
devil.
” Amidst all this malice of the papists towards Luther, we must not forget a generous action of the emperor
Charles V. which is an exception to it. While Charles’s
troops quartered at Wittemberg in 1547, which was one
year after Luther’s death, a soldier gave Luther’s effigies,
in the church of the castle, two stabs with his dagger; and
the Spaniards earnestly desired that his tomb might be
pulled down, and his bones dug up and burnt: but the
emperor wisely answered, “I have nothing farther to do
with Luther; he has henceforth another judge, whose jurisdiction it is not lawful fur me to usurp. Know, that I
make not war with the dead, but with the living, who still
make war with me.
” He would not therefore suffer his
tomb to be demolished; and he forbad any attempt of that
nature upon pain of death.
nterpreter of scripture, for this is a part of his character which must appear very important, as he was the first who boldly undertook to reform an overgrown system
After this long, but we trust, not uninteresting account
of the great founder of the Reformation, we shall select
only, on the part of the Roman catholics, the opinion of
father Simon, respecting his talents as an interpreter of
scripture, for this is a part of his character which must
appear very important, as he was the first who boldly undertook to reform an overgrown system of idolatry and
superstition by the pure word of God. “Luther,
” says this
critical author, “was the first protestant who ventured to
translate the dible into the vulgar tongue from the Hebrewtext, although he understood Hebrew but very indifferently. As he was of a free and bold spirit, he accuses
St. Jerom of ignorance in the Hebrew tongue; but he had
more reason to accuse himself of this fault, and for having
so precipitately undertaken a work of this nature, which
required more time than he employed about it. Thus we
find that he was obliged to review his translation, and make
a second edition; but, notwithstanding this review, the
most learned protestants of that time could not approve of
either the one or the other, and several of them took the
liberty to mark the faults, which were very numerous.
”
In another place he speaks of him not as a translator, but
as a commentator, in the following manner: “Luther, the
German protestant’s patriarch, was not satisfied with making a translation of the whole Bible, both from the Hebrew
and Greek, into his mother tongue, but thought he ought
to explain the word of God according to his own method,
for the better fixing of their minds whom he had drawn to
his party. But this patriarch could succeed no better in his
commentaries upon the Bible than in his translation. He
made both the one and the other with too little consideration; and he very often consults only his own prejudices.
That he might be thought a learned man, he spends time to
no purpose in confuting of other people’s opinions, which
he fancies ridiculous. He mixes very improperly
theological questions and several other things with his commentaries, so that they may rather be called lectures, and
disputes in divinity, than real commentaries. This may
be seen in his exposition on Genesis, where there are
many idle digressions. He thought, that by reading of
morality, and bawling against those who were not of nis
opinion, he might very much illustrate the word of God;
yet one may easily see by his own books, that he was a
turbulent and passionate man, who had only a little flashy
wit and quickness of invention. There is nothing great or
learned in his commentaries upon the Bible; every thing
low and mean: and as he had studied divinity, he has
rather composed a rhapsody of theological questions, than
a commentary upon the scripture text: to which we may
add, that he wanted understanding, and usually followed
his senses instead of his reason.
”
llow him neither parts nor learning, nor any attainment intellectual or moral. They tell you that he was not only no divine, but even an outrageous enemy and calumniator
This is the language of those in the church of Rome who speak of Luther with any degree of moderation; for the generality allow him neither parts nor learning, nor any attainment intellectual or moral. They tell you that he was not only no divine, but even an outrageous enemy and calumniator of all kinds of science; and that he committed gross, stupid, and abominable errors against the principles of divinity and philosophy. They accuse him of having confessed, that after struggling for ten years together with his conscience, he at last became a perfect master of it, and fell into Atheism; and add, that he frequently said he would renounce his portion in heaven, provided God would allow him a pleasant life for 100 years upon earth. And, lest we should wonder that so monstrous and much unheard-of impiety should be found in a mere human creature, they make no scruple to say that an Incubus begat him. These, and many more such scandalous imputations, Bayle has been at the pains to collect, and has treated them with all the contempt and just indignation they deserve.
her by Dr. Robertson, seems, on the whole, the most just and impartial that has yet appeared. “As he was raised by Providence,” says this excellent historian, " to be
On the protestant side, the character given of Luther
by Dr. Robertson, seems, on the whole, the most just and
impartial that has yet appeared. “As he was raised by
Providence,
” says this excellent historian, " to be the author of one of the greatest and most interesting revolutions
recorded in history, there is not any person, perhaps,
whose character has been drawn with such opposite colours.
In his own age, one party, struck with horror aud inflamed
with rage, when they saw with what a daring hand he overturned everything which they held to be sacred, or valued
as beneficial, imputed to him not only the defects and
vices of a man, but the qualities of a demon. The other,
warmed with the admiration and gratitude which they thought
he merited, as the restorer of light and liberty to the
Christian church, ascribed to hiui perfections above the
condition of humanity, and viewed all his actions with a
veneration bordering on that which should be paid only to
those who are guided by the immediate inspiration of heaven. It is his own conduct, not the undistinguishing censure or the extravagant praise of his contemporaries, that
ought to regulate the opinions of the present age concerning him. Zeal for what he regarded as truth; undaunted
intrepidity to maintain his own system; abilities, both natural and acquired, to defend his principles; and unwearied
industry in propagating them; are virtues which shine so
conspicuously in every part of his behaviour, that even his
enemies must allow him to have possessed them in an eminent degree. To these may be added, with equal justice,
such purity and even austerity of manners, as became one
who assumed the character of a reformer; such sanctity of
life as suited the doctrine which he delivered; and such
perfect disinterestedness, as affords no slight presumption
of his sincerity. Superior to all selfish considerations, a
stranger to the elegancies of life, and despising its pleasures, he left the honours and emoluments of the church
to his disciples, remaining satisfied himself in his original
state of professor in the university, and pastor of the town
of Wittemberg, with the moderate appointments annexed
to these offices. His extraordinary qualities were allayed
by no inconsiderable mixture of human frailties and human
passions. These, however, were of such a nature, that
they cannot be imputed to malevolence or corruption of
heart, but seem to have taken their rise from the same
source with many of his virtues. His mind, forcible and
vehement in all its operations, roused by great objects, or
agitated by violent passions, broke out, on many occasions,
with an impetuosity which astonishes men of feebler
spirits, or such as are placed in a more tranquil situation.
By carrying some praise-worthy dispositions to excess, he
bordered sometimes on what was culpable, and was often
betrayed into actions which exposed him to censure. His
confidence that his own opinions were well-founded,
appreached to arrogance; his courage in asserting them, to
rashness; his firmness in adhering to them, to obstinacy;
and his zeal in confuting his adversaries, to rage and scurrility. Accustomed himself to consider every thing as subordinate to truth, he expected the same deference for it
from other men; and, without making any allowances for
their timidity or prejudices, he poured forth against such
as disappointed him in this particular, a torrent of invective
mingled with contempt. Regardless of any distinction of
rank or character when his doctrines were attacked, he
chastised all his adversaries indiscriminately, with the same
rough hand: neither the royal dignity of Henry VIII, nor
the eminent learning and abilities of Erasmus, screened
them from the same gross abuse with which he treated
Tetzel or Eckius.
"But these indecencies of which Luther was guilty, must not be imputed wholly to the violence of his temper.
"But these indecencies of which Luther was guilty, must not be imputed wholly to the violence of his temper. They ought to be charged in part on the manners of the age. Among a rude people, unacquainted with those maxims, which, by putting constraint on the passions of individuals, have polished society, and rendered it agreeable, disputes of every kind were managed with heat, and strong emotions were uttered in their natural language without reserve or delicacy. At the same time, the works of learned men were all composed in Latin; and they were not only authorized, by the example of eminent writers in that language, to use their antagonists with the most illiberal scurrility; but, in a dead tongue, indecencies of every kind appear less shocking than in a living language, whose idioms and phrases seem gross, because they are familiar.
ts of Luther’s behaviour which to us appear most culpable, gave no disgust to his contemporaries. It was even by some of those qualities which we are now apt to blame,
“In passing judgment upou the characters of men, we
ought to try them by the principles and maxims of their
own age, not by those of another. For, although virtue
and vice are at all times the same, manners and customs
vary continually. Some parts of Luther’s behaviour
which to us appear most culpable, gave no disgust to his
contemporaries. It was even by some of those qualities
which we are now apt to blame, that he was fitted for accomplishing the great work he undertook. To rouse mankind, when sunk in ignorance or superstition, and to encounter the rage of bigotry armed with power, required
the utmost vehemence of zeal, as well as a temper daring
to excess. A gentle call would neither have reached, nor
have excited those to whom it was addressed. A spirit
more amiable, but less vigorous than Luther’s, would have
shrunk back from the dangers which he braved and surmounted. Toward the close of Luther’s life, though without any perceptible diminution of his zeal or abilities, the
infirmities of his temper increased upon him, so that he
grew daily more peevish, more irascible, and more impatient of contradiction. Having lived to be a witness of
his own amazing success; to see a great part of Europe
embrace his doctrines; and to shake the foundation of the
papal throne, before which the mightiest monarchs had
trembled, he discovered, on some occasions, symptoms of
vanity and self- applause. He must have been, indeed,
more than man, if, upon contemplating all that he actually
accomplished, he had never felt any sentiments of this
kind rising in his breast.
