, a noted translator, was descended from an ancient family of the
, a noted translator, was descended from an ancient family of the Hollands of Lancashire, and was the son of John Holland, a pious divine,
who, in queen Mary’s reign, was obliged to go abroad for
the sake of religion; but afterwards returned, and became
pastor of Dunmowin Essex, where he died in 1578. Philemon was born at Chelmsford in Essex, about the latter
end of the reign of Edward VI. and after being instructed
at the grammar-school of that place, was sent to Trinitycollege, Cambridge, where he was pupil to Dr. Hampton,
and afterwards to Dr. Whitgift. He was admitted fellow of
his college, but left the university after having taken the
degree of M. A. in which degree he was incorporated at
Oxford in 1587. He was appointed head master, of the
free-school of Coventry, and in this laborious station he not
only attended assiduously to the duties of his office, but
served the interests of learning, by undertaking those numerous translations, which gained him the title of “Translator general of the age.
” He likewise studied medicine,
and practised with considerable reputation in his neighbourhood; and at length, when at the age of forty, became
a doctor of physic in the university of Cambridge. He
was a peaceable, quiet, and good man in all the relations
of private life, and by his habits of temperance and regularity attained his 85th year, not only with the full possession of his intellects, but his sight was so good, that
he never had occasion to wear spectacles. He continued
to translate till his 80th year; and his translations, though
devoid of elegance, are accounted faithful and accurate.
Among these are, translations into English of “Livy,
”
written, it is said, with one pen, which a lady of his acquaintance so highly prized that she had it embellished
with silver, and kept as a great curiosity. “Pliny’s Natural History,
” “Plutarch’s Morals,
” Suetonius,“”Ammianus Marcellinus,“” Xenophon’s Cyropaedia,“and
” Camdeu’s Britannia,“to the last of which he made
several useful additions: and into Latin he translated the geographical part of
” Speed’s Theatre of Great Britain,“and
a French
” Pharmacopoeia of Brice Bauderon." A quibbling epigram upon his translation of Suetonius has often
been retailed in jest books: