ire, where he became known to Hildersham, Dod, Ball, Langley, and other nonconformists of that time, was educated at Emanuel college, Cambridge, under Dr. Stooker. He
, a Puritan minister, first settled in
Staffordshire, where he became known to Hildersham,
Dod, Ball, Langley, and other nonconformists of that
time, was educated at Emanuel college, Cambridge,
under Dr. Stooker. He exercised his ministry in London
twenty-three years. In the time of the civil wars, he was
chaplain to the earl of Warwick. As he was a man of
fortune and character, his influence was great among the
presbyterians. He was some time chaplain to the earl of
Manchester, and fell under the displeasure of Cromwell’s
party, whom he had disobliged by his violent opposition
to the engagement. He had a very considerable hand in
restoring Charles II. and went to congratulate his majesty
at Breda. Dr. Calamy speaks of him as a man of real
sanctity, and a non- conformist of the old stamp. He
died in 1662, and was buried the eve of Bartholomew day.
Dr. Walker censures him for his zeal against the characters
of the clergy in general, in which he shares with many of
his brethren. He published several sermons preached
before the parliament, or the magistrates, on public occasions, and funeral sermons for Jeremy Whitaker, Ralph
Robinson, Robert Strange, Thomas Gataker, Richard
Vines, and the countess of Manchester, a treatise on “the
power of Godliness,
” and prefaces to the works of John
Ball, and others.
, a Wiltshire gentleman, descended from the family of that name residing at Nashhill in that county, was born in 1565, and admitted a gentleman commoner of Hart hall
, a Wiltshire gentleman, descended
from the family of that name residing at Nashhill in that
county, was born in 1565, and admitted a gentleman commoner of Hart hall in Oxford, in 1580. From the university he removed to the Middle Temple, where he was
called to the dignity of barrister at law. After some time
he travelled into Holland, France, &c. conversing with the
learned, and frequenting the public libraries. Being returned into England, he lived many years in the Middle
Temple, and honoured the commonwealth of learning with
several of his lucubrations. He died in a good old age, the
beginning of October 1641, and was buried in the Temple
church the 4th of the same month. He gave several books
to that society. His principal works were, 1. “A Relation of the kingdom of Cochin China,
” Lond. Urania, or heavenly muse,
” London, Au
manzor, the learned and victorious king that conquered
Spain, his life and death,
” London, 1627, 4to. 4. A
Translation from Italian into English of “II Davide perseguitate,
” i.e. David persecuted, London, 1637, written
originally by the marquis Virgilio Malvezzi. Wood tells
us, that part of the impression of this book had a new title
put to it, bearing date 1650, with the picture before it of
Charles I. playing on a harp, like king David, purposely to
carry off the remaining copies.
, of the seventeenth century, and founder of the noble museum at Oxford, which still bears his name, was the only son of Mr. Simon Ashmole, of the city of Litchfield,
, an eminent philosopher, chemist,
and antiquary, of the seventeenth century, and founder
of the noble museum at Oxford, which still bears his name,
was the only son of Mr. Simon Ashmole, of the city of
Litchfield, in Staffordshire, sadler, by Anne, the daughter of
Mr. Anthony Boyer, of Coventry, in Warwickshire, woollen-draper. He was born May 23, 1617, and during his
early r education in grammar, was taught music, in which
he made such proficiency as to become a chorister in the
cathedral at Litchfield. When he had attained the age of
sixteen he was taken into the family of James Paget, esq.
a baron of the exchequer, who had married his mother’s
sister, and as his father died in 1634, leaving little provision for him, he continued for some years in the Paget
family, during which time he made considerable progress
in the law, and spent his leisure hours in perfecting himself in music and other polite accomplishments. In March
1638, he married Eleanor, daughter of Mr. Peter Manwaring, of Smallwood, in the county Palatine of Chester,
and in Michaelmas term the same year, became a solicitor
in Chancery. On February 11, 1641, he was sworn an
attorney of the court of common pleas, and on December
5th, in the same year, his wife died suddenly, of whom
he has left us a very natural and affectionate memorial.
The rebellion coming on, he retired from London, being
always a zealous and steady loyalist, and on May 9, 1645,
became one of the gentlemen of the ordnance in the garrison at Oxford, whence he removed to Worcester, where
he was commissioner, receiver, and register of the excise,
and soon after captain in the lord Ashley’s regiment, and
comptroller of the ordnance. In the midst of all this business he entered himself of Brazen-Nose college, in Oxford, and applied himself vigorously to the sciences, but
especially natural philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy;
and his intimate acquaintance with Mr. (afterwards sir George) Wharton, seduced him into the absurd mysteries
of astrology, which was in those days in great credit. In
the month of July, 1646, he lost his mother, who had
always been a kind parent to him, and for whom he had a
very pious regard. On October 16th, the same year, be
was elected a brother of the ancient and honourable society
of Free and Accepted Masons, which he looked upon as a
high honour, and has therefore given us a particular account of the lodge established at Warrington in Lancashire and in some of his manuscripts, there are very
valuable collections relating to the history of the free
masons. The king’s affairs being now grown desperate,
Mr. Ashmole withdrew himself, after the surrender of the
garrison of Worcester, into Cheshire, where he continued
till the end of October, and then came up to London,
where he became acquainted with Mr. (afterwards sir Jonas)
Moore, William Lilly, and John Booker, esteemed the
greatest astrologers in 'the world, by whom he was caressed, instructed, and received into their fraternity, which
then made a very considerable figure, as appeared by the
great resort of persons of distinction to their annual feast,
of which Mr. Ashmole was afterwards elected steward. Jn
1647 he retired to Englefield, in Berkshire, where he pursued his studies very closely, and having so fair an opportunity, and the advantage of some very able masters,
he cultivated the science of botany. Here, as appears
from his own remarks, he enjoyed in privacy the sweetest
moments of his life, the sensation of which perhaps was
quickened, by his just idea of the melancholy state of the
times. It was in this retreat that he became acquainted
with Mary, sole daughter of sir William Forster, of Aldermarston, in the county of Berks, bart. who was first married to sir Edward Stafford, then to one Mr. Hamlyn, and
lastly to sir Thomas Mainwaring, knt recorder of Reading,
and one of the masters in chancery and an attachment
took place but Mr. Humphrey Stafford, her second son,
had such a dislike to the measure, that when Mr. Ashmole
happened to be very ill, he broke into his chamber, and if
not prevented, would have murdered him. In the latter
end of 1648, lady Mainwaring conveyed to him her estate
at Bradfield, which was soon after sequestered on account
of Mr. Ashmole’s loyalty but the interest he had with
William Lilly, and some others of that party, enabled him
to get that sequestration taken off. On the sixteenth of
November, 1649, he married lady Mainwaring, and settled
in London, where his house became the receptacle of the
most learned and ingenious persons that flourished at that
time. It was by their conversation, that Mr. Ashmole,
who hud been more fortunate in worldly affairs than most
scholars are, and who had been always a curious collector
of manuscripts, was induced to publish a treatise written
by Dr. Arthur Dee, relating to the Philosopher’s stone,
together with another tract on the same subject, by an unknown author. These accordingly appeared in the year
following but Mr. Ashmole was so cautious, or rather
modest, as to publish them by a fictitious name. He at
the same time addressed himself to a work of greater consequence, a complete collection of the works of such English chemists, as had till then remained in ms. which cost
him a great deal of labour, and for the embellishment of
which he spared no expence, causing the cuts that were
necessary, to be engraved at his own house in Black-Friars,
by Mr. Vaughan, who was then the most eminent artist in
that department in England. He imbibed this affection for
chemistry from his intimate acquaintance with Mr. William
Backhouse, of Swallowfield in the county of Berks, who
was reputed an adept, and whom, from his free communication of chemical secrets, Mr. Ashmole was wont to call
father, agreeably to the custom which had long prevailed
among the lovers of that art, improperly, however, called
chemistry for it really was the old superstition of alchemy. He likewise employed a part of his time in acquiring the art of engraving seuls, casting in sand, and
the mystery of a working goldsmith. But all this time,
his great work of publishing the ancient English writers in
chemistry went on and finding that a competent knowlege of the Hebrew was absolutely necessary for understanding and explaining such authors as had written on the
Hermetic science, he had recourse to rabbi Solomon Frank,
by whom he was taught the rudiments of Hebrew, which
he found very useful to him in his studies. At length,
towards the close of the year 1652, his “Theatrum Chymicum Britannicum
” appeared, which gained him great reputation in the learned world, as it shewed him to be a
man of a most studious disposition, indefatigable application, and of wonderful accuracy in his compositions. It
served also to extend his acquaintance considerably, and
among others the celebrated Mr. Seiden took notice of him
in the year 1653, encouraged his studies, and lived in
great friendship with him to the day of his death. He was
likewise very intimate with Mr. Oughtred, the mathematician, and with Dr. Wharton, a physician of great
racter and experience. His marriage with lady -Main-waring, however, involved him in abundance of law-suits
with other people, and at last produced a dispute between
themselves, which came to a hearing on October 8, 1657,
in the court of chancery, where serjeant Maynard having
observed, that in eight hundred sheets of depositions taken
on the part of the lady, there was not so much as a bad
word proved against Mr. Ashrnole, her bill was dismissed,
and she delivered back to her husband. He had now for
some time addicted himself to the study of antiquity and
records, which recommended him to the intimate acquaintance of Mr. (afterwards sir William) Dugdale, whom about
this time he attended in his survey of the Fens, and was
very useful to him in 'that excellent undertaking. Mr.
Ashmole himself soon after took the pains to trace the
Roman road, which in Antoninus’s Itinerary is called Bennevanna, from Weeden to Litchfield, of which he gave
Mr. Dugdale an account, in a letter addressed to him upon
that subject. It is very probable, that after his studies
had thus taken a new turn, he lost somewhat of his relish
for chemistry, since he discontinued the Theatrum Chemicum, which, according to his first design, was to have consisted of several volumes yet he still retained such a remembrance of it, as induced him to part civilly with the
sons of art, by publishing a treatise in prose on the philosopher’s stone, to which he prefixed an admirable preface, in which he wishes to apologize for taking leave of
these fooleries. In the spring of the year 1658, our author began to collect materials for his history of the order
of the garter, which he afterwards lived to finish, and
thereby rendered both the order and himself immortal,
the just reward of the prodigious pains he took in searching
records in the Tower, and elsewhere, comparing them with
each other, and obtaining such lights as were requisite to
render so perplexed a subject clear, and to reduce all the
circumstances of such a vast body of history into their proper order. In September following he made a journey to
Oxford, where he was extremely well received, and where
he undertook to make a full and distinct description of the
coins given to the public library by archbishop Laud, which
was of great use to him in the works which he afterwards
composed. He had lodged and boarded sometimes at a house
in South Lambeth, kept by Mr. John Tradescant, whose
father and himself hud been physic-gardeners there for
many years, and had collected avast number of curiosities,
which, after mature deliberation, Mr. Tradescant and his
wife determined to bestow on Mr. Ashmole, and accordingly sealed and delivered a deed of gift for that purpose,
on December 16, 1659. On the restoration of king Charles
II. Mr. Ashmole was Dearly introduced into the presence
and favour of his majesty, and on June 18, 1660, which was
the second time he had the honour of discoursing with the
king, he graciously bestowed upon him the place of Windsor herald. A few days after, he was appointed by the king
to make a description of his medals, and had them delivered into his hands, and king Henry VHIth’s closet assigned
for his use, being also allowed his diet at court. On August 21st, in the same year, he presented the three books
which he had published, to his majesty, who, as he both
loved and understood chemistry, received them very graciously. On September 3, he had a warrant signed for the
office of commissioner of the excise, in consequence of a
letter written by his majesty’s express command, to the
earl of Southampton, then lord high-treasurer, by Mr. Se^
cretary Morris. About this time, a commission was granted
to him as incidental to the care of the king’s medals, to
examine the famous, or rather infamous, Hugh Peters,
about the contents of the royal library which had fallen
into his hands, and which was very carefully and punctually
executed, but to very little purpose. On November 2d,
he was called to the bar in Middle-Temple hall, and January 15, 1661, he was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society. On February 9th following, the king signed a warrant for constituting him secretary of Surinam in the West
Indies. In the beginning of the year 1662, he was appointed one of the commissioners for recovering the king’s
goods, and about the same time he sent a set of services
and anthems to the cathedral church of Litchfield, in memory of his having been once a chorister there, and he
gave afterwards twenty pounds towards repairing the cathedral. On June 27, 1664, the White Office was opened,
of which he was appointed a commissioner. On Feb. 17,
1665, sir Edward By she sealed his deputation for visiting Berkshire, which visitation he began on the llth
of March following, and on June 9, 1668, he was appointed by the lords commissioners of the treasury, accomptant-general, and country accomptant in the excise.
His second wife, lady Main waring, dying, April 1, in the
same year, he soon after married Mrs. Elizabeth Dugdale,
daughter to his good friend sir William Dugdale, kht. garter king at arms, in Lincoln’s-inn chapel, on Novembers.
The university of Oxford, in consideration of the many
favours they had received from Mr. Ashmole, created him
doctor of physic by diploma, July 19, 1669, which was
presented to him on the 3d of November following, by
Dr. Yates, principal of Brazen-Nose college, in the name
of the university. He was now courted and esteemed by
the greatest people in the kingdom, both in point of title
and merit, who frequently did him the honour to visit him
at his chambers in the Temple, and whenever he went his
summer progress, he had the same respect paid him in the
country, especially at his 'native town of Litchfield, to which
when he came, he was splendidly entertained by the corporation. On May 8, 1672, he presented his laborious
work on the most noble order of the garter, to his most
gracious master king Charles II. who not only received it
with great civility and kindness, but soon after granted to
our author, as a mark of his approbation of the work, and
of his personal esteem for him, a privy seal for 400 pounds
out of the custom of paper. This was his greatest undertaking, and had he published nothing else, would have
preserved his memory, as it certainly is in its kind one of
the most valuable books in our language. On January
29, 1675, he resigned his office of Windsor herald, which
by his procurement, was bestowed on his brother Dugdale,
It was with great reluctancy that the earl marshal parted
with him, and it was not long after, that he bestowed on
him the character of being the best officer in his office. On
the death of sir Edward Walker, garter king at arms, Feb_
20, 1677, the king and the duke of Norfolk, as earl marshal, contested the right of disposing of his place, on which
Mr. Ashmole was consulted, who declared in favour of the
king, but with so much prudence and discretion as not to
give any umbrage to the earl marshal. He afterwards himself refused this high office, which was conferred on his
father-in-law sir -William Dugdale, for whom he employed
his utmost interest. About the close of 1677, a proposal
was made to Mr. Ashmole to become a candidate for the
city of Litchfield, but finding himself poorly supported by
the very persons who would have encouraged him to stand,
he withdrew his pretensions. On the 26th of January,
1679, about ten in the morning, a fire began in the Middle
Temple, in the next chambers to Mr. Aslimole’s,- by which
he lost a library he had been collecting thirty-three years;
but his Mss. escaped, by their being at his house in South
Lambeth. He likewise lost a collection of 9000 coins,
ancient and modern but his more valuable collection of
gold medals were likewise preserved by being at Lambeth
his vast repository of seals, charters, and other antiquities
and curiosities, perished also in the flames. In 1683, the
university of Oxford having finished a noble repository
near the theatre, Mr. Ashmole sent thither that great collection of rarities which he had received from the Tradescants before-mentioned, together with such additions as he
had made to them; and to this valuable benefaction he
afterwards added that of his Mss. and library, which still
remain a monument of his generous love to learning in
general, and to the university of Oxford in particular. In
the beginning of the year 1685, he was invited by the magistrates, and by the dean of Litchfield, to represent that
corporation in parliament but upon king James’s intimating to him, by the lord Dartmouth, that he would take it
kindly if he would resign his interest to Mr. Levvson, he instantly complied.
er Dugdale, in which, though he did not fully succeed, yet he procured him the place of Norroy. This was one of the last public acts of his life, the remainder of which
On the death of his father-in-law, sir William Dugdale, Jan. 10, 1686, Mr. Ashmole declined a second time the office of garter king at arms, and recommended his brother Dugdale, in which, though he did not fully succeed, yet he procured him the place of Norroy. This was one of the last public acts of his life, the remainder of which was spent in an honourable retirement to the day of his demise, which happened on May 18, 1692, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He was undoubtedly a great benefactor to, and patron of, learning. His love of chemistry led him to preserve many valuable Mss. relating to that science, besides those that he caused to be printed and published. He was deeply skilled in history and antiquities, as sufficiently appears by his learned and laborious works, both printed and manuscripts. He was likewise a generous encourager and protector of such ingenious and learned men as were less fortunate in the world than himself, as appears by his kindness to sir'George Wharton in the worst of times, his respect to the memory of his friend Mr. John Booker, and the care he took in the education of the late eminent Dr. George Smalridge. His corpse was interred in the church of Lambeth in Surrey, May 26 1692, and a black marble stone laid over his grave, with a Latin inscription, in which, though there is much to his honour, there is nothing which exceeds the truth. He may be considered as one of the first and most useful collectors of documents respecting English antiquities, but the frequent application of the epithet genius to him, in the Biographia Britannica, is surely gratuitous. His attachment to- the absurdities of astrology and alchemy, and his association with Lilly, Booker, and other quacks and impostors of his age, must ever prevent his being ranked among the learned wise, although he never appears to have been a confederate in the tricks of Lilly and his friends, and certainly accumulated a considerable portion of learning and information on various useful topics. His benefaction to the university of Oxford will ever secure respect for his memory. It was towards the latter end of October 1677, that he made an offer to that university, of bestowing on it all that valuable collection of the Tradescants, which was so well known to the learned world, and which had been exceedingly improved since it came into his possession, together with all the coins, medals, and manuscripts of his own collecting, provided they would erect a building fit to receive them to which proposition the university willingly assented. Accordingly, on Thursday the 15th of May 1679, the first stone of that stately fabric, afterwards called Ashmole’s Museum, was laid on the west side of the theatre, and being finished by the beginning of March 1682, the collection was deposited and the articles arranged by Robert Plott, LL.D. who before had been intrusted with their custody. This museum was first publicly viewed, on the 2 1st of May following, by his royal highness James duke of York, his royal consort Josepha Maria, princess Anne, and their attendants, and on the 24th of the same month, by the doctors and masters of the university. In a convocation held on the 4th of June following (1683) a Latin letter of thanks, penned by him who was then deputy orator, being publicly read, was sent to Mr. Ashmole at South Lambeth, In July 1690, he visited the university with his wife, and was received with all imaginable honour, and entertained at a noble dinner in his museum; on which occasion Mr. Edward Hannes, A. M. the chemical professor, afterwards an eminent physician, made an elegant oration to him. His benefaction to the university was very considerably enlarged at his death, by the addition of his library, which consisted of one thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight books, of which six hundred and twenty were manuscripts, and of them three hundred and eleven folios, relating chiefly to English History, Heraldry, Astronomy, and Chemiftry, with a great variety of pamphlets, part of which had been sorted by himself, and the rest are methodized since, and a double catalogue made one classical, according to their various subjects, and another alphabetical. He bequeathed also to the same place, two gold chains and a medal, the one a filigreen chain of ninety links, weighing twenty-two ounces, with a medal of the elector of Brandenburg, upon which is the effigies of that elector, and on the reverse, a iHew of Straelsund, struck upon the surrender of that important city; a collar of S. S. with a medal of the king of Denmark; and a gold medal of the elector Palatine; and a George of the duke of Norfolk, worn by his grandfather when he was ambassador in Germany. All these he had received as acknowledgments of the honour which he had done the garter, by his labours on that subject. This museum has been since enriched by the Mss. of Anthony Wood, Aubrey, and others. It has been remarked as something extraordinary, that Mr. Ashmole was never knighted for his services as a herald. It is perhaps as extraordinary that the university of Oxford bestowed on him the degree of doctor of physic, who never regularly studied or practised in that faculty, unless we conceive it as a compliment to his chemical studies.
ink, and not without reason, ought rather to be ascribed to John Carpenter, bishop of Worcester, who was one of the best chemists of his time Hunting of the Green Lion,
2. “Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, containing several
poetical pieces of our famous English philosophers, who
have written the Hermetique mysteries, in their own ancient language. Faithfully collected into one volume, with
annotations thereon, by Elias Ashmole, esq. qui est Mercuriophilus Anglicus,
” London, The Way to Bliss, in three books, made
public by Elias Ashmole, esq; qui est Mercuriophilus
Anglicus,
” London, The Institution, Laws, and Ceremonies of the most
noble Order of the Garter. Collected and digested into
one body by Elias Ashmole, of the Middle Temple, esq.
Windesore herald at arms. A work furnished with variety
of matter relating to honour and noblesse
” London, The Arms, Epitaphs,.
Feuestral Inscriptions, with the draughts of the Tombs, &c.
in all the churches in Berkshire.
” It was penned in The Antiquities of Berkshire,
” 3 vols. 8vo, 1717, 1723,
and at Reading in 1736, fol. 6. “Familiarum iilustrium
Imperatorumque Romanorum Numismata Oxonire in Bodleianae Bibliotbecoe Archivis descripta et explanata.
”
This work was finished by the author in A description and
explanation of the Coins and Medals belonging to king
Charles II.
” a folio ms. in the king’s cabinet. 8. “A
brief ceremonial of the Feast of St. George, held at Whitehall 1661, with other papers relating to the Order.
”
9. “Remarkable Passages in the year 1660, set down by
Mr. Elias Ashmole.
” 10. “An account of the Coronation
of our Kings, transcribed from a ms. in the king’s private
closet.
” 11 “The proceedings on the day of the Coronation of king Charles II.
” mentioned by Anthony Wood,
as printed in 1672, but he owns he never saw it. 12. “The
Arms, Epitaphs, &c. in some churches and houses in
Staffordshire,
” taken when he accompanied sir William
Dugdale in his visitation. 13. “The Arms, Epitaphs,
Inscriptions, &c. in Cheshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire,
Nottinghamshire, &c.
” taken at the same time. Bishop
Nicolson mentions his intention to write the history and
antiquities of his native town of Litchfield. 14. “Answers
to the objections urged.against Mr. Ashmole’s being made
historiographer to the order of the Garter,
” A. D. A Translation of John Francis Spina’s book of th
Catastrophe of the World; to which was subjoined, Ambrose Merlin’s Prophecy.
” It is doubtful whether this was
ever published. What, indeed, he printed, was but a very
small part of what he wrote, there being scarcely any
branch of our English history and antiquities, on which he
has not left us something valuable, of his own composing,
in that vast repository of papers, which make several folios in his collection of Mss. under the title of, 16. CoU
lections, Remarks, Notes on Books, and Mss. a wonderful
proof of industry and application. 17. “The Diary of
his Life,
” written by himself, which was published at London, 1717, in 12mo, with the following title “Memoirs
of the life of that learned antiquary, Elias Ashmole, esq.
drawn up by himself by way of diary, with an appendix of
original letters. Published by Charles Burman, esquire.
”
The copy from whence these papers were published, was in
the hand-writing of Dr. Robert Plott, chief keeper of the
Ashmolean museum at Oxford, and secretary of the Royal
Society, and was transcribed by him for the use of a near
relation of Mr. Ashmole’s, a private gentleman in Staffordshire. They had been collated a few years before, by
David Perry, M. A. of Jesus’ college in Oxford. The appendix* contains a letter of thanks, dated January 26, 1666,
from the corporation at Litchfield, upon the receipt of a
silver bowl presented to them by Mr. Ashmole a preface
to the catalogue of archbishop Laud’s medals, drawn up by
Mr. Ashmole, and preserved in the public library at Oxford a letter from Dr. Thomas Barlow, afterwards bishop
of Lincoln, to Mr. Ashmole, dated December 23, 1668, on
the present of his books, describing archbishop Laud’s
cabinet of medals a letter from John Evelyn, esq. to recommend Dr. Plott to him for reader in natural philosophy,
and another from Mr. Joshua Barnes, dated from Emanuel
college, Cambridge, October 15, 1688, wherein he desires
Mr. Ashmole’s pardon, for having reflected upon his Order
of the Garter, in his own history of king Edward III. with
Mr. Ashmole’s answer to that letter, dated October 23
following. It is from this diary, which abounds in whimsical and absurd memoranda, that the dates and facts in his
life have been principally taken.
, one of the most learned critics of his age, was a native of Derbyshire, where he was born about 1665. He was
, one of the most learned critics
of his age, was a native of Derbyshire, where he was born
about 1665. He was admitted of Queen’s college, Cambridge, May 18, 1682, and having taken his degree of B. A.
was elected fellow of that college, April 30, 1687, to be
admitted to profits upon a future vacancy, which did not
happen till April 9, 1690. He became chaplain to bishop
Patrick, by whom he was presented to the rectory of Rattenden in Essex, March 10, 1698-9, which living he exchanged, in June following, for a chaplainship of Chelseacollege or hospital and that preferment also he soon after
quitted, on being collated by his patron to a prebendal
stall in the cathedral of Ely, July 3, 1701, and the next
day to the mastership of Jesus’ college, Cambridge, both
vacant by the death of Dr. Say well the same year he proceeded to his degree of D. D. and was elected vice-chancellor of the university in 1702. His mastership and
prebend (both of which he was in possession of above fifty years) were the only preferments he held afterwards, not
choosing to accept of any parochial benefice, but leading a
very retired and studious life in his college, except when
statutable residence, and attendance at chapters, required
his presence at Ely, on which occasions he seldom or never
failed to be present, till the latter part of his life. He died
in March 1752, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, and
was buried in Jesus’ college chapel. He had great knowledge in most branches of literature, but particularly in
ecclesiastical antiquities and in chronology. In the classics he was critically skilled. Dr. Taylor always spoke
with rapture of his correction of the inscription to Jupiter
Urios, which he considered as uncommonly felicitous anct
Mr. Chishull on the same occasion calls him “Aristarchus
Cantabrigiensis summe eruditus.
” There were many valuable pieces of his published in his life-time, but without
his name, among which are “Locus Justini Martyris emendatus in Apol. I. p. 11. ed. Thirlby,
” in the Bibliotheca
Literaria, published by the learned Mr. Wasse of Aynho,
Northamptonshire, 1744, No. VIII. “Tully and Hirtius
reconciled as to the time of Caesar’s going to the African
war, with an account of the old Roman year made by
Ceesar,
” ib. No. III. p. 29. “Origen de Oratione,
” 4to,
published by the Rev. Mr. Reading, keeper of Sion college library“and he is also supposed to have contributed
notes to Reading’s edition of the Ecclesiastical Historians,
3 vols. fol.
” Hierpclis in Aurea Carmina Pythagorea
Comment." Lond. 1742, 8vo, published with a preface by
Dr. Richard Warren, archdeacon of Suffolk. Dr. Harwood
pronounces this to be the best edition of a most excellent
work that abounds with moral and devotional sentiments.
After his death a correct edition of Justin Martyr’s Apologies was published from his Mss. by the Rev. Mr. Keller,
fellow of Jesus’ college, Cambridge, and rector of Kelshali
in Herefordshire. It is too honourable for the parties not
to be mentioned, that it used to be observed, that all the
other colleges, where the fellows chuse their master, could
not show three such heads, as the only three colleges
where the masters are put in upon them: viz. Bentley
of Trinity, by the crown; Ashton of Jesus, by the bishop
of Ely; and Waterland of Magdalen, by the earl of Suffolk.
, a clergyman in the time of the usurpation, was the son of Thomas Ashton, and born at Teuerdly in Lancashire,
, a clergyman in the time of the
usurpation, was the son of Thomas Ashton, and born at
Teuerdly in Lancashire, in 1631. At sixteen years of age,
he was admitted a servitor of Brazen-nose college in Oxford, and took the degree of B. A. February 7, 1650. He
was chosen fellow of his college, and took holy orders.
Mr. Wood tells us, he was a “forward and conceited scholar,
” and “became a malapert preacher in and near
Oxford.
” Being appointed to preach at St. Mary’s, on
Tuesday (a lecture-day) July 25, 1654, he gave so great
effence by a very indecent sermon, that he was in a fair
way of expulsion but, by the intercession of friends, the
matter was compromised yet he was obliged, about two
years after, to quit his fellowship upon some quarrel which
he had with Dr. Greenwood, principal of his house. In
1656, he was intrusted with a commission from the protector to be chaplain to the English forces in the island of
Jersey, but was soon after displaced upon the arrival of a
new governor. After the king’s restoration, he was beneficed somewhere near Hertford in Hertfordshire; where,
Mr. Wood says, “he soon after finished his restless course. 111
He published, 1.
” Blood-thirsty Cyrus unsatisfied with
blood; or, the boundless cruelty of an Anabaptist’s tyranny, manifested in a letter of colonel John Mason, governor of Jersey, 3d Nov. 1659; wherein he exhibits seven
false, ridiculous, and scandalous articles against quartermaster William Swan," &c. London, 1659, in one sheet
4to. 2. “Satan in Samuel’s Mantle, or, the cruelty of
Germany, acted in Jersey; containing the arbitrary, bloody,
and tyrannical proceedings of John Mason, of a baptised
church, commissionated to be a colonel, and sent over into
the island of Jersey, governor, in July 1656, against several
officers and soldiers in that small place,” &c. London, 1659,
in four sheets in 4to.
hool at Lancaster (a place of only thirty-two pounds per annum, which he held for near fifty years), was born in 1716, educated at Eton, and elected thence to King’s
, an English divine, the son of Dr,
Ashton, usher of the grammar school at Lancaster (a place of only thirty-two pounds per annum, which he held for near fifty years), was born in 1716, educated at Eton, and
elected thence to King’s college, Cambridge, 1733. He
was the person to whom Mr. Horace Walpole addressed his
epistle from Florence, in 1740, under the title of “Thomas
Ashton, esq. tutor to the earl of Plymouth.
” About that
time, or soon after, he was presented to the rectory of
Aldingham in Lancashire, which he resigned in March
1749; and on the 3d of May following was presented by
the provost and fellows of Eton to the rectory of Sturminster Marshall in Dorsetshire. He was then M. A. and had
been chosen a fellow of Eton in December 1745. In 1752
he was collated to the rectory of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate;
in 1759 took the degree of D. D. and in May 1762, was
elected preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, which he resigned in
1764. In 1770 he published, in 8vo, a volume of sermons
on several occasions to which was prefixed an excellent
metzotinto by Spilgbury, from an original by sir Joshua
Reynolds, and this motto, “Insto pnepositis, oblitus praeteritorum.
” Dr. Ashton died March 1, 1775, at the age
of fifty-nine, after having for some years survived a severe
attack of the palsy. His discourses, in a style of greater
elegance than purity, were rendered still more striking by
the excellence of his delivery. Hence he was frequently
prevailed on to preach on public and popular occasions.
He printed a sermon on the rebellion in 1745, 4to, and a
thanksgiving sermon on the close of it in 1746, 4to. la
1756, he preached before the governors of the Middlesex
hospital, at St. Anne’s, Westminster a commencement
sermon at Cambridge in 1759; a sermon at the annual
meeting of the chanty schools in 1760; one before the
House of Commons on the 30th of January 1762; and a
spital sermon at St. Bride’s on the Easter Wednesday in
that year. All these, with several others preached at Eton,
Lincoln’s inn, Bishopsgate, &c. were collected by himself
in the volume above mentioned, which is closed by a
“Clerum habita Cantabrigige in templo beatae
Mariae, 1759, pro gradu Doctoratus in sacra theologii.
”
His other publications were, 1. “A dissertation on 2 Peter i. 19,
” A letter to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Jones,
intended as a rational and candid answer to his sermon
preached at St. Botolph, Bishopsgate,
” 4to, was probably
by Dr. Ashton. 3. “An extract from the case of the
obligation of the electors of Eton college to supply all vacancies in that society with those who are or have been
fellows of King’s college, Cambridge, so long as persons
properly qualified are to be had within that description,
”
London, A letter to the Rev. Dr. M. (Morell) on
the question of electing aliens into the vacant places in
Eton college. By the author of the Extract,
” A second letter to Dr. M.
” The three last were soon
after re-published under the title of “The election of
aliens into the vacancies in Eton college an unwarrantable
practice. To which are now added, two letters to the Rev.
Dr. Morell, in which the cavils of a writer in the General
Evening Post, and others, are considered and refuted.
Part I. By a late fellow of King’s college, Cambridge.
”
London, Sermon on Painting,
” in lord Orford’s works, was preached by Dr. Ashton at Houghton,
before the earl of Orford (sir Robert Walpole) in 1742.
, rector of Hanwell, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, was the son of Robert Ashwell of Harrow on the Hill, in Middlesex,
, rector of Hanwell, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, was the son of Robert Ashwell of
Harrow on the Hill, in Middlesex, and was born in the
parish of St. Martin, Ludgate, London, Nov. 18, 1612.
He was admitted a scholar of Wadham college, Oxford, in
1627, took the degrees in arts, was elected fellow, and became a celebrated tutor in that house. In the time of the
great rebellion he continued in Oxford, and preached several times before the king, court, and parliament. A
little before the surrender of the garrison of Oxford, he
had the degree of B. D. conferred upon him and about
the latter end of 1658 he was presented to the living of
Hanwell, having been before, as Mr. Wood thinks, chaplain
in the family of sir Anthony Cope, lord of the manor of
Hanwell. He had the character of a very peaceable and
religious man, and was well versed in logic, the schoolmen,
and fathers. He wrote, 1 “Fides Apostolica, or, a discourse asserting the received authors and authority of the
Apostles’ Creed,
” Oxon, Reformed
Pastor,
” had advanced some things against this work, expressed his regret afterwards, in his “Catholic Theology,
”
for having said any thing against it. 2. “Gestus Eucharisticus, concerning the Gesture to be used at the receiving
the Sacrament,
” Oxon. De Socino et
Socinianismo a treatise on the Socinian heresy,
” said to
be part of a greater work in manuscript. 4. “De Ecclesia, &c. a dissertation concerning the church of Rome;
”
also a part of his great work on Controversies, published at
Oxford, 1688, 4to. 5. “An Answer to Plato Redivivus,
”
in manuscript. He also translated, from Pocock’s edition,
“Philosophus Autodidactus, sive Epistola Abi Gioaphar
Ebn Tophail de Hai Ebn Yokdan,
” &c. Lond.
, a dissenting minister, was born in Northamptonshire 1709, and served an apprenticeship
, a dissenting minister, was born
in Northamptonshire 1709, and served an apprenticeship
to a carpenter but having a taste for learning, he was
entered a student in the academy kept by Dr. Doddridge,
where he made great proficiency in all sorts of useful knowledge. He was afterwards ordained minister of a dissenting congregation at Daventry; and became master of the
academy kept by the excellent Dr. Doddridge, by the doctor’s express desire in his will. He died much respected at
Daventry, 1774, aged sixty-five. His principles are said
to have been those of moderate Calvinism. He published
three “Funeral Sermons,
” on the deaths of Dr. Watts,
Mr. Floyd, and Mr. Clark a “Collection of Tunes and
Anthems;
” a “Hebrew Grammar;
” and an “Introduction to Plane Trigonometry.
”
man ef Asti in Piedmont, flourished about 1550. In his youth he followed the profession of arms, and was sent by the duke of Savoy, with four hundred men, to assist
, count de Camerano, a nobleman
ef Asti in Piedmont, flourished about 1550. In his youth
he followed the profession of arms, and was sent by the
duke of Savoy, with four hundred men, to assist Maximilian II. when he held a diet to oppose the army of Soliman,
an event which is said to have been commemorated by a
medal, with the inscription, “Fredericus Asinarius co.
Camerani.
” Asinari amused his leisure hours with poetry,
and submitted his compositions to the celebrated Annibal
Caro and they were afterwards published in various collections. 1 “Two Sonnets,
” in the second part of the
“Scelta di Rime di diversi excellenti Poeti,
” by Zabata,
Four Canzoni, and a Sonnet,
” in the
“Muse Toscane
” of Gherard Borgogni, Eighty-two pieces, sonnets, canzoni, madrigals,
”
&c. in Borgogni’s “Rime di diversi illustri Poeti,
” Venice, Vari
Sonetti e Canzoni
” “II Tancredi,
” a tragedy “Tre
libri delle transformazioni
” and “Tre libri dell‘ via
d’Orlando.
” Copies of these are also in the library of St.
Mark at Venice. The tragedy of Tancred was printed at
Paris, 1587, 8vo, under the title of “Gismonda,
” one of
the dramatis persons, and attributed to Torquato Tasso.
Next year an edition was printed at Bergamo, 4to, in which
this error was corrected, but another substituted by stating, that it was the performance of Ottavio Asinari, the father of our author and the editor, Gherard Borgogni,
either was; or affected to be ignorant of the edition previously printed at Paris.
, daughter of sir William Askew, of Kelsay, in Lincolnshire, knight, was born in 1529. She received a liberal and learned education,
, daughter of sir William Askew, of Kelsay, in Lincolnshire, knight, was born in 1529. She received a liberal and learned education, and manifested in early life a predilection for theological studies. Her eldest sister, after having been contracted in marriage to the son of Mr. Kyme, of Lincolnshire, died before the nuptials were completed. Her father, on this event, unwilling to lose a connection which promised pecuniary advantages, compelled his second daughter Anne, notwithstanding her reluctance, to become the wife of Mr. Kyme, a marriage which probably laid the foundation of her future misfortunes. Her husband was a bigoted Roman Catholic, while she, by studying the scriptures and the opinions of the reformers, became a convert, which so disgusted him that he turned her out of doors. Conceiving herself, by this treatment, at liberty to sue for a separation, she came to London, where she was favourably received by some of the ladies of the court, and by the queen, who secretly favoured the reformed religion. But at length she was accused, by her husband and the priests, of holding heretical opinions respecting the sacrament and, in 1545, was apprehended, and repeatedly examined by Christopher Dare, the lord mayor, the bishops, chancellor, and others, to whose questions she replied in a firm, easy, and unconstrained manner, and even with some degree of wit and ridicule. She was then committed to prison for eleven days, and prohibited from any communication with her friends. During this confinement, she employed herself in composing prayers and meditations, and in fortifying her resolution to endure the trial of her principles.
r, and his earnest application to the mayor, to the chancellor, and to Bonner, the bishop of London, was at length successful. On this occasion she was brought before
On the 23d of March, a relation, who had obtained permission to visit her, endeavoured to bail her, and his
earnest application to the mayor, to the chancellor, and
to Bonner, the bishop of London, was at length successful. On this occasion she was brought before the bishop,
who affected concern for what she had suffered, while he
endeavoured to entrap her by ensnaring questions. Mr.
