, an English musician, was celebrated for a fine counter-tenor voice,
, an English musician, was celebrated for a fine counter-tenor voice, and for his skill on the lute. Charles II. of whose chapel he was, and who admired his singing, had formed a resolution of sending him to the carnival at Venice, in order to shew the Italians what England could produce in this way; but the scheme was dropped. Abell continued in the chapel till the Revolution, when he was discharged as being a Papist. Upon this he went abroad, and distinguished himself by singing in public in Holland, at Hamburgh, and other places; where, acquiring considerable wealth, he set up a splendid equipage, and affected the man of quality, though at intervals he vyas so reduced, as to be obliged to travel through whole provinces with his lute slung at his back. In rambling he got as far as Poland, and at Warsaw met with a very extraordinary adventure. He was sent for to court; but, evading to go by some slight excuse, was commanded to attend. At the palace he was seated in a chair, in 'the middle of a spacious hall, and suddenly drawn up to a great height, and the king, with his attendants, appeared in a gallery opposite to him. At the same instant a number of wild bears were turned in, when the king bid him choose, whether he would sing, or be let down among the bears Abell chose to sing, and declared afterwards, that he never sung so well in his life.
, an English divine, was educated at Oxford, where he took the degree
, an English divine, was
educated at Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A.
July 4, 1513, and that of M. A. June 27, 1516, and afterwards proceeding in divinity, became doctor of that faculty. He was not only a man of learning, but a great
master of instrumental music, and well skilled in the modern languages. These qualifications introduced him at
court, where he became domestic chaplain to queen Catherine, wife of Henry VIII. and tauoht her music and grammar. Strype calls him “the lady Marie’s chaplain.
” In
Tractatus de
non dissolvendo Henrici et Catherinæ matrimonio.
” Tanner mentions this, or perhaps another tract, by the name
of “Invicta Veritas: An answer, that by no manner of
Jaw it may be lawful for the king to be divorced from the
queen’s grace, his lawful and very wife.
” It is not improbable that this was a distinct tract from the former, as in
the Stat. 25 Henry VIII. c. 12, he is mentioned as having
“caused to be printed divers books against the said divorce and separation animating the said lady Catherine
to persist in her opinion against the divorce procured
divers writings to be made by her by the name of Queen-abetted her servants to call her Queen.
” In 1534 he was
prosecuted for being concerned in the affair of Elizabeth
Barton, called the Holy Maid of Kent, and was found
guilty of misprision of treason. He was also one of those
who denied the king’s supremacy over the church; for
which he was imprisoned, and afterwardshanged, drawn,
and quartered in Smithfield, July 30, 1540. In a room in
Beauchamp’s Tower, in the Tower of London, anciently a
place of confinement for state prisoners, are a great number of inscriptions on the wall, written by the prisoners,
and among others, under the word Thomas a great A upon
a bell, a punning rebus on his name.
, LL. D. an English divine and civilian, of whose birth and family we have
, LL. D. an English divine and civilian, of whose birth and family we have no account. During the reign of queen Mary, he travelled in France and Italy, where he studied the civil law. In 1560, he was public orator at Cambridge; and, in the following year, created doctor of laws. In 1562, he was admitted an advocate in the Arches court; and afterwards lived in the family of archbishop Parker, who gave him a prebend, probably that of Southwell. In 1567, he was vicar-general to Home, bishop of Winchester; and, in 1575, the archbishop of Canterbury permitted him to hold the rectory of Elington, alias Wroughton, in the diocese of Sarum, with any other benefice. In 1576, he was appointed master of the faculties, and judge of the prerogative court, in Ireland, after he had been turned out of all the situations he held in England, on account of his dissolute conduct. When, he died is not known. He wrote, in his better days:
, an English lawyer, and sometime recorder of London, was born in
, an English lawyer, and sometime recorder of London, was born in that city, and educated at Peter-house, Cambridge; where he took the degree of B. A. 1764, and of M. A. 1767. After prosecuting his lawstudies, he was admitted to the bar, and began to distinguish himself about the year 1770, when he took an active part in the political contentions of that period. Having sided with Mr. Wilkes in the memorable dispute between that gentleman and his co-patriot Mr. Home, Mr. Wilkes spoke of him at political meetings in such a manner as to draw the public eye upon him; and in 1779 he was chosen recorder of London, although not without a contest with his opponent Mr. Howarth. This situation he retained for some years, while his advancement at the bar was rapid, and highly honourable to his talents. The duties of the recordership he discharged with much ability, strict justice, and humanity. The situation, however, was rendered in some degree irksome by the changes of political sentiment which had taken place among his constituents, the members of the corporation. When he was chosen into this office, the city was out of humour with the court, and Mr. Adair probably owed his election to his being reputedly of Wilkes’s party, who was still rhe idol of the city. A great revolution, however, took place when the coalition-administration (that of lord North and Mr. Fox) was overthrown. Mr. Pitt and his friends, and by consequence the King and court, became highly popular in the city, while Mr. Adair retained his old opinions, took the part of the dismissed ministers, and became a zealous assertor of the whig principles which were then divulged from a newly-erected club, called the Whig club. This could not please his city friends; although such was his impartiality and integrity, that no fault could be found with the manner in which he discharged the duties of his office. The Common-council, however, requiring a closer attendance at their courts than he thought requisite, or was perhaps consistent with his numerous professional engagements in the court of Common pleas, he chose to resign the recordership in 1789; and upon this occasion received the thanks of the Court of Aldermen, and the freedom of the city in a gold box of one hundred guineas value, for his able and upright conduct in that office; and he was ordered to be retained, with the attorney and solicitorgeneral, in all causes in which the city was concerned.
, M. A. an English Non-conformist, of a Cheshire family, was originally
, M. A. an English Non-conformist, of a Cheshire family, was originally educated at Cambridge, where he was admitted M. A. in 1644. He afterwards went to Oxford, then in the power of the Parliament army, and was admitted a student at Brasen-nose college in 1646, when about 20 years of age; and soon after obtained a fellowship. In 1655, he left his fellowship, and was presented to the living of St. Mildred’s, Bread-street, London, where he continued until he was ejected for nonconformity, in 1662. He afterwards preached, as he had opportunity, to a small congregation in Southwark, and died in 1684, at Hoxton. His only original works are, some Sermons in the collection called the Morning Elxercise at Cripplegate, and a Sermon at the funeral of Henry Hurst; but he assisted in the publication of some of his brother’s, Mr. T. Adams, works, and those of Mr. Charnock; and he compiled the commentary on Philippians end Colossians in Poole’s bible. He appears to have been an able scholar, a pious and indefatigable preacher, and a man of moderate sentiments in public affairs. There was another of both his names ejected from the living of Humberstone, in Leicestershire, afterwards an Anabaptist teacher in London.
d to have made a new poetical version of the Psalms. It is related that he had once a design to make an English dictionary, and that he considered Dr. Tillotson as
On the 2d of August 1716, he married the countess
dowager of Warwick, whom he had solicited by a very long
and anxious courtship. 'He is said to have first known her
by becoming tutor to her son. The marriage, if uncontradieted report can be credited, made no addition to his
happiness; it neither found them nor made them equal.
She always remembered her own rank, and thought herself
intitled to treat with very little ceremony the tutor of her
son. It is certain that Addison has left behind him no encouragement for ambitious love. The year after, 1717,
he rose to his highest elevation being made secretary of
state but it is universally confessed that he was unequal
to the duties of his place. In the House of Commons he
could not speak, and therefore was useless to the defence
of the government. In the office he could not issue an
orjler without losing his time in quest of fine expressions.
What he gained in rank he lost in credit; and finding, by
experience, his own inability, was forced to solicit his dismission, with a pension of 1500l. a year. His friends palliated this relinquishment, of which both friends and enemies
knew the true reason, with an account of declining health,
and the necessity of recess and quiet. He now returned to
his vocation, and began to plan literary occupations for his
future life. He proposed a tragedy on the death of Socrates; a story of which, as Tickell remarks, the basis is
narrow, and to which love perhaps could not easily have
been appended. He engaged in a noble work, a defence
of the Christian religion, of which part was published after
his death; and he designed to have made a new poetical
version of the Psalms. It is related that he had once a
design to make an English dictionary, and that he considered Dr. Tillotson as the writer of highest authority.
Addison, however, did not conclude his life in peaceful
studies; but relapsed, when he was near his end, to a
political question. It happened that, in 1719, a controversy was agitated, with great vehemence, between,
those friends of long continuance, Addison and Steele.
The subject of their dispute was the earl of Sunderland’s
memorable act, called “The Peerage bill,
” by which the
number of peers should be fixed, and the king restrained
from any new creation of nobility, unless when an old
family should be extinct. Steele endeavoured to alarm the
ration by a pamphlet called “The Plebeian:
” to this an
Answer was published by Addison under the title of “The
Old Whig.
” Steele was respectful to his old friend,
though he was Mow his political adversary; but Addison
could not avoid discovering a contempt of his opponent, to
whom he gave the appellation of “Little Dicky.
” The
bill was laid aside during that session, and Addison died
before the next, in which its commitment was rejected.
Every reader surely must regret that these two illustrious
friends, after so many years passed in confidence and endearment, in unity of interest, conformity of opinion, and fellowship of study, should finally part in acrimonious opposition. The end of this useful life was now approaching.
Addison had for some time been oppressed by shortness of
breath, which was now aggravated by a dropsy; and finding his danger pressing, he prepared to die conformably
to his own precepts and professions. During this lingering decay, he sent, as Pope relates, a message by the earl
of Warwick to Mr. Gay, desiring to see him. Gay, who
had not visited him for some time before, obeyed the
summons, and found himself received with great kindness.
The purpose for which the interview had been solicited was
theti discovered: Addison told him, that he had injured
him; but that, if he recovered, he would recompense him.
What the injury was he did not explain, nor did Gay ever
know; but supposed that some preferment designed for
him had by Addison' s intervention been withheld.
Lord Warwick was a young man of very irregular life,
and perhaps of loose opinions. Addison, for whom he did
not want respect, had very diligently endeavoured to reclaim him; but his arguments and expostulations had no
effect; one experiment, however, remained to be tried.
When he found his life near its end, he directed the young
lord to be called; and, when he desired, with great tenderness, to hear his last injunctions, told him, “I have
sent for you that you may see how a Christian can die.
”
What effect this awful scene had on the earl’s behaviour
is not known: he died himself in a short time. Having
given directions to Mr. Tickell for the publication of his
works, and dedicated them on his death-bed to his friend
Mr. Craggs, he died June 17, 1719, at Holland-house,
leaving no child but a daughter, who died in 1797, at Bilton, near Rugby, in Warwickshire.
brevity: his periods, though not diligently rounded, are voluble and ea?y. Whoever wisnes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not
His prose is the model of the middle style; on grave subjects not formal, on light occasions not grovelling; pure without scrupulosity, and exact without apparent elaboration; always equable, and always easy, without glowing words or pointed sentences. Addison never deviates from his track to snatch a grace; he seeks no ambitious ornaments, and tries no hazardous innovations. His page is always luminous, but never blazes in unexpected splendour. It seems to have been his principal endeavour to avoid all harshness and severity of diction; he is therefore sometimes verbose in his transitions and connections, and sometimes descends too much to the language of conversation; yet if his language had been less idiomatical, it might have lost somewhat of its genuine Anglicism. What he attempted, he performed; he is never feeble, he did not wish to be energetic; he is never rapid, and he never stagnates. His sentences have neither studied amplitude, nor affected brevity: his periods, though not diligently rounded, are voluble and ea?y. Whoever wisnes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.
, an English poet and physician, was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
, an English poet and physician, was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nov. 9, 1721. His father was a reputable butcher of that place. Of this circumstance, which he is said to have concealed from his friends, he had a perpetual remembrance in a halt in his gait, occasioned by the falling of a cleaver from his father’s stall. He received the first rudiments of his education at the grammar-school of Newcastle, and was afterwards placed under the tuition of Mr. Wilson, who kept a private academy. At the age of eighteen be went to Edinburgh to qualify himself for the office of a dissenting minister, and obtained some assistance from the fund of the dissenters, which is established for such purposes. Having, however, relinquished his original intention, he resolved to study physic, and honourably repaid that contribution, which, being intended for the promotion of the ministry, he could not conscientiously retain.
, an English divine, was born in Suffolk, and educated in Trinity
, an English divine, was born
in Suffolk, and educated in Trinity college, Cambridge,
where he took the degree of M. A. and was afterwards incorporated of the university of Oxford, June 7, 1592.
Wood says, he was the rarest poet and Grecian that any one
age or nation produced. He attended the unfortunate earl
of Essex in his voyage to Cadiz, as his chaplain; and entertaining some doubts on religion, he was prevailed upon
to declare himself a Roman Catholic, and published “Seven
Motives for his Conversion,
” but he soon discovered many
more for returning to the church of England. He applied
himself much to caballistic learning, the students of which
consider principally the combination of particular words,
letters, and numbers, and by this, they pretend to see clearly
into the sense of scripture. In their opinion there is not
a word, letter, number, or accent, in the law, without some
mystery in it, and they even venture to look into futurity
by this study. Alabaster made great proficiency in it, and
obtained considerable promotion in the church. He was
made prebendary of St. Paul', doctor of divinity, and rector of Thai-field in Hertfordshire. The text of the sermon
which he preached for his doctor’s degree, was the first
verse of the first chapter of the first book of Chronicles,
namely “Adam, Seth, Enoch,
” which he explained in the
mystical sense, Adam signtfying misery, &c. He died April
1640. His principal work was “Lexicon Pentaglotton,
Hebraicum, Chaldaicum, Syriacum, &c.
” Lond. Commentarius de bestia Apocalyptica,
” and other works of that stamp. As a
poet he has been more highly applauded. He wrote the
Latin tragedy of “Roxana,
” which bears date If,
” says Dr. Johnson, in his
life of Milton, “we produced any thing worthy of notice
before the elegies of Milton, it was perhaps Alabaster’s
Roxana.
” He also began to describe, in a Latin poem entitled “Elisceis,
” the chief transactions Of queen
Elizabeth’s reign, but left it unfinished at the time of his death.
The manuscript was for some time in the possession of
Theodore Haak, and some manuscript verses of his are in
the library of Gonvil and Caius college, Cambridge, and
the Elisceis is in that of Emmanuel.
, an English physician of considerable celebrity as a practitioner,
, an English physician of considerable celebrity as a practitioner, was the second son of David Alcock of Runcorn in Cheshire, by his wife Mary Breck, and was born in that place, Sept. 1707. He was initiated in reading and grammar by his parents, and afterwards placed at a neighbouring school, which he soon left upon some disgust. After however passing some time in idle rustic amusements, he was roused to a sense of duty, and resolved to return to school, and to qualify himself for the study of medicine, if his father would give up to him a small estate, about 50l. a year, with which he engaged to maintain himself. His father complying, he put himself under the care of his brother-in-law, Mr. Cowley, master of a public grammar-school in Lancashire, and after applying with enthusiasm to the Greek and Latin languages, mathematics, &c. he removed to Edinburgh, and went through the usual course of lectures in that medical school. Here the fame of Boerhaave was so often echoed by the professors, who had been his pupils, that Mr. Alcock felt an irresistible desire to complete his medical studies under him, and accordingly went to Leyden, where he benefited by the instructions, not only of that eminent teacher, but by those of his very learned contemporaries, Gaubius, Albinus, and Gravesand. He concluded his,studies there by taking the degree of M. D. in 1737; and the following year returned to England with a view to settle in some part of his native country.
, an English divine, was bishop of Shireburn in the time of the Saxon
, an English divine, was
bishop of Shireburn in the time of the Saxon heptarchy,
and in the eighth century. William of Malmesbury says
that he was the son of Kenred, or Kenter, brother of Ina
king of the West-Saxons. He was born at Caer Bladon,
now Malmesbury, in Wiltshire. He had part of his education abroad in France and Italy, and part at home under
Maildulphus, an Irish Scot, who had built a little monastery
where Malmesbury now stands. Upon the death of Maildulphus, Aldhelm, by the help of Eleutherius bishop of
Winchester, built a stately monastery there, and was himself the first abbot. When Hedda, bishop of the WestSaxons, died, the kingdom was divided into two dioceses;
viz. Winchester and Shireburn, and king Ina promoted
Aldhelm to the latter, comprehending Dorsetshire, Wiltshire, Devonshire, and Cornwall: he was consecrated at
Rome by pope Sergius I. and Godwin tells us that he had
the courage to reprove his holiness for having a bastard.
Aldhelm, by the directions of a diocesan synod, wrote a
book against the mistake of the Britons concerning the
celebration of Easter, which brought over many of them to
the catholic usage in that point. He likewise wrote a
piece, partly in prose and partly in nexameter verse, in
praise of virginity, dedicated to Ethelburga abbess of Barking, and published amongst Bede’s Opuscula, besides several other treatises, which are mentioned by Bale and William of Malmesbury, the latter of whom gives him the following character as a writer: “The language of the
Greeks,
” says he, “is close and concise, that of the Romans splendid, and that of the English pompous and swelling as for Aldhelm, he is moderate in his style; seldom
makes use of foreign terms, and never without necessity;
his catholic meaning is clothed with eloquence, and his
most vehement assertions adorned with the colours of rhetoric: if you read him with attention, you would take him
for a Grecian by his acuteness, a Roman by his elegance,
and an Englishman by the pomp of his language.