”
her had advised her to seek another place of residence. She went from thence in 1.547, when the town was surrendered to the emperor Charles V. Before her departure,
His works were collected after his death, and printed at Wittemberg in seven volumes folio. Catherine de Bore survived her husband a few years, and continued the first year of her widowhood at Wittemberg, though Luther had advised her to seek another place of residence. She went from thence in 1.547, when the town was surrendered to the emperor Charles V. Before her departure, she had received a present of fifty crowns from Christian III. king of Denmark; and the elector of Saxony, and the counts of Mansfelt, gave her good tokens of their liberality. Wich these additions to what Luther had left her, she was enabled to maintain herself and her family handsomely. She returned to Wittemberg, when the town was restored to the elector, where she lived a very devout and pious life, till the plague obliged her to leave it again in 1552. She sold what she had at Wittemberg, and retired to Torgau, with a resolution to end her life there. An unfortunate mischance betel her in her journey thither, which proved fatal to her. The horses growing unruly, and attempting to run away, she leaped out of the vehicle, and had a fall, of which she died about a quarter of a year after, at Torgau, Dec. 20, 1552. She was buried there in the great church, where her tomb and epitaph are still to be seen; and the university of Wittemberg, which was then at Torgau because the plague raged at Wittemberg, made a public programma concerning the funeral pomp.
, an Italian artist, was born at Florence, in 1666. He was the disciple of Dominico Gabbiani,
, an Italian artist, was born at Florence, in 1666. He was the disciple of Dominico Gabbiani, and at twenty-four his merit was judged equal to
that of his master. He afterwards studied at Rome, under
the patronage of the grand duke, and hoped to have profited by the instructions of Giro Ferri; but on his arrival
he had to regret the death of that master. He now, however, pursued his studies with such success, that his works
became much valued in England, France, and Germany.
The emperor knighted him, and the elector of Mentz
sent with his patent of knighthood, a cross set with diamonds Lutti was never satisfied with his own performances, and though he often retouched his pictures, yet
they never appeared laboured; he always changed for the
better, and his last thought was the best. There were
three much-admired public works of his at Rome, viz. a
Magdalene in the church of St. Catharine of Siena, at
Monte Magna Napoli; the prophet Isaiah, in an oval, St.
John de Lateran; and St. Anthony of Padua, in the church
of the Holy Apostles; and at the palace Albani was a miracle of St. Pio, which some reckon his master-piece. Fuseli speaks of his “Cain, flying from his murdered
brother,
” he says has something of the sublimity and
the pati it strike in the Pietro Martyre of Titian and
his “Psyche
” in the gallery of the capitol, breathes refinement of taste and elegance. His death is said to have
been hastened by a fit of chagrin, owing to his not having
been able to finish a picture of St. Eusebius, bishop of
Vercelli, designed for Turin, for which he had received a
large earnest, and promised to get it ready at a set time.
But several disputes happening between him and those
who bespoke the picture, brought on a fit of sickness, of
which he died at Rome, in 1724, aged fifty-eight, and the
picture was afterwards finished by Pietro Bianchi, one of his
disciples. Lutti is blamed for not having placed his figures
advantageously, but in such a manner as to throw a part
of the arms and legs out of the cloth. This fault he possesses in common with Paul Veronese and Rubens, who,
to give more dignity and grandeur to the subject they
treated, have introduced into the fore-ground of their
pictures, groups of persons on horseback, tops of heads,
and arms and legs, of which no other part of the body appears.
Lutti was lively in conversation; he had a politeness in his behaviour,
Lutti was lively in conversation; he had a politeness in his behaviour, which, as it prompted him to treat every body with proper civility, so it also procured him a return of esteem and respect. He spoke well in general of all his contemporary painters, but contracted no particular acquaintance with any, though he was principal of the academy of St. Luke nor did he court the protection of the great, whom he never visited, and who very seldom visited him convinced that the true protection of a painter is his own merit.
, a very celebrated general and mareschal of France, was a posthumous son of the famous Bouteville, who was beheaded
, a very
celebrated general and mareschal of
France, was a posthumous son of the famous Bouteville,
who was beheaded under Louis XIII. for fighting a duel.
He was born in 1628, and in 1643 was present at the battle
of Rocroi, under the great Conde, whose pupil he was,
and whom he followed in all his fortunes. He also resembled that great man in many of his eminent qualities,
in acuteness of perception, thirst for knowledge, promptness in action, and ardour of genius. These qualities he
displayed in the conquest of Franche-Comte in 1668, where
he served as lieutenant-general. He served also in the
Dutch campaign of 1672, took many towns, and gained
some trophies in the field. He closed this expedition by a
retreat more famous than his victories, which he accomplished with an awny of 20,000 men, against the opposition,
of 70,000. After distinguishing himself in another expedition in Franche-Comte, he was advanced in 1675, to
the dignity of mareschal of France. He fought, during
the remainder of that war, with various success. In the
second war of Louis XIV. against the allied powers in
1690, he gained the battle of Fleurus, and it was generally allowed that he prevailed in it chiefly by the superiority of his genius to that of his antagonist the prince of
Waldeck. In the ensuing year, 1691,“he gained the
battles of Leufen and Steinkirk; and, continuing to be opposed to king William of England, he was again successful, in the bloody battle of Nerwinde, where there fell on
the two sides near 20,000 men. It was said in France
that on this occasion they should not sing Te Deum, but
De profundis, the mass for the dead. The duke of Luxembourg is said to have had an ordinary countenance and a
deformed figure, in consequence of which William III.
whose constant antagonist he was, is reported to have said
once with some impatience,
” What! shall I never beat
this hump-backed fellow?“This speech being repeated to
the duke,
” How should he know,“said he,
” the shape
of my back? I am sure he never saw me turn it to him.“The last great action of the duke’s life was a second famous
retreat, in the presence of superior forces, through a considerable extent of country, to Tournay. This was in
1694, and he died the following year, Jan. 4, at the age
of sixty-seven. Notwithstanding the disadvantages of his
person, Luxembourg is said to have been much involved
in intrigues of gallantry. He had some powerful enemies,
particularly the minister Louvois, who once had him confined very unjustly in the Bastille. Among other frivolous
calumnies on which he was then interrogated, he was asked
whether he had not made a league with the devil, to marry
His son to the daughter of the marquis de Louvois. His
answer was replete with the high spirit of French nobility.
” When Matthew of Montmorenci,“said he,
” married a
queen of France, he addressed himself, not to the devil,
but to the states-general; and the declaration of the states
was, that in order to gain the support of the house of
Montmorenci for the young king in his minority, it would
be right to conclude that marriage." Idle as the accusations against him were, they cost him a confinement of
fourteen months, and he had no subsequent redress.
, a Greek poet and grammarian, was a native of Chalcis, in Eubcea, and according to Ovid, was killed
, a Greek poet and grammarian, was a
native of Chalcis, in Eubcea, and according to Ovid, was
killed by a shot with an arrow. He flourished about 304
years before Christ, and wrote a poem entitled “Alexandra,
” or Cassandra, containing a long course of predictions, which he supposes to be made by Cassandra, daughter of Priam, king of Troy. This poem has created a great
deal of trouble to the learned, on account of its obscurity,
which procured him the title of “the tenebrous poet.
”
Suidas has preserved the titles of twenty tragedies of his
composing; and he is reckoned in the number of the poets
who were called the Pleiades, and who flourished under
Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt. The best edition
of “Lycophron,
” is that at Oxford, Remarks
” on the “Cassandra,
” which are highly judicious, and his conjectures in illustration of the obscurities
of Lycophron, plausible and happy.
ious modern chronologers, about 898 years before the Christian aera. Plutarch seems to think that he was the fifth in descent from Procles, and the tenth from Hercules.
, the celebrated lawgiver of Sparta, flourished, according to the most judicious modern chronologers, about 898 years before the Christian aera. Plutarch seems to think that he was the fifth in descent from Procles, and the tenth from Hercules. When the sceptre devolved to him by the death of his brother Polydectes, the widow of that prince was pregnant. He was no sooner assured of this, than he determined to hold the sovereign power in trust only, in case the child should prove a son, and took the title of Prodicus or Protector, instead of that of king. It is added, that he had the virtue to resist the offers of the queen, who would have married him, with the dreadful promise that no son should be born to intercept his views. A son at length was born, and publicly presented by him to the people, from whose joy on the occasion he named the infant Charilaus, i. e. the people’s joy. Lycurgus was at this time a young man, and the state of Sparta was too turbulent and licentious for him to introduce any system of regulation, without being armed with some more express authority. How long he continued to administer the government is uncertain; probably till his nephew was of age to take it into his own hands. After resigning it, howeyer, he did not long remain in Sparta, but went as a traveller to visit other countries and study their laws, particularly those of Crete, which were highly renowned for their excellence, and had been instituted by Rhadamanthus and Minos, two illustrious legislators, who pretended to have received their laws from Jupiter. Lycurgus passed some years in this useful employment, but he had left behind him such a reputation for wisdom and justice, that when the corruption and confusion of the state became intolerable, he was recalled by a public invitation to assume the quality of legislator, and to new model the government.
