appened for the exercise of his wit. In France, he found much talk of Lancelot Joseph de Maniban, an abbot; who pretended to understand the characters of those he had
, a very ingenious and witty
English writer, was the son of Mr. Andrew Marvel!, minister and schoolmaster of Kingston upon -Hull, in Yorkshire,
and was born in that town in 1620, His abilities being
very great, his progress in letters was proportionable; so
that, at thirteen, he was admitted of Trinity-college in
Cambridge. But he had not been long there, when he
fell into the hands of the Jesuits; for those busy agents of
the Romish church, under the connivance of this, as well
as the preceding reign, spared no pains to make proselytes; for which purpose several of them were planted in
or near the universities, in order to make conquests among
the young scholars. Marvell fell into their snares, as ChilJingworth had fallen before him, and was inveigled up to
London; but his father being apprised of it soon after,
pursued him, and finding him in a bookseller’s shop, prevailed with him to return to college. He afterwards applied to his studies with great assiduity, and took a bachelor of arts degree in 1639. About this time he lost his
father, who was unfortunately drowned in crossing the
Humber, as he was attending the daughter of aa intimate
female friend; who by this event becoming childless, sent
for young Marvell, and, by way of making all the return
in her power, added considerably to his fortune. Upon
this the plan of his education was enlarged, and he travelled through most of the polite parts of Europe. It appears that he had been at Rome, from his poem entitled
“Flecknoe,
” an English priest at Rome in which he has
described with great humour that wretched poetaster, Mr.
Richard Flecknoe, from whom Dryden gave the name of
Mac- Flecknoe to his satire against Shadwell. During his
travels, another occasion happened for the exercise of
his wit. In France, he found much talk of Lancelot Joseph de Maniban, an abbot; who pretended to understand
the characters of those he had never seen, and to prognosticate their good or bad fortune, from an inspection of their
band-writing. This artist was handsomely lashed by our
author, in a poem written upon the spot, and addressed to
him. We know no more of Marvell for several years,
only that he spent some time at Constantinople, where he
resided as secretary to the English embassy at that court.
se, St. Augustin, and Eusebius of messa, in the Library of the fathers. The other St. Maximus was an abbot, and confessor in the seventh century, born of an ancient and
, There are two saints of this name, of
whom some notice may be taken; the oldest Maximus, of
Turin, so called because he was bishop of that city in the
fifth century, was eminent for his learning and piety.
Many of his “Homilies
” remain, some of which bear the
name of St. Ambrose, St. Augustin, and Eusebius of
messa, in the Library of the fathers. The other St. Maximus was an abbot, and confessor in the seventh century,
born of an ancient and noble family at Constantinople.
He warmly opposed the heresy of the Monothelites, and
died in prison, August 13, 662, in consequence of what he
had suffered on that occasion. We have a commentary of
his on the books attributed to St. Dionysius the Areopagite,
and several other works, which father Combesis published,
1675, 2 vols. folio; and they are also in the Library of the
fathers.
ur church, and to learn the English and Latin languages. For these purposes he applied to archbishop Abbot, who procured him admission into Baliol college, Oxford, where
, the patriarch of
Alexandria in the seventeenth century, was sent into England by Cyrillus Lucar, to be instructed in the doctrine and
discipline of our church, and to learn the English and Latin languages. For these purposes he applied to archbishop
Abbot, who procured him admission into Baliol college,
Oxford, where he remained until 1622, at which time he
was chancellor to the patriarch of Constantinople; but on
his return to his own country, was chosen patriarch of
Alexandria. On his way home, and while in Germany, he
drew up “A Confession of Faith of the Greek Church,
”
printed at Helmstadt, Gr. and Lat. in
he took his master’s degree, and entered into holy orders. He hecame domestic chaplain to archbishop Abbot, and in Dec. 1610 was instituted to the rectory of St. Clement’s,
, warden of All Souls college, Oxford, was born in 1578 in Dorsetshire, and educated first
at Brasenose college, whence in 1599 he was elected a
fellow of All Souls, befng then four years standing in the
degree of B. A. Afterwards he took his master’s degree,
and entered into holy orders. He hecame domestic chaplain to archbishop Abbot, and in Dec. 1610 was instituted
to the rectory of St. Clement’s, Eastcheap, which he resigned in December following. In 1611 he was made rector of St. Michael, Crooked-lane, but resigned it in June
1614, in consequence of having been in April preceding,
elected warden of All Souls, on which occasion he took his
degree of D. D. He held afterwards the rectory of Monks
Risborow, in the county of Buckingham, and of Newington, near Dorchester, in Oxfordshire. He was one of the
king' commissioners in ecclesiastical affairs, and died July
5, 1618, in the fortieth year of his age. Wood seems to
insinuate that his death was hastened by the treatment his
work received. This was a folio published at London in
1616, containing a Latin translation of the Liturgy, Catechisms, 39 articles, ordination book, and doctrinal points
extracted from the homilies, to which he added, also in
Latin, a treatise “de politia ecclesiae Anglicanac.
” The design of this publication was to recommend the formularies
and doctrines of the Church of England to foreign nations;
but, according to Wood, there was such a leaning towards
“Calvin’s Platform,
” that the work was not only called in,
but ordered to be publicly burnt. Heylin, who speaks
highly of the author’s character and good intentions, thinks
that the true cause of this work being so disgraced was,
that in translating the 20th article, he omitted the first
clause concerning the power of the church to decree rites
and ceremonies, &c. His treatise “De Politia
” was reprinted at London in
pened about the middle of July, in 1453. His character in the register of the Cordeliers, and by the abbot of St. Aubert, was that of “a very honourable and peaceable
, an eminent French
historian, was descended of a noble family, but the names
of his parents, and the period of his birth have not been
discovered. The place of his birth was probably Picardy,
and the time, prior to the close of the fourteenth century.
No particulars of his 'early years are known, except that
he evinced, when young, a love for application, and a
dislike to indolence. The quotations also from Sallust,
Livy, Vegetius, and other ancient authors, that occur in
his Chronicles, shew that he must have made some progress
in Latin literature. He appears to have been resident in
Cambray when he composed his history, and passed there
the remainder of his life. In 1436 he was nominated to
the office of lieutenant du Gavenier of the Cambresis; the
gavenier was the collector or receiver of the annual dues
payable to the duke of Burgundy, by the subjects of the
church in the Cambresis, for the protection of them as
earl of Flanders. Monstrelet also held the office of bailiff
to the chapter of Cambray from 1436 to 1440, when another was appointed. The respect and consideration which
he had now acquired, gained him the dignity of governor
of Cambray in 1444, and in the following year he was nominated bailiff of Wallaincourt. He retained both of those
places until his death, which happened about the middle
of July, in 1453. His character in the register of the Cordeliers, and by the abbot of St. Aubert, was that of “a
very honourable and peaceable man;
” expressions, says his
biographer, that appear simple at first sight, but which
contain a real eulogium, if we consider the troublesome
times in which Monstrelet lived, the places he held, the
interest he must have had sometimes to betray the truth in
favour of one of the factions which then divided France,
and caused the revolutions the history of which he has published during the life of the principal actors.
on to make him take the oath of succession being ineffectual, he was committed to the custody of the abbot of Westminster for four days, in which time it was debated by
Every persuasion to make him take the oath of succession being ineffectual, he was committed to the custody
of the abbot of Westminster for four days, in which time
it was debated by the king and council -what course it was
best to take with him. Archbishop Cranmer, who highly
esteemed his virtues and integrity, and did much to preserve him, urged that sir Thomas’s proposal of swearing to
the succession, without confining him to the terms of the
prescribed oath, might be accepted; but to this the king
would not agree, and sir Thomas again refusing, was committed to the Tower. Here his characteristic humour did
not forsake him, for when the lieutenant, who had been
under some obligations to him, apologized for not being
able to entertain him as he could wish, without incurring
the king’s displeasure, he said, “Master lieutenant, whenever 1 find fault with the entertainment which you provide
for me, do you turn me out of doors.
” During the first
month of his confinement ne had to resist the importunities
of his wife, who urged his submission to the king upon
worldly considerations, and told her he would not risk the
loss of eternity for the enjoyment of a life that might not
last a year, and would not be an equivalent, if it were to
last a thousand.
l, acquired the esteem of the senate. He was of the reformed religion, and Thomas Stangius, the last abbot of Isfeld, who was of the same sentiments, havfng, by the advice
, one of the most learned men of the sixteenth century, was born at Soraw, a town in Lower Silesia, in 1525, where his father was a merchant. He received his early education under Henry Theodore, who was superintendant of the churches of the duchy of Lignitz. He then studied principally at Wittemberg, where, among other able men, he was instructed by Melanchthon, and became conspicuous for his critical acquaintance with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and his knowledge of the eminent authors in these respective languages. In 1549, he was invited to Northusen, an imperial town of Thuringia; and being appointed regent of the school, acquired the esteem of the senate. He was of the reformed religion, and Thomas Stangius, the last abbot of Isfeld, who was of the same sentiments, havfng, by the advice of Luther and Melanchthon, turned his abbey into a college, Neander was appointed regent, and taught there with great reputation for forty-five years, producing many able scholars. He died at Isfeld, May 6, 1595, in the seventieth year of his age.
the friend, associate, and correspondent of Peter of Blois, or Petrus Blesensis, and was afterwards abbot of Cirencester, in which office he died in 1217. He was much
,
who flourished in the twelfth century, was probably born,
and certainly educated at St. Alban’s abbey, of which period of his life he speaks with pleasing recollection in his
poem “De Laude sapientiae Divinae.
” He completed his
education at Paris, and took the order of St. Augustine.
He became the friend, associate, and correspondent of
Peter of Blois, or Petrus Blesensis, and was afterwards
abbot of Cirencester, in which office he died in 1217. He
was much attached to the studious repose of the monastic
life, yet he frequently travelled into Italy. His compositions are various, and, as Mr. Warton observes, crowd
the department of Mss. in our public libraries. He has left
numerous treatises of divinity, philosophy, and morality,
and was also a poet, a philologist, and a grammarian. He
wrote a tract on the mythology of the ancient poets, Esopian fables, and a system of 'grammar and rhetoric. Mr.
Warton, who examined his elegiac poem “De vita motiastica,
” says it contains some finished lines; but gives
the highest praise to the poem already mentioned, “De
divina sapientia.
”
e of God in the sacrament of penitence. The two first have been translated into French by M. le Roy, abbot of Haute- Fontaine, 2 vols. 8vo, and the third by Peter Gilbert,
, a celebrated bishop of the
catholics in Holland, known by the title of bishop of Castoria, was born at Gorcum in 1626. He entered the congregation of the oratory at Paris, and, having finished his
plan of education there, went to be professor of philosophy
at Saumur, then of divinity at Mechlin, and was afterwards
archdeacon of Utrecht, and apostolical provincial. James
de la Torre, archbishop of Utrecht, being dead, M. de
Neercassel was elected in his place by the chapter of that
city; but, Alexander VII. preferring M. Catz, dean of the
chapter of Harlem, they agreed between them, as a means
to preserve peace, that M. Catz should govern the diocese
of Harlem under the title of archbishop of Philippi, and
M. de Neercassel that of Utrecht, under that of bishop of
Castoria. This agreement being approved by the nuncio
of Brussels, they were both consecrated in the same day at
Cologn, September 9, 1662; but, M. Catz dying a year
after, M. de Neercassel remained sole bishop of all the
catholics in Holland, of which there were above four hundred thousand. He governed them with great prudence,
and, after having discharged the duties of his office in the
most exemplary manner, died June 8, 1686, aged sixty,
in consequence of the fatigues attending the visitation of
his churches. This prelate left three tracts in Latin, the
first “On reading of the Holy Scriptures;
” to which he
has added a dissertation “On the Interpretation of Scripture;
” the second “On the worship of the Saints and the
Holy Virgin;
” the third, enticed “Amor Prerii tens.
” This
last is a treatise on the necessity of the love of God in the
sacrament of penitence. The two first have been translated into French by M. le Roy, abbot of Haute- Fontaine,
2 vols. 8vo, and the third by Peter Gilbert, a Parisian,
1741, 3 vols. 12mo. The best Latin edition of “Amor
Pcenitens
” is that of Amor Prenitens
” condemned at Rome
but pope Innocent XL to whom the application was addressed, declared that “the book contained sound doctrine, and the author was a holy man.
”
, an ancient British historian, abbot of Bangor, is generally said to have flourished about the year
, an ancient British historian, abbot of Bangor, is generally said to have flourished about the year 620,
and to have taken refuge at Chester, at the time of the
massacre of the monks at that monastery. This, however,
has been controverted by Lloyd, who says that he flourished
about the beginning of the ninth century; and bishop Nicolson says, that from his own book he appears to have
written in that century. He was author of several works,
but the only one remaining is his “Historia Britonum,
” or
“Eulogium Britanniæ,
” which has been printed in Gale’s
Hist. Brit. Scrip. Oxon. 1691. Great part of this work is
supposed to have been compiled, or perhaps transcribed,
from the history of one Elborus or Elvodugus. There, is a
ms. of it in the Cottonian library, in the British Museum.
uller, in 1732, published the first part of a German translation, he mentioned it as the work of the abbot Theodosius of Kiof; an error, which arose from the following
was born in
1056, at Bielzier; and, in his twenty-ninth year, assumed
a monastic habit, and took the name of Nestor. At Kiof
he made a considerable proficiency in the Greek language,
but seems to have formed his style and manner rather from
Byzantine historians, Cedrenus, Zona' as, and Syncellus,
than from the ancient classics. The time of Nestor’s death
is not ascertained; but he is supposed to have lived to an
advanced age, and to have died about 1115. His great
work is his “Chronicle;
” to which he has prefixed an
introduction, which, after a short sketch of the early state
of the world, taken from the Byzantine writers, contains a
geographical description of Russia and the adjacent countries; an account of the Sclavonian nations, their manners, their emigrations from the banks of the Danube, their
dispersion, and settlement in several countries, in which
their descendants are now established. He then enters
upon a chronological series of the Russian annals, from the
year 858 to about 1113. His style is simple and unadorned, such as suits a mere recorder of facts but his
chronological exactness, though it renders his narrative
dry and tedious, contributes to ascertain the aera and authenticity of the events which he relates. It is remarkable,
that an author of such importance, whose name frequently
occurs in the early Russian books, should have remained
in obscurity above 600 years; and been scarcely known to
his modern countrymen, the origin and actions of whose
ancestors he records with such circumstantial exactness.
A copy of his “Chronicle
” was given, in
Nestor was successively followed by three annalists; the first was Sylvester, abbot of the convent of St. Michael at Kiof, and bishop of Perislaf,
Nestor was successively followed by three annalists; the
first was Sylvester, abbot of the convent of St. Michael at
Kiof, and bishop of Perislaf, who died in 1123; he commences his “Chronicle
” from the labours of Nestor,
and his three continuators, have produced a connected
series of the Russian history so complete, that no nation
can boast a similar treasure for so long and unbroken a
period.