Britagne, her relation, and Mr. Spilman, of Gray’s inn,
became her sureties. But a short time after, she was again
apprehended, and summoned before the king’s council, at
Greenwich, when Wriothesely the chancellor, Gardiner
bishop of Winchester, and other prelates, once more ques tioned her on the doctrines of the church of Rome. She
replied with firmness, and without prevarication, and ou
finding her impracticable, her judges determined on other
measures, and remanded her to Newgate, though she was at
the time suffering under a severe indisposition. Having
entreated, in vain, to be allowed a visit from Dr. Latimer,
she addressed a letter to tke king himself, declaring “That
respecting the Lord’s supper, she believed as much as had
been taught by Christ himself, or as the Catholic church
required.
” But' still refusing her assent to the popish
meaning, her letter served only to aggravate her crime.
She then wrote to the chancellor, inclosing her address to
the king, but with no better success. From Newgate she
was conveyed to the Tower, where she was interrogated
respecting her patrons at court with several ladie^of whiph
she held a correspondence, but, heroically maintaining her
fidelity, she refused to make any discoveries of that kind.
This magnanimity, so worthy of admiration, so incensed
her barbarous persecutors, that they endeavoured by the
rack to extort from her what she had refused to their demands, but she sustained the torturewith unshaken fortitude and meek resignation. Wriothesely, with unmanly
and infernal rage, commanded, with menaces, the lieutenant of the Tower to strain the instrument of his vengeance,
and when he refused, he himself became executioner, and
every limb of the innocent victim was dislocated. When
recovered from a swoon into which she fell, she remained
sitting two hours on the bare ground, calmly reasoning with
her tormentors, who were confounded by her courage and
resolution. Pardon was afterwards offered if she would
recant, but having rejected every offer of the kind, she
was condemned to be burnt at the stake, which was accordingly executed, July 16, 1546. She bore this inhuman
punishment with amazing courage and firmness, adhering
to the last to the principles of her faith.
, M. D. an excellent scholar and promoter of literature, was born at Kendal in Westmoreland, in 1722. His father, Dr. Adam
, M. D. an excellent scholar and promoter of literature, was born at Kendal in Westmoreland, in 1722. His father, Dr. Adam Askew, was in such high estimation at Newcastle, that he was considered as another Radcliffe, and consulted by all the families of consequence for many miles round. Anthony was educated at Sedburgh school, and from thence removed to Emanuel college, in Cambridge, where he continued until he took his degree of B. A. in December 1745. He then went to Leyden, and resided there twelve months, with the view of being initiated into the science of medicine. In the following year we find him in the suite of his majesty’s ambassador at Constantinople. Returning from thence through Italy, he came to Paris in 1749, and was admitted a member of the academy of belles lettres. He had here an opportunity of purchasing a considerable number of rare and valuable Mss. and printed books in the classics, and in various branches of science, and of laying the foundation of an elegant and extensive library, which soon after his death was sold by Baker and Leigh, Tavistock-street, for upwards of 5000l.
Having finished his travels, he returned to Cambridge, and in the year 1750 commenced M. D. He was soon after admitted fellow of the Royal College of Physicians,
Having finished his travels, he returned to Cambridge,
and in the year 1750 commenced M. D. He was soon after
admitted fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and
of the Royal Society, in London. What time could be
afterwards spared from attending his professional engagements was dedicated to the conversation of literary men,
and to increasing and arranging his collection of books.
He died at Hampstead, in the neighbourhood of London,
Feb. 27, 1774. Amongst his books and Mss. was a complete collection of the editions of Æschylus, some illustrated with ms notes, and likewise one or two, if not
more, Mss. of the same author; which were collected
purposely for the intention of publishing at some future
period an edition of JEschylus. In 1746, he printed a
specimen of this intended edition in a small quarto
pamphlet under the following title “Novae Editionis Tragoediarum Æschyli Specimen, curante Antonio Askew, M. B.
Coll. Emman. apud Cantabrigienses hand ita pridem socio
commensal!, Lugduni Batavorum, 1746.
” This pamphlet,
which is now become extremely scarce, was dedicated to
Dr. Mead, and consisted only of twenty-nine lines, namely,
from v. 563 to v. 596 of the Eumenides (edit. Schultz). It
contained various readings from his Mss. and printed
books, and the Notse Variorum. Dr. Askew was indeed
reckoned one of the best Grecians in England. Dr. Taylor, usually called Demosthenes Taylor, was his great
friend, from a similarity of taste and study, and left him
his executor, and heir to his noble collection of books and
manuscripts.
, a Swiss painter, was born 1499, at Zurich, and painted portraits with so much life,
, a Swiss painter, was born 1499, at
Zurich, and painted portraits with so much life, nature,
and character, that his reputation was little inferior to that
of Holbein. His drawings in water-colours, of birds, fishes,
dead game, and flowers, though done with great simplicity
and freedom, are nearly deceptions. He is said to have
furnished the designs for Conrad Gesner’s “Historia Animalium
” nor was he ignorant of historic composition.
Many of Rodolph Meyer’s etchings for Murer’s ' Helvetia
Sancta" were drawn from his originals. To record his merit, a medal was struck, with his head, name, and age,
in front and on the reverse, a death’s skull, with a moral
sentence in rhyme. That he should have been suffered,
after such a pledge of public esteem, to live and die in
indigence, is not easily accounted for. He died in 1571.
, doctor of theSorbonne, and provisor of the college of Harcourt, was born at Vire in 1682. He was the scholar of Thomas Corneille,
, doctor of theSorbonne, and provisor of the college of Harcourt, was born at Vire in 1682. He was the scholar of Thomas Corneille, and the friend of la Motte-Houdar, and appointed principal of the college of Harcourt. He died at Issy, October 11, 1767, at the age of eighty-five. He had borne off the prize of poetry at the French academy in 1709, and those of the idyllium and the poem at the floral games in 1711. The ode on the existence of God, and the immortality of the soul, is his best performance. His poems crowned at the academic Franchise, and at that of the jeux^floreau, add less lustre to his name, as his versification is low, and his style deficient in force and ornament. But Asseliri distinguished for his zeal in behalf of letters, and his adherence to integrity. His poetical works, and an address to the deists in behalf of truth, were published at Paris, 1725, 8vo.
, a Flemish painter, was born at Antwerp in 1610, and was a disciple of Esaias Vandervelde,
, a Flemish painter, was born at Antwerp in 1610, and was a disciple of Esaias Vandervelde, and under the guidance of so able a master, he became an excellent painter of landscape. His companions nicknamed him Crabbetje, from a crooked turn in his fingers and his hand, which caused him to hold his pallet with some degree of awkwardness. And yet, by the lightness, freedom, and spirit of his touch, it could not be supposed that his hand had the smallest imperfection. He was one of the first Flemish painters who adopted the clean and bright manner of landscape painting. He studied after nature in the country about Rome, improving his taste by the delightful situations of towns, villas, antiquities, figures, and animals, which he sketched upon paper, to make a proper use of them in his designs. In the style of his landscape he chose particularly to imitate Claude Lorraine but in other parts of his painting he seemed fond of making Bamboccio his model. He enriched his landscapes with the vestiges of noble buildings, and the views of such seats as he observed to be beautiful, by their situation or construction. His colouring is extremely bright and clear his skies are warm his touch is free and firm his figures and animals are w r ell drawn, and judiciously disposed and his pictures justly merit the approbation which they have always received.
eeper of the Vatican, and archbishop of Tyre, who died at Rome in his eightieth year, Jan. 14, 1768, was a very able scholar in the languages of the East. During the
, keeper of the Vatican,
and archbishop of Tyre, who died at Rome in his eightieth
year, Jan. 14, 1768, was a very able scholar in the languages of the East. During the years from 1719 to 1728,
he published a work of great importance to the collectors
of Oriental manuscripts, in the manner of Herbelot, entitled “Bibliotheca Orientalis, Clementino-Vaticana, recensens, manuscriptos codices, Syriacos, Arabicos, &c.
jussu et munificentia Clem. XI.
” Rome, 1719—1728, 4 vols.
fol. He published also, 2. An edition of the works of
EphremSyrus, Rome, 1732—1734, 6 vols. fol. 3. “De
Sanctis Ferentinis in Tuscia Bonifacio ac Redempto episcopis, &c. dissertatio,
” Rome, Italicae historiae
scrip tores ex Bibl. Vatic. &c. collegit et prgefat. notisque
illustravit J. S. Assemanus,
” Rome, Kalendaria ecclesise universas,
” Rome,
junction with his uncle, he published” Bibl. Apost. Vatic, codic. Mss. Catal." Rome, 1756 1769. This was to have consisted of 4 vols. and he had printed some sheets
, nephew of the preceding, and archbishop of Apamea, succeeded his uncle
in the charge of the Vatican library, and became equally
celebrated as an eastern scholar and a man of general learning. His works are, 1. “Bibliothecae Mediceo-Laurentianse et Palatinoe codicum manuscr. Orientalium catalogus,
” Florence, Acta sanctorum martyrum Orientalium et Occidentalium
&c. Rome, 1748, 2 vols. fol. In conjunction with his uncle,
he published
” Bibl. Apost. Vatic, codic. Mss. Catal."
Rome, 1756 1769. This was to have consisted of 4 vols.
and he had printed some sheets of the fourth, when an accidental fire destroyed the manuscript. The time of his
death is not mentioned.
honour of two commentators, the rabbi Mair in the year 547, and another Asser, who died in 1328, and was printed by Elzivir at Leyden, in 1630, 4to, and again with all
, a celebrated rabbi, in the year 476, in conjunction with Hammai, another rabbi^ composed the Talmud of Babylon, so called from the place of their residence. This collection of visions has had the honour of two commentators, the rabbi Mair in the year 547, and another Asser, who died in 1328, and was printed by Elzivir at Leyden, in 1630, 4to, and again with all its commentators at Amsterdam in 1644, in 12 vols. folio.
, or Asser, or Asker (called, by Pitts, John,) a learned monk of St. David’s, and historian, was of British extraction, probably of that part of South Wales
, or Asser, or Asker (called, by Pitts, John,) a learned monk of St. David’s, and
historian, was of British extraction, probably of that part
of South Wales called Pembrokeshire, and was bred up in
the learning of those times, in the monastery of St. David’s
(in Latin Menevia), whence he derived his surname of
Menevensis. There he is said to have had for his tutor
Johannes Patricius, one of the most celebrated scholars of
his age, and had also the countenance of Nobis, or Novis,
archbishop of that see, who was his relation but it does
not appear that he was either his secretary or his chancellor, as some writers would have us believe. From St.
David’s he was invited to the court of Alfred the Great,
merely from the reputation of his learning, probably about
the year 880, or somewhat earlier. Those who had the charge
of bringing him to court, conducted him from St. David’s
to the town of Dene (Dean) in Wiltshire, where the king
received him with great civility, and shewed him in a little
time the strongest marks of favour and affection, insomuch
that he condescended to persuade him not to think any
more of returning to St. David’s, but rather to continue
with him as his domestic chaplain and assistant in his studies.
Asserius, however, modestly declined this proposal, alledging, that it did not become him to desert that holy
place where he had been educated, and received the order
of priesthood, for the sake of any other preferment. King
Alfred then desired that he would divide his time between
the court and the monastery, spending six months at court,
and six at St. David’s. Asserius would not lightly comply
even with this request, but desired leave to return to St.
David’s, to ask the advice of his brethren, which he obtained, but in his journey falling ill at Winchester of a fever, he lay there sick about a year and as soon as he recovered he went to St. David’s, where, consulting with his
brethren on the king’s proposal, they unanimously agreed
that he should accept it, promising themselves great advantages from his favour with the king, of which, at that
time, they appear to have had need, to relieve them from
the oppressions of one Hemeid, a petty prince of South
Wales. But they requested of Asserius, that he would
prevail on the king to allow him to reside quarterly at
court and at St. David’s, rather than that he should remain
absent six months together. When he came back he found
the king at Leoneforde, who received him with every mark
of distinction. He remained with him then eight months
at once, reading and explaining to him whatever books
were in his library, and grew into so great credit with that
generous prince, that on Christmas-eve following, he gave
him the monasteries of Anigresbyri, and Banuwille, that
is, Ambrosbury in Wiltshire, and Banwell in Somersetshire,
with a silk pall of great value, and as much incense as a
strong man could carry, sending together with them this
compliment, “That these were but small things, and by
way of earnest of better which should follow them.
” Soon
after, he had Exeter bestowed upon him, and not long
after that, the bishopric of Sherburn, which, however, he
seems to have quitted in the year 883, though he always
retained the title, as Wilfred archbishop of York was constantly so styled, though he accepted of another bishopric.
Thenceforward he constantly attended the court, in the
manner before stipulated, and is named as a person, in
whom he had particular confidence, by king Alfred, in his
testament, which must have been written some time before the year 885; since mention is made there of Esna
bishop of Hereford, who died that year. He is also mentioned by the king, in his prefatory epistle placed before
his translation of Gregory’s Pastoral, addressed to Wulfsig
bishop of London and there the king does not call him
bishop of Sherburn, but “my bishop,
” acknowledging the
help received from him and others in that translation. It
appears to have been the near resemblance, which the
genius of Asserius bore to that of the king, that gained
him so great a share in his confidence and very probably,
it was on this account, that Asserius drew up those memoirs of the life of Alfred which we still have, and which
he dedicated and presented to the king in the year 893. la
this work we have a curious account of the manner in
which that prince and our author spent their time together.
Asserius tells us, that having one day, being the feast of
St. Martin, cited in conversation a passage of some famous
author, the king was mightily pleased with it, and would
have him write it down in the margin of a book he carried
in his breast; but Asserius finding no room to write it
there, and yet being desirous to gratify his master, he
asked king Alfred whether he should not provide a few
leaves, in which to set dawn such remarkable things as
occurred either in reading or conversation the king was
delighted with this hint, and directed Asserius to put it
immediately in execution. Pursuing this method constantly, their collection began to swell, till at length it
became of the size of an ordinary Psalter and this was
what the king called his “Hand-book, or Manual.
” Asserius, however, calls it Enchiridion. In all probability,
Asserius continued at court during the whole reign of Alfred, and, probably, several years after but where, or
when he died is doubtful, though the Saxon Chronicle positively fixes it to the year 910. The editor of his life in
the Biog. Brit, takes Asser the monk, and Asser bishop of
Sherburnj for one and the same person, which some however have denied, and asserts him to have been also archbishop of Sk David’s, upon very plausible authority. He
admits, however, i that if there was such a reader in the
public schools at Oxford as Asser the monk, he must have
been some other person of the same name, and not our author but this point rests almost wholly on the authority
of Harpsfiekl nor is the account consistent with itself in
several other respects,as sir John S'pelman has justly observed. There is no less controversy about the works of
Asserius, than about his preferments for some alledge
that he never wrote any thing but the Annals of king Alfred whereas, Pitts gives us the titles of no less than five
other books of his writing, and adds, that he wrote many
more. The first of these is a “Commentary on Boetius,
”
which is mentioned by Leland, on the authority of the
Chronicle of St. Neot’s but he probably only explained
this author to king Alfred when he made his Saxon translation. The second piece mentioned by Pitts, is the Anjials of Alfred’s life and reign. The third he styles “Annales Britannia;,
” or the Annals of Britain, in one book,
mentioned also by Leland and Bale, and which has been
since published by the learned Dr. Gale. The fourth piece,
he calls “Aurearum Sententiarum Enchiridion, lib. 1
”
which is without question the Manual or common-placebook made for king Alfred, and reckoned among his works
by Pitts himself. Leland has also spoken of this Enchiridion, as an instance of the learning and diligence of Asser,
which it certainly was and though the collections he made
concerning this author, are much better and larger than
those of Bale and Pitts, yet he modestly, upon this subject,
apologizes for speaking so little and so obscurely of so great
a man. The next in Pitts’ s catalogue, is a “Book of Homilies,
” and the last, “A Book of Epistles
” but the existence of these seems unsupported by any authority; nor
is it known where he was interred. He appears to have
been one of the most pious and learned prelates of the age
in which he lived.
His “Life of Alfred” was first published by archbishop Parker at the end of “Walsinghami
His “Life of Alfred
” was first published by archbishop
Parker at the end of “Walsinghami Hist.
” London^lS?^
fol. and it was reprinted by Camden ia his “Anglia,
Normanica, &c.
” Francfort, 1603. It was again reprinted; in
a, very elegant octavo volume, by Mr. Wise, at Oxford,
1722.
, son of Mr. Assheton, rector of Middleton in Lancashire, was born in 1641 and being instructed in grammar-learning at a private
, son of Mr. Assheton, rector of Middleton in Lancashire, was born in 1641 and being instructed in grammar-learning at a private country-school, was removed to Brazen-Nose college at Oxford, in 1658 and elected a fellow in 1663. After taking both his degrees in arts, he went into orders, became chaplain to the duke of Ormond, chancellor of that university, and was admitted doctor of divinity in January 1673. In the following month he was nominated to the prebend of Knaresburgh, in the church of York and whilst he attended his patron at London, obtained the living of St. Antholin. In 1670, by the duke’s interest with the family of the St. Johns, he was presented to the rectory of Beckenbam, in Kent and was often unanimously chosen proctor for Rochester in convocation.
He was the projector of the scheme' for providing a maintenance for
He was the projector of the scheme' for providing a maintenance for clergymen’s widows and others, by a jointure payable by the Mercers’ company. The bringing this project to perfection took up his thoughts for many years for, though encouraged by many judicious persons to prosecute it, he found much difficulty in providing such a fund as might be a proper security to the subscribers. He first addressed himself to the corporation of the clergy, who declared they were not in a capacity to accept the proposal. Meeting with no better success in his next application to the Bank of England, he applied himself to the Mercers’ company, who agreed with him upon certain rules and orders, of which the following are the chief
the leases came out, above 13,500l. per annum. All things being agreed upon, the deed of settlement was executed by the company and trustees, at a general court of
1, “That the Company will take in subscriptions at any
time, till the sum of 100,000l. be subscribed, but will
never exceed that sum, 2. That all married men, at the
age of thirty years or under, may subscribe any sum not
exceeding 1000l. That all married men, not exceeding
the age of forty years, may subscribe any sum
” not exceeding 500l. And that all married men, not exceeding the
age of sixty years, may subscribe any sum, not exceeding
300l. And that the widows of all persons, subscribing
according to these limitations, shall receive the benefit of
30 per cent, per annum, according to the former proposal^
free of all taxes and charges, at the two usual feasts of the
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Michael
the Archangel and that the first of these payments shall
be made at the first of the said feast days, which shall happen four months or more after the decease of the person or
persons so subscribing excepting such as shall voluntarily
make away with themselves, or by any act of theirs occasion their own death either by duelling or committing
any crime, whereby they shall be sentenced, and put to
death by justice in any, or either of these cases, the
widows to receive no annuity; but, upon delivering up the
company’s bond, to have the subscription money paid to
them. 3. That no seafaring men may subscribe, who follow it as their business or vocation; nor others, who go
farther than Holland, Ireland, or the coasts of England
and that any person may subscribe for any others, whom
he shall nominate in his last will, during the natural life
of his wife, if she survive, and his intention be declared
in his subscription." The company had several meetings
in committees with the doctor, about settling a sufficient
security in which they satisfied him that their estates,
being clear rents, amounted to 2888l. Ss. lOd. besides the
payments of the benefactors, to be paid out of the same
which, by a moderate calculation, would yield, when the
leases came out, above 13,500l. per annum. All things
being agreed upon, the deed of settlement was executed
by the company and trustees, at a general court of the
said company, held on Wednesday the 4th of October, 1699.
This deed is enrolled in the high court of chancery, and
an authentic copy of it kept by the company but owing
to some miscalculations, the scheme did not ultimately
succeed, as originally planned.
A few years before his death, he was invited to accept the headship of the college, then vacant,
A few years before his death, he was invited to accept
the headship of the college, then vacant, but modestly
declined it. He died at Beckenham, Sept. 1711, in the
seventieth year of his age, and was buried in the chancel
of that church. The writer of his life gives him the highest
character for piety, probity, and inflexible adherence to
the doctrines and interests of the church of England. His
general sentiments and turn of mind may be discovered in
the titles of his various works 1. “Toleration disapproved
and condemned by the authority and convincing reasons
of, I. That wise and learned king James, and his
privycouncil, Anno Reg. II do II. The honourable Commons assembled in this present parliament, in their Votes, &c.
Feb. 25, 1662. III. The Presbyterian ministers in the city
of London, met at Sion College, December 18, 1645.
IV. Twenty eminent divines, most (if not all) of them members of the late assembly; in their Sermons before the two
houses of parliament on solemn occasions. Faithfully collected by a very moderate hand, and humbly presented to the
serious consideration of all dissenting parties,
” Oxford,! 670.
He published a second edition of this book, the same year,
with his name, and the pro-vice-chancellor of Oxford’s
imprimatur, prefixed to it. 2. “The Cases of Scandal and
Persecution being a seasonable inquiry into these two
things I. Whether the Nonconformists, who otherwise
think subscription lawful, are therefore obliged to forbear
it, because the weak brethren do judge it unlawful II.
Whether the execution of penal laws upon Dissenters, for
non-communion with the Church of England, be persecution Wherein they are pathetically exhorted to return
into the bosom of the church, the likeliest expedient to
stop the growth of Popery,
” London, 1674. 3. “The
Royal Apology or, An Answer to the Rebel’s Plea
wherein are the most noted anti-monarchical tenets, first
published by Doleman the Jesuit, to promote a bill of exclusion against king James I. secondly, practised by Bradshaw, and the regicides, in the actual murder of king
Charles I. thirdly, republished by Sidney, and the associates to depose and murder his present majesty,
” London,
A seasonable Vindication
of their present Majesties,
” London. 5. “The Country
Parson’s Admonition to his Parishioners against Popery
with directions how to behave themselves, when any one
designs to seduce them from the Church of England,
”
London, A full Defence of the former Discourse against the Missionaries Answer being a farther
examination of the pretended Infallibility of the Chuvch of
Rome
” or, as it is intitled in the first impression, “A
Defence of the Plain Man’s Reply to the Catholic Missionaries,
” &c. A short Discourse against Blasphemy,
” A Discourse against Drunkenness,
”
A Discourse against Swearing and Cursing,
”
Directions in order to the suppressing of
Debauchery and Proprmneness,
” A Conference with an Anabaptist; Part I. Concerning the subject
of Baptism: being a Defence of Infant-Baptism,
” 1694.
It was occasioned by a separate congregation of Anabaptists
being set up in Dr. Assheton’s parish but the meeting
soon breaking up, the author never published a second
part. 12. “A Discourse concerning a Death-bed Repentance.
” 13. “A Theological Discourse of last Wills and
Testaments,
” London, A seasonable Vindication of the blessed Trinity being an answer to this question, Why do you believe the doctrine of the Trinity
Collected from the works of the most reverend doctor
John Tillotson, late lord archbishop of Canterbury, and
the right reverend doctor Edward Stillingfleet, now lord
bishop of Worcester,
” London, A brief state
of the Socinian Controversy, concerning a Trinity in Unity
” collected from the Works of Dr, Isaac Barrow, London, 1698. 16. “The Plain Man’s Devotion, Part I. In
a method of daily Devotion and, a method of Devotion
for the Lord’s Day. Both fitted to the meanest capacities,
”
A full Account of the rise, progress, and
advantages of Dr. Assheton’s Proposal (as now improved and managed by the worshipful company of Mercers, London,) for che benefit of Widows of Clergymen, and others,
by settled Jointures and Annuities, at the rate of thirty per
cent. With directions for the widow how to receive her
annuity, without any delay, charges, or deductions. ‘ Plead
for the widow,’ Isa. i. 17. 1713. 18.
” A Vindication of
the Immortality of the Soul, and a Future State,“London,
1703. 19.
” A brief exhortation to the Holy Communion,
with the nature and measures of Preparation concerning it
fitted to the meanest capacities,“1705. 20.
” A Method
of Devotion for sick and dying persons with particular
directions from the beginning of Sickness to the hour of
Death,“London, 1706. 21.
” The Possibility of Apparitions being an answer to this question ‘ Whether can
departed souls (souls separated from their bodies) so appear, as to be visibly seen, and converse here on earth’
This book was occasioned by the remarkable story of one
dying at Dover, and appearing to her friend at Canterbury.
22. “Occasional Prayers from bishop Taylor, bishop Cosins, bishop Kenn,
” &c. and “A devout collection of
Divine Hymns and Poems, on several occasions,
” London, A seasonable Vindication of the Clergy
being an answer to some reflections in a late book, entitled
The Rights of the Christian Church asserted, &c. Humbly
submitted to the serious consideration of the nobility and
gentry of Great Britain. By a Divine of the Church of
London,
” 1709. 24. “Directions for the Conversation of
the Clergy collected from the Visitation Charges of the.
right reverend father in God, Edward Stillingfleet, D. D.
late lord bishop of Worcester,
” London,
called the Ape of Scarron, was born at Paris in 1604, the son of an avocat of parleinent. At
called the Ape
of Scarron, was born at Paris in 1604, the son of an avocat of parleinent. At eight years old he ran away from his
father’s house, stopped at Calais, where he gave himself
out for the son of Csesar Nostradamus and having set up
for a quack, he succeeded in restoring to health a patient
who fancied himself sick. The people of Calais, thinking
that he derived his medical skill from magic, were upon
the point of throwing him into the sea, and it was with difficulty that he saved himself from their fury by flight.
After many more adventures at London, at Turin, and in
various other places, he came to Montpellier, where some
irregular amours drew upon him the notice of the magistrate.
He then strolled about from one country to another, and
at length arrived at Rome, where his satires upon the court
procured him to be imprisoned in the inquisition. Being
returned to France, he was sent to the Bastille and afterwards was conducted to the Chatelet for the same crime
for which he had been arrested at Montpellier. But, finding protectors, he was liberated at the end of six months.
He died in 1679. His poetry was collected into three vols.
12mo, 1678. Among these pieces is a part of the Metamorphoses of Ovid translated, under the title of “Ovid in
good humour.
” It is a burlesque version, in which, as in
all works of that nature, there are a thousand instances of
dullness, and a thousand ruore of indecency, for one lively
and ingenious turn of wit. We find also the rape of Proserpine, from Claudian, whom he makes harangue in the
manner of declaimers. Assouci published also his adventures in a style of buffoonery, 3 vols. 12 mo, 1678. Upon
the whole he appears to have been one of those writers
that may be passed over with very slight notice, a man,
with some talent for humour, but destitute of principle.
, a learned and ingenious lady, was the daughter of Mr. Astell, a merchant at Newcastle-uponTyne,
, a learned and ingenious lady, was
the daughter of Mr. Astell, a merchant at Newcastle-uponTyne, where she was born about 1668. Her uncle, who
was a clergyman, having discovered her superior capacity,
generously undertook to be her preceptor and, under his
tuition, she learned Italian and French, and made a considerable progress in logic, philosophy, and the mathematics. At the age of twenty, she left Newcastle and
went to London, where, and at Chelsea, she spent the
remaining part of her life. Here she assiduously prosecuted her studies, and acquired very considerable attainments in all the branches of polite literature. When the
Rev. John Morris published his “Practical Discourses
upon divine subjects,
” several excellent letters passed
between him and Mrs. Astell upon the love of God, which,
at the request of Mr. Morris, she suffered him to publish
in 1695, without her name, a precaution which their merit rendered useless. Having often observed and lamented
the defects in the education of her sex, which, she said,
were the principal causes of their running into so many
follies and improprieties, she published in 1696, an ingenious treatise, entitled, “A serious Proposal to the Ladies,
for the advancement of their true and greatest interest,
”
&c. and, some time after, a second part, under the same
title, with this addition “wherein a Method is offered
for the Improvement of their Minds.
” Both these performances were published together in 1696, and had, in
some measure, the desired effect. The scheme, indeed,
in her proposal, seemed so rational, that a certain opulent
lady, supposed to be the queen, intended to have given
10,000l. towards the erecting a sort of college for the education and improvement of the female sex and as a retreat to those ladies who preferred retirement and study to
the noise and hurry of the world. Bishop Burnet, hearing
of the design, went to the lady, and powerfully remonstrated against it, telling her it would look like paving the
way for popish orders, and that it would be reputed a nunnery; in consequence of which the design was relinquished. About seven years after, she printed “An Essay
in Defence of the Female Sex. In a Letter to a Lady.
Written by a Lady.
” These publications did not prevent
her from being as intent on her studies as ever and when,
she accidentally saw needless visitors coming, whom she
knew to be incapable of conversing on useful subjects, instead of ordering herself to be denied, she used to look out
at the window, and jestingly tell them, “Mrs. Astell was
not at home.
” In the course of her studies she became
intimately acquainted with many classic authors. Those
she admired most were Xenophon, Plato, Hierocles, Tully,
Seneca, Epictetus, and M. Antoninus. In 1700, she published a book entitled “Reflections-on Marriage,
” occasioned, as it is said, by a disappointment she experienced
in a marriage-contract with an eminent clergyman. However that might be, in the next edition of her book, 1705,
she added a preface, in answer to some objections, which
perhaps is the strongest defence that ever appeared in
print, of the rights and abilities of her own sex.
emarks on hers, to which she immediately replied in a postscript, and although without her name, she was soon discovered, and distinguished with public approbation.
When Dr. D' Avenant published his “Moderation a Virtue,
” and his “Essay on Peace and War,
” she answered
him in Moderation truly stated.
”
The same year D' Avenant published a new edition of his
works, with remarks on hers, to which she immediately
replied in a postscript, and although without her name, she
was soon discovered, and distinguished with public approbation. Some eminent men of the time bear testimony to
the merit of her works, as Hickes, Walker, Norris, Dodwell, Evelyn, and bishop Atterbury, who praises her controversial powers, but with a hint that a little more urbanity
of manner would not have weakened her arguments.
Among her other works was “An impartial Inquiry into
the Causes of Rebellion and Civil Wars in this kingdom, in
an examination of Dr. Rennet’s Sermon, Jan. 30, 1703-4.
”
“A fair way with Dissenters and their Patrons, not writ by
Mr. Lindsay, or any other furious jacobite, whether a clergyman or a layman but by a very moderate person and
dutiful subject of the queen,
” The Christian Religion, as practised by a daughter of the Church of England,
” Six familiar Essays upon Marriage, Crosses in
Love, and Friendship,
” Bart'lemy Fair, or an
Inquiry after Wit,
”
her most intimate acquaintance, impaired her constitution very much. She managed it herself, till it was absolutely necessary to submit to amputation, which she did
She enjoyed an uninterrupted state of health, till a few years before her death, when a cancer in her breast, which she concealed, except from a few of her most intimate acquaintance, impaired her constitution very much. She managed it herself, till it was absolutely necessary to submit to amputation, which she did without discovering the least timidity or impatience, without a groan or a sigh; and shewed the same resolution and resignation during her whole illness. When she was confined to her bed by a gradual decay, and the time of her dissolution drew near, she ordered her shrowd and coffin to be made, and brought to her bed-side, and there to remain in her view, as a constant memento of her approaching fate, and to keep her mind fixed on proper contemplations. She died May 24, 1731, in the 63d year of her age, and was buried at Chelsea.
, an Arian writer, in the fourth century, was a sophist of Cappadocia, who forsook Gentilism, and embraced
, an Arian writer, in the fourth century,
was a sophist of Cappadocia, who forsook Gentilism, and
embraced Christianity. He afterwards published some
works in favour of Arianism, which were extant in the
time of Socrates, the ecclesiastical historian, who also informs us that Asterius, although he was very much with
the Arian bishops, was refused admission into their order,
because he had once sacrificed to the heathen gods.
This lapse of Asterius is supposed to have happened about
the year 304, and probably in Maximian’s persecution.
Jerom says he wrote commentaries on the epistle to the
Romans, and upon the gospels, psalms, &c. which were
much read by the men of his party. None of these remain, however, unless as quoted by Eusebius, and Athanasius, who calls him “a cunning sophist, and a patron of
heresy.
”
, a native of Antioch, and bishop of Amasea in Pontus, in the fourth century, was the author of many homilies, part of which were published by
, a native of Antioch, and bishop of Amasea in Pontus, in the fourth century, was the author of many homilies, part of which were published by Rubenius, and part by the fathers Combesis and Richer. They were translated into French by Maucroix in 1695, and have been admired for their eloquence. The first fourteen are evidently by Asterius, Iput the others appear doubtful, among which are those on Daniel and Susannah, St. Peter and St. Paul. In the last the supremacy of the church of Rome is maintained against the pretensions of all the churches in the East and West.
, an eminent English antiquary, was descended from an ancient family of the same name, resident
, an eminent English antiquary, was descended from an ancient family of the same name, resident at, and lords of the manor of Fauld in Staffordshire. His father, Daniel Astle, who was keeper of Needwood forest, died in 1774, and was buried in Yoxal church, where is a neat mural monument erected to his memory. His eldest son, the subject of this article, imbibed an early taste for the study of antiquities, particularly that abstruse and laborious part of it, the decyphering of ancient records, in which the profession of an attorney, to which he was brought up at Yoxal, gave him an opportunity of excelling, far beyond any of his contemporaries. His father was about to fix him in a good country situation, to practise in the profession he had so aptly learnt; but his genius and enthusiasm, fortunately for himself and the public at large, frustrated that design, and induced him to come to London, where alone his taste could be indulged and his talents rewarded. About 1763, he obtained the patronage of Mr. Grenville, then first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer, who employed him as well in his public as private affairs, and joined him in a commission with the late sir Joseph Ayloffe, bart. and Dr. Ducarel, for superintending the regulation of the public records at Westminster. On the death of his colleague, Mr. Topham was substituted, and both were removed by Mr. Pitt during his administration". Previously, however, to this, if we mistake not, he had enjoyed the patronage of lord Townshend, and soon after he was introduced to the rev. Philip Morant, author of the History of Essex, a gentleman of good property in that country, whose daughter and heiress he soon after married, and by that means, at her father’s death, possessed his estate.
In 1765, he was appointed receiver-general of sixpence in the pound on the civil
In 1765, he was appointed receiver-general of sixpence
in the pound on the civil list. In 1766 he was consulted
by the committee of the House of Lords, concerning the
printing of the ancient records of parliament. To the superintendance of this work he introduced his father-in-law
Mr. Morant; and on his death in 1770, was himself appointed by the House of Lords to carry on the work, a
service in which he was employed till its completion five
years afterwards. He was then appointed, on the death
of Henry Rooke, esq. his majesty’s chief clerk in the record-office in the Tower of London and on the decease
of sir John Shelly, he succeeded to the office of keeper of
the records. He likewise became a member of the Royal
and Antiquary societies, and of several learned bodies on
the continent, and was one of the trustees of the British
Museum. Of the Antiquary Society, he was long a useful and distinguished member, and contributed several
valuable articles to the Archaeologia, in vols. IV. VII. XI
XII. and XIII. He published also The Will of king
Henry VII.“1775, 4 to.
” A Catalogue of the Mss. in
the Cottonian Library to which are added, many emendations and additions with an appendix, containing an
account of the damage sustained by the fire in 1731
and also a catalogue of the charters preserved in the
same library,“which was communicated by him to S.
Hooper, who published them in 1777, 8vo.
” The
Origin and Progress of Writing, as well hieroglyphic
as elementary illustrated by engravings taken frem,
marbles, Mss. and charters, ancient and modern also,
some account of the origin and progress of Printing,
1784,“4to. A new edition was published in 1803, with
one additional plate from a ms. in the British Museum,
marked Nero, D. IV.; and a portrait of Mr. A. painted
by Howard, and engraved by Shelton, in which the
accidental loss of an eye when at school is concealed.
”The Will of king Alfred,“found in a register of Newminster, Winchester, in the possession of the rev. George
North, and given by Dr. Lort, his executor, to Mr. Astle,
1769, was printed at Oxford, with the illustrations of Mr,
Manning, under the superintendance of sir H. Croft, 1788,
4to.
” An account of the Seals of the King’s Royal Burghs
and Magnates of Scotland, with five plates, 1793," foJ.
The Calendar to the Patent Rolls in the Tower of London, reaching from 3 John to 23 Edward IV. containing grants of offices and lands, restitutions of temporalities
to bishops, abbots, and other ecclesiastical persons confirmations of grants made to bodies corporate, as well ecclesiastical as civil ‘, grants in fee farm special licences
grants of offices special and general patents of creations
of peers; and licences of all kinds which pass the great
seal and on the backs of these rolls are commissions to
justices of the peace, of sewers, and all commissions which
pass the great seal. The Calendar of these Rolls, published
by his Majesty’s command, in pursuance of an address of
the House of Commons, on the report of the Commissioners for inquiring into the state of the Public Records, is
printed from four ms volumes procured, in 1775, by Mr.
Astle, for public use, from the executors of Henry Rooke,
esq. his predecessor in the office of keeper of the Tower
records, collated with two Mss. in the Cottonian library,
marked Titus C. II. and III. which appear to have been
compiled in the reign of James I. by some experienced
clerk, who seems to have selected from the records themselves what appeared to him most useful and interesting.
They supply many omissions and deficiencies in the Tower
copy and, after all, this Calendar, though entitled to
great merit, is only a selection, various entries appearing
on the Patent Rolls not entered here and therefore,
though this work will be found to yield abundant information, no one is to be deterred from an examination of any
record mentioned elsewhere as being on the Patent Roll
because it is not mentioned here. Mr. A’s report on the
state of the records under his care will be found in the report of the Committee abovementioned.
His principal residence for some years before his deatji was at Battersea-rise, a beautiful eminence adjoining to Clapham
His principal residence for some years before his deatji was at Battersea-rise, a beautiful eminence adjoining to Clapham common, where his house was richly furnished with objects to instruct and delight an antiquary, particularly his library, which contained a large and choice collection of books and manuscripts amongst the latter was a series of original Saxon charters, hitherto unequalled in number, beauty, and preservation. Here he departed this life, Dec. 1, 1803, in the 69th year of his age after having been for some time afflicted with a dropsical complaint. He left eight sons and daughters.