nd penetration still more extraordinary, he had formed and executed the most singular plan that ever was devised, he waited for a time to see his great machine in motion;
Lycurgus willingly returned to undertake the task thus devolved upon him, and, having obtained, after various difficulties, the co-operation of the kings, and of the various orders of the people, he formed that extraordinary system of government which has been the wonder of all subsequent ages, but which has been too much detailed by various authors, for us to enter into the particulars. When with invincible courage, unwearied perseverance, and a judgment and penetration still more extraordinary, he had formed and executed the most singular plan that ever was devised, he waited for a time to see his great machine in motion; and finding it proceed to his wish, he had now no other object but to secure its duration. For this purpose he convened the kings, senate, and people, told them that he wished to visit Delphi, to consult the oracle on the constitution he had formed, and engaged them all to bind themselves by a most solemn oath, that nothing should be altered before his return. The approbation of the oracle he received, but he returned no more, being determined to bind his countrymen indissolubly to the observance of his laws, and thinking his life, according to the enthusiastic patriotism of those times, a small sacrifice to secure the welfare of his country. Different accounts are given of the place and manner of his death. According to some authors, he died by voluntary abstinence. One tradition says, that he lived to a good old age in Crete, and dying a natural death, his body was burned, according to the practice of the age, and his relics, pursuant to his own request, scattered in the sea; lest if his bones or ashes had ever been carried to Sparta, the Lacedemonians might have thought themselves free from the obligation of their oath, to preserve his laws unaltered. He is supposed to have died after the year 873 B. C. His laws were abrogated by Philopaemen in the year 188 B. C.; but the Romans very soon re-established them.
, an Athenian orator, contemporary with Demosthenes, was born about 408 years before the Christian acra, and died about
, an Athenian orator, contemporary with Demosthenes, was born about 408 years before the Christian acra, and died about or after 328. He was an Athenian, and the son of a person named Lycophron. He studied philosophy under Plato, and rhetoric under Isocrates. He was of the most exalted character for integrity, in which he was severely scrupulous; a strenuous defender of liberty, a perpetual opposer of Philip and Alexander, and a firm friend of Demosthenes. As a magistrate, he proceeded with severity against criminals, but kept a register of all his proceedings, which, on quitting his office, he submitted to public inspection. When he was about to die, he publicly offered his actions to examination, and refuted the only accuser who appeared against him. He was one of the thirty orators whom the Athenians refused to give up to Alexander. One oration of his, against Leocrates, is still extant, and has been published in the collections of Aldus, Taylor, and Reiske. His eloquence partook of the manly severity and truth of his character.
immediate successors of Chaucer. The few dates that have been recovered of his history are, that he was ordained a sub-deacon in 1339; a deacon in 1393, and a priest
, an ancient English poet, is recorded
as one of the immediate successors of Chaucer. The few
dates that have been recovered of his history are, that he
was ordained a sub-deacon in 1339; a deacon in 1393, and
a priest in 1397; from these it has been surmised that he
was born about 1375, that is, twenty-five years before the
death of Chaucer. There is a note of Wanley’s in the
Harleian Catalogue (2251. 3.) which insinuates as if Lydgate did not die till 1482. This Dr. Percy thinks too long
a date; he was, however, living in 1446, since in his “Philomela
” he mentions the death of Henry duke of Warwick,
who died that year. Some authorities place his death in
1461, and this date Mr. Ellis thinks is not improbable.
He was, says Warton, who of all our modern critics has considered him
He was, says Warton, who of all our modern critics has considered him with most attention, a monk of the Benedictine abbey of Bury in Suffolk. After a short education at Oxford, he travelled into France and Italy; and returned a complete master of the language and the literature of both countries. He chiefly studied the Italian and French poets, particularly Dante, Boccaccio, and Alain Chartier; and became so distinguished a proficient in polite learning, that he opened a school in his monastery, for teaching the sons of the nobility the arts of versification, and the elegancies of composition. Yet, although philology was his object, he was not unfamiliar with the fashionable philosophy: he was not only a poet and a rhetorician, but a geometrician, an astronomer, a theologist, and a disputant. Mr. Warton is of opinion that he made considerable additions to those amplifications of our language, in which Chaucer, Gower, and Hoccleve, led the way; and that be is the first of our writers whose style is clothed wjth that perspicuity in which the English phraseology appears at this day to an English reader.
ench paraphrase of his work “De casibus Virorum et Feminarum illustrium.” The “History, &c. of Troy” was first printed by Pinson in 1513, but more correctly by Marshe
Lydgate’s pieces are very numerous. Ritson has given
a list of two hundred and fifty-one, some of which he admits may not be Lydgate’s, but he supposes, on the other
hand, that he may be the author of many others that are
anonymous. His most esteemed works are his “Story of
Thebes,
” his “Fall of Princes,
” and his “History, Siege,
and Destruction of Troy.
” The first is printed by Speght
in his edition of Ghaucer; the second, the “Fall of
Princes,
” or “Boke of Johan Bochas,
” (first printed by Pinson in De casibus Virorum et Feminarum illustrium.
” The
“History, &c. of Troy
” was first printed by Pinson in
The Life and Death of Hector,
”
, an eminent English scholar, was born at Alkrington or Okerton, near Banbury in Oxfordshire,
, an eminent English scholar, was
born at Alkrington or Okerton, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, in 1572. His father, observing his natural talents,
sent him to Winchester school, where he was admitted a
scholar on the foundation, at thirteen; and, being elected
thence to New-college in Oxford, was put under the tuition
of Dr. (afterwards sir) Henry Martin, who became so well
known during the rebellion. Mr. Lydiat was made probationer fellow in 1591, and two years after, actual fellow.
Then taking his degree in arts, he applied himself to
astronomy, mathematics, and divinity, in the last of which
studies he was very desirous of continuing; but, finding a
great defect in his memory and utterance, he chose rather
to resign his fellowship, which he could not hold without
entering the church, and live upon his small patrimony.
This was in 1603; and he spent seven years after in finishing and printing such books as he had begun when in college. He first appeared as an author in 1605, by publishing his “Tractatus de variis annorum formis.
” Of this
he published a defence in Emendatio Temporum ab initio mundi hue usque compendio facta, contra Scaligerum et alios,
”
seems very little foundation. Soon after his return, however, the rectory of Okerton becoming void, was offered to him; and though while he was fellow of New-college,
When he came to England, which appears to have been in 1611, he is supposed to have been married, and to Usher’s sister; but for either supposition there seems very little foundation. Soon after his return, however, the rectory of Okerton becoming void, was offered to him; and though while he was fellow of New-college, he had refused the offer of it by his father, who was the patron, yet he now accepted it, and was instituted in 1612. Here he seems to have lived happily for many years: but being imprudently security for the debts of a near relation, which he was unable to pay, he was successively imprisoned at Oxford, the King’s-bench, and elsewhere, in 1629, or 1630, and remained a prisoner till sir William Boswell, a great patron of learned men, joining with Dr. Pink, warden of New-college, and Dr. Usher, paid the debt, and released him; and archbishop Laud also, at the request of sir Henry Martin, gave his assistance on this occasion . He had no sooner got his liberty, than, out of an ardent zeal to promote literature and the honour of his country, he petitioned Charles I for his protection and encouragement to travel into Turkey, Ethiopia, and the Abyssinian empire, in searcli of manuscripts relating to civil or ecclesiastical history, or any other branch of learning, and to print them in England. For the farther advancement of this design, he also requested the king would apply, by his ambassadors and ministers, to such princes as were in alliance with him, for a similar privilege to be granted to Lydiat and his assigns: this was a spirited design, but it was impossible for the king at that unhappy period to pay attention to it.
This disappointment, however, did not diminish his loyalty, and on that account he was a great sufferer during the rebellion. He was a man of undaunted
This disappointment, however, did not diminish his loyalty, and on that account he was a great sufferer during the rebellion. He was a man of undaunted mind, and talked frequently and warmly in behalf both of the king and the bishops, refused to comply with the demands of money made upon him by the parliament army, and with great personal courage defended his books and papers against their attempts to seize them. For these offences he was four times plundered by some troops of the parliament, at Compton-house in Warwickshire, to the value of at least 70l.; was twice carried away from his house at Okerton; once to Warwick, and another time to Bunbury; he was treated infamously by the soldiers, and so much debarred from decent necessaries, that he could have no change of linen for a considerable time, without borrowing from some charitable person. At length, after he had lived at his parsonage several years, in indigence and obscurity, he died April 3, 1646, and was interred the next day in the chancel of Okerton church, which had been rebuilt by him. A stone was laid over his grave in 1669, by the society of New-college, who also erecied an honorary monument, with an inscription to his memory, in the cloister of their college.
In his person he was low in stature, and of mean appearance. In the matter of church
In his person he was low in stature, and of mean appearance. In the matter of church discipline and ceremonies
he is said to have thought with the non-conformists, but
not enough, it would appear, to gain their protection.
He was, however, highly esteemed by his learned contemporaries, particularly primate Usher, sir Adam Newton, secretary, and sir Thomas Challoner, chamberlain to
prince Henry, Dr. J. Bainbridge, Mr. Henry Briggs, Dr.