” We may add, likewise, from the same authority,
that these annals record much fewer prodigies and monkish
legends than others which have issued from the cloister in
times so unenlightened.
, a French historian of the ninth century, the son of Angilbert, abbot of St. Riquier, and of Bertha, daughter of Charlemagne, was
, a French historian of the ninth century,
the son of Angilbert, abbot of St. Riquier, and of Bertha,
daughter of Charlemagne, was born before the year 790,
and was probably educated at the court of his grandfather.
He appears to have been distinguished both as a soldier and
politician, and was occasionally employed by Charles the
Bald, king of France, as a negociator. His history
contains an account of the divisions between the sons of Louis
le Debonnaire, in four books, of which the first three were
written in the year 842, and the fourth is lost. It was
published in 1594, by M. Pithou, in his “Annalium et
Historiæ Francorum Scriptores,
” &c. and has since been
translated by Duchesne and Bouquet, in their collection
of French Historians, and by Cousin in his “History of
the Western Empire.
”
, the second abbot of Clugni in France, illustrious for his learning and piety,
, the second abbot of Clugni in France,
illustrious for his learning and piety, and certainly as
learned and pious as the ignorance and superstition of the
times would permit, was born at Tours in 879. He was
educated by Foluques, count of Anjou, and became a
canon of St. Martin, at Tours, at nineteen years of age,
after which he went to Paris, and was the disciple of St.
Remy of Auxerre. He was fond of solitude, and took the
monk’s habit in the convent of Beaume, in the diocese of
Besangon. After which, he became prior and abbot of St.
Clugni, in 927, where he introduced a new discipline, or
set of ceremonies of a severe and rigorous kind, which,
however, with the sanctity of his life contributed greatly
to increase the congregation of Clugni; and such was the
influence of his personal character, that popes, bishops,
and secular princes, usually chose him for the arbitrator
of their disputes, and the order or discipline of Clugni attained a very high degree of eminence and authority. He
died about 943. He applied himself to study as well as to
the aggrandizing of his order; but his original works are
filled with the grossest superstitions. While he was canon,
he abridged the “Morals of St. Gregory,
” and the “Hymns
in honour of St. Martin.
” While a simple monk, he composed three books of “The Priesthood;
” and another upon
the “Prophecy of Jeremy,
” dedicated to Turpion bishop
of Limoges, which bore the title of “Collations or Conferences, or Occupations.
” After he became abbot, he
wrote the “Life of St. Gerard,
” and of “St. Martial of
Limoges,
” and several sermons, and a “Panegyric upon
St. Benedict.
” All these are prinfed in the.“Bibliotheque
of Clugni,
” together with some “Hymns upon the Sacrament,
” and “The Magdelain;
” but the “History of St.
Martyn’s Translation
” is improperly ascribed to him. It
appears also that he understood music; and besides some
hymns, chaunts, and anthems, still preserved in the Romish
church, there are two copies of a ms tract on music, of
his writing, in the royal library of Paris, and one in Bene't
college, Cambridge. This is noticed by Dr. Burney in
his History of Music.
entury, was a Benedictine monk, of which order his learning and eloquence raised him to be prior and abbot, first of St. Saviour’s, and afterwards of Battleabbey. He died
, or of Kent, so called because he
was a native of that county in England, where he flourished
in the twelfth century, was a Benedictine monk, of which
order his learning and eloquence raised him to be prior
and abbot, first of St. Saviour’s, and afterwards of Battleabbey. He died in March 1200. Thomas a Becket was
his friend, and his panegyric was made by John of Salisbury. He composed several works, as “Commentaries
upon the Pentateuch;
” “Moral Reflections upon the
Psalms, the Old Testament, and the Gospels;
” a treatise
entitled, “De onere Philistini;
” another, “De raoribus
ecclesiasticis
” a third, “De vitiis & virtutibus animae,
”
&c. Besides these, a “Letter to a brother novitiate,
”
in the abbey of Igny, is printed by Mabillon in the first
tome of “Analects;
” and another “Letter to Philip earl
of Flanders,
” about Collectio amplissima veterum monumentorum,
” p.
ersity at Paris, and retiring afterwards to the Cistertian monastery of Morimond in Burgundy, became abbot there. In 1138, he was made bishop of Frisingen, accompanied
, so called, because he was bishop
of that diocese in the twelfth century, was son of Leopold,
marquis of Austria, and Agnes, daughter of the emperor
Henry IV. He studied in the university at Paris, and retiring afterwards to the Cistertian monastery of Morimond
in Burgundy, became abbot there. In 1138, he was made
bishop of Frisingen, accompanied the emperor Conrad to
the Holy Land, and died at Morimond, September 21, 1158,
leaving a “Chronicle
” in seven books, from the creation
to. Life of the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa.
” Each of these works may be found in the collections by Pistorius, Muratori, &c. and also separately.
mes did not like a convocation entering into such a theory of politics, so he wrote a long letter to Abbot, who was afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, but was then in
But our bishop is known in England chiefly by his “Convocation-Book,
” of which Burnet gives the following account: “There was a book drawn up by bishop Overall,
four-score years ago, concerning government, in which its
being of a divine institution was positively asserted. It
was read in convocation, and passed by that body, in order
to the publishing of it; in opposition to the principles laid
down in the famous book of Parsons the Jesuit, published
under the name of
” Doleman.“But king James did not
like a convocation entering into such a theory of politics,
so he wrote a long letter to Abbot, who was afterwards
archbishop of Canterbury, but was then in the lower-house.
By it he desired that no further progress should be made
in that matter, and that this book might not be offered to
him for his assent; there that matter slept. But Sancroft,
archbishop of Canterbury, had got Overall’s own book into
his hands; so, in the beginning of this (K. William’s) reign,
he resolved to publish it, as an authentic declaration that
the Church of England had made in this matter; and it was
published, as well as licensed, by him a very few days before he came under suspension, for not taking the oaths
(October 1689). But there was a paragraph or two in it
that they had not considered, which was plainly calculated
to justify the owning the United Provinces to be a lawful
government; for it was there laid down, that when a
change of government was brought to a thorough settlement, it was then to be owned and submitted to as a work
of the providence of God; and part of king James’s letter
to Abbot related to this.
” But what gave this book much
consequence on its revival was, that the celebrated Dr.
Sherlock acknowledged that he became reconciled to take
the oaths to the new government, at the revolution, by
the doctrines above-mentioned in Overall’s work.
, a celebrated abbot of Tabenna in Egypt, was born about the year 292, of heathen
, a celebrated abbot of Tabenna in
Egypt, was born about the year 292, of heathen parents.
He bore arms at the age of twenty, and was so touched
with the charitable works of some Christians, that he returned to Thebais when the war ended, and embraced
Christianity. He afterwards placed himself under the direction of a solitary named Palemon, and made so astonishing a progress in religion with this excellent master, that
he became founder of the monastery of Tabenna, on the
banks of the Nile, peopled Thebais with holy solitaries,
and had above 5000 monks under his care. His sister
founded a convent of nuns on the other side of the Nile,
who lived in a community, and practised great austerities.
St. Pachomius died May 3, 348. We have some of his
“Epistles
” remaining, a “Rule,
” and some other pieces
in the library of the fathers. M. Arnauld D'Andilly has,
translated a life of him into French, which may be found
among those of the fathers of the desert.
blication was somewhat singular. The point in dispute was at this time eagerly contested. Archbishop Abbot did not think it of sufficient importance to be allowed to disturb
Dr. Page was thought well versed in the Greek fathers,
an able disputant, and a good preacher. He wrote “A
Treatise of justification of Bowing at the name of Jesus, by
way of answer to an appendix against it,
” Oxford, Examination of such considerable reasons as
are made by Mr. Prynne in a reply to Mr. Widdowes concerning the same argument,
” printed with the former.
The fate of this publication was somewhat singular. The
point in dispute was at this time eagerly contested. Archbishop Abbot did not think it of sufficient importance to
be allowed to disturb the peace of the church, and, by his
secretary, advised Dr. Page to withdraw his work from the
press, if already in it. Laud, on the contrary, who was
then bishop of London, ordered it to be printed, viewing
the question as,a matter of importance, it being a defence
of a canon of the church; and it accordingly appeared.
Dr. Page was also the author of “Certain animadversions
upon some passages in a Tract concerning Schism and
Schismatics,
” by Mr. Hales of Eton, Oxon. The Peace Maker, or a brief motive to unity and charity
in Religion,' 1 Loud. 1652, I6mo; a single sermon, and a
translation of Thomas a Kempis, 1639, 12mo, with a large
epistle to the reader. Wood mentions
” Jus Fratrum, or
the Law of Brethren," but is doubtful whether this belongs
to our Dr. Page, or to Dr. Samuel Page, vicar of Deptford, who died in 1630, and was the author of some pious
tracts. It belongs, however, to neither, but to a John
Page, probably a lawyer, as the subject is the power 6f
parents in disposing of their estates to their children.
ed at St. John’s college, Cambridge, but was afterwards chosen fellow of Queen’s. In 1626 archbishop Abbot licensed him to preach a lecture at St. Alphage’s church in
, a learned and pious divine, was
the second son of sir Thomas Palmer, knt. of Wingham, in
Kent, where he was born in 1601. He was educated at
St. John’s college, Cambridge, but was afterwards chosen
fellow of Queen’s. In 1626 archbishop Abbot licensed
him to preach a lecture at St. Alphage’s church in Canterbury, every Sunday afternoon; but three years after, he
was silenced, on a charge of nonconformity, for a time, but
was again restored, the accusation being found trifling.
Although a puritan, his character appeared so amiable that
bishop Laud presented him in 1632 with the vicarage of
Ashwell, in Hertfordshire, and when the unfortunate prelate
was brought to his tri,.l, he cited this as an instance of his
impartiality. At Ashwell Mr. Palmer became no less popular than he had been at Canterbury. In the same year
he was chosen one of the preachers to the university of
Cambridge, and afterwards one of the clerks in convocation. In 1643, when the depression of the hierarchy had
made great progress, he was chosen one of the assembly of
divines, in which he was distinguished for his moderation,
and his aversion to the civil war. He preached also at
various places in London until the following year, when
the earl of Manchester appointed him master of Queen’s
college, Cambridge. He preached several times before
the parliament, and appears to have entered into their
views in most respects, although his sermons were generally
of the practical kind. He did not live, however, to see the
issue of their proceedings, as he died in 1647, aged fortysix. Granger gives him the character of a man of uncommon learning, generosity, and politeness, and adds, that he
spoke the French language with as much facility as his
own. Clark enters more fully into his character as a
divine. His works are not numerous. Some of his parliamentary sermons are in print, and he had a considerable
share in the “Sabbatum Redivivum,
” with Cawdry; but
his principal work, entitled “Memorials of Godliness,
”
acquired great popularity. The thirteenth edition was
printed in 1708, 12mo.
ed a "Saxon homily on the Sacrament,“translated out of Latin into that language, by Ælfric a learned abbot of St. Alban’s, about 900 years before; with two epistles of
Concerning his learning and zeal for the promotion of
learning, there is no difference of opinion. His skill in
ancient liturgies was such, that he was one of the first selected to draw up the Book of Common Prayer; and when
he came to be placed at the head of the church, he laboured much to engage the bishops, and other learned
men, in the revisal and correction of the former translations of the Bible. This was at length undertaken and
carried on under his direction and inspection, who assigned
particular portions to each of his assistants, which he afterwards perused and corrected, and spared no pains in getting it completed. It was first published in 1568, and has
usually been called the “Bishop’s Bible,
” and ran its
course with the Geneva translation, until the present version was executed, in the reign of king James. He also
published a "translated out of Latin into that language, by Ælfric a learned
abbot of St. Alban’s, about 900 years before; with two
epistles of the same, in which is not the least mention of
the doctrine of transubstantiation. He was the editor also
of editions of the histories of Matthew of Westminster and
Matthew of Paris, and of various other works, enumerated
by Tanner; some of which were either composed by him,
or printed at his expence. The work on which he is
thought to have spent most time was that
” but his share in this is a disputed
point among antiquaries. In his letter to the lord treasurer, to whom he presented a copy, he speaks of it as his
own collection, which had been the employment of his
leisure hours. Dr. Drake likewise, in the preface to his
edition of it, quotes a letter of the archbishop’s in the
college-library, in which he expressly styles it,
” My book
of Canterbury Predecessors;“and archbishop Bramhall
was of opinion, that the conclusion of the preface proved
Parker himself to have been the author. But notwithstanding these testimonies, the matter is doubtful. Selden was the first who called it in question, although without giving his reasons; and sir Henry Spelman considered
Dr. Ackworth to have been either the author or collector
of the work. Archbishop Usher thinks that Ackworth wrote
only the first part, concerning the British antiquities; and
he, Selden, and Wharton, ascribe the lives of the archbishops to Josselyn, and make Parker little more than the
director or encourager of the whole. And this certainly
seems to be confirmed by the copy now in the Lambethlibrary. This copy, which originally belonged to that library, but was missing from the year 1720, was replaced
in 1757 by Dr. Trevor, bishop of Durham, who found
it in the Sunderland-library. This, which Dr. Ducarel
thought the only perfect one existing, contains many
manuscript papers, letters, and notes, respecting archbishop Parker and the see of Canterbury; and, among
these, some proofs that Ackworth and Josselyn had a
considerable share in the composition of the work. At the
beginning of St. Augustine’s life we find this note:
” These
24 pages of St. Augustine’s life were thus begun by George
Acworth Dr. of laws, at the appointment of Matthew
Parker Abp.of Cant, and the lives of all the archbishops should have in this course been perfected—(some words not intelligible)—but deth prevented it.“This Dr.