By the direction of his will, his library was to be sold by public auction but it was purchased by the Royal
By the direction of his will, his library was to be sold
by public auction but it was purchased by the Royal Institution for iOOOl. His manuscripts were to be offered
on certain terms to the marquis of Buckingham and on
his declining the purchase, to the British Museum.
Those who know the value of the latter national repository
will wish he had bequeathed them unconditionally. It was
here he first obtained employment in the preparation of
the Harleian catalogue of Mss. and he had long enjoyed
the honour of being one of the trustees. Mr. Astle was,
however, a valuable contributor to the history and antiquities of his country, and very liberal in giving assistance to
gentlemen employed in any species of historical investigation. His principal work is his “Origin and Progress of
Writing,
” some very acute remarks on which may be seen
in the Monthly Review for October, 1784. His “Preface
and Index to the Catalogue of the Harleian Collection of
Mss.
” was published in 1763.
, an artist, more indebted to fortune than genius, for the distinction he obtained, was born at Wemm in Shropshire, where his father practised physic.
, an artist, more indebted to fortune than genius, for the distinction he obtained, was born at Wemm in Shropshire, where his father practised physic. When of an age to assume a profession, he was sent to London, and placed as a pupil under Mr. Hudson. He afterwards visited Rome, and was there about the same time with sir Joshua Reynolds. After returning to England, he resided some months at a friend’s house in London, and went thence to Dublin, where he practised as a painter for three years, and with such success as to acquire 3000l. On his return, he accidentally bemame acquainted with the opulent widow of sir William Daniel, whom he married, and eventually got possession of the Duckenfield estate, valued at 5000l. per annum. He then bought Schomberg house in Pall-mall, which he divided into three houses, inhabiting the centre house himself, now Mr. Payne’s. Towards his latter days, he began to repent of having passed much of his life in dissipation and by a transition not very uncommon, dreaded being reduced to want. He died at his house, Duckenfield-lodge, Cheshire, Nov. 14, 1787, and was buried at the church of that village. As an artist, his talents were by no means of an inferior class, particularly in portrait painting but he had not much delight in his profession, and when he obtained a fortune, practised no longer.
, an officer of note in king Charles I-.'s army, was son of sir Arthur Aston of Fulham in Middlesex, who was the
, an officer of note in king
Charles I-.'s army, was son of sir Arthur Aston of Fulham
in Middlesex, who was the second son of sir Thomas Aston,
of Aston, of Bucklow-hundred in Cheshire; “an ancient
and knightly family of that county.
” He was a great traveller, and made several campaigns in foreign countries.
Being returned into England about the beginning of the
grand rebellion, with as many soldiers of note as he could
bring with him, he took part with the king against the
parliament. He commanded the dragoons in the battle of
Edge- hill, and with them did his majesty considerable
service. The king, having a great opinion of his valour
and conduct, made him governor of the garrison of Reading in Berkshire, and commissary-general of the horse
in which post he three times repulsed the earl of Essex,
who, at the head of the parliament army, laid siege to
that place. But sir Arthur being dangerously wounded,
the command was devolved on colonel Richard Fielding,
the eldest colonel in the garrison. Sir Arthur was suspected of taking this opportunity to get rid of a dangerous
command. Some time after, he was appointed governor
of the garrison of Oxford, in the room of sir William Pennyman deceased. In September following, he had the
misfortune to break his leg by a fall from his horse, and
was obliged to have it cut off, and on the twenty-fifth of
December, he was discharged from his command, which
was conferred on colonel Gage. After the king’s death,
sir Arthur was employed in the service of king Charles IL
and went with the flower of the English veterans into Ireland, where he was appointed, governor of Drogheda,
commonly called Tredagk; “at which time (Mr. Wood tells us) he laid an excellent plot to tire and break the
English army.
” But at length Cromwell having taken the
town, about the tenth of August 1649, and put the inhabitants to the sword, sir Arthur the governor was cut to
pieces, and his brains beaten out with his wooden-leg.
Wood says, that he was created doctor of physic, May 1,
m a daughter, Elizabeth Thompon, alias Aston. According to Clarendon’s account, sir Arthur’s conduct was not upon the whole favourable to the royal cause, and as a commander
1641, and that he left behind him a daughter, Elizabeth Thompon, alias Aston. According to Clarendon’s account, sir Arthur’s conduct was not upon the whole favourable to the royal cause, and as a commander he seems never to have been popular.
, a brave and loyal gentleman, was the son of John Aston, of Aston in Cheshire, esq. by his wife
, a brave and loyal gentleman,
was the son of John Aston, of Aston in Cheshire, esq. by
his wife Maud, daughter of Robert Needham, of Shenton
in Shropshire. He was entered a gentleman commoner
of Brazen-nose college in Oxford, in 1626-7, but was
soon called home by his relations, and, being married,
was created a baronet in July 1628. In 1635 he was
high-sheriff of Cheshire, and firmly attached to the cause
of Charles I. Upon the approach of the rebellion, he
wrote some pieces against the Presbyterians, and was
afterwards the first man in his county that took part with
the king. During the civil war, he raised a party of horse
for his majesty’s service, which was defeated by a party of
rebels under sir William Breerton of Honford, near Nantwich in Cheshire, July 28, 1642; but sir Thomas escaped
with a slight wound. Some time after, he was taken in a
skirmish in Staffordshire, and carried prisoner to Stafford,
where endeavouring to make his escape, a soldier gave
him a blow on the head, which, with other wounds he had
a little before received, threw him into a fever, of which
he died March 24, 1645. His body was carried to Aston,
and interred in the chapel belonging to his own house.
His writings were, “A Remonstrance against Presbytery,
”
Lond. A short survey of the Presbyterian
discipline.
” “A brief review of the Institution, Succession, and Jurisdiction of the ancient and venerable order
of the Bishops.
” These two last were printed with the
“Remonstrance.
” He also made “A collection of sundry Petitions presented to the King and Parliament,
” 4to,
, a learned Italian antiquary, was born at Venice, Jan. 16, 1672, and soon made very extraordinary
, a learned Italian antiquary,
was born at Venice, Jan. 16, 1672, and soon made very
extraordinary proficiency in classical and polite literature.
In 1698, he lost his parents, and went into the church,
where his merit procured him the offer of preferment,
which his love of a literary life induced him for the present to decline. He became member and secretary of
the academy of the Animosi at Venice, and was likewise a
member of that of the Arcades of Rome, under the name
of Demade Olimpico. He likewise carried on an extensive correspondence with the most eminent scholars of his
age, both Italians and foreigners, particularly Alexander
Burgos, bishop of Catania father Guglielmini, Fardella,
Lazzarini, Apostolo Zeno, Scipio Maffei, Poleni, Morgagni, &c. In his latter days he was master of the choir,
and canon of the ducal church of St. Mark and died in
Venice, June 23, 1743.“He wrote, 1.
” Commentariolum
in antiquum Alcmanis poetse Laconis monumentum,“Venice, 1697, fol. reprinted in the
” Galleria di Minerva,“and by Sallengre in the
” Novus Thesaurus antiquitatum
Romanarum,“Hague, 1718, fol. 2.
” De Deo Brotonte
Epistola,“reprinted in both the above collections. 3.
Many letters and dissertations on Medals, &c. in various
collections. 4.
” Mantui, tragredia sacra musice recitanda,“Venice, 1713. 5.
” Supplices, tragredia sacra," ibid.
1713; besides many lesser pieces in Greek, Latin, and
Italian, in the collections.
, born in the province of Cosenza in the kingdom of Naples in 1651, was first a Carmelite, and afterwards professor of mathematics and
, born in the province of Cosenza
in the kingdom of Naples in 1651, was first a Carmelite,
and afterwards professor of mathematics and natural philosophy. He died in 1702, leaving the following publications, 1. “A dissertation on the life of the Fcetus in utero
”
A translation of the Elements of Euclid,
”
A treatise on the power of the Holy See,
”
A translation of Apollonius on Conic Sections,
”
office. He is said to have had many conferences with that prince on astronomical s’ubjects. The life was written in Latin, and has been translated into French by the
, the name, or assumed name of a
person who lived in the ninth century, and wrote “The
life of the emperor Lewis le Debonnaire,
” at whose court
he is supposed to have enjoyed some office. He is said to
have had many conferences with that prince on astronomical
s’ubjects. The life was written in Latin, and has been
translated into French by the president Cousin. The original is in Du Chesne’s Collection of Historians.
, a very celebrated French physiciaiTj was born in 1684, at Sauve in the diocese of Alais. His father,
, a very celebrated French physiciaiTj
was born in 1684, at Sauve in the diocese of Alais. His
father, who was a Protestant clergyman, bestowed great
pains upon his early education, after which he was sent to
the university of Montpelier, where he was created M. A,
in 1700. He then began the study of medicine; and in
two years obtained the degree of bachelor^ having upon
that occasion written a dissertation on the cause of fermentation, which he defended in a very able manner. On
Jan. 25, 1703, he was created doctor of physic, after which,
before arriving at extensive practice, he applied to the
study of medical authors, both ancient and modern, with
uncommon assiduity. The good effects of this study soon
appeared; for in 1710 he published a treatise concerning
muscular motion, from which he acquired very high reputation. In 1717 he was appointed to teach medicine at Montpelier, which he did with such perspicuity and eloquence
that his fame soon rose to a very great height; the king
assigned him an annual salary, and he was at the same time
appointed to superintend the mineral waters in the province
of Languedoc. But as Montpelier did not afford sufficient
scope for one of his celebrity, he went to Paris with a great
numher of manuscripts, which he designed for the press.
Soon afterwards, however, he left it, having in 1729 accepted the office of first physician to the king of Poland,
which was then offered to him; but here his stay was very
short, as he disliked the ceremonious restraint of a court.
He again therefore returned to Paris, and upon the death
of the celebrated Geoffroy, in 1731, he was appointed regins professor. The duties of this office he discharged in
such a manner as toanswer the most sanguine expectations; and he drew, from the other universities to that of
Paris, a great concourse of medical students, foreigners as
well as natives. At the same time he was not more celebrated as a professor than as a practitioner, and his private
character was in all respects truly amiable. He reached a
very advanced age, and died May 5, 1766. Of his works,
which are very numerous, the following are the principal
1. “Origine de la Peste,
” De ia Contagion cle la Peste,
” De Motu Musculari,
”
Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire naturelle cle Languedoc,
” De Morbis Veuereis, libri’sex,
” Traitedes maladies desFemmes,
” L'Art crAccoucher reduit a ses principles,
”
Theses de Phantasia,
” &c. 9. “De
motus Fermentativi causa,
” Memo ire
sur la Digestion,
” Tractatus Pathologicus,
” Trait des Tumeurs,
” 2 vols. 12mo; and one or two
treatises not connected with medicine, one with the singular title of “Conjectures sur les Memoires originaux qui
ont servi a Moise pour ecrire la Genese,
” Paris,
, a native of Cagli, in the duchy of Urbino, came to Rome in 1532, where he was distinguished for his taste and eloquence; but having a reluctance
, a native of Cagli, in the duchy of Urbino, came to Rome in 1532, where he was distinguished for his taste and eloquence; but having a reluctance to any regular profession which might have afforded him an opportunity and means to cultivate literature, he soon fell into extreme poverty. In 1560, however, he became corrector of the press at Venice, and there had like to have been sacrificed to the rage of a student belonging to the university of Padua, who having committed a work to his correction, Atanagi adopted it and published it under his own name. This is theonly incident recorded of this eccentric genius, whom the Italians consider as a very pure writer, and one of their best critics. He published,
i e chiari e begl'ingegni, raccolte, &c. libroprimo,” Venice, 1561, 8vo. The second volume, in 1574, was published after Atanagi’s death. 7. “II libro degli uomini illustri
2. “Lettere famigliari di XIII, uomini illustri,
” Rome,
1554, 8vo. 3. “Rime di M. Bernardo Cappello,
” Venice,
Sonetti, Canzoni, rime ed egloghe pescatorie di Berardino
Rota,
” Venice, Rime e versi Latini di diversi, in morte d' Irene di
Spilimbergo,
” Venice, Delle Lettere facete e piacevoli di diversi uomini grandi e chiari e begl'ingegni, raccolte, &c. libroprimo,
” Venice, II libro degli uomini illustri di Jaio Plinio
Cecilio, ridotto in lingua volgare, &c.
” Venice, 1562, 8vo.
8. “De le rime di clivers! nobili poeti Toscani,
” Venice,
, an eminent father of the Christian church, of the fourth century, was born at Alexandria, of heathen parents. He was noticed, when
, an eminent father of the Christian church, of the fourth century, was born at Alexandria, of heathen parents. He was noticed, when very young, by Alexander, bishop of that see, who took care to have him educated in all good learning, and when of age, ordained him deacon. He took him in his company when he attended the council of Nice, where Athanasius distinguished himself as an able and zealous opposer of the Arians. Soon after the dissolution of the council, Alexander died, and Athanasius was appointed to succeed him in the government of the church of Alexandria. This was in the year 326, when Athanasius is supposed to have been about twenty-eight years of age.
ncensed the emperor, that he exiled him into France though some writers intimate, that this sentence was not the effect of his resentment, but his policy, which indeed
Arius and some of the principal of his followers renounced their opinions, and subscribed to the Nicene faith, by which means they obtained the countenance and favour of the emperor Constantine, who wrote letters to Athanasius, insisting upon his re-admitting Arius into the church, and receiving him into communion but this he peremptorily and inflexibly refused to do, though urged warmly by sovereign authority, and menaced with the rod of imperial vengeance. While thus he lay under the emperor’s displeasure, his enemies took the opportunity of bringing against him many grievous accusations, which, however, appeared in the end to be false and groundless. Among others, they charged him with threatening that he would take care no corn should be carried from Alexandria to Constantinople and said, that there were four prelates ready to testify that they had heard such words from his own mouth. This so much incensed the emperor, that he exiled him into France though some writers intimate, that this sentence was not the effect of his resentment, but his policy, which indeed is more probable. It was the desire of the emperor to remove all frivolous disputes about words, to allay the heats and animosities among Christians, and to restore peace and unanimity to the church, and perhaps he looked upon Athanasius as a great obstacle to his favourite design, as he could by no means be brought to communicate with the Arians.
After the death of the emperor, he was recalled by his successor Constantine the younger, and restored
After the death of the emperor, he was recalled by his successor Constantine the younger, and restored to his see, and received by his people with great joy. This emperor’s reign was short, and his enemies soon found means to draw down upon him the displeasure of Constantius so that, being terrified with his threats, he sought his safety by flight, and by hiding himself in a secret and obscure place. Julius, at this time bishop of Rome, being greatly affected with the injurious treatment of Athanasius, sought him out in his obscurity, and took him under his protection. He summoned a general council at Sardis, where the Nicene creed was ratified, and where it was determined, that Athanasius, with some others, should be restored to their churches. This decree the emperor shewed great unwillingness to comply with, till he was influenced by the warm interposition of his brother in the west for at this time the empire was divided between the two surviving brothers. Being thus prevailed upon, or rather indeed constrained by necessity, he wrote several letters with his own hand, which are still extant, to Athanasius, to invite him to Constantinople, and to assure him of a safe conduct. He restored him, by an edict, to his bishopric wrote letters both to the clergy and laity of Alexandria to give him a welcome reception and commanded that such acts as were recorded against him in their courts and synods, should be erased.
ased to grant one church in every city for such as did not communicate with the Arians. The proposal was made at the suit, and through the insinuations, of the Arians
When the emperor restored Athanasius, he told him, that there were several people in Alexandria who differed in opinion from him, and separated themselves from his communion; and he requested of him, that he would permit them to have one church for themselves. The bishop replied, the emperor’s commands should be obeyed; but he humbly presumed to beg one favour in return, viz. that he would be pleased to grant one church in every city for such as did not communicate with the Arians. The proposal was made at the suit, and through the insinuations, of the Arians who, when they heard the reply, and had nothing either reasonable or plausible to object to it, thought proper to desist from their suit, and make no more mention of it. This is one proof among many others, that the Arians had no reason to reproach Athanasius with intolerant principles. At the death of Constans, which happened soon afterwards, he was again deposed, ana Constantius gave orders that he should be executed wherever he was taken. He was re-instated by Julian; but, before the end of that apostate’s reign, was again obliged to have recourse to flight for safety. When orthodoxy found a patron in Jorian, and the Nicene creed became again the standard of catholic faith, Athanasius recovered his credit and his see, which he enjoyed unmolested in the time of Valentinian and even Valens, that furious and persecuting Avian, thought it expedient to let him exercise his function unmolested, because he found there was a great multitude of people in Egypt and Alexandria, who were determined to live and die with Athanasius. He died in peace and tranquillity in the year 373, after having been bishop forty-six years. His works were published in Greek and Latin, at Heidelberg, 1601; at Paris, 1627; at Cologne, 1686; but the best edition is that given by Montfaucon, at Paris, 1698, in 3 vols. folio. There has been a reprint of this, however, at Padua, in 1777, 4 vols, folio, which some prefer as being more complete and more elegantly printed.
ether Athanasius composed the creed commonly received under his name. Baronius is of opinion that it was composed by Athanasius when he was at Rome, and offered to pope
Photius greatly extols Athanasius as an elegant, clear, and excellent writer. It is controverted among learned men, whether Athanasius composed the creed commonly received under his name. Baronius is of opinion that it was composed by Athanasius when he was at Rome, and offered to pope Julius as a confession of his faith which circumstance is not at all likely, for Julius never questioned his faith. However, a great many learned men have ascribed it to Athanasius as cardinal Bona, Petavius, Bellarmine, and Rivet, with many others of both communions. Scultetus leaves the matter in doubt; but the best and latest critics- make no question but that it is to be ascribed to a Latin author, Vigilius Tapsensis, an African bishop, who lived in the latter end of the fifth century, in the time of the Vandalic Arian persecution. Vossius and Quesnel have written particular dissertations in favour of this opinion. Their arguments are, 1. Because this creed is wanting in almost all the manuscripts of Athanasius’ s works. 2. Because the style and contexture of it do not bespeak a Greek but a Latin author. 3. Because neither Cyril of Alexandria, nor the council of E^phesus, nor pope Leo, nor the council of Chalcedon, have ever mentioned it in all that they say against the Nestorians or Eutychians. 4. Because this Vigilms Tapsensis is known to have published others of his writings under the borrowed name of Athanasius, with which this creed is commonly joined. These reasons have persuaded Pearson, Usher, Cave, and Dupin, critics of the first rank, to come into the opinion, that this creed was not composed by Athanasius, but by a later and a Latin writer.
rved, that there is little important in them, but what relates to the Avian controversy, in which he was occupied during the greater part of his life. What Photius asserts
With respect to the writings of Athanasius, it has been justly observed, that there is little important in them, but what relates to the Avian controversy, in which he was occupied during the greater part of his life. What Photius asserts of his style may be allowed but in his life of Anthony the monk, and some other of his pieces, we find him giving too much support to the superstitions and follies of the monastic system. In other respects, he is one of the ablest supporters of the Trinitarian doctrine, and in his private conduct, although occasionally exasperated by oppression, he was in general consistent and upright.
, or Adelard, was a learned monk of Bath in England, who flourished about 1150,
, or Adelard, was a learned monk of Bath
in England, who flourished about 1150, as appears by some
manuscripts of his in the libraries of Corpus Christi and
Trinity colleges, Oxford. Vossius says, he was universally
learned in all the sciences of his time, and that, to increase
his knowledge, he travelled into France, Germany, Italy,
Spain, Egypt, and Arabia. He wrote many books himself,
and translated others from different languages among the
latter, he translated from Arabic into Latin, Euclid’s Elements, at a time before any Greek copies had been discovered, and “Erichiafarim
” upon the seven planets.
He wrote a treatise on the several liberal arts, another on
the astrolobe, another on the causes of natural compositions, besides several on physics and on medicine. Some
manuscripts of his referred to by Vossius remain in the colleges in Oxford as in Oriel, “De decisionibus naturalibns,
” and “De philosophia Danielis,
” in Corpus Christi,
, a Greek grammarian, born at Naucratis in Egypt, flourished in the third century. He was one of the most learned men in his time, and had read so much,
, a Greek grammarian, born at Naucratis
in Egypt, flourished in the third century. He was one of
the most learned men in his time, and had read so much,
and had such an uncommon memory, that he might be
styled the Varro of the Greeks. Of all his writings none
remain but the work entitled “The Deipnosophists,
” or,
the Sophists discoursing at Table. Here an infinite variety
of facts and quotations are preserved, which are to be met
with no where else and hence, as Bayle truly observes, it
is probable that this author is more valued by us than he
was by his contemporaries, who could consult the originals
from which these facts and quotations were taken. Athenaeus is supposed to have been injured by transcribers
the omissions, transpositions, and false readings in him being extremely numerous. The work consists of fifteen
books, the two, first and beginning of the third of which are
wanting, but, with many hiatuses in the rest, have been
supplied from an abridgment which is extant. It was first
printed in 1514, by Aldus Manutius, Venice, folio, and reprinted under the inspection of Casaubon, Leyden, 1600,
folio. The last edition is that of Shweighaeuser, Strasburgh, 1801—1807, 14 vols. 8vo, which Mr. Dibdin has
copiously described, and highly praised. The French critics, and perhaps others, have, however, objected that this
editor was not sufficiently versed in the rules of Greek versification, and that he neglected to consult some modern
critics, in whose works he might have found many passages of Athenaeus corrected.
of Byzantium, an engineer under the emperor Gallienus, about the year 200 before the Christian era, was employed by that prince to fortify such parts of Thrace and
, of Byzantium, an engineer under the
emperor Gallienus, about the year 200 before the Christian era, was employed by that prince to fortify such parts
of Thrace and lllyricum, as were exposed to the incursions
of the Scythians. He is the reputed author of a treatise
on “The Machines for War,
” which was printed in the
collection of the works of the ancient Mathematicians, Paris, 1693, fol. Gr. and Lat.
, a physician, born at Attalia, a city of Cilicia, was contemporary with Pliny, in the first century, and was the founder
, a physician, born at Attalia, a city of Cilicia, was contemporary with Pliny, in the first century, and was the founder of the Pneumatic sect. His doctrine was, that the fire, air, water, and earth, are not the true elements, as is generally supposed, but that their qualities are so, namely, heat, cold, moisture, and dryness. To these he added a fifth element, which he called spirit ('Evsufta.) whence hisisect had its name. He thought that this spirit penetrated all bodies, and kept them in their natural state this he borrowed from the Stoics, whence Galen calls Chrysippus, one of the most famous of those philosophers, the Father of the Pneumatic sect; but Athenaeus was the first who applied it to physic. He thought that, in the greatest part of diseases, this spirit was the first that suffered and that the pulse was only a motion caused by the natural and involuntary dilatation of the heat in the arteries and heart. We have but very little of this famous author remaining, and must look for a further account of the doctrines of his sect In the writings of Aretseus.
, an Athenian philosopher, who became a convert to Christianity. He was remarkable for his zeal, and also for his great learning, as
, an Athenian philosopher, who became a convert to Christianity. He was remarkable for
his zeal, and also for his great learning, as appears from
the Apology which he addressed to the emperors Aurelius
and Commodus, about the year 180. Bayle thinks that
this Apology was not actually presented, but only published. Besides the Apology, there is also remaining of
Athenagoras, a piece upon the Resurrection, both written
in a style truly Attic. They have been printed often, but
the best edition is that of Dechair, Gr. and Lat. Oxon.
1706, 8vo. His works are also to be found in the Bibliotheca Patrum. Dr. Waterland gives an account of him in
his “Importance of the doctrine of the Trinity,
” which,
Athenagoras held. In Du vrai et
parfait Amour, escrit en Grec par Athenagoras, philosophe
Athenien, contenant les Amours honestes de Theogone et
de Charide, de Pherecides et de Melangenie
” i. t. “Of
true and perfect Love, written in Greek by Athenagoras,
an Athenian philosopher; containing the chaste loves of
Theogonus and Charidea, of Pherecides and Melangenia.
”
Martin Fumee, lord of Genille, had made this translation,
and sent it, in 1569, to Mr. de Larnane, secretary to cardinal d'Armagnac. It was found in the papers of Bernard
de San- Jorry, who published it in 1612. Huetius speaks
very largely of this book, and conjectures that Philander
was the real author of it. He tells us that this Fumee
boasted that he had the original Greek by means of Lamane, protonotary to cardinal d'Armagnac. There is no
doubt, however, that it was not the production of Athenagoras but Cave, from whom we borrow the preceding
account, does not appear to have seen the first edition,
which was published at Paris, 1599.
, a Stoic philosopher, was probably of Pergamus, where he lived till he was very much advanced
, a Stoic philosopher, was probably of Pergamus, where he lived till he was very much advanced in years. He constantly refused to accept the favours which kings and generals would have bestowed upon him. Cato the younger, being in Asia at the head of an army, and knowing the merit of this eminent character, was very desirous of having him with him; but thinking that a letter would not prevail upon him to leave his retirement, he resolved to go himself to Pergamus, and by his intreaties and prayeVs he prevailed upon Athenodo, rus to follow him to the camp, whither he returned in a triumphant manner, being more remarkable for his new acquisition than Lucullus or Pompey could be for the conquests they had made. Athenodorus continued with Cato till his death, which happened about fifty before the Christian era. He is perhaps the same who is mentioned by Diogenes Laertius, in the life of Zeno Citticus.
, the son of Sandon, was another celebrated Stoic philosopher. He was born at Tarsus,
, the son of Sandon, was another celebrated Stoic philosopher. He was born at Tarsus, or perhaps at Cana, a village near it, whence he was surnamed Cananita. He lived at Rome and on account of his learning, wisdom, and moderation, was highly esteemed by Augustus. His opinion and advice bad great weight with the emperor, and are said to have led him into a milder plan of government than he had at first adopted. He obtained, for his fellow-citizens, the inhabitants of Tarsus, relief from a part of the burthen of taxes which had been imposed upon them, and was on this account honoured with an annual festival. Athenodorus was intrusted by Augustus with the education of the young prince Claudius and that he might the more successfully execute his charge, his illustrious pupil became for a while resident in his house. This philosopher retired in his old age to Tarsus, where he died in his eighty-second year. Other particulars of him are given in the General Dictionary, and in the authorities cited by Brucker, but there appear to have been two of the name (besides the one of whom we have before given an account), or there is much confusion in all the writers we have had an opportunity of consulting respecting this one.
i, and printer at Amsterdam, to whom we owe one of the most correct editions of the Hebrew bible. It was printed twice, in 1661 and 1667, 2 vols. 8vo, and has been followed
, a Jew rabbi, and printer at Amsterdam, to whom we owe one of the most correct editions of the Hebrew bible. It was printed twice, in 1661 and 1667, 2 vols. 8vo, and has been followed by most of the modern editors, particularly Clodius, Magus, Jablonski, J. H. Michaelis, Opitius, Van der Hooght, Houbigant, and Simon. It is also the basis of the edition of Reineccius, reprinted, in 1793, by, the learned Dorderlein. The states-general entertained such a sense of the merit of Athias, in this useful undertaking, that in 1667 they voted him a chain of gold. He is said to have died in 1700. His father, Tobias Athias published a Spanish bible for the use of the Jews, in 1555, according to the Dict. Hist.; but the above dates seem to render this doubtful.
, bishop of Galloway in Scotland, was the son of Henry Atkins, sheriff and commissary of Orkney, and
, bishop of Galloway in Scotland, was the son of Henry Atkins, sheriff and commissary of Orkney, and was born in the town of Kirkwall, in the stewartry of Orkney. He was educated in the college of Edinburgh, where he commenced M, A. and from thence went to Oxford in 1637-8, to finish his studies Under the tuition of Dr. Prideaux, the regius professor of divinity. Soon after he was appointed chaplain to James marquis of Hamilton, his majesty’s high-commissioner for Scotland, in which station he acquitted himself so well, that, by the application of his noble patron upon his return to England, he obtained from the king a presentation to the church of Birsa, in the stewartry of Orkney. Here he continued some years, and his prudence, diligence, and faithfulness in the discharge of his office, procured him much veneration and respect from all persons, especially from his ordinary, who conferred upon him the dignity of Moderator of the presbytery. In the beginning of 1650, when James marquis of Montrosc landed in Orkney, Dr. Atkins was nominated by the unanimous votes of the said presbytery, to draw up a declaration in their names, containing the strongest expressions of loyalty and allegiance to king Charles II., for which the whole presbytery being deposed by the assembly of the kirk at that time sitting at Edinburgh, Dr. Atkins was likewise excommunicated as one who held a correspondence with the said marquis. At the same time the council passed an act for the apprehending and bringing him to his trial but upon private notice from his kinsman sir Archibald Primrose, then clerk of the council, he fled into Holland, where he lay concealed till 1653, and then returning into Scotland, he settled with his family at Edinburgh, quietly and obscurely, till 1660. Upon the restoration of the king, he accompanied Dr. Thomas Sydserf, bishop of Galloway (the only Scotch bishop who survived the calamities of the usurpation) to London, where the bishop of Winchester presented him to the rectory of Winfrith in Dorsetshire. In 1677, he was elected and consecrated bishop of Murray in Scotland, to the great joy of the episcopal party; and, in 1680, he was translated to the see of Galloway, with a dispensation to reside at Edinburgh, on account of his age, and the disaffection of the people to episcopacy. At this distance, however, he continued to govern his diocese seven years, and died at Edinburgh of an apoplexy, October 28th, 1687, aged seventy -four years. His body was decently interred in the church of the Grey-friars^ and his death was extremely regretted by all good and pious men.
, lord chief baron of the exchequer, was descended of a very ancient family in Glocestcrshire, and son
, lord chief baron of the exchequer, was descended of a very ancient family in Glocestcrshire, and son of sir Edward Atkyns, one of the barons of the exchequer, by Ursula, daughter of sir Thomas Dacres of Cheshunt in Hertfordshire. He was born in 1621, and, after being instructed in grammar-learning in his father’s house, was sent to Baliol college, Oxford. Removing thence to one of the inns of court, he applied himself very closely to the study of the law. In April 1661, at the coronation of king Charles II. he was made a knight of the bath and in September the same year created M. A. in full convocation at Oxford. In 1671 he was appointed a king’s serjeant at law; and in 1672, a judge of the court of common pleas. In 1679, from an apprehension of very troublesome times, he resigned his office, and retired into the country. In July 1683, when lord Russel was first imprisoned, on account of that conspiracy for which he afterwards suffered, sir Robert Atkyns, being applied to for his advice, gave it in the following letter, probably addressed to some of the friends of that nobleman, which manifests his courage and integrity, as well as his prudence and learning
treason; and cannot, upon an indictment of treason, find the party guilty of misprision, because he was not indicted for the offence of misprision; and treason and
“I cannot see any disadvantage or hazard, by pleading
the general plea of Not Guilty. If it fall out upon the
proofs, that the crime is only misprision of treason, and
not the very crime of treason, the jury must find the
prisoner not guilty of treason; and cannot, upon an indictment of treason, find the party guilty of misprision,
because he was not indicted for the offence of misprision;
and treason and misprision of treason, are offences that the
law hath distinguished the one from the other; and therefore, if the proofs reach no farther than to prove a misprision, and amount not to treason, the prisoner may urge it
for himself, and say, that the proofs do not reach to the
crimes charged in the indictment; and if the truth be so,
the court ought so to direct the jury not to find it. Now
being in company with others, where those others do consult and conspire to do some treasonable act, does not
make a man guilty of treason, unless by some words or
actions he signify his consent to it, and approbation of it;
but his being privy to it, and not discovering of it, makes
him guilty of misprision of treason, which consists in the
concealing it; but it makes him not guilty of treason and
if the same person be present a second time, or oftener,
this neither does not makehim guilty of treason, only it
raises a strong suspicion that he likes, and consents to it,
and approves of it, or else he would have forborne after
being once amongst them. But the strongest suspicion
does not sufficiently prove a guilt in treason, nor can it go
for any evidence, and that upon two accounts first, dig
proofs in case of treason must be plain, and clear, and positive, and not by inference or argument, or the strongest
suspicion imaginable. Thus said sir Edward Coke, in
many places in his Third Institutes, in the chapter of High
Treason. Secondly, in an indictment of high treason
there must not only be a general charge of treason, nor is
it enough to set forth of what sort or species the treason is,
as killing the king, or levying war against him, or coining
money, or the like but there must be also set forth some
overt or open act, as the statute of the 25th of Edward IIL
calls it, or some instance given by the party or offender,
whereby it may appear he did consent to it, and consult it,
and approve of it; and if the barely being present should
be taken and construed to be a sufficient overt or open act,
or instance, then there is no difference between treason
and misprision of treason for the being present without
consenting makes no more than misprision therefore there
must be something more than being barely present, to
make a man guilty of treason, especially since the law requires an overt or open act to be proved against the prisoner
accused. See sir Edward Coke’s Third Institutes, fol. 12.
upon those words of the statute. Per overt fact. And
that there ought to be direct and manifest proofs, and
not bare suspicions or presumptions, be they never so
strong and violent; see the same fol. in the upper part of
it, upon the word Proveablement. And the statute of the
5th of Edward VI. cap. 2, requires that there should be
two witnesses to prove the crime so that if there be but
one witness, let him be never so credible a person, and
never so positive, yet if there be no other proof, the party
ought to be found not guilty; and those two witnesses must
prove the person guilty of the same sort or species of treason. As for example, if the indictment be for that species
of treason, of conspiring the, king’s death, both witnesses
must prove some fact, or words tending to that very sort
of treason but if there be two witnesses, and one proves
the prisoner conspired the death of the king, and the other
witness proves the conspiring to do some other sort of treason, this comes not home to prove the prisoner guilty upon
that indictment for the law will not take away a man’s life
in treason, upon the testimony and credit of one witness
$t is so tender of a man’s life, the crime and the forfeitures
are so great and heavy. And as there must be two
witBesses, so by the statute made in the thirteenth year of his
present Majesty, cap. i. (entitled for the safety of his Majesty’s person) those two witnesses must not only be lawful,
” but also credible persons. See that statute in the fifth
paragraph and the prisoner must be allowed to object
against the credit of all, or any of the witnesses and ff
there be but one witness of clear and good credit, and the
rest not credible, then the testimony of those that are not
credible rriust go for nothing, by the words and meaning
of this statute See the statute. Now were I a juryman, I
should think no such witness a credible witness, as should
appear, either by his own testimony, or upon proof made
by others against him, to have been particeps criminis, for
that proves him to be a bad, and consequently not so credible a man especially if it can appear the witness has
trepanned the prisoner into the committing of the crime
Then the witness will appear to be guilty of a far higher
crime than the prisoner, and therefore ought not to be believed as a credible witness against the prisoner for he is
a credible witness that has the credit of being a good and
honest man, which a trepanner cannot have and this trepanning proves withal, that the trepanner did bear a spite
and malice against the person trepanned, and intended to
do him a mischief, and designed to take away his life.
Shall such a one be a credible witness, and believed against
him God forbid Then again, it cannot but be believed, that such persons as have been guilty of the same
crime, will, out of a natural self-love, be very forward and
willing to swear heartily, and to the purpose, in order to
the convicting of others, that they may, by this service,
merit their pardon and save their own lives and for this
reason are not so credible witnesses, such as the statute of
13 Car. II. does require. Read over the whole chapters of
sir Edward Coke, of high treason, and of petty treason for
in this latter, of petty treason, there is much matter that
concerns high treason.
sh proof of his deep learning, in the case between the king and sir William Williams. An information was exhibited against William Williams, esq. late speaker of the
In 1684 he appears to have given a fresh proof of his
deep learning, in the case between the king and sir William Williams. An information was exhibited against
William Williams, esq. late speaker of the House of Commons, for endeavouring to stir up sedition, and procure
ill-will between the king and his subjects, by appointing a
certain seditious and infamous libel, entitled “The information of Thomas Dangerfield,
” to be printed and published. The defendant pleaded to the jurisdiction of the
court, setting forth that he was speaker of the House of
Commons, and that, in obedience to their order, he had
appointed that narrative to be printed; wherefore he demanded the judgment of the court of king’s bench, whether it ought to take farther cognizance of the matter. Sir
Robert Atkyns undertakes, in his argument in support of
this plea, to prove three propositions First, that what was.
done in this case was done in a course of justice, and that
in the highest court of the nation, and according to the law
and custom of parliament. Secondly^ that., however, that
which was done in this case was not to be imputed to the
defendant, who acted in it but as a servant or minister of
the parliament, though in a very honourable station. Thirdly, that these, being matters transacted in parliament, and
by the parliament, the court of king’s bench ought not to
take cognizance of them, nor had any jurisdiction to judge
or determine them.
An action was brought in Easter-term, in the second year of king James II.
An action was brought in Easter-term, in the second year of king James II. against sir Edward Hales, for acting as a colonel of foot without receiving the sacrament, or taking certain oaths appointed by an act of parliament to be taken within a certain time whereupon being legally indicted in the county of Kent, and convicted, the plaintiff became entitled to the forfeiture of five hundred pounds. To this the defendant pleaded, that the king, by his letters patent, had dispensed with his taking the sacrament or the oaths, and therefore demurred generally; the plaintiff joined in demurrer, and judgment was given in the king’s bench for the defendant. This gave occasion to sir Robert’s excellent inquiry into the power of dispensing with penal statutes, wherein the doctrine of dispensations is largely handled.
At the revolution, which sir Robert zealously promoted, he was received with great marks of distinction by king William, who,
At the revolution, which sir Robert zealously promoted, he was received with great marks of distinction by king William, who, in May 1689, made him lord chief baron of the exchequer. In October following, the marquis of Halifax, whom the Lords had chosen for their speaker, desiring to be excused from discharging that office any longer, the lord chief baron Atkyns was immediately elected in his room, and was speaker till the great seal was given to sir John Sommers, in the beginning of 1693.