” He is
said to have been the first Englishman who ever wrote in
Latin; and, as he himself tells us in one of his treatises on
metre, the first who introduced poetry into England
“These things,
” says he, “have I written concerning the
kinds and measures of verse, collected with much labour,
but whether useful I know not; though I am conscious to
myself I have a right to boast as Virgil did:
, an English poet, once of some fame, who lived in the reign of Charles
, an English poet, once of some
fame, who lived in the reign of Charles I. He received
his education at Sidney college in Cambridge; and going
to London, became assistant to Thomas Farnaby the famous grammarian, athis great school in Goldsmith’s rents,
in the parish of St. Giles’s, Cripplegate. In 1631, he
published two poems on the famous victories of Cressi and
Poictiers, obtained by the English in France, under king
Edward III. and his martial son the Black Prince; they
are written in stanzas of six lines. Leaving Mr. Farnaby,
he went into the family of Edward Sherburne, esq. to be
tutor to his son, who succeeded his father as clerk of the
ordnance, and was also commissary-general of the artillery
to king Charles I. at the battle of Edgehill. His next production was a poem in honour of king Henry VII. and
that important battle which gained him the crown of England: it was published in IbliS, under the title of “The
Historic of that wise and fortunate prince Henrie, of that
name the seventh, king of England; with that famed
battle fought between the said king Henry and Richard III.
named Crook-back, upon Red more near Bosworth.
” There
are several poetical eulogiums prefixed to this piece,
amongst which is one by Edward Sherburne, his pupil.
Besides these three poems, there are in print some little
copies of commendatory verses ascribed to him, and prefixed to the works of other writers, particularly before the
earliest editions of Beaumont and Fletcher’s plays. la
1639 he published the History of Eurialus and Lucretia,
which was a translation; the story is to be found among the
Latin epistles of Æneas Sylvius. The year after he is said
to have died, and to have been buried in the parish of
St. Andrew’s, Holborn.
, whose real name is said to be Griffith, an English Jesuit, and a native of London, was born in 1537, and
, whose real name is said to be
Griffith, an English Jesuit, and a native of London, was
born in 1537, and entered into the society in 1607. After
having studied philosophy and theology, partly in Spain
and partly at Louvain, he resided five years at Rome. Returning to England, he was arrested at Canterbury, and
sent to London, but was soon set at liberty. From that
time he resided in England as a missionary from the society upwards of thirty years. He died at St. Omer’s in
1652, and left two books on ecclesiastical history, “Britannia illustrata,
” printed in 4to, at Antwerp, in Annales ecclesiastici Britannorum, Saxonum, et Anglorum a Christo nato, usque ad annum, 1189,
” ibid. 4 vols.
4to. These appear, by bishop Nicolson’s account, to be
performances of very little value.
, an English bishop, flourished in the 10th century. He was a monk
, an English bishop, flourished in the 10th
century. He was a monk of the order of St. Bennet, in
the monastery of Malmesbury, and afterwards preferred to
the see of Exeter. He was one of the most learned men
of his time, and wrote: 1. A treatise “De Naturis Rerum;
” 2. The “Life of Adelmus;
” and, 3. “The History of his own Abbey.
” He is said to have been very intimate with St. Dunstan.
ments in French, Paris, 1660. Ockley, in the third edition of his history of the Saracens, has given an English translation of 169 sentences of Ali; and Wasmuth, in
Ali deserves a place in literary history, as he had cultivated his mind with a care unusual in his age and country. He left many collections of sentences, proverbs, and pieces of poetry. Golius and Lette have published fragments of these sentences: the first, at Leyden, 1629, and the other in 1746, at the end of Ben Zobair’s poem. Vather published Goli-us’s fragments in French, Paris, 1660. Ockley, in the third edition of his history of the Saracens, has given an English translation of 169 sentences of Ali; and Wasmuth, in the preface to his Arabic grammar, says that Tocherning published a century of his proverbs. Guadagnoli is the first who published his poems, with a Latin translation, Rome, 1642; but Knypers has edited a more correct edition, Leyden, 1745, 8vo. This contains sir small poems, the first of which had been given by Golius at the end of Erpenius’s grammar, Leyden, 1656, and the second, third, and fourth, by Agapito, in his Arabic grammar, Rome, 1687.
, an English writer of the 17th century, was the son of Andrew Allam,
, an English writer of the 17th century, was the son of Andrew Allam, a person of mean rank,
and born at Garsington, near Oxford, in April 1655. He
had his education in grammar learning at a private school
atDenton, in the parish ofCuddesdon, near his native place,
under Mr. William Wildgoose, of Brazen-nose college, a
noted schoolmaster of that time. He was entered a batteler
of St. Edmund’s hall, in Easter term, 1671. After he had
taken his degrees in arts, he became a tutor, moderator,
lecturer in the chapel, and at length vice-principal of his
house. In 1680, about Whitsuntide, he entered into holy
orders; and in 1683, was made one of the masters of the
schools. His works that are extant, are, “The learned
Preface, or Epistle to the Reader, with a dedicatory
Epistie, in the printer’s name, prefixed to the Epistle Congratulatory of Lysimachus Nicanor, &c. to the Covenanters of
Scotland,
” Oxon. 1684. “The Epistle containing an account of Dr. Cosin’s life, prefixed to the doctor’s book, entitled, Ecclesix Anglicanae Politeia in tabulas digesta,
”
Oxon. The Preliminary Epistle, with a review and correction of the book, entitled, Some plain Discourses on the Lord’s Supper, &c. written by Dr. George.
Griffith, bishop of St. Asaph,
” Oxon. Additions and Corrections to a book, entitled, Angliae Notitia,
or The present state of England.
” They appeared in the
edition of that book, printed at London in 1684; but the
author of the “Notitia
” did not acknowledge the assistance
contributed by Mr. Allam. “Additions to Helvicus’s Historical and Chronological Theatre,
” printed with that author in Notitia Ecclesiae Anglicance, or a History of the
Cathedral Churches, &c. of England;
” but death prevented his completing this design. He likewise translated
the “Life of Iphicrates,
” printed in the English version
of Plutarch by several gentlemen of Oxford, 1684, 8vo.
And lastly, he assisted Wood in his Ath. Oxonienses, and is
mentioned by that author as highly qualified for such a
work, by an uncommon acquaintance with religious and Ik
terary history. He died of the small-pox, June 17, 1685,
and was buried in the church of St. Peter in the East, at
Oxford.
, esq. an English antiquary, was an attorney at Darlington, but, having
, esq. an English antiquary, was an
attorney at Darlington, but, having a strong propensity to
the study of our national antiquities, devoted his time and
fortune to this rational and useful pursuit. His first production, printed in his own house, was, “' ue recommendatory Letter of Oliver Cromwell to William Lenthall,
esq. speaker of the House of Commons, for erecting a
college and university at Durham, and his Letters Patent
(when lord protector) for founding the same; with the Address of the provost and fellows of the said college, &c.
”
4to. “A sketch of the Life and Character of Bishop Treror,
” The Life of 'St. Cuthbert,
” Collections relating to Sherborn Hospital,
” and others mentioned in Cough’s British Topography, vol.1, p. 332. Being
possessed of twenty manuscript volumes relating to the
antiquities of the counties of Durham and Northumberland,
bequeathed to him, in 1774, by the late rev. Thomas Randall, vicar of EHingham in Northumberland, he published
“An Address and Queries to the public, relative to the
compiling a complete Civil and Ecclesiastical History of
the ancient and present state of the County Palatine of
Durham,
”
, an English non-conformist divine, was the son of Mr. Tobias Allein,
, an English non-conformist divine, was the son of Mr. Tobias Allein, and born at the Devizes, in Wiltshire, 1633. He discovered an extraordinary tincture of religion, even in his childhood; at eleven years of age he was much addicted to private prayer; and on the death of his brother Edward, who was a worthy minister of the gospel, he entreated his father that he might be educated for that profession. In four years he acquired a competent knowledge of Greek and Latin, and was declared by his master n't for the university. He was, however, kept some time longer at home, where he was instructed in logic, and at sixteen was sent to Lincoln college, Oxford. In 1651 he was removed to Corpus Christi college, a Wiltshire scholarship being there vacant. While at college he vras remarkably assiduous in his studies, grave in his temper, but cheerfully ready to assist others. He might in a short time have obtained a fellowship, but he declined that for the sake of the office of chaplain, being pleased with the opportunity this gave him of exerting his gift in prayer, the liturgy being then disused. In July 1653, he was admitted bachelor of arts, and became a tutor. In this arduous employment he behaved himself with equal skill and diligence; several of his pupils became very eminent non-conforming ministers, and not a few attained to considerable preferment in the established church. In 1655 he became assistant in the ministry to Mr. G. Newton, of Taunton, in Somersetshire, where he married the same year. His income was small, but was somewhat increased by the profits of a. boarding-school, which Mrs. Allein kept. During seven years that he lived in this manner, he discharged his pastoral duty with incredible diligence; for, besides preaching and catechising in the church, he spent several afternoons in a week in visiting the people of the town, and exhorting them to a religious life. These applications were at first far from being welcome to many families; but his meekness, moderation, and unaffected piety, reconciled them to his advice, and made him by degrees the delight of his parishioners. He was deprived in 1662, for nonconformity. He preached, however, privately, until his zeal and industry in this course brought him into trouble. On the 26th day of May, 1663, he was committed to Ivelchester gaol, and was with seven ministers and fifty quakers confined in one room, where they suffered great hardships; tut they still continued to preach till the assizes. These were held before Mr. justice Foster, and at them Mr. Allein was indicted for preaching on the 17th of May preceding; of which indictment he was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a hundred marks, and to remain in prison till his fine was paid. At the time of his receiving sentence, he said, that he was glad that it had appeared before his country; that whatever he was charged with, he was guikv of nothing but doing his duty; and all that did appear by the evidence was, that he had sung a psalm, and instructed his family, others being there, and both in his own house. He continued in prison a year, which broke his constitution; but, when he was at liberty, he applied himself to his ministry as earnestly as ever, which, brought on him a painful disorder. The five miles act taking place, he retired from Taunton to Wellington, where he continued but a short time, Mr. Mallack, a merchant, inviting him to lodge at a house of his some distance from Taunton. In the summer of 1665, he was advised to drink the waters near the Devizes, for his health. But before he left Mr. Mallack’s house, viz. on the I Oth of July in that year, some friends came to take their leave of him; they were surprised praying together, and for this were sentenced to sixty days imprisonment, which himself, seven ministers, and forty private persons, suffered in the county gaol. This hindered his going to the waters; and his disease returning, he lost another summer. At length, in 1667, he went, but was far from receiving the benefit he expected. After some time he went to Dorchester, where he grew better; but applying himself again to preaching, catechising, and other duties, his distemper returned with such violence, that he lost the use of his limbs. His death was then daily expected; but by degrees he grew somewhat better, and at length went to Bath, where his health altered so much, that his friends were in hopes he would have lived several years; but growing suddenly worse again, he died there, in the month of November, 1668, being somewhat above thirty-five years old. He was a man of great learning, and greater charity; zealous in his own way of worshipping God, but not in thft least bitter towards any Christians who worshipped in another manner. He preserved a great respect for the church, notwithstanding all his sufferings; and was eminently loyal to his prince, notwithstanding the severities of the times. His writings breathe a true spirit of piety, for which they have been always and deservedly esteemed. His body lies in the chancel of the church of St. Magdalen, of Taunton, and on his grave-stone are the following lines
, an English lawyer and antiquary, was born at Great Hadham in H
, an English lawyer and antiquary, was born at Great Hadham in Hertfordshire, about the end of the seventeenth century, and was educated at Eton; whence he went to King’s college, Cambridge, and took his bachelor’s degree in 1707, and his master’s in 1711. He afterwards studied law, was called to the bar, and by the influence of Arthur Onslow, speaker of the house of commons, became a master in chancery. His reputation as a lawyer was inconsiderable, but he was esteemed a good classical scholar, and a man of wit and convivial habits. He became afterwards an alderman of the corporation of Guildford, and an useful magistrate in that neighbourhood. He died April 11, 1754, and was buried in the Temple church. He collected a biographical account of the members of Eton college, which by his will, dated 1753, he ordered to be placed in the libraries of the two colleges, and a third copy to be given to his patron, Mr. Onslow. He also compiled, at his leisure hours, or rather made collections for, an English dictionary of obsolete words, of words which have changed their meaning, as villain, knave, and of proverbial or cant words, as helter-skelter, which he derived from hiiariter cderiter. It is not known what became of this manuscript. He bequeathed his fortune, and probably his books, to a brother who was a Turkey merchant.
, an English minor poet of the seventeenth century, was the son of
, an English minor poet of the
seventeenth century, was the son of James Allestry, a bookseller of London, who was ruined by the great fire in 1666,
and related to provost Allestry, the subject of the next article. Jacob was educated at Westminster school, and entered at Christ-church, Oxford, in the act-term 1671, at
the age of eighteen, and was elected student in 1672. He
took the degree in arts; was music-reader in 1679, and
terrte filius in 1681; both which offices he executed with,
great applause, being esteemed a good philologist and
poet. He had a chief hand in the verses and pastorals
spoken in the theatre at Oxford, May 21, 1681, by Mr.
William Savile, second son of the marquis of Halifax, and
George Cholmondeley, second son of Robert viscount Kells
(both of Christ-church), before James duke of York, his
duchess, and the lady Anne; which verses and pastorals
were afterwards printed in the “Examen Poeticum.
” He
died of the consequence of youthful excesses, October 15,
1686, and was buried, in an obscure manner, in St. Thomas’s church-yard, Oxford.
by Boerhaave; the most considerable of all his works, of which there have been various editions, and an English translation by Dr. James, 2 vols. 8vo. 1746. 7. “De
His works, some of which are still held in esteem, were,
1. “De Medicina Egyptiorum, libri IV.
” Venice, 1591,
4to, Paris, 1645, and Leyden, 1735, 4to. 2. “De Balsamq
dialogus,
” Venice, De Plantis Egyptii liber,
” Venice, De Plantis exoticis, libri II.
” Venice, 1627, 1656, 4to. 5. “Historiae naturalis Egypti, libri IV.
” Leyden, 1735, 2 vols. 4to. 6. “De praesagienda
vita etmorte asgrotantium, libri VII.
” Padua, 4to, Leyden,
1710, edited by Boerhaave; the most considerable of all
his works, of which there have been various editions, and
an English translation by Dr. James, 2 vols. 8vo. 1746. 7.
“De Medicina methodica, libri XIII.
” Padua, fol. 1611,
Leyden, 1719, 4to, a work in which he evinces his predilection for the methodists. 8. “Dissertatio de Rhapontico,
” Padua,
, an English nonconformist of considerable note, was a native of
, an English nonconformist of considerable note, was a native of Northamptonshire, and educated at St. John’s 'college, Cambridge, where he took the
degree of master of arts. He afterwards received deacon’s
orders from a bishop, and settled at Oakham in Rutlandshire, as assistant to the master of the free school. Being
a man who possessed a lively pleasant wit, he fell into gay
company, but was reclaimed by the admonition of the rev.
Mr. King, a Puritan minister at or near Oakham, whose
daughter he afterwards married; and becoming a convert
to his principles, he received ordination in the presbyterian
way, not being satisfied with that of the bishop, which extended only to deacon’s orders, and he was no longer willing
to conform to the church by applying for those of a priest.
He settled at Wilby, in the county of Northampton,
whence he was ejected in 1662, for nonconformity. After
which he ventured to preach sometimes at Oakham and at
Wellingborough, where he lived; and was once committed
to prison for six months, for praying with a sick person.
The book he wrote against Dr. Sherlock, in a humorous
style, made him first known to the world, and induced Mr.
Cawton, an eminent nonconformist in Westminster, to
recommend him to his congregation, as his successor. On
receiving this invitation, he quitted Northampton, and came
to London, where he preached constantly, and wrote several pieces, which were extremely well received by the public. His living in the neighbourhood of the court exposed
him to many inconveniences, but he had the good fortune
to escape imprisonment and fines, by the ignorance of the
informers, who did not know his Christian name, which he
studiously concealed; and even Anthony Wood, who calls
him Benjamin, did not know it. His sufferings, however,
ended with the reign of Charles II. at least in the beginning
of the next reign, when his son, engaging in treasonable
practices, was frequently pardoned by king James. After this,
Mr. Alsop went frequently to court, and is generally supposed to have been the person who drew up the Preshy terians’
very fulsome address to that prince, for his general indulgence; a measure, however, which was condemned by the
majority of nonconformists. After the revolution, Mr.