Ackworth, as we have mentioned in our account of him
(vol. I.) was alive in 1576, but how long after is not known,
but as this is a year after our prelate’s death, there seems
some difficulty in understanding the latter part of this
note, without adopting archbishop Usher’s opinion above
mentioned. We also find in the Lambeth copy, on the
title-page of the history, the following note:
” This Historie was collected and penned by John Josselyn, one of
the sons of sir Thomas Josselyn, knight, by the appointment and oversight of Matthew Parker archbishop of Cant.
the said John being entertained in the said archb. house,
as one of his antiquaries, to whom, besides the allowance
afforded to him in his howse, he gave to hym the parsonage
of Hollinborn in Kent," &c.
nd some of them had remained only in manuscript. For this collection the public were indebted to the abbot Bossut, and Pascal deserved to have such an editor. “This e
The works of Pascal were collected in five volumes octavo, and published at Paris in 1779. This edition of Pascal’s works may be considered as the first published; at
least the greater part of thern were not before collected into
one body; and some of them had remained only in manuscript. For this collection the public were indebted to
the abbot Bossut, and Pascal deserved to have such an
editor. “This extraordinary man,
” says he, “inherited
from nature all the powers of genius. He was a geometrician of the first rank, a profound reasoner, and a sublime and elegant writer. If we reflect, that in a very short
life, oppressed by continual infirmities, he invented a curious arithmetical machine, the elements of the calculation
of cnances, and a method of resolving various problems
respecting the cycloid; that he fixed in an irrevocable
manner the wavering opinions of the learned respecting
the weight of the air; that he wrote one of the completest
works which exist in the French language; and that in
his thoughts there are passages, the depth and beauty of
which are incomparablewe shall be induced to believe,
that a greater genius never existed in any age or nation.
All those who had occasion to frequent his company in
the ordinary commerce of the world, acknowledged his superiority; but it excited no envy against him, as he was
never fqnd of shewing it. His conversation instructed,
without making those who heard him sensible of their own
inferiority; and he was remarkably indulgent towards the
faults of others. It may be easily seen by his Provincial
Letters, and by some of his other works, that he was born
with a great fund of humour, which his infirmities could
never entirely destroy. In company, he readily indulged
in that harmless and delicate raillery which never gives offence, and which greaily tends to enliven conversation;
but its principal object generally was of a moral nature.
For example, ridiculing those authors who say,
” my book,
my commentary, my history; they would do better,“added
he,
” to say our book, our commentary, our history; since
there are in them much more of other people’s than their
own."
wards took the religious habit under St. Adelard in the abbey of Corbey, and daring the exile of his abbot Wala, who succeeded Adelard, wrote, about the year 831, a treatise
, a celebrated Benedictine
of the ninth century, was born at Soissons, and carefully
educated by the monks of Notre Dame in his native
city, in the exterior part of their abbey. He afterwards
took the religious habit under St. Adelard in the abbey of
Corbey, and daring the exile of his abbot Wala, who succeeded Adelard, wrote, about the year 831, a treatise
“On the Body and Blood of Christ
” for the instruction
of the young monks at New Corbey in Saxony, where he
teaches, that the same body of Christ which was born of
the Virgin, which was crucified, rose again, and ascended
into heaven, is really present in the Eucharist. This treatise made a great noise in the reign of Charles the Bald.
Bertram (otherwise Ratram), John Scotus Erigena, and
some others, wrote against Paschasius, who was then
abbot of Corbey; and Frudegard, abbot of New Corbey,
wrote to him on the subject about the year 864, informing him that many persons understood in a figurative sense the words “this is my Body; this is my
Blood,
” in the institution of the Eucharist, and supported
themselves on the authority of St. Augustine. Paschasius
on the other side maintained that he taught nothing in his
treatise different from the faith of the church, nor from
what had been universally believed from the time of the
apostles; but these disputes, together with some disturbances raised against him, induced him to resign his
abbey, and he died soon after, April 26, in the year 865.
He was only a deacon, having declined taking priest’s
orders from a principle of humility. Claude, and several
other protestant writers, have asserted that Paschasius was
the first who taught the doctrine of the real presence; but
the popish writers maintain that this doctrine has been always believed and taught in the Romish church. His remaining works are, “Commentaries
” on St. Matthew, on
Psalm xliv. and on the Lamentations of Jeremiah; “The
Life of St. Adelard,
” and other works in the Library of the
Fathers, which Father Sirmond printed separately at Paris,
1618, folio. Father d'Acheri, in torn. XII. of his “Spicilegium, has published Paschasius Ratbert’s treatise
” De
Partu Virginis;“another question much agitated in the
ninth century. His treatise
” De Corpora Christ!" has
been inserted by Martenne in his collection, where it is
more accurate than in P. Sirmond’s edition.
er three masters, the last of whom he converted. Returning at length to France, Louis XIII. made him abbot of St. Leonard de Chaulme, and he had afterwards the care of
, a worthy ecclesiastic of the
Romish church, was born April 24, 1576, and studied at
Toulouse, where he was ordained a priest in 1600. On
his return to Narbonne from Marseilles, his ship was taken
by the Turks, and he remained for a considerable time in
slavery, under three masters, the last of whom he converted. Returning at length to France, Louis XIII. made
him abbot of St. Leonard de Chaulme, and he had afterwards the care of the parish church of Clichy, which he
completely repaired and furnished at his own expence.
Towards the end of 1609, he went to reside in the house
of Emmanuel de Goudy, as tutor to his children, but does
not appear to have remained here long. He then obtained
the curacy of Chatillon-les-Dombes, which he kept only
five months. Compelled by the solicitations of numberless persons of the highest distinction, to return, to the
Goudy family, he resigned himself wholly to his natural
desire of relieving the poor and afflicted. Louis XIII. being
made acquainted with his zeal, appointed him almonergeneral of the gall ies, 1619; and the following year, St.
Francis de Sales, because, as he says, he “knew not a
worthier priest in the church,
”made him superintendant
of the nuns of the visitation. On niadame de Goudy’s decease, M. Vincent retired to the college des Bon Knfans,
cf which he, wasprincipal, and which he never quitted,
but to perform the oftie of a missionary. Some years
after, he accepted the house de St. Lazare, though with
great reluctance. His life was a continued series of good
works, and it is scarcely to be conceived how one man
could plan so many, still less, how he could execute them.
Among these were missions in all parts of France, as well
as in Italy, Scotland, Barbary, Madagascar, &c. ecclesiastical conferences, at which the most eminent bishops
of the kingdom were present spiritual retirements, as they
were called, which were also gratuitous; an Hospital for
Foundlings, for which his humane applications procured
an income of 40,000 livres; the foundation of the Charitable Virgins, for the relief of sick poor; to which we
may add, the hospitals de Bicetre, de la Salpetriere, de
la Piti; those of Marseilles for galley-slaves; of St. Reine
for pilgrims, and of le Saint Nom de Jesus, for old men,
which are principally indebted to him for their establishment. In times of the greatest distress, he sent above two
millions of livres into Lorraine in money and effects; nor
did Picardy and Champagne experience much less of his
bounty, when the scourges of heaven had reduced those
provinces to the most deplorable indigence. During ten
years that M. Vincent presided in the council of conscience,
under Anne of Austria, he suffered none but the most
worthy to be presented to benefices. Being a zealous patron of nunneries, he supported the establishment of the
nuns de la Providence, de Sainte Genevieve, and de la
Croix. He laboured with success for the reform of Grammorit, Premontre, and the abbey of St. Genevieve, as welt
as for the establishment of the great Seminaries. Even
those, who have doubted whether his talents were very
extensive, have openly acknowledged that he was one of
the most pious priests in the kingdom, and more useful to
the poor and to the church, than most of those who are
considered as great geniuses. This excellent man died
loaded with years, labour, and mortifications, Sept.27,1660,
aged near 85. He was canonized by Clement XII. on
July 16, 1737. Those who wish to know more of St. Vincent de Paul, may consult his Life by M. Collet, 2 vols. 4to,
and “PAvocat.du Diable,
” 3 vols. 12mo.
French crown by right of succession; and, upon this, he was nominated the same year, by Louis XIII. abbot of Guistres in Guienne. He remained in France till 1623, when,
Soon after this, he made a purchase of the barony of
Rians, which he completed in 1607; and in the same year,
at the solicitation of his uncle, having approved himself
before that assembly, he was received a senator on the 1st'
of July. In the following year his uncle died. In 1616,
he attended Du Vair to Paris; where, in 1618, he procured a faithful copy, and published a second edition of
“The -Acts of the Monastery of Maren in Switzerland.
”
This was in defence of the royal line of France against the
title of the Austrian family to the French crown by right of
succession; and, upon this, he was nominated the same
year, by Louis XIII. abbot of Guistres in Guienne. He
remained in France till 1623, when, upon a message from
his father, now grown old and sickly, he left Paris, and
arrived at Aix in October. Not long after he presented to
the court a patent from the king, permitting him to continue in the function of his ancient dignity, and to exercise the office of a secular or lay person, notwithstanding
that, being an abbot, he had assumed the person of a
churchman. The court of parliament, not assenting to
this, decreed unanimously, that, being already admitted
into the first rank, he should abide perpetually in it; not
returning, as the custom of the court was, to the inferior
auditory, in which trials are usually had of criminal cases.
He obtained also, a rescript from the pope, to license him
to be present at the judgment of capital causes, as even in
the higher auditory some select cases of that nature wers
customarily heard: but he never made use of this licence,
always departing when they came to vote, without voting
himself. In 1627, he prevailed with the archbishop of
Aix, to establish a post thence to Lyons, and so to Paris
and all Europe; by which the correspondence that ho
constantly held with the literati every where, was much
facilitated. Jn 1629, he began to be much tormented with
complaints incident to a sedentary life; and, in 1631, having completed the marriage of his nephew Claude with
Margaret D'Alries, a noble lady of the county of Avignon,
he bestowed upon him the barony of Rians, together with
a grant of his senatorial dignity, only reserving the function to himself for three years. The parliament not agreeing to this, he procured, in 1635, letters-patent from the
king, to be restored, and to exercise the office for five
years longer, which he did not outlive, for, being seized
June 1637, with a fever, he died, on the 24th of that month,
in his fifty-seventh year.
, was born in Great Britain in the fourth century, and is said to have been abbot of the monastery uf Banger. His real name is said to be Morgan,
, was born in Great Britain in the fourth century, and is said to have been abbot
of the monastery uf Banger. His real name is said to be
Morgan, which signifying in the Celtic languages sea born,
from A/or, sea, and gan born, was translated into risXayw;,
in Latin I'elagius. For the greater part of his life, he Whs
distinguished among his brethren both for piety and learning, but towards the close of his life, he went to Rome,
and began to teach certain doctrines in that city about the
year 400, which occasioned no small disturbance in the
church He absolutely denied all original sin, which he
held to be the mere invention of St. Augustine and taught
that men are entire masters of their actions, and perfectly
free creatures; in opposition to all predestination, reprobation, election, &c. He owned, indeed, that the natural
power of man needed to be assisted by the grace of God,
to enable him to work out his own salvation; but, by this
grace, he only meant outward assistance, viz. the doctrines of the law, and of the gospel. Though, when pressed by those words of St. Paul, “Deus est enim, qui operatur in nobis,
” &c. he owned that it is God, in effect, that
makes us will what is good, when he warns and excites us
by the greatness of the glory we are to obtain, and by the
promises of rewards; when he makes us love him by revealing his wisdom, &c. These are Pelagius’ s own words,
as cited by St. Augustine; who confutes him, and shews,
that, besides these exterior graces, there are required
other real and interior ones. He owned, that the will of
man is indeed aided by a real grace; but he added, that
this grace is not absolutely necessary in order to live well;
but that it only helps us to do well with the more ease.
Julian, one of his adherents, went farther yet; and owned
that the assistance of grace was absolutely necessary to
enable us to do perfect works. In effect, the grand doctrine of the Pelagians was, that a man might accomplish
all the commands of God by the mere power of nature;
and that the gifts of grace were only necessary to enable
him to act well more easily, and more perfectly.
to read the “Summa” of St. Thomas Aquinas, and cultivated a strict friendship with Philip Desportes, abbot of Tiron, who procured him his own place of reader to Henry
In the reign of Henry III. he was carried to the French
court, which was then at Blois, where the states were
assembled in 1576; and introduced to the king as a prodigy of parts and learning. His controversial talents were
already so conspicuous, that few cared to dispute with
him. His ingenuity does not, however, appear to have
greatly advanced his interest, for we are told that when,
after this, he came to Paris, he had no other resource than
to teach Latin for bread, and that at a time when he held
public conferences upon the sciences, m the grand hall of the
Augustiues. He set himself afterwards to read the “Summa
” of St. Thomas Aquinas, and cultivated a strict friendship with Philip Desportes, abbot of Tiron, who procured
him his own place of reader to Henry III. and was the
first to advise him to renounce his religion. Previously to
his taking this step, he is said to have offended Henry III.
by an avowal of religious indifference, which is thus related: one day, while the king was at dinner, he made an
admirable discourse against atheists; on which the king
commended him much for having proved trie being of a
God by arguments so solid. Perron instantly replied,
that “if his majesty was disposed to hear him, he would
prove the contrary by arguments as solid;
” which so
offended the king, that he forbad him to come into his
presence. This story has been denied by some French
writers, as derogatory to Duperrou’s religious principles;
but others say that, granting it to be true, it means no
more than that Du Perron vaunted his ability to take either
side of a question, a practice universal at that time in the
schools; yet they allow that his reply to the king was rather ill-timed, and ill-expressed.
Maurice, or de Montbois.vier, took the monk’s habit at Clugny, was made prior of Vezelay, afterwards abbot, and general of his order in 1121, at the age of twentyeight.
, or Peter the Venerable,
a native of Auvergne, descended from the family of the
counts Maurice, or de Montbois.vier, took the monk’s habit
at Clugny, was made prior of Vezelay, afterwards abbot,
and general of his order in 1121, at the age of twentyeight. He revived monastic discipline in the abbey of
Clugny, and received pope Innocent II. there in 1130.
He opposed the errors of Peter de firuys and Henry, and
died in his abbey, December 24, 1156. We have six
books of his letters, with several other works of very little
consequence, in the “Library of Clugny,
” and some homilies in Martenne’s “Thes. Anecd.