October 30, 1693, when the lord mayor of London elect was sworn in before sir Robert, in the exchequer, he made a famous
October 30, 1693, when the lord mayor of London elect was sworn in before sir Robert, in the exchequer, he made a famous speech, wherein, after drawing a terrible picture of the designs of Lewis XIV. and of the means employed to accomplish them, he has the following passage, which will assist our readers in judging of the baron’s character "There is one piece of policy of his, wherein he outdoeth all other princes whatsoever and that is, the great thing of maintaining and managing intelligence. He can tell when your merchant-ships set out, and by what time they shall return nay, perhaps, he does take upon him to know, by the help of some confederacy with him that is prince of the power of the air, that the wind shall not serve in such or such a corner till such a time he knoweth when our royal navy is to be divided, and when it is united.
ember that expression of some of them to our Saviour, Art thou come to torment us before the time It was not then the time of their being tormented it is rather to'be
"It is a vulgar error that hath obtained among some of us, that these wicked spirits are now confined under chains of darkness in the place of torment. I remember that expression of some of them to our Saviour, Art thou come to torment us before the time It was not then the time of their being tormented it is rather to'be believed that they are wandering about in the air, and there fleeting to and fro, driving on such wicked purposes as this our enemy is engaged in. We know grave and serious historians give us instances of correspondences held both by good and bad spirits here the wicked by God’s permission, the good by his command and particular good providence. So the death of Julian the apostate heathen emperor, who was killed in his wars in Persia, was known in the very moment of it at the city of Rome, at a great distance from the place of battle, to the no little joy of the Christians. And this, I suppose, was by the ministry of a good angel.
e by evil angels. In the instant of our Saviour’s passion, if we may believe credible historians, it was known at a vast distance from Jerusalem, at sea among some wh
“We have instances of another nature, of what has
been done by evil angels. In the instant of our Saviour’s
passion, if we may believe credible historians, it was known
at a vast distance from Jerusalem, at sea among some wh
were then on a voyage they heard a voice in the air, crying out of the death of the great god Pan after which followed great bowlings and screechings. Whence we may
suppose by the expression, that this was by some wicked
spirits that were then hovering in the air, and did communicate this piece of intelligence.
”
ears of his life in ease and quiet. He died in the beginning of the year 1709, aged eighty-eight. He was a man of great probity as well as of great skill in his profession,
In June 1695, being then in his 74th year, he resigned
his office, and retired to his seat at Saperton-hall in Glocestershire, where he spent the last fourteen years of his
life in ease and quiet. He died in the beginning of the
year 1709, aged eighty-eight. He was a man of great
probity as well as of great skill in his profession, and a
warm friend to the constitution. He was twice married,
first to Mary daughter of sir George Clerk, of Welford in
Northamptonshire, and afterwards to Anne daughter of sir
Thomas Dacres. He left behind him an only son, the
subject of the next article. His writings are collected into
one volume, 8vo, under the title of Parliamentary and Political Tracts, 1734, containing, 1. “The power, jurisdiction, and privilege of Parliament, and the antiquity of
the House of Commons asserted occasioned by an information in the king’s bench, by the attorney-general,
against the speaker of the House of Commons.
” 2. “An
Argument in the great case concerning the Election of
Members to Parliament, between sir Samuel Barnardiston,
plaintiff, and sir William Soame, sheriff of Suffolk, defendant, in the court of king’s bench, in an action upon the
case, and afterwards by error sued in the exchequer chamber.
” 3. “An inquiry into the power of dispensing w
Penal Statutes. Together with some animadversions upct.:
a book writ by sir Edward Herbert, lord chief justice of
the court of common pleas, entitled, A short account of
the Authorities in law upon which judgment was given in
sir Edward Hale’s case.
” 4. “A Defence concerning the
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the realm of England.
” 5. “A
Defence of the late lord Russel’s Innocency, by way of
confutation of a libellous pamphlet, entitled, An Antidote
against Poison with two letters of the author of this book,
upon the subject of his lordship’s trial.
” The first and
chief of these letters we have given above. 6. “The lord
Russel’s Innocency further defended, by way of reply to
an Answer, entitled, The Magistracy and Government of
England vindicated. 1 * 7.
” The lord chief baron Atkyns*s
Speech to sir William Ashurst, lord mayor elect for the
city of London, at the time of his being sworn in their majesties court of exchequer.“Besides these tracts, he wrote
a treatise against the exorbitant power of the court of Chancery, published in 1695, entitled
” An inquiry into the
Jurisdiction of the Chancery in causes of Equity,“and annexed to it
” The case of Sir Robert Atkyns about a Separate Maintenance,“fol. He was also the author of a
tract,
” The true and ancient jurisdiction of the House
of Peers," fol. 1699, but neither are in the above volume.
, son of the preceding, by Anne, daughter of sir Thomas Dacres of Hertfordshire, was born in 1646, and educated with great care under the eye of
, son of the preceding, by Anne,
daughter of sir Thomas Dacres of Hertfordshire, was born
in 1646, and educated with great care under the eye of
his father. He became early attached to the study of antiquities, and as he had a very considerable estate settled
upon him, he lived chiefly upon it, pursuing his studies
and exercising old English hospitality. He was elected
to represent his county in parliament as often as he
chose to accept that honour, and his knowledge and integrity induced many of his neighbours to make him the
arbitrator of their differences, which he readily undertook,
and generally executed to the satisfaction of both parties.
He married Louisa, daughter to sir John Carteret, of
Hawnes in Bedfordshire but having by her no issue male,
his father settled his estate on the male issue of sir Edward
Atkyns, which settlement was the unfortunate cause of a
law-suit between the father and son. Sir Robert differed
in other respects from his father’s opinions, being more attached to the house of Stuart, yet he inherited both his prudence and his probity, and was equally esteemed and beloved by men of all parties. His design of writing “The
History of Gloucestershire,
” took its rise from an intention
of the same sort in Dr. Parsons, chancellor of the diocese
of Gloucester, who had been at great pains and trouble to
collect the materials for such a work, in the compiling of
which he was hindered by the infirm and declining state
of his health. Sir Robert, however, did not live to see it
published, which was done by his executors. It appeared
in 1712, in one volume folio. It was very expensive to
the undertaker, who printed it in a pompous manner,
adorning it with variety of views and prospects of the seats
of the gentry and nobility, with their arms and he has
inserted some, which, in Mr. Gough’s opinion, very little
deserve it. It were to be wished, says the same excellent
antiquary, that more authorities had been given, and the
charters and grants published in the original language.
The transcripts of all these were collected by Parsons. The
price of this work, which was five guineas, has been greatly
raised by an accidental fire, Jan. 30, 1712-13, which
destroyed most of the copies in the house of Mr. Bowyer,
printer, in White Fryars. All the plates, except two or
three, falling into the hands of Mr. Herbert, engraver of
charts, he caused the lost ones to he supplied, and republished this book in 1768, correcting the literal errors, but
without so much as restoring in their proper place several
particulars pointed out in the original errata. Great part
of this second edition was also destroyed by fire.
hire during the summer, and at his house in Westminster during the winter season, where, in 1711, he was seized with a dysentery, of which he died Oct. 29, in the sixtyfifth
Sir Robert resided usually at Pinbury park in Gloucestershire during the summer, and at his house in Westminster during the winter season, where, in 1711, he was seized with a dysentery, of which he died Oct. 29, in the sixtyfifth year of his age. He was interred in the parish church of Saperton, where a noble monument was erected to his memory by Louisa lady Atkyns, his widow and a good many years after a neat monument was erected in Westminster abbey, nearly opposite Shakspeare’s, to the memory of sir Robert Atkyns senior, his brother sir Edward Atkyns, and sir Robert Atkyns, jun.
hical author, born in Gloucestershire, in 1615; studied at Baliol college, Oxford, in 1629, where he was a gentleman commoner, and removed afterwards to Lincoln’s inn.
, a typographical author, born in
Gloucestershire, in 1615; studied at Baliol college, Oxford, in 1629, where he was a gentleman commoner, and
removed afterwards to Lincoln’s inn. He visited France
with a young nobleman, and at his return frequented the
court but the civil wars breaking out, he suffered much
on account of his loyalty. After the restoration he was a
deputy-lieutenant of Gloucestershire. Having been at the
expence of above a thousand pounds in law-suits for near
twenty-four years, to prove the right of the king’s grant in
printing law books, he had some hopes of repairing his finances by his pen and published his “Original and
growth of Printing in England,
” 4to, Vindication,
” &c. containing a
relation of several passages in the western wars of England,
wherein he was concerned. To which are added his “Sighs
and Ejaculations,
” 4to,
, a French poet, was born at Paris in 1697, educated for the church, and made a canon
, a French poet, was born at Paris in 1697, educated for the church, and made a canon of Rheims. He passed his iife, however, in Paris, keeping all sorts of company, good and bad, and rendering himself universally agreeable by his impromptus, his songs, and madrigals, some of which were of the satirical kind, and occasionally involved him in quarrels. Towards the close of his life, he renounced the world, and was made a convert to piety by the abbe Gautier, who was afterwards the confessor of Voltaire. The Parisian wits observed that such an attempt was worthy of Gautier, as he was chaplain to the hospital of incurables. The abbe Attaignant died at Paris Jan. 10, 1779. He published
, an Augustin monk, was torn at St. Philip of Agire, or Argire, an ancient town of Sicily,
, an Augustin monk, was
torn at St. Philip of Agire, or Argire, an ancient town of
Sicily, and became professor of church history in the university of Catania, and in 1758 provincial of his order in
Sicily and Malta. He wrote, 1. a Bilancia della Verita,“Palermo, 1738, 4to. This was an answer to a book entitled
” Paulus apostolus in Mari, quod hunc Venetus sinus dicifcur, naufragus," by P. Ignatius Giorgi, a Benedictine of
Hagusa. The dispute respected the name of the island on
which St. Paul was shipwrecked, called in Latin Melita.
Giorgi was of opinion that it was an island in Dalmatia,
now called Melada, while Attardi maintained the more
common opinion that it was the well known island of Malta.
s one of the many attacks on Muratori, for publishing, under the name of Antonio Lampridio, “that it was not necessary to defend the immaculate conception by force of
2. “Lettera scritta ad un suo amico, in prova che San
Filippo d'Argira fu mandate dal principe degli apostoli
San Pietro,
” Palermo, La Riposta senza
inaschera al sig. Lodovico Antonio Muratori,
” Palermo,
1742. This is one of the many attacks on Muratori, for
publishing, under the name of Antonio Lampridio, “that
it was not necessary to defend the immaculate conception
by force of arms.
” The time of Attardi’s death is not
mentioned.
, generally known in Italy by the name of Father Paul of Florence, was born in that city in 1419. He entered early in life into the
, generally known in Italy by the
name of Father Paul of Florence, was born in that city in
1419. He entered early in life into the religious order of
the Servites, that is, the Servants of the Blessed Virgin,
instituted first in 1223, in Tuscany, by some Florentine
merchants. To great piety he is said to have added a portion of learning, not very common in his time, and Marsilius Ficinus compared his eloquence to the charms of Orpheus. He was intimate with the most learned men of his
time, and was often present at the Platonic academy which
met in the palace of Lorenzo de Medici. He contributed
much to the extent of his order in Piedmont, Savoy, and
Switzerland, and became provincial in Tuscany. He died
at Florence, in May 1499. His works were, 1. “Vita
beati Joachimi,
” inserted in Bollandus’s Acts of the Saints.
2. “Quadragesimale de reditu peccatoris ad Deum,
” Milan, Breviarium totius juris canonici,
”
Milan, Expositio in Psalmos prenitentiales,
” Milan, De origine ordinis Servorum beatae Marias dialogus.
”
This work, which was written in
, a military character, and a man of letters, was born at Bagnacvallo in the kingdom of Naples, about the year
, a military character, and a
man of letters, was born at Bagnacvallo in the kingdom of
Naples, about the year 1530, and accompanied the prince
of Salerno, general to Charles V. in his expedition against
Piedmont. He diverted the fatigues of his campaigns by
the study of polite literature, and the cultivation of a
poetical taste. His works were, “II Duello,
” Venice, 1560,
which is a history of celebrated duels, and the laws respecting that remnant of barbarity. “A Discourse on Honour,
”
, a learned writer of the sixteenth century, was the son of an able engineer of the same name, and born at Capua.
, a learned writer of the
sixteenth century, was the son of an able engineer of the
same name, and born at Capua. He became a secular
priest, and was distinguished not only for his knowledge of
modern languages, to which he added the Hebrew, Arabic,
and Greek, but for his poetry, and the active part he took
in the famous dispute between the academy of La Crusca
and Camille Pelegrino, on the subject of Tasso’s “Jerusalem delivered.
” Attendolo espoused the cause of Tasso,
although himself a member of the academy, and highly
respected by his brethren. He was killed by the overturning of a carriage, the wheels of which went over his body,
and injured him so much that he died in a few hours. This
accident happened in 1592, or 1593. His works are,
1. “Orazione nell‘ essequie di Carlo d’ Austria principe di
Spagna,
” Naples, Orazione militare, all’
altezza del serenissimo D. Giovanni d' Austria, per la vittoria navale ottenuta dalla Santa Lega nell 7 Echinadi,
”
Naples, Rime, con un breve discorso dell'
epica poesia,
” Florence, Bozzo di XII. Lezioni sopra la canzone di M. Francesco Petrarca Vergine Bella, &c.
” Naples, 1604, 4to, a work left imperfect by the death of the
author. 5. “Unita della materia poetica sotto dieci predicamenti e sentiment! ne' due principi della Toscana e
Latina poesia, Petrarca eVirgilio,
” Naples, La Lacrime di S. Pietro,
” which the author had
left imperfect, but the friends of Tansillo were of opinion
he had taken too great liberties, which in the subsequent
editions they endeavoured to obviate by restoring the poem
more nearly to the state in which Tansillo left it.
, born about the year 1631. He was the son of Francis Atterbury, rector of Middleton Malser, or
, born about the year 1631. He
was the son of Francis Atterbury, rector of Middleton
Malser, or Milton, in Northamptonshire, who among other
ministers subscribed the solemn league and covenant in
1648. He was entered a student of Christ-church, Oxford,
1647, toofc the degree of B. A. Feb. 23, 1649, and was
created M. A. by dispensation from Oliver Cromwell the
chancellor, March I, 1651. He was one of those who had
submitted to the authority of the visitors appointed by the
parliament. In 1654 he became rector of Great or Broad
Rissington, in Gloucestershire and after the restoration,
took a presentation for that benefice under the great seal,
and was instituted again to confirm his title to it. Sept. 11,
1657, he was admitted rector of Milton, or MiddletonKeynes, in Bucks; and at the return of Charles II. took
the same prudent method to corroborate his title to this
living. July 25, 1660, he was made chaplain extraordinary
to Henry duke of Gloucester; and D. D. Dec. 1, the same
year. Returning from Condon, whither the law-suits he
was frequently involved in had brought him, he had the
jnisfortune to be drowned near his own house, Dec. 7,1693.
He published three occasional Sermons, entitled “The
good old Subject or the right Test of Religion and Loyalty,
” London, The Ground of Christian
Feasts,
” Babylon’s Downfall,
”
, eldest son of the preceding, was born at Caldecot, in the parish of Newport Pagnel, in Bucks,
, eldest son of the preceding,
was born at Caldecot, in the parish of Newport Pagnel, in
Bucks, on May 2, 1656. He was educated at Westminsterschool under Dr. Busby, and sent to Christ-church, Oxford, at the age of eighteen. He was ordained deacon in
Sept. 1679, being then B. A. and priest the year following,
when also he commenced M. A. In 1683, he served the
office of chaplain to sir William Pritchard, lord mayor of
London. In Feb. 1684 he was instituted rector of Symel
in Northamptonshire, which living he afterwards resigned
upon his accepting of other preferments. July 8, 1687, he
accumulated the degrees of bachelor aud doctor of civil law.
In 1691 we find him lecturer of St. Mary Hill in London.
Soon after his marriage he settled at Highgate, where he
supplied the pulpit of the reverend Mr. Daniel Lathom,
who was very old and infirm, and had lost his sight and,
upon the death of this gentleman, was in June 1695 elected
by the trustees of Highgate chapel to be their preacher.
He had a little before been appointed one of the six preaching chaplains to the princess Anne of Denmark at Whitehall and St. James’s, which place he continued to supply
after she came to the crown, and likewise during part of
the reign of George I. When he first resided at Highgate,
observing what difficulties the poor in the neighbourhood
underwent for want of a good physician or apothecary, he
studied physic and acquiring considerable skill, practised
it gratis among his poor neighbours. In 1707, the queen presented him to the rectory of Shepperton in Middlesex and
in March 1719, the bishop of London collated him to the
rectory of Hornsey, which was the more agreeable to him,
because the chapel of Highgate being situate in that parish,
many of his constant hearers became now his parishioners.
In 1720, on a report of the death of Dr. Sprat, archdeacon of Rochester, he applied to his brother, the celebrated bishop, in whose gift this preferment was, to be appointed to succeed him. The bishop giving his brother
some reasons why he thought it improper to make him his
archdeacon the doctor replied, “Your lordship very well
knows that Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury, had a
brother for his archdeacon and that sir Thomas More’s
father was a puisne judge when he was lord chancellor.
And thus, in the sacred history, did God himself appoint
that the safety and advancement of the patriarchs should
be procured by their younger brother, and that they with
their father should live under the protection and government of Joseph.
” In answer to this, which was not very
conclusive reasoning, the bishop informs his brother, that
the archdeacon was not dead, but well, and likely to continue so. He died, however, soon after; and, on the 20tli
of May 1720, the bishop collated Dr. Brydges, the duke
of Chandos’s brother, to the archdeaconry, after writing
thus in the morning to the doctor “I hope you are convinced by what I have said and written, that nothing could
have been more improper than the placing you in that post
immediately under myself. Could I have been easy under
that thought, you may be sure no man living should have
had the preference to you.
” To this the doctor answered:
“There is some shew of reason, I think, for the non-acceptance, but none for the not giving it. And since your
lordship was pleased to signify to me that I should overrule you in this matter, I confess it was some disappointment to me. I hope I shall be content with that meaner
post in which I am my time at longest being but short in
this world, and my health not suffering me to make those
necessary applications others do nor do I understand the
language of the present times for, I find, I begin to grow
an old-fashioned gentleman, and am ignorant of the weight
and value of words, which in our times rise and fall like
stock.
” In this affecting correspondence there is evidently
a portion of irritation on the part of Dr. Lewis, which is not
softened by his brother’s letters but there must have been
some reasons not stated by the latter for his refusal, and it
is certain that they lived afterwards in the strictest bonds
of affection.
(after his grand-daughter, who did not long survive him) heir to all his fortune. This granddaughter was the daughter of Mr. George Sweetapple of St. Andrew’s, brewer,
Dr. Lewis Atterbury died at Bath, whither he went for
a paralytic disorder, Oct. 20, 1731. In his will he gave
some few books to the libraries at Bedford and Newport,
and his whole collection of pamphlets, amounting to upwards of two hundred volumes, to the library of Christchurch, Oxford. He charged his estate for ever with the
payment of ten pounds yearly to a school-mistress to instruct girls at Newport-Pagnel, which salary he had himself
in his lifetime paid for many years. He remembered some
of his friends, and left a respectful legacy of one hundred
pounds to his “dear brother, in token of his true esteem and
affection,
” as the words of the will are and made the
bishop’s son Osborn (after his grand-daughter, who did not long survive him) heir to all his fortune. This granddaughter was the daughter of Mr. George Sweetapple of
St. Andrew’s, brewer, by Dr. Lewis’s only daughter. He
had married Penelope, the daughter of Mr. John Bedingfield, by whom he had this daughter, and three sons, none
of whom survived him Mrs. Atterbury died May I, 1723,
and the grand-daughter in 1732.
oints in controversy between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants, By N. Colson,” whose real name was Cornelius Nary, an Irish priest, and author of a Church History
His works are, 1. Two volumes of “Sermons,
” The Penitent Lady translated from
the French of the famous madam la Valliere,
” An Answer to a popish book, entitled, A
true and modest account of the chief points in controversy
between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants, By N.
Colson,
” whose real name was Cornelius Nary, an Irish
priest, and author of a Church History from the creation
to the birth of Christ some controversial Tracts against
Archbishop Synge and an English version of the New
Testament. In his “True and modest account
” Synge had
reflected upon Dr. Tillotson, which induced Atterbury to
answer him. 5. “The Re-union of Christians translated
from the French,
”
, bishop of Rochester in the reigns of queen Anne and king George I. was born March 6, 1662-3, at Milton or Middleton Keynes, near Newport-
, bishop of Rochester in the
reigns of queen Anne and king George I. was born March
6, 1662-3, at Milton or Middleton Keynes, near Newport- Pagnel, Bucks. He was admitted a king’s scholar in
1676 at Westminster-school; and thence, in 1680, was
elected a student of Christ-Church college, Oxford, where
he soon distinguished himself by his wit and learning and
gave early proofs of his poetical talents, in a Latin version
of Dryden’s “Absalom and Achitophel,
” published in
Ανθολογια, seu selecta
quædam poematum Italorum qui Latin escripserunt,
” which
was afterwards enlarged and published by Pope in 1740,
with the omission, however, of Atterbury’s excellent preface. In 1687 he made his first essay in controversial
writing, and shewed himself as an able and strenuous advocate for the Protestant religion, in “An Answer to
some Considerations on the spirit of Martin Luther, and the
original of the Reformation.
” These Considerations were
published under the name of Abraham Woodhead, who
was a popish writer, but were really written by Obadiah
Walker, master of University college, Oxford. Mr. Atterbury’s answer was soon after animadverted upon by Mr.
Thomas Deane, fellow of University college, at the end of
“The Religion of Martin Luther, whether Catholic or
Protestant, proved from his own works.
” This spirited
performance of Atterbury induced bishop Burnet to rank
the author among the eminent divines who had distinguished
themselves by their admirable defences of the Protestant
religion. Atterbury also pleads this pamphlet in his speech
at his trial, as a proof of his zeal in that cause, and the
same was urged by his counsel.
His application to study was intense. In polite literature, and even in mathematical researches,
His application to study was intense. In polite literature,
and even in mathematical researches, he is known to have
eminently excelled, and there are some proofs, in his correspondence, of his attachment to religious duties. Nor
was he less distinguished for social qualities. Among his
more immediate intimates may be reckoned Smalridge,
Whitfield, Hickman, Charlett, Harrington, Newton, King,
Travell, Gough, and the two brothers, Robert and John
Freind. By his tutors at Westminster, Busby and Knipe,
he had been particularly noticed, and at Christ Church he
was honoured with the friendship of Dr. Aldrich. While
thus successful in the severer paths of study, he occasionally indulged in poetical attempts but, although his
attachment to the Muses continued unimpaired throughout
life, not many of his poems have been preserved, and some
of those have not till lately been ascertained to be his production. It is somewhat singular that his name, as far as
we have searched, does not appear in any one of the public complimentary verses which have issued from the unirersky press on public occasions. We have translations of
three odes and part of an epistle of Horace, one eclogue
from Virgil, an idyllium from Theocritus, two short original songs, a Latin elegy, an impromptu, two Latin epigrams, and one in English, much admired, on the fan of
Miss Osborne, the lady whom he afterwards married. These
are all his juvenile pieces that have been recovered but
there are some elegant epitaphs from his maturerpen, and
some political squibs. He is said to have completed a version of Virgil’s Georgics not long before his death, but this
has never been ascertained. In 1690, his zeal for the memory of a favourite writer induced him to write a preface
to the “Second part of Mr. Waller’s poems.
”
ousness of the son, and his dissatisfaction. He had taken the degree of B. A. June 13, 1684 (when he was little more than twenty-two years old) ayd that of M.A. April
The time of his entering into the church is not exactly
known but may be very nearly ascertained by his “Epistolary Correspondence;
” where a letter to his father in pinned down,
as,
” he says, “it is his hard luck to be, to this scene.
”
This restlessness appears to have broken out in October
1690, when he was moderator of the college, and had had
Mr. Boyle four months under his tuition, who a took up
half his time,“and whom he never had a thought of parting with till he should leave Oxford; but wished he
” could
part with him to-morrow on that score.“The father tells
him in November,
” You used to say, when you had your
degrees, you should be able to swim without bladders.
You used to rejoice at your being moderator, and of the
quantum and sub-lecturer but neither of these pleased
you; nor was you willing to take those pupils the house
afforded you when master nor doth your lecturer’s place,
or nobleman satisfy you.“In the same letter the father
advises his marrying into some family of interest,
” either
bishop’s or archbishop’s, or some courtier’s, which may be
done, with accomplishments, and a portion too.“And to
part of this counsel young Atterbury attended for he soon
after married Miss Osborn, a relation (some say a niece) of
the duke of Leeds, a great beauty, who lived at or in the
neighbourhood of Oxford, and by whom he had a fortune
ofTOOO/. In February 1690-1, we find him resolved
” to
bestir himself in his office in the house,“that of censor
probably, an officer (peculiar to Christ Church) who presides over the classical exercises he then also held the
catechetical lecture founded by Dr. Busby. About this
period he probably took orders, and entered into
” another
scene, and another sort of conversation;“for in 1691 he
was elected lecturer of St. Bride’s church in London, and
in October 1693, minister and preacher at Bridewell chapel. An academic life, indeed, must have been irksome
and insipid to a person of his active and aspiring temper.
It was hardly possible that a clergyman of his fine genius,
improved by study, with a spirit to exert his talents, should
remain long unnoticed and we find that he was soon appointed chaplain to king William and queen Mary. The
earliest of his sermons in print was preached before the
queen at Whitehall, May 29, 1692. In August 1694 he
preached his celebrated sermon before the governors of
Bridewell and Bethlem,
” On the power of charity to cover
sins“to which Mr. Hoadly (afterwards bishop) published
sorne^
” Exceptions“in the postscript to his
” Second Letter to Dr. Atterbury,“mentioned hereafter. In this he
accuses Atterbury, and not without reason, of endeavouring to maintain the proposition that
” God will accept
one duty (charity) in lieu of many others.“In
” October
that year he preached before the queen p “The scorncr
incapable of true wisdom
” which was also warmly attacked by a friend of sir Robert Howard, author of “The
History of Religion,
” supposed to be alluded to in this
sermon. The pamphlet was entitled “A two-fold Vindication of the late archbishop of Canterbury, and the
Author of the History of Religion, &c.
”
he doctor, that, in order to his revenge on Mr. Boyle, he published a long letter to Dr. Wotton, who was then employed in writing on the State of ancient and modern
The share he took in the controversy against Bentley is
now very clearly ascertained. In one of the letters to his
noble pupil, dated “Chelsea, 1698,
” he says, “the matter
had cost him some time and trouble. In laying the design
of the book, in writing above half of it, in reviewing a
good part of the rest, in transcribing the whole, and attending the press,
” he adds, “half a year of my life went
away.
” His pupil, afterwards lord Orrery, about the year
1695, obliged the world with a new edition of Phalaris’s
Epistles in the preface to which, he complains of Dr.
Bentley, the king’s library-keeper, who had (pro solitd sud humanitate) denied him the inspection of a valuable manuscript. This sarcasm so exasperated the doctor, that, in
order to his revenge on Mr. Boyle, he published a long
letter to Dr. Wotton, who was then employed in writing
on the State of ancient and modern Learning in which
he undertakes to prove, that the Epistles, which go under
the name of Phalaris, are spurious, and probably the work
of some modern sophist. This drew from Mr. Boyle a reply, so full of satire and raillery, that, on which side soever truth and argument may be supposed to lie, the wit,
and the laugh too, were evidently on Mr. Boyle’s. This
reply was said to be written, jointly, by a select club of
ingenious men belonging to Christ Church among whom.
Atterbury is now clearly proved to have been the chief.
In 1700, a still larger field of activity opened, in which Atterbury was engaged four years with Dr. Wake (afterwards archbishop of Canterbury)
In 1700, a still larger field of activity opened, in which
Atterbury was engaged four years with Dr. Wake (afterwards archbishop of Canterbury) and others, concerning
the rights, powers, and privileges of convocations in which
he displayed so much learning and ingenuity, as well as
zeal for the interests of his order, that the lower house of
convocation returned him their thanks; and in consequence
of this vote a letter was sent to the university of Oxford,
expressing, that, “whereas Mr. Francis Atterbury, late of
Christ Church, had so happily asserted the rights and privileges of an English convocation, as to merit the solemn
thanks of the lower house for his learned pains upon that
subject; it might be hoped, that the university would be
no less forward in taking some public notice of so great a
piece of service to the church and that the most proper
and seasonable mark of respect to him, would be to confer
on him the degree of doctor in divinity by diploma, without doing exercise, or paying fees.
” The university approved the contents of this letter, and accordingly created
Mr. AtterburyD.D. Out author’s work was entitled, “The
Rights, Powers, and Privileges of an English Convocation
stated and vindicated, in answer to a late book of Dr.
Wake’s, entitled ‘ The Authority of Christian Princes over
their Ecclesiastical Synods asserted,’ &c. and several other
pieces,
” 8vo. The fame of this work was very great; but
it was censured by Burnet, and in November the judges
had a serious consultation on it, as being supposed to affect the royal prerogative. Holt, then chief justice, was
strongly of that opinion, and the same idea was encouraged
by archbishop Tenison, Dr. Wake, and others. Endeavours were made to prejudice king William against him,
but his majesty remained indifferent; and on the other
hand, Atterbury gained the steady patronage of sir Jonathan Trelawny, bishop of Exeter, of Lawrence earl of
Rochester, and of bishop Sprat. In December 1700, he
published a second edition of “The Rights,
” considerably
enlarged, and with his name, and a dedication to the two
archbishops. This was immediately answered by Drs. Kennet, Hody, and Wake. Another controversy of some importance was at this time also ably agitated by Atterbury,
the execution of the prtemunienles, a privilege enjoyed by
the several bishops of issuing writs to summon the inferior
clergy to convocation. Bishops Compton, Sprat, and Trelawny, were his strenuous supporters on this occasion, and
by the latter he was presented to the archdeaconry of
Totness, in which he was installed Jan. 29, 1700-1. His
attendance in convocation was regular, and his exertions
great. In placing Dr. Hooper in the prolocutor’s chair,
as the successor of Dr. Jane in the examination of obnoxious books in the controversy between the lower and
upper houses in considering the methods of promoting
the propagation of religion in foreign parts and in preparing an address to the king, his zeal distinguished itself.
About this time he was engaged, with some other learned
divines, in revising an intended edition of the Greek Testament, with Greek Scholia, collected chiefly from the
fathers, by Mr. archdeacon Gregory. On the 29th of May
he preached before the House of Commons; and on Aug. 16,
published “The power of the Lower House of Convocation
to adjourn itself,
” which was a sort of analysis of the whole
controversy. He also published “A letter to a clergyman in the country, concerning the Choice of Members,
&c.
” Nov. 17, 1701; a second, with a similar title, Dec.
10, 1701; and a third, in defence of the two former, Jan. 8,
1701-2. In October he published “The parliamentary
origin and rights of the Lower House of Convocation,
cleared, &c.
” At this period he was popular as preacher
at the Rolls Chapel, an office which had been conferred on
him by sir John Trevor, a great discerner of abilities, in
1698, when he resigned JBridewell, which he had obtained
in 1693. Upon the accession of queen Anne, in 1702,
Dr. Atterbury was appointed one of her majesty’s chaplains
in ordinary and, in July 1704, was advanced to the deanery of Carlisle but, owing to the obstacles thrown in his
way by bishop Nicolson, he was not instituted tintil Oct.
12, and the same year Sir Jonathan Trelawny bestowed on
him a canonry of Exeter. About two years after this, he
was engaged in a dispute with Mr. Hoadly, concerning the
advantages of virtue with regard to the present life, occasioned by his sermon, preached August 30, 1706, at the
funeral of Mr. Thomas Bennet, a bookseller. The doctrine of this sermon Mr. Hoadly examined, in “A letter
to Dr. Francis Atterbury, concerning Virtue and Vice,
”
published in Preface,
” Mr. Hoadly published in Asecond letter,
” &c. and in the Preface to his “Tracts,
”
tells us, these two letters against Dr. Atterbury were designed to vindicate and establish the tendency of virtue and
morality to the present happiness of such a creature as
man is which he esteems a point of the utmost importance
to the Gospel itself. In Jan. 1707-8 he published a volume
of Sermons, 8vo, and in the same year “Reflections on a
late scandalous report about the repeal of the Test Act.
”
In Concio ad Clerum Londinensem,
habita in Ecclesia S. Elphegi.
” Atterbury, in his pamphlet
entitled “Some proceedings in Convocation, A. D. 1705,
faithfully represented,
” had charged Mr. Hoadly (whom he sneeringly calls “the modest and moderate Mr. Hoadly
”)
with treating the body of the established clergy with language more disdainful and reviling than it would have become him to have used towards his Presbyterian antagonist,
upon any provocation, charging them with rebellion in the
church, whilst he himself was preaching it up in the state.“This induced Mr. Hoadly to set about a particular examination of Dr. Atterbury' s Latin Sermon; which he did in a
piece, entitled
” A large Answer to Dr. Atterbury’s Charge
of Rebellion, &c. London a 1710,“wherein he endeavours
to lay open the doctor’s artful management of the controversy, and to let the reader into his true meaning and design which, in an
” Appendix“to the
” Answer,“he
represents to be
” The carrying on two different causes,
upon two sets of contradictory principles“in order to
” gain himself applause amongst the same persons at the
same time, by standing up for and against liberty; by depressing the prerogative, and exalting it by lessening the
executive power, and magnifying it by loading some
with all infamy, for pleading for submission to it in one
particular which he supposeth an mcroachment, and by
loading others with the same infamy for pleading against
submission to it, in cases that touch the happiness of the
whole community.“” This,“he tells us,
” is a method
of controversy so peculiar to one person (Dr. Atterbury) as
that he knows not that it hath ever been practised, or attempted by any other writer.“Mr. Hoadly has likewise
transcribed, in this Appendix, some remarkable passages
out of our author’s
” Rights, Powers, and Privileges, &c."
which he confronts with others, from his Latin Sermon.
In 1710 came on the celebrated trial of Dr. Sacheverell, whose remarkable speech on that occasion was generally supposed to have been drawn up by our author, to whom
In 1710 came on the celebrated trial of Dr. Sacheverell,
whose remarkable speech on that occasion was generally
supposed to have been drawn up by our author, to whom
Sacheverell, in his last will, bequeathed 500l. in conjunction
with Smalridge and Freind. The same year Dr. Atterbury
was unanimously chosen prolocutor of the lower house of
convocation, and had the chief management of affairs in
that house. This we learn from bishop Burnet.In his
account of this convocation, having observed, that the
queen, in appointing a committee of bishops to be present,
and consenting to their resolutions, not only passed over all
the bishops made in king William’s reign, but a great many
of those named by herself, and set the bishops of Bristol
and St. David’s, then newly consecrated, in a distinction
above all their brethren, by adding them to the committee,
upon the indisposition of the archbishop and others, he adds
“All this was directed by Dr. Atterbury, who had the confidence of the chief minister and because the other bishops
had maintained a good correspondence with the former
ministry, it was thought fit to put the marks of the queen’s
distrust upon them, that it might appear with whom her
royal favour and trust wa^ lodged.
” May 11, 1711, he was
appointed, by the convocation, one of the committee for
comparing Mr. Whiston’s doctrines with those of the
church of England and, in June following, he had the
chief hand in drawing up “A Representation of the present State of Religion.
” In no sooner was he settled
there,
” says Stackhouse, “than all ran into disorder and confusion. The canons had been long accustomed to the mild and
gentle government of a dean, who had every thing in him
that was endearing to mankind, and could not therefore
brook the wide difference that they perceived in Dr. Atterbury. That imperious and despotic manner, in which he
seemed resolved to carry every thing, made them more
tenacious of their rights, and inclinable to make fewer
concessions, the more he endeavoured to grasp at power,
and tyrannize. This opposition raised the ferment, and,
in a short time, there ensued such strife and contention,
such bitter words and scandalous quarrels among them, that
it was thought adviseable to remove him, on purpose to
restore peace and tranquillity to that learned body, and that
tether colleges might not take the infection a new method
of obtaining preferment, by indulging such a temper, and
pursuing such practices, as least of all deserve it In a
word,
” adds this writer, “wherever he came, under one pretence or other, but chiefly under the notion of asserting his
rights and privileges, he had a rare talent of fomenting
discord, and blowing the coals of contention which made
a learned successor (Dr. Smalridge) in two of his preferments complain of his hard fate, in being forced to carry
water after him, to extinguish the flames, which his litigiousness had every where occasioned.
” The next year
saw him at the top of his preferment, as well as of his reputation for, in the beginning of June 1713, the queen,
at the recommendation of lord chancellor Harcourt, advanced him to the bishopric of Rochester, with the deanery
of Westminster in commendam he was confirmed July 4,
and consecrated at Lambeth next day.
our) with the chair of state and royal canopy, his own perquisites as dean of Westminster, the offer was rejected, not without some evident marks of dislike to his person.
At the beginning of the succeeding reign, his tide of
prosperity began to turn and he received a sensible mortification presently after the coronation of king George I.
Oct. 20, 1714, when, upon his offering to present his majesty (with a view, no doubt, of standing better in his favour) with the chair of state and royal canopy, his own
perquisites as dean of Westminster, the offer was rejected,
not without some evident marks of dislike to his person.
At the close of this year he is supposed to have written a
pamphlet, deemed a libel by government, “English Advice
to the Freeholders of England.
” Bolingbroke and Swift
were also supposed to have had a hand in it. During the
rebellion in Scotland, which broke out in the first year of
this reign, Atterbury gave an instance of his growing disaffection to the established government, in refusing to sign
the “Declaration
” of the bishops. In that juncture of
affairs, when the Pretender’s declaration was posted up in
most market towns, and, in some places, his title proclaimed, it^was thought proper, by most bodies of men, to
give the government all possible assurance of their fidelity
iand allegiance and accordingly there was published “A
Declaration of the archbishop of Canterbury, and the
bishops in and near London, testifying their abhorrence of
the present rebellion and an exhortation to the clergy,
and people under their care, to be zealous in the discharge
of their duties to his majesty king George.