Alsop gave very public testimonies of his affection for the
government, but on all occasions spoke in the highest terms
of respect and gratitude of king James, and retained a VI.Tv
high sense of his clemency, in sparing his only son. The
remainder of his life he spent in the exercise of the ministry, preaching once every Lord’s clay; besides which he
had a Thursday lecture, and was one of the lecturers at
Pinner’s hall. He lived to he a very old man, preserved
his spirits to the last, and died May 8, 1703. On grave
subjects he wrote with a becoming; seriousness but where
wit might be shewn, he displayed it to considerable advantage. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Slater, and
his memory will always be remembered by his own learned
and elegant writings; the most remarkable of which are:
1. “Antisozzo,
” in vindication of some great truths opposed by Dr. Sherlock, in whose treatise “Concerning
the knowledge of Jesus Christ,
” he thought he discovered
a tendency towards Socinianism, and therefore entitled this
work, which was published in 1675, “Antisozzo,
” from
the Italian name of Socinus. Sherlock and he had been
pupils under the same tutor in the university. Dr. South
allowed Alsop’s merit in this contest of wit, but Wood
undervalues his talent. 2. “Melius Inquirendum,
” in
answer to Dr. Goodman’s Compassionate Inquiry, 1679,
8vo. 3. “The Mischief of Impositions;
” in answer to
Dr. Stillingfleet’s Mischief of Separation, 1680. 4. “Duty
and interest united in praise and prayer for Kings.
”
5. “Practical godliness the ornament of Religion,
”
, an English political and miscellaneous writer, was born at Marden
, an English political and miscellaneous writer, was born at Marden in Kent, but in
what year is uncertain, although by a passage in his Terras
Filius, it would appear to be about 1706. Under the
tuition of his grandfather, a clergyman, he received his
grammatical education at Merchant-Taylor’s school in,
London; and thence was removed to St. John’s college,
Oxford, whence he was expelled on a charge of libertinism,
irregularity, and his insulting 1 behaviour towards the president of the college. From his own account of the matter,
in the dedication of his poems to Dr. Delaune, president
of St. John’s, and in his “Teme Filius,
” we may collect
that he wished to have it understood, that he was solely
persecuted for the liberality of his sentiments, and his attachment to the cause of the Revolution and of the Hanover-succession. Whatever were the causes of his expulsion,
ius resentment, on the account of it, although violent, was
impotent. He made it his business to satirize the learning
and discipline of the university of Oxford, and to libel
the characters of its principal members. This he did in a
poem published in 1724, called “Oculus Britanniae,
” and
in his “Terrae Filius,
” a work in which is displayed a considerable portion of wit, intermixed with intemperate satire. The full title of the work is, “Terrae Filius; or the
secret history of the university of Oxford; in several essays. To which are added, Remarks upon a late book,
entitled, University Education, by R. Newton, D. D. principal of Hart Hall,
” 2 vols. 12mo, printed for R. Francklin, 1726. Amidst all the malignity and exaggeration with
which the Terrae Filius abounds, it contains some curious
anecdotes relative to the principles, manners, and conduct
of several members of the university, for a few years after the
accession of king George I.; but they are to be read with
caution. It had been an ancient custom in the university of
Oxford, at public acts, for some person, who was called
Terrae Filius, to mount the rostrum, and divert a large
crowd of spectators, who flocked to hear him from all parts,
with a merry oration in the fescennine manner, interspersed with secret history, raillery, and sarcasm, as the
occasions of the times supplied him with matter. Wood,
in his Athenae, mentions several instances of this custom;
and hence Mr. Amhurst took the title of his work. It was
originally written in 1721, in a periodical paper, which
came out twice a week, and consists of fifty numbers.
, an English clergyman and nonconformist, was born about the latter
, an English clergyman and nonconformist, was born about the latter end of the sixteenth century, in Gloucestershire, and admitted of Magdalen hall,
Oxford, in 1610. After taking his degrees in arts, he went
into the church, and became a frequent and popular
preacher. In 1630 he preached a lecture at Leicester;
but, in 1634, was suspended by the dean of the arches for
preaching without a licence. In 1650, the Independents,
who then were predominant, obliged him to leave Leicester,
because he refused to subscribe to their engagement. On
this the Mercers’ company chose him lecturer of Grantham
in Lincolnshire, where he remained until his death in 1655,
an event which was deeply lamented by his flock. He
wrote “The right government of the Thoughts,
” London,
Four Sermons,
” ibid. 8vo.
he Hindoos, when the capture of Pondicherry obliged him to return to Europe. Accordingly, he came in an English vessel to London, where he spent some time, visited
, brother to the preceding, was born at Paris, Dec. 7, 1731.
After having studied at the university of Paris, where he
acquired an extensive knowledge of the Hebrew, he was
invited to Auxerre by M. de Caylus, then the bishop,
who induced him to study divinity, first at the academy in,
his diocese, and afterwards at Amersfort, near Utrecht;
but Anquetil had no inclination for the church, and returned with avidity to the study of the Hebrew, Arabic,
and Persian. Neither the solicitations of M. de Caylus,
nor the hopes of preferment, could detain him at Amersfort longer than he thought he had learned all that was
to be learned there. He returned therefore to Paris,
where his constant attendance at the royal library, and
diligence in study, recommended him to the abbé Sallier,
keeper of the manuscripts, who made him known to his
friends, and furnished him with a moderate maintenance,
under the character of student of the Oriental languages.
The accidentally meeting with some manuscripts in the
Zend, the language in which the works attributed to Zoroaster are written, created in him an irresistible inclination to visit the East in search of them. At this time
an expedition for India was fitting out at port l'Orient,
and when he found that the applications of his friends were
not sufficient to procure him a passage, he entered as a
common soldier; and on Nov. 7, 1754, left Paris, with
his knapsack on his back. His friends no sooner heard of
this wild step, than they had recourse to the minister, who
surprized at so uncommon an instance of literary zeal,
ordered him to be provided with a free passage, a seat at
the captain’s table, and other accommodations. Accordingly, after a nine months voyage, he arrived Aug. 10,
1755, at Pondicherry. Remaining there such time as was
necessary to acquire a knowledge of the modern Persian,
he went to Chandernagor, where he hoped to learn the
Sanscrit; but sickness, which confined him for some
months, and the war which broke out between France and
England, and in which Chandernagor was taken, disappointed his plans. He now set out for Pondicherry by
land, and after incredible fatigue and hardships, performed
the journey of about four hundred leagues in about an
hundred days. At Pondicherry he found one of his brothers arrived from France, and sailed with him for Surat,
but, landing at Mahe, completed his journey on foot. At
Surat, by perseverance and address, he succeeded in
procuring and translating some manuscripts, particularly
the “Vendidade-Sade,
” a dictionary; and he was about
to have gone to Benares, to study the language, antiquities, and sacred laws of the Hindoos, when the capture of
Pondicherry obliged him to return to Europe. Accordingly,
he came in an English vessel to London, where he spent
some time, visited Oxford, and at length arrived at Paris
May 4, 1762, without fortune, or the wish to acquire it;
but rich in an hundred and eighty manuscripts and other
curiosities. The abbé Barthelemi, however, and his
other friends, procured him a pension, with the title and
place of Oriental interpreter in the royal library. In 1763,
the academy of belles-lettres elected him an associate,
and from that time he devoted himself to the arrangement
and publication of the valuable materials he had collected.
In 1771, he published his “Zend-Avesta,
” 3 vols. 4to
a work of Zoroaster, from the original Zend, with a curious account of his travels, and a life of Zoroaster. In
1778 he published his “Legislation Orientale,
” 4to, ii
which, by a display of the fundamental principles of government in the Turkish, Persian, and Indian dominions,
he proves, first, that the manner in which most writers
have hitherto represented despotism, as if it were absolute
in these three empires, is entirely groundless; secondly,
that in Turkey, Persia, and Indostan, there are codes of
written law, which affect the prince as well as the subject;
and thirdly, that in these three empires, the inhabitants
are possessed of property, both in movable and immovable
goods, which they enjoy with entire liberty. In 1786
appeared his “Recherches historiques et geographiques
sur ITnde,
” followed in L‘Inde au rapport avec l’Europe,
” 2 vols. 8vo. In 1804,
he published a Latin translation from the Persian of the
“Oupnek' hat, or Upanischada,
” i. e. “secrets which must
not be revealed,
” 2 vols. 4to. Not long before his death
he was elected a member of the institute, but soon after
gave in his resignation, and died at Paris, Jan. 17, 1805.
Besides the works already noticed, he contributed many
papers to the academy on the subject of Oriental languages
and antiquities, and left behind him the character of one
of the ablest Oriental scholars in France, and a man of
great personal worth and amiable manners. His biographer adds, that he refused the sum of 30,000 livres, which
was offered by the English, for his manuscript of the Zend-Avesta.
ncible, et la Gloire vous suit.” On the 13th of June following, the king raised him to the honour of an English peerage, by the style and title of lord Anson, baron
Mr. Anson, a few days after his return into his own
country, was made a rear-admiral of the blue, and in a
very short time, he was chosen member of parliament
for Heydon in Yorkshire. On the 27th December 1744,
when the duke of Bedford was appointed first lord of the
admiralty, he was appointed one of the commissioners
of the admiralty; and on the 23d of April, in the following year, was made a rear-admiral of the white. On the
14th of July 1746, he was raised to the rank of vice-admiral; and in the latter end of that year, and beginning of
1747, he commanded the squadron in the channel service,
and bore the inconveniencies of a long and tempestuous
winter navigation, with his usual patience and perseverance. Nothing would have frustrated the success of this
expedition, but the accidental intelligence which was
given, by the master of a Dutch vessel, to the duke of
D'Arville’s fleet, of admiral Anson’s station and intention.
However, being employed again early in the ensuing
spring, he had an opportunity of rendering a very signal
service of his country. Being then on board the Prince
George, of 90 guns, with rear-admiral Warren, in the
Devonshire, and twelve ships more under his command,
he intercepted, on the 3d of May 1747, off Cape Finisterre, a considerable fleet, bound from France to the
East and West Indies, and laden with merchandise, treasure, and warlike stores; and took six men of war, and
four East Indiamen, not one of the enemy’s vessels of war
escaping. By this successful exploit, he defeated the
pernicious designs of two hostile expeditions, and made a
considerable addition to the force and riches of our own
kingdom. M. St. George, captain of the Invincible, in
allusion to the names of two of the ships which had been
taken, and pointing to them at the same time, said, when
he presented his sword to the conqueror, “Monsieur, vous
avez vaincu V In-vincible, et la Gloire vous suit.
” On the
13th of June following, the king raised him to the honour
of an English peerage, by the style and title of lord Anson,
baron of Soberton, in the county of Southampton; and
his lordship made choice of a motto, very happily suited
to his perils and his successes, ML Desperandum. On
the 25th of April 1748, he married Elizabeth, eldest
daughter of Philip lord Hardwicke, at that time lord high
chancellor of Great Britain; but his lady died without
issue on the 1st of June 1760.
, an English writer of the sixteenth century, descended from an ancient
, an English writer of
the sixteenth century, descended from an ancient and
honourable family in Wales. He was educated at Oxford,
but in what hall or college is uncertain: probablyin the
ancient hotel, now Pembroke college, in which several of
his name were educated about the same period. In 1534,
he was admitted bachelor of civil law. Patronised by
William earl of Pembroke, he pursued his studies with
alacrity, and became eminently learned, particularly in
the history and antiquities of his own country. Wood says,
that in 1046-7 he was knighted, with many others, by Edward, lord protector of England, and that he died in the
reign of queen Mary. Pitts gives him the character of a
learned and elegant writer. He wrote, 1. “Fides historiae Britannia, contra Polyd. Virgilium,
” a manuscript in
the Cotton library. 2. “Defensio regis Arthuri.
” 3. “Historic Brifanniae defensio,
” 1,573. 4. “Cambria? descriptio,
” corrected and augmented by Humph. Lhuyd, and
translated into English by David Powel, Oxon. 1663, 4to.
5. De Variis antiquitatibus Tractatum de Eucharistia
of the restitution of the Coin, written in 1553, all in manuscript in New College library.
n, from the Arabic, of the 5th, 6th, and 7th books of Apollonius’s Conies. Mr. G. Anderson published an English translation of the Arenarins. (See George Anderson).
There are also extant other editions of certain parts of
the works of Archimedes. Commandine published the
two books “On bodies that float upon fluids,
” with a
commentary, 4to, Bologna, Liber Assumptorum,
”
translated into Latin from an Arabic manuscript copy.
This is accompanied with the like translation, from the
Arabic, of the 5th, 6th, and 7th books of Apollonius’s
Conies. Mr. G. Anderson published an English translation of the Arenarins. (See George Anderson).
, an English divine, dean of Chester, was a native of Cheshire, and
, an English divine, dean of Chester, was a native of Cheshire, and descended from an ancient family of the same name in that county. He was
educated in Christ’s college, Cambridge, and in 1673, he
became a fellow-commoner of Brazen-nose college,
Oxford, partly for the sake of the public library, and partly to
enjoy the conversation of the divines of this university.
He held the living of St. Botolph Aldgate in London from
1666 to 1682, when king Charles Ij. to whom he was
chaplain in ordinary, bestowed on him the deanery of Chester. He attached himself afterwards to the cause of
James II. and suffered much in his popularity at Chester,
where he died Sept. 18, 1691, and was buried in the cathedral church. By will he bequeathed his books and the
principal part of his estate to provide and maintain a public library in the said cathedral of Chester for the use of
the city and clergy. His writings were, “Directions concerning the matter and style of Sermons,
” Conjectura circa Enw/tw D. dementis Itomani, cui subjiciuntur castigationes in Epiphanium et Petavium de Eucharistia, de Ccelibatu Ciericorum, et de orationibus pro
vita functis,
” Lond.
, an English writer, was the third son of Thomas Argall by Margaret
, an English writer, was the third son
of Thomas Argall by Margaret his wife, daughter of John
Talkarne of the county of Cornwall. He was born in London, and entered a student in Christ-church in Oxford towards the latter end of queen Mary’s reign. He took the
degree of master of arts in 1565, and was senior of the act
celebrated the eighteenth of February the same year. Afterwards he applied himself to the study of divinity, and,
having taken holy orders, obtained the living of Halesvvorth
in Suffolk. Being at a feast at Cheston, a mile distant
from that town, he died suddenly at the table, and was
buried at Halesworth, Octobers, 1606. During his stay
at the university, he was a noted disputant, and a great
actor of plays at Christ-church, particularly when the
queen was entertained there in 1566. He was esteemed a
very good scholar, and was so much devoted to his studies
that he lived and died like a philosopher, with a thorough
contempt for the things of this world. He wrote “De
veva Pctnitentia,
” Lond. Introductio ad
artem Dialecticam,
” ibid. very facete and pleasant,
” the author
says of himself, that “whereas God had raised many of
his companions and contemporaries to high dignities in
the church, as Dr. Thomas Bilson to the see of Winchester,
Dr. Martin Heton to that of Ely, Dr. Henry Robinson to
that of Carlisle, Dr. Tobias Mathews to that of Durham,
&c. yet he, an unworthy and poor old man, was still detained in the chains of poverty for his great and innumerable sins, that he might repent with the prodigal son,
and at length by God’s favour obtain salvation.
”
, an English physician and poet, was born in the parish of Castleton
, an English physician and poet, was born in the parish of Castleton in Roxburghshire, where his father and brother were clergymen; and having completed his education at the university of Edinburgh, took his degree in physic, Feb. 4, 1732, with much reputation. His thesis De Tabe purulente was published a usual. He appears to have courted the muses while a student. His descriptive sketch in imitation of Shakspeitre was one of his first attempts, and received the cordial approbation of Thomson, Mallet, and Young. Mallet, he informs us, intended to have published it, but altered his mind. His other imitations of Shakspeare were part of an unfinished tragedy written at a very early age. Much of his time, if we may judge from his writings, was devoted to the study of polite literature, and although he cannot be said to have entered deeply into any particular branch, he was more than a superficial connoisseur ia painting, statuary, and music.
, an English divine and commentator, was born at London, educated
, an English divine and commentator, was born at London, educated at Bishop Stortford
school, and admitted a pensioner of Bene't college, Cambridge, in 1714, under the tuition of Mr. Waller. After
taking the degree of B. A. being disappointed of a fellowship, he removed to Ernanuel College, March 10, 1718,
where he proceeded M.A. and was elected fellow in June
24, 1720. He commenced B. D. seven years after, as the
statutes of that house required, and continued there till
the society presented him to the rectory of Thurcaston in
Leicestershire. Whilst fellow of that college, he printed
two copies of Sapphics on the death of king George; a
sermon preached at Bishop Stortford school-feast, August
3, 1726; and another at the archdeacon’s visitation, at
Leicester, April 22, 1737. A third, preached at Thurcaston, October 9, 1746, was published under the title of
“The Parable of the Cedar and Thistle, exemplified in
the great victory at Culloden,
” 4to. In Commentary on Wisdom,
” in folio; that
on “Ecclesiasticus,
” in Tobit,
” &c. and another on the Daemon Asmodeus, translated from Calmet,
in 1752. He married a daughter of Mr. Wood, rector of
Wilford, near Nottingham; and died Sept. 4, 1756. His
widow survived him till Apri. 11, 1782.