” That so ignorant
and trifling a writer shoaid have been honoured with the
title of Venerable, is a strong mark of the low state of religious knowledge at that time. In these his works he takes
great pains to vindicate the manners and customs of his
monastery, and appears to place the essence of Christianity
in frivolous punctilios and insignificant ceremonies. It
was he, however, who received the celebrated Abelard in
his afflictions with great humanity, and who consoled Eloisa
after his death, by sending to her, at her request, the form,
of Abelard’s absolution, which she inscribed on his sepulchre.
at St. Nicholas in Lorrain. He taught philosophy and theology in the abbey de St. Michael; was made abbot of Senones 1715, and bishop of Macra 1726. He died June 14,
, a celebrated Benedictine,
of the congregation of St. Vannes, was born December 18,
1659, at St. Nicholas in Lorrain. He taught philosophy
and theology in the abbey de St. Michael; was made abbot of Senones 1715, and bishop of Macra 1726. He died
June 14, 1728, aged 69. The principal among his numerous works are, 3 vols. 8vo, of “Remarks on M. Dupin’s
Ecclesiastical Library;
” and “An Apology for M. Pascal’s
Provincial Letters,
” in seventeen letters. This work he
afterwards disavowed in a letter to cardinal Corradini,
dated September 30, 1726, where he declares that these
seventeen letters have been rashly and falsely attributed
to him; but l'Avocat says, that it is nevertheless certain
that he wrote them. He wrote also a treatise “On the
Pope’s Infallibility,
” in favour of the Holy See, and against
the liberties of the Gallican church, Luxemburg, 1724,
12mo; and a “Dissertation on the Council of Constance,
”
Unigenitus,
” but wrote in its defence, and by that means
gained the abbey of Senones, which the person to whom it
bad lapsed disputed with him.
of the abbey of St. Genevieve, obtained the construction of an observatory, and was furnished by the abbot and chapter with a six-foot telescope, while he had the loan
, a French mathematician
and astronomer, was born at Paris, in 1711. In 1727 he
became a member of the canons regular of the congregation of France. He was intended for the church, hut the
freedom of his opinions displeased his superiors, and after
a few years’ study of theology, he devoted himself entirely
to the sciences. In 1749 he was appointed a member of
the academy of sciences in Rouen, and was elected to fill
the office of astronomer, and attained to first-rate excellence. His earliest production, as an author, was the
“Calculation of an Eclipse of the Moon,
” on the 23d of
December 1749. Lacaille had calculated it at Paris; but
the calculations differed by four minutes: Lacaille., however confessed his error, and received Pingre into his
friendship. In May 1753 he was elected correspondent of
the Academy of Sciences at Paris, after having sent them
an observation of the transit of Mercury, which he made at
Rouen. He was next appointed librarian of the abbey of
St. Genevieve, obtained the construction of an observatory, and was furnished by the abbot and chapter with a
six-foot telescope, while he had the loan of an excellent
quadrant from the academy. At the desire of Le Monnier, he next engaged in calculating “A Nautical Almanack,
” to enable navigators more easily to ascertain the
longitude by means of lunar observations. He calculated a
table of the eclipses visible of the sun and moon from the
commencement of the Christian aera to 1900, and afterwards a table of the eclipses visible from the northern
pole to the equator, for a thousand years before our aera.
The utility of these labours for verifying historical dates,
induced the Academy of Inscriptions to insert a part of
them in the forty-second volume of their Memoirs. He
published the “State of the Heavens
” for A Memoir relating to the Discoveries made in the South Sea, during the Voyages of the
English and French round the World.
” In . 2. At the same
time the English astronomer Mason concluded, from the
observations which he made at the Cape of Good Hope,
that the parallax was 8
”. 2. La Lande, in his “Astronomy,
” published in , in
which he was followed by astronomers in general, till more
numerous observations, made on the transit of 1769, led to
a different result. After the return of Pingre from the
East, he published a description of Pekin, in which he
shewed the position of that capital from the result of a
number of calculations of eclipses; and ascertained its
longitude by other calculations, with a degree of precision
to which none of the labours of the scientific missionaries
had any pretensions. In 1769 he sailed for the island of
St. Domingo, on board the Isis man of war, to observe the
transit of Venus, and performed the service committed to
him in the most able and satisfactory manner possible. An
account of this voyage, which proved of considerable importance to the science of geography, as well as astronomy, appeared in 1773, in two vols. 4to. After comparing the results of the immense number of calculations made by the observers of the transit in 1769J the
sun’s parallax has been concluded to be about 8
”. 6. In
1771, Pingre made another voyage, on board the Flora
frigate, with a view of extending the interests of geographical and astronomical knowledge, having with him, as
the companion of his pursuits, the chevalier de Borda, a
celebrated engineer and geometrician. The account of
their proceedings, observations, and experiments, was
published in 1778, in two vols. 4to. In 1784, M. Pingre published his “Cometography, or historical and theoretical
treatise on Comets,
” in two vols. 4tc, which is his most
considerable work, and contains calculations of the orbits
of all the comets of which an. account has been preserved.
After a long life, spent in the most important services to
the world, he died in the month of May 179tf, leaving
behind him a high character for integrity, having enjoyed
the esteem of the public, as well as that of his friends. He
was author of many other works besides those that have
been already noticed.
e the 10th, the same year, proceeded Doctor of Divinity. In 1615, upon the advancement of Dr. Robert Abbot to the bishopric of Sarum, he was made regius professor of divinity,
, a learned English bishop, was born
at Stowford, in the parish of Harford, near Ivy-bridge in
Devonshire, Sept. 17, 1578, and was the fourth of seven
sons of his father, who being in mean circumstances, with
so large a family, our author, after he had learned to write
and read, having a good voice, stood candidate for the place
of parish-clerk of the church of Ugborow near Harford.
Mr. Price informs us, that “he had a competitor for the
office, who had made great interest in the parish for him*
self, and was likely to carry the place from him. The
parishioners being divided in thematter, did at length
agree in this, being unwilling to disoblige either party, that
the Lord’s-day following should be the day of trial; the
one should tune the Psalm in the forenoon, the other in
the afternoon; and he that did best please the people,
should have the place. Which accordingly was done, and
Prideaux lost it, to his very great grief and trouble. Upon,
which, after he became advanced to one of the first dignities of the church, he would frequently make this reflection, saying,
” If I could but have been clerk of Ugborow,
I had never been bishop of Worcester.“Disappointed in
this office, a lady of the parish, mother of sir Edmund
Towel, maintained him at school till he had gained some
knowledge of the Latin tongue, when he travelled to Oxford, and at first lived in a very mean station in Exetercollege, doing servile offices in the kitchen, and prosecuting his studies at his leisure hours, till at last he was taken
notice of in the college, and admitted a member of it in
act-term 1596, under the tuition of Mr. William Helme,
B. D. On January the 31st, 1599, he took the degree of
Bachelor of Arts, and in 1602 was chosen probationer fellow of his college. On May the 11th, 1603, he proceeded
Master of Arts, and soon after entered into holy orders.
On May the 6th, 1611, he took the degree of Bachelor of
Divinity; and the year following was elected rector of his
college in the room of Dr. Holland; and June the 10th,
the same year, proceeded Doctor of Divinity. In 1615,
upon the advancement of Dr. Robert Abbot to the bishopric of Sarum, he was made regius professor of divinity,
and consequently became canon of Christ-church, and
rector of Ewelme in Oxfordshire; and afterwards discharged the office of vice-chancellor of the university for
several years. In the rectorship of his college he behaved
himself in such a manner, that it flourished more than any
other in the university; more foreigners coming thither for
the benefit of his instruction than ever was known; and in his
professorship, says Wood,
” he behaved himself very plausible to the generality, especially for this reason, that in
his lectures, disputes, and moderatings (which were always frequented by many auditors), he shewed himself a
stout champion against Socinus and Arminius. Which
being disrelished by some who were then rising, and in
authority at court, a faction thereupon grew up in the
university between those called Puritans, or Calvinists, on
the one side, and the Remonstrants, commonly called Arminians, on the other: which, with other matters of the
like nature, being not only fomented in the university, but
throughout the nation, all things thereupon were brought
into confusion.“In 1641, after he had been twenty- six
years professor, he was one of those persons of unblemished reputation, whom his majesty made bishops, on the
application of the marquis of Hamilton, who had been one
of his pupils. Accordingly, in November of that year, he
was elected to the bishopric of Worcester, to which he
was consecrated December the 19th following; but the rebellion was at that time so far advanced, that he received
little or no profit from it, to his great impoverishment.
For adhering stedfastly to his majesty’s cause, and pronouncing all those of his diocese, who took up arms against
him, excommunicate, he was plundered, and reduced to
such straits, that he was obliged to sell his excellent library. Dr. Gauden said of him, that he now became literally a helluo librorum, being obliged to turn his books
>nto bread for his children. He seems to have borne this
barbarous usage with patience, and even good humour.
On -one occasion, when a friend came to see bim, and asked
him how he did? he answered,
” Never better in my life,
only I have too great a stomach, for 1 have eaten the little
plate which the sequestrators left me; I have eaten a great
library of excellent books; I have eaten a great deal of
linen, much of my brass, some of my pewter, and now am
come to eat my iron, and what will come next I know
not." So great was his poverty about this time that he
would have attended the conferences with the king at the
Isle of Wight, but could not afford the means of travelling.
Such was the treatment of this great and good man, one
of the best scholars and ablest promoters of learning in the
kingdom, at the hands of men who professed to contend for
liberty and toleration.
; and he even directed the preparations for all festivals, tournaments, and masquerades. He was made abbot of St. Martin at Troyes, and lived with such splendour, that
, an eminent Italian painter, was descended from a noble family in Bologna, where he was born in 1490. His friends, perceiving that he had a strong inclination for design, permitted him to go to Mantua, where he was six years a disciple of Julio Romano, who was then ornamenting the apartments of the palace del Te. In this time he became so skilful, that he represented battles in stucco and basso relievo, better than any of the young painters at Mantua, who were Julio’s pupils. He assisted Julio in executing his designs and Francis I. of France sending to Rome for a man that understood working in stucco, Primaticcio was the person chosen for this service, and he adorned Fontainbleau, and most of the palaces in France, with his compositions. The king put such confidence in him, that he sent him to Rome to buy antiques, in 1540; on which occasion he brought back one hundred and fourscore statues, with a great number of busts. He had moulds made by Giacomo Baroccio di Vignola, of the statues of Venus, Laocoon, Commodus, the Tiber, the Nile, the Cleopatra at Belvidere, and Trajan’s Pillar, in order to have them cast in brass. After the death of Rosso-, who was his rival, he succeeded him in the place of superintendant of the buildings; and in a little time finished the gallery which his predecessor had begun. He brought so many statues of marble and brass to Fontainbleau, that it seemed another Rome, as well for the number of the antiques as for his own works in painting and in stucco. He was so much esteemed in France, that nothing of any consequence was done without him, which had relation to painting or building; and he even directed the preparations for all festivals, tournaments, and masquerades. He was made abbot of St. Martin at Troyes, and lived with such splendour, that he was respected as a courtier as well as a painter. He and Rosso taught the French a good style for, before their time, what they had done in the arts was very inconsiderable, and had something of the Gothic in it. He died in 1570, at the age of eighty, after having been favoured and caressed in four reigns.
treated with very unjust severity; for Whitelocke observes, that the book was licensed by archbishop Abbot’s chaplain, and was merely an invective against plays and players;
, an English lawyer, who was much
distinguished by the number rather than excellence of his
publications, during the reign of Charles I. was born in
1600, at Swanswick in Somersetshire, and educated at a
grammar-school in the city of Bath. He became a commoner of Oriel college, Oxford, in 1616; and, after taking
a bachelor of arts’ degree, in 1620, removed to
Lincoln’s-inn, where he studied the law, and was made successively
barrister, bencher, and reader. At his first coming to that
inn, he was a great admirer and follower of Dr. Preston,
preacher to the inn (see Preston), and published several books against what he thought the enormities of the
age, and the doctrine and discipline of the church. His
“Histriornastix,
” which came out in a reference in
the table of this book to this effect, women-actors notorious whores, relating to some women-actors mentioned in
his book, as he affirmeth, it happened, that about six
weeks after this the queen acted a part in a pastoral at Somerset-house; and then archbishop Laud and other prelates, whom Prynne had angered by some books of his
against Arminianism, and against the jurisdiction of
bishops, and by some prohibitions which he had moved,
and got to the high commission-court these prelates, and
their instruments, the next day after the queen had acted
her pastoral, shewed Prynne’s book against plays to the
king, and that place in it, women-actors notorious whores;
and they informed the king and queen, that Prynne had
purposely written this book against the queen and her pastoral whereas it was published six weeks before that pastoral was acted.
”
tle before, had been collated to the rectory of St. Martin’s Ltidgate, in London. He was chaplain to Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury, and had also the promise of a deanery
, a learned English divine, and
compiler of a valuable collection of voyages, was born at
Thaxstead in Essex in 1577, and educated at St. John’s
college, Cambridge, where he took his master’s degree in
1600, and afterwards that of bachelor of divinity. Ill
1604 he was instituted to the vicarage of Eastwood in Essex; but, leaving the cure of it to his brother, went and
lived in London, the better to carry on the great work he
had undertaken. He published the first volume in 1613,
and the fifth in 1625, under this title, “Purchas his Pil^
grimage, or Relations of the World, and the Religions observed in all ages and places discovered from the Creation
unto this present.
” In a
man exquisitely skilled in languages, and all arts divine
and human; a very great philosopher, historian, and divine; a faithful presbyter of the church of England; very
famous for many excellent writings, and especially for his
vast volumes of the East and West Indies, written in his native tongue.
” His other works are, “Purchas his Pilgrim or
Microcosmos, or The Historie of Man,
” The King’s Tower and
Triumphal Arch of London,
” A Funeral
Sermon on Psalm xxx. 5.
” is attributed to him, if.it be
not mistaken for the Microcosmos. His son, Samuel,
published “A Theatre to Political flying Insects,
”
cquire great reputation from his writings at the age of thirty. On his return to Fulda he was chosen abbot there, and reconciled the emperor Louis le Débonnaire to his
, a celebrated archbishop of Mentz, and one of the most learned divines in
the ninth century, was born in the year 785 at Mentz, or
rather at Fulda, and descended from one of the most noble
families in that country. Mackenzie, however, has inserted him among his Scotch writers, but without much
apparent authority. The parents of Rabanus sent him, at
ten years old, to the monastery of Fulda, where he was instructed in learning and virtue, and afterwards studied
underthe famous Alcuinus, at Tours. In this situation he
made so rapid a progress, as to acquire great reputation
from his writings at the age of thirty. On his return to
Fulda he was chosen abbot there, and reconciled the emperor Louis le Débonnaire to his children. Rabanus wrote a
letter of consolation to this prince when unjustly deposed,
and published a tract on the respect due from children to
their parents, and from subjects to their princes, which
may be found in “Marca de Concordiâ,
” published by
Baluze. He succeeded Orgar, archbishop o Mentz, in
the year 847, but was so much a bigot, as to procure the
condemnation of Godeschalc. He died at his estate of
Winsel, in the year 856, aged sixty-eight, after having
bequeathed his library to the abbeys of Fulda and St. Alban’s, leaving a great number of works printed at Cologn,
1627, 6 vols. in 3 folio. The principal are, 1. “Commentaries on the Holy Scriptures,
” the greatest part of
which are mere extracts from the fathers, as was the usual
method among commentators in his time. 2. A poem in
honour of the holy cross, of which there is a neat edition
printed at Augsburg, 1605, in folio; but the most rare is
that printed at Phorcheim, in ædibus Thomæ Anselim, 1503,
curiously ornamented. Of the frontispiece the first figure
is that of Albinus, abbot of Fulda, who presents Rabanus
to the pope, with a poetical piece entitled “Intercessio
Albini;
” Rabanus appears next, presenting his book to
the pope, with a poetical piece, entitled “Commendatio
Papæ,
” Then follows a kind of dedication to the emperor
Louis le Débonnaire, who is delineated on this dedication
holding a shield in one hand, and a cross in the other, his
head surrounded with glory all the letters comprised in
these ornamented lines, form a discourse foreign to the
dedication. The poem is in the same style on each of
the 28 pages of which it consists, are figures of the cross,
stars, cherubim, seraphim, &c. The last represents a
cross, with the author adoring it; the letters comprised in
this cross form various pious exclamations. 3. A treatise
on “the Instruction of the Clergy.