” This paper
both Atterbury and Smalridge refused to sign, on pretence
of a just offence taken at some unbecoming reflections cast
on a party, not inferior to any, they said, in point of loyalty. But Atterbury' s refusal of signing the declaration of
his episcopal brethren, during the rebellion in Scotland,
was not the only testimony he at that time afforded of his
disaffection to government. Another remarkable proof of
it was his conduct to an ingenious and learned clergyman,
Mr. Gibbin, curate of Gravesend. When the Dutch troops,
which came over to assist in subduing the rebellion, were
quartered at that place, the officers requested of Mr. Gibbin
the use of his church one Sunday morning for their chaplain to preach to their soldiers, alleging that the like favour
had been granted them in other parishes, and promising
that the service should begin at six in the morning, that it
might not interfere with that of the town. The request was
granted, the chaplain preached, and his congregation was
dismissed by nine o'clock. But Dr. Atterbury was so in^
censed at this transaction, that he suspended Mr. Gibbiu
for three years. The suspension, however, was deemed
so injurious by the inhabitants of Gravesend, that they
subscribed a sum to Mr. Gibbin more than double the
income of his church and the affair being represented
to the king, his majesty* gave him the rectory of NorthFleet in Kent, which living he afterwards exchanged for
Birch, near Colchester in Essex, where he died July 29,
1752. He was a very ingenious, learned, and worthy
clergyman, who had greatly improved and enlarged his
mind, by his travels into France, Italy, and other countries, with Mr. Addison. A farther striking instance (if true) of bishop Atterbury’s attachment to the Pretender,
is related, by the author of the “Memoirs of lord Chesterfield,
” from Dr. Birch’s manuscript papers, and was
often mentioned by the late bishop Pearce (who appears to have been always severe on the memory of Atterbury)
“Lord Harcourt leaving the old ministry, provoked Atterbury’s abusive tongue. He, in return, declared, that
on the queen’s death, the bishop came to him and to lord
Bolingbroke, and said, nothing remained but immediately
to proclaim king James. He further offered, if they would
give him a guard, to put on his lawn sleeves, and head
the procession.
” Whatever may be in this, it is certain
that from the time he perceived himself slighted by tile
king he constantly opposed the measures of the court in
the House of Lords, and drew up some of the most violent
protests with his own hand. In 1716, we find him advising dean Swift in the management of a refractory
chapter.
lieving it to be a forged one, desired the officers not to do it, and to bear witness that the paper was not found with him. Nevertheless they did it and, though they
In this memorable year, the government, on a suspicion
of his being concerned in a plot in favour of the Pretender,
had him apprehended August 24, and committed prisoner
to the Tower. Two officers, the under-secretary, and a
messenger, went about two o'clock in the afternoon to the
bishop’s house at Westminster, with orders to bring him
and his papers before the council. He happened to be in
his night-gown when they came in, and being made acquainted with their business, he desired time to dress himself. In the mean time his secretary came in, and the
officers went to search for his papers in the sealing of
which the messenger brought a paper, which he pretended
to have found in his close-siool, and desired it might be
sealed up with the rest. His lordship observing it, and
believing it to be a forged one, desired the officers not to
do it, and to bear witness that the paper was not found
with him. Nevertheless they did it and, though they behaved themselves with some respect to him, they suffered
the. messengers to treat him in a very rough manner,
threatening him, if he did not make haste to dress himself,
they would carry him away undrest as he was. Upon
which he ordered his secretary to see his papers all sealed
up, and went himself directly to the Cockpit, where the
council waited for him. The behaviour of the messengers
upon this occasion seems to have been very unwarrantable,
if what the author of “A letter to the Clergy of the Church
of England,
” &c. tells us, be true, that the persons directed
by order of the king and council to seize his lordship and
his papers, received a strict command to treat him with great
respect and reverence. However this was, when he came
before the council, he behaved with a great deal of calmness, and they with much civility towards him. He had
liberty to speak for himself as much as he pleased, and
they listened to his defence with a great deal of attention;
and, what is more unusual, after he was withdrawn, he had
twice liberty to re-enter the council-chamber, to make for
himself such representations and requests as he thought
proper. It is said, that while he was under examination,
he made use of our Saviour’s answer to the Jewish council,
while he stood before them “If I tell you, ye will not
believe me and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me,
nor let me go.
” After three quarters of an hour’s stay at
the Cockpit, he was sent to the Tower, privately, in his own
coach, without any noise or observation.
This commitment of a bishop upon the suspicion of hightreason, as it was a thing rarely practised since the Reformation, occasioned various
This commitment of a bishop upon the suspicion of hightreason, as it was a thing rarely practised since the Reformation, occasioned various speculations among the people.
March 23, 1723, a bill was brought into the House of Commons, for “inflicting certain pains and penalties on Francis lord bishop of Rochester
” a copy of which was sent to
him, with notice that he had liberty of counsel and solicitors for making his defence. Under these circumstances,
the bishop applied, by petition, to the House of Lords, for
their direction and advice, as to his conduct in this conjuncture and April 4, he acquainted the Speaker of the
House of Commons, by a letter, that he was determined to
give that house no trouble, in relation to the bill depending
therein but should be ready to make his defence against
it, when it should be argued in another house, of which he
had the honour to be a member. On the 9th, the bill
passed the House of Commons, and was the same day sent
up to the House of Lords for their concurrence. May 6,
being the day appointed by the lords for the first reading
of the bill, bishop Atterbury was brought to Westminster,
to make his defence. The counsel for the bishop were, sir
Constantine Phipps and William Wynne, esq. for the
king, Mr. Reeve and Mr. Wearg. The proceedings continued above a week; and on Saturday, May 11, the bishop
was permitted to plead for himself, which he did in a very
eloquent speech. On Monday the 13th he was carried, for
the last time, from the Tower, to hear the reply of the
king’s counsel to his defence. On the 15th, the bill was
read the third time, and, after a long and warm detiate,
passed on the 16th, by a majority of 83 to 43. On the
27th, the king came to the house, and confirmed it by his
royal assent. June 18, 1723, this eminent prelate, having
the day before taken leave of his friends, who, from the
time of passing the bill against him, to the day of his
departure, had free access to him in the Tower, embarked on
board the Aldborough man of war, and landed the Friday
following at Calais. When he went on shore, having been
informed that lord Bolingbroke, who had, after the rising
of the parliament, received the king’s pardon, was arrived
at the same place on his return to England, he said, with
an air of pleasantry, “Then I am exchanged
” and it was,
in the opinion of Mr. Pope on the same occasion, “a sign
of the nation’s being afraid of being over-run with too
much politeness, when it could not regain one great man,
but at the expence of another.
” But the severity of his
treatment did not cease even with his banishment. The
same vindictive spirit pursued him in foreign climes. NoBritish subject was even permitted to visit him without the
king’s sign manual, which Mr. Morice was always obligee!
to solicit, not only for himself, but for every one of his
family whom he carried abroad with him, for which the fees
of office were very high.
When bishop Atterbury first entered upon his banishment, Brussels was the place destined for his residence 5 but, by the arts and
When bishop Atterbury first entered upon his banishment, Brussels was the place destined for his residence 5 but, by the arts and instigations of the British ministers, he was compelled to leave that place, and retire to Paris. There, being solicited by the friends of the Pretender to enter into their negociations, he too readily complied, as appears by his correspondence published at Edinburgh in 1768, 4to; but, that he might appear to avoid them, he changed his abode for Montpelier in 1728, and after residing there about two years, returned to Paris, where he died February 15, 1731-2. The affliction which he sustained by the death of his daughter, in 1729, was thought to have hastened his own dissolution.
How far the bishop was attached in his inclinations to the Stuart family, to which
How far the bishop was attached in his inclinations to the Stuart family, to which he might be led by early prejudices of education, and the divided opinions of the times, is now too obvious to admit of controversy. But that he should have been weak enough to engage in a plot so inconsistent with his station, and so clumsily devised (to say the least of it, and without entering into his solemn asseverations of innocence), is utterly inconsistent with that cunning which his enemies allowed him. The duke of Wharton, it is well known, was violent against him, till convinced by his unanswerable reasoning.
than either of the others. And it has been asserted, from respectable authority, that that bishopric was offered to him whenever it should become vacant (and till that
It has been said that Atterbury’s wishes reached to the bishopric of London, or even to York or Canterbury. But those who were better acquainted with his views, knew that Winchester would have been much more desirable to him than either of the others. And it has been asserted, from respectable authority, that that bishopric was offered to him whenever it should become vacant (and till that event should happen, a pension of 5000l. a-year, besides an ample provision for Mr. Morice) if he would cease to give the opposition he did to sir Robert Wai pole’s administration, by his speeches and protests in the House of Lords. When that offer was rejected by the bishop, then the contrivance for his ruin was determined on but surely no contrivance could have been successful, had he been innocent of the treason laid to his charge.
His body was brought over to England, accompanied by his manuscripts, which
His body was brought over to England, accompanied by his manuscripts, which underwent a strict examination but as nothing of his is now to be found in the State-paper office, it is probable that the whole was lost by neglect, or wilfully destroyed. He was interred on the 12th of May following, in Westminster abbey, in a vault which, in 1722, had been prepared by his directions. There is no memorial over his grave nor could there well be any, unless his friends would have consented (which it is most probable they refused to do) that the words implying him to have died bishop of Rochester should have been omitted on his tomb. The funeral was performed in a very private manner, attended only by his son-in-law Mr. Morice, and his two chaplains, Dr. Savage and Mr. Moore. Upon the urn which contained his bowels was inscribed,
ordship’s chaplain. Four admirable Visitation charges accompany his Epistolary Correspondence, which was completed in 1798, by Mr. Nichols, in 5 vols. 8vo containing
Some time before his death, he published a Vindication
of himself, bishop Smalridge, and Dr. Aldrich, from a
charge brought against them by Mr. Oldmixon, of having
altered and interpolated the copy of lord Clarendons
“History of the Rebellion.
” Bishop Atterbury’s Sermons
are extant in four volumes in 8vo those contained in the
two first were published by himself, and dedicated to his
great patron sir Jonathan Trelawny, bishop of Winchester
those in the two last were published after his death, by
Dr. Thomas Moore, his lordship’s chaplain. Four admirable Visitation charges accompany his Epistolary Correspondence, which was completed in 1798, by Mr. Nichols,
in 5 vols. 8vo containing also all his tracts, and a vast
mass of curious and interesting ecclesiastical history. To
the last volume is prefixed a life, written with great care
and accuracy, and correcting the many mistakes of preceding biographers. It is needless to add how much the
present article stands indebted to Mr. Nichols’s labours.
it may have been differently represented by the opposite parties, it is universally agreed, that he was a man of great learning and uncommon abilities, a fine writer,
As to bishop Atterbury’s character, however the moral
and political part of it may have been differently represented by the opposite parties, it is universally agreed,
that he was a man of great learning and uncommon abilities, a fine writer, and a most excellent preacher. His
learned friend Smalridge, in the speech he made, when he
presented him to the upper house of convocation, as prolocutor, styles him “Vir in nullo literarum genere hospes,
in plerisque artibus et studiis diu et feliciter exercitatus,
in maxime perfectis literarum disciplinis perfectissimus.
”
In his controversial writings, he was sometimes too severe
upon his adversary, and dealt rather too much in satire
and invective but this his panegyrist imputes more to the
natural fervour of his wit, than to any bitterness of temper,
or prepense malice. In his sermons, however, he is not
only every way unexceptionable, but highly to be commended. The truth is, his talent as a preacher was so excellent and remarkable, that it may not improperly he said,
that he owed his preferment to the pulpit, nor any hard matter to trace him, through his writings, to his several promotions in the church. We shall conclude bishop Atterbury’s
character, as a preacher, with the encomium bestowed on
him by the author of “The Tatler
” who, having observed
that the English clergy too much neglect the art of speaking, makes a particular exception with regard to our prelate; who, says he, “has so particular a regard to his
congregation, that he commits to his memory what he has
to say to them, and has so soft and graceful a behaviour,
that it must attract your attention. His person,
”
contnues this author, “it is to be confessed, is no small recommendation but he is to be highly commended for not
losing that advantage, and adding to a propriety of speech
(which might pass the criticism of Longinus) an action
which would have been approved by Demosthenes. He
has a peculiar force in his way, and has many of his audience, who could not be intelligent hearers of his discourse,
were there no explanation as well as grace in his action.
This art of his is used with the most exact and honest skill.
He never attempts your passions till he has convinced your:
reason. All the objections which you can form are laid
open and dispersed, before he uses the least vehemence in
his sermon; but when he thinks he has your head, he very
soon wins your heart, and never pretends to shew the
beauty of holiness, till he has convinced you of the truth
of it.
” In his letters to Pope, &c. bishop Atterbury appears in a pleasing light, both as a writer and as a man.
In ease and elegance they are superior to those of Pope,
which are more studied. There are in them several beautiful references to the classics. The bishop excelled in his
allusions to sacred as well as profane authors.
The following anecdote was first communicated to the public by the late Dr. Maty, on the
The following anecdote was first communicated to the
public by the late Dr. Maty, on the credit of lord Chesterfield: “I went,
” said lord Chesterfield, “to Mr. Pope,
one morning, at Twickenham, and found a large folio
Bible, with gilt clasps, lying before him upon his table
and, as I knew his way of thinking upon that book, I asked
him jocosely, if he was going to write an answer to it It
is a present, said he, or rather a legacy, from my old
friend the bishop of Rochester. I went to take my leave
of him yesterday in the Tower, where I saw this Bible
upon his table. After the first compliments, the bishop
said to me,
” My friend Pope, considering your infirmities, and my age and exile, it is not likely that we should
ever meet again and therefore I give you this legacy to
remember me by it. Take it home with you, and let me
advise you to abide by it.“” Does your lordship abide
by it yourself“” I do.“If you do, my lord, it is but
lately. May I beg to know what new light or arguments
have prevailed with you now, to entertain an opinion so
contrary to that which you entertained of that book all the
former part of your life r
” The bishop replied, “We
have not time to talk of these things, but take home the
book; I will abide by it, and I recommend you to do so
too, and so God bless you.
” It has been justly remarked^
that whatever were the bishop’s faults, we do not recollect
any thing that indicates a disbelief or a doubt of the truth
of Christianity. His actions and writings rather display
him in the light of a zealous supporter of religion than in
that of an infidel. His sermons on the miraculous propagation of the Gospel, and on a standing revelation’s being
the best means of conviction, not to mention others of his
discourses, are important evidences of his attachment to
the Christian religion. It is observable, that he generally
treats unbelievers with contempt, as an ignorant, superficial, and conceited set of men, which he vyould scarcely
have done had he been of the same sentiments for,
though a man may conceal, or deny, or even persecute the
opinions which he himself holds, it is not very likely that
he should appear to despise the retainers of them. With
respect to the above anecdote related by Dr. Maty, the late
Mr. Badcock, from a zeal to vindicate the bishop’s character, as if it were insinuated that he had once been an
unbeliever, wrote a letter in which he endeavoured to deny
the authenticity of the anecdote but, in our opinion, without arriving at that conclusion.
, was a celebrated Roman knight, to whom Cicero wrote a great number
, was a celebrated Roman knight, to whom Cicero wrote a great number of letters, which contain the general history of the times. These are still extant, divided into seventeen books but it is the excellence of Atticus’s private character which has procured him a place in most collections of this description. He was a man of such prudence, that, without departing from his neutrality, he preserved the esteem and affection of all parties. He sent money to the younger Marius, who had been declared an enemy to the commonwealth yet was so much in favour with Sylla, that this Roman general would always have had him with him. He kept himself quiet at Rome during the war between Caesar and Pompey, without giving offence to the one or the other, and he sent money to Brutus, while he was doing kind offices to An%ony. Afterwards, in the cruel divisions which arose between Antony and Augustus, he contrived to preserve the friendship of both, difficult as it must have been in the case of two such antagonists. The strict friendship he had with Cicero., did not hinder him from being intimate with Hortensius and he was the cause (as Nepos, his biographer, tells us) that these two rivals not only ceased from mutual reproaches, but even lived together upon very good terms. The contests between the parties of Cinna and Marius induced him to go to Athens young, where he continued a long time, and became such a favourite with the Athenians, that the day he left them was a day of mourning. He never attempted to raise himself above the rank of life in which he was born, which was that of knight, although he might have obtained the highest posts in the republic but he chose to renounce all pretensions to them, because, in the then prevailing corruption, he could neither gain nor discharge them according to the laws, and as a man of integrity; no inconsiderable proof of his virtue, notwithstanding he has been charged with avarice and political duplicity. He did not marry till he was fifty-three, and had only a daughter, who was married to Agrippa from which marriage came a daughter, whom Augustus betrothed to Tiberius almost as soon as she was born. He reached the age of seventy-seven years, almost without knowing bodily illness but when his last sickness, which was slight for three months, at length became painful, he sent for Agrippa, his son-in-law, and two other persons, and declared to them a resolution to put an end to his life, by abstinence from food. Agrippa remonstrated with tears, but all in vain. After two days abstinence, the fever left him, and the disease abated but Atticus persisted, and died three days after. This happened in the year of Rome 721.
Atticus was extremely fond of polite literature, and was ranked among authors
Atticus was extremely fond of polite literature, and was ranked among authors of reputation, for he wrote Annals, which Cicero declares to have been of great use to him. He was of the sect of Epicurus and, though many have thought it impossible for a denier of a Providence to equal in morality an acknowledger of the Gods, yet Bayle defies any one to shew a person of greater integrity than Atticus among the most bigoted of the Pagans. Much, however, is not gained by exalting the characters of the most eminent of the Pagan heroes, and it is generally done with an insidious purpose.
, patriarch of Constantinople in the beginning of the fifth century, was born at Sebastia, now Soustia, a city of Armenia. He was first
, patriarch of Constantinople in the beginning of the fifth century, was born at Sebastia, now Soustia, a city of Armenia. He was first educated by the Macedonian monks in the principles of their sect, but when arrived at riper years, he embraced the faith of the Catholic church. In the year 406, being then a priest, he was chosen to succeed St. Chrysostom, who had been deprived of the see of Constantinople, but met with much obstruction from the friends of Chrysostom, and from all the bishops of the East, who considered Chrysostom as unjustly deprived, and refused to communicate with the new patriarch. Atticus, upon this, procured an edict from the emperor to compel them, but finding this produced no other effect than schism and confusion, after the death of Chrysostom he ordered his name to be put in the Diptychs, or ecclesiastical tables, in which were inserted the names of persons who had died in the peace and communion of the church, and those names were read at the altar during divine service. He also wrote to St. Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, earnestly intreating him to do the same, but Cyril answered that he should by that step appear to condemn those who had deposed Chrysostom. Both these letters are extant in Nicephorus Calixtus’s Ecclesiastical History. There is another letter of his extant to Calliopius, by which he appears to have been a man of moderate principles towards those who differed from him in opinion. There are likewise some fragments of a homily on the birth of Christ, in the general collection of the Councils, and a fragment of a letter of his to Eupsychius, quoted by Theodoret. Writers differ much in their estimate of his general character and learning.
, a French Jesuit and painter, attached to the mission to Pekin, was born at Dole, in Tranche-Comté, July 31, 1702, and at first
, a French Jesuit and painter,
attached to the mission to Pekin, was born at Dole, in
Tranche-Comté, July 31, 1702, and at first took lessons in
painting, and made considerable proficiency under his father, who was an artist. He then went to Rome, under
the patronage of the marquis de Brossa, and on his return,
painted some pictures at Lyons, which procured him great
reputation. In his thirtieth year he entered among the
Jesuits, in the humble character of a lay- brother, and some,
years afterwards, when the missionaries of Pekin demanded
the services of a painter, he obtained the appointment,
and went to China about the end of 1737. He had no
sooner arrived at Pekin than he offered the emperor a
painting of the Adoration of the Kings, with which the
emperor was so much pleased that he ordered it to be
placed in his interior apartment. Notwithstanding this
promising outset, he underwent many mortifications, in
being obliged to comply with the bad taste of the Chinese
in what paintings he executed for them, and was so teazed
by the emperor himself, that, in order to please him, he was
obliged to take lessons from the Chinese artists but finding that a compliance with their instructions must spoil his
performances, and injure his reputation, he declined painting for his majesty. Ddring the years, however, from
1753 to 1760, distinguished by many victories gained by
the emperor Kien Long, he had frequent orders for battlepieces, &c. which he executed so much to the satisfaction
of that monarch, that he created him a mandarin, and
when Attiret refused to accept it, the minister of state
told him he should have the revenues, although he declined the honour. The missionaries speak in the highest
terms of his talents, modesty, and piety. He died at
Pekin, Dec. 8, 1768, and the emperor defrayed the expences of his funeral the large pictures he painted for
the emperor are in the palace, but never shown the missionaries can exhibit only one picture, “The Guardian
Angel,
” which is in the chapel of the Neophites, in the
French missionary church at Pekin. There is nothing of
Attiret' s in print, except a letter in the “Recueil des Lettres Edifiantes,
” vol. XXVII. which was translated by the
late Rev. Joseph Spence, under his assumed name of sir
Harry Beaumont, entitled “A particular account of the
emperor of China’s gardens near Pekin, in a letter from father Attiret, a French missionary, now employed by that
emperor to paint the apartments in those gardens, to his
friend at Paris,
” London,
, F. R. S. an eminent mathematician, was born in 1746, and admitted of Westminster school in 1759, from
, F. R. S. an eminent mathematician, was born in 1746, and admitted of Westminster
school in 1759, from whence he was elected to Trinity
college, Cambridge, in 1765, where he took his bachelor’s
degree in 1769 and his master’s in 1772. He was for some
time a tutor, and for many years a fellow of that college,
and read to the whole university lectures upon several
branches of experimental philosophy, part of which he
published under the title of “An Analysis of a course of
Lectures on the principles of Natural Philosophy, read in
the university of Cambridge, by G. A. &c.
” .
The right hon. Wm. Pitt having been one of his auditors,
was induced to form a more intimate acquaintance with
him; and discovering that his talents might be eminently
useful in the public service, bestowed upon him, in 1784,
the place of patent searcher of the customs, London, that
he might be enabled to devote a larger portion of his time
to financial calculations, in which Mr. Pitt employed him,
not more to his own satisfaction than to the advantage of
the revenue. He continued in this employment under
that eminent statesman, until his declining health rendered
him incapable of intense application. In 1784, he also
published
” A treatise on the rectilinear Motion and Rotation of Bodies, with a description of original Experiments
relative to the subject," 8vo. He contributed several papers to the Philosophical Transactions, and was honoured,
on one occasion, with the Copleian medal. He died at
his house in Westminster, July 1807, and was interred in
St. Margaret’s church, justly esteemed by a numerous list
of friends, and by the friends of science.
, or Avanzi Giammarie, a celebrated Italian lawyer, was born Aug. 23, 1564. He was educated with great care, and discovered
, or Avanzi Giammarie, a
celebrated Italian lawyer, was born Aug. 23, 1564. He
was educated with great care, and discovered so much taste
for polite literature, that Riccoboni, his master, said, he
was the only youth he had ever known who seemed to be
born a poet and orator. His father wished him to study
medicine, but his own inclination led him to study law, in
which he soon became distinguished. At Ferrara he acquired an intimacy with Tasso, Guarini, Cremonini, and
other eminent characters of that time. He afterwards retired to Rovigo, and practised as a lawyer, but was singularly unfortunate in his personal affairs, not only losing a
considerable part of his property by being security for
some persons who violated their engagements, but having
his life attempted by assassins who attacked him one day
and left him for dead with eighteen wounds. He recovered, however, but his brother being soon after assassinated,
and having lost his wife, he retired, in 1606, to Padua,
where he died, March 2, 1622, leaving several children,
of whom Charles, his second son, became a learned physician and botanist. Avanzi wrote a poem “Il Satiro Favola Pastorale,
” Venice, Historia Ecclesiastica a Lutheri apostasia;
” and “Concilia
de rebus civilibus et criminalibus.
”
, marquis of, one of the ericouragers of useful learning in France, was born at Nismes, in 1686, and became a member of the academies
, marquis of, one of the
ericouragers of useful learning in France, was born at Nismes, in 1686, and became a member of the academies of
Marseilles and Nismes. He was of a very distinguished
family, whose fame he perpetuated by the probity of
his character, his love of science, and the patronage he
extended to learning and learned men. He formed also
one of the most complete libraries in his time. Among
other contributions to literary undertakings, he gave Menard the materials of his collection, entitled “Pieces fugitives pour i'histoire de France,
” published in Historical Geography,
” 8vo, which was not much esteemed. He had,
however, a perfect acquaintance witn history and genealogies. He died at his chateau d'Aubais, near Nismes,
March 5, 1777, at the advanced age of 92.
, a learned physician of the sixteenth century, was born at Vendome, and became a doctor of medicine and philosophy.
, a learned physician
of the sixteenth century, was born at Vendome, and became a doctor of medicine and philosophy. He died at
Lausanne in 1586. His principal works are, 1. “De Metallorum ortu et causis, contra Chymistas, brevis explicatio,
” Ley den, *Duae Apologeticae Responsiones ad Josephum Quercetanum,
” ibid. 1576.
3. “Progymnasmata in Johan. Fernelii librum de abditis
rerum naturalium et medicamentorum causis,
” Basil, Semeiotica, sive ratio dignoscendarum sediura
male affectarum, et affectuum preter naturam,
” Lausanne,
Libellus de Peste,
”
Lausanne, Des natures et complexions
des hommes, &c.
” Lausanne, 1571, Paris, 1572. This w
uspect is a French translation. The original is not mentioned by Manget or Haller.
, a French lawyer, was born in 1642 and died in 1733, leaving his library to the city
, a French lawyer, was born in 1642
and died in 1733, leaving his library to the city of Lyons,
on condition that it should be open for the use of the public. He published a new edition of the “Dictionnaire de
Richelet
” in 3 vols. 1728, fol. which has been superseded
by more recent editions. He was also the editor of “Un
recueil de Factums,
” 2 vols. Lyons, 1710, 4to, and the
author of a little romance, entitled “Retour de l‘isle d’Amour,
” which he published at his father’s request, when
he was only sixteen years of age.
, sieur de Massouignes, was born in 1534, at Poitiers, and became an advocate of parliament
, sieur de Massouignes, was born
in 1534, at Poitiers, and became an advocate of parliament at Paris, where he died in 160U He published,
1. “Histoire des guerres de Chretiens centre les Turcs, sous
Godefroy de Bouillon,
” Paris, Vers au chancelier de L'Hopital,
” 8vo. Scevola de St. Marthe has
translated these poems into Latin verse. 3. “Le Retranchemens,
” Essay on Self-knowledge,
”
and a eulogium on the president Thuanus.
, a minister of the reformed church of Paris in the seventeenth century, was born at Chalons sur Marne in 1595. He was admitted a minister
, a minister of the reformed church of Paris in the
seventeenth century, was born at Chalons sur Marne in
1595. He was admitted a minister at the synod of Charenton in 1618, and promoted to the church of Chartres,
from whence he was removed to Paris in 1631. He wrote
a very celebrated work, entitled “L‘Eucharistie de l’ancienne Eglise,
” La Perpetuite de la Foi.
” M. Aubertin died at Paris, April 5,
1652. His last moments were disturbed by the harsh conduct of the rector of St. Sulpice, who endeavoured to obtain from him an acknowledgment of error, but M. Aubertin declared that he persevered in the reformed religion.
he preferred the silent commerce of his books to the tumult of affairs. The “Remarques de Vaugelas” was his only book of recreation. He died of a fall in 1695, at upwards
, a lawyer of Paris, born in 1617,
became an indefatigable student, it being his practice to
rise at five o'clock every morning, and study without intermission till six in the evening. He scarcely made any
visits, and received still fewer, and though he had taken
his oath as avocat au conseil, he preferred the silent commerce of his books to the tumult of affairs. The “Remarques de Vaugelas
” was his only book of recreation. He
died of a fall in 1695, at upwards of 78. Several works of
his are to be met with, very inferior in respect of style,
but they are not deficient in historical anecdotes and useful remarks. The chief of them are, 1. “Histoire generale des Cardinaux,
” 5 vels. 1642, 4to, composed from the
memoirs of Naud6 and of du Puy. 2. “Memoire pour
rhistoire du Cardinal de Richelieu,
” Histoire de me me ministre,
” The duchess of Aiguillon,
” says he, “has just had the history of her uncle the
cardinal de Richelieu printed, composed from the memoirs she has furnished herself, by M. Aubery; but it is
already fallen into contempt, being too much suspected
from the quarter from whence it originates, and on account of the bad style of the wretched writer, who, lucro
addictus & addductus, will not fail to play the mercenary, and
to prostitute his pen to the direction of that lady.
” It is
said that the queen-mother answered the bookseller Berthier, who expressed his fear that certain persons of the
court, of whom the historian spoke by no means advantageously, would bring him into trouble: “Go, pursue your
business in peace, and put vice so much to shame, that
nothing but virtue shall dare to be seen in France.
”
4ubery is one of those who doubt whether the Testament
published under the name of the cardinal de Richelieu be
really by him. 4. “Histoire du cardinal Mazarin,
” Traite historique de la preeminence des Rois de France/' 1649, 4to.
6.
” Traite des justes pretensions du Roi de France sur
PEmpire," 1667, 4to, which caused him to be thrown into
the Bastille, because the princes of Germany thought the
ideas of Aubery to be the same with those of Louis XIV.
He was, however, soon set at liberty, and even his confinement was made easy.
, the son of William Aubespine, who was ambassador from the French court in England, became bishop of
, the son of William Aubespine, who was ambassador from the French court in
England, became bishop of Orleans in 1604. He was
remarkable for his zeal as a divine, and his great application as a student, and was employed, as his father had been,
in many public transactions. He died at Grenoble, Aug.
15, 1630, in the 52d year of his age. His writings are,
“De veteribus ecclesiae ritibus,
” Un traite de Tancienne police de l'Eglise,
” respecting
the administration of the eucharist. He published also
notes on the Councils, and on Tertullian. His brother
Charles became marquis de Chateau-Neuf, and an eminent statesman in the seventeenth century.
d'Aubespine, baron of Chateauneuf, and wife of Nicolas de Neufville de Villeroi, secretary of state, was a French lady whose beauty and talents rendered her one of the
, daughter of Claude d'Aubespine, baron of Chateauneuf, and wife of Nicolas de Neufville de Villeroi, secretary of state, was a French lady whose beauty and talents rendered her one of the ornaments of the courts of Charles IX. Henry III. and Henry IV. Ronsard has celebrated her in a sonnet, in which he quaintly advises her to substitute the laurels she had merited for the hawthorn (aubespine) which composed her name. She died at Villeroi in 1506, and Bertaud, bishop of Seez, wrote an epitaph on her. She is said to have translated Ovid’s epistles, and to have written several original works in verse and prose, none of which, however, we find specified in our authorities. Her statue, in white marble, is in the present French museum.
, a very celebrated French Protestant, was son to John D‘Aubigne, lord of Brie, in Saintonge, and born
, a very celebrated French Protestant, was son to John D‘Aubigne, lord of Brie, in Saintonge, and born in 1550 at St. Maury. He made such proficiency under his preceptors, that at eight years old he was able to translate the Crito of Plato. Having lost his father, who left him only his name and his debts, at the age of thirteen, he betook himself to the profession of arms, for which a spirit and zeal particularly ardent and persevering seemed to have qualified him. He accordingly attached himself to Henry then king of Navarre, who made him successively gentleman of his bed-chamber, marshal of the camp, governor of the island and castle of Maillezais, vice-admiral of Guienne and Bretagne, and what D’Aubigne valued most, his favourite. But he lost this last honour by a want of subserviency to his pleasure, and a stern and uncourtly inflexibility. It is well known that ingratitude was not the failing of Henry IV. yet he expended so much in conciliating the catholic lords, that he was often incapable of rewarding his old servants as they deserved, and with the utmost esteem for D‘Aubigne, he had bestowed little else upon him, and was probably not sorry for any pretence to get rid of him. D’Aubigne, displeased with his conduct, left the court, and although Henry intreated and demanded his return, continued inexorable, until he accidentally learnt that upon a false report of his being made a prisoner at the siege of Limoges, the king had ordered him to be ransomed at a great expence. Penetrated by this mark of returning kindness, he again came to court, but persisted in giving the king both advice and reproaches, in a blunt and sometimes satirical manner, which the king scarcely knew how to tolerate, while he felt conscious of the value of so sincere a friend and counsellor.
king. Before he returned to the court, he sent one of his pages to announce to the sovereign that he was upon the road. The king asked him from whence he came? The page
Many curious anecdotes are reported of his freedoms
with the king. Before he returned to the court, he sent
one of his pages to announce to the sovereign that he was
upon the road. The king asked him from whence he
came? The page said, “Yes, yes;” and to every question that was put to him, still returned “Yes, yes.” On
the king’s asking him why he continued to answer his
questions in that manner, he replied, “Sire, I said yes
yes, because kings drive away from their presence all persons who will not make use of those words to every thing
which their sovereigns require of them.
” While equerry
to the king, and lying one night with the Sieur de la Force
in the guard chamber, he whispered in his companion’s
ear, “Certainly our master is the most covetous, and most
ungrateful mortal upon earth.
” Receiving no answer, he
repeated the accusation, but la Force, being scarcely
awake, did not hear him distinctly, and asked, “What do
you say, D'Aubigne?
” “Cannot you hear him?
” said the king,
who was awake, “he tells you I am the most covetous and most ungrateful mortal on earth.
” “Sleep on,
sire,
” replied D'Aubigne, “I have a good deal more to
say yet.
” The next day, Aubigne tells us in his memoirs,
the king did not look unkindly on him, but still gave him
nothing. After, however, sometimes pleasing and sometimes displeasing the king and court by these freedoms, he
again found it necessary to retire, and passed the rest of his
days at Geneva, where he died in 1630, in the 80th year
of his age. It was here probably, where he was received
with great respect and honour, that he employed his pen
on those various works which entitle him to a distinguished
place in the republic of letters. These were his universal
history, entitled “Histoire Universelle depuis 1550
jusq'en 1601, avec un histoire abregée de la mort de
Henry IV.
” 3 vols. folio, printed at St. Jean d'Angeli, although the title page says Maille, 1616—18—20, and
reprinted in 1626, with additions and corrections. The first
edition is in most request by the curious, as having some
strokes of satire in it which are omitted in the other. His
style is not uniform, and he often departs from the dignity
of history to indulge in a jocose garrulity, accompanied
with impassioned coarse passages, which are, however,
highly characteristic of the writer. The first volume was
burnt by order of the parliament of Paris, on account of
the freedoms he had taken with the royal personages, particularly Henry III. The first and second parts of this
history, which contain the wars of the prince of Condé
and of the admiral Coligny, the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and the first transactions of the League, are given
rather in a succinct form, but the third, which continues the
detail until the peace of Henry the Great, is the most full
and most correct. He wrote also some “Tragedies,
”
A collection of Poetical pieces,
”
printed at Geneva, La Confession de Sancy;
” and in Baron de Foeneste,
” 12mo, said to be his, which is
a more gross composition. In the same year his Memoirs,
written by himself, were printed, and have been translated
into English. His son, Constant D'Aubigne, a most profligate character, was the father of madame de Maintenon.
, an eminent English antiquary, descended from an ancient family in Wiltshire, was born at Easton-Piers in that county, Nov. 3, 1625 or 1626. He
, an eminent English antiquary, descended from an ancient family in Wiltshire, was born at
Easton-Piers in that county, Nov. 3, 1625 or 1626. He
received the first rudiments of his education in the grammar-school at Malmesbury, under Mr. Robert Latimer;
who had also been preceptor to the famous Thomas
Hobbes, with whom Mr. Aubrey commenced an early friendship, which lasted as long as Mr. Hobbes lived. In 1642,
Mr. Aubrey was entered a gentleman-commoner of Trinity
college at Oxford, where he pursued his studies with great
diligence, making the history and antiquities of England
his peculiar object. About this time the famous “Monasticon Anglicanum
” was talked of in the university, to
which Mr. Aubrey contributed considerable assistance, and
procured, at his own expence, a curious draught of the
remains of Osney abbey near Oxford, which were entirely
destroyed in the civil wars. This was afterwards engraved
by Hollar, and inserted in the Mouasticon with an inscription by Aubrey. In 1646 he was admitted of the Middle
Temple, but the death of his father hindered him from
pursuing the law. He succeeded to several estates in the
counties of Wilts, Surrey, Hereford, Brecknock, and Monmouth, but they were involved in many law-suits. These
suits, together with other misfortunes, by degrees consumed all his estates, and forced him to lead a more active
life than he was otherwise inclined to. He did not, however, break off his acquaintance with the learned at Oxford or at London, but kept up a close correspondence
with the lovers of antiquity and natural philosophy in the
university, and furnished Anthony Wood with a considerable part of the materials for his two large works. W r ood,
however, in his own life, does not speak very respectfully
of his assistant. He calls him a pretender to antiquities,
and after giving an account of the origin of their acquaintance, of the gay appearance which Aubrey made at Oxford, and of his subsequent poverty, Wood adds, “He
was a shiftless person, roving and magotie-headed, and
sometimes little better than erased. And being exceedingly credulous, would stuff his many letters sent to A. W.
with folliries and mis-informations, which sometimes would
guide him into the paths of error.
”
thence, in the autumn of 1660, narrowly escaped shipwreck near Holyhead. On the 1st of Nov. 1661, he was so unfortunate as to suffer another shipwreck. In 1662, he was
Aubrey preserved an intimacy with those great persons^ who then met privately, and were afterwards formed into the Royal Society. Soon after the restoration, he went into Ireland, and returning from thence, in the autumn of 1660, narrowly escaped shipwreck near Holyhead. On the 1st of Nov. 1661, he was so unfortunate as to suffer another shipwreck. In 1662, he was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society. In June 1664, he travelled through. France into Orleans, and returned in the month of October. In 1666, he sold his estate in Wiltshire; and was at length obliged to dispose of all he had left, so that, in the space of four years, he was reduced even to want yet his spirit remained unbroken. His chief benefactress was. the lady Long of Dray cot in Wilts, who gave him an apartment in her house, and supported him as long as he lived. When his death happened is uncertain we are only told in general that he died suddenly on a journey to Oxford in his way to Dray cot and he was there buried, as near as can be conjectured, in 1700. He was a man of an excellent capacity, and indefatigable application; a diligent searcher into antiquities, a good Latin poet, an excellent naturalist, but somewhat credulous, and tinctured with superstition.
every opportunity to investigate his merits. “That,” says Mr. Malone, “the greater part of his life was devoted to literary pursuits, is ascertained by the works which
The character Mr. Malone has given him, in his “Historical account of the English Stage,
” is worthy of transcription, as the opinion of one who has had every opportunity to investigate his merits. “That,
” says Mr. Malone, “the greater part of his life was devoted to literary
pursuits, is ascertained by the works which he has published, the correspondence which he held with many eminent men, and the collections which he left in manuscript,
and which are now reposited in the Ashtnolean Museum.