Peter Turner, and others: and some foreigners did not
scruple to rank him with Mr. Joseph Mede, and even with,
lord Bacon. Yet the memory of this learned man was not
of long duration, for when his misfortunes were alluded to
by Dr. Johnson in his “Vanity of Human Wishes,
” in
these lines,
it was a subject of inquiry, who Lydiat was.
it was a subject of inquiry, who Lydiat was.
ned linguist and antiquary, the author of an excellent dictionary of the Saxon and Gothic languages, was born at Totnes in Devonshire, in 1704. He was educated partly
, a learned linguist and antiquary, the author of an excellent dictionary of the Saxon and Gothic languages, was born at Totnes in Devonshire, in 1704. He was educated partly at home, under his father, who kept a school at Totnes, partly under other preceptors, but chiefly (being obliged to return home from consumptive complaints) by his own private care and application. At the age of nineteen, he was admitted at Hart hall (now Hertford college) in Oxford, took his bachelor’s degree in 1716, was ordained deacon in 1717, and priest in 1719, soon after which he was presented to the living of Houghton-parva in Northamptonshire. In this retreat he laid the foundation of his great proficiency in the Anglo-Saxon language. He became master of arts in 1722.
of Francis Junius, from the manuscript of the author in the Bodleian Library. To this undertaking he was led, as he tells us in his preface, by the commendations which
Having now qualified himself completely for a work of
that nature, he undertook the arduous task of publishing
the “Etymologicum Anglicanum
” of Francis Junius, from
the manuscript of the author in the Bodleian Library. To
this undertaking he was led, as he tells us in his preface,
by the commendations which Hickes and other learned
antiquaries had given to that unpublished work. In the
seventh year from the commencement of his design, he
published the work, with many additions, and particularly
that of an Anglo-Saxon Grammar prefixed. The work
was received with the utmost approbation of the learned.
In 1750, Mr. Lye became a member of the society of antiquaries, and about the same time was presented by the
earl of Northampton to the vicarage of Yardley Hastings,
on which accession he resigned his former living of Houghton; giving an illustrious example of primitive moderation,
especially as he had hitherto supported his mother, and
had still two sisters dependent upon him. The next publication which he issued, was that of the Gothic Gospels,
undertaken at the desire of Eric Benzelius, bishop of
Upsal, who had collated and corrected them. This, which
he had been long preparing, appeared from the Oxford
press in the same year, with a Gothic Grammar prefixed.
His last years were employed chiefly in finishing for the
press his own great work, the Anglo-Saxon and Gothic
Dictionary, which was destined to owe that to another
editor, which he had performed for Junius. His manuscript was just completed, and given to the printer, when
he died at Yardley Hastings, in 1767; and was there
buried, with a commendatory but just and elegant epitaph.
His Dictionary was published in 1772, in two volumes folio,
by the rev. Owen Manning, with a grammar of the two
languages united, and some memoirs of the author, from
which this account is taken. It appears by some original
correspondence between Mr. Lye and Dr. Ducarel (for the perusal of which we are indebted to Mr. Nichols), that Mr.
Lye had been employed on his dictionary a long time before
1765, and that he had almost relinquished the design from
a dread of the labour and expence. In the labour he had
none to share with him, but at the time above mentioned
archbishop Seeker offered him a subscription of 50l. to
forward the work, and he appears to have hoped for similar
instances of liberality.
, a pious clergyman of the seventeenth century, was born about 1598, at Peysmere, near Newbury in Berkshire, of
, a pious clergyman of the seventeenth century, was born about 1598, at Peysmere, near
Newbury in Berkshire, of which place his father was rector. In 16 14 he became a commoner of Magdalen hall,
Oxford, and a demy of Magdalen college in 1617. In
1622 he took his degree of M. A. and was then chosen a
fellow. In 1631 he was admitted to the reading of the
sentences, and, having taken orders, was presented to
the living of Shirburne, in Dorsetshire, by John Earl of
Bristol. Here, says Wood, “he was very much resorted
to for his edifying and practical way of preaching;
” and
appears indeed to have deserved the affections of his
flock, by the most constant diligence in discharging the
duties of his office. He divided his day into the following
portions: nine hours for study, three for visits and conferences with his parishioners, three for prayers and devotion, two for his affairs, and the rest for his refreshment. He
divided likewise his estate into three parts, one for the use
of his family, one for a reserve in case of future wants,
and one for pious uses. His parish he divided into twentyeight parts, to be visited in twenty-eight days every month,
“leaving,
” says one of his biographers, “knowledge where
he found ignorance, justice where he found oppression,
peace where he found contention, and order where he
found irregularity.
”
A man of this disposition was not likely to add to the turbulence of the times; and although
A man of this disposition was not likely to add to the
turbulence of the times; and although he is said to have
inclined to the presbyterian party, and was chosen one of
the assembly of divines, he never sat among them, but
remained on his living, employed in preaching, catechizing,
&c. until his death, Oct. 3, 1653. Fuller and Wood unite
in their praises of Mr, Lyford’s character, and in their
opinion of his writings, which, says Wood, “savour much
of piety, zeal, and sincerity, but shew him to have been a
zealous Calvinist.
” Dr. Walker informs us that “he sufferred much from the faction, both in his name and ministry, and they wondered that so holy a man as he was,
should doat so much on kings, bishops, the common prayer,
and ceremonies.
” He bequeathed the sum of 120l. to
Magdalen college “in gratitude for the advantages which
he had there enjoyed, and in restitution for a sum of money,
which, according to the corrupt custom of those times, he
had received for the resignation of his fellowship.
”
, a Danish statesman and scholar, was descended from an ancient family, a branch of the counts of
, a Danish statesman and scholar, was descended from an ancient family, a
branch of the counts of Guerini, in the dukedom of Tuscany, which had settled in Germany. He was born in
1703, at the castle of Lubbenau, and educated at Jena and
Halle, at both which places he applied with the utmost
assiduity to the Greek and Latin languages, and even to
theology. After travelling in various parts of Europe, and
visiting England in 1732, he obtained an appointment at
the court of Denmark; but, being ambitious of a more
public station, he volunteered his services in the home and
foreign department, and displayed so much activity that
he was dispatched by Christian VI. to East Friezland, to
settle the affairs of the dowager princess, Sophia Caroline,
sister to the queen. This mission he discharged to the
satisfaction of his sovereign; and was appointed in 1735
ambassador extraordinary to the court of Stockholm, where
he resided until 1740. On his return to Denmark the
king conferred on him an office in Holstein, and a few
years after he was sent as ambassador extraordinary to Petersburgh. On his return in 1752 he was appointed governor of the counties of Oldenburg and Delmanhorsr, to
which he retired with his family, and where he spent his
time in the composition of literary works, the first of which,
a translation of “Seneca de Beneficiis,
” with excellent
notes, was printed in The Epistles of
St. Paul,
” &c. which was afterwards published. He wrote
also several moral essays.
into between the duke of Richelieu, commander of the French forces, and the duke of Cumberland, who was then at the head of the allied army. In this, however, he met
In 1757 he had an opportunity again of rendering himself conspicuous in a political capacity, by the part which
he took in the famous convention of Closter-seven, entered into between the duke of Richelieu, commander of
the French forces, and the duke of Cumberland, who was
then at the head of the allied army. In this, however, he
met with many difficulties, as the history of that convention
shows; and the king of France and his Britannic majesty
at last refused their ratification. In March 1763 he was
invested with the order of the elephant by Frederic V. the
highest honour his sovereign could bestow; but some
complaints being made against him on account of his administration, which were not altogether groundless, he
resigned in Oct. 1765. The remainder of his life he passed
in retirement at Lubennau, where he died of a dropsy of
the breast, Nov. 1781, in the seventy-third year of his
age. He was a man of considerable learning, elegant address, and various accomplishments. His works are, I.
A translation of “Seneca de Beneficiis,
” Hamburgh, The Shortness of
Life,
” Der Sonderling,
” or “The Singular
Man,
” Hanover, Historical, Political, and Moral Miscellanies,
” in four parts, The Epistles,
” printed at various
times, The real state of Europe in the
year 1737,
” and several other articles in Busching’s Magazine for History and Geography.
, a learned English gentleman, was descended from a family in Dorsetshire, and born in 1579. Being
, a learned English gentleman, was descended from a family in Dorsetshire, and born
in 1579. Being sent to Westminster school, he was admitted scholar upon the foundation, and thence elected
student of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1596. Four years
afterwards he commenced B. A. about which time he became heir to a considerable estate, was made a justice of
peace, and knighted by king James in 1613. He obtained
a seat in the House of Commons in several parliaments; but
he is entitled to a place in this work as a man of learning,
and author of several books, which had considerable reputation in their day. He died June 14, 1636, and was
interred in the chancel of the church at Cobham in Surrey.
The night before he died, being exhorted by a friend to
give some testimony of his constancy in the reformed religion, because it was not unlikely that his adversaries
might say of him, as they did of Beza, Reynolds, King
bishop of London, and bishop Andrews, that they recanted
the protestant religion, and were reconciled to the church
of Rome before their death; he professed, that if he had a
thousand souls, he would pawn them all upon the truth of
that religion established by law in the church of England,
and which he had declared and maintained in his “Via
tuta.
” Accordingly, in his funeral sermon by Dr. Daniel
Featly, he is not only styled “a general scholar, an accomplished gentleman, a gracious Christian, a zealous patriot, and an able champion for truth; but
” one that
stood always as well for the discipline, as the doctrine of
the church of England; and whose actions, as well as writings, were conformable both to the laws of God and canons
and constitutions of that church."
by the publisher, Dr. Daniel Featly. A book entitled “A pair of Spectacles for sir Humphrey Lynde,” was printed at Roan, 1631, in 8vo, by Robert Jenison, or Frevil,
His works are, 1. “Ancient characters of the visible
Church, 1625.