” 4. A treatise on
“the Ecclesiastical Calendar,
” in which he points out the
method of distinguishing the leap years, and marking the
inductions. 5. A book “on the sight of God, purity of
Jieart, and the manner of doing penance.
” 6. A large
work, entitled “De Universe, sive Etymologiarum Opus.
”
7. “Homilies.
” 8. “A Martyrology,
” &c. But a treatise
on “Vices and Virtues,
” which is attributed to Rabanus
Maurus, was written by Halitgarius bishop of Orleans.
His treatise “against the Jews,
” may be found in Martenne’s “Thesaurus;
” and some other small tracts in the
“Miscellanea
” of Baluze, and Father Sirmond’s works.
Rabanus was unquestionably one of the most learned
men of his age, and his character in this respect has been
highly extolled both by Dupin and Mosheim.
eeded sir John Pratt as chief justice of the court of King’s-bench, and was created baron Raymond of Abbot’s Langley, Hertfordshire, in 1730. He died in 1732, leaving
, Lord, one of those many eminent men who have risen to the peerage from the profession of the law, was the son of sir Thomas Raymond, a
justice of the King’s Bench, and author of “Reports of
divers special cases in the court of King’s-Bench, Common
Pleas, and Exchequer, from 12 to 35 Car. II.
” first printed
In 1696, and lastly in 1803, 8vo. His son was solicitor
general to queen Anne, and attorney-general to George I.
by whom he was appointed one of the commissioners of the
great seal. He succeeded sir John Pratt as chief justice of
the court of King’s-bench, and was created baron Raymond
of Abbot’s Langley, Hertfordshire, in 1730. He died in
1732, leaving one son, by whose death, in 1753, the title
became extinct.
, a learned Benedictine, abbot of Prum towards the end of the ninth century, has left a good
, a learned Benedictine, abbot of Prum towards the end of the ninth century, has left a good “Chronicle,
” in the collection of German historians by Pistorius, 1583, 3 vols. folio, and a collection of canons and
ecclesiastical rules, entitled, “De Disciplinis ecclesiasticis, et de Religione Christiana.
” This last he compiled at
the solicitation of Rathbode, archbishop of Treves, to
which city he had retired, after being obliged to quit his
abbey, in the year 899. M. Baluze has published an excellent edition of this collection, with notes, in 1671, 8vo.
Regino died at Treves, in the year 915.
, abbot of St. Victor in the twelfth century, was a native of Scotland.
, abbot of St. Victor in the twelfth century, was a native of Scotland. After such education as his country afforded, in polite literature, the sacred scriptures, and mathematics, which we are told were the objects of his early studies, he went, as was much the custom then, to Paris, Here the fame of Hugh, abbot of St. Victor, induced him to retire into that monastery, that he might pursue his theological studies under so great a master. At the regular periods he took the habit, was admitted into holy orders, and so much acquired the esteem of his brethren, that in 1164, upon the death of Hugh, they unanimously chose him their prior, in which station he remained until his death, March 10, 1173. During this time he composed many treatises on subjects of practical divinity, and on scripture criticism, particularly on the description of Solomon’s temple, Ezekiel’s temple, and on the apparent contradictions in the books of Kings and Chronicles, respecting the reigns of the kings of Judah and Israel. Dupin speaks rather favourably of these treatises. They were all published at Paris in 1518, and 1540, in 2 vols. folio, at Venice in 1592, at Cologne in 1621, and at Rouen in 1650, which is reckoned the best edition.
rder to collect materials. It is at least certain that he obtained a licence to visit Rome, from his abbot, William of Colchester, in 1391, and there can be little doubt
, an English historian,
so named from his birth-place, flourished in the fourteenth
century. No (races of his family or connections can be discovered, but they appear to have been such as to afford him a liberal education. In 13 50 “he entered into the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter, Westminster, and his name occurs in various documents of that establishment in 1387, 1397, and 1399. He devoted his leisure hours to the study of British and Anglo-Saxon history and antiquities, in which he made such proficiency, that he is said to have been honoured with the name of the Historiographer. Pits informs us, without specifying his authority, that
Richard visited different libraries and ecclesiastical establishments in England, in order to collect materials. It is
at least certain that he obtained a licence to visit Rome,
from his abbot, William of Colchester, in 1391, and there
can be little doubt that a man of his curiosity would improve his knowledge on such an occasion. He is supposed to Have performed this journey in the interval between 1391 and 1397, for he appears to have been confined in the abbey infirmary in 1401, and died in that or
the following year. His works are,
” Historia ab Hengista ad ann. 1348,“in two parts. The first contains the
period from the coming of the Saxons to the death of Harold, and is preserved in the public library of Cambridge.
Whitaker, the historian of Manchester, speaks of this as
evincing very little knowledge or judgment; the second
part is probably a ms. in the library of the Royal Society,
p. 137, with the title of
” Britonum Anglorum et Saxonurn
Historia.“In the library of Bene't college, Cambridge,
is
” Epitome Chronic. Ric. Cor. West. Lib. I.“Other
works of our author are supposed to be preserved in the
Lambeth library, and at Oxford. His theological writings
were,
” Tractatus super Symbolum Majus et Minus,“and
” Liber de Officiis Ecclesiasticis,“in the Peterborough
library. But the treatise to which he owes his celebrity,
is that on the ancient state of Great Britain,
” De situ
Britanniae,“first discovered by Charles Julius Bertram,
professor of the English language in the royal marine academy at Copenhagen, who transmitted to Dr. Stukeley
a transcript of the whole in letters, together with a copy of
the map. From this transcript Stukeley published an analysis of the work, with the itinerary, first in a thin quarto,
1757, and afterwards in the second volume of his
” Itinerarium Curiosum.“In the same year the original itself
was published by professor Bertram at Copenhagen, in a
small octavo volume, with the remains of Gildas and Nennius, under the title
” Britannicarum gentium Historiae
Antiquæ scriptores tres, Ricardns Corinensis, Gildas Badonicus, Nennius Banchorensis, &c.“This work has long
been scarce, and in very few libraries; but in 1809, a new
edition, with an English translation, &c. was published at
London. To this the editor, Mr. Hatchard, has prefixed
an account of Richard’s life, from which we have extracted
the above particulars, and an able defence of his merit and
fidelity as a historian, against the objections of certain
writers. Among these we observe that Gibbon cannot be
reckoned, for he says that Richard of Cirencester
” shews
a genuine knowledge of antiquity, very extraordinary for
a monk of the fourteenth century.“This useful and accurate republication is entitled
” The Description of Britain, translated from Richard of Cirencester; with the original treatise de situ Britanniæ; and a commentary on the
Itinerary; illustrated with maps," 8vo.
of the masters in chancery, chancellor to the bishop of Winchester, and vicar-general to archbishop Abbot. He also received the honour of knighthood. He died Jan. 22
, an eminent civilian, descended of
a family of that name in Northumberland, was born in the
city of Ely, and became master of Eton school, afterwards
one of the masters in chancery, chancellor to the bishop of
Winchester, and vicar-general to archbishop Abbot. He
also received the honour of knighthood. He died Jan. 22
or 23, 1629, and was buried in the parish church of St.
Bennet, Paul’s Wharf, London. He was a general schoJar, and published “A view of the Civil and Ecclesiastical
Law,
” which was much admired by king James, and was
afterwards reprinted by the learned, but unfortunate Gregory, chaplain to bishop Duppa. This work, says Dr.
Coote, while it established the reputation of the author,
contributed to revive the declining credit of that jurisdiction.
tended in length, which are nevertheless equal to other spaces that are terminated on all sides. The abbot Gallois, in the Memoirs of the Royal Academy, anno 1693, observes,
, an eminent French
mathematician, was born in 1602, at Roberval, a parish in
the diocese of Beauvais. He was first professor of mathematics at the college of Maitre-Gervais, and afterwards at
the college-royal. A similarity of taste connected him
with Gassendi andMorin; the latter of whom he succeeded
in the mathematical chair at the royal college? without
quitting, however, that of Ramus. Roberval made experiments on the Torricellian vacuum: he invented two new
kinds of balance, one of which was proper for weighing
air; and made many other curious experiments. He was
one of the first members of the ancient academy of sciences
of 1666; but died in 1675, at seventy-thre years of age.
His principal works are, 1. “A treatise on Mechanics.
”
2. A work entitled “Aristarchus Samos.
” Several memoirs inserted in the volumes ofl the academy of sciences
of 1666; viz. 1. Experiments concerning the pressure of the
air. 2. Observations on the composition of motion, and
on the tangents of curve lines. 3. The recognition of
equations. 4. The geometrical resolution of plane and
cubic equations. 5. Treatise on indivisibles. 6. On the
Trochoicl, or Cycloid. 7. A letter to father Mersenne.
8. Two letters from Torricelli. 9. A new kind of balance.
Robervallian Lines were his, for the transformation of
figures. They bound spaces that are infinitely extended
in length, which are nevertheless equal to other spaces
that are terminated on all sides. The abbot Gallois, in the
Memoirs of the Royal Academy, anno 1693, observes, that
the method of transforming figures, explained at the latter
end of RobervaPs treatise of indivisibles, was the same
with that afterwards published by James Gregory, in his
Geometria Ujiiversalis, and also by Barrow in his LectiotteV Geometric^; and that, by a letter of Torricelli, it
appears, that Roberval was the inventor of this manner of
transforming figures, by means of certain lines, which Torricelli therefore called Robervaliian Lines. He adds, that
it is highly probable, that J. Gregory first learned the method in the journey he made to Padua in 1668, the method
itself having been known in Italy from 164-6, though the
book was not published till 1692. This account David
Gregory has endeavoured to refute, in vindication of his
uncle James. His answer is inserted in the Philos. Trans,
of 1694, and the abbot rejoined in the French Memoirs of
the Academy of 1703.
, LL. D. an English divine, and bishop of Derry in Ireland, was born in the parish of Milton- Abbot, near Tavistock, in Devonshire, about 1686, of what family is
, LL. D. an English divine, and
bishop of Derry in Ireland, was born in the parish of
Milton-Abbot, near Tavistock, in Devonshire, about 1686,
of what family is not known. He was educated at the freeschool of Exeter, under the care of Mr. John Reynolds,
uncle to the celebrated painter sir Joshua Reynolds. In
1702 he was removed to Exeter college, Oxford, and
about this time his friend and fellow collegian, Joseph
Taylor, esq. (father of Thomas Taylor, of Denbury, esq.)
introduced him to Mr. Edward Talbot, of Oriel college,
the second son of Dr. William Talbot, at that time bishop
of Oxford. This event was of great importance in his
future life, as it secured him the friendship and patronage
of the Talbot family, to whom he owed all his promotion.
Recommenced bachelor of civil laws in July 1710, and
two years afterwards became acquainted with the celebrated
Whiston, and was inclined to adopt his notions as to reviving what he called primitive Christianity. Mr. Whiston,
who has given us many particulars respecting bishop Rundie in his “Memoirs of his own Life,
” says that Mr.
Rundie, before he entered into holy orders, became so
disgusted at the corrupt state of the church, and at the
tyranny of the ecclesiastical laws, that he sometimes declared against obeying them, even where they were in
themselves not unlawful, which, adds Whiston, “was farther than 1 could go with him.
” The truth seems to have
been, as stated by bishop Rundle’s late biegrapher, that
the singular character of Whiston, his profound erudition,
and disinterested attachment to the doctrines of Arius,
supported by an ostensible love of truth, were likely to
attract the notice of young men who, in the ardour of free
inquiry, did not immediately perceive the pernicious tendency of their new opinions.
red with great solemnity in Westminster-abbey; his funeral sermon being preached by his chaplain Dr. Abbot, afterwards abp. of Canterbury. Sit Robert Naunton writes of
Upon the death of Elizabeth, the administration of the
kingdom devolving on him with other counsellors, they
unanimously proclaimed king James; and that king renewed his patent of lord high-treasurer for life; before his
arrival in England, and even before his lordship waited on
his majesty. In March 1604 he was created earl of Dorset.
tie was one of those whom his majesty consulted and confided in upon all occasions; and he lived in the highest
esteem and reputation, without any extraordinary decay
of health, till 1607. Then he was seized at his house at
tlorsley, in Surrey, with a disorder, which reduced him
so, that his life was despaired of. At this crisis, the king
sent him a gold ring enamelled black, set with twenty diamonds; and this message, that “his majesty wished him
a speedy and perfect recovery, with all happy and good
success, and that he might live as long as the diamonds of
that ring did endure, and in token thereof required him to
wear it, and keep it for his sake.
” He recovered this illness to all appearance but soon after; as he was attending at the council-table, he dropped down, and immediately expired. This sudden death, which happened April
19, 1608, was occasioned by a particular kind of dropsy on.
the brain. He was interred with great solemnity in Westminster-abbey; his funeral sermon being preached by his
chaplain Dr. Abbot, afterwards abp. of Canterbury. Sit
Robert Naunton writes of him in the following terms
“They much comoiend his elocution, but more the excellency of his pen. He was a scholar, and a person of
quick dispatch; faculties that yet run in the blood: and
they say of him, that his secretaries did little for him by
way of inditement, wherein they could seldom please him,
he was so facete and choice in his phrase and style. I find
not that he was any ways inured in the factions of the
court, which were all his time strong, and in every man’s
note; the Howards and the Cecils on the one part, my
lord of Essex; &c. on the other part for he held the staff
of the treasury fast in his hand, which once in a year made
them all beholden to him. And the truth is, as he was a
wise man and a stout, he had no reason to be a partaker;
for he stood sure in blood atid grace, and was wholly intentive to the queen’s services and such were his abilities,
that she received assiduous proofs of his sufficiency and it
has been thought, that she might have mure cunning instruments, but none of a more strong judgment and confidence in his ways, which are symptoms of magnanimity
and fidelity.
” Lord Orford says, that “iew first ministers
have left so fair a character, and that hU family disdained
the office of an apology for it, against some little cavils,
which spreta exolescunt; si irascare, agnita videntur.