Among these collection* is a curious account of our English poets and many other writers. While Wood was preparing his Athenoe Oxonienses, this manuscript was lent to
him, as appears from many queries in his hand-writing in
the margin and his account of Milton, with whom Aubrey was intimately acquainted, is (as has been observed by Mr. Warton) literally transcribed from thence. Wood
afterwards quarreled with Mr. Aubrey, whom in the second
volume of his Fasti, p. 262, he calls his friend, and on
whom, in his History of the University of Oxford he bestows the highest encomium; and, after their quarrel, with
his usual warmth, and, in his loose diction, he represented
Aubrey as a pretender, &c. But whatever Wood in a
peevish humour may have thought or said of Mr. Aubrey,
by whose labours he highly profited, or however fantastical Aubrey may have been on the subject of chemistry and
ghosts, his character for veracity has never been impeached and as a very diligent antiquary, his testimony
is worthy of attention. Mr. Toland, who was well acquainted with him, and certainly a better judge of men
than Wood, gives this character of him
” Though he was
extremely superstitious, or seemed to be so, yet he was a
very honest man, and most accurate in his account of matters of fact. But the facts he knew, not the reflections he
made, were what I wanted."
f the county of Surry, begun 1673, ended 1692.“This work the author left behind him in manuscript it was published, 1719, in five volumes 8vo, and is now scarce. 4.”
The manuscripts mentioned by. Mr. Malone, now in the
Museum at Oxford, are, “An Apparatus for the Lives of
our English mathematical and other writers an Interpretation of Villare Anglicanum Designatio de Easton-Piers
in com. Wilts A volume of Letters and other papers of
E. Ashmole’s, relating chiefly to Dr. Dee and sir Edward
Kelly two volumes of Letters from eminent persons to
John Aubrey, esq.
” His principal works besides are,
1. “The Life of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury,
” a manuscript written in English, but never published the principal part has been used by Dr. Blackbourne, in his Vitae
Hobbianse auctarium,“published in 1681. 2.
” Miscellanies on the following subjects 1. Day-fatality. 2. Local
fatality. 3. Ostenta. 4. Omens. 5. Dreams. 6. Apparitions. 7. Voices. 8. Impulses. 9. Knockings. 10. Blows
invisible. 11. Prophecies. 12. Marvels. 13. Magic. 14.
Transportation in the air. 15. Visions in a beril or speculum. 16. Converse with angels and spirits. 17. Corpse
candles in Wales. 18. Oracles. 19. Extasies. 20. Glances
of love and envy. 21. Second-sighted persons. 22. The
discovery of two murders by apparitions,“often reprinted.
3.
” A Perambulation of the county of Surry, begun 1673,
ended 1692.“This work the author left behind him in
manuscript it was published, 1719, in five volumes 8vo,
and is now scarce. 4.
” Monumenta Britannica, or a discourse concerning Stone-henge and Rollich-stones in Oxfordshire“a manuscript. This is said to have been written at the command of Charles II t who meeting Mr. Aubrey at Stone-henge, as his majesty was returning from
Bath, conversed with him in relation to that celebrated
monument of antiquity; and also ^approved of his notion
concerning it, which was this, that both it and the stones
in Oxfordshire were the remains of places dedicated to
sacred uses by the Druids, long before the time of the Roman invasion. See a letter from Mr. Paschal to Mr. Aubrey, prefixed to his Memoirs. 5.
” Architectonica sacra,“a Dissertation concerning the manner of our Church-building in England,
” a manuscript in the Museum at Oxford. 6. " The Idea of universal Education.' 5 There are
besides many letters of our author relating to natural philosophy, and other curious subjects, published in several
collections.
t civilian in queen Elizabeth’s reign, is said to have been a native of Cantre in Brecknockshire. He was educated at Oxford, where he took* his bachelor’s degree in
, an eminent civilian in queen Elizabeth’s reign, is said to have been a native of Cantre in Brecknockshire. He was educated at Oxford, where he took* his bachelor’s degree in law, and was elected fellow of All Souls college in 1547. He was made regius professor of civil law, Oct. 7, 1553, and proceeded D. C. L. in 1554. He was also principal of New Inn hall, Oxford, from 1550, probably to 1560, but the exact year has not been ascertained. He executed the office by deputies, as he was about that time judge advocate of the queen’s army at St. Quintin in France. He also was successively, advocate in the court of arches, master in Chancery, chancellor to archbishop Whitgift, and lastly, by the special favour of queen Elizabeth, he was made one of the masters of requests in ordinary. He died July 23, 1595, aged 66, and was buried in St. Paul’s cathedral under a monument which perished in the destruction of that church in 1666. Dr. Aubrey was a man of high character in his time, and is mentioned with great respect by Thuanus. His only writings remain in manuscript, except a few letters published in Strype’s Life of Grindal. He wrote some letters to Dr. Dee respecting the dominion of the seas and something respecting the reformation of the court of Arches in 1576.
nts, birds, fish, &c. w&s born at Chalons sur Marne, about the middle of the seventeenth century. He was first employed to make drawings in the king’s garden, and discovered
, a celebrated painter of flowers,
plants, birds, fish, &c. w&s born at Chalons sur Marne,
about the middle of the seventeenth century. He was
first employed to make drawings in the king’s garden, and
discovered such accuracy, that Tournefort engaged him
to go with him to the Levant in that voyage which he took
in 1700. On his return he succeeded Joubert as king’s
painter in the royal garden, where he continued the fine
collection of natural history begun at Blois by the famous
Nicholas Robert, by order of Gaston of Orleans. Aubriet 1 s
most celebrated work, is a volume of paintings of
sea-fish which Louis XIV. kept alive in his managerie,
and which are admirably executed. The plates of Vaillant’s “Botanicou Parisiense,
”
, a native of Burgundy, was made treasurer of the finances, and provost of the merchants
, a native of Burgundy, was made treasurer of the finances, and provost of the merchants of the city of Paris. He built the Bastille by order of Charles V. king of France, in 1369, as a fortress against the English but being accused of heresy by the clergy, he was condemned to be immured between two walls, where he doubtless would have ended his days, had he not have been set at liberty by the Maillotins, who wanted to make him their captain in their insurrection upon account of the taxes. But that night he made his escape from them into Burgundy, where he soon after died in 1382. From this person the Hugonots are said to have derived their name, which seems not very consistent with the conjectures of most historians.
, a French Benedictine of the congregation of St. Vannes, was born at Deyvillier, near Epinal, in 1736, and became prior of
, a French Benedictine of the
congregation of St. Vannes, was born at Deyvillier, near
Epinal, in 1736, and became prior of the house of Commercy, in which he continued to live after the suppression
of the monastic orders. He was a man in very general
esteem for abilities and amiable manners, both among his
fellow ecclesiastics, and with the public at large. He is
likewise praised for his humility, of which the following
instance is given. Having written his “Questions Philosophiques sur la religion naturelle,
” he solicited permission from the keeper of the seals to publish it, without
having first consulted the superiors of his order, and for
this he was condemned to dine in the refectory, upon
bread and water, and on his knees, to which he submitted.
Among other literary works, he was employed to continue
“L'Histoire des auteurs sacres et ecclesiastiques,
” begun
by Flavigny, which was submitted to the revisal and highly
approved by the congregation of St. Maur; but as that
ancient order, once so celebrated in the republic of letters,
began to be remiss in their exertions, this work never
appeared. In 1775, he published his “Ami philosophique,
” a performance well received by the public, and
which procured him a very flattering letter from prince
Charles of Lorraine. D'Alembert also bestowed high
praises on it, a circumstance we should have thought rather suspicious, if we were not assured that Aubry, in all
his writings, was a zealous defender of religion. Besides
this and the “Questions philosophiques
” above mentioned,
he published 1. “Theorie de Tame des betes et de celle
qu'on attribue a la matiere organisee.
” 2. “Questions
metaphysiques sur l'existence et la nature de Dieu.
” 3.
“Questions aux philosophes du jour.
” 4. “L'Anti
Condillac, ou harangues aux ideologues modernes.
” 5. “La
nouvelle theorie des etres.
” 6. “Aubade, ou lettres
apologetiques, &c.
” Aubry died about the end of the year
much esteemed work, under the title of “Les Oracles de Cos,” Paris, 1775; of which a second edition was published by Didot in 1781, with an “Introduction a la therapeutique
, a French physician, and superintendant of the mineral waters of Luxeil, where he
died in 1795, published a much esteemed work, under the
title of “Les Oracles de Cos,
” Paris, Introduction a la therapeutique de Cos.
” This work is
intended to connect the observations of Hippocrates with
his maxims, as the best commentary on that ancient author. It contains likewise a curious dissertation on the
ancient history of the medical science. He is particularly
praised by his countrymen for his happy talent in compressing much valuable matter in a small compass, and thus affording a convenient and useful manual to students.
, president in the election, or court of assessors of Orleans, was a learned lawyer, and esteemed an excellent Latin poet in the
, president in the election, or
court of assessors of Orleans, was a learned lawyer, and
esteemed an excellent Latin poet in the sixteenth century.
He studied at Bologna under Alciat, and on his return to
France, wrote the greater part of his poems. The elogium
on Venice induced that republic to bestow upon him the
order of St. Mark, with the chain of gold of the order.
Henry III. of France also granted him letters of nobility,
and permitted him to add to his arms two fleur-de-lis of
gold. Notwithstanding these honours, he continued to
act as assessor at Orleans for the space of fifty years. He
died Dec. 24, 1598, aged about eighty years. “He wrote
” Roma, poema,“Paris, 1555, 4to. 2.
” Venetia, poema- r
Venice, Partenope,
” Paris,
, an able astronomer and mathematician, was born at Saorgio, near Nice, in Provence, in 1714. At the age
, an able astronomer and
mathematician, was born at Saorgio, near Nice, in Provence, in 1714. At the age of sixteeeri he entered the
order of St. Dominic, and made rapid progress in his studies, not only in sacred literature, but in mathematics,
and the languages. In his thirty-fifth year he was
appointed second librarian of the Casanata, and ten years
aftenvards first librarian, which office he held until his
death. His studies were extended to mathematics, astronomy, antiquities, natural history, criticism, and bibliography but astronomy was his favourite pursuit, on which
he published many pieces. He was appointed by the late
pope Pius VI. to make mineralogical observations on the
new mines of Tolfa. He died July 3, 1794. His published works are, 1. “Mercurius in sole visus, observatio
habita Romae, &c.
” Rome, Phenomena
ccelestia observata,
” Rome, Otia astronomica,
” Rome, Novissimus Mercurii
transitus,
” Rome, Passaggio di Venere,
&c.
” 4to, without place or date, but most probably Transitus Veneris, &c.
” Investigatio Parallaxis Solaris, &c.
” Rome,.
De Solis Parallaxi commentarius,
”
Rome, Dimostrazione della theoria, &c.
”
of the Comet of the year Letere typografiche,
” under the name of the abbe Nicolas Ugolini de Foligno, addressed to Xavier Laire, author of the historical essay on
the Roman typography of the 15th century, Mentz, 1778,
8vo, a satirical attack on father Laire. 11. “Catalogus
historico-criticus Romanarum editionum saeculi 15.
” Rome,
Catalogus librorum typis impressorum
bibliothecae Casanatensis, praestantioribus notis et observationibus illustratus,
” 4 vols. fol. 1762, 1768, 1775, 1788.
13. “Specimen historico-criticum editionum Italicarum
ssGCuli 15,
” Rome,
o other accounts, of Marseilles, and flourished about the beginning of the 18th century. In 1698, he was appointed envoy extraordinary to the courts of Mantua, Parma,
, a French geographer,
iyas a native of Draguignan in Provence, or according to
other accounts, of Marseilles, and flourished about the
beginning of the 18th century. In 1698, he was appointed
envoy extraordinary to the courts of Mantua, Parma, and
Modena. His work entitled “Geographic Ancienne, Moderne, & Historique,
” Paris, 3 vols. 4to, 1689, 1691, and
5 vols. 12mo. Paris, 1694, has been much esteemed, as
uniting very skilfully details of history with geography. It
comprehends however only a part of Europej but that so
well executed, that it is to be regretted he did not finish
it. He died at Nancy, 1733, aged 76.
, a French nobleman, was born at Clermont in 1565. His life was a continued series of
, a French nobleman, was
born at Clermont in 1565. His life was a continued series
of misfortunes and escapes. He was one of the king’s magistrates in 1590, when he was attacked and dangerously
wounded by eleven of those men who were endeavouring
to raise the country against Henry IV. and in favour of
the league. He had scarcely recovered, when, in company with his father, he was again attacked and wounded
by the same men. He determined now to quit Gascony,
and pass into Hungary but his servant with whom he set
out robbed him and left htm destitute with some difficulty,
however, he reached Paris, where he found friends was
introduced to court, plunged into all manner of pleasures,
and forgot his former losses and his former resolutions.
But here he fell sick, and had scarcely recovered, when
he wounded a false friend in a duel, and was obliged to
make his escape. He wandered for & considerable time
from place to place, spent much money, contracted debts,
became poor, and lost his friends. Again he surmounted
his difficulties, when for some crime he was thrown into
prison he vindicated his innocence, plunged again into a
set of adventurous troubles, and at last was assassinated in
1630. He was a voluminous writer both in verse and
prose, published Romances and books of Devotion translated Cervantes’ novels, and a work entitled “Usage des
Duels,
”
, an English prelate, was the son of James, lord Audley, by Eleanor his wife, but in what
, an English prelate, was the son of James, lord Audley, by Eleanor his wife, but in what year he was born does not appear. He was educated in Lincoln college in Oxford, and in the year 1463 took the degree of bachelor of arts in that university, and it is presumed, that of master of arts also, but the register at that period is imperfect. In 1471, he became prebendary of Farendon in the church of Lincoln, and in October, 1475, attained the like preferment in the church of Wells. On Christmas day the same year, he became archdeacon of the East riding of Yorkshire, and had other considerable preferments, which he quitted, on his being promoted to the bishopric of Rochester, in 1480, In 1492, he was translated to Hereford, and thence in 1502, to Salisbury, and about that time was made chancellor of the most noble order of the Garter. He was a man of learning, and of a generous spirit. In 1518, he gave four hundred pounds to Lincoln college to purchase lands, and bestowed upon the same house the patronage of a chantry, which he had founded in the cathedral church of Salisbury. He was a benefactor likewise to St. Mary’s church in Oxford, and contributed towards erecting the curious stone pulpit therein. Bishop Godwin likewise tells us, that he gave the organs but Anthony Wood says, that does not appear. He gave, however, 200l. to Chichele’s chest, which had been robbed a very considerable benefaction at that time. He died Aug. 23, 1524, at Ramsbury in the county of Wilts, and was buried in a chapel which he erected to the honour of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the cathedral of Salisbury, being then, doubtless, a very old jnan, as he had sat forty-four years a bishop.
, descended of an ancient and honourable family, of the county of Essex, was born in 1488. He was by nature endowed with great abilities,
, descended of an
ancient and honourable family, of the county of Essex,
was born in 1488. He was by nature endowed with great
abilities, from his ancestors inherited an ample fortune,
and was happy in a regular education, but whether at
Oxford or Cambridge is not certain. At what time he was
entered of the Inner-Temple, does not appear, but in
1526 he was autumn reader of that house, and is thought
to have read on the statute of privileges, which he handled
with so much learniag and eloquence, as to acquire great
reputation. This, with the duke of Suffolk’s recommendation, to whom he was chancellor, brought him to the'
knowledge of his sovereign, who at that time wanted men
of learning and some pliability he was, accordingly, by
the king’s influence, chosen speaker of that parliament,
which sat first on the third of November, 1529, and is by
some styled the Black Parliament, and by others, on account of its duration, the Long Parliament. Great complaints were made in the house of commons against the
clergy, and the proceedings in ecclesiastical courts, and
several bills were ordered to be brought in, which alarmed
some of the prelates. Fisher, bishop of Rochester,
inveighed boldly against these transactions, in the house of
lords, with which the house of commons were so much
offended, that they thought proper to complain of it, by
their speaker, to the king, and Fisher had some difficulty
in excusing himself. The best historians agree, that great
care was taken by the king, or at least by his ministry, to
have such persons chosen into this house of commons as
would proceed therein readily and effectually, and with
this view Audley was chosen to supply the place of sir
Thomas More, now speaker of the lords’ house, and chancellor of England. The new house and its speaker justified
his majesty’s expectations, by the whole tenor of their behaviour, but especially by the passing of a law, not nowfound among our statutes. The king, having borrowed
very large sums of money of particular subjects, and entered into obligations for the repayment of the said sums,
the house brought in, and passed a bill, in the preamble of
which they declared, that inasmuch as those sums had been
applied by his majesty to public uses, therefore they cancelled and discharged the said obligations, &c. and the
king, finding the convenience of such a parliament, it sat
again in the month of January, 1530-1. In this session
also many extraordinary things were done amongst the
rest, there was a law introduced in the house of lords, by
which the clergy were exempted from the penalties they
had incurred, by submitting to the legatine power of
Wolsey. On this occasion the commons moved a clause in
favour of the laity, many of themselves having also incurred the penalties of the statute. But the king insisted
that acts of grace ought to flow spontaneously, and that this
was not the method of obtaining what they wanted; and the
house, notwithstanding the intercession of its speaker, and
several of its members, who were the king’s servants, was
obliged to pass the bill without the clause, and immediately
the king granted them likewise a pardon, which reconciled
all parties. In the recess, the king thought it necessary
to have a letter written to the pope by the lords and commons, or rather by the three estates in parliament, which
letter was drawn up and signed by cardinal Wolsey, the
archbishop of Canterbury, four bishops, two dukes, two
marquisses, thirteen earls, two viscounts, twenty-three
barons, twenty-two abbots, and eleven members of the
house of commons. Thepurport of this letter, dated
July 13, above three weeks after the parliament rose, was
to iMigage the pope to grant the king’s desire in the divorce
business, for the sake of preventing a civil war, on account of the succession, and to threaten him if he did not,
to take some other way. To gratify the speaker for the
great pains he had already taken, and to encourage him to
proceed in the same way, the king made him this year
attorney for the duchy of Lancaster, advanced him in
Michaelmas term to the state and degree of a serjeant at
law, and on the 14th of November following, to that of
his own serjeant. In January, 1531-2, the parliament had
its third session, wherein the grievances occasioned by the
excessive power of the ecclesiastics and their courts, were
regularly digested into a book, which was presented by
the speaker, Audley, to the king. The king’s answer was,
He would take advice, hear the parties accused speak, and
then proceed to reformation. Jn this session, a bill was
brought into the house of lords, for the better securing the
rights of his majesty, and other persons interested in the
eare of wards, which rights, it was alleged, were injured
by fraudulent wills and contracts. This bill, when it came
into the house of commons, was violently opposed, and the
members expressed a desire of being dissolved, which the
king would not permit but after they had done some
business, they had a recess to the month of April. When
they next met, the king sent for the speaker, and delivered
to him the answer which had been made to the roll of
grievances, presented at their last sitting, which afforded
very little satisfaction, and they seemed now less subset
viciit. Towards the close of the month, one Mr. Themse
moved, That the house would intercede with the king, to
take back his queen again. The king, extremely alarmed
at this, on the 30th of April, 1532, sent for the speaker, to
whom he repeated the plea of conscience, which had induced him to repudiate the queen, and urged that the
opinion of the learned doctors, &c. was on his side. On
the 11th of May the king sent for the speaker again, and
told him, that he had found that the clergy of his realm
were but half his subjects, or scarcely so much, every
bishop and abbot at the entering into his dignity, taking
an oath to the pope, derogatory to that of their fidelity
to the king, which contradiction he desired his parliament to take away. Upon this motion of the king’s, the
two oaths he mentioned were read in the house of commons and they would probably have complied, if the plague
bad not put an end to the session abruptly, on the 14th
of May; and two days after, sir Thomas More, knt. then
lord chancellor of England, went suddenly, without acquainting any body with his intention, to court, his majesty being then at York Place, and surrendered up the
seals to the king. The king going out of town to EastGreenwich, carried the seals with him, and on Monday,
May 20, delivered them to Thomas Audley, esq, with the
title of lord keeper, and at the same time conferred on him
the honour of knighthood. September 6, sir Thomas delivered the old seal, which was much worn, and received a
new one in its stead, yet with no -higher title: but on
January 26, 1533, he again delivered the seal to the king,
who kept it a quarter of an hour, and then returned it with
the title of lord chancellor. A little after, the king
granted to him the site of the priory of Christ Church,
Aldgate, together with all the church plate, and lands belonging to that house. When chancellor he complied with
the king’s pleasure as effectually as when speaker of the
house of commons. For in July 1535, he sat in judgment
on sir Thomas More, his predecessor, (as he had before on bishop Fisher,) who was now indicted of high-treason upon
which indictment the jury found him gnilty, and the lord
chancellor, Audley, pronounced judgment of death upon
him. This done, we are told, that sir Thomas More said,
that he had for seven years bent his mind and study upon
this cause, but as yet he found it no where writ by any
approved doctor of the church, that a layman could be
head of the ecclesiastical state. To this Audley returned,
“Sir, will you be reckoned wiser, or of a better conscience,
than all the bishops, the nobility, and the whole kingdom
” Sir Thomas rejoined, “My lord chancellor, for
one bishop that you have of your opinion, I have a hundred
of mine, and that among those that have been saints and
for your one council, which, what it is, God knows, I have
on my side all the general councils for a thousand years
past; and for one kingdom, I have France and all the
ether kingdoms of the Christian world.
” As our chancellor
was very active in the business of the divorce, he was no
less so in the business of abbies, and had particularly a
large hand in the dissolution of such religions houses as
had not two hundred pounds by the year. This was in the
twenty-seventh of Henry VIII, and the bill being delayed
long in the house of commons, his majesty sent for the
members of that house to attend him in his gallery, where
he passed through them with a stern countenance, without
speaking a word the members not having received the
king’s command to depart to their house, durst not return
till they knew the king’s pleasure so they stood waiting in
the gallery. In the mean time the king went a hunting,
and his ministers, who seem to have had better manners
than their master, went to confer with the members to
some they spoke of the king’s steadiness and severity to
others, of his magnificence and generosity. At last the
king came back, and passing through them again, said,
with an air of fierceness peculiar to himself, That if his
bill did not pass, it should cost many of them their heads.
Between the ministers’ persuasions and the king’s threats,
the matter was brought to an issue the king’s bill, as he
called it, passed and by it, he had not only the lands of
the small monasteries given him, but also their jewels, plate,
and rich moveables. This being accomplished, methods
were used to prevail with the abbots of larger foundations
to surrender. To this end, the chancellor sent a special
agent to treat with the abbot of Athelny, to offer him an
hundred marks per annum pension which he refused, insisting on a greater sum. The chancellor was more successful with the abbot of St. Osithes in Essex, with whom
he dealt personally and, as he expresses it in a letter to
Cromwell, the visitor-general, by great solicitation prevailed with him but then he insinuates, that his place of
lord chancellor being very chargeable, he desired the king
might be moved for addition of some more profitable offices
unto him. In suing for the great abbey of Walden, in the
same county, which he obtained, besides extenuating its
worth, he alleged under his hand, that he had in this
world sustained great damage and infamy in serving the
king, which the grant of that should recompense. But if
the year 1536 was agreeable to him in one respect, it was
far from being so in another; since, notwithstanding the
obligations he was under to queen Anne Bullen, he was
obliged, by the king’s command, to be present at her apprehension and commitment to the Tower. He sat afterwards with Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, when he
gave sentence of divorce on the pre-contract between the
queen and the lordPiercy and on the 15th of May, in the
same year, he sat in judgment on the said queen, notwithstanding we are told by Lloyd, that with great address he
avoided it. The lengths he had gone in serving the king,
and his known dislike to popery, induced the northern,
rebels in the same year, to name him as one of the evil
counsellors, whom they desired to see removed from about
the king’s person which charge, however, his majesty,
as far as in him lay, wiped off, by his well- penned answer
to the complaints of those rebels, wherein an excellent
character is given of the chancellor. When the authors of
this rebellion came to be tried, the chancellor declined
sitting as lord high steward, which high office was executed
by the marquis of Exeter, on whom shortly after, viz. in
1538, Audley sat as high-steward, and condemned him,
his brother, and several t other persons, to suffer death as
traitors. In the latter end of the same year, viz. on the
29th of November, 30 Hen. VIII. the chancellor was created
a baron, by the style of lord Audley of Walden in the
county of Essex, and was likewise installed knight of the
garter. In the session of parliament in 1539, there were
many severe acts made, and the prerogative carried to an
excessive height, particularly by the six bloody articles,
and the giving the king’s proclamation the force of a law.
It does not very clearly appear who were the king’s principal counsellors in these matters but it is admitted by
the best historians, that the rigorous execution of these
laws, which the king first designed, was prevented by the
interposition of the lord Audley, in conjunction with Cromwell, who was then prime minister, and the duke of Suffolk,
the king’s favourite throughout his whole reign. In the
beginning of 1540, the court was excessively embarrassed.
What share Audley had in the fall of Cromwell afterwards
is not clear, but immediately after a new question was
stirred in parliament, viz. How far the king’s marriage with
Anne of Cleves, was lawful This was referred to the
judgment of a spiritual court and there are yet extant the
depositions of Thomas lord Audley, lord chancellor, Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas, duke of Norfolk,
Charles, duke of Suffolk, and Cuthbert, lord bishop of
Durham, wherein they jointly swear, that the papers produced to prove the retraction of the lady Anne’s contract
with the duke of Lorrain, were inconclusive and unsatisfactory. Other lords and ladies deposed to other points,
and the issue of the business was, that the marriage was
declared void by this court, which sentence was supported
by an act of parliament, affirming the same thing, and
enacting, That it should be high-treason to judge or believe otherwise. This obstacle removed, the king married
the lady Catherine Howard, niece to the duke of Norfolk,
and cousin -german to Anne Bullen. Nothing is clearer
from history, than that the chancellor was closely attached
to the house of Norfolk and yet in the latter end of the
year 1541, he was constrained to be an instrument in the
ruin of the unfortunate queen information of her bad life
before her marriage, being laid first before the archbishop
of Canterbury, and by him communicated to the chancellor. The king then appointed lord Audley one of the
commissioners to examine her, which they did, and there
is yet extant a letter subscribed by him and the other
lords, containing an exact detail of this affair, and of the
evidence on which, in the next session of parliament, the
queen and others were attainted. The whole of this business was managed in parliament by the chancellor, and
there is reason to believe, that he had some hand in another
business transacted in that session which was the opening
a door for the dissolution of hospitals, the king having now
wasted all that had accrued to him by the suppression of
abbies. Some other things of the like nature were the
last testimonies of the chancellor’s concern for his master’s
interest but next year a more remarkable case occurred.
Jn the 34th of Henry VIII. George Ferrers, esq. burgess
for Plymouth, was arrested, and carried to the compter,
by virtue of a writ from the court of king’s bench. The
house, on notice thereof, sent their serjeant to demand
their member in doing which, a fray ensued at the compter, his mace was broke, his servant knocked down, and
himself obliged to make his escape as well as he could.
The house, upon notice of this, resolved they would sit
no longer without their member, and desired a conference
with the lords where, after hearing the mutter, the lord
chancellor Audley declared the contempt was most flagrant,
and referred “the punishment thereof to the house of commons whereupon Thomas Moyle, esq. who was then
speaker, issued his warrant, and the sheriff of London,
and several other persons, were brought to the bar of the
house, and committed, some to the Tower, and some to
Newgate. This precedent was gained by the king’s want
of an aid, who at that time expected the commons would
offer him a subsidy the ministry, and the house of lords,
knowing the king’s will gave the commons the
complimerit of punishing those who had imprisoned one of their
members. Dyer, mentioning this case, sap,
” The sages
of the law held the commitment of Ferrers legal, and
though the privilege was allowed him, yet was it held unjust.“As the chancellor had led a very active life, he
grew now infirm, though he was not much above fifty years
old, and therefore began to think of settling his family and
affairs. But, previous to this, he obtained from the king a
licence to change the name of Buckingham college in
Cambridge, into that of Magdalen, or Maudlin some will
have it, because in the latter word his own name is included. To this college he was a great benefactor, bestowed on it his own arms, and is generally 'reputed its
founder, or restorer. His capital seat was at Christ-Christ
in town, and at Walden in Essex and to preserve some
remembrance of himself and fortunes, he caused a magnificent tomb to be erected in his new chapel at Walden.
About the beginning of April, 1544, he was attacked by
his last illness, which induced him to resign the seals but
he was too weak to do it in person, and therefore sent them
to the king, who delivered them to sir Thomas Wriothesley,
with the title of keeper, during the indisposition of the
chancellor a circumstance not remarked by any of our
historians. On the 19th of April, lord Audi ey made hU
will, and, amongst other things, directed that his executors
should, upon the next New-year’s day after his decease,
deliver to the king a legacy of one hundred pounds, from
whom, as he expresses it,
” he had received all his reputations and benefits." He died on the last of April, 1544,
when he had held the seals upwards of twelve years, and
in the fifty-sixth of his life, as appears by the inscription
on his tomb. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas
iGrey, marquis of Dorset, by whom he had two daughters,
Margaret and Mary; Mary died unmarried, and Margaret
became his sole heir. She married first lord Henry Dudley,
a younger son of John duke of Northumberland, and he
being slain at the battle of St. Quintin’s, in Picardy, in
1557, she married a second time, Thomas duke of Norfolk, to whom she was also a second wife, and had by him
a son Thomas, who, by act of parliament, in the 27th of
Elizabeth, was restored in blood; and in the 39th of the
same reign, summoned to parliament by his grandfather’s
title, as baron of Walden, In the 1st of James I. he was
created earl of Suffolk, and being afterwards lord
hightreasurer of England, he built on the ruins of the abbey of
Walden, that nee noble palace, which, in honour of our
chancellor, he called Audley-End.
mstances attending the case of Ferrers, that the measures which were adopted, and the doctrine which was now first laid down with respect to the extent of the privileges
The case of George Ferrers is a very remarkable one in the history of parliamentary privilege, and has been greatly agitated in the warm debates which have been carried on upon that subject, during the present reign. An account of it may be seen in many writers, and more recently in a publication of Mr. HatselPs, chief clerk of the house of commons. Mr. Hatsell is of opinion, from the many new and extraordinary circumstances attending the case of Ferrers, that the measures which were adopted, and the doctrine which was now first laid down with respect to the extent of the privileges of the house of commons, was more owing to Ferrers’s being a servant of the king, than that he was a member of the house of commons.
een rejected by Baronius and Bellarmin, and some other able writers, even in France. The consequence was, that his work was condemned in a brief of pope Clement XI.
, a native of Provence, went to
Paris in his youth, there studied law, and became a member of the counsel of the house of Orleans. In 1708 he
published a work entitled “Traite de Porigine de la Regale,
et des causes de son etablissement,
” 4to, in eight books,
in which he had introduced a dissertation on the authenticity of canon 22 distinct. 63 of the first part of the canon
law, which had been rejected by Baronius and Bellarmin,
and some other able writers, even in France. The consequence was, that his work was condemned in a brief of
pope Clement XI. in 1710, and this censure was repealed
a few months after by a sentence of the parliament of Paris.
These circumstances contributed not a little to the reputation of the author, who is said to have died the year following.
, a French philosopher, was born at Lyons in 1714, was brought up to the church, and became
, a French philosopher, was born at
Lyons in 1714, was brought up to the church, and became
a professor of philosophy in his native country. In conjunction with the intendant Michaudiere, he drew up a
state of the population of the district of Lyons, which was
published under the name of Mezence, who was secretary
to the intendant. In 1769, the abbe Audra was appointed
professor of history in the college of Toulouse, and, we
are told, filled that chair with distinction. It was here he
wrote the first volume of his “General History,
” which
proved thecause of his death. The archbishop of Toulouse
issued a mandate in which he condemned the work as being
replete with dangerous principles; and the author’s mortification on hearing of this affected his brain to such a
degree, as to carry hinj off in twenty- four hours, Sept.
17, 1770. Voltaire and D'Alembert praise this history, as
likely to give offence only to bigots and fanatics, from
which we may safely infer that the archbishop’s opinion of
it was not ill founded.
, the first of this famijy who is mentioned as an artist, was born in 1592, and died in 1677. He was the son of Louis Audran,
, the first of this famijy who is mentioned as an artist, was born in 1592, and died in 1677. He was the son of Louis Audran, an officer belonging to the wolf-hunters, in the reign of Henry IV. of France. Claude appears to have become an engraver rather late in life, and his prints, which are but few, are not held in much estimation. Yet, though he acquired no great reputation by his own works, it was no small honour to be father to three great artists, Germain, Claude, and Gerard, the last of whom has immortalized the name of the family.
is generally believed to have been brother of the preceding Claude, but others have asserted that he was cousin-german to him only. It is, however, universally agreed
, is generally believed to
have been brother of the preceding Claude, but others
have asserted that he was cousin-german to him only. It
is, however, universally agreed that he was born at Paris
in 1594. In his infancy he discovered much taste, and
an apt disposition for the arts; and, to perfect himself
in engraving, of which he appears to have been chiefly
fond, he went to Rome, where he produced several prints
that did him great honour. What master he studied under
at Rome cannot easily be determined. The style he adopted
is very like that of Cornelius Bloemart, but still neater
Mr. Strutt thinks that the prints of Lucas Kilian and of the
Sadelers may have laid the first foundation on which he
built. On his return to his own country, he settled at
Paris, where he died in 1674, without having ever been
married. The abbé Marolles, who always speaks of this
artist with great praise, attributes one hundred and thirty
prints to him amongst which, the “Annunciation,
” from
Annibale Caracci, and the “Assumption,
” from Domenichino, are the most esteemed.
, was the eldest son of Claude, and was born in 1631, at Lyons, where
, was the eldest son of Claude, and was born in 1631, at Lyons, where his parents then resided. Not content with the instructions of his father, be went to Paris, and perfected himself under his uncle Carl and upon his return to Lyons, published several prints which did great honour to his graver. His merit was in such estimation, that he was made a member of the academy established in that town, and chosen a professor. He died at Lyons, in 1710, and left behind him four sons, all artists, namely, Claude, Benoist, John, and Louis.
, the second of this name, and second son to Claude, the founder of the family, was born at Lyons in 1639, and went to Rome to study painting, where
, the second of this name, and second son to Claude, the founder of the family, was born at Lyons in 1639, and went to Rome to study painting, where he succeeded so well, that, at his return, he was employed by Le Brun, to assist him in the battles of Alexander, which he was then painting for the king of France. He was received into the royal academy in the year 1675, and died unmarried at Paris in 1684. His virtues, says abbe Fontenai, were as praiseworthy as his talents were great. M. Heineken mentions him as an engraver, but without specifying any of his prints.
, the most celebrated artist of the family, was the third son of the first-mentioned Claude Audran, and born
, the most celebrated
artist of the family, was the third son of the first-mentioned
Claude Audran, and born at Lyons in 1640. He learned
from his father the first principles of designing and engraving following the example of his brother, he went to
Paris, where his genius soon began to manifest itself and
his reputation brought him to the knowledge of Le Brun,
who employed him to engrave the “Battle of Constantine,
” and the “Triumph
” of that emperor, and for these
works he obtained apartments at the Gobelins. At Rome,
where he went for improvement, he is said to have studied
under Carlo Maratti, in order to perfect himself in drawing and in that city, where he resided three years, he
engraved several fine plates among; the rest the portrait
of pope Clement IX. M. Colbert, a great encourager of
the arts, was so struck with the beauty of Audran’s works,
whilst he resided at Rome, that he persuaded Louis XIV.
to recall him. On his return, he applied himself assiduously to engraving, and was appointed engraver to the
king, From whom he received liberal encouragement. In
1681, he was named counsellor of the royal academy and
died at Paris in 1703. He had been married, but left no
male issue behind him.
e Battles of Alexander” alone, will justify. His great excellency, above that of any other engraver, was, that though he drew admirably himself, yet he contracted no
Mr. Strutt considers Gerard Audran as the greatest engraver, without any exception, that ever existed in the
historical line, an opinion, which, he thinks, a careful
examination of “The Battles of Alexander
” alone, will
justify. His great excellency, above that of any other
engraver, was, that though he drew admirably himself,
yet he contracted no manner of his own but transcribed
on copper simply, with great truth and spirit, the style of
the master, whose pictures he copied. On viewing his
prints, we lose sight of the engraver, and naturally say,* it
is Le Brun, it is Poussin, &c. “This sublime artist,
”
says the Abbe Fontenai, borrowing chiefly from M. Basan,
“far from conceiving that a servile arrangement of strokes,
and the too frequently cold and affected clearness of the
graver, were the great essentials of historical engraving,
gave worth to his works by a bold mixture of free hatchings and dots, placed together apparently without order,
but with an inimitable degree of taste and has left to posterity most admirable examples of the style in which
grand compositions ought to be treated. His greatest
works, which have not a very flattering appearance to the
ignorant eye, are the admiration of true connoisseurs, and
persons of real taste. He acquired the most profound
knowledge of the art by the constant attention and study
which he bestowed upon the science of design, and the
frequent use he made of painting from nature. He always
knew how to penetrate into the genius of the painter he
copied from and often improved upon, and sometimes
even surpassed him.
” Mr. Strutt has given a list of his
principal engravings, divided into four classes, to which
we refer the reader.
was the second son of Germain Audran, and was born at Lyons in 1661,
was the second son of Germain Audran, and was born at Lyons in 1661, where be learned the first principles of design and engraving, under the instruction of his father. But soon after going to Paris, his uncle Gerard took him under his tuition, and Bcnoit so greatly profited by his instructions, that though he never equalled the sublime style of his tutor, yet he acquired, and deservedly, great reputation. His manner was founded upon the bold, clear style of his uncle. His outlines were firm and determined his drawing correct the heads of his figures are in general very expressive and the other extremities well marked. He was honoured with the appellation of the king’s engraver, and received the royal pension. He was made an academician, and admitted into the council in 1715. He died unmarried at Louzouer, where he had an estate, in 1721.
, the third son of Germain Audran, was also born at Lyons, in 1667, and after having received instructions
, the third son of Germain Audran, was also born at Lyons, in 1667, and after having received instructions from his father, went to Paris, to study the art of engraving under his uncle Gerard. At the age of twenty years, the genius of this great artist began to display itself in a surprising manner: and his future success was such, that in 1707, he obtained the title of engraver to the king, and had a pension allowed him by his majesty, with apartments in the Gobelins and the following year he was made a member of the royal academy. He was eighty years of age before he quitted the graver and near ninety in 1756, when he died at his apartments, assigned him by the king. He left three sons behind him, one of whom, Benoit, was also an engraver, and died in 1735, but very inferior to his uncle of the same name.