” 2. “Via tuta, the safe way, &c.
” reprinted several times, and translated into Latin, Dutch,
and French, printed at Paris, 1647, from the sixth edition
published in 1636, 12mo, under the title of “Popery confuted by Papists,
” &c. 3. “Via devia, the by-way,
” &c.
A Case for the Spectacles;
or, a Defence of the Via tuta,
” in answer to a book written
by J. R. called “A pair of Spectacles,
” &c. with a supplement in Vindication of sir Humphrey, by the publisher,
Dr. Daniel Featly. A book entitled “A pair of Spectacles
for sir Humphrey Lynde,
” was printed at Roan, An
account of Bertram, with observations concerning the censures upon his Tract De corpore et sanguine Christi,
”
prefixed to an edition of it at London, 1623, 8vo, and reprinted there in 1686, 8vo, by Dr. Matthew Brian.
, an eminent naturalist, was born at Maestricht July 22, 1707. He was of a French family,
, an eminent naturalist, was born at
Maestricht July 22, 1707. He was of a French family,
originally of Lorraine, whence they were obliged to take
refuge in Switzerland, on account of their religion. His
father, Benjamin Lyonet, was a protestant minister at Heufdon. In his early years he displayed uncommon activity
both of body and mind, with a memory so prompt, that he
acquired an exact knowledge of nine languages, ancient
and modern, and in the farther pursuit of his academical
studies at Leyden, made great progress in logic, philosophy, geometry, and algebra. It was his father’s wish that
he should study divinity, with a view to the church, and it
appears that he might have passed by an easy transition to
any of the learned professions. The law, however, was his
ultimate destination; and he applied himself to this with
so much zeal, that he was promoted the first year, when
he delivered a thesis “on the use of the torture,
” which
was published, and gained him considerable reputation.
At what time he settled at the Hague we are not told, but
there he was made decypherer, translator of the Latin and
French languages, and patent-master to the States General.
It was now that he turned his attention to natural history,
especially entomology, and undertook an historical description of such insects as are found about the Hague; and as,
among his other accomplishments, he understood drawing,
he enriched his work with a great number of plates, which
were much admired by the connoisseurs. In 1741 a French
translation of Lesser’s “Theology of Insects
” was printed
at the Hague, which induced Mr. Lyonet to defer the
publication of his own work, and make some observations
on Lesser’s, to which he added two beautiful plates designed by himself. His observations were thought of so
much importance that Reaumur caused the above translation to be reprinted at Paris, merely on account of them.
Lyonet afterwards executed drawings of the fresh water
polypes for Mr. Trembley’s beautiful work, in 1744. Wandelaar had engraved the first five plates of this work, and
being rather dilatory in producing the rest, Lyonet took a
single lesson in engraving, and executed the others himself in a manner which astonished not only amateurs, but
experienced artists. In 1748 his reputation procured him
the honour of being elected a member of the royal society
of London, as he xvas afterwards of other learned societies
in Europe. In 1764- appeared his magnificent work on.
the caterpillar, “Traite anatomique de la Chenille qui
ronge le bois de Saule.
” In order to enable such as might
be desirous of following him in his intricate and astonishing
discoveries respecting the structure of this animal, he published, in the Transactions of the Dutch society of sciences,
at Haerlem, a description and plate of the instrument and
tools he had invented for the purpose of dissection, and
likewise of the method he used to ascertain the degree of
strength of his magnifying glasses. Mr. Lyonet died at the
Hague, Jan. 10, 1789, leaving some other works on entomology unfinished, one of the most extensive collections of
shells in Europe, and a very fine cabinet of pictures. In
his early years, Mr. Lyonet practised sculpture and portrait-painting. Of the former, his Apollo and the Muses,
a basso relievo cut in palm wood, is mentioned by Van
Gool, in his “Review of the Dutch Painters,
” as a masterpiece. To these many accomplishments Mr. Lyonet added
a personal character which rendered him admired during
his long life, and deeply regretted when his friends and
his country were deprived of his services.
, son of a Polish Jew, who was a silversmith, and teacher of Hebrew at Cambridge, was born
, son of a Polish Jew, who was a silversmith, and teacher of Hebrew at Cambridge, was born
there, in 1739. He displayed wonderful talents as a young
man; and shewed very early a great inclination to learning, particularly mathematics; but though Dr. Smith, then
master of Trinity-college, offered to put him to school at
his own expence, he would go only for a day or two, saying, “he could learn more by himself in an hour than in
a day with his master.
” He began the study of botany in.
1755, which he continued to his death; and could remember, not only the Linniean names of almost all the English
plants, but even the synonyma of the old botanists, which
form a strange and barbarous farrago of great bulk; and
had collected large materials for a “Flora Cantabrigiensis,
” describing fully every part of each plant from the life,
without being obliged to consult, or being liable to be
misled by, former authors. In 1758 he obtained much celebrity by publishing a treatise “on Fluxions,
” dedicated
to his patron, Dr. Smith; and in 1763 a work entitled
“Fasciculus plantaruui circa Cantabrigiam nascentium, quae
post Raium observatae fuere,
” 8vo. Mr. Banks (now sir Joseph Banks, bart. and president of the royal society),
whom he first instructed in this science, sent for him to
Oxford, about 1762 or 1763, to read lectures; which he
did with great applause, to at least sixty pupils; but could
not be induced to make a long absence from Cambridge.
He had a salary of a hundred pounds per annum for calculating the “Nautical Almanack,
” and frequently received
presents from the board of longitude for his inventions.
He could read Latin and French with ease; but wrote the
former ill; had studied the English history, and could quote
whole passages from the Monkish writers verbatim. He
was appointed by the board of longitude to go with captain Phipps (afterwards lord Mulgrave) to the North pote
in 1773, and made the astronomical and other mathematical calculations, printed in the account of that voyage.
After his return he married and settled in London, where,
on May 1, 1775, he died of the measles. He was then
engaged in publishing a complete edition of all the works
of Dr. Halley. His “Calculations in Spherical Trigonometry abridged,
” were printed in “Philosophical Transactions,*' vol. LXI. art. 46. After his death his name appeWed in the title-page of
” A Geographical Dictionary,“of
which the astronomical parts were said to be
” taken from
the papers of the late Mr. Israel Lyons, of Cambridge, author of several valuable mathematical productions, and
astronomer in lord Mnlgrave’s voyage to the Northern hemisphere.“It remains to be noticed, that a work entitled
” The Scholar’s Instructor, or Hebrew Grammar, by Israel
Lyons, Teacher of the Hebrew Tongue in the University
of Cambridge: the second edition, with many Additions
and Emendations which the Author has found necessary in
his long course of teaching Hebrew,“Cambridge, 1757,
8vo, was the production of his father; as was a treatise
printed at the Cambridge press, under the title of
” Observations and Enquiries relating to various parts of Scripture
History, 1761," published by subscription at two shillings
and six-pence. He died in August 1770, and was buried, agreeably to his own desire, although contrary to
the Jewish principles, in Great St. Mary’s Church-yard,
Cambridge. He was on this occasion carried through the
church, and his daughter Judith read some form of interment-service over his grave. He had resided near forty
years at Cambridge.
Lyranus, a celebrated Franciscan, in the 14th century, and one of the most learned men of his time, was born of Jewish parents at Lyre, a town in Normandy, in the diocese
, or Lyranus, a celebrated
Franciscan, in the 14th century, and one of the most
learned men of his time, was born of Jewish parents at
Lyre, a town in Normandy, in the diocese of Evreux.
After having been instructed in rabbinical learning, he embraced Christianity, entered among the Franciscans at
Verneuil, 1291, and taught afterwards at Paris with great
credit. He rose by his merit to the highest offices in his
order, and also gained the esteem of the great; queen
Jane, countess of Burgundy, and wife of Philip the Long,
appointed him one of her executors in 1325. He died at
a very advanced age, October 23, 1340, leaving some
“Postils,
” or short Commentaries on the whole Bible,
which were formerly in considerable reputation the most
scarce edition of them is that of Rome, 1472, seven vols,
folio; and the best that of Antwerp, 1634, six vols. folio.
These commentaries are incorporated in the “Biblia Maxima,
” Paris, A Disputation against the
Jews,
” in 8vo, a treatise against a particular rabbi, who
made use of the New Testament to combat Christianity.
These, and his other works not printed, show the author
to have had a much more perfect knowledge of the Holy
Scriptures than was common at that time.
, a learned Protestant theologian, was born at Winendeen in the territory of Wittemberg, in the year
, a learned Protestant theologian,
was born at Winendeen in the territory of Wittemberg, in
the year 1552. He was educated at Tubingen, at the expence of the duke of Saxony, and became a minister of
the church of Wittemberg in 1577. He was one of the
first to sign the “Concord,
” and was deputed, with James
Andreas, to procure the signature of the divines and ministers in the electorate of Saxony. He died at Dresden,
where he was then minister, February 14, 1601, aged 50,
leaving a great number of works, both in German and Latin. The principal are, 1. “Explanations of Genesis,
” in
six parts, or six volumes, 4to, each of which bears the
name of the patriarch whose history it explains. 2.