”
4.” That her majesty’s final instructions to her said plenipotentiaries were disclosed by him to the abbot Gualtier, an emissary of France.“5.” That he disclosed to the
Upon his arrival at Paris, he received an invitation from
the Pretender, then at Barr, to engage in his service:
which he at first absolutely refused, and thought it wiser
to make the best application, that his present circumstances
would admit, to prevent the progress of his prosecution in
England. While this was in doubt, he retired into Dauphine“, where he continued till the beginning of July; and
then, upon receiving unfavourable news from some of iiis
party in England, he complied with a second invitation
from the Pretender; and, taking the seals of the secretary’s
office at Commercy, set out with them for Paris, and arrived thither the latter end of the same month, in order to
procure from that court the necessary succours for his new
master’s intended invasion of England. The vote for impeaching him of high treason had passed in the House of
Commons the June preceding; and six articles were
brought into the house, and read by Walpole, August 4,
1715, which were in substance as follows: 1.
” That
whereas he had assured the ministers of the States General,
by order from her majesty in 1711, that she would make
no peace but in concert with them; yet he sent Mr. Prior
to France, that same year, with proposals for a treaty of
peace with that monarch, without the consent of the allies.“2.
” That he advised and promoted the making of a separate treaty or convention, with France, which was signed
in September.“3.
” That he disclosed to M. Mesnager,
the French minister at London, this convention, which was
the preliminary instruction to her majesty’s plenipotentiaries at Utrecht, in October.“4.
” That her majesty’s
final instructions to her said plenipotentiaries were disclosed
by him to the abbot Gualtier, an emissary of France.“5.
” That he disclosed to the French the manner how Tournay in Flanders might be gained by them.“6.
” That he
advised and promoted the yielding up of Spain and the
West-Indies to the duke of Anjou, then an enemy to her
majesty." These articles were sent up to the Lords in
August; in consequence of which, he stood attainted of
high-treason, September the 10th of the same year.
ry, which he diligently cultivated. He spent the greatest part of his life at Livri, of which he was abbot, though no credit to the order, for he lived in a voluptuous,
, a French poet of
the seventeenth century, was born at Paris, and studied
with a view to the ecclesiastical profession, but his private
attachment was wholly to the belles lettres and poetry,
which he diligently cultivated. He spent the greatest part
of his life at Livri, of which he was abbot, though no credit to the order, for he lived in a voluptuous, indolent
style, circulating and practising the pernicious maxims he
had learnt from his master, the poet Theophile, and to
which he was so strongly attached, that Boileau in his first
satire places St. Pavin’s conversion among things morally
impossible. The story of his having been converted by
hearing a terrible voice at the time Theophile died, in
1625, is entirely without foundation, for his conversion
preceded his own death but a very short time. He died in
1670, leaving several poems not inelegantly written, which
form part of vol. IV. of Barbin’s collection; and a collection of his works was published in 1759, 12mo, with Charleval, Lalane, and MontplaUir. He was related to Claudius
Sanguin, steward of the household to the king and the
duke of Orleans, who published “Les He-ires
” in French
verse, Paris,
fit by the instruction of the Arabian doctors. With such acquirements, he was promoted by Otho to be abbot of the monastery of Bobbio in Lombardy, but, finding no satisfaction
, a man of great talents and influence in the tenth century, was born in Aquitaine, of mean parentage, and was educated in a neighbouring convent. His original name was Gerbert. From his convent he passed into the family of a count of Barcelona, in which he prosecuted his studies under the care of a Spanish bishop, whom he accompanied from Spain to Rome. Here he was introduced to Otho the great, attached himself to Adalbaron, the archbishop of Rheims, whom he attended to his see, and returned with him about the year 972 into Italy. His progress in learning, which comprized geometry, astronomy, the mathematics, mechanics, and every branch of subordinate science, is said to have been prodigious; and his residence in Spain, during which he visited Cordova and Seville, had enabled him to profit by the instruction of the Arabian doctors. With such acquirements, he was promoted by Otho to be abbot of the monastery of Bobbio in Lombardy, but, finding no satisfaction in this place, he again joined his friend the archbishop of Rheims. Here he had leisure to prosecute his favourite studies, while, as his letters shew, his abilities were usefully engaged in different political transactions: in addition to the superintendance of the public schools, he was intrusted with the education of Robert, son and successor of Hugh Capet. He also employed himself in collecting books from every quarter, in studying them, and in introducing a taste for them among his countrymen. It is said that the effects of this enlightened zeal were soon visible in Germany, Gaul, and Italy; and by his writings, as well as by his example and his exhortations, many were animated to emulate their master’s fame, and caught by the love of science, to abandon the barbarous prejudices of the age. In his epistles, Gerbert cites the names of various classical authors, whose works he possessed, though often incomplete: and it is plain, from the style of these epistles, that he expended his wealth in employing copyists, and exploring the repositories of ancient learning.
ordered him to be apprehended. Skelton took refuge in the sanctuary of Westminster-abbey, where the abbot, Islip, afforded him protection until his death, which took
With respect, however, to Wolsey, his prudence
appears to have deserted him, as he felt bold enough to Stigmatize the personal character of that statesman, then irt
the plenitude of his power. Whether such attacks were
made in any small poems or ballads, or only in his poem of
“Why come ye not to Court?
” is not certain, but the latter does not appear to have been printed until 1555, and
was too long to have been easily circulated in manuscript.
Wolsey, however, by some means or other, discovered the
abuse and the author, and ordered him to be apprehended.
Skelton took refuge in the sanctuary of Westminster-abbey,
where the abbot, Islip, afforded him protection until his
death, which took place June 21, 1529, not long before
the downfall of his illustrious persecutor. He was interred
in St. Margaret’s church-yard, with the inscription,
, called L‘Abate Ciccio, from his mode of dressing like an abbot, an illustrious Italian painter, was descended of a good family,
, called L‘Abate Ciccio, from his mode of dressing like an abbot, an illustrious Italian painter, was descended of a good family, and born at Nocera de’ Pagani near Naples in 1657. His father Angelo, who had been a scholar of Massimo, and was a good painter and a man of learning, discerned an uncommon genius in his son; who is said to have spent whole nights in the studies of poetry and philosophy. He designed also so judiciously in chiaro obscure, tiiat his performances surprised all who saw them. Angelo intended him for the Jaw, and did not alter his purpose, though he was informed of his other extraordinary talents, till cardinal Orsini advised him. This cardinal, afterwards Benedict Xiji. at a visit happened to examine the youth in philosophy, and, although satisfied with his answers, observed, that he would do better, if he did not waste so much of his time in drawing; but when these drawings were produced, he was so surprised, that he told the father how unjust he would be both to his son and to the art, if he attempted to check a genius so manifestly displayed. Ou this, Solimene had full liberty given him to follow his inclination. Two years passed on, while he studied under his lather, after which, in 1674, he went to Naples, and put himself under the direction of Francesco di Maria. Thinking, however, that this artist laid too great a stress on design, he soon left him, and guided himself by the works of Lanfranc and Calabrese in composition and chiaro obscuro, while those of Pietro Cortona and Luca Jordano were his standards for colouring, and Guido and Carlo Maratti for drapery. By an accurate and well-managed study of these masters, he formed to himself an excellent style, and soon distinguished himself as a painter. Hearing that the Jesuits intended to paint the chapel of St. Anne in the church Jesu Nuovo, he sent them a sketch by an architecture painter; not daring to carry it himself, lest a prejudice against his youth might exclude him. His design was nevertheless accepted, and, while he was employed on this chapel, the best painters of Naples visited him, astonished to h'nd themselves surpassed by a mere boy. This was his first moment of distinction, and his reputation increased so fast, that great works were offered him from every quarter. His fame extending to other countries, the kings of France and Spain made him very advantageous proposals to engage him in their service, all which he declined. Philip V. arriving at Naples, commanded him to paint his portrait, and allowed him to sit in his presence: and the emperor Charles VI. knighted him on account of a picture he sent him. In 1701, he resided at Rome during the holy year: when the pope and cardinals took great notice of him. This painter is also known by his sonnets, which have been often printed in collections of poetry; and, at eighty years of age, he could repeat from memory the most beautiful passages of the poets, in the application of which he was very happy. He died in 1747, at almost ninety. He painted entirely after nature; being fearful, as he said, that too servile an attachment to the antique might damp the fire of his imagination. He was a man of a good temper, who neither criticised the works of others out of envy, nor was blind to his own defects. He told the Italian author of his life, that he had advanced many falsities in extolling the character of his works: which had procured him a great deal of money, but yet were very far short of perfection. The grand duke of Tuscany with difficulty prevailed on Solimene’s modesty to send him his picture, which he wanted to place in his gallery among other painters.
on the same subject, by Mr. Joseph Holland and Mr. Thomas Thynn. In 1621, an apology for archbishop Abbot, respecting the death of a park-keeper, (see Abbot) was answered
The meetings of the society of antiquaries which had
been liscontinued for twenty years, were revived, in 1614,
by sir Henry Spelman and others, who now drew up his
“Discourse concerning the original of the four Law Terms
of the year,
” in which the laws of the Jews, Grecians,
Romans, Saxons, and Normans, relating to this subject are
fully explained. This treatise does not appear to have
been published until 1684, 12mo, and then from a very
incorrect copy, yet was printed from the same in Hearne’s
“Curious Discourses,
” along with others on the same subject, by Mr. Joseph Holland and Mr. Thomas Thynn. In
1621, an apology for archbishop Abbot, respecting the
death of a park-keeper, (see Abbot) was answered by sir
Henry, who endeavours to prove, not only that the archbishop was guilty of an irregularity by that act, but also
intimates that he could not be effectually reinstated without
some extraordinary form of new consecration. He even
goes so far as to assert that by the canons hunting is unlawful in a clergyman; and he also advances many other
positions to which no very cordial assent will now perhaps
be given.
of the English church from 1066 to 1531.” In this he was particularly encouraged by the archbishops Abbot, Laud, and especially Usher. The deceased bishop Andrews had
About the time that he disposed of the unsold copies of
his “Glossary,
” sir William Dugdale acquainted sir Henry
Spelman, that many learned men were desirous to see the
second part published, and requested of him to gratify the
world with the work entire. Upon this, he shewed sir William the second part, and also the improvements which he
had made in the first; but told him, at the same time, the
discouragement he had met with in publishing the first
part. Upon his death, all his papers came into the hands
of sir John Spelman, his eldest son; a gentleman, who had
abilities sufficient to complete what his father had begun,
if death had not prevented him. After the restoration of
Charles II. archbishop Sheldon and chancellor Hyde inquired of sir William Dugdale, what became of the second
part, and whether it was ever finished; and, upon his answering in the affirmative, expressed a desire that it might
be printed. Accordingly it was published by sir William
in 1664; but, as Gibson says, “the latter part in comparison of the other is jejune and scanty; and everyone must
see, that it is little more than a collection, out of which he
intended to compose such discourses, as he has all along
given us in the first part, under the words of the greatest
import and usefulness.
” It was surmised, for it never was
proved, that because sir William Dugdale had the publishing of the second part, he inserted many things of his own,
which were not in sir Henry Spelman’s copy; and particularly some passages, which tend to the enlargement of the
prerogative, in opposition to the liberties of the subject.
This- is noticed by Mr. Atwood, in his “Jus Anglorum ab
antique
” and the authenticity of it is vindicated, and some
curious particulars are related concerning it, by Dr. Brady,
in his “Animadversions on Jani Anglorum f'acies nova,
”
Bishop Gibson also assures us, that the very copy from which
it was printed, is in the Bodleian library in sir Henry’s own
hand, and exactly agrees with the printed book; and particularly under the word “Parlamentum,
” and those other
passages, upon which the controversy was raised. So far
then as the copy goes, for it ends at the word “Riota,
” it
is a certain testimony, that sir William Dugdale did no
more than mark it for the printer, and transcribe here and
there a loose paper; and, though the rest of the copy was
lost before it carne to the Oxford library, on which account
there is not the same authority for the Glossary’s being genuine of the letter R; yet it is not likely, that sir William
had any more share in these last letters of the alphabet,
than he had in any of the rest. There was a third edition
in 1687, illustrated with commentaries, and much enlarged.
In 1627, sir Henry compiled a history of the civil affairs
of the kingdom, from the conquest to Magna Charta, taken
from the best historians, and generally in their own words.
This was printed by Wilkins at the end of his edition of the
Saxon laws. His next great work was his “Collection of
the Councils, Decrees, Laws, and Constitutions of the English church from 1066 to 1531.
” In this he was particularly encouraged by the archbishops Abbot, Laud, and
especially Usher. The deceased bishop Andrews had suggested this scheme to Dr. Matthew Wren, who had made
some progress, but desisted when he heard that sir Henry
Spelman was engaged in the same design. Archbishop
Abbot lived to see some part of the copy, and greatly approved of it. He branched his undertaking into three
parts, assigning an entire volume to each division: I. “From
the first plantation of Christianity to the coming in of the
Conqueror in 1066.
” 2. “From the Norman conquest to
the casting off the pope’s supremacy, and the dissolution
of monasteries by Henry VIII.
” 3. “The History of the
Reformed English Church, from Henry VIII. to his own
time.
” The volume, which contained the first of these
heads, was published in 1639, about two years befoiv
death, with his own annotations upon the more difficult
places. The second volume of the “Councils,
” was put
into the hands of sir William Dugdale, by the direction of
Sheldon and Hyde. Sir William made considerable additions to it ont of the archbishop’s registers and the Cottonian library; and it was published in 1664, but with abundance of faults, occasioned by the negligence of either the
copier, or corrector, or both. His revival of Saxon literature was of great importance to the study of antiquities.
He had found the excellent use oi" that language in the
whole course of his studies, and much lamented the neglect
of it both at home and abroad; which was so very general,
that he did not then know one man in the world, who perfectly understood it. This induced him to found a Saxon
lecture in the university of Cambridge, allowing lOl. per
annum to Mr. Abraham Wheelocke, presenting him to the
vicarage of Middleton in the county of Norfolk, and giving
him likewise the profits of the impropriate rectory of the
same church; both which were intended by him to be settled in perpetuity as an endowment of that lecture: but sir
Henry and his eldest son dying in the compass of two years,
the civil wars breaking forth, and their estate being sequestered, the family became incapable of accomplishing
his design.