, the last son of Germain Audran, was born at Lyons in 1670, from whence he went to Paris, after the
, the last son of Germain Audran, was born at Lyons in 1670, from whence he went to Paris, after the example of his brothers, to complete his studies in the school of his uncle Gerard. He died suddenly at Paris, in 1712, aged 42, before he had produced any great number of prints by his own hand but, it is presumed, he assisted his brothers in their more extensive works. Benedict Audran, the son of John, was also an engraver of some note, and died in 1772.
pally known as the author of the “Continuation, or second part of the history of Don Quixote,” which was published under the title “La Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Hidalgo
, a Spanish writer, and a native of Tordesillas, is principally
known as the author of the “Continuation, or second part
of the history of Don Quixote,
” which was published under
the title “La Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Hidalgo D.
Quixote de la Mancha,
”
the twelfth century, wrote a commentary upon Euclid, and philosophical and theological epistles. He was intimately conversant with the Peripatetic philosophy, and applied
, a Spaniard by birth, but ranks among the Arabian writers and philosophers of the twelfth century, wrote a commentary upon Euclid, and philosophical and theological epistles. He was intimately conversant with the Peripatetic philosophy, and applied it to the illustration of the Islamic system of theology, and to the explanation of the Koran. On this account, he was suspected of heresy, and thrown into prison at Corduba. He is said to have been poisoned at Fez, in the year i 137, or according to others, in 1129. His works were translated into Latin, and were well known to Thomas Aquinas, and the old schoolmen.
, author of the Annals ofBavaria, was born of mean parentage, in 1466, at Abensperg in the country
, author of the Annals ofBavaria,
was born of mean parentage, in 1466, at Abensperg in the
country just named. He studied first at Ingolstadt, and
afterwards in the university of Paris. In 1503, he privately
taught eloquence and poetry at Vienna; and in 1507,
publicly taught Greek at Cracow in Poland. In 1509, he
read lectures on some of Cicero’s pieces at Ingolstadt and
in 1512, was appointed to be preceptor to prince Lewis
and prince Ernest, sons of Albert the Wise, duke of Bavaria. He also travelled with the latter of those two princes.
After this he undertook to write the “Annals of Bavaria,
”
being encouraged by the dukes of that name; who settled
a pension upon him, and gave him hopes that they would
defray the charges of the book. This work, which gained
its author great reputation, was first published in 1554, by
Jerome Zieglerus, professor of poetry in the university of
Ingolstadt but, as he acknowledges in the preface, he
retrenched the invectives against the clergy, and several
stories which had no relation to the history of Bavaria. The
Protestants, however, after long search, found an uncastrated manuscript of Aventin’s Annals, which was published
at Basil in 1580, by Nicholas Cisner.
In 1529, he was forcibly taken out of his sister’s house at Abensperg, and hurried
In 1529, he was forcibly taken out of his sister’s house at Abensperg, and hurried to a gaol the true cause of which violence was never known but it would probably have been carried to a much greater length, had not the duke of Bavaria interposed, and taken this learned man into his protection. In his 64th year he made an imprudent marriage, which disturbed his latter days. He died in 1534, aged 68, leaving one daughter, who was then but two months old. Jt was supposed, from the inquiries made by the Jesuits, that he was a Lutheran in sentiment and the adherents to the church of Rome make use of this argument to weaken the force of his testimony against the conduct of the popes, and the vicious lives of the priests for the Annals of Aventin have been often quoted by Protestants, to prove the disorders of the Romish church.
bian physician, flourished about the end of the eleventh or the beginning of the twelfth century. He was of noble descent, and born at Seville, the capital of Andalusia,
,
an eminent Arabian physician, flourished about the end
of the eleventh or the beginning of the twelfth century.
He was of noble descent, and born at Seville, the capital
of Andalusia, where he exercised his profession with great
reputation. His grandfather and father were both physicians. The large estate he inherited from his ancestors
rendered it unnecessary for him to practise for gain, and
he therefore took no fees from the poor, or from artificers,
though he refused not the presents of princes and great
men. His liberality extended even to his enemies; for
which reason he used to say, that they hated him not for
any fault of his, but rather out of envy. Dr. Freind thinks
that he lived to the age of 135, that he began to practise
at 40 or, as others say, at 20, and had the advantage of
a. longer experience than almost any one ever had, as he
enjoyed perfect health to his last hour. He left a son,
known also by the name of Ebn Zohr, who followed his
father’s profession, was in great favour with Al-Mansor
emperor of Morocco, and wrote several treatises of physic.
Avenzoar was contemporary with Averroes, who, according to Leo Africanus, heard the lectures of the former, and
learned physic of him. Avenzoar, however, is reckoned
by the generality of writers an empiric, although Dr.
Freind observes that this character suits him less than any
of the Arabians. He wrote a book on the “Method of
preparing Medicines,
” which is much esteemed. It was
translated into Hebrew in the year 1280, and thence into
Latin by Paravicius, and printed at Venice in 1490, fol.
and again in 1553.
was born at Florence the 19th of March 1662, the youngest of the
was born at Florence the 19th of March 1662, the youngest of the three sons of John Francis Averani. Benedict, the eldest, made himself famous for his eloquence and the thorough knowledge he had of the Greek and Roman classics while Nicholas, the other brother, so greatly excelled in jurisprudence and all kinds of mathematical learning, as to be reckoned among the foremost in those studies. Joseph received the first rudiments of learning from his father, after which he was put under the tuition of Vincent Glarea, a Jesuit, who then gave public lectures on rhetoric at Florence, with whom he made uncommon progress. He was taught Greek by Antonius Maria Salvini, and advanced so rapidly in his studies, that, in a short time, whether he wrote in Italian, or Latin, or Greek, he shewed an intimate acquaintance with the ancient writers. Young as he was, however, he did not confine himself to oratorical performances alone, but exercised himself in poetry, for which he had much taste. He next applied to the study of the peripatetic philosophy, taking for his guide John Francis Vannius, the Jesuit. After pursuing a variety of studies, with astonishing success, he at length attached himself to mathematics and natural philosophy. When at Pisa he applied to the study of the law and at his leisure hours, in the first year of his residence there, he translated Archimedes with the commentaries of Eutocius Ascalonita out of Greek into Latin, adding many remarks of his own in explanation and illustration of those books which treat of the sphere and cylinder, the circles, the spheroids and conies, and the quadrature of the parabola. He shortly after wrote a treatise on the Momenta of heavy bodies on inclined planes, in defence of Galileo against the attacks of John Francis Vannius, but did not publish it. He cleared up many obscurities in Apollonius Pergaeus. These and other studies did not retard the wonderful progress he made in jurisprudence, which induced Cosmo III. of Medicis to appoint him public teacher of the institutes of civil law in the academy of Pisa. It is to be lamented that none of the orations which he made in this capacity have reached us, except one on the principles of jurisprudence, medicine, and theology. He published two books of the interpretations of the law. The applause with which these were received, induced him to join to them three more books, in the composition and arrangement of which he passed many years. He made a great variety of discoveries in experimental philosophy. He applied himself earnestly to ascertain the time in which sound is propagated, and to discover whether its velocity is retarded by contrary and increased by fair winds. These and other experiments he made at the request of Laurentio Magoloti, who communicated them to the royal society of London i.nd the society in return admitted Averani as an honorary member. Upon the death of his brother Benedict, he sought for consolation in composing an elegiac poem in his praise, and in writing his life in Latin. He died on the 22d of September 1738, lamented as one of the ablest and best of men.
, elder brother to Joseph, was born at Florence in 1645. His preceptor in rhetoric was Vincent
, elder brother to Joseph, was born at Florence in 1645. His preceptor in rhetoric was Vincent Glarea, who soon confessed that his pupil went beyond him. He read almost incessantly the best Italian and Latin writers. And having at first employed a considerable time in the perusal of the poets, epecially the epic, he afterwards applied himself wholly to the reading of Cicero, and of the historians. From the works of the rhetoricians he proceeded to those of the philosophers, and particularly admired and followed Plato. He bestowed an indefatigable attention upon those parts in the writings of the philosophers, which in any manner related to eloquence, the attainment of which he sought with incredible ardour. Amidst these occupations he sometimes renewed his poetical exercises. At his father’s request he composed a Latin poem in praise of St. Thomas Aquinas. This, with many others of our author’s poems, is lost. Those of his poems which are extant, most of which he composed. in his youth, shew that if he had chosen to addict himself exclusively to this study, he might have attained a very high rank. His father afterwards sent him to Pisa to study jurisprudence, and he exercised himself daily in writing to perfect his style. Nor did he write in Latin only for he translated Sallust, and Celsus, and other Latin authors, into Greek and some Greek elegies of his are extant. He was created chief of the academy of Apathists. On the death of the cardinal Leopold of Medicis, he was ordered to compose verses in his praise, which were so much approved, that similar tasks were imposed upon him on the deaths of other princes. In the year 1676, the place long Tacant of teacher of Greek in the Lyceum of Pisa was bestowed upon him by the archduke Cosmo III. After filling this office six years, he was advanced to the dignity of teacher of humanity. In this he succeeded Gronovius, who, by the rudeness and asperity of his manners, had given so much offence to the college, that he was obliged to quit the academy in less than a year after his entering on his office in it. Benedict wrote well in Italian, as appears by the Lezioni which he recited in the Tuscan academy, and in the academy of the Apathists. In his youth he cultivated Italian poetry, and several of his Italian poems are preserved at Rome. He was invited to be professor of humanity in the academy of Pavia on the death of the former professor in 1682, and the same offer was soon after made to him by pope Innocent XI. who was desirous of bringing into the Roman Archigymnasium so eminent a man. In 1688 he was induced by the solicitations of his friends to publish the first book of his Orations. He died in 1707. The dissertations he made in the academy at Pisa, a posthumous work, his orations and poems republished, and his letters then first printed, were all published together at Florence in 3 vols. 1717, folio.
, a French statesman, was born at Paris in 1720. He was counsellor in the parliament of
, a French statesman, was born at Paris in 1720. He was counsellor in
the parliament of Paris, and so distinguished for talent
and probity, that he was appointed minister of state, and
comptroller of the finances, by Lewis XV. in 1763; but
was unfortunate in his administration, having formed some
injudicious plans respecting grain, which ended in increasing the wants they were intended to alleviate. He afterwards retired to Gambais, where he employed himself in
rural improvements, until the fatal period of the
revolution, when he was arrested, brought to Paris, and guillotined Oct. 1794, on an accusation of having monopolised
corn. He had been a member of the academy, and published, 1. “Code penal,
” De la pleine
souverainete du roi sur la province de Bretagne,
” Memoire sur le proces criminel de Robert d'Artois, pair de France,
” inserted in the account of the Mss.
of the national library. 4. “Experiences de Gambais sur
les bles noirs ou caries,
”
opher, and whom Christians as well as Arabians esteemed equal, if not superior to Aristotle himself, was born about the middle of the 12th centufy, of a noble family
, a very celebrated Arabian philosopher, and whom Christians as well as Arabians esteemed equal, if not superior to Aristotle himself, was born about the middle of the 12th centufy, of a noble family at Corduba, the capital of the Saracen dominions in Spain. He was early instructed in the Islamitic law, and, after the usual manner of the Arabian schools, united with the study of Mahometan theology that of the Aristotelian philosophy. These studies he pursued under Thophail, and became a follower of the sect of the Asharites. Under Avenzoar he studied the science of medicine, and under Ibnu-Saig he made himself master of the mathematical sciences. Thus qualified, he was chosen, upon his father’s demise, to the chief magistracy of Corduba. The fame of his extraordinary erudition and talents soon afterwards reached the caliph Jacob Al-Mansor, king of Mauritania, the third of the Almohadean dynasty, who had built a magnificent school at Morocco and that prince appointed him supreme magistrate and priest of Morocco and all Mauritania, allowing him still to retain his former honours. Having left a temporary substitute at Corduba, he went to Morocco, and remained there till he had appointed, through the kingdom, judges well skilled in the Mahometan law, and settled the whole plan of administration after which he returned home, and resumed his offices.
l young persons among their dependants, to apply to him for instruction in philosophy. Averroes, who was easy of access, and always desirous of communicating knowledge,
This rapid advancement of Averroes brought upon him the envy of his rivals at Corduba who conspired to lodge an accusation against him, for an heretical desertion of the true Mahometan faith. For this purpose, they engaged several young persons among their dependants, to apply to him for instruction in philosophy. Averroes, who was easy of access, and always desirous of communicating knowledge, complied with their request, and thus fell into the snare that had been laid for him. His new pupils were very industrious in taking minutes of every tenet or opinion advanced by their preceptor, which appeared to contradict the established system of Mahometan theology. These minutes they framed into a charge of heresy, and attested upon oath, that they had been fairly taken from his lips. The charge was signed by an hundred witnesses. The caliph listened to the accusation, and punished Averroes, by declaring him heterodox, confiscating his goods, and commanding him for the future to reside among the Jews, who inhabited the precincts of Corduba where he remained an object of general persecution and obloquy. Even the boys in the streets pelted him with stones, when he went up to the mosque in the city to perform his devotions. His pupil, Maimonides, that he might not be under the necessity of violating the laws of friendship and gratitude, by joining the general cry against Averroes, left Corduba. From this unpleasant situation Averroes at last found means to escape. He fled to Fez, but had been there only a few days, when he was discovered by the magistrate, and committed to prison. The report of his flight from Corduba was soon carried to the king, who immediately called a council of divines and lawyers, to determine in what manner this heretic should be treated. The members of the council were not agreed in opinion. Some strenuously maintained, that a man who held opinions so contrary to the law of the prophet deserved death. Others thought that much mischief, arising from the dissatisfaction of those among the infidels who were inclined to favour him, might be avoided, by only requiring from the culprit a public penance, and recantation of his errors. The milder opinion prevailed and Averroes was brought out of prison to the gate of the mosque, and placed upon the upper step, with his head bare, at the time of public prayers and every one, as he passed into the mosque, was allowed to spit upon his face. At the close of the service, the judge, with his attendants, came to the philosopher, and asked him whether he repented of his heresies. He acknowledged his penitence, and was dismissed without further punishment, with the permission of the king. Averroes returned to Corduba, where he experienced all the miseries of poverty and contempt. In process of time the people became dissatisfied with the regent who had succeeded Averroes, and petitioned the king that their former governor might be restored. Jacob Al-Mansor, not dar.ng to show sucli indulgence to one who had been infamous for heresy, without the consent of the priesthood, called a general assembly, in which it was debated, whether it would be consistent with the safety of religion, and the honour of the law, that Averroes should be restored to the government of Corduba. The deliberation terminated in favour of the penitent heretic, and he was restored, by the royal mandate, to all his former honours. Upon this fortunate change in his affairs, Averroes removed to Morocco, where he remained till his death, which happened, as some say, in 1195, or according to others in 1206.
practised the most rigid temperance, eating only once in the day the plainest food. So indefatigable was his industry in the pursuit of science, that he often passed
Averroes is highly celebrated for his personal virtues. He practised the most rigid temperance, eating only once in the day the plainest food. So indefatigable was his industry in the pursuit of science, that he often passed whole nights in study. In his judicial capacity, he discharged his duty with great wisdm and integrity. His humanity would not permit him to pass the sentence of death upon any criminal; he left this painful office to his deputies. He possessed so great a degree of self- command and patient lenity, that, when one of his enemies, in the mklst of a public discourse, sent a servant to him to whisper some abusive language in his ear, he took no other nptice of what passed, than if it had been a secret message of business. The next day, the servant returned, and publicly begged pardon of Averroes for the affront he had offered him upon which Averroes only appeared displeased, that his patient endurance of injuries should be brought into public notice, and dismissed the servant with a gentle caution, never to offer that insult to another, which had in the present instance passed unpunished. Averroes spent a great part of his wealth in liberal donations to learned men, without making any distinction between his friends and his enemies for which his apology was, that, in giving to his friends and relations, he only followed the dictates of nature but, in giving to his enemies, he obeyed the commands of virtue. With uncommon abilities and learning, Averroes united great affability and urbanity of manners, and may, in tine, be justly reckoned one o: the greatest men of his age.
with respect to Aristotle, and paid a superstitious deference to his authority but extravagant as he was in this respect, it is unquestionably true, that he was unacquainted
In philosophy, he partook of the enthusiasm of the
times with respect to Aristotle, and paid a superstitious
deference to his authority but extravagant as he was in
this respect, it is unquestionably true, that he was unacquainted with the Greek language, and read the writings
of his oracle in wretched Arabic translations, taken immediately from Latin or Syriac versions. The necessary
consequence was, that his “Commentaries on Aristotle
”
were nothing better than a confused mass of error and misrepresentation. Yet such is the power of prejudice, that
many learned men, since the revival of letters, have passed
high encomiums upon Averroes as an excellent commentator. His writings of this kind were exceedingly numerous, and were so much admired by the Jews, that many of
them were translated into Hebrew. Besides these, he
wrote “a paraphrase of Plato’s Republic
” and a treatise
in defence of philosophy against Al-Gazal, entitled “Happalath hahappalah,
” commonly cited under the name of
“Destructorium Destructorii,
” and many other treatises in
theology, jurisprudence, and medicine. He took great pains
to improve the theory of medicine by the help of philosophy, and particularly to reconcile Aristotle and Galen, but it
does not appear that he practised physic. Few of his writings are to be met with, except in Hebrew or Latin translations. His “Commentary on Aristotle
” was published
in Latin at Venice, in folio,
. from such authentic materials as came to his hands but when he had laboured about thirty years, he was surprised by death, in the latter end of 1356, or in the beginning
, a very ancient English historian, of whose personal history, however, we know little. In the title of his history he calls himself register of the archbishop of Canterbury’s court, His design seems to have been to compose a history of the reign of Edward III. from such authentic materials as came to his hands but when he had laboured about thirty years, he was surprised by death, in the latter end of 1356, or in the beginning of the year following. In this work we have a plain narrative of facts, with an apparent candour and impartiality but his chief excellence lies in his accuracy in point of dates, and his stating all public actions from records, rather than from his own notions. This work, however, remained long in manuscript, and undiscovered by some of our most industrious antiquaries. It was unknown to Leland and to Bale, and the first who mentioned it and had seen it was Fox the martyrologist. ^Archbishop Parker had also perused it, and so had Stowe, who mentions Avesbury in his Chronicle, and from him Pits ventures to tell us, that he flourished about 1340, but does not add that he had any acquaintance with his works. Du Fresne, in his Index of Writers, places Avesbury in the same year. Mr. Jocelyn, however, who was chaplain to archbishop Parker, never saw this ms. though in his patron’s possession, nor did it fall under the inspection of Anthony Wood.
bury Historia de mirabilibus gestis Edvardi III. hactenus inedita,” e Th. Sheld. 1720, 8vo. This ms. was the same that had formerly been in the hands of archbishop Parker,
At length, after being so long buried in obscurity, the
indefatigable Mr. Hearne printed it at Oxford, from a ms.
belonging to sir Thomas Seabright, along with some other
curious tracts, under the title of “Roberti de Avesbury
Historia de mirabilibus gestis Edvardi III. hactenus inedita,
” e Th. Sheld. 1720, 8vo. This ms. was the same
that had formerly been in the hands of archbishop Parker,
from whom it passed to Mr. William Lambard, the celebrated antiquary; from him to Thomas Lambard; and at
length it came to sir Roger Twysden, and with the rest of
his valuable library, was purchased by sir Thomas Seabright. Besides these there are two other Mss. in being,
one in the Harleian collection in the British Museum, and
the other in the university library at Cambridge, with both
which the accurate printed edition was compared. All
these Mss. are thought to be as old as the time in which
our author flourished. There is joined to this history, and
in the same hand-writing, a French chronicle, from the first
planting of Britain to the reign of king Edward III.; but
this Mr. Hearne conceived to be the work of some other
author, and therefore did not print it. There were likewise added to the ms copies, certain notes of a miscellaneous nature, under the title of “Minutiae,
” which Mr,
Hearne has preserved, although of opinion they were not
written by Avesbury.
us, a native of Villeneuve, in the diocese of Sens in Champagne, lived in the sixteenth century, and was esteemed on account of his learning and writings. The office
, in Latin Augentius, a native of
Villeneuve, in the diocese of Sens in Champagne, lived in
the sixteenth century, and was esteemed on account of his
learning and writings. The office of the king’s professor
in the Greek tongue in the university of Paris was designed
for him in 1574, and he took possession of it in 1578. He
was also preceptor to the son of that Francis Olivier who
was chancellor of France, as appears from the preliminary
epistle of a book, which he dedicated to Anthony Olivier
bishop of Lombes, and uncle to his pupil, dated from Paris
the 1st of March 1555. The time of his death is not certainly known but Francis Parent, his successor in the professorship of the Greek tongue, entered upon it in 1595,
and Moreri gives that as the date of Auge’s death. He
wrote, 1. “A consolatory oration upon the death of Messire Francis Olivier, chancellor of France,
” Paris, Two dialogues concerning Poetical Invention, the
true knowledge of the Art of Oratory, and of the Fiction of Fable,
” Paris, A discourse upon the
Decree made by the parliament of Dole in Burgundy with
relation to a man accused and convicted of being a Werewolf.
” 4. “The institution of a Christian Prince, translated from the Greek of Synesius, bishop of Syrene, with an
oration concerning the True Nobility, translated from the
Greek of Phiio Judseus,
” Paris, Four homilies of St. Macarius the Egyptian,
” Paris, and Lyons A letter to the noble and virtuous youth Anthony Thelin, son of the noble Thelin, author of the book entitled
`Divine Tracts,' in which is represented the true Patrimony and Inheritance which fathers ought to leave to their
children.
” This letter is printed in the beginning of the
above-mentioned “Divine Tracts,
” Paris, A French
translation of the most beautiful Sentences and Forms of
Speaking in the familiar Epistles of Cicero.
” The “Discourse upon the Decree,
” &c. relates to a man convicted
of having murdered and eat one or two persons, for which
he was burnt alive.
, a distinguished French critic, was born at Paris, Dec. 12, 1724, embraced the clerical profession,
, a distinguished French critic,
was born at Paris, Dec. 12, 1724, embraced the clerical
profession, and obtained the chair of the professor of belles
lettres in the college of Rouen. The bishop of Lescar No6
made him his grand vicar, and usually called him his grand
vicar in partibus Atheniensium, in allusion to his intimate
acquaintance with the Greek language, from which he had
made translations of the greater part of the orators, with
much purity. He was received into the academy of Inscriptions, where he was much esteemed for his learning
and personal virtues. He lived, it is said, among the great,
and told them truth, and to his opponents was remarkable
for canckmr and urbanity. In his private character he appears to have been distinguished for a love of letters, and
an independent and philosophic spirit which kept him from
soliciting patronage or preferment. He died Feb. 7, 1791.
His principal works were, “The Orations of Demosthenes
and Eschines on the crown,
” Rouen,. The
whole works of Demosthenes and Eschines,
” 6 vols. 8vo, 1777
and 1788. This is accompanied with remarks upon the genius and productions of these two great orators, with critical
notes on the Greek text, a preliminary discourse concerning
eloquence; a treatise on the jurisdiction and laws of Athens
and other pieces, relative to Grecian laws and literature,
which have great merit. His countrymen, however, do not
speak highly of his translations, as conveying the fire and
spirit of the original. They say he is exact and faithful,
but cold. In 1781 he published, in 3 vols. 8vo, “The
Works of Isocrates.
” This is thought preferable to the
former, yet still the French critics considered the translator as better acquainted with Greek than French the
truth perhaps is, that the French language is less capable
of receiving the fire and sublimity of the great orators than
those critics are willing to suspect. In 1783 he published
the “Works of Lysias,
” 8vo; in The homilies,
discourses, and letters ef S. John Chrysostom,
” 4 vols. 8vo;
in 1787, “Select orations of Cicero,
” in 3 vols. 8vo; in
1788, “Orations from Herodotus, Thucydides, and the
works of Xenophon,
” 2 vols. 8vo. In 1789, he published
“Projet d' Education Publique
” at least such is the title
of the work, but we suspect it to be a re-publication of some
“Discourses on Education, delivered in the Royal college
at Rouen, to which are subjoined, Reflections upon Friendship,
” which appeared first in 1792, 8vo. To his
works also may be added an edition of
” Isocrates, in Gr.
and Lat." 3 vols. 8vo, and 4to, a very beautiful book. As
an editor and critic, he discovers, in all his editions, much
taste and judgment; but perhaps his countrymen do him
no injury in supposing that the latter in general predomU
nated.
, a French Jesuit, was born in 1530, at Allernan, a village in the diocese of Troyes,
, a French Jesuit, was born in 1530,
at Allernan, a village in the diocese of Troyes, and became
noted for his extraordinary skill in the conversion of heretics, that is, llugonots, or Protestants, of whom he is said
to have recovered many thousands to the church. He was
often in danger from his unsought services, and was once
narrowly saved from the gallows by a minister of the reformed church, who hoped to gain him over to his party.
This, however, only served to excite his ardour in the cause
of proselytism, and he distinguished himself very remarkably at Lyons during the ravages of the plague. Henry
III. appointed him to be his preacher and confessor, the
first time in which this latter honour had been conferred.
He was, however, either so conscientious or so unfortunate
as neither to gain the affections of his prince, nor to preserve the good opinion and confidence of the Jesuits.
After the death of Henry III. his superiors recalled him to
Italy, and sent him from house to house, where he was considered as an excommunicated person, travelling on foot in
the depth of winter; and of such fatigues he died in the
sixty-first year of his age, in 1591. He wrote some
controversial works in a very intemperate style. One of
his pieces was published in 1568, under the title of “Pedagogue d‘armes a un Prince Chretien, pour entreprendre
et achever heureusement une bonne guerre, victorieuse de
tous les ennemis de son etat et de l’eglise.
” Father Dorigny published the life of Auger in
, an Italian, highly praised by Paul Jovius, and as much condemned by Scaliger, was born in 1441, at Rimini, of a noble family. He studied at Padua,
, an Italian, highly
praised by Paul Jovius, and as much condemned by Scaliger, was born in 1441, at Rimini, of a noble family. He
studied at Padua, and was professor of belles lettres in several universities, particularly Venice and Trevisa in the
latter place he obtained the rank of citizen, and died there
in 1524. His principal poem, “Chrysopoeia,
” or the art
of making, gold, occasioned his being supposed attached to
alchymy but there is no foundation for this, unless his
employing 'the technicals of the art in the manner of a
didactic poet, who studies imagination more than utility.
Leo X. to whom he dedicated the work, is said to have rewarded him by an empty purse, the only article he thought
necessary to a man who could make gold. This poem
was first printed at Venice, with, another on old age, entitled “Geronticon,
” Theatrum Chemicum,
” Strasburgh, Bibl. Chemica.
” His
other Latin poems, consisting of odes, satires, and epigrams, were published under the title “Carmina,
” Verona,
, an eminent father of the church, was born at'Tagasta, Nov. 13, in the year 354, of his father Patricius,
, an eminent father of the church,
was born at'Tagasta, Nov. 13, in the year 354, of his father
Patricius, a citizen of that place, and his mother Monica,
a lady of distinguished piety. He first applied to his
studies in his native place, and afterwards at Madora and
Carthage. In this latter city his morals became corrupted,
and he had a son born to him, named Adeodat, the fruit of
a criminal connexion. He then became a proselyte to the
sect of the Manichaeans, and an able defender of their
opinions. The perusal of some part of Cicero’s philosophy
is said first to have detached him from his immoral conduct; but one thing, Baillet says, gave him uneasiness in
this work, and that was his not finding the name of Jesus,
which had been familiar to him from his infancy in the
writings of the celebrated Roman. He resolved, therefore, to read the holy scriptures, but the pride of his heart,
and his incapacity to taste the simple beauties of these,
made him still give the preference to Cicero. In the
mean time he acquired considerable fame in the schools of
eloquence, and was a professor of it successively at Tagasta, at Carthage, at Rome, and at Milan, whither he had
been sent by the prefect Symmachus. St. Ambrose was at
this time bishop of Milan, and Augustin, affected by his
sermons, and by the tears of his mother Monica, began to
think seriously of forsaking his irregularities and his Manichasism. He was accordingly baptised at Milan in the year
387, in the thirty-second year of his age, and renouncing
his rhetorical pursuits, studied only the gospel. On his
return to Tagasta, he betook himself to fasting and prayer,
gave his property to the poor, and formed a society ainorrg
some of his friends. Some time after, being at Hippo,
Valerius, then bishop of that diocese, ordained him a priest
abaut the commencement of the year 391. Next year we
find him disputing with great success against the Manichees, and in the year 392 he gave so learned an exposition of the symbol of faith, in the council of Hippo, that the
bishops were unanimously of opinion he ought to be chosen
one of their number. In the year 395, another council
appointed him coadjutor to Valerius, in the see of Hippo,
and it was in this situation that the spirit and virtues of
Augustin began to display themselves. He established in
the espiscopal mansion a society of clerks, with whom he
lived, and became more active in his opposition to heresies,
particularly the Manichuean, converting one Felix, a very
celebrated character among them. Nor did he less prove
his judgment and eloquence in a conference between the
Catholic 1 bishops and the Donatists at Carthage in the year
411, where he bent his endeavours to procure unity in the
church. His great work “On the city of God,
” now made
its appearance.
In the year 418, a general council was held at Carthage against the Pelagians. Augustin, who had formerly
In the year 418, a general council was held at Carthage
against the Pelagians. Augustin, who had formerly refuted their errors, now prepared nine articles against them,
and evinced a zeal on the subject, which procured him the
title of the “Doctor of grace.
” After having thus triumphed over the enemies of the church, he had to contend
with those of the empire. The Vandals, who had passed
from Africa into Spain, under the conduct of their king
Genseric, in the year 428, made themselves masters of a
considerable part of that country, but Carthage and Hippo
resisted them a long time. Augustin, when consulted by
his associates, whether they ought to escape by flight, or
wait for the barbarians, gave his opinion for the latter, as
more becoming their duty and when the episcopal city was
besieged by a great army, he encouraged his flock by his
example and exhortations, He dreaded, nevertheless, lest
Hippo should fall into the hands of the enemy, and prayed
to God that he might be taken away before that calamity
happened. His prayer, it would appear, was answered, as
he was cut off, during the siege, by a violent fever, on the
2Sth of August, in the year 430, at the age of seventy-six.
The Vandals, who took Hippo the year following, showed
respect to his library, his works, and his body. The catholic bishops of Africa carried his body to Sardinia, the place
to which they were driven by Thrasamond, king of* the
Vandals and Luitprand, king of Lombardy, caused it to
be conveyed, nearly two hundred years after, to Pavia.
His works have been printed at Paris in 1679 and 1700, in
eleven volumes, folio. But the author of the Bibliographical Dictionary says, there are two editions under the same
date, and that the first is preferred, and is distinguished by
the preface at the beginning of the first volume. In the
first edition there are only five lines of the preface on the
first page in the second edition there are more. In the
tenth volume of the first edition there is a little tract, of
half a leaf, preceding page 747, before the book “De Corruptions et Gratia,
” which is not found in the second edition. There was another edition in 12 vols. fol. published
also by the Benedictines at Antwerp, 1700 1703.
by no means, proportionable to the eminent talents now mentioned, and that, upon many occasions, he was more guided by the violent impulse of a warm imagination, than
The character of Augustin has been depreciated by some
modern writers, and ought undoubtedly to be considered
with a reference to the time he lived, and the state of
learning and religion. There is neither wisdom nor candour, however, in collecting and publishing the frailties of
his early years, nor in denying that he may justly be ranked
among those illustrious characters, in a dark age, who preserved and elucidated many of those doctrines which are
held sacred in days of more light and knowledge. Mosheim’s character seems candid and just. The fame of
Augustin, says that ecclesiastical historian, filled the whole
Christian world and not without reason, as a variety of
great and shining qualities were united in his character.
A sublime genius, an uninterrupted and zealous pursuit of
truth, an indefatigable application, an invincible patience,
a sincere piety, a subtile and lively wit, conspired to establish his fame upon the most lasting foundations. It is,
however, certain, that the accuracy and solidity of his
judgment were, by no means, proportionable to the eminent talents now mentioned, and that, upon many occasions, he was more guided by the violent impulse of a warm
imagination, than by the cool dictates of wisdom and prudence. Hence that ambiguity which appears in his writings, and which has sometimes rendered the most attentive
readers uncertain with respect to his real sentiments and
hence also the just complaints which many have made of
the contradictions that are so frequent in his works, and of
the levity and precipitation with which he set himself to
write upon a variety of subjects, before he had examined
them with a sufficient degree of attention and diligence.
It ought to be added, that almost all Augustin’s works have
been printed separately and often, particularly his “City
of God,
” and his “Confessions.
”
, archbishop of Tarragona, one of the most learned men of his age, was born at Saragossa, in 1516. His parents were, Anthony Augustin,
, archbishop of Tarragona,
one of the most learned men of his age, was born at Saragossa, in 1516. His parents were, Anthony Augustin, vicechancellor of Arragon, and Elizabeth, duchess of Cardonna.
He was well skilled in civil and canon law, the belles
lettres, ecclesiastical history, languages, and antiquities.
His first promotion was to be auditor of Rota then he was
made bishop of Alisa, afterwards of Lerida,and distinguished
himself greatly in the council of Trent. The archbishopric
of Tarragona was conferred upon him in 1574, and here he
died in 1586, aged seventy. His character appears to have
been excellent, and such was his charity that he left not
enough to defray the expences of his funeral. His works
are much valued. The principal are, 1. “De emendatione Gratiani Dialogorum,
” Tarrac. Constitutionum
Provincial! um Ecclesiae Tarraconensis, lib. V.
” Tarracon,
Canones Penitentiales,
” Tar. De Nominibus Propriis Pandectse Florentini, cum notis A. Augustini,
” Antique Collectiones Decretalium,
” Paris, Epitome Juris Pontificis,
” 3 torn. Tar. and Rome,
1587, 1611, folio. 7. “Dialog. XI. de las Medallas,
”
Tarrag. 1587, 4to and folio, and in Latin, 1617, fol. The
4to edition of these dialogues on medals, in Italian, is preferable, as the medals of the dialogues, from the third to
the eight, are not in the edition of 1587, a remark which
the editor of the Bibliographical Dictionary has by mistake
made upon the “Emendatio Gratiani.
”
ion Austin (St.), usually styled the Apostle of the English, and the first archbishop of Canterbury, was originally a monk in the convent of St. Andrew at Rome, and
, or by contraction Austin (St.), usually styled the Apostle of the English, and the first archbishop
of Canterbury, was originally a monk in the convent of St.
Andrew at Rome, and was educated under St. Gregory,
afterwards pope Gregory I. who undertook the conversion of the island of Britain. His inducement to this, in
the life of St. Gregory, written by John Diaconus, introduces us to a string of puns, which we must refer to the
manners and taste of the times, without surely impeaching
the seriousness of Gregory, who in his present situation, as
well as when pope, had no other visible motive for his zea],
than the propagation of Christianity. Walking in the forum at Rome, he haprfened to see some very handsome
youths exposed to sale, and being informed that they were
of the island of Britain, and that the inhabitants of that
island were Pagans, he regretted that such handsome youths
should be destitute of true knowledge, and again asked the
name of the nation. “Angli
” was the answer on which
he observed, “In truth they have angelic countenances,
and it is a pity they should not be coheirs with angels in
heaven.
” When informed that they came from the province of Deira (Northumberland), he observed, “It is
well, de mz, snatched from the wrath of God, and called to
the mercy of Christ and when, in answer to another interrogatory, he was told that the name of their king was
Ella, he said,
” Alleluia, should be sung to God in those
regions." More seriously impressed with a sense of his
duty on this occasion, he requested pope Benedict to send
some persons to our island on a mission, and offered to be
one of the number. He was himself, however, too much a
favourite with the Roman citizens to be suffered to depart,
and it was not until he became pope, that he was enabled
effectually to pursue his purpose. After his consecration
in the year 595, he directed a presbyter, whom he had sent
into France, to instruct some young Saxons, of seventeen
or eighteen years of age, in Christianity, to act as missionaries and in the year 597, he sent about forty monks, including perhaps some of these new converts, with Augustine at their head. Having proceeded a little way on their
journey, they began to dread the attempt of committing
themselves to a savage and infidel nation, whose language
they did not understand. In this dilemma, doubtful whether to return or proceed, they agreed to send back Augustine to Gregory, to represent their fears, and intreat that
he would release them from their engagement. Gregory,
however/ in answer, advised them to proceed, in confidence
of divine aid, undaunted by the fatigue of the journey, or
any other temporary obstructions, adding, that it would
have been better not to have begun so good a work, than
to recede from it afterwards. He also took every means
for their accommodation, recommending them to the attention of Etherius, bishop of Aries, and providing for them
such assistance in France, that at length they arrived safely
in Britain.
to some circumstances highly in their favour. Christianity, although not extended over the kingdom, was not at this period unknown in Britain, notwithstanding it had
Before proceeding to their success here, it is necessary to advert to some circumstances highly in their favour. Christianity, although not extended over the kingdom, was not at this period unknown in Britain, notwithstanding it had been much persecuted by the Saxons. They were at this time, however, disposed to look upon their Christian brethren with a more favourable eye, and the marriage of Ethelbert, king of Kent, in the year 570, with Birtha, or Bertha, daughter of Cherebert, king of France, a Christian princess of great virtue and merit, contributed not a little to abate the prejudices of that prince and his subjects against her religion, for the free exercise of which she had stipulated in her marriage contract. She was also allowed the use of a small church without the walls of Canterbury, where Luidhart, a French bishop, who came over in her retinue, with other clergymen, publicly performed all the rites of Christian worship, and by these means Christianity had some, although probably a very confined influence.
ture of their mission, and of the religion they wished to preach. The substance of the king’s answer was, that he could not, without further consideration, abandon the
It is easy to suppose that a queen, thus sincere in her
principles, would be very earnest in persuading her husband to give Augustine and his followers a hospitable reception, and Ethelbert accordingly assigned Augustine an
habitation in the isle of Thanet. By means of French interpreters, whom the missionaries brought with them, they
informed the king that they were come from Rome, and
brought with them the best tidings in the world eternal
life to those who received them, and the endless enjoyment
of life hereafter. After some days, Ethelbert paid them a
visit but being afraid of enchantments, things which, true
or false, were then objects of terror, chose to receive them
in the open air. The missionaries met him, singing litanies
for their own salvation, and that of those for vvhojse sake
they came thither; and then, by the king’s direction, unfolded the nature of their mission, and of the religion they
wished to preach. The substance of the king’s answer was,
that he could not, without further consideration, abandon
the religion of his forefathers, but as they had come so
far on a friendly errand, he assigned them a place of residence in Canterbury, and allowed them to use their best
endeavours to convert his subjects. The place assigned
them was in the parish of St. Alphage, on the north side of
the High or King’s street, where, in Thorn’s time, the archbishop’s palace stood, now called Stable-gate. Accordingly they entered the city, singing in concert a short
litany, recorded by Becle, in these words “We pray thee,
O Lord, in all thy merc^, that thine anger and thy fury
may be removed from this city, and from thy holy house,
for we have sinned. Alleluia.
