, or as he usually styled himself in his Latin compositions, Paganus Piscatok, was born at Warnford, in Dorsetshire, the seat of
, or as he usually styled himself in his
Latin compositions, Paganus Piscatok, was born at Warnford, in Dorsetshire, the seat of his maternal grandfather,
sir Thomas Neale, in 1616, and became a commoner of
Hart-hall, (now Hertford college), Oxford, in 1634. After
continuing there about three years, he removed to Magdalen college, Cambridge, where he took the degree of
B. A. and first discovered his turn for poetry. From Cambridge, having, as Wood says, “a rambling head,
” he
served for some time in the Netherlands, and soon after
returned and bore an ensign’s commission in the army
raised by Charles I. against the Scots in 1639; on the disbanding of which he went to Ireland, and obtained the
rank of captain, and on his return to England that of major. In July 1644 he served ut the siege of York, and was
present at the battle of Mars ton Moor, which he celebrated
in his first published poem. Soon after this he left his
command, for what reason does not very clearly appear,
and came to London, where he employed his pen against
the cause which he had supported with his sword, and became such a favourite as to be accounted poet-laureat to
Oliver Cromwell. After the restoration he endeavoured
to atone for all this, by flattering the men in power, but
without effect; and he henceforth lived, as Wood says,
on his wits, which appear to have procured him but a scanty
diet, arising chiefly from flattering dedications, and other
implements of literary supplication. He was frequently
in debt and in jail, and died at length, advanced in years,
at a coffee-house in the Old Bailey, April 2, 1693, and
was buried in St. Sepulchre’s church-yard.