’s orders; in consequence of which, after ordination, he was distinguished by the title of abate, or abbot, which he retained until late in life, when he was elected bishop
, an eminent musical composer,
was born in 1655, as the German authorities say, at Leipsic,
but Handel and the Italians make him a native of Castello
Franco, in the Venetian state. In his youth he was a
chorister of St. Mark’s, where his voice was so much admired by a German nobleman, that, obtaining his dismission, he took him to Munich in Bavaria, and had him
educated, not only in music under the celebrated Bernabei, but in literature and theology sufficient, as was there
thought, for priest’s orders; in consequence of which, after
ordination, he was distinguished by the title of abate, or
abbot, which he retained until late in life, when he was
elected bishop of Spiga. In 1671, at the age of nineteen,
he published his “Psalms,
” in ei^ht parts. He likewise published “Sonate a quattroStromenti,
” but his chamber duets
are the most celebrated of his works, and indeed, of that species of writing. In his little tract, “Delia certezza Dei principii della Musica,
” he has treated the subject of musical
imitation and expression, according to Martini, like a philosopher, and agreeable to mathematical principles. This
work was so admired in Germany, that it was translated
into the language of that country, and reprinted eight
times. He composed several operas likewise between the
years 1695 and 1699, for the court of Hanover, where he
resided many years as maestro di capella, and these were
afterwards translated into German, and performed to his
music at Hamburgh. About 1724, after he had quitted
the court of Hanover, where he is s;dd to have resigned his
office in favour of Handel, he was elected president of the
academy of ancient music at London. In 1729, he went
into Italy to see his native country and relations, but returned next year to Hanover; and soon after having occasion to go to Francfort, he was seized with an indisposition, of which he died there in a few days, aged near
eighty. There are, perhaps, no compositions more correct, or fugues in which the subjects are more pleasing, or
answers and imitations more artful, than are to be found in
the duets of StefFani, which, in a collection made for queen
Caroline, and now in the possession of his majesty, amount
to near one hundred.
g prince, afterwards Louis le Gros, became his principal guide and counsellor. On the death of Adam, abbot of St. Denis, in 1122, Suger obtained his place, and even in
, the abbé, a celebrated minister under Louis VII.
was born at Touri in Beauce, in 1082, and being bred up
at St. Denis with the young prince, afterwards Louis le
Gros, became his principal guide and counsellor. On the
death of Adam, abbot of St. Denis, in 1122, Suger obtained his place, and even in his abbey performed the
duties of a minister. He reformed and improved not only
his own society, as abbot, but all departments of the state
as minister, and obtained so high a reputation, that after
his death it was thought sufficient to write on his tomb,
“Cy git l'abbé Suger.
” “Here lies the abbé Suger.
”
He died at St. Denis, in
, one of the most learned men of the ninth century, was born in Cisalpine Gaul. Charlemagne made him abbot of Fleury f then bishop of Orleans about the year 793, and chose
, a celebrated bishop of Orleans, one
of the most learned men of the ninth century, was born in
Cisalpine Gaul. Charlemagne made him abbot of Fleury f
then bishop of Orleans about the year 793, and chose him
to sign his will in the year 811; Louis le Debonnaire had
also a high esteem for him. But Theodulphus being accused of having joined in the conspiracy formed by Berenger, king of Italy, was committed to prison at Angers,
where he composed the hymn beginning Gloria, laus, et
honor, part of which, in the catholic service, is sung on
Palm Sunday. It is said that Theodnlphus singing this
hymn at his prison window while the emperor passed by,
that prince was so charmed with it that he set him at liberty.
He died about the year 821. In the Library of the fathers,
d'AcherPs “Spicilegium,
” and father Labor’s “Councils,
”
is a treatise by this prelate on baptism, another on the Holy
Ghost, two “Capitularia,
” addressed to his clergy, some
“Poems,
” and other works the best edition of which is
by father Sirmond, 1646, 8vo the second of the “Capitularia
” is in the “Miscellanea,
” published by Baluze.
mpaign against the Turks; a sure prelude to his future advancement. In 1711 Theophanes was nominated abbot of Bratskoi, rector of the seminary, and professor of divinity.
, an historian who may
be ranked among those to whom Russia is chiefly indebted
for the introduction of polite literature, was the son of a
burgher of Kiof; born in that city, June 9, 1681, and
baptised by the name of Elisha. Under his uncle, Theophanes, rector of the seminary in the Bratskoi convent at
Kiof, he commenced his studies, and was well grounded
in the rudiments of the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew tongues.
Though his uncle died in 1692, he completed his education in that seminary; and in 1698, in the eighteenth year
of his age, he travelled into Italy. He resided three years
at Rome, where, beside a competent knowledge of Italian,
he acquired a taste for the fine arts, and improved himself
in philosophy and divinity. Upon his return to Kiof he
read lectures on the Latin and Sclavonian art of poetry in
the same seminary in which he had been educated: and,
with the monastic habit, assumed the name of Theophanes.
Before he had attained the twenty-fifth year of his age he
was appointed praefect, the second office in the seminary,
and professor of philosophy. In 1706 he distinguished
himself hy speaking a Lain oration before Peter the Great;
and still more by a sermon, which in 1701) he preached
before the same monarch after the battle of Pultawa. Having once attracted the notice, he soon acquired the protection of Peter, who was so captivated with his great talents, superior learning, and polite address, as to select
him for a companion in the ensuing campaign against the
Turks; a sure prelude to his future advancement. In 1711
Theophanes was nominated abbot of Bratskoi, rector of
the seminary, and professor of divinity. His censures
against the ignorance and indolence of the Russian clergy,
and his endeavours to promote a taste for polite literature
among his brethren, rendered him a fit instrument in the
hands of Peter for the reformation of the church, and the
final abolition of the patriarchal dignity. He was placed
at the head of the synod, of which ecclesiastical establish*
merit he himself drew the plan; was created bishop of
Plescof; and, in 1720, archbishop of the same diocese;
soon after the accession of Catharine he was consecrated
archbishop of Novogorod, and metropolitan of all Russia;
and died in 1736. Beside various sermons and theological
disquisitions, he wrote a treatise on rhetoric, and on the
rules for Latin and Sclavonian poetry; he composed verses
in the Latin language; and was author of a “Life of Peter
the Great,
” which unfortunately terminates with the battle
of Pultawa. in this performance the prelate has, notwithstanding his natural partiality to his benefactor, avoided
those scurrilous abuses of the contrary party, which frequently disgrace the best histories; and has been particularly candid in his account of Sophia. Peter, from a
well-grounded experierce, had formed such a good opinion of the talents of Theophanes, as to employ him in
composing the decrees which concerned theological questions, and even many that related to civil atf'airs. Theophanes may be said not only to have cultivated the sciences,
and to have promoted them during his life, but likewise to
have left a legacy to his cou itrymen, for their further progress after hi-, decease, by maintaining in his episcopal
palace fifty hoys, who>e education he superintended under his an>piccs they were instructed in foreign languages,
and in various branches of polite knowledge, which had
teen hitherto censured by many as profane acquisitions
thus transmitting the rays of learning to illuminate future
ages and a distant posterity.
vo a French translation of St Dorothens, a father of the Gn-ek church, 8vo “The Life of M. de Ranee, abbot and reformer of la Trappe,” 3 vols. 12mo. This life was revised
His brother Peter Le Nain de Tillemont was born
March 25. 1640, at Paris. Having chosen the ecclesiastical profession, he entered at St. Victor at Paris, but returned to la Trappe in 1663, being enamoured of the austerities of thai, order, and was a long time sub-prior. He
died there in 1713, aged seventy-three. His works are,
“Ks^ui de 1* Histoire de l'ordre de Citeaux,
” 9 vols. 12mo;
“Home.ios sur Jeremie,
” 2 vols. 8vo a French translation
of St Dorothens, a father of the Gn-ek church, 8vo “The
Life of M. de Ranee, abbot and reformer of la Trappe,
”
3 vols. 12mo. This life was revised by the celebrated M.
Bossuet, but not published as le Nain wrote it; some satirical strokes being inserted, of which the author was incapable. “Relation fie la vie et de la mort de plusieurs
Religieux de la I rappe,
” 6 vols. 12mo; “Elevations a
Dieu pour se ureparer a la Mort
” two small tracts, one
entitled, “De I‘e’tat du monde apre*s le Jugement dernier; 11
the other,
” Sur le Scandale qui put arriver m&me dans le
Monast. le mieux regies/‘ &c. These works, says L’Avocat, contain a spirit of true piety, but little criticism, and
their style is too diffuse. The author’s life has been written by M. Darnaudin, in 12mo.
, a celebrated abbot of the Benedictine order, and one of the most learned men in
, a celebrated abbot of the Benedictine order, and one of the most learned men in the fifteenth century, was born February 1, 1462, at Tritenheim,
in the diocese of Treves. After finishing his studies he
took the Benedictine habit, and was made abbot of Spanheim in the diocese of Mentz, in 1483, which abbey ke
governed till 1506, and resigned it to be abbot of St. James
at Wirtzberg. He died Dec. 13, 1516. Trithemius was
well acquainted both with sacred and profane literature,
and left various works, historical and biographical, among
which the principal are, a treatise “On the illustrious ecclesiastical Writers,
” Cologn, On the illustrious Men of Germany;
” and a third on those of the “Benedictine Order,
” On Polygraphy,
” On Steganography,
” i.e. the various
methods of writing in cyphers, Gustavi Seleni Enodatio Steganographiæ J. Trithemii,
” Chronicles,
” in “Trithemii Opera historica,
”
Annales
Hirsaugienses,
” 2 vols. folio, a carious and important work,
and others.
, he entered among the Cistertians, and held several honourable posts in his order. He was appointed abbot of Trois Fontaines at Rome, procurator in his province, and
, an ecclesiastical historian, was
born March 21, 1595, at Florence, of a good family. After
pursuing his studies with great credit, he entered among
the Cistertians, and held several honourable posts in his
order. He was appointed abbot of Trois Fontaines at
Rome, procurator in his province, and counsellor to the
congregation of the Index. The popes Alexander VII.
and Clement IX. esteemed Ughelli, and gave him a pension
of 500 crowns; but he refused several bishoprics that were
offered. He died at Rome, in his abbey, May 19, 1670,
aged seventy-five. His principal work is, “Italia sacra,
sive de Episcopis Italiae, et Insularum adjacentium,
” &c.
Rome,
Dr. Smith observes, was a trick of the bookseller. Usher’s work was solemnly presented by archbishop Abbot to king James, as the eminent first fruits of the college of
In 1612 he took his doctor of divinity’s degree; and the
next year, being at London, his first publication appeared,
entitled “De Ecclesiarum Christianarum Successione &
Statu,
” in 4to. This is a continuation of bishop Jewel’s
“Apology,
” in which that eminent prelate had endeavoured
to shew that the principles of protestants are agreeable to
those of the fathers of the six first centuries. Usher’s design
was to finish what Jewel had begun, by shewing that from,
the sixth century to the reformation, namely, for 900 years,
Christ has always had a visible church of true Christians,
untainted with the errors and corruptions of the Roman
church; and that these islands owe not their Christianity
to Rome. This work is divided into three parts. The first
reaches to the tenth century, when Gregory VII. was raised
to the popedom. The second was to have reached from that
period to the year 1370. And the third was to bring it to
the reformation. How far he had brought it in this edition
is stated in the followirig extract of a letter written to his
brother-in-law, Thomas Lydiat, dated at Dublin, August
16, 1619: “You have rightly observed,
” says be, “that in
my discourse ‘ De Christianarum Ecclesiarum Successione
et Statu,’ there is wanting, for the accomplishment of the
second part, a hundred years [from 1240 to 1370, viz. the
last chapter of this part]; which default, in the continuation
of the work is by me supplied. I purpose to publish the
whole work together, much augmented, but do first expect
the publication of my uncle Stanyhurst’s answer to the
former, which, I hear, since his death, is sent to Paris, to
be there printed. I am advertised, also, that even now
there is one at Antwerp who hath printed a treatise of my
countryman De sacro Bosco (Holywood), ‘ De ver Ecclesise investigatione,’ wherein he hath some dealing with me.
Both these I would willingly see before I set about reprinting my book, meaning, that if they have justly found
fault with any thing, I may amend it; if unjustly, I may
defend it.
” His uncle’s answer, however, was never published, nor did our author publish any other edition of his
work, as he here purposed; probably prevented by the distraction of the times. It was reprinted at Hanover in 1658,
8vo, without any amendments. In the last edition of 1687,
containing likewise his Antiquity of the British Churches,
are these words in the title-page: “Opus integrum ab
Auctore auctum et recognitnm;
” which, Dr. Smith observes,
was a trick of the bookseller. Usher’s work was solemnly
presented by archbishop Abbot to king James, as the eminent first fruits of the college of Dublin.
and jurisprudence, but was most attached to rhetoric and poetry, and was honoured by Hilduinus, the abbot of St. Denis, with the title of Scholasticissimus. It sems uncertain
, or Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus, a Christian poet of the sixth century,
was a native of Italy, and studied at Ravenna. He applied
himself to grammar, rhetoric, poetry, and jurisprudence,
but was most attached to rhetoric and poetry, and was honoured by Hilduinus, the abbot of St. Denis, with the title
of Scholasticissimus. It sems uncertain what was the cause
of his leaving Italy for France, but the step was peculiarly
fortunate for him, as his poetical genius procured him the
most honourable reception. Princes, bishops, and persons of the highest ranks, became eager to confer on him
marks of their esteem. He arrived in France during the
reign of Sigebert, king of Austrasia, who received him
with great respect. This being about the time of the king’s
marriage with Brunehaut, in the year 566, Venantius composed an epithaiamium, in which he celebrated the graces
and perfections of the new queen. It is also said, that he
gave the king lectures on politics. The following year he
went to Tours to perform a vow to St. Martin, whose image
had cured him of a complaint in his eyes. He then went
to Poictiers, and was invited by St. Radegonda, the foundress of a monastery there, to reside in the capacity of her
secretary; and afterwards, when he became a priest, she
appointed him her chaplain and almoner. He resided here
for some years, employing his time in study and writing,
and edifying the church as much by his example as by his
works. He was much esteemed by Gregory of Tours and
other prelates, and was at last himself raised to be bishop
of Poictiers, which dignity, it is said, he did not long enjoy. He died about the commencement of the seventh
century, some say in the year 609. His works consist of
eleven books of poetry, mostly of the elegiac kind, and
generally short: hymns adapted to the services of the church:
epitaphs, letters to several bishops, and some to Gregory
of Tours: courtly verses addressed to queen Radegonda,
and her sister Agnes, usually sent with presents of flowers,
fruit, &c. four books of the “Life of St. Martin,
” in heroic verse: several lives of the saints. Editions of his
works were published at Cagliari in 1573, 1574, and 1584,
and at Cologne in 1600: but all these are said to be incomplete and incorrect, yet they shew the respect paid to him
as the best Latin poet of his time. In 1603 Christopher
Brower, a German Jesuit, produced a very correct edition,
with notes, printed at Fulda, and reprinted at Mentz, in
1617, 4to; but this contains only his poems. His other
works are in the “Bibliotheca Patrum,
” of Lyons, Venantii opera omnia quae extant,
post Browerianam editionetn mine recens novis addiiamentis aucta, not. et scholiis illustr. opera Mich-Ange Luchi,
”
, abbot of St. Cyran, famous in the seventeenth century as a controversial
, abbot of St. Cyran,
famous in the seventeenth century as a controversial writer,
was born in 1581, at Bayonne, of a good family. He pursued his studies at Lou vain, and formed a strict friendship
with the celebrated Jansenius, his fellow student. In 1610
he was made abbot of St. Cyran, on the resignation ( of Henry Lewis Chateignier de la Roche-Posai, bishop of Poitiers. The new abbot read the fathers and the councils with Jansenius, and took great pains to impress him with his sentiments and opinions, as well as a number of divines with whom he corresponded; nor did he leave any means untried to inspire M. le Maitre, M. Arnauld, M. d'Andilly, and several more disciples whom he had gained, with the
same opinions. This conduct making much noise, cardinal
Richelieu, who was besides piqued that the abbot of St.