, an English musician and composer of considerable eminence, was
, an English musician and composer
of considerable eminence, was born in London about 1739,
and received his musical education at the chapel royal,
St. James’s, under Mr. Gates and Dr. Nares, who discovered in him the most promising talents, which ho afterwards cultivated and strengthened by constant study. In
1760 he became composer to Covent-garden theatre, of
which the celebrated Mr. Beard was then one of the managers, and had the advantage of having his compositions
introduced to the public through the medium of the vocal abilities of that popular singer and h'is associates. For
them he composed the “Maid of the Mill,
” which has ever
been a favourite with the public. But in 1767 he tried his
skill in a higher species of composition, the oratorio, setting to music Dr. Brown’s “Cure of Saul,
” in which it
was universally confessed, that he was eminently successful. This encouraged him to proceed in the same style;
and he produced “Abimelech,
” “The Resurrection,
”
and “The Prodigal Son,
” the various merits of which
have been justly applauded by the best musical critics.
The latter became so much'a favourite, that when, in 1773,
it was in contemplation to instal the late lord North chancellor of the university of Oxford, the stewards appointed
to conduct the musical department of the ceremony, applied to Mr. Arnold for leave to perform the Prodigal Son.
His ready compliance with this request, which, however, it
would have been very imprudent to refuse, procured him
the offer of an honorary degree, and his refusal of this did
him real honour. He was not insensible of the value of a
degree, but determined to earn it in the usual academical
mode; and conformably to the statutes of the university,
received it in the school-room, where he performed, as an
exercise, Hughes’ s Poem on the Power of Music. On
such occasions, it is usual for the musical professor of the
university to examine the exercise of the candidate, but
Dr. Wiiliam Hayes, then the professor at Oxford, returned
Mr. Arnold his score unopened, saying, “Sir, it is quite
unnecessary to scrutinize the exercise of the author of the
Prodigal Son.
”
, an English divine and writer, was born at or near Newcastle- upon
, an English divine and writer, was born at or near Newcastle- upon Tyne, March 29, 1602. He was admitted of St. John’s college, in Cambridge, in 1616, and took his first two degrees from thence in 1619 and 1623. In this last year he was chosen fellow of Katherine hall, where he is supposed to have resided some years, probably engaged in the tuition of youth; but in 1631 he married, and removed to Lynn in Norfolk. He continued in this town, very much esteemed, for about ten or twelve years, being first assistant or curate, and afterwards minister in his own right, of St. Nicholas chapel there. He was afterwards called up to assist in the assembly of divines had a parish in London, and is named with Tuckney, Hill, and others, in the list of Triers, as they were called i. e. persons appointed to examine and report the integrity and abilities of candidates for the eldership in London, and ministry at large. When Dr. Beale, master of St. John’s college, was turned out by the earl of Manchester, Mr. Arrowsmith, who had taken the degree of B. D. from Katherine hall eleven years before, was put into his place; and also into the royal divinity chair, from which the old professor Collins was removed and after about nine years possession of these honours, to which he added that of a doctor’s degree in divinity, in 1649, he was farther promoted, on Dr. Hill’s death, to the mastership of Trinity college, with which he kept his professor’s place only two years his health being considerably impaired. He died in Feb. 1658-9.
, an English divine and antiquary, was born Dec. 5, 1724, in Red
, an English divine and antiquary,
was born Dec. 5, 1724, in Red Lion street, Glerkenwell,
and educated at Croydon, Westminster, and Eton schools.
In October 1740, he was admitted of St. John’s college,
Cambridge, and took his degrees, B. A. 1744, M. A. 1748,
B.D. 1756. He was presented by a relation to the rectory
of Hungerton, and in 1759 to that of Twyford, both in
Leicestershire, but resigned the former in 1767, and the
latter in 1769. In 1774 he was elected F. 8. A. and the
same year accepted the college rectory of Barrow, in Suffolk, where he constantly resided for thirty-four years.
In Oct. 1780, he was inducted into the living of Stansfield,
in Suffolk, owing to the favour of Dr. Ross, bishop of
Exeter, who, entirely unsolicited, gave him a valuable
portion of the vicarage of Bampton, in Oxfordshire but
this being out of distance from his college living, he procured an exchange of it for Stansfield. Dr. Ross’s friendship for him began early in college, and continued uniformly steady through all changes of place and situation.
In 1793, he gradually lost his sight, but retained, amidst
so severe a privation to a man of literary research, his accustomed chearfulness. In his latter days he had repeated
paralytic attacks, of one of which he died, June 12, 1808,
in the eighty-fourth year of his age. Mr. Ashby published
nothing himself, but was an able and obliging contributor
to many literary undertakings. In the Archaeologia, vol.
III. is a dissertation, from his pen, on a singular coin of
Nerva, found at Colchester. The Historian of Leicestershire has repeatedly acknowledged his obligations to Mr.
Ashby, particularly for his dissertation on the Leicester
milliary. His services have been also amply acknowledged
by Mr. Nichols for assistance in the life of Bowyer by
Mr. Harmeij in the preface to his “Observations on Scripture
”; and by Dames Barrington, in his work on the
Statutes, p. 212 but both the last without mentioning his
name. The late bishop Percy, Mr. Granger, and Mr.
Gough, have acknowledged his contributions more
pointedly. His valuable library and manuscripts were
sold by Mr. Deck, bookseller at Bury, by a priced catalogue.
, an English divine, the son of Dr, Ashton, usher of the grammar
, an English divine, the son of Dr,
Ashton, usher of the grammar school at Lancaster (a place of only thirty-two pounds per annum, which he held for near fifty years), was born in 1716, educated at Eton, and
elected thence to King’s college, Cambridge, 1733. He
was the person to whom Mr. Horace Walpole addressed his
epistle from Florence, in 1740, under the title of “Thomas
Ashton, esq. tutor to the earl of Plymouth.
” About that
time, or soon after, he was presented to the rectory of
Aldingham in Lancashire, which he resigned in March
1749; and on the 3d of May following was presented by
the provost and fellows of Eton to the rectory of Sturminster Marshall in Dorsetshire. He was then M. A. and had
been chosen a fellow of Eton in December 1745. In 1752
he was collated to the rectory of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate;
in 1759 took the degree of D. D. and in May 1762, was
elected preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, which he resigned in
1764. In 1770 he published, in 8vo, a volume of sermons
on several occasions to which was prefixed an excellent
metzotinto by Spilgbury, from an original by sir Joshua
Reynolds, and this motto, “Insto pnepositis, oblitus praeteritorum.
” Dr. Ashton died March 1, 1775, at the age
of fifty-nine, after having for some years survived a severe
attack of the palsy. His discourses, in a style of greater
elegance than purity, were rendered still more striking by
the excellence of his delivery. Hence he was frequently
prevailed on to preach on public and popular occasions.
He printed a sermon on the rebellion in 1745, 4to, and a
thanksgiving sermon on the close of it in 1746, 4to. la
1756, he preached before the governors of the Middlesex
hospital, at St. Anne’s, Westminster a commencement
sermon at Cambridge in 1759; a sermon at the annual
meeting of the chanty schools in 1760; one before the
House of Commons on the 30th of January 1762; and a
spital sermon at St. Bride’s on the Easter Wednesday in
that year. All these, with several others preached at Eton,
Lincoln’s inn, Bishopsgate, &c. were collected by himself
in the volume above mentioned, which is closed by a
“Clerum habita Cantabrigige in templo beatae
Mariae, 1759, pro gradu Doctoratus in sacra theologii.
”
His other publications were, 1. “A dissertation on 2 Peter i. 19,
” A letter to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Jones,
intended as a rational and candid answer to his sermon
preached at St. Botolph, Bishopsgate,
” 4to, was probably
by Dr. Ashton. 3. “An extract from the case of the
obligation of the electors of Eton college to supply all vacancies in that society with those who are or have been
fellows of King’s college, Cambridge, so long as persons
properly qualified are to be had within that description,
”
London, A letter to the Rev. Dr. M. (Morell) on
the question of electing aliens into the vacant places in
Eton college. By the author of the Extract,
” A second letter to Dr. M.
” The three last were soon
after re-published under the title of “The election of
aliens into the vacancies in Eton college an unwarrantable
practice. To which are now added, two letters to the Rev.
Dr. Morell, in which the cavils of a writer in the General
Evening Post, and others, are considered and refuted.
Part I. By a late fellow of King’s college, Cambridge.
”
London, Sermon on Painting,
” in lord Orford’s works, was preached by Dr. Ashton at Houghton,
before the earl of Orford (sir Robert Walpole) in 1742.
tory from the creation to the birth of Christ some controversial Tracts against Archbishop Synge and an English version of the New Testament. In his “True and modest
His works are, 1. Two volumes of “Sermons,
” The Penitent Lady translated from
the French of the famous madam la Valliere,
” An Answer to a popish book, entitled, A
true and modest account of the chief points in controversy
between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants, By N.
Colson,
” whose real name was Cornelius Nary, an Irish
priest, and author of a Church History from the creation
to the birth of Christ some controversial Tracts against
Archbishop Synge and an English version of the New
Testament. In his “True and modest account
” Synge had
reflected upon Dr. Tillotson, which induced Atterbury to
answer him. 5. “The Re-union of Christians translated
from the French,
”
s Mr. Francis Atterbury, late of Christ Church, had so happily asserted the rights and privileges of an English convocation, as to merit the solemn thanks of the lower
In 1700, a still larger field of activity opened, in which
Atterbury was engaged four years with Dr. Wake (afterwards archbishop of Canterbury) and others, concerning
the rights, powers, and privileges of convocations in which
he displayed so much learning and ingenuity, as well as
zeal for the interests of his order, that the lower house of
convocation returned him their thanks; and in consequence
of this vote a letter was sent to the university of Oxford,
expressing, that, “whereas Mr. Francis Atterbury, late of
Christ Church, had so happily asserted the rights and privileges of an English convocation, as to merit the solemn
thanks of the lower house for his learned pains upon that
subject; it might be hoped, that the university would be
no less forward in taking some public notice of so great a
piece of service to the church and that the most proper
and seasonable mark of respect to him, would be to confer
on him the degree of doctor in divinity by diploma, without doing exercise, or paying fees.
” The university approved the contents of this letter, and accordingly created
Mr. AtterburyD.D. Out author’s work was entitled, “The
Rights, Powers, and Privileges of an English Convocation
stated and vindicated, in answer to a late book of Dr.
Wake’s, entitled ‘ The Authority of Christian Princes over
their Ecclesiastical Synods asserted,’ &c. and several other
pieces,
” 8vo. The fame of this work was very great; but
it was censured by Burnet, and in November the judges
had a serious consultation on it, as being supposed to affect the royal prerogative. Holt, then chief justice, was
strongly of that opinion, and the same idea was encouraged
by archbishop Tenison, Dr. Wake, and others. Endeavours were made to prejudice king William against him,
but his majesty remained indifferent; and on the other
hand, Atterbury gained the steady patronage of sir Jonathan Trelawny, bishop of Exeter, of Lawrence earl of
Rochester, and of bishop Sprat. In December 1700, he
published a second edition of “The Rights,
” considerably
enlarged, and with his name, and a dedication to the two
archbishops. This was immediately answered by Drs. Kennet, Hody, and Wake. Another controversy of some importance was at this time also ably agitated by Atterbury,
the execution of the prtemunienles, a privilege enjoyed by
the several bishops of issuing writs to summon the inferior
clergy to convocation. Bishops Compton, Sprat, and Trelawny, were his strenuous supporters on this occasion, and
by the latter he was presented to the archdeaconry of
Totness, in which he was installed Jan. 29, 1700-1. His
attendance in convocation was regular, and his exertions
great. In placing Dr. Hooper in the prolocutor’s chair,
as the successor of Dr. Jane in the examination of obnoxious books in the controversy between the lower and
upper houses in considering the methods of promoting
the propagation of religion in foreign parts and in preparing an address to the king, his zeal distinguished itself.
About this time he was engaged, with some other learned
divines, in revising an intended edition of the Greek Testament, with Greek Scholia, collected chiefly from the
fathers, by Mr. archdeacon Gregory. On the 29th of May
he preached before the House of Commons; and on Aug. 16,
published “The power of the Lower House of Convocation
to adjourn itself,
” which was a sort of analysis of the whole
controversy. He also published “A letter to a clergyman in the country, concerning the Choice of Members,
&c.
” Nov. 17, 1701; a second, with a similar title, Dec.
10, 1701; and a third, in defence of the two former, Jan. 8,
1701-2. In October he published “The parliamentary
origin and rights of the Lower House of Convocation,
cleared, &c.
” At this period he was popular as preacher
at the Rolls Chapel, an office which had been conferred on
him by sir John Trevor, a great discerner of abilities, in
1698, when he resigned JBridewell, which he had obtained
in 1693. Upon the accession of queen Anne, in 1702,
Dr. Atterbury was appointed one of her majesty’s chaplains
in ordinary and, in July 1704, was advanced to the deanery of Carlisle but, owing to the obstacles thrown in his
way by bishop Nicolson, he was not instituted tintil Oct.
12, and the same year Sir Jonathan Trelawny bestowed on
him a canonry of Exeter. About two years after this, he
was engaged in a dispute with Mr. Hoadly, concerning the
advantages of virtue with regard to the present life, occasioned by his sermon, preached August 30, 1706, at the
funeral of Mr. Thomas Bennet, a bookseller. The doctrine of this sermon Mr. Hoadly examined, in “A letter
to Dr. Francis Atterbury, concerning Virtue and Vice,
”
published in Preface,
” Mr. Hoadly published in Asecond letter,
” &c. and in the Preface to his “Tracts,
”
tells us, these two letters against Dr. Atterbury were designed to vindicate and establish the tendency of virtue and
morality to the present happiness of such a creature as
man is which he esteems a point of the utmost importance
to the Gospel itself. In Jan. 1707-8 he published a volume
of Sermons, 8vo, and in the same year “Reflections on a
late scandalous report about the repeal of the Test Act.
”
In Concio ad Clerum Londinensem,
habita in Ecclesia S. Elphegi.
” Atterbury, in his pamphlet
entitled “Some proceedings in Convocation, A. D. 1705,
faithfully represented,
” had charged Mr. Hoadly (whom he sneeringly calls “the modest and moderate Mr. Hoadly
”)
with treating the body of the established clergy with language more disdainful and reviling than it would have become him to have used towards his Presbyterian antagonist,
upon any provocation, charging them with rebellion in the
church, whilst he himself was preaching it up in the state.“This induced Mr. Hoadly to set about a particular examination of Dr. Atterbury' s Latin Sermon; which he did in a
piece, entitled
” A large Answer to Dr. Atterbury’s Charge
of Rebellion, &c. London a 1710,“wherein he endeavours
to lay open the doctor’s artful management of the controversy, and to let the reader into his true meaning and design which, in an
” Appendix“to the
” Answer,“he
represents to be
” The carrying on two different causes,
upon two sets of contradictory principles“in order to
” gain himself applause amongst the same persons at the
same time, by standing up for and against liberty; by depressing the prerogative, and exalting it by lessening the
executive power, and magnifying it by loading some
with all infamy, for pleading for submission to it in one
particular which he supposeth an mcroachment, and by
loading others with the same infamy for pleading against
submission to it, in cases that touch the happiness of the
whole community.“” This,“he tells us,
” is a method
of controversy so peculiar to one person (Dr. Atterbury) as
that he knows not that it hath ever been practised, or attempted by any other writer.“Mr. Hoadly has likewise
transcribed, in this Appendix, some remarkable passages
out of our author’s
” Rights, Powers, and Privileges, &c."
which he confronts with others, from his Latin Sermon.
, an English prelate, was the son of James, lord Audley, by Eleanor
, an English prelate, was the son of James, lord Audley, by Eleanor his wife, but in what year he was born does not appear. He was educated in Lincoln college in Oxford, and in the year 1463 took the degree of bachelor of arts in that university, and it is presumed, that of master of arts also, but the register at that period is imperfect. In 1471, he became prebendary of Farendon in the church of Lincoln, and in October, 1475, attained the like preferment in the church of Wells. On Christmas day the same year, he became archdeacon of the East riding of Yorkshire, and had other considerable preferments, which he quitted, on his being promoted to the bishopric of Rochester, in 1480, In 1492, he was translated to Hereford, and thence in 1502, to Salisbury, and about that time was made chancellor of the most noble order of the Garter. He was a man of learning, and of a generous spirit. In 1518, he gave four hundred pounds to Lincoln college to purchase lands, and bestowed upon the same house the patronage of a chantry, which he had founded in the cathedral church of Salisbury. He was a benefactor likewise to St. Mary’s church in Oxford, and contributed towards erecting the curious stone pulpit therein. Bishop Godwin likewise tells us, that he gave the organs but Anthony Wood says, that does not appear. He gave, however, 200l. to Chichele’s chest, which had been robbed a very considerable benefaction at that time. He died Aug. 23, 1524, at Ramsbury in the county of Wilts, and was buried in a chapel which he erected to the honour of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the cathedral of Salisbury, being then, doubtless, a very old jnan, as he had sat forty-four years a bishop.
It was afterwards translated, or rather imitated and new-modelled by Le Sage, and from this edition, an English translation was published about fifty or sixty years
, a Spanish writer, and a native of Tordesillas, is principally
known as the author of the “Continuation, or second part
of the history of Don Quixote,
” which was published under
the title “La Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Hidalgo D.