“Comraentaries on the two first chapters of Daniel,
” 2 vols. 4to.
3. “A Paraphrase on the History of the Passion,
” 4to, or
12mo. 4. “Explanation of Psalm CI,
” 8vo. 5. “Commentaries on the Minor Prophets,
” 4to, published at Leipsic, Commentaries on the Epistle to the
Hebrews.
” 7. “Centuria qutestionum de articulis libri
Christiana; Concordia?,
” 4to. 8. “Christianismus, Papismus, Calvinismus,
” 8vo. 9. “Harmonia Calvinianorum et
Photinianorum in Doctrina de Sacra Cena,
” 4to. 10. “Vindiciae Lyserianse, an sincretismus in rebus fidei cum Calvinianis coli prodest,
” 4to. II. “Disputationes IX. Anti Steiniance quibus examinatur defensio concionis Irenicse
Pauli Steinii,
” 4to. 12. “Harmonia Evangelistarum continuata ad Christianam Harmoniam et ejusdem Epitome,
”
8vo. 13. “Disput. de Deo patre Creatore coeli et terrae,
”
4to. 14. “De seternitate Filii Dei,
” 4to. 15. “De sacramentis decades duae,
” 4to. He published also the
“History of the Jesuits,
” written by Elias Hasenmuller,
who having quitted that society, and turned Lutheran, retired to Wittemberg, and died there before his work was
printed. Father Gretser attacked this history, and Lyserus
answered him by “Strena ad Gretserum pro honorario
ejus,
” 8vo.
ok the singular resolution of visiting France, with a view to repair his fortune by chess, a game he was perfectly master of, and accordingly settled at Versailles.
, another learned protestant, of the
same family as the preceding, but of opposite character,
may be introduced here as the precursor of the celebrated
Martin Madan, in supporting the doctrine of polygamy.
Lyserus is said to have been so infatuated with the ambition of founding a sect of polygamists, that he sacrificed
his life and fortune to prove that polygamy is not only
permitted, but even commanded in certain cases; and travelled about Europe, endeavouring to find some countries
that would adopt his opinion. At length, after many fruitless journeys, Lyserus took the singular resolution of visiting France, with a view to repair his fortune by chess, a
game he was perfectly master of, and accordingly settled
at Versailles. Here, however, he likewise failed, and
having, when sick, set out to walk from Versailles to Paris,
he encreased his disorder so much, that he died at a house
on the road, in 1684. He left numerous pieces, under
fictitious names, in favour of polygamy, the most considerable of which is entitled “Polygamia triumphatrix,
” Polygamia triumphata,
” Monogamia victrix,
”
, an eminent Greek orator, was born at Syracuse, about the year 459 B. C. He was educated at
, an eminent Greek orator, was born at Syracuse, about the year 459 B. C. He was educated at Athens,
and became a teacher of rhetoric, and composed orations
for others, but does not appear to have been a pleader. Of
his orations, which are said to have amounted to three or
four hundred, only thirty-four remain. He died in the
eighty-first year of his age, and in the 378th year B.C.
Cicero and Quintilian give him a very high character, and
suppose that there is nothing of their kind more perfect
than his orations. Lysias lived at a somewhat earlier period
than Isocrates; and exhibits a model of that manner which
the ancients call the “tenuis vel subtilis.
” He has none
of the pomp of Isocrates. He is every where pure and
attic in the highest degree; simple and unaffected; but
wants force, and is sometimes frigid in his compositions. In
the judicious comparison which Dionysius of Halicarnassus makes of the merits of Lysias and Isocrates, he
ascribes to Lysias, as the distinguishing character of
his manner, a certain grace or elegance arising from simplicity: “the style of Lysias has gracefulness for its nature; that of Isocrates seems to have it.
” In the art of
narration, as distinct, probable, and persuasive, he holdsf
Lysias to be superior to all orators; at the same time he
admits, that his composition is more adapted to private
litigation than to great subjects. He convinces, but he
does not elevate nor animate. The magnificence and splendour of Isocrates are more suited to great occasions. He
is more agreeable than Lysias; and in dignity of sentiment far excels him. The first edition of Lysias is that
by Aldus, folio, 1513, in the first part of the “Rhetorum
Gnecorum orationes.
” The best modern editions are that
of Taylor, beautifully and correctly printed by Bowyer, in
1739, 4to; of Reiske, at Leipsic, 1772, 8vo and of
Auger at Paris, 1782. Auger also published an excellent
French translation of Lysias in 1783.
, a celebrated statuary among the ancients, was a native of Sicyon, and flourished in the time of Alexander
, a celebrated statuary among the ancients, was a native of Sicyon, and flourished in the time of Alexander the Great. He was bred a locksmith, and followed that business for a while; but, by the advice of Eupompus, a painter, he applied himself to painting, which, however, he soon quitted for sculpture, and being thought to execute his works with more ease than the ancients, he became more employed than any other artist. The statue of a man wiping and anointing himself after bathing was particularly excellent: Agrippa placed it before his baths at Rome. Tiberius, who was charmed with it, and not able to resist the desire of being master of it, when he came to the empire, took it into his own apartment, and placed another very fine one in its place. But the Roman people demanding, in a full theatre, that he would replace the first statue, he found it necessary, notwithstanding his power, to comply with their solicitations, in order to appease the tumult. Another of Lysippus’s capital pieces was a statue of the sun, represented in a car drawn by four horses; this statue was worshipped at Rhodes. He made also several statues of Alexander and his favourites, which were brought to Rome by Metellus, after he had reduced the Macedonian empire. He particularly excelled in the representation of the hair, which he more happily expressed than any of his predecessors in the art. He also made his figures less than the life, that they might be seen such as statues appear when placed, as usual, at some height; and when he was charged with this fault, he answered, "That other artists had indeed represented men such as nature had made them, but, for his part, he chose to represent them such as they appeared to be to the eye/' He had three sons, who were all his disciples, and ac quired great reputation in the art,
, an elegant English writer, was the eldest son of sir Thomas Lyttelton, of Hagley, in Worcestershire,
, an elegant English writer,
was the eldest son of sir Thomas Lyttelton, of Hagley, in
Worcestershire, bart. and was born in 1709. He came into
the world two months before the usual time, and was
imagined by the nurse to be dead, but upon closer
inspiection was found alive, and with some difficulty reared. At
Eton school, where he was educated, he was so much distinguished that his exercises were recommended as models
to his school-fellows. From Eton he went to Christ Church,
where he retained the same reputation of superiority, and
displayed his abilities to the public in a poem on Blenheim.
He was a very early writer, both in verse and prose; his
“Progress of Love,
” and his “Persian Letters,
” having both been written when he was very young. After
a short residence at Oxford, he began his travels in
1728, and visited France and Italy. From Rome he
sent those elegant verses which are prefixed to the works
of Pope, whom he consulted in 1730 respecting his four
pastorals. Pope made some alterations in them, which
may be seen in Bowles’s late edition of that poet’s works
(vol. IV. p. 139). We find Pope, a few years afterwards,
in a letter to Swift, speak thus of him: He is “one of
those whom his own merit has forced me to contract an
intimacy with, after I had sworn never to love a man
more, since the sorrow it cost me to have loved so many
now dead, banished, or unfortunate, I mean Mr. Lyttelton, one of the worthiest of the rising generation,
” &c.
In another letter Mr. Lyttelton is mentioned in a manner
with which Dr. Warton says he was displeased .
When he returned from his continental tour, he was (May 4, 1729) made page of honour to the princess royal. He
When he returned from his continental tour, he was
(May 4, 1729) made page of honour to the princess royal.
He also obtained a seat in parliament, and soon distinguished himself among the most eager opponents of sir
Robert Walpole, though his father, who was one of the
lords of the admiralty, always voted with the court. For
many years the name of George Lyttelton was seen in
every account of every debate in the house of commons.
Among the great leading questions, he opposed the standing army, and the excise, and supported the motion for
petitioning the king to remove Walpole. The prince of
Wales having, in consequence of a quarrel with the king,
been obliged to leave St. James’s in 1737, kept a separate
court, and opened his arms to the opponents of the ministry. Mr. Lyttelton was made his secretary, and was
supposed to have great influence in the direction of his
conduct. His name consequently occurs, although not
very often, in Doddington’s Diary. He persuaded the
prince, whose business it was now to be popular, tbat he
would advance his character by patronage. Mallet was
made under-secretary, with 2001. a year; and Thomson
had a pension of 100l. The disposition of the two men
must account for the difference in the sums. Mallet could
do more political service than the honest-hearted Thomson.
For Thomson, however, Mr. Lyttelton always retained
his kindness, and was able at last to place him at ease.
Moore courted his favour by an apologetical poem called
“The Trial of Selim,
” and was paid with kind words,
which, as is common, says Dr. Johnson, raised great hopes,
that at last were disappointed. This matter, however, is
differently stated in our account of Moore.
Mr. Lyttelton now stood in the first rank of opposition; and Pope, who was incited, it is not easy to say how, to increase the clamour
Mr. Lyttelton now stood in the first rank of opposition;
and Pope, who was incited, it is not easy to say how, to
increase the clamour against the ministry, commended
him among the other patriots. This drew upon him the
reproaches of Mr. Henry Fox, who, in the House of Commons, was weak enough to impute to him as a crime
his intimacy with a lampooner so unjust and licentious.