Cyran refused to declare himself for the nullity of the marriage between Gaston, duke of Orleans, the brother of
Louis the thirteenth, and Margaret of Lorraine, confined
him at Vincennes, May 11, 1638. After this minister’s
death, the abbot regained his liberty, but did not enjoy it
long, for he died at Paris, October 18, 1643, aged sixtytwo, and was buried at St. Jacques du Haut-Pas, where
his epitaph may be seen on one side of the high altar. His
works are, 1. “Lettres Spirituelles,
” 2 vols. 4to, or 8vo,
reprinted at Lyons, 1679, 3 vols. 12mo, to which a fourth
has been added, containing several small tracts written by
M. de St. Cyran, and printed separately. 2. “Question
Royale,
” in which he examines in what extremity a subject
might be obliged to save the life of his prince at the expence of his own, 1609, 12mo. This last was much talked
of, and his enemies drew inferences and consequences
from it, which neither he nor his disciples by any means
approved 3. “L‘Aumône Chrétienne, ou Tradition de
l’Eglise touchant la charité envers les Pauvres,
” 2 vols.
12mo. The second part of this work is entitled “L'Aumône ecclesiastique.
” M. Anthony le Maitre had a greater
share in the last-mentioned book than the abbot of St.
Cyran. He published some other works of a similar cast,
but his last appears to deserve most notice. It is entitled
“Petrus Aurelius,
” -and is a defence of the ecclesiastical
hierarchy against the Jesuits. He was assisted in this book
by his nephew, the abbé de Baicos, and it seems to have
done him the most honour of all his works, though it must
be acknowledged, says the abbé L'Avocat, that if all the
abuse of the Jesuits, and the invectives against their order,
were taken from this great volume, very little would remain. L'Avocat is also of opinion that M. Hallier’s small
tract on the same subject, occasioned by the censure of the
clergy in 1635, is more solid, much deeper, and contains
better arguments, than any that are to be found in the
great volume of “Petrus Aurelius.
” The first edition of
this book is the collection of different parts, printed between 1632 and 1635, for which the printer Morel was
paid by the clergy, though it was done without their order.
The assembly held in 1641 caused an edition to be published in 1642, which the Jesuits seized; but it was nevertheless dispersed on the remonstrances of the clergy. This
edition contains two pieces, “Confutatio collections locorum quos Jesuits compilarunt, &c.
” that are not in the
third edition, which was also published at the clergy’s expence in 1646. But to this third edition is prefixed the
eulogy, written by M. Godeau on the author, by order of
the clergy, and the verbal process which orders it; whence
it appears that their sentiments respecting him, differed
widely from those of the Jesuits and their adherents. The
abbot de St. Cyran was a man of much simplicity in his
manners and practice: he told his beads; he exorcised
heretical books before he read them: this simplicity, however, concealed a great fund of learning, and great talents
for persuasion, without which he could never have gained
so many illustrious and distinguished disciples, as Mess.
Arnauld, le Maltre de Sacy, Arnauld d'Andilly, and the
other literati of Port Royal, who all had the highest veneration for him, and placed the most unbounded confidence
in him. But whatever talents he might have for speaking,
persuading, and directing, he certainly had none for writing; nor are his books answerable to his high reputation.
his godmother. In 1614 he was presented to the rectory of St. Michael’s, Crookedlane, by archbishop Abbot, which he resigned in 1616, and remained without preferment
, a learned and munificent prelate,
was the son of Herman Warner, citizen of London, and
was born in the parish of St. Clement Danes, Strand, about
1585. After some grammatical education, in which he
made a very rapid progress, he was sent to Oxford in 1598,
and the year following was elected demy of Magdalen college. Here he proceeded successfully in his studies, and
taking the degree of B. A. in 1602, commenced M. A. in
June 1G05, in which year he was elected to a fellowship.
In 1610 he resigned this, probably in consequence of the
fortune which came to him from his godmother. In 1614
he was presented to the rectory of St. Michael’s, Crookedlane, by archbishop Abbot, which he resigned in 1616,
and remained without preferment until 1625, when the
archbishop gave him the rectory of St. Dionis Backchurch
in Fenchurch-street. In the interim he had taken both his
degrees in divinity at Oxford; and Abbot, continuing his
esteem, collated him to the prebend of the first stall in the
cathedral of Canterbury. He was also appointed governor
of Sion college, London, and was made chaplain to Charles
I. In the second year of this monarch’s reign Dr. Warner
preached before him while the parliament was sitting,
during passion week, on Matt. xxi. 28, and took such liberties with the proceedings of that parliament as very
highly provoked some of the members who happened to be
present. Some measures appear to have been taken against
him, but the dissolution of the parliament soon after protected him, yet vre are told that a pardon from the king
was necessary, which pardon was extant at the time Dr.
Zachary Pearce communicated some particulars of his life
to the editors of the “Biographia Britannica.
”
He married the widow of Dr. Robert Abbot, bishop of Salisbury, and had issue by her one daughter, his
He married the widow of Dr. Robert Abbot, bishop of Salisbury, and had issue by her one daughter, his heiress, who by her husband, Thomas Lee, of London, had a son, John, to whom and his sons bishop Warner bequeathed so considerable an estate as surprised those who knew the extent of his charities, and the small income arising from his bishopric. Nor will that surprise be much diminished by the fact, that when young he had 16,Oooz. left him by a relation, who was his god-mother, for if we take into account what he suffered by the usurpation, and what he gave to his distressed brethren during that period, it will yet appear surprising that he was enabled to exert his charity and munificence to such a vast amount as appears was the case. To account for this, some have accused him of parsimony, but for this there is no proof, and the greater part of what he gave was given at various periods in his life-time; but others have with more probability supposed that he lived on the profits, small as they were, of his bishopric, while the produce of his estates was accumulating. Be this as it may, we have the following items of nearly twenty thousand pounds, which he expended or bequeathed to the following objects:
nets of the church, as laid down in her liturgy, articles, and homilies. Warner was of the school of Abbot, and less likely to adopt Arminianism, although he was personally
Bishop Warner is said to have been an accurate logician, philosopher, and well versed in the fathers and schoolmen. He was a man of a decided character, equally cheerful and undaunted. In his manner he had less of the courtier than of the kind friend, always performing more than he professed. Of his religious principles the only evidence we have is in a letter addressed to bishop Jeremy Taylor, in defence of the doctrine of original sin, which that prelate had endeavoured to explain away in a manner totally inconsistent with the tenets of the church, as laid down in her liturgy, articles, and homilies. Warner was of the school of Abbot, and less likely to adopt Arminianism, although he was personally attached to its great fnenc. archbishop Laud.
d confinement in or near London until 1580, when he was removed to Wisbech-castle, together with the abbot Feckenham, and several others. He died there Sept. 25, 1582,
, a Roman catholic prelate in the
reign of queen Mary, was educated at St. John’s-college,
Cambridge, of which he was elected fellow, and in 1553
master. In November of the same year the queen gave
him the deanery of Durham, vacant by the deprivation of
Robert Home. He had previously to this been for some
time chaplain to Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, and was
equally hostile to the reformed religion. In April 1554,
he was incorporated D. D. at Oxford, and in August 1557,
was consecrated bishop of Lincoln. In this see he remained until the accession of queen Elizabeth, when he
was deprived on account of denying the queen’s supremacy; and remaining inflexible in his adherence to popery,
he suffered confinement in or near London until 1580,
when he was removed to Wisbech-castle, together with
the abbot Feckenham, and several others. He died there
Sept. 25, 1582, and was interred in the church-yard of
Wisbech. He held several conferences with those of the
reformed religion, and particularly was one of those appointed to confer with, or rather sit in judgment on Cranmer, Ridley f and Latimer, previously to their execution
at Oxford. For some time he w,gs confined in Grindal’s
house, and that prelate wished to converse calmly with
him on the points in dispute at that time, but he answered
that he would not enter into conference with any man.
Watson is represented as of a sour and morose temper.
Of his works we have heard only of, 1. “Two Sermons
before queen Mary, on the real presence and sacrifice of
the mass,
” Lond. Wholesome and Catholic doctrine concerning the seven Sacraments, in thirty
Sermons,
” ibid. A Sermon against Thomas
Watson’s two Sermons, by which he would prove the real presence,
” ibid. 1569, 4to, by Robert Crowley; and “Questio in Thomam Watsonium Episc. Lincoln, aliosque, super
quibusdam articulis de bulla papali contra reginam Eliz.
”
Francfort,
, a learned abbot of St. Albans, was ordained a priest in 1382, and died in 1464,
, a learned abbot of St. Albans, was ordained a priest in 1382, and died in 1464, when he had been eighty-two years in priest’s orders, and above an hundred years old. He wrote a chronicle of twenty years of this period, beginning in 1441 and ending in 1461. It contains many original papers, and gives a very full account of some events, particularly of the two battles of St. Alban’s. More than one half of his chronicle is filled with the affairs of his own abbey, to which he was a great benefactor, particularly to the altar of the patron saint, which he adorned with much magnificence. About 1430 he employed Lydgate to translate the Latin legend of St. Alban’s life into English rhymes, for the purpose of familiarising the history of that saint to the monks of his convent. He enriched the library by procuring transcripts of useful books, and was on account of such pursuits in high favour with duke Humphrey, who, when about to found his library at Oxford, often visited St. Alban’s, and employed Whethamstede to collect valuable books for him.
enry, a merchant of Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire. Another of his sons was Robert Whitgi ft, who was abbot de Wellow or Welhove juxta Grimsby in the said county, a monastery
, archbishop of Canterbury in the
reigns of queen Elizabeth and king James, and one of the
most intrepid supporters of the constitution of the church,
of England, was descended of the ancient family of Whitgift in Yorkshire. His grandfather was John Whitgift,
gent, whose son was Henry, a merchant of Great Grimsby
in Lincolnshire. Another of his sons was Robert Whitgi ft,
who was abbot de Wellow or Welhove juxta Grimsby in the
said county, a monastery of Black Canons dedicated to the
honour of St. Augustin. He was a man memorable, not
only for the education of our John Whitgift, but also for
his saying concerning the Romish religion. He declared
in the hearing of his nephew, that “they and their religion could not long continue, because,
” said he, “I have
read the whole Scripture over and over, and could never
find therein that our religion was founded by God.
” And
as a proof of this opinion, the abbot alleged that saying
of our Saviour, “Every plant that my heavenly Father
hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
” Henry, the father
of our archbishop, had six sons, of whom he was the eldest,
and one daughter, by Anne Dy newel, a young gentlewoman of a good family at Great Grimsby. The names of
the other five sons were William, George, Philip, Richard,
and Jeffrey; and that of the daughter Anne.
He now returned home to his father in Lincolnshire; and his uncle, the abbot, finding that he had made some progress in grammatical learning,
He now returned home to his father in Lincolnshire; and his uncle, the abbot, finding that he had made some progress in grammatical learning, advised that he should be sent to the university. Accordingly he entered of Queen’s college, Cambridge, about 1548, but soon after removed to Pembroke- hall, where the celebrated John Bradford, the martyr, was his tutor. He had not been here long before he was recommended by his tutor and Mr. Grindal (then fellow, and afterwards archbishop of Canterbury) to the master, Nicholas Ridley, by which means he was made scholar of that house, and chosen bibleclerk. These advantages were the more acceptable to him, as his father had suffered some great losses at sea, and was less able to provide for him. When Bradford left Cambridge in 15.50, Whitgift was placed under the care of Mr. Gregory Garth, who continued his tutor while he remained at Pensbroke-hall, which was until he took his degree of bachelor of arts in 1553-4. The following year, he was unanimously elected fellow of Peter-house, and commenced master of arts in 1557.
of D.D. in 1717. Two years before this, he was appointed by archbishop Wake te succeed Dr. Benjamin Abbot, as keeper of the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth and in three
, a learned divine and editor, was born in 1685, but when, or where educated we are not told. His name does not appear among the graduates of either university, except that among those of Cambridge, we find he was honoured with the degree of D.D. in 1717. Two years before this, he was appointed by archbishop Wake te succeed Dr. Benjamin Abbot, as keeper of the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth and in three years drew up a very curious catalogue of all the Mss. and printed books in that valuable collection. As a reward for his industry and learning, archbishop Wake collated him to the rectory of Mongham-Parva, in Kent, in April 1716, to that of Great Chart in 1719, and to the rectory of Hadleigh in the same year. He was also constituted chaplain to the archbishop and collated to the rectories of Monks-Ely and Bocking; appointed commissary of the deanery of Bocking, jointly and severally with W. Beauvoir; collated to a prebend of Canterbury in 1720, and collated to his grace’s option of the archdeaconry of Suffolk in May 1724. In consequence of these last preferments, he resigned the former, and was only archdeacon of Suffolk and rector of Hadleigh and Monks-Ely at his death, which happened 8ept. 6, 1745, in the sixtieth year of his age. He married, Nov. 27, 1725, the eldest daughter of Thomas lard Fairfax of Scotland, a lady who survived him, and erected a monument to his memory at Hadleigh.
he went back, to Cambridge and took his degree of B. D. On his return to London he found friends in Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury, and in the chancellor Egerton, who
, bishop of Ossory, in Ireland,
was born at Caernarvon, in North Wales, about 1589. In
1603 he was sent to Oxford by his uncle but this relation
failing to support him, he was, after two years, received
at Cambridge by the kindness of a friend, and admitted of
Jesus college, where he took his degrees in arts, and after
entering into holy orders, was appointed curate of Hanwell, in Middlesex. Afterwards the earl of Southampton
gave him the rectory of Foscot, in Buckinghamshire; and
he was for some years lecturer of St. Peter’s, Cheapside,
London. While in this situation, he informs us, “his
persecutions began from the puritans,
” who took offence
at something he had preached and printed; and it was now
he published his first book, called “The Resolution of Pilate,
” which neither Harris nor Wood mention among his
works; and another called “The Delight of the Saints.
A most comfortable treatise of grace and peace, and many
other excellent points, whereby men may live like saints
on earth, and become true saints in heaven,
” Lond.