Quixote de la Mancha,
”
, an English divine, and critical and polemical writer of considerable
, an English divine, and critical and polemical writer of considerable eminence, was the son of a butcher at South Moulton, in Devonshire, where he was born, Feb. 23, 1747. His relations and friends being dissenters, he was designed by them for the ministerial function and after receiving the first rudiments of his education under his maternal uncle, Mr. Blake, a dissenting minister at South Moulton, he was sent to the dissenting academy at St. Mary Ottery, in the same county. The doctrines taught in this academy were those of the old Nonconformists or Puritans, and for a considerable time, Mr. Badcock adhered to them with sincerity. His proficiency in other respects was such, in the opinion of his tutors, that at the age of nineteen, he received a call to be the pastor of a dissenting congregation at Winborne in Dorsetshire, from which he was invited to the same office, soon after, at Barnstaple in Devonshire where his’ income was more considerable, and which place was more agreeable to him as it was but a few miles from his native town. The date of his removal here is said to be in 1769, and he continued to be the pastor of this congregation for nine or ten years.
, an English writer of considerable talents, was born Feb. 29, 1728,
, an English writer of considerable talents, was born Feb. 29, 1728, at Darley, a hamlet in the
parish of St. Alkmond’s, Derby, where his father was employed on a paper-mill. When put to school, this son
made an uncommon progress in such learning as was within
his reach, and after remaining there the usual time, he was
trained to his father’s business. When he advanced in
life, married, and became settled in the business of papermaking, he continued 'to cultivate his mind, by adding a
knowledge of the French and Italian languages, and even
the more abstruse branches of mathematics. His conversation and correspondence sparkled with all the wit and
information which are expected in men of a literary turn,
but he was considerably advanced in life before he tried
his powers in any regular composition. A loss sustained
in business is said to have first induced him to take up the
pen, not as a source of emolument, but to divert his mind
from repining reflections. With this view he wrote, and
in 1781, published “Mount Heneth,
” a novel which became justly popular, from the vivicity of its style and
dialogue, and the many well-drawn characters, and apposite reflections on questions of morality and humanity.
This was followed by other productions of the same kind,
< Barham Downs,“the Fair Syrian,
” and “James Wallace,
” which were all favourably received by the public,
as far superior to the common run of novels. In private
life, Mr. Hutton of Birmingham, has celebrated him as a
man of most amiable and benevolent character; but we
are sorry that he adds, that “he laid no stress upon revelation/' and was
” barely a Christian." There are, indeed, passages in his works which justify this character,
and leave us much to regret in the history of a man of stfich
excellent talents and personal worth in other respects.
Mr. Bage died Sept. 1, 1801, in the 74th year of his age,
at Tamworth.
, an English prelate, son of sir Walter Bagot, bart. and brother
, an English prelate, son of sir Walter Bagot, bart. and brother to the first lord Bagot, was born Jan. 1, 1740. He was educated at Westminster school, and chosen thence student of Christ-church, took the degree of M.A. May 23, 1764, and LL.D. Feb. 29, 1772. In In 1771 he was made canon of Christ-church in the room of Dr. Moore, the late archbishop of Canterbury, and the same year he married Miss M. Hay, niece to the earl of Kinnoul. He was installed dean of Christ- church, Jan. 25, 1777, on the translation of Dr. Markham to the see of York, about which time he resigned the livings of Jevington and Eastbourne in Sussex, in favour of his nephew, the Rev. Ralph Sneyd. In 1782 he was promoted to the see of Bristol, translated to Norwich the year following, and thence to St. Asaph in 1790, where he rebuilt the palace on an uncommon plan, but necessary for the situation, where, among the mountains, and in the vicinity of the sea, storms are often violent. The palace, therefore, is low; and being on the assent of a hill, the vestibule, dining-room, and drawing-room, which occupy the whole front of the building, are on a level with the first floor in the other apartments, two of which, on the ground-floor, are a neat domestic chapel and a library.
, an English Benedictine monk, and ecclesiastical historian and antiquary,
, an English Benedictine monk, and
ecclesiastical historian and antiquary, the son of William
Baker, gent, and nephew to Dr. David Lewes, judge of the
admiralty, was born at Abergavenny, Dec. 9, 1575, and
first educated at Christ’s hospital, London, whence he
went to Oxford, in 1590, and became a commoner of
Broadgate’s hall (now Pembroke college), which he left
without a degree, and joined his brother Richard, a barrister of the middle temple, where he studied law, and in
addition to the loose courses he followed, when at Oxford,
now became a professed infidel. After the death of his
brother, his father sent for him, and he was made recorder
of Abergavenny, and practised with considerable success.
While here, a miraculous escape from drowning recalled
him to his senses as to religion, but probably having no
proper advice at hand, he fell upon a course of Roman
catholic writings, and was so captivated with them that he
joined a small congregation of Benedictines then in London, and went with one of them to Italy, where, in 1605,
he took the habit, and changed his name to Augustin Baker. A fit of sickness rendering it necessary to try his
native air he returned to England, and finding his father oa
his death-bed, reconciled him to the Catholic faith. From
this time he appears to have resided in London and
different places in the country, professing his religion as
openly as could be done with safety. Some years before
his death he spent at Canjbray, as spiritual director ‘of the
English Benedictine nuns there, and employed his time in
making collections for an English ecclesiastical historj’, in
which, when at home, we are told, he was assisted by
Camden, Cotton, Spelman, Selden, and bishop Godwin,
to all of whom, Wood says, “he was most familiarly
known,
” but not, we presume, so sufficiently as this biographer supposes. Wood, indeed, tells us, that when at
the house of gentlemen, he passed for a lawyer, a character
which he supported in conversation by the knowledge he
had acquired in the Temple. He died in Gray’s Inn lane
Aug. 9, 1641, and was buried in St. Andrew’s church. He
wrote a great many religious treatises, but none were published. They amounted to nine large folios in manuscript,
and were long preserved in the English nunnery at Cambray. His six volumes of ecclesiastical history were lost,
but out of them were taken father Reyner’s “Apostolatus
Benedictinorum in Anglia,
” and a good deal of Cressy’s
“Church History.
” Wood has given a prolix account of
this man, which was probably one of those articles in his
Athenee that brought upon him the suspicion of being himself attached to popery. It is certainly written with all the
abject submission of credulity.
, an English physician, the son of Henry Baley of Warnweli in Dorsetshire,
, an English physician,
the son of Henry Baley of Warnweli in Dorsetshire, was
born in 1529, at Portsham in that county, educated at Winchester school, and admitted perpetual fellow of New college in Oxford, in 1550, after having served two years of
probation. Having taken the degrees of B. A. and M. A.
he studied physic, and was admitted to practise in that
faculty in 1558, being at that time proctor of the university, and prebendary of Dultingcote or Dulcot in the church
of Wells, which preferment he resigned in 1579. In 1561,
he was appointed the queen’s professor of physic in the
university of Oxford. Two years after he took the degree
of doctor in that faculty, and at last was appointed physician in ordinary to her majesty. He was esteemed to be
very skilful in theory and successful in practice. He died
March 3, 1592, at sixty-three years of age, and was buried
in the inner chapel of New college, Oxford. His posterity, Mr. Wood tells us, subsisted at Ducklington near
Whitney in Oxfordshire, and some of them had been justices of the peace for the said county. His works were,
1. “A discourse of three kinds of Pepper in common use,
”
A brief treatise of the preservation of the
Eye-sight,
” printed in queen Elizabeth’s reign in 12mo,
and at Oxford in 1616 and 1654, 8vo. In the edition of
1616 there is added another “Treatise of the Eye-sight,
”
collected from Fernelius and lliolanus, but by what hand
we are not told. They both pass under Dr. Baley’s name.
3. “Directions for Health, natural and artificial, with medicines for all diseases of the Eye,
” Explicatio Galeni de potu convalescentium et senum, et
praecipue de nostree alae et biriae paratione,
” &c. in ms.
4to, in the library of Robert earl of Aylesbury.
teen times printed before the year 1632, and translated into the Turkish language by William Seaman, an English traveller. 2.” A treatise of Faith, in two parts the
, a Puritan divine of the seventeenth century, was born in 1585> of an obscure family, at Cassington or Chersington, near Woodstock in Oxfordshire* He
was educated in grammar learning at a private school, under the vicar of Yarnton, a mile distant from Cassington
and was admitted a student of Brazen-nose college in Oxford in 1602. He continued there about five years, in
the condition of a servitor, and under the discipline of a severe tutor and from thence he removed to St. Mary’s hall,
and took the degree of bachelor of arts in 1608. Soon
after, he was invited into Cheshire, to be tutor to the lady
Cholmondeley’s children and here he became acquainted
witli some rigid Puritans, whose principles he imbibecL
About this time, having got a sum of money, he came up
to London, and procured himself to be ordained by an Irish
bishop, without subscription. Soon after, he removed into
Staffordshire, and in 1610 became curate of Whitmore, a
chapel of ease to Stoke. Here he lived in a mean condition, upon a salary of about twenty pounds a year, and the
profits of a little school. Mr. Baxter tells us, “he deserved as high esteem and honour as the best bishop in
England yet looking after no higher things, but living
comfortably and prosperously with these.' 7 He has, among
the Puritan writers, the character of an excellent schooldivine, a painful preacher, and a learned and ingenious
author and, though he was not well affected to ceremonies
and church discipline, yet he wrote against those who
thought such matters a sufficient ground for separation,
He died the 20th of October, 1640, aged about fifty-five,
and was buried in the church of Whitmore. Although he
is represented above, on the authority of Ant. Wood, as
living in a mean condition, it appears by Clarke’s more
ample account, that he was entertained in the house of
Edward Mainwaring, esq. a gentleman of Whitmore, and
afterwards supplied by him with a house, in which he lived
comfortably with a wife and seven children. He was likewise very much employed in teaching, and particularly in,
preparing young men for the university. His works are,
1.
” A short treatise concerning all the principal grounds
of the Christian Religion, &c.“fourteen times printed
before the year 1632, and translated into the Turkish language by William Seaman, an English traveller. 2.
” A
treatise of Faith, in two parts the first shewing the nature,
the second, the life of faith,“London, 1631, and 1637,
4to, with a commendatory preface, by Richard Sibbs.
3.
” Friendly trial of the grounds tending to Separation,
in a plain and modest dispute touching the unlawfulness of
stinted Liturgy and set form of Common Prayer, communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and
first receptacle of the power of the keys, &c.“Cambridge,
1640, 4to. 4.
” An Answer to two treatises of Mr. John
Can, the first entitled A necessity of Separation from the
Church of England, proved by the Nonconformist’s principles; the other, A stay against Straying; wherein^ in
opposition to Mr. John Robinson, he undertakes to prove
the unlawfulness of hearing the ministers of the church of
England,“London, 1642, 4to, published by Simeon Ash.
The epistle to the reader is subscribed by Thomas Langley,
William Rathband, Simeon Ash, Francis Woodcock, and
George Croft, Presbyterians. After our author had finished
this last book, he undertook a large ecclesiastical treatise,
in which he proposed to lay open the nature of schism, and
to handle the principal controversies relating to the essence
and government of the visible church. He left fifty sheets
of this work finished. The whole was too liberal for those
of his brethren who were for carrying their nonconformity
into hostility against the church. 5.
” Trial of the new
Church- way in New-England and Old, &c.“London, 1644,
4to. 6.
” A treatise of the Covenant of Grace,“London,
1645, 4to, published by his great admirer Simeon Ash.
7.
” Of the power of Godliness, both doctrinally and practically handled,“&c. To which are annexed several treatises, as, I. Of the Affections. II. Of the spiritual Combat. III. Of the Government of the Tongue. IV. Of
Prayer, with an exposition on the Lord’s Prayer, London,
1657, fol. 8.
” A treatise of Divine Meditation," Lond.
1660, 12mo.
, an English antiquary and biographer, and one of those singular
, an English antiquary and biographer, and one of those singular compositions which
shoot forth without culture, was born at Campden in Gloucestershire. Being of a weakly constitution, his parents
placed him in the shop of a habit-maker; and in this situation he had the curiosity to acquire the Saxon language. The
time he employed for this purpose was stolen from sleep,
after the labour of the day was over. Lord Chedworth,
and the gentlemen of his hunt, who used to spend about
a month of the season at Campden, hearing of his laudable
industry, generously offered him an annuity of 100l. but
he modestly told them, that 60l. were fully sufficient to
satisfy both his wants and his wishes. Upon this he retired to Oxford, for the benefit of the Bodleian library;
and Dr. Jenner, president, made him one of the eight clerks
of Magdalen college, which furnished him with chambers
and commons, and being thus a gremial, he was afterwards
chosen one of the university beadles, but died in June,
1755, rather young; which is supposed to have been owing
to too intense application. He left large collections
behind him, but published only “Memoirs of British Ladies,
who have been celebrated for their writings or skill in the
learned languages, arts, and sciences,
” I know not what
additions Mr. George Ballard can make to Mr. Stowe’s life;
this I know, that being a taylor himself, he is a great admirer of that plain honest antiquary,
” who was also a
taylor. A very large collection, of his epistolary correspondence is preserved in the Bodleian library.
Of all these, his Letters, of which there is an English translation, and which passed through many editions
Of all these, his Letters, of which there is an English
translation, and which passed through many editions in
French, contributed most to his reputation. During his
time he was not only deemed the most eloquent, but the
only eloquent writer, and Maynard, a contemporary poet,
pronounced him not mortal who could speak like Balzac.
It was not only by such praises that he was encouraged. It
became a fashion to write to Balzac, in hopes of an answer,
which was a treasure worth boasting of. “1 am,
” says he,
“the butt of all the aukward compliments in Christendom,
not to speak of the genteel ones, which give me still more
trouble. I am harassed I am teazed to death with encomiums from the four quarters of the globe yesterday,
there lay upon the table tir'ty letters requiring answers
and oh unconscionable! well turned, eloquent answers
answers it to be shewn, copied, and printed. At this instant, I see before me not less than a hundred letters,
which must all have their answers; I am in arrears to
crowned heads.
” As he seems, therefore, to have suspected the use that would be made of his letters, we cannot be surprised at the artificial and inflated style which
frequently occurs, Voltaire, however, allows that he contributed to the harmony of French prose. But the magic
which gave them for many years an unprecedented popu<larity was dispelled probably in Boileau’s time, who asserts
that what Balzac employed himself most upon, viz. writing
letters, was what he least understood in them all, he adds,
we meet with the two faults that are the most inconsistent
with the epistolary style affectation, and bombast. Boileau, also, in his two letters to the marechal de Vivonne,
very successfully imitates the style of Balzac and Voiture
but Dr. Warton considers Balzac as much superior to Voiture, and adds, that although he was affectedly turgid,
pompous, and bloated on all subjects and on all occasions
alike, yet he was the first that gave form and harmony to
the French prose.
were also careful to amend them. The abbe Banier died on Nov. 19, 1741, in the 69th year of his age. An English translation of his Mythology and Fables of the Ancients,
The abbe already began to perceive the attacks of a distemper, which seemed to be conducting him insensibly to
the grave, when some booksellers at Paris prevailed upon
him to superintend the new edition, which they designed
to give^ of “A general History of the ceremonies, manners, and religious customs of all the nations in the world;
”
a magnificent edition of which had made its appearance,
about twenty years before, in Holland. Banier embarked
in this attempt, with l'abbe le Mascrier, a Jesuit, who had
assisted in the French translation of Thuanus. This, which
was finished in 1741, in seven volumes folio, is much
more valuable than the Dutch edition as there are in it
numberless corrections, a larger quantity of articles, and
several new dissertations, written by these ingenious compilers. The Dutch author, particularly where he mentions
the customs and ceremonies of the Roman church, is more
occupied in attempting to make his readers laugh, than
solidly to instruct them. The new editors, whilst they
retained these passages, were also careful to amend them.
The abbe Banier died on Nov. 19, 1741, in the 69th year
of his age. An English translation of his Mythology and
Fables of the Ancients, was published in London, 1741, in
4 vols. 8vo.
, an English miscellaneous writer of some note, was born at Sunning,
, an English miscellaneous writer of
some note, was born at Sunning, in Berkshire, in 1709,
and put apprentice to a weaver at Reading but accidentally breaking his arm before the expiration of his time,
he was unable to follow his trade, and for some time,
probably, lived upon charity. Ten pounds, however,
being left him by a relation, he came up to London, and
set up a book-stall in Spital-nelds, hoping to be as lucky
as Duck, who about this time raised himself to notice by
his poem called “The Thresher,
” in imitation of which
Banks wrote “The Weaver’s Miscellany,
” but without
success, which he afterwards acknowledged was not unjust.