Lyttelton supported his friend, and replied, “that he
thought it an honour to be received into the familiarity of
so great a poet.
” While he was thus conspicuous, he
married (1741) Miss Lucy Fortescue, sister to Matthew lord
Fortescue, of Devonshire, by whom he had a son, Thomas,
and two daughters, and with whom he appears to have
lived in the highest degree of connubial felicity: but human pleasures are short; she died in childbed about six
years afterwards (1747); and he solaced his grief by writing a “Monody
” to her memory, without, however,
condamning himself to perpetual solitude and sorrow; for
soon after he sought to find the same happiness again in a
second marriage with the daughter of sir Robert Rich
(1749); but the experiment was unsuccessful, and he was
for some years before his death separated from this lady.
“She was,
” says Gilbert West in a letter to Dr. Doddridge,
“an intimate and dear friend of his former wife, which is
some kind of proof of her merit; I mean of the goodness
of her heart, for that is the chief merit which Mr. Lyttelton esteems; and I hope she will not in this disappoint
his expectations; in all other points she is well suited to
him; being extremely well accomplished in languages,
music, painting, &c. very sensible, and well bred.
” This
lady died Sept. 17, 1795.
struggle, Wai pole gave way, and honour and profit were distributed among his conquerors, Lyttelton was made in (1744) one of the lords of the treasury; and from that
When, after a long struggle, Wai pole gave way, and
honour and profit were distributed among his conquerors,
Lyttelton was made in (1744) one of the lords of the treasury; and from that time was engaged in supporting the
schemes of ministry. Politics did not, however, so much
engage him as to withhold his thoughts from things of more
importance. He had, in the pride of juvenile confidence,
with the help of corrupt conversation, entertained doubts
of the truth of Christianity; but he thought the time now
come when it was no longer fit to doubt or believe by
chance, and applied hiniself seriously to the great question.
His studies being honest, ended in conviction. He found
that Religion was true, and what he had learned he endeavoured to teach, by “Observations on the Conversion and
Apostleship of St. Paul,
” printed in I have read your
religious treatise with infinite pleasure and satisfaction.
The style is fine and clear, the arguments close, cogent,
and irresistible. May the King of kings, whose glorious
cause you have so well defended, reward your pious labours, and grant that I may be found worthy, through the
merits of Jesus Christ, to be an eye-witness of that happiness which I don't doubt He will bountifully bestow upon
you! In the mean time, I shall never cease glorifying
God, for having endowed you with such useful talents, and
given me so good a son. Your affectionate father, Thomas Lyttelton.
” When the university of Oxford conferred the degree of LL. D. on Mr. West for his excellent
work on the “Resurrection,
” the same honour is said to
have been offered to our author for the above piece, but he
declined it in a handsome manner, by saying that he chose
not to be under any particular attachments, that, if he
should happen to write any thing of the like kind for the
future, it might not appear to proceed from any other motive whatsoever, but a pure desire of doing good.
he inherited the title of baronet, with a large estate, which, though perhaps he did not augment, he was careful to adorn, by a house of great elegance and expence,
A few years afterwards, in 1751, by the death of his
father, he inherited the title of baronet, with a large estate, which, though perhaps he did not augment, he was
careful to adorn, by a house of great elegance and expence, and by much attention to the decoration of his
park at Hagley. As he continued his exertions in parliament, he was gradually advancing his claim to profit and
preferment; and accordingly was made in 1754 cofferer
and privy-counsellor. This place he exchanged next year
for that of chancellor of the exchequer, an office, however,
that required some qualifications which he soon perceived
himself to want. It is an anecdote no less remarkable than
true, that he never could comprehend the commonest rules
of arithmetic. The year after, his curiosity led him into
Wales; of which he has given an account, perhaps rather
with too much affectation of delight, to Archibald Bower,
a man of whom he had conceived an opinion more favourable than he seems to have deserved, and whom, having
once espoused his interest and fame, he never was persuaded to disown. It must indeed have proceeded from a
strong conviction of Bower’s innocence, however acquired,
that such a man as Lyttelton adhered to him to the very last.
About 1758, he prevented Garrick from bringing Bower
on the stage in the character of a mock convert, to be
shewn in various attitudes, in which the profligacy of his
conduct was to be exposed: and a very few years before
his own death, he declared to the celebrated Dr. Lardner
his opinion of Bower in these words, “I have no more
doubt of his having continued a firm protestant to the last
hour of his life, than I have of my not being a papist myself.
”
About this time he published his “Dialogues of the
Dead,
” which were very eagerly read, though the production rather, as it seems, of leisure than of study, rather
effusions than compositions. When, in the latter part of
the last reign, the inauspicious commencement of the war
made the dissolution of the ministry unavoidable, sir
George Lyttelton, losing his employment with the rest,
was raised to the peerage, Nov. 19, 1157, by the title of
lord Lyttelton, baron of Frankley, in the county of Worcester. His last literary production was, “The History of
Henry the Second,
” Henry the Second,
” as
if, said Johnson once in conversation, “another man could
point his sense better than himself.
” The book, however,
was at last pointed and printed, and sent into the world.
His lordship took money for his copy, of which, when he
had paid the pointer, he probably gave the rest away; for
he was very liberal to the indigent. When time brought
the history to a third edition, Reid was either dead or discarded; and the superintendence of typography and punctuation was committed to a man originally a comb -maker,
but then known by the style of Dr. Saunders. Something
uncommon was probably expected, and something uncommon was at last done; for to the edition of Dr. Saunders is
appended, what the world had hardly seen before, a list of
errors of nineteen pages.
had a slender uncompacted frame, and a meagre face : he lived, however, above sixty years, and then was seized with his last illness. Of his death this very affecting
Lord Lyttelton had never the appearance of a strong or
a healthy man; he had a slender uncompacted frame, and
a meagre face : he lived, however, above sixty years,
and then was seized with his last illness. Of his death this
very affecting and instructive account has been given by
his physician, Dr. Johnstone of Kidderminster. “On Sunday evening the symptoms of his lordship’s disorder, which
for a week past had alarmed us, put on a fatal appearance,
and his lordship believed himself to be a dying man. From
this time he suffered by restlessness rather than pain; and
though his nerves were apparently much fluttered, his
mental faculties never seemed stronger, when he was thoroughly awake. His lordship’s bilious and hepatic complaints seemed alone not equal to the expected mournful
event; his Iqng want of sleep, whether the consequence
of the irritatton in the bowels, or, which is more probable,
of causes of a different kind, accounts for his loss of
strength, and for his death, very sufficiently. Though his
lordship wished his approaching dissolution not to be lingering, he waited for it with resignation. He said, ‘ It is
a folly, a keeping me in misery, now to attempt to prolong
life;’ yet he was easily persuaded, for the satisfaction of
others, to do or take any thing thought proper for him.
On Saturday he had been remarkably better, and we were
not without some hopes of his recovery. On Sunday, about
eleven in the forenoon, his lordship sent for me, and said
he felt a great hurry, and wished to have a little conversartion with me in order to divert it. He then proceeded to
open the fountain of that heart, from whence goodness had
so long flowed as from a copious spring. `Doctor,‘ said
he, `you shall be my confessor: When I first set out in
the world, I had friends who endeavoured to shake my
belief in the Christian religion. I saw difficulties which
staggered me; but I kept my mind open to conviction.
The evidences and doctrines of Christianity, studied with
attention, made me a most firm and persuaded believer of
the Christian religion. I have made it the rule of my life,
and it is the ground of my future hopes. I have erred
and sinned; but have repented, and never indulged any
vicious habit. In politics, and public life, I have made
the public good the rule of my conduct. I never gave
counsels which I did not at the time think the best. I
have seen that I was sometimes in the wrong, but I did
not err designedly. I have endeavoured, in private life,
to do all the good in my power, and never for a moment
could indulge malicious or unjust designs upon any person
whatsoever.’ At another time he said, `I must leave my
soul in the same state it was in before this illness; I find
this a very inconvenient time for solicitude about any
thing.‘ On the evening when the symptoms of death
came on him, he said, `I shall die; but it will not be your
fault.’ When lord and lady Valentia came to see his lordship, he gave them this solemn benediction, and said, `Be
good, be virtuous, my lord. You must come to this.‘ Thus
he continued giving his dying benediction to all arourvd
him. On Monday morning a lucid interval gave some
small hopes, but these vanished in the evening; and he
continued dying, but with very little uneasiness, till Tuesday morning, August 22, when between seven and eight
o’clock he expired, almost without a groan.
” His lordship was buried at Hagley; with an inscription cut on the
side of his lady’s monument.
He was succeeded by his son Thomas, second lord Lyttelton, of whom
He was succeeded by his son Thomas, second lord Lyttelton, of whom the following too just character is on
record: “With great abilities generally very ill applied;
with a strong sense of religion, which he never suffered to
influence his conduct, his days were mostly passed in
splendid misery; and in the painful change of the most
extravagant gaiety, and the deepest despair. The delight,
when he pleased, of the first and most select societies, he
chose to pass his time, for the nio,st part, with the most
profligate and abandoned of both iexes. Solitude was to
fiim the most insupportable torment; and to banish refleo
tion, he flew to Company whom he despised and ridiculed.