”
should be necessary, which produced considerable effect on the people and at length the king himself was converted, and gave the missionaries his license to preach every
In this city they employed example and precept in the introduction of their doctrines. They prayed, lasted, watched, preached, wherever they had opportunity, and received only bare necessaries in return. They practised also what they taught, and showed a firmness and zeal, even, to death, if it should be necessary, which produced considerable effect on the people and at length the king himself was converted, and gave the missionaries his license to preach every where, and to build or repair churches. The king, however, declared that no compulsion should be used in making converts, although he could not avoid expressing greater partiality to those who embraced Christianity.
During this success, Augustine went to France, and was there, by the archhishop of Aries, consecrated archbishop of
During this success, Augustine went to France, and was there, by the archhishop of Aries, consecrated archbishop of the English nation, thinking that this new dignity would give additional influence to his exhortations. When he returned into Britain, he sent Laurentius the presbyter, and Peter the monk, to acquaint Gregory with what had been done, and to consult him upon several points of doctrine and discipline. Some of these points savour, undoubtedly, of the superstitious scruples of the monastic, austerity, but others lead to some information respecting the early constitution of the church. To his inquiries concerning the maintenance of the clergy, Gregory answered, that the donations made to the church were, by the custom of the Roman see, divided into four portions one for the bishop and his family to support hospitality, a second to the clergy, a third to the poor, and a fourth to the reparation of churches. As the pastors were all monks, they were to live in common, but such as chose to marry were to be maintained by the monastery. With respect to diversities of customs and liturgies, Gregory’s answer was truly liberal, implying that Augustine was not bound to follow the precedent of Rome, but might select whatever parts or rules appeared the most eligible and best adapted to promote the piety of the infant church of England, and compose them into a system for its use. Gregory also, at Augustine’s request, sent over more missionaries, and directed him to constitute a bishop at York, who might have other subordinate bishops yet in such a manner, that Augustine of Canterbury should be metropolitan of all England. He sent over also a valuable present of books, vestments, sacred utensils, and holy relics. He advised Augustine not to destroy the heathen temples, but only to remove the images of their gods, to wash the walls with holy water, to erect altars, deposit relics in them, and so gradually convert them into Christian churches not only to save the expence of building new ones, but that the people might be more easily prevailed upon to frequent those places of worship to which they had been accustomed. He directs him further, to accommodate the ceremonies of the Christian worship, as much as possible, to those of the heathen, that the people might not be too much startled at the change and in particular, he advises him to allow the Christian converts, on certain festivals, to kill and eat a great number of oxen, to the glory of God, as they had formerly done to the honour of the devil. It is quite unnecessary, in our times, to offer any remark on this mixture of pious zeal with worldly policy.
The next great event of Augustine’s life was his attempt to establish uniformity of discipline and customs
The next great event of Augustine’s life was his attempt
to establish uniformity of discipline and customs in the
island, and as a necessary step to gain over the British
(Welch) bishops to his opinion. These Britons, from the
first time of planting Christianity in the island, had constantly followed the rules and customs left them by their
first masters. But the church of Rome had made certain
alterations in the manner of celebrating divine service? to
which it pretended all other churches ought to conform,
The churches of the West, as being the nearest to Rome,
were the most easily gained and almost all of them, excepting those of France and Milan, conformed at last to
the Roman ritual. But Britain still continued, as kwere, a
world apart. Since the embassy of Lucius to pope Eleutherius, the Britons bad very little communication with the
bishops of Rome. They acknowledged them only as
bishops of a particular diocese, or, at most, as heads of a
patriarchate, on which they did not think the British church
ought to be any way dependent. They were so far from
receiving orders from the pope, that they were even strangers to his pretensions. But Augustine, full of zeal for the
interests of the see of Rome, made an attempt to bring them
to acknowledge the superiority of the pope over all other
churches. For this purpose he invited the Welch bishops
to a conference, and began to admonish them to enter into
Christian peace and concord, that they might join with him
in converting the Pagans but this proved fruitless, as they
would hearken to no prayers or exhortations, and Augustine, therefore, had recourse to a miracle. A blind man.
was introduced to be healed, and was healed by Augustine’s
prayers, when those of the ancient Britons failed. They
were obliged, therefore, to confess that Augustine was sent
of God, but pleaded the obstinacy of their people as a reason for their non-compliance. A second synod was appointed, attended by seven British bishops, and many of
their learned men, belonging to the ancient monastery of
Bangor, of which Dinoth was at that time abbot. Before
these came to the synod, they asked the advice of a person
of reputed sanctity, whether they should give up their own
traditions on the authority of Augustine or not. “Let humility,
” said he, “be the test; and if you find, when you
come to the synod, that he rises up to you at your approach, obey him if not, let him be despised by you.
”
On such precarious evidence was a matter to rest which
they thought so important. It happened that Augustine
continued sitting on their arrival, which might easily have
been the case without any intentional insult but it answered
the purpose of the Britons, already averse to join him, and
they would now hearken to no terms of reconciliation.
Augustine proposed that they should agree with him only
in three things, leaving other points of difference undetermined namely, to observe Easter at the same time with
the rest of the Christian world to administer baptism after
the Roman manner; and to join with him in preaching the
gospel to the English but all this they rejected, and refused to acknowledge his authority. This provoked Augustine to tell them, that if they would not have peace with
brethren, they should have war with enemies and it hap,
pened afterwards, that in an invasion of the Pagan Saxons.
of the North, the Bangorian monks were cruelly murdered;
but this was lon^ after the death of Augustine, who, nevertheless, has been accused by some writers of exciting the
animosity which ended in that massacre. For this there
seems no solid foundation. Augustine betrayed an improper warmth, and was not free from ambition but in all his
history we can find no instance of a sanguinary spirit, or
any inclination to propagate Christianity by any other weapons than those he had at first employed. The Britons
undoubtedly had a right to their independence, and Augustine is not to be praised for endeavouring to destroy what
had so long existed, and over which he had no legal controul.
Augustine died in the year 604, at Canterbury, and was buried in the church-yard of the monastery that was called after
Augustine died in the year 604, at Canterbury, and was buried in the church-yard of the monastery that was called after his name, the cathedral not being then finished but after the consecration of that church, his body was taken tip, and deposited in the north porch, where it lay, till, in 1091, it was removed and placed in the church by Wido, abbot of Canterbury. The miracles ascribed by popish writers to Augustine may now be read as other legendary tales, as monuments of weakness and superstition, nor do such writers gain any credit to their cause, by asserting that to be true, which they know to be contrary to the economy of providence and nature, and the appearance of which, for the purposes of conversion, could not be produced without implicating the parties in a charge of wilful delusion.
, duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, was a man of learning, and a patron of men of learning. He published
, duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, was
a man of learning, and a patron of men of learning. He
published several works, among which his “Evangelical
Harmony,
” written in German, is much esteemed by Protestants. He published also, in 1636, a “Treatise on the
Cultivation of Orchards, which is still consulted in Germany. The
” Steganographia," under the name of Gustavus Selenus, which was published in Latin, at Lunenburg,
in 1624, folio, was also the work of this prince, who died
in 1666, in the eighty-seventh year of his age.
, an Italian poet, was born at Vincenza, and employed his fortune, which was very
, an Italian poet, was born at Vincenza, and employed his fortune, which was very considerable, in patronising and associating with men of genius and
talents. He is supposed to have died about 1607. His
poems, consisting of “Three Epistles,
” highly praised by
Mazzuchelli, Crescembini, and Quadrio, were first printed
in 1605, and were reprinted in 1615 and 1627. They were
inserted likewise in some of the collections.
ussein-Ben-Abdoullah, EfiN-SiNA, called Avicenes, the prince of Arabian philosophers and physicians, was born at Assena, a village in the neighbourhood of Bokhara in
, Abou-Ali- Alhussein-Ben-Abdoullah, EfiN-SiNA, called Avicenes, the prince of Arabian philosophers and physicians, was born at Assena, a village in the neighbourhood of Bokhara in the year 980. His father was from Balkh in Persia, and had married at Bokhara. The first years of Avicenna were devoted to the study of the Koran, and the belles lettres, and so rapid was his progress that, when he was but ten years old, he was perfectly intelligent in the* most hidden senses of the Koran. Abou-Abdouliah, a uative of Napoulous in Syria, at that time professed philosophy at Bokhara with the greatest reputation. Avicenna studied under him the principles of logic but soon disgusted with the slow manner of the schools, he set about studying alone, and read all the authors that had written on philosophy, without any other help than that of their commentators. Mathematics likewise had great charms for him, and after reading the first six propositions of Euclid, he reached to the last, without a teacher, having made himself perfect master of them, and treasured up all of them equally in his memory.
n seldom be denied, that he had learned more from experience than from all the hooks he had read. He was now only in his sixteenth year, and already was celebrated as
Possessed with an extreme avidity to be acquainted with
every science, he likewise devoted himself to the study of
medicine. Persuaded that this divine art consists as much
in practice as in theory, he sought all opportunities of seeing the sick and afterwards confessed, what can seldom
be denied, that he had learned more from experience than
from all the hooks he had read. He was now only in his
sixteenth year, and already was celebrated as the luminary
of his age. He resolved, however, to resume his studies
of philosophy, which medicine had interrupted and he
spent a year and a half in this painful labour, without ever
sleeping all this time a whole night together. If he felt
himself oppressed by sleep, or exhausted by reading, a
glass of wine refreshed his wasted spirits, and gave him
new vigour for study if in spite of him his eyes for a few
minutes shut out the light, we are told that he then recollected and meditated upon all the things that had
occupied his thoughts before sleep. At the age of twentyone, he conceived the bold design of incorporating, in one
work, all the objects of human knowledge, and carried it
into execution in an Encyclopedia of twenty volumes, to
which he gave the title of the “Utility of Utilities.
”
Several great princes had been taken dangerously ill, and Avicenna was the only one who could know their ailments, and administer a
Several great princes had been taken dangerously ill, and Avicenna was the only one who could know their ailments, and administer a remedy. His reputation consequently increased daily, and all the kings of Asia desired to retain him in their families. Mahmoud, the first sultan of the dynasty of Samanides, was then the most powerful prince of the east. Imagining that an implicit obedience was due by all to his will, he wrote a haughty letter to Mamoun, sultan of Kharism, ordering him to send Avicenna to him, who was at his court, with several other learned men but as Avicenna had himself been used to the most flattering distinctions, he resented this imperious command, and refused to go. The sultan of Kharism, however, obliged him to depart with the others who had been demanded.
he took the road to Giorgian. Mahmoud, who had gloried in the thought of keeping him at his palace, was greatly irritated at his flight, and dispatched portraits of
Avicenna pretended to obey, but, instead of repairing to Gazna, he took the road to Giorgian. Mahmoud, who had gloried in the thought of keeping him at his palace, was greatly irritated at his flight, and dispatched portraits of this philosopher to all the princes of Asia, with orders to have him conducted to Gazna, if he appeared in their courts. But Avicenna eluded the most diligent search, and arrived in the capital of Giorgian, where, under a disguised name, he performed many admirable cures. Cabous then reigned in that country, and a favourite nephew having fallen sick, he consulted the most able physicians, none of whom were able to discover his disorder, or to give him any relief. Avicenna was at last consulted, who discovered, as soon as he felt the young prince’s pulse, that his disorder was concealed love, and he commanded the person, who had the care of the different apartments in the palace, to name them all in their respective order. A more lively motion in the prince’s pulse, at hearing mentioned one of those apartments, betrayed a part of his secret. The keeper then had orders to name all the slaves that inhabited that apartment. At the name of one of those beauties, the young prince, by the extraordinary beating of his pulse, completed the discovery of what he in vain desired to keep concealed. Avicenna, now fully assured that this slave was the cause of his illness, declared that she alone had the power to cure him. The Sultan’s consent being necessary, he expressed a desire to see his nephew’s physician, and had scarcely looked at him when he knew in his features those of the portrait sent to him by Mahmoud but Cabous, far from forcing Avicenna to repair to Gazna, retained him for some time with him, and heaped honours and presents on him.
favour. From that time Avicenna felt all the rigours of adversity, wandered about as a fugitive, and was often obliged to shift the place of his habitation to secure
Avicenna passed afterwards into the court of Nedjmeddevle, sultan of the race of the Bouides. Being appointed first physician to that prince, he found means to gain his confidence* to so great a degree, that he raised him to the post of Grand Vizir, but he did not long enjoy that dignity. Too great an attachment to pleasures made him lose at the same time his poSt, and his master’s favour. From that time Avicenna felt all the rigours of adversity, wandered about as a fugitive, and was often obliged to shift the place of his habitation to secure his life from danger. Certain propositions he had advanced, and which seemed to contradict the sense of the Koran, were alleged against him as very criminal. He is said, however, to have abjured his errors before the end of his life. He died at Hamadan, aged 58 years, in the 428th year of the Hegira, and of the Christian ara 1036.
have been told. He enjoyed so great a reputation after his death, that till the twelfth century, he was preferred in philosophy and medicine to all his predecessors.
Such are the reputed events of the life of this extraordinary man, of whose genius and studies the most wonderful tales have been told. He enjoyed so great a reputation
after his death, that till the twelfth century, he was preferred in philosophy and medicine to all his predecessors.
His works were highly popular even in the European
schools. His style is said to be clear, elegant, and solid.
Physic is indebted to him for the discovery of cassia, rhubarb, and tamarinds and from him also came the art of
making sugar. Dr. Freind, however, is inclined to undervalue the medical knowledge in his works. He wrote, On
the utility and advantage of the sciences, on innocence
and criminality, health and remedies, canons of physic
in fourteen books, his chief work On astronomical observations, mathematics, theological demonstrations, on the
Arabic language, and many other subjects of morals and
metaphysics. Hebrew and Latin versions of his works are
still extant, but in Brucker’s opinion, the translators do
not appear to have been sufficiently masters of the Arabic
tongue to do justice to their author. The last edition of
the “Canon Medicinae
” was printed at Venice in 2 vols.
in 1608, fol.
, descended from a family originally of Nanci in Lorraine, but long established at Paris, was born in the latter city in 1653. From his earliest years, he
, descended from a family originally of Nanci in Lorraine, but long established at Paris, was born in the latter city in 1653. From his earliest years, he discovered a taste for architecture, and studying the art with eagerness, soon made very considerable progress. At the age of twenty he was sent to an academy at Rome, founded by the king of France for the education of young men of promising talents in painting, architecture, &c. He was accompanied in the voyage by the celebrated Antony Desgodets, whose measurements of the ancient Roman edifices are so well known. They embarked at Marseilles about the end of 1674, with all the impatience of youthful curiosity, but had the misfortune to be taken by an Algerine corsair, and carried into slavery. Louis XIV. no sooner heard of their disaster, than he made interest for the liberation of Desgodets and A viler, and likewise for John Foi Vaillant, the celebrated antiquary, who had been a passenger with them. Sixteen months, however, elapsed before the Algerines admitted them to be exchanged for some Turkish prisoners in the power of France. Aviler and his friends obtained their liberty, Feb. 22, 1676. During their slavery, Aviler could not conceal his art, although the admiration with which it struck the Algerines, might have afforded them a pretext for detaining one who could be so useful to them. On the contrary, he solicited employment, and had it at least there was extant some time ago, an original plan and elevation of a mosque which he made, and which was built accordingly at Tunis. On being released, however, he went to Rome, where he studied for five years with uninterrupted assiduity, and on his return to France was appointed by M. Mansart, first royal architect, to a considerable place in the board of architecture. While in this situation, iie began to collect materials for a complete course of architectural studies. His first design was to reprint an edition of Vignola, with corrections but perceiving that the explanations of the plates in that work were too short, he began to add to them remarks and illustrations in the form of commentary and, what has long rendered his work valuable, he added a complete series, in alphabetical order, of architectural definitions, which embrace every branch, direct or collateral, of the art, and which have been copied into all the subsequent French dictionaries. He prefixed also a translation of Scamozzi’s sixth book, which treats of the orders.
here he built a magnificent triumphal arch, in honour of Louis XIV. from a design by M. D'Orbay, who was one of his friends, and had assisted him in completing his literary
While Aviler remained as subordinate to Mansart, "he conceived that he could not acquire any high distinction in his profession, and therefore accepted an invitation to go to Montpeliier, where he built a magnificent triumphal arch, in honour of Louis XIV. from a design by M. D'Orbay, who was one of his friends, and had assisted him in completing his literary work. This arch was finished in 1692, and highly approved, and A viler afterwards constructed various edifices at Beziers, Nismes, Montpeliier, and at Toulouse, where he built the archiepiscopal palace. In 1693 the states of Languedoc, as a testimony of their esteem, created the title of architect to the province, a mark of distinction which induced him to reside there during life; but this was not long, as he died in -1700, when only forty-seven years of age.
the Italian, Paris, 1685, Ley den, 1713, fol. This being only an extract from Scamozzi, whose method was no longer followed, the work had not much success. 2. “Cours
He published, 1. “CEuvres d'architecture de Vincent
de Scamozzi,
” translated from the Italian, Paris, Cours d'architecture, qui
comprend les ordres de Vignole, avec des commentaires,
et plusieurs nouveaux dessins,
” Paris,
, an ingenious English musician, was born probably at Newcastle, where he exercised his profession
, an ingenious English musician,
was born probably at Newcastle, where he exercised his
profession during the whole of his life. In 1736, July 12,
he was appointed organist of St. John’s church in that
town, which he resigned for the church of St. Nicholas in
October following. In 1748, when the organ of St. John’s
required repair, which would amount to 160l. Mr. Avison
offered to give 100l. if the parish would raise the other 60l.
upon condition that they appointed him organist, with a
salary of 20l. and allow him to supply the place by a sufficient deputy. This appears to have been agreed upon,
and the place was supplied by his son Charles. In 1752
he published “An essay on Musical Expression,
” London, 12mo. In this essay, written with neatness and even
elegance of style, he treats of the power and force of music, and the analogies between it and painting of musical
composition, as consisting of harmony, air, and expression
and of musical expression so far as it relates to the performer. To the second edition, which appeared in 1753^
was added, an ingenious and learned letter to the author,
concerning the music of the ancients, now known to be
written by Dr. Jortin. Mr. Avison’s treatise was very favourably received, but some were dissatisfied with his sentiments on the excellencies and defects of certain eminent
musicians, and particularly his preference of Marcello and
Geminiani, or at least, the latter, to Handel. In the same
year, therefore, was published, “Remarks on Mr. Avison’s
essay, &c. wherein the characters of several great masters, both ancient and modern, are rescued from the misrepresentations of the above author and their real merit
ascertained and vindicated. In a letter, from a gentleman
to his friend in the country.
” In this tract, which was
written by Dr. Hayes, professor of music at Oxford, Mr.
Avison is treated with very little ceremony, and accused
of being ignorant, or neglectful of our ancient English musicians, and of having spoke too coldly of the merits of
Handel. It is also insinuated that he was obliged to abler
pens for the style and matter of his essay. This last was
probably true, as both Dr. Brown and Mr. Mason are supposed to have assisted him, but in what proportions cannot
now be ascertained. Mr. Avison wrote a reply to Dr.
Hayes, nearly in the same uncourtly style, which was republished in the third edition of his essay in 1775. Avison
had been a disciple of Geminiani, who, as well as Giardini,
had a great esteem for him, and visited him at Newcastle,
where the latter played for his benefit. Whenever Geminiani affected to hold Handel’s compositions cheap, it was
usual with him to say, “Charley Avison shall make a better piece of music in a month’s time.
” Avison died at
Newcastle, May 10, 1770, and was succeeded in the church
of St. Nicholas, by his son Edward, who himself died in
1776, and in the church of St. John, by his son Charles,
who resigned in 1777. Avison assisted in the. publication
of Marcello’s music to the psalms adapted to English
words. Of his own composition there are extant five collections of concertos for violins, forty-four in number;
and two sets of sonatas for the harpsichord, and two violins, a species of composition little known in England till
his time. The music of Avison is light and elegant, but
wants originality, a consequence of his too close attachment to the style of Geminiani.
, son to the senator Isychius, and brother to Apollinaris, bishop of Valentia, was promoted in the beginning of the sixth century to the archbishopric
, son to the senator Isychius, and brother to Apollinaris, bishop of Valentia, was promoted in the beginning of the sixth century to the archbishopric of Vienna, which his father had also held for some years. His principal object was the refutation and conversion of the Arians, and during his conferences, for this purpose with the Arian bishops before Goudeband king of Burgundy, who was an Arian, he converted his son Sigismorid. Cave thinks he converted the king himself, and when he found him concealing his principles, urged him to a public profession of them. He wrote also in defence of pope Symmachus, and died in the year 523. His principal works were Letters, Sermons, and Poems his Letters, 87 in number, contain many curious particulars of the civil and ecclesiastical history of the times. Of his Homilies, one only is extant on Rogation day, in which he gives the origin of the days so called. In all his works, his style is harsh, obscure, and intricate. His poems were printed at Francfort in 1507, and at Paris and Lyons in 1508, 1509, and 1536 but his whole works were published at Paris by father Sirmond, in 1643, fol. and since that Luc d'Achery published in his Spicilegium, the conference with the Arian bishops.
, the son of Antonio Aulisio, was born at Naples, Jan. 14, 1649 (or 1639, according to Diet. Hist.),
, the son of Antonio Aulisio, was
born at Naples, Jan. 14, 1649 (or 1639, according to Diet. Hist.), studied Latin under Floriati and Martena, and made
such rapid and successful progress in his other studies,
that at the age of nineteen, he taught rhetoric and poetry
with reputation. We are also told, that he understood,
and could write and speak all the languages of the East and
West, and that he acquired a knowledge of them without
the aid of a master. He was equally well acquainted with
the sciences, and yet with all this knowledge he was for a
long time extremely poor, owing to the loss of his father
and mother, and the charge of a younger brother and five
sisters. At the age of twenty-six he taught as professorextraordinary, without any salary, but about eight years
after he obtained the chair of the institutes, which was
worth about one hundred ducats, and at forty he held that
of the code, worth one hundred and forty. From his
forty-sixth year to the end of his life, he was principal
professor of civil law, with a salary of 1100 ducats. He
died Jan. 29, 1717, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
As he had been a public teacher at Naples about fifty years,
he acquired, according to custom, the title of Count Palestine, and was interred with the honours due to that rank.
For twenty-three years, also, he had been superintendant
of the school of military architecture, by order of Charles
II. with a salary of twenty-five ducats per month. During
all this time he lived a retired life, and had no ambition
to exchange it for the bustle of ambition. In the course
of his studies, he became a great admirer of Plato, and
when his maternal uncle Leonardi di Capoa, wrote a work
agreeable to the principles of Des Cartes, Aulisio became
his antagoist but instead of argument, substituted satirical
verses, which contributed little to his own fame, and excited the displeasure of his uncle’s learned friends. This
dispute induced him to break off all correspondence with
them, and employ his time on several works, particularly,
1. “De Gymnasii constructione De Mausolei architectura; de Harmonia Timaica, et numeric niedicis.
” These
three were printed in a quarto volume, Naples, 1694.
2. “Commentarii juris civilis ad tit. Pandect.
” 3 vols. 4to.
3. “Delle Scuole sacre,
” Historia deortu
et progressu Medicinse,
” Venice, Scuole sacre.
”
, commonly known by the name of Richard de Bury, was born at St. Edmundsbury, in Suffolk, in 1281. His father, sir
, commonly known by the name of Richard de Bury, was born at St. Edmundsbury, in Suffolk, in 1281. His father, sir Richard Aungervyle, knt. dying when he was young, his uncle John de Willowby, a priest, took particular care of his education and when he was fit sent him to Oxford, where he studied philosophy and divinity, and distinguished himself by his learning, and regular and exemplary life. When he had finished his studies there, he became a Benedictine monk at Durham. Soon after he was made tutor to prince Edward, afterwards king Edward III. Being treasurer of Guienne in 1325, he supplied queen Isobel, when she was plotting against her husband king Edward II. with a large sum of money out of that exchequer, for which being questioned by the king’s party, be narrowly escaped to Paris, where he was forced to hide himself seven days in the tower of a church. When king Edward III. came to the crown, he loaded his tutor Aungervyle with honours and preferments, making him, first, his cofferer, then treasurer of the wardrobe, archdeacon of Northampton, prebendary of Lincoln, Sarum, and Lichfield, and afterwards keeper of the privy seal. This last place he enjoyed five years, and was in that time sent twice ambassador to the pope. In 1333 he was promoted to the deanery of Wells, and before the end of the same year, being chosen bishop of Durham, he was consecrated about the end of December, in the abbey of the black canons of Chertsey in Surrey. He was soon afterwards enthroned at Durham, on which occasion he made a grand festival, and entertained in the hall of his palace at Durham, the king and queen of England, the queen-dowager of England, the king of Scotland, the two archbishops, and five bishops, seven earls with their ladies, all the nobility north of Trent, with a Tast concourse of knights, esquires, and other persons of distinction. The next year he was appointed high-chancellor, and in 1336, treasurer of England. In 1338 he was twice sent with other commissioners to treat -of a peace with the king of France, though to no purpose.
This prelate was not only one of the most learned men ef his time, but also a
This prelate was not only one of the most learned men ef
his time, but also a very great patron and encourager of
learning. Petrarch he frequently corresponded with, and
had for his chaplains and friends the most eminent men of
the age. His custom was, to have some of his attendants
read to him while he was at meals, and when they were
over, to discourse with his chaplains upon the same subject. He was likewise of a very bountiful temper. Every
week he made eight quarters of wheat into bread, and gave
it to the poor. Whenever he travelled between Durham
and Newcastle, he distributed eight pounds sterling in alms;
between Durham and Stockton, tire pounds between
Durham and Auckland, five marks and between Durham
and Middleham, five pounds. But the noblest instance of
his generosity and munificence was the public library he
founded at Oxford, for the use of the students. This library
he furnished with the best collection of books that was then
in England, fixed it in the place where Durham, now Trinity-college, was built afterwards, and wrote a treatise containing rules for the management of the library, how the
books were to be preserved, and upon what conditions lent
out to scholars. The title of this book is, “Philobiblon,
sou de Amore Librorum et Institutione Bibliothecae,
” cum
Appendice de Mss. Oxoniensibus, per Thorn. James,
printed at Oxford in 1599, 4to. It was, however, first
printed at Spires in 1483, and there are several ms copies in the libraries of Oxford and Cambridge. This prelate died at Auckland, April 24, 1345, and was buried in
the south part of the cross aile of the cathedral of Durham.
was born at Bergamo, of an ancient and noble family, but derived
was born at Bergamo, of an ancient and noble family, but derived greater renown from her talents than her birth. She excelled in Italian poetry, and merited such a commentator and admirer as Tasso. Her poems were collected in 1561. She was married to a nobleman of Brescia in the Venetian state, where she died. Calvi has made very honourable mention of her in his account of the writers of Bergamo.
, whose piety and magnificence he celebrated in a poem in elegiac verse, consisting of two books. It was printed in the 12th volume of Lami’s “Delicice Eruditorum.”
, of Verceil in Italy, lived under
the government of Cosmo de Medicis, grand duke of Florence, whose piety and magnificence he celebrated in a
poem in elegiac verse, consisting of two books. It was
printed in the 12th volume of Lami’s “Delicice Eruditorum.
” The late edition of the Dictioiinaire Historiqtie gives
the following brief notices of others of this name: Jerome
Avogadro, a patron of learning and learned men, who
first edited the works of Vitruvius. Nestor-Denis Avogadro,
a native of Novaro, who published a Lexicon, of
which an edition was printed at Venice in 1488^ fol. To
the subsequent editions were added some treatises by the
same author, on the eight parts of speech, on prosody, &c.
—Peter Avogadro, who lived at Verona about 1490, He
wrote Literary Memoirs of the illustrious mqii of his country tin Essay on the origin of Mont-de-Piete in Italy, and
another “De Origine gentis Rizzonae.
” The marquis
Maffei speaks in high praise of this author in his “Verona
Illustrata.
”
mo, in 1625, and died in the same city in 1710, quitted the bar, to devote himself to literature. He was but poorly provided with the goods of fortune but he comforted
, born at Palermo, in 1625, and died
in the same city in 1710, quitted the bar, to devote himself
to literature. He was but poorly provided with the goods
of fortune but he comforted himself in his poetical studies.
There are a great number of works by him, several in Latin, but most in Italian. The latter are more esteemed
than the former. Among these are reckoned, a “History
”
(in good repute) “of the great men of Sicily,
” Palermo,
1704, 4to, and a “History of the Viceroys of Sicily,
” ibid.
, called also Pamphille, a French poet of the sixteenth century, was born at Beauvais, but we have no particulars of his life, except
, called also Pamphille, a French
poet of the sixteenth century, was born
at Beauvais, but we have no particulars of his life, except
that he was an advocate of parliament. The editors of the
“Annales Poetiques” have inserted his best productions in
their collection, and among others his “Tuteur d'Amour,
”
in four cantos, praised for elegance, tenderness, and fancy.
His other works are, 1. “Le cinquante-deuxieme Arret
d'Amour, avec les ordonnances sur le fait des masques,
”
8vo, La genealogie des dieux poetiques,
”
12mo, Aureus de utraque potestate libellus,
in hunc usque diem non visus, Somnium Viridarii yulgariter
nuncupatus,
”
, a French historian, was born at Caen in 1675, and admitted & Paris into the society
, a
French historian, was born at Caen in 1675, and admitted
& Paris into the society of the Jesuits, Sept. 15, 169 1, The
fatigues he underwent in this society injured his health, and
after his theological studies he was sent to Alengon, where
he was employed as procurator of the college. He died
either there or at Quimper, April 24, 1719. He is the
author of two works which have been often reprinted.
1. “Memoires chronologiques et dogmatiques, pourservir
a l‘histoire ecclesiastique, depuis 1600jusqu’en 1716, avec
des reflexions et des remarques critiques,
” 4 vols. 12mo,
1720. 2. “Memoires pour servir a l‘histoire universelle
de l’Europe, depuis 1600 jusqu'en 1716, &c.
” 4 vols.
12mo, Paris, 1725, reprinted the same year at Amsterdam,
and again in 1757.
, a French Franciscan of the order called* Minimes, was born at Paris Jan. 1, 1652, and was educated in the Jesuits’
, a French Franciscan of the order called* Minimes, was born at Paris Jan. 1,
1652, and was educated in the Jesuits’ college. In the
course of his studies, and after taking orders, he acquired
very high reputation for learning, and particularly for his
eloquence and zeal as a preacher and devotional writer.
He died at Paris, May 16, 1729. Moreri has given a long
list of his religious treatises, all of which were frequently
reprinted, and admired in France, when religion was more
prevalent than now. He also wrote a work on Algebra, but
committed it to the flames sometime before his death, and
it was with much difficulty he was persuaded to publish his
“Genealogie de la maison de Fontaine- Soliers, issue dela
Case Solare, souveraine d'Aste en Piemont,
”
was born at Noto, a town of Sicily, in 1369. He applied himself
was born at Noto, a town of Sicily, in 1369. He applied himself to the study of the Greek language, and went to Constantinople to collect Greek manuscripts. Here he became acquainted with, and was highly respected by, the emperor John Palaeologus, who found him afterwards at Ferrara when he went to assist at a council assembled by Eugene IV. Aurispa bepame secretary to this pope and also to Nicholas V. his successor, who bestowed upon him two rich abbeys. He died at Rome in 1459, in the 90th year of his age. He translated part of the works of Archimedes, Hierocles’s Commentary on the Golden verses of Pythagoras, and published some poems and letters. His translation of Hierocles was printed at Basle in 1543, 8vo. By a part of the preface, quoted by Gesner, it appears that he made this translation when in his eightieth year.
, a native of Bohemia, of the sixteenth century, was teacher of languages in the university of Wittemberg. He compiled
, a native of Bohemia, of
the sixteenth century, was teacher of languages in the university of Wittemberg. He compiled “Compendium Hebrææ Chaldeæque grammatices,
” Wittemberg, 8vo, De Hebræis urbium, regionum, &c,
nominibus, liber è veteri instrumento congestus,
” ibid.
, an eminent poet of the fourth century, was the son of a physician, and born at Itourdeaux. Great care was
, an eminent poet of the fourth century, was the son of a physician, and born at Itourdeaux. Great care was taken of his eJucation, the whole family interesting themselves in it, either because his genius was very promising, or that the scheme of his nativity, which had been cast by his grandfather on the mother’s side, led them to imagine that he would rise to great honour. Whatever their motive, it is allowed that he made an uncommon progress in classical learning, and at the age of thirty was chosen to teach grammar at Bourdeaux, He was promoted some time after to be professor of rhetoric, in which office he acquired so great a reputation, that he ivas sent for to court to be preceptor to Gratian the emperor Valentinian’s son. The rewards and honours conferred on him for the faithful discharge of his office remind us of Juvenal’s maxim, that when fortune pleases she can liaise a man from a rhetorician to a consul. He was actually appointed consul by the emperor Gratian, in the year 379, after having filled other considerable posts; for, besides the dignity of questor, to which he had been nominated by Valentinian, he was made prefect of the pnetorium in Italy and Gaul after that prince’s death. His speech returning thanks to Gratian on his promotion to the consulship is highly commended. The time of his death is uncertain he was living in 392, and lived to a great age. He hud several children by his wife, who died young. The emperor Thcodosius had a great esteem for Ausonius, and pressed him to publish his poems. There is a great inequality in his productions; and in his style there is a harshness, which was perhaps rather the defect of the times Le lived in, than of his genius. Had he lived in Augustus’s reign, his verses, according to good judges, would have equalled the most finished of that age. He is generally supposed to have been a Christian some ingenious authors indeed have thought otherwise, and the indecency of many of his poems make us not very anxious to claim him. The editio princeps of his works was published at Venice, 1472, fol. of which there are four copies in this country, in the libraries of his majesty, the museum, earl Spencer, and Mr. Wodhull. De Bure was not able to find one in France. The two best editions, the first yery uncommon, are those of Amsterdam, 1671, 8yo, and Bipont, 1785, 8vo.
some notice, although his works are now perhaps but little known or valued even in his own couutry, was born at Charolles about the year 1529, the son of Syacre or
, a French and Latin poet, voluminous enough to require some notice, although his works
are now perhaps but little known or valued even in his own
couutry, was born at Charolles about the year 1529, the
son of Syacre or Fiacre des Autels, a gentleman of the
same couutry. He inherited little from this father, except,
as he informs us, a chateau, rather noble than rich. For
some time he studied law at Valencia, but it does not appear with what view poetry was his favourite pursuit, although he succeeded very seldom but what was wanting
in genuine poetry was made up by an obtrusive display of
Greek and Latin, in the manner of Ronsard, whom he
called his friend. Like other poets, he affected to have a
mistress for whom he cherished a Platonic affection, but it
appears that he was married at the age of twenty-four.
His death is said to have happened about 1580. MorerL
enumerates many volumes of his poems, sonnets, elegies,
pieces in imitation of Rabelais, Ronsard, &c. The following are of a different description, and respect a controversy on the orthography of the French language. 1.
“Traite touchant Pancienne ecriture de la Langue Francoise, et de sa Poesie,
” Lyons, 16 mo, published under the
anagranmiatical name of Glaumalis de Vezelet. Louis
Meigret, las opponent in the controversy, immediately
published his “Defenses touchant son Ortographc Francoise
centre les censures et calomnies de Glaumalis,
” Paris, Repliqucs aux furicuses
defenses de Louis Meigret,
” 16mo, Lyons, 1551, which
Meigret answered the same year. Griiter thought some
of his Latin poetry of sufficient merit to obtain a place in
the “Deliciae poetarum Gallorum,
”
, historiographer of France under Louis XII. abbot of Angle in Poitou, was originally of Saintonge, and of the same family from which,
, historiographer of
France under Louis XII. abbot of Angle in Poitou, was
originally of Saintonge, and of the same family from which,
according to some authors, the famous Barbarossa descended. He wrote the history of France from 1490 to
1508, with great fidelity, but M. Gamier says, that “Louis
XII. who usually employed the most celebrated pens, chose,
with less than his ordinary discernment, Jean d‘Authon, to
write the particular history of his reign’: for, though he
had bestowed several benefices upon him though he made
him commonly travel in the suite of the army, and gave
orders to his ministers and generals to conceal nothing
frorn Jiim of all that was worthy of being handed down to
posterity, he was less happy in this respect than a great
number of his predecessors. Authon is but a cold proser,
nice in giving the particulars of little matters, but deficient
in unfolding motives, &c.
” Theodore Godefroi published
the four first years of his history in 1620, 4to, and the two
last which had appeared in 1615, in 4to, with “l'Histoire
de Louis XII.
” by Seyssel the three others, whieh have
not yet been sent to the press, are now in the Imperial library. This historian died in January 1523, according to
Moreri, or 1527 in Diet. Hist, which gives the following
productions from his pen: 1. “Les Epistres envoyees au
roy par les 6tats de France, avec certaines ballades et rondeaux,
” Lyons, L'exil de Gennes le Superbe,
”
, a philosopher who flourished about 340 years before the Christian oera. He was the preceptor of Arcesilas, the son of Seuthes. He wrote several
, a philosopher who flourished about 340 years before the Christian oera. He was the preceptor of Arcesilas, the son of Seuthes. He wrote several treatises on astronomy, of which Joseph Auria, of Naples, translated into Latin the only ones extant, on the sphere, and the stars.