He then quitted this settlement, and lived some time with
Mr. Montague, a bookseller and bookbinder, employing
his leisure hours in the composition of small poems, for a
collection of which he solicited a subscription, and sent
his proposals, with a poem, to Mr. Pope, who answered
him in a letter, and subscribed for two copies. He was
afterwards concerned in a large work in folio, intituled
the “Life of Christ,
” which was drawn up with much
piety and exactness. He also wrote the celebrated “Critical Review of the Life of Oliver Cromwell,
” 12mo,
which has been often printed, and is, upon the whole, an
impartial work. Towards the end of his life he was employed in writing the Old England and Westminster
Journals, and was now enabled to live in easy circumstances. He died of a nervous disorder at Islington, April
19, 1751. His biographer represents him as a pleasing
and acceptable companion, and a modest and unassuming
man, free from every inclination to engage in contests,
or indulge envy or malevolence.
, an English dramatic writer, was bred an attorney at law, and belonged
, an English dramatic writer, was bred
an attorney at law, and belonged to the society of New-inn.
The dry study of the law, however, not being so suitable
to his Natural disposition as the more elevated flights of
poetical imagination, he quitted the pursuit of riches in
the inns of court, to attend on the muses in the theatre,
but here he found his rewards hy no melins adequate to his
deserts. His emoluments at the best were precarious, and
the various successes of his pieces too feelingly convinced
him of the error in his choice. Yet this did not prevent
him from pursuing with cheerfulness the path he had
taken his thirst of fame, and warmth of poetic enthusiasm, alleviating to his imagination many disagreeably
circumstances, into which indigence, the too frequent
attendant on poetical pursuits, often threw him. His turn
was entirely to tragedy his merit in which is of a peculiar
kind. For at the same time that his language must be
confessed to be extremely unpoetical, and his numbers
uncouth and inharmonious nay, even his characters,
very far from being strongly marked qr distinguished, and
his episodes extremely irregular yet it is impossible to
avoid being deeply affected at the representation, and
even at the reading of riis tragic pieces. This is owing in
general to a happy choice of his subjects, which are all
borrowed from history, either rpal or romantic, and most
of them from circumstances in the annals of our own
country, which, not only from their being familiar to our
continual recollection, but even from their having some
degree of relation to ourselves, we are apt to receive with
a kind of partial prepossession, and a predetermination
to be pleased. He has constantly chosen as the basis of
his plays such tales as were, in themselves and their wellknown catastrophes, best adapted to the purposes of the
drama. He has, indeed, seldom varied from the strictness
of historical facts, yet he seems to have made it his constant rule to keep the scene perpetually alive, and never
suffer his characters to droop. His verse is not poetry,
but prose run mad, Yet will the false gem sometimes approach so near in glitter to the true one, at least in the
eyes of all but the real connoisseurs, that bombast frequently passes for the true sublime and where it is rendered the vehicle of incidents in themselves affecting,
and in which the heart is apt to take an interest, it will
perhaps be found to have a stronger power on the human
passions, than even that property to which it is in reality
no more than a bare succedaneum. On this account only
Mr. Banks’s writings have in general drawn more tears
from the eyes, and excited more terror in the breasts even,
of judicious audiences, than those of much more correct
ariid more truly poetical authors. The tragedies he has
left behind him are seven in number, yet few of them
have been performed for some years past, excepting “The
Unhappy Favourite, or Earl of Essex,
” which continued
till very lately a stock tragedy at both theatres. The
writers on dramatic subjects have not ascertained either
the year of the birth, or that of the death of this author.
His last remains, however, lie interred in the church of
St. James, Westminster.
, was an English artist of the last century, but known rather as a copyist
, was an English artist of the
last century, but known rather as a copyist than an original
painter. He painted a picture of the celebrated Dr. Ward
relieving his sick and lame patients, from which there is a
print dated 1748-9, which appears to be the work of
Baron. There is also a mezzotinto of admiral Vernon,
from a picture by Bard well in 1744. At what time he
died is not known, but it is probable that he was living in
1773, as a second edition of his treatise was published in
that year. Whatever his merits as a painter, he certainly
thought himself qualified to give instructions in the practical part of the art, and published a quarto pamphlet of
sixty-four pages, entitled the “Practice of Painting and
Perspective made easy,
”
5. “A Grammar of the Italian language with a copious praxis of moral sentences. To which is added an English grammar for the use of the Italians,” 1762, 8vo. 6.
5. “A Grammar of the Italian language with a copious
praxis of moral sentences. To which is added an English
grammar for the use of the Italians,
” The
Frusta Literaria, published in Italy in 1763, 1764, and
1765.
” 7. f An Account of the manners and customs of
Italy with observations on the mistakes of some travellers
with regard to that country,“1768, 2 vols. 8 vo. 8.
” An
Appendix in answer to Mr. Sharp’s Reply,“1769, 8vo.
9. < 6 A Journey from London to Genoa, through England,
Portugal, Spain, and France,
” 1770, 4 vols. 8vo. 10. “Proposals for- printing the Life of friar Gerund,' 7 1771, 4to.
This was for printing the original Spanish. The scheme
was abortive but a translation by Dr. Warner was printed
in 2 vols. 8vo. 11.
” An Introduction to the most useful
European languages consisting of select passages from
the most celebrated English, French, Italian, and Spanish
authors with translations as close as possible, so disposed
in columns, as to give in one view the manner of expressing the same sentence in each language,“1772, 8vo.
12.
” Tutte Topere di Machiavelli,“1772, 3 vols. 4 to
with a preface, and several- pieces omitted in former editions. 13.
” Easy Phraseology for the use of young ladies
who intend to learn the colloquial part of the Italian language,“8vo, 1776. 14.
” Discours sur Shakespeare et
sur Mons. de Voltaire,“1777, 8vo. 15.
” Scelta di
Lettere familiari“or, a selection of familiar letters, for
the use of students in the Italian tongue, 1779, 2 vols.
12mp. 16.
” Carmen Seculare of Horace, as performed
at Free-Masons’ Hall,“1779, 4to. 17.
” Guide through
the Royal Academy,“1781, 4to. 18.
” Dissertacion
Epistolar accrea unas Obras de la Real Academia Espanola
su auctor Joseph Baretii, secretaria por la correspondencia
estrangera de la Real Academia Britannica di pintura,
escultura, y arquitectura. Al senor don Juan C****,“4to.
19.
” Tolondron. Speeches to John Bowie about his
edition of Don Quixote together with some account of
Spanish literature," 1786, 8vo.
, an English divine, was the son of Mr. John Barnard, of Castor,
, an English divine, was the son of
Mr. John Barnard, of Castor, a market town in Lincolnshire. He had his education in the grammar-school of
that place; from whence he was sent to Cambridge, where
he became a pensioner of Queen’s college. After that he
went to Oxford, to obtain preferment from the visitors appointed by act of parliament, and there took the degree of
B.A.April 15, 1648; and on Sept. 29 following, was, by order
of the said visitors, made fellow of Lincoln college. Feb.
20, 1650, he took the degree of M. A. At length, having
married the daughter of Dr. Peter Heylyn, then living at
Abingdon, he became rector of Wadding-ton, near Lincoln, the perpetual advowson of which he purchased, and
held it for some time, together with the sinecure of
Gedney, in the same county. After the restoration he conformed, and was made prebendary of Asgarby in the
church of Lincoln. July 6, 1669, he took the degree of
B. D. and the same year was created D. D. being then in
good repute for his learning and orthodoxy. He died at
Newark, on a journey to Spa, Aug. 17, 1683, and was
buried in his own church of Waddington. His works
are: 1. “Censura Cleri, against scandalous ministers, not
fit to be restored to the church’s livings, in point of prudence, piety, and fame,
” Lond. TheoJogo-historicus, or the true life of the most reverend divine and excellent historian Peter Heylyn, D. D. subdean of Westminster,
” Lond. An Answer to Mr. Baxter’s
false accusation of Mr. Heylyn.
” 4. “A catechism for
the use of his parish.
” The purpose of the “Censura
Cleri
” was to prevent some clergymen from being restored to their livings who had been ejected during the
interregnum, but, according to Wood, when affairs took a
different turn, he did not wish to be known as the author.
, was an English Roman Catholic, of the seventeenth century, whose history
, was an English Roman Catholic, of
the seventeenth century, whose history has been imperfectly related. According to Moreri (who refers to “Memoires du temps
”) he was an Englishman by birth, and
studied with great success at Lou vain. Wood savs he was
of a Lancashire family, and educated for some time at Oxford, whence he went to Spain, and studied divinity and
philosophy under the famous Dr. J. Alph. Curiel, who,
adds Wood, was wont to call Barnes by the name of John
Hiiss, because of a spirit of contradiction which was always
observed in him, but which, it appears by his writings,
was a spirit of thinking for himself that could not be very
acceptable to his superiors. He is said to have been
young when he entered among the English Benedictines
near Douay, for fear of the inquisition, with which he was
threatened at Louvain and some time after he was obliged
to leave the Benedictines, under the same alarm, for holding some sentiments they did not approve. Wood says,
that before this he was sent into England on a mission, but
being discovered there, he was imprisoned and sent to
Normandy with certain priests and Jesuits. Moreri says,
that on leaving Douay, he took refuge in Paris, where he
was protected by some persons of distinction, and admitted into the friendship of several men of learning. In
1625, at which time he was one of the confessors of the
abbey of Chelles, he published a work against mental reservation, entitled “Dissertatio contra equivocationes,
”
Paris, 8vo, of which a French translation was published at
the same time. In the approbation of the faculty of theology at Paris prefixed to this work, he is styled doctor of
arts and divinity, professor of the English mission, and
first assistant of the congregation of Spain. This work
made a considerable noise, and was attempted to be answered by father Theophilus Raynaud in 1627. His next
work, entitled “Catholico-Romanus Pacificus,
” gave yet
more offence, and the pope wrote to the king of France,
and to cardinal Richelieu, desiring they would send the
author of these publications to Rome. Barnes was accordingly taken up in December 1625. He wrote also an answer
to Clement Reyner’s “Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Anglia,
” which Wood makes to precede the former. It appears certain, however, that in consequence of the moderation of his opinions, he was hurried like a malefactor
from place to place through Germany. While confined at
Mechlin, he contrived to make his escape from the room
by means of the strings of a bass viol, of which he had procured a quantity under pretence that the dampness of the
place had injured what belonged to his instrument; but he
was discovered while stepping into a vessel at Antwerp, and
conveyed to Rome. Here he was put into the prison belonging to the inquisition, in which he died, after thirty
years confinement. During part of this time, his sufferings
had brought on insanity. An edition of his “CatholicoRomanus Pacificus
” was printed at the theatre at Oxford
in Ancient Liberty of the Britannic
church.
” Wood mentions other writings by Barnes, but
without specifying their titles.
eces are in English, with a Latin dedication, an. 1669. 2.” The Life of Oliver Cromwell, the Tyrant,“ an English poem, 1670. 3. Several dramatic pieces, viz. Xerxes,
In 1700, he married Mrs. Mason, a widow lady of Hemingford, near St. Ives, in Huntingdonshire, with a jointure of c200 per annum. The common report is, that this
lady, who was between forty and fifty, having for some
time been a great admirer of Mr. Barnes, came to
Cambridge, and desired leave to settle an hundred pounds a
year upon him after her death which he politely refused,
unless she would condescend to make him happy in her
person^ which was none of the most engaging. The lady
was too obliging to refuse any thing to “Joshua, for
whom,
” she said, “the sun stood still
” and soon after
they were married. This jointure was probably a help to
him, but he had no church preferment, and bore a considerable part in the printing of some of his works, particularly his Homer. It appears that he was much involved
with the expence of this work, and wrote two supplicating
letters on the subject to the earl of Oxford, which are now
in the British Museum, and weiae copied some years ago,
and printed in the St. James’s Chronicle by George Steevens, esq. What the effect of them was, we know not but
it is said that he at one time generously refused c2000 a
year which was offered to be settled upon him. Upon the
same authority we are told that a copy of verses which he
wrote to prove that Solomon was the author of the Iliad,
was not so much from the persuasion of his own mind, as
to amuse his wife and by that means engage her to supply him with money towards defraying the expences of the
edition. On his monument is a Latin inscription, and
some Greek anacreontics by Dr. Savage, rather extravagant, but composed by way of pleasantry, and which his
widow requested might be inscribed. The English translation, often reprinted, is professedly burlesque but one
curious-fact is recorded on this monument, that he “read
a small English Bible one hundred and twenty-one times
at his leisure,
” which, Mr. Cole remarks, is but once
more than the learned duke de Montausier had read the
Greek Testament. In one of the above-mentioned letters
to Harley, he says, “I have lived in the university above
thirty years fellow of a college, now above forty years
standing, and fifty-eight years of age am bachelor of
divinity, and have preached before kings.
” How Mr.
Barnes was neglected in church preferment cannot now be
ascertained, but it seems not improbable that he did not
seek it, his whole life being spent in study, and his only
wants, those which arose from the expense of his publications. His pursuits were classical, and although from his
constant perusal of the Bible, we may infer his piety, we
know little of him as a divine.
The following is a Jist of Mr. Barnes’s works, published
and unpublished; and from the latter, we may at least
form a very high opinion of his industry. It is unnecessary, perhaps, to add that his editions of the classics are
not now in the highest reputation. Their errors were
pointed out in his life-time, and superior critics have in a
great measure superseded the use of them. While at
Christ-church he published, 1. "Sacred Poems, in five
books, viz. I. These pieces are in English, with a Latin dedication, an. 1669. 2.
” The Life of Oliver Cromwell, the
Tyrant,“an English poem, 1670. 3. Several dramatic
pieces, viz. Xerxes, Pythias and Damon, Holofernes, &c.
some in English and some in Latin; the former written
entirely by himself, the latter in conjunction with others.
Also some tragedies of Seneca translated into English.
4.
” Upon the Fire of London and the Plague,“a Latin
poem in heroic verse. 5.
” A Latin Elegy upon the beheading of St. John the Baptist.“He afterwards published, 6.
” Gerania, or a new discovery of a little sort
of people called Pigmies," 1655, 12mo. 7. 1679, 8vo. 8.
” The History of that most victorious
monarch Edward III. king of England and France, and
lord of Ireland, and first founder of the most noble order
of the Garter; being a full and exact account of the Life
and Death of the said King; together with that of his most
renowned son, Edward Prince of Wales and Acquitain,
surnamed the Black Prince; faithfully and carefully collected from the best and most ancient authors domestic
and foreign, printed books, manuscripts, and records,“Cambridge, 1688, fol. a very elaborate collection of facts,
but strangely intermixed with long speeches from his own
imagination, which he thought was imitating Thucydides.
Of his judgment as an antiquary, it may be a sufficient
specimen that he traced the institution of the order of the
garter to the Phenicians, following his predecessor Aylet
Sammes, who derives all our customs from the same ancient people. 9. His
” Euripides,“1694, fol. 10.
” His
Anacreon,“1705 and 1721, 8vo, which he dedicated to
the duke of Marlborough, who, it has been observed,
knew nothing of Anacreon, or of Greek. 11. His Homer,
” 2 vols. 1711, 4to. The verses he wrote proving
that Solomon wrote the Iliad, are in ms. in the library of
Emanuel college.
ides the books already mentioned, we find the following 1. The Warlike Lover, or the Generous Rival; an English dramatic piece upon the war between the English and
There is subjoined to the first edition of his Anacreon at Cambridge, 1705, a catalogue of works, which Mr. Barnes had either published, or intended to publish; which is omitted in the second edition of that poet, printed after his death in 1721, though it is mentioned in the contents and the prolegomena. In this catalogue, besides the books already mentioned, we find the following 1. The Warlike Lover, or the Generous Rival; an English dramatic piece upon the war between the English and Dutch, and the death of the earl of Sandwich, an. 1672. 2. ψονθομφανεὰχ, or Joseph the Patriarch a Greek heroic poem in one book. The author designed twelve books, but finished only one. 3. Ὀρειολογία, or our Saviour’s Sermon upon the Mount, the Decalogue, the Apostles Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Magnificat, with other hymns from the Old and New Testament, in Greek verse. 4. Thuribuluna, or the hymns and festivals in Greek verse. 5. Miscellanies and epigrams in Latin and Greek verse. 6. Αγγλα Βελγομαχία, or the death of Edward Montague, earl of Sandwich, in Greek, Latin, and English verse. 7. Ἀγεκτρυομαχία, or a poem upon Cock-fighting, an, 1673. 8. The Song of Songs, containing an hundred Hexastics in English heroic verse, an. 1674. 9. Σῶειδηριάδος; a ludicrous poem, in Greek macaronic verse, upon a battle between a Spider and a Toad, an. 1673. 10. Φληϊάδος, or a supplement to the old ludicrous poem under that title, at Trinity-house in Cambridge, upon a battle between the Fleas and a Welshman. 11. A Poetical Lexicon, Greek and Latin to which is added a Lexicon of proper names, 1675, fol. 12. A treatise on the Greek Accents, in answer to Henry Christian Heninius and others, with a discourse upon the Points now in use. 13. Humorous Poems upon the 9th by ok of the; Iliad, and the ninth of the Odyssey, in English published in 1681. 14. Franciados an heroic poem, in Latin, upon the Black Prince. The whole was to consist of twelve books, eight of which were finished. 15. The Art of War, in four books, in English prose, 1676. 16. Hengist, or the English Valour; an heroic poem in English, in seven books. 17. Landgarth, or the Amazon Queen of Norway and Denmark an English dramatic poem in heroic verse, designed in honour of the marriage between prince George of Denmark and princess Anne. 18. An Ecclesiastical History from the beginning of the world to the ascension of our Saviour, in Latin, to I. 19. Miscellaneous Poems in English. 20. Philosophical and Divine Poems, in Latin, published at different 'times at Cambridge. 21. Poems, and sacred daily Meditations, continued for several years in English. 22. A dissertation upon Pillars, Obelisks, Pyramids, &c. in Latin, 1692. 23. A discourse upon the Sibyls, in three books, in Latin. 24. The Life of Pindar in four lectures, and thirty-two lectures upon his first Olympic Ode. 25. The Life of Theocritus, and lectures upon that poet. 26. The Lives of David, Scanderbeg, and Tamerlane. These lives, he tells us, he never actually begun, but only made considerable collections for them. 27. The Life of Edward the Black Prince. 28. The University- Calendar, or directions for young students of all degrees, with relation to their studies, and general rules of ethics, and a form of prayer, anno 1685. 29. Thirty-two lectures upon the first book of the Odyssey. 30. Above fifty lectures upon. Sophocles. 31. Lectures upon Bereshith, with an oration recommending the study of the Hebrew language. 32. Three Discourses in Jtnglish. I. The Fortunate Island, or the Inauguration of Queen Gloriana. II. The Advantage of England, or a sure way to victory. III. The Cause of the Church of England defended and explained published in 1703. 33. Concio ad Clerum, for his degree of bachelor of divinity, at St. Mary’s in Cambridge, 1686. 3*. Occasional Sermons, preached before the lord-mayor, &c. 35. An Oration, recommending the study of the Greek language, spoken in the public schools at Cambridge before the vice-chancellor, March 28, 1705. 36. A Greek Oration, addressed to the most reverend father Neophytus, archbishop of philippopolis, spoken in the Regent-house at Cambridge, September 13, 1701, 37. A Prevaricator’s Speech, spoken at the commencement at Cambridge, 1680. 38. A Congratulatory Oration in Latin, spoken at St. Mary’s, September 9, 1683, upon the escape of king Charles Ji. and the duke of York from the conspiracy. 39. Sermons, orations, declamations, problems, translations, letters, and other exercises, in English, Latin, and Greek. 40. A Satire in English verse upon the poets and critics. 41. An imitation of Plautus’s Trinummi in English. 42. Interpretations, illustrations, emendations, and corrections of many passages, which have been falsely translated, with explications upon various passages of scripture, from Genesis to Revelations. 43. Common-places in divinity, philology, poetry, and criticism and emendations of various Greek and Latin authors, with fragments of many of the poets.