His conduct was a subject of bitter regret both to his father
and all his friends.
” He closed this unhappy life, Nov. 27,
1779. Two volumes of “Letters
” published in Poems,
” published in Letters,
” publicly disowned by his executors,
but as to the “Poems,
” they added, “great part whereof
are undoubtedly spurious.
”
re shall we find another, who always thought right and meant well, and who so seldom acted wrong, or was misled or mistaken in his ministerial, or senatorial conduct?
We have more pleasure, however, in returning to the character of George lord Lyttelton, which has been uniformly
delineated by those who knew him best, in favourable
colours. Of the various sketches which we have seen, we
are inclined to give a place to the following, which,
although somewhat long, is less known than those to be
found in the accounts of his biographers, and appears to
have been written by a near observer “Few chapters,
”
says the writer, “recorded in the annals of this country,
ever united so many rare, valuable, and amiable qualities,
as that of the late lord Lyttelton. Whether we consider
this great man in public or private life, we are justified in
affirming, that he abounded in virtues not barely sufficient
to create reverence and esteem, but to insure him the love
and admiration of all who knew him. Look upon him as a
statesman, and a public man; where shall we find another,
who always thought right and meant well, and who so seldom acted wrong, or was misled or mistaken in his ministerial, or senatorial conduct? Look upon his lordship in
the humbler scene of private and domestic life; and if
thou hadst the pleasure of knowing him, gentle reader,
point out the breast warm or cold, that so copiously
abounded with every gift and acquirement which indulgent
nature could bestow, or the tutored mind improve and refine, to win and captivate mankind.
and swayed them, always recalled to my memory, that line of his own, only varying the sex his * Wit was Nature by the Graces drest.' His affability and condescension
“His personal accomplishments, and the sweetness and pliability of his temper, which accompanied and swayed them, always recalled to my memory, that line of his own, only varying the sex his * Wit was Nature by the Graces drest.' His affability and condescension to those below him, was not the effect of art, or constrained politeness, dictated by the hackneyed sterile rules of decorum and good breeding: no, the benevolence of his heart pervaded the whole man; it illuminated his countenance, it softened his accents, it mixed itself with his demeanour, and gave evidence at once of the goodness of his heart, and the soundness of his understanding.
“To such as were honoured with his friendship and his intimacy, his kindness was beyond example he shared at once his affections and his interests
“To such as were honoured with his friendship and his intimacy, his kindness was beyond example he shared at once his affections and his interests among his friends, and towards the latter part of his life, when his ability to serve them ceased, he felt only for those who depended on him for their future advancement in life. The unbounded authority he possessed over them was established in parental dominion, not in the cold, haughty, supercilious superiority of a mere patron. Among this latter description, the author of the present rude outline is proud of ranking himself, and is happy in recollecting, that he obeyed, or rather anticipated, the wishes of his noble friend, as far as lay in his power, with more chearfulness and alacrity than he would in executing even the confidential mandates of the greatest monarch or minister in Christendom.
“His lordship’s acquaintance with men and books was accurate and extensive. His studies in the early part of his
“His lordship’s acquaintance with men and books was accurate and extensive. His studies in the early part of his life must have been well directed, and his taste remarkably judicious, for no person ever lived who was less tinctured with the vulgar moroseness, and self-conceited air of a pedant, nor with the affectation and frivolity of that rank in life, which his birth, fortune, and situation, rendered customary and familiar to him.
“He was perfectly and intimately acquainted with the works of the most
“He was perfectly and intimately acquainted with the works of the most celebrated writers of antiquity in verse and prose. His memory was stocked with the most striking passages contained in them; but he never indulged nor gave way to the strong impressions they had stamped on his mind, but to gratify his confidential friends. Whenever he consented to their entreaties, his allusions were judiciously selected, and applied with the most consummate propriety. His language was manly, nervous, and technical. It was suited to the personal rank, knowledge, and disposition, of those he conversed with; by which means he rendered himself agreeable and intelligible to every person, whom chance, amusement, or business, threw in his way.
ts, the term which the late lord Bolingbroke substitutes for the familiar phrase of knowing mankind, was no less conspicuous, when he thought proper to exert it with
“His discernment of spirits, the term which the late lord Bolingbroke substitutes for the familiar phrase of knowing mankind, was no less conspicuous, when he thought proper to exert it with steadiness and vigour; but unfortunately for his own domestic peace, it was extremely difficult to rouse him. He trusted too much to the representations of others, and was always ready to leave the labour of discriminating characters, to those who too often found an interest in deceiving him. Though his steadiness of principle, penetration, and justness of reflection, might be well ranked in the first class, those talents were in a great measure effectually lost, because his employments and pursuits as a public man, his amusements as a man of taste and science, and, in the latter part of his life, his avocations as a writer, so totally engrossed his attention, that he entirely neglected his private affairs, and in a Variety of instances fell a prey to private rapine and literary imposition. This was the joint effect of native indolence, and a certain incurable absence of mind. To show that his want of discrimination was not native, but that the power of knowing those he communicated with, was rendered to some purpose useless, because it was not employed, a stronger proof need not be given, than his thorough knowledge of the court, as exhibited in parties, and the several individuals who composed them. He could tell the political value of almost every veteran courtier, or candidate for power. He could develope their latent views, he could foretell their change of conduct. He foresaw the effect of such and such combinations, the motives which formed them, the principles which held them together, and the probable date of their dissolutioe. Whenever he was imposed on, it was through the want of attention, not of parts; or from a kind of settled opinion, that men of common plain understandings, and good reputation, would hardly risque solid advantages in pursuit of unlawful gain, which last might eventually be accompanied with loss of character, as well as the object proposed to be attained. Whatever plausibility there may appear in this mode of reasoning, experience frequently informed his lordship, that it was not to be depended on. He was plundered by his servants, deceived by his humble companions, misled by his confidents, and imposed on by several of those whom he patronized. He felt the effects of all this, in his family, in his finances, and even in the rank he should have preserved. Those who were not acquainted with the solidity of his judgment, the acuteness of his wit, the brilliancy and justness of his thoughts, the depth of his penetration, and with the amazing extent of his genius, were apt to confound the consequences of his conduct, with the powers and resources of his mind. If his lordship remained out of place, on principle, the ignorant inclined to ascribe this seeming court proscription to simplicity or want of talents. If he did not support his rank with that ostentatious splendour now become so fashionable, the world was ready to impute it to a want of oeconotny, or a want of spirit; but in all those conjectures and conclusions, the world were much mistaken and misled. He had frequent offers, some of them the most flattering, to take a part in administration; but he uniformly rejected them. His manner of living at his seat at Hagley was founded on the truest principles of hospitality, politeness, and society; and as to money, he knew no other use of it but to answer his own immediate calls, or to enable him to promote the happiness of others.”
erhaps to include all the eminent literary persons of his time. With such he delighted to associate, was often a useful patron of rising genius, and to the last was
Much of this character corresponds with the accounts which might be extracted from the correspondence of his friends, who were so numerous as perhaps to include all the eminent literary persons of his time. With such he delighted to associate, was often a useful patron of rising genius, and to the last was ambitious of a personal acquaintance with men whose works he admired. We have a remarkable instance of this in his visiting (in 1767) old Dr. Lardner, and introducing himself as one who had read his volumes with pleasure and profit. Lardner was at this time so deaf that his visitors were obliged to carry on conversation with him by writing, to which tiresome condition lord Lyttelton gladly submitted.
egance of versification and style. His “Advice to Belinda,” though for the most part written when he was very young, contains, Dr. Johnson says, “much truth and much
Lord Lyttelton’s literary character has been so long
established that it is unnecessary to add much on the subject. His Miscellaneous Works have been often reprinted,
and, although in some of them rigid criticism may find objections, cannot be read without pleasure and advantage.
His “History of Henry II.
” is also now a standard work,
valuable both for matter and style. His “^Persian Letters,
” written when a very young man, are included among
his miscellaneous works, but Dr. Warton informs us that
he had intended to discard them, as there were principles
and remarks in them that he wished to retract and alter.
The reader finds them, however, as originally published,
and they contain many shrewd remarks and just ridicule on
the manners of the times. His juvenile pieces were not
always his worst. Dr. Warton remarks that his Observations on the life of Cicero contain perhaps a more dispassionate and impartial character of that great orator than is
exhibited in the panegyrical volumes of Middleton. It
may here be noticed that some of his letters to Warton
Occur in Wooll’s Life, by which we learn that lord Lyttelton made him his chaplain in 1756. As a poet, we do not
find among critics any wide departure from Dr. Johnson’s
opinion. Lord Lyttelton’s poems are to be praised chiefly
for correctness and elegance of versification and style.
His “Advice to Belinda,
” though for the most part written when he was very young, contains, Dr. Johnson says,
“much truth and much prudence, very elegantly and vigorously expressed, and shows a mind attentive to life, and
a power of poetry which cultivation might have raised to
excellence.
” As far, however, as this implies that lord
Lyttelton did not cultivate his powers, we are inclined to
think our great critic in error. Lord Lyttelton was very
early a poet, and appears to have not only valued his talent,
but acquired his first reputation from the exercise of it.
He was very early a critic too, as appears by his account
of Glover’s “Leonidas,
” printed in