, an English landscape painter, was born about 1728, in the city
, an English landscape painter, was born about 1728, in the city of Dublin. It is not known that he received any regular instructions in painting. He began his attempts in the very humble line of colouring prints, in which he was employed by one Silcock, in Nicholas street, Dublin. From this feeble commencement he rose to considerable powers as a landscape painter, by studying from the scenes of nature in the Dargies, and in the park at Powerscourt, places near Dublin, and is said to have received patronage and encouragement from the noble owner of Powerscourt. About this time a premium was offered by the Dublin society for the best landscape in oil, which Mr. Barret won. In 1762 he visited London, where he soon distinguished himself; and, the second year after his arrival, gained the premium given by the society for the encouragement of arts, &c. for the best landscape in oil. The establishment of the royal academy was in a great measure indebted to the efforts of Mr. Barret, who formed the plan, and became one of its members.
the world the Saxon translation of Orosius, ascribed to king Alfred, in one vol. 8vo, he added to it an English translation and notes, which neither give the meaning,
, fourth son of the
preceding, was born in 1727, studied some time at Oxford,
which he quitted for the Temple, and after the usual course
was admitted to the bar. He was one of his majesty’s counsel
learned in the law, and a bencher of the lion society of the
Inner Temple, but, although esteemed a very sound lawyer,
he never rose to any distinguished eminence as a pleader. He
was for some time recorder of Bristol, in which situation
he was preceded by sir Michael Foster, and succeeded by
Mr. Dunning, afterwards lord Ashburton. In May 1751
he was appointed marshal of the high court of admiralty in
England, which he resigned in 1753, on being appointed
secretary for the affairs of Greenwich hospital; and was
appointed justice of the counties of Merioneth, Carnarvon,
and Anglesey, 1757, and afterwards second justice of Chester, which he resigned about 1785, retaining only the
place of commissary-general of the stores at Gibraltar.
Had it been his wish, he might probably have been promoted to the EngU&h bench, but possessed of an ample
income, having a strong bias to the study of antiquities,
natural history, &c. he retired from the practice of the law,
and applied his legal knowledge chiefly to the purposes of
investigating curious questions of legal antiquity. His first
publication, which will always maintain its rank, and has
gone through several editions, was his “Observations on
the Statutes,
” The Naturalist’s Calendar,
” which was also favourably received. In Tracts on the probability of reaching
the North Pole,
” Philosophical Transactions,
” were published separately. -It must be allowed that
the learned author bestowed much time and labour on this
subject, and accumulated an amazing-quantity of written,
traditionary, and conjectural evidence, in proof of the possibility of circumnavigating the pole; but when his testimonies were examined, they proved rather ingenious than
satisfactory. In 1781 he published “Miscellanies on various subjects,
” 4to, containing some of his papers in the
Philosophical Transactions, and other miscellaneous essays composed or compiled by him, on various subjects of
antiquity, civil and natural history, &c. His contributions
to the Philosophical Transactions and to the Archaologia
are numerous, as may be seen in the indexes of these
works. He was a -member of both societies, and a vicepresident of that of the antiquaries, which office he resigned
in his latter days on account of his bad state of health. He
died after a lingering illness, at his chambers in the King’s
Bench walk, Temple, March 11, 1SOO, aged 73, and
was interred in the vault of the Temple church. Mr. Barrington was a man of amiable character, polite, communicative, and liberal.
, an English artist of considerable fame, was the eldest son of John
, an English artist of considerable
fame, was the eldest son of John Barry and Julian Roerden, and was born in Cork, Oct. 11, 1741. His father
was a builder, and in the latter part of his life a coasting
trader between England and Ireland. James was at first
destined to this last business, but as he disliked it, his
father suffered him to pursue his inclination, which led
him to drawing and reading. His early education he received in the schools at Cork, where he betrayed some
symptoms of that peculiar frame of mind which became
more conspicuous in his maturer years. His studies were
desultory, directed by no regular plan, yet he accumulated a considerable stock of knowledge. As his mother
was a zealous Roman Catholic, he fell into the company
of some priests, who recommended the study of polemical
divinity, and probably all of one class, for this ended in
his becoming a staunch Roman Catholic.
Although the rude beginnings of his art cannot be traced,
there is reason to ^hink that at the age of seventeen he
had attempted oil-painting, and between the ages of seventeen and twenty-two he executed a picture, the subject
“St. Patrick landing on the sea-coast of Cashell,
” which
he exhibited in Dublin. This procured him some reputation, and, what was afterwards of much importance,
the acquaintance of the illustrious Edmund Burke. During
his stay in Dublin, he probably continued to cultivate his
art, but no particular work can now be discovered. After
a residence of seven or eight months in Dublin, an opportunity offered of accompanying some part of Mr. Burke' s
family to London, which he eagerly embraced. This took
place in 1764, and on his arrival, Mr. Burke recommended
nim to his friends, and procured for him his first employment, that of copying in oil drawings by the Athenian
Stuart. In 1765, Mr. Burke and his other friends furnished him with the means of visiting Italy, where he
surveyed the noble monuments of art then in that country,
with the eye of an acute, and often very just critic, but
where, at the same time, his residence was rendered uncomfortable by those unhappy irregularities of temper,
which, more or less, obscured all his prospects in life.
, an English physician of the last century, has acquired some celebrity,
, an English physician of the
last century, has acquired some celebrity, more from the
punishment he suffered for writing, than for the merit of
what he has written. He was born at Writtle in Essex,
1595, and studied at Emanuel college, Cambridge, but
leaving the university without a degree, he travelled for
nine years, and was made doctor of physic at Padua. He
printed at Leyden, 1624, a small piece entitled “Elenchus
Ileligionis Papisticse, in quo probatur neque Apostolicam,
neque Catholic-am, imo neque Romanam esse,
” 24mo.
Afterwards, in England, he published “Flagellum Pontificis et Episcoporum latialium;
” and though he declared, in
the preface, that he intended nothing against such bishops
as acknowledged their authority from kings and emperors;
yet our English prelates imagining that some things in his
book were levelled at them, he was cited before the high
commission court, fined 1000l. and sentenced to be excommunicated, to be debarred the practice of physic, to have
his book burnt, to pay costs of suit, and to remain in prison
till he made a recantation. Accordingly he was confined
two years in the Gate-house, where he wrote “Apologeticus ad Proesules Anglicanos,
” &c. and a book called
“The New Litany,
” in which he taxed the bishops with
an inclination to popery, and exclaimed against the severity
and injustice of the high-commission’s proceedings against
him. For this he was sentenced to pay a fine of 5000l. to
stand in the pillory in the Palace Yard, Westminster, and
there lose his ears, and to suffer perpetual imprisonment in
a remote part of the kingdom. The same sentence was,
the same year, 1637, passed and executed upon Prynne
and Burton. Bastwick was conveyed to Launceston castle
in Cornwall, and thence removed to St. Mary’s castle in the
Isle of Scilly, where his nearest relations were not permitted to visit him. The house of commons, however, in
1640, ordered him, as well as the others, to be brought
back to London; and they were attended all the way thither by vast multitudes of people, with loud acclamations
of joy. The several proceedings against them were voted
illegal, unjust, and against the liberty of the subject; their
sentence reversed; their fine remitted; and a reparation
of 5000l. each ordered out of the estates of the archbishop
of Canterbury, the high-commissioners, and other lords,
who had voted against them in the star-chamber.
, an English divine of the Hutchinsonian principles, was a younger
, an English divine of the Hutchinsonian
principles, was a younger son of the Rev. Richard Bate,
vicar of Chilham and rector of Warehorn, who died in
1736. He was born about 1711, and matriculated at St.
John’s college, Cambridge, where he took his degrees, of
B. A. 1730, and M. A. 1742. He was an intimate friend
of the celebrated Hutchinson, as we learn from Mr. Spearman’s life of that remarkable author), by whose recommendation he obtained from Charles duke of Somerset a presentation to the living of Sutton in Sussex, near his seat at
Petworth. Mr. Bate attended Hutchinson in his last illness (1737), and was by him in a most striking manner recommended to the protection of an intimate friend, “with
a strict charge not to suffer his labours to become useless
by neglect.
” It having been reported that Hutchinson had
recanted the publication of his writings to Dr. Mead a
little before his death; that circumstance was flatly contradicted by a letter from Mr. Bate, dated Arundel, January
20, 1759. He died at Arundel, April 7, 1771. His evangelical principles of religion shone with a steady lustre, not
only in his writings, but in his life. Disinterested, and disdaining the mean arts of ambition, he was contented with
the small preferment he had in the church. As a Christian
and a friend, he was humble and pious, tender, affectionate,
and faithful; as a writer, warm, strenuous, and undaunted,
in asserting the truth.
, earl, an English nobleman of distinguished abilities, was son of sir
, earl, an English nobleman of distinguished abilities, was son of sir Benjamin Bathurst of Pauler’s Perry, Northamptonshire, and born in St. James’s square, Westminster, Nov. 16, 1684. His mother was Frances, daughter of sir Allen Apsley, in Sussex, knt. After a grammatical education, he was entered, at the age of fifteen, in Trinity college, Oxford; of which his uncle, dean Bathurst, was president. In 1705, when just of age, he was chosen for Cirencester in Gloucestershire, which borough he represented for two parliaments. He acted, in the great opposition to the duke of Maryborough and the Whigs, under Mr. Harley and Mr. St. John; and, in Dec. 1711, at that memorable period, in which the administration, to obtain a majority in the upper house, introduced twelve new lords in one day, was made a peer. On the accession of George I. when his political friends were in disgrace, and some of them exposed to persecution, he continued firm in his attachment to them: he united, particularly, in the protests against the acts of the attainder against lord Bolingbroke and the duke of Ormond. We have no speech of his recorded, till on Feb. 21, 1718 from which period, for the space of twenty-five years, we find that he took an active and distinguished part in every important matter which came before the upper house; and that he was one of the most eminent opposers of the measures of the court, and particularly of sir Robert Waipole’s administration. For an account of these, however, we refer to history, and especially to the history and proceedings of the house of lords.
f Monte Cavallo; the chaste Susanna, in the possession of his heirs; the Hagar, in the collection of an English gentleman; the Prodigal son, in that of the cardinal
In the immaculate conception, which has been more than a thousand times a subject for painters, Batoni succeeded so well for the church of the Philippines at Chiari near Brescia, as to excite the attention and admiration of all good judges. His next piece was the story of Simon the magician for the church of St. Peter at Rome; and among his other most admired pictures we may notice the two great altar-pieces which he executed for the city of Brescia, whereof one represents St. Johannes Nepomucenus with Mary; and the other the offering of the latter; two others for the city of Lucca, one of St. Catherine of Siena, and the other of St. Bartholomew; another for Messina, of the apostle James; and for Parma, John preaching in the wilderness; as also the many scriptural pieces, and especially those which are so much admired in the summer-house in the papal gardens of Monte Cavallo; the chaste Susanna, in the possession of his heirs; the Hagar, in the collection of an English gentleman; the Prodigal son, in that of the cardinal duke of York; to which may be added, a multitude of pictures of the Virgin, of the holy family, and saints of both sexes, which he executed for private persons. He likewise acquired great fame by his Choice of Hercules, which he painted at first in the natural size, and afterwards smaller, for the Florentine Marchese Ginosi, as a companion to the Infant Hercules strangling the serpents. Not less animated and expressive is another picture of the same kind, in which, at the request of an English gentleman, he has depicted Bacchus and Ariadne. Another poetical fiction, which he has superiorly expressed, is in a painting that is still with his heirs. His intention was to delineate the cares and solicitudes of a blooming beauty. She lies sleeping on a magnificent couch: but her sleep is not so profound as to break off all correspondence between the mind and the senses; it is soft and benign, as usual when a pleasing dream employs the imagination. The effigies of Peace and War was one of his finest performances, and which he executed towards the latter end of his life. Mars, in complete armour, is rushing to the combat, sword in hand; an exceedingly beautiful virgin, who casts on him a look of sweetness and intreaty, at the same time presenting him with a branch of palm, places herself directly in his way.
, an English antiquary, was born at St. Edmund’s Bury, in Suffolk,
, an English antiquary, was
born at St. Edmund’s Bury, in Suffolk, in 1647. He was
some time fellow of Trinity college, Cambridge, and chaplain to archbishop Sancroft, afterwards, by his grace’s favour, rector of Adisham, in Kent, prebendary of Canterbury, and archdeacon of the diocese, and died Oct. 10,
1708. Dr. Thomas Terry, canon of Christ-church, Oxford, published Dr. Battely’s “Antiquitates Rutupinae,
”
in Antiquitates
St. Edmondburgi,
” an unfinished history of his native
place, and its ancient monastery, down to the year 1272.
This was published by his nephew, Oliver Battely, with
an appendix also, and list of abbots, continued by sir
James Burrough, late master of Caius college, Cambridge.
The doctor’s papers are said, in the preface, to remain in
the hands of his heirs, ready to be communicated to any
who will undertake the work. In 1774, Mr. John Duncombe published a translation of the “Antiquitates Rutupinae,
” under the title of “The Antiquities of Richborough and Reculver, abridged from the Latin of Mr.
Archdeacon Battely,
” Lond. Somner’s Antiquities of Canterbury,
” and wrote some
papers and accounts of Eastbridge hospital, in Canterbury,
which are printed in Strype’s life of Whitgift.
, an English physician of considerable eminence, was born at Medbury,
, an English physician of considerable eminence, was born at Medbury, in Devonshire, 1704, the son of Edward Battie, and grandson of William Battie, D. D. He received his education at Eton, where his mother resided after her husband’s death, in order to assist her son, on the spot, with that advice, and those accommodations, which would have been more useless and expensive, had she lived at a greater distance. In 1722 he" was sent to King’s college, Cambridge, and on a vacancy of the Craven scholarship, he succeeded to it by a com-1 bination of singular circumstances. The candidates being reduced to six, the provost, Dr. Snape, examined them all together, that they might, as he said, be witnesses to the successful candidate. The three candidates from King’s were examined in Greek authors, and the provost dismissed them with this pleasing compliment, that not being yet determined in his choice, he must trouble them to come again. The other electors were so divided, as, after a year and a day, to let the scholarship lapse to the donor’s family, when lord Craven gave it to Battle. Probably the remembrance continued with him, and induced him to make a similar foundation in the university, with a stipend of 20l. a year, and the same conditions for the beuetit of others, which is called Dr. Battie’s foundation. He nominated to it himself, while living, and it is now filled up by the electors to the Craven scholarships. To Battie this scholarship was of much importance, and, as appears by a letter he wrote in 1725, when he got it, he was enabled to live comfortably. In 1726, he took his bachelor’s, and in 1730, his master’s degree.
, an English musician and composer, was born in London, 1738. Discovering
, an English musician and composer, was born in London, 1738. Discovering at a very early age an uncommon genius for music, and having an excellent voice, he was, in 1747, placed in the choir of St. Paul’s, under the tuition of Mr. Savage, then master of the young gentlemen of that cathedral. He was soon qualified to sing at sight, and before he had been in the choir two years, his performances discovered uncommon taste and judgment. On his voice changing at the usual period of life, he became an articled pupil of Mr. Savage, and at the expiration of his engagement, came forth one of the first extempore performers in this country. He had now just arrived at manhood, and having a pleasing, though not powerful voice, a tasteful and masterly style of execution on the harpsichord, a fund of entertaining information acquired by extensive reading, a pleasing manner, and a gay and lively disposition, he possessed, in an eminent degree, the power of rendering himself agreeable in every company; and his society and instruction were courted by persons of the highest ranks. Every encouragement was offered to excite his future efforts, and promote his professional success; and no prospects could be fairer or more nattering than those which he had now before him.
, an English prelate, was born at Caermarthen in Whales, and educated
, an English prelate, was born at Caermarthen in Whales, and educated at the university of Oxford;
but in what college, or what degrees he took is uncertain.
We find only that he was admitted, as a member of Exeter college, to be reader of the sentences in 1611; about
which time he was minister of Evesham in Worcestershire,
chaplain to prince Henry, and rector of St. Matthew’s,
Friday-street, in London. Two years after he took his degrees in divinity; and being very much celebrated for his
talent in preaching, was appointed one of the chaplains to
king James I. who nominated him to the bishopric of Bangor in the room of Dr. H. Rowlands, in which see he was
consecrated at Lambeth, Dec. 8, 1616. On the 15th of
July 1621, he was committed to the Fleet, but was soon
after discharged. It is not certain what was the reason of
his commitment, unless, as Mr. Wood observes, it was on
account of prince Charles’s intended marriage with the Infanta of Spain. He died in the beginning of 1632, and
was interred in the church of Bangor. His fame rests
chiefly on his work entitled “The practice of Piety,
” of
which there have been a prodigious number of editions in
12mo and 8vo, that of 1735 being the fifty-ninth. It was
also translated into Welsh and French in 1633, and such
was its reputation, that John D'Espagne, a French writer,
and preacher at Somerset-house chapel in 1656, complained, that the generality of the common people paid
too great a regard to it, and considered the authority of it
as almost equal to that of the Sqriptures. This book was
the substance of several sermons, which Dr. Bayly preached while he was minister of Evesham. But Lewis du Moulin, who was remarkable for taking all opportunities of
reflecting upon the bishops and church of England, in his
“Patronus Bonce Fidei, &c.
” published in 8vo, this book was written by a Puritan minister,
and that a bishop, whose life was not very chaste and regular, after the author’s death, bargained with his widow
for the copy, which he received, but never paid her the
money; that he afterwards interpolated it in some places,
and published it as his own.
” It is not very probable, however, that a man “whose life was not very chaste and regular,
” should have been anxious to publish a work of this
description; but Dr. Kennet, in his Register, has very
clearly proved that bishop Bayly was the real author.
, an English divine of considerable eminence at Cambridge, was a
, an English divine of considerable
eminence at Cambridge, was a native of London. He
received his school-education at Withersfield, in Essex,
and was afterwards admitted of Christ college, Cambridge,
where his behaviour was so loose and irregular that his
father left what he meant to bestow on him, in the hands
of Mr. Wilson, a tradesman of London, with an injunction
not to let him have it, unless he forsook his evil courses.
This happy change took place not long after his father’s
death, and Mr. Wilson delivered up his, trust. In the interim, although his moral conduct was censurable, such
was his proficiency in learning, that he was elected a fellow
of his college; and after his reformation, having been admitted into holy orders, he was so highly esteemed for
his piety, eloquence, and success, as a preacher, that he
was chosen to succeed the celebrated Perkins, as lecturer
of St. Andrew’s church. In this office he continued until
silenced for certain opinions, not favourable to the discipline of the church, by Abp. Bancroft’s visitor, Mr. (afterwards archbishop) Harsnet; and Mr. Baynes appealed, but in
vain, to the archbishop. On another occasion he was
summoned by Dr. Harsnet, then bishop of Chichester, to
the privy-council, but acquitted himself so much to the
satisfaction of all present, that he met with no farther
trouble. During his suspension from the regular exercise
of his ministry, he employed himself on his writings, none
of which, if we may judge from the dates of those we have
seen, were published in his life-time. He died at Cambridge, in 1617. His works are: 1. “A commentary on
the first chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians, handling
the controversy of Predestination,
” London, The Diocesan’s Trial, wherein all the sinews of Dr.
Downham’s defence are brought into three heads, and dissolved,
” Help to true happiness, explaining
the fundamentals of Christian religion,
” London, 12m'o.
3d edit. 1635. 4. “Letters of consolation, exhortation,
direction, with a sermon of the trial of a Christian’s estate,
1637, 12mo. 5.
” A Commentary on the epistle to the
Ephesians," Lond. fol. 1643.
, an English prelate, was a native of Yorkshire, and educated in
, an English prelate, was a native of
Yorkshire, and educated in St. John’s college, Cambridge,
where he attained considerable reputation, as an expounder
of the Scriptures, and as a Greek and Hebrew scholar.
Having taken his degree of D. D. he went over to Paris,
and was for some time royal professor of Hebrew. He
remained abroad during the latter part of the reign of
Henry VIII. and the whole of Edward VI. but upon the
accession of queen Mary, with whose principles he coincided, he was consecrated bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. When queen Elizabeth succeeded, he was deprived, and for some time imprisoned, but lived afterwards
in the bishop of London’s house. He died in 1559, of
the stone. Fuller says, in allusion to the persecutions he
occasioned in his diocese, that although he was as bad as
Christopherson, he was better than Bonner. He wrote
“Prima Rudimenta in linguam Hebraicam,
” Paris, Comment, in proverbia Salomonis, lib. III.
”
ibid, and same year, fol.
, an English writer, was a wine merchant at Wrexham, in Denbighshire,
, an English writer, was a wine
merchant at Wrexham, in Denbighshire, a man of learning, great humanity, of an easy fortune, and much respected. He published in 1737, “Eugenio, or virtuous
and happy life,
” 4to, a poem inscribed to Pope, and by
no means destitute of poetical merit. He submitted it in
manuscript to Swift, who wrote him a long and very candid
letter, now printed in his works, and Mr. Beach adopted Swift’s
corrections. He is said to have entertained very blameable
notions in religion, but his friends endeavoured to vindicate him from this charge, when his death took place, May
17, 1737, precipitated by his own hand.
painted? in oil, water-colours, and crayons; and had much business. The author of the essay towards an English school of Painters, annexed to De Piles’s art of Painting,
, a portrait-painter in the reign of Charles
II. was daughter of Mr. Cradock, minister of Walton upon
Thames, but was born in Suffolk in 1632. She was assiduous in copying the works of sir Peter Lely and Vandyke. She painted? in oil, water-colours, and crayons;
and had much business. The author of the essay towards
an English school of Painters, annexed to De Piles’s art
of Painting, says, that “she was little inferior to any of
her contemporaries, either for colouring, strength, force,
or life; insomuch that sir Peter was greatly taken with her
performances, as he would often acknowledge. She worked
with a wonderful body of colours, and was exceedingly industrious.
” She was greatly respected and encouraged
by many of the most eminent among the clergy of that
time; she took the portraits of Tillotson, Stillingfleet,
Patrick, Wilkins, &c. some of which are still remaining
at the earl of Ilchester’s, at Melbury, in Dorsetshire. In
the manuscripts of Mr. Oldys, she is celebrated for her
poetry as well as for her painting; and is styled “that
masculine poet, as well as painter, the incomparable Mrs.
Beale.
” In Dr. S. Woodford’s translation of the Psalms,
are two or three versions of particular psalms, by Mrs.
Beale: whom, in his preface, he calls “an absolutely
complete gentlewoman r
” He says farther, “I have hardly
obtained leave to honour this volume of mine with two or
three versions, long since done by the truly virtuous Mrs.
Mary Beale; among whose least accomplishments it is,
that she has made painting and poetry, which in the fancies
of others had only before a kind of likeness, in her own to
be really the same. The reader, I hope, will pardon this
public acknowledgement, which I make to so deserving a
person.
” She died Dec. 28, 1697, in her 66th year.
She had two sons, who both exercised the art of painting
some little time; one of them afterwards studied physic under
Dr. Sydenham, and practised at Coventry, where he and
his father died. There is an engraving, by Chambers,
from a painting by herself, of Mrs. Beale, in Walpole’s
Anecdotes of Painting in England.
, an English actor and singer, born in 1717, was bred up in the king’s
, an English actor and singer, born in
1717, was bred up in the king’s chapel, and was one of
the singers in the duke of Chandos’s chapel at Cannons,
where he performed in Esther, an oratorio composed by
Mr. Handel. He appeared the first time on the stage at
Drury-lane, Aug. 30, 1737, in sir John Loverule, in the
“Devil to Pay.
” He afterwards, on the 8th of Jan. 1739,
married lady Henrietta Herbert, daughter of J&mes earl
Waldegrave, and widow of lord Edward Herbert, second
son of the marquis of Powis. She died 31st of May 1753.
On his marriage he quitted the stage for a few years. He
afterwards returned to Drury-lane, and in 1744 to Coventgarden, where he remained until 1758. In that year he
engaged with Mr. Garrick, and continued with him until
1759, when having married a daughter of Mr. Rich, he
was engaged at Covent-garden, where, on the death of
that gentleman, he became manager. His first appearance there was on the 10th of Oct. 1759, in the character
of Macheath, which, aided by Miss Brent in Polly, ran fifty-two nights. In 1768 he retired from the theatre, and
died universally respected at the age of seventy-four, in
1791. His remains were deposited in the vault of the
church at Hampton in Middlesex. He was long the deserved favourite of the public; and whoever remembers
the variety of his abilities, as actor and singer, in oratorios
and operas, both serious and comic, win 1 testify to his
having stood unrivalled in fame and excellence. This
praise, however, great as it -was, fell short of what his private merits acquired. He had one of the sincerest hearts
joined to the most polished manners. He was a most delightful companion, whether as host or guest. His time,
his pen, and purse, were devoted to the alleviation of
every distress that fell within the compass of his power, and
through life he fulfilled the relative duties of son, brother,
guardian, friend, and husband, with the most exemplary
truth and tenderness.
s appears too conspicuously; but in general it is read with pleasure and profit. The first volume of an English translation of this work was published in 1770, but,
, first professor of rhetoric in the
college of the Grassins, and afterwards professor in the
college-royal, secretary to the duke of Orleans, perpetual
secretary and pensionary of the academy of inscriptions,
was born at Paris, Oct. 19, 1701 (Saxius says 1709), and
died in that city, March 13, 1778. He was married, and
left only one daughter. This honest and laborious academician, the rival of Rollin in the art of teaching, idolized
by his scholars, as that famous professor was, had perhaps
a more extensive fund of learning, and particularly in
Greek and Latin literature. His history of the Lower Empire, in 22 vols. 12mo, 1757, forming a continuation of
Crevier’s History of the Emperors, is the more esteemed,
as in the composition of it he had many difficulties to overcome, in reconciling contradictory writers, rilling up
chasms, and forming a regular body out of a heap of
mishapen ruins. It is strongly characterized by a judicious
series of criticism, couched in a polished and elegant style.
The logician sometimes appears too conspicuously; but
in general it is read with pleasure and profit. The first
volume of an English translation of this work was published
in 1770, but, we believe, not continued. The memoirs
of the academy of belles lettres are enriched with several
learned dissertations by the same author, particularly on
medals, on the Roman legion, on the Roman art of war,
and thirty-four biographical eloges, distinguished for truth
and impartiality. The religious sentiments, the sound
principles, the sweetness of manners, and the inviolable
integrity of M. le Beau, which inspired his friends and disciples with so much attachment to him when alive, occasioned them to feel a long and lasting regret at his departure. Several little anecdotes might here be related that
do honour to his heart. A place in the academy of bt-iles
lettres had been designed for him. Bougainville, the
translator of the Anti-Lucretius, who applied for it, with
fewer pretensions, and a less consummate knowledge,
dreaded such a formidable competitor as M. le Beau, to
whom, however, from his known character, he was not
deterred from making his wishes known. The professor
felt for his embarrassment, and hastened to the friends who
had promised him their votes, desiring they might be
transferred to the young student. “It is one of the
smallest sacrifices,
” said he, “1 should be ready to make
in order to oblige a man of merit.' 1 M. le Beau was received at the election following; and M. Capperonier,
surprised at his extensive erudition, and affected by his
generosity, exclaimed,
” He is our master in all things!“On another occasion, when highly praised for his acquisitions, he said,
” I know enough to be ashamed that I knowno more." Thierrat published Le Beau’s Latin works,
Paris, 1782, 2 vols. 8vo, consisting of orations, poetry, ancj
fables; -the last inferior to his other productions.
, * an English poet, was the son of Francis Beaumont one of the judges
, *an English poet, was the son of Francis Beaumont one of the judges of the common pleas in the reign of queen Elizabeth, and brother of Francis, the dramatic colleague of Fletcher. He was born in 1582, at Grace-Bieu, the family seat in Leicestershire, and admitted a gentleman commoner of Broadgate’s-hall, (now Pembroke college) Oxford, the beginning of Lent term, 1596. After three years study here, during which he seems to have attached himself most to the poetical classics, he became a member of one of the inns of court, but soon quitted that situation, and returned to Leicestershire, where he married Elizabeth daughter of John Fortescue, esq.
ctricitas Vindex late constituitur, &c.” Turin, 1771, 4to. 2. “Electricismo artificiale,” 1772, 4to, an English translation of which was published at Lond. 1776, 4to.
, a monk of the EcolesPies, or Pious Schools, was born at Mondovi, and died at
Turin, May 22, 1781. He was professor of mathematics
and philosophy, first at Palermo, then at Rome; and by
his experiments and discoveries was so successful as to
throw great light on natural knowledge, and especially on
that of electricity. He was afterwards called to Turin to
take upon him the professorship of experimental
philosophy. Being appointed preceptor to the two princes, Benedict duke of Chablais, and Victor Amadscus duke of Ctirignan, neither the life of a court, nor the allurements of
pleasure, were able to draw him aside from study. Loaded
with benefits and honours, he spared nothing to augment
his library, and to procure the instruments necessary for
his philosophical pursuits. His dissertations on electricity
would have been more useful, if he had been less strongly
attached to some particular systems, and especially that of
Mr. Franklin. He published, 1. “Experimenta quibus
Electricitas Vindex late constituitur, &c.
” Turin, Electricismo artificiale,
” Essay on the cause of Storms and Tempests,
” where we meet with nothing more satisfactory than
what has appeared in other works on that subject; several
pieces on the meridian of Turin, and other objects of astronomy and physics. Father Beccaria was no less respectable for his virtues than his knowledge.
, an English prelate, was born in the parish of Beckington, in S
, an English prelate, was born in the parish of Beckington, in Somersetshire, or according to Dr. Chandler at Wallinoford in Berkshire, towards the close of the fourteenth century. He was educated in grammar learning at Wyk chain’s school near Winchester, while that great prelate was living, and proceeded to his college (New College) in Oxford in 1403, the year before Wykeham died, and there became doctor of laws, and continued in his fellowship about twelve years. Within this period, most probably, he was presented to the rectory of St. Leonard’s, near Hastings in Sussex, and to the vicarage of Sutton Courtney in Berkshire. He was also prebendary of Bedwin, York, and Lichfield, archdeacon of Buckingham, and master of St. Catherine’s hospital near the Tower in London. About 1429, he was dean of the court of arches, and a synod being then held in St. Paul’s church, London, which continued above six months, Beckington was one of three appointed to draw up a form of law, according to which the Wickliffites were to be proceeded against. Having been once tutor to Henry VI. and written a book, in which, in opposition to the Salique law, he strenuously asserted the right of the kings of England to the crown of France, he arrived to high favour with that prince, and was made secretary of state, keeper of the privy seal, and bishop of Bath and Wells. On Sunday, Oct. 13, 1443, he was consecrated by the bishop of Lincoln in the old collegiate church of St. Mary of Eton; and after the ceremony, celebrated his first mass in his pontificals in the new church of St. Mary? then erecting, and not half finished, under a pavilion provided for the purpose at the altar, directly over the spot where king Henry had laid the first stone.
y then sincerely desired. In return for the favours he received from father Paul, Mr. Bedell drew up an English grammar for his use, and in many other respects assisted
, bishop of Kilmore in Ireland, and
one of the most pious and exemplary prelates of the seventeenth century, was descended from a good family, and
born in the year 1570, at Black Notley in Essex, and being designed for the church, was sent to Emanuel college
in Cambridge, where he was matriculated pensioner, March
12, 1584. He was placed under the care of Dr. Cbadderton, who was for many years head of that house, made
great progress in his studies, and went early into holy
orders. In 1593 he was chosen fellow of his college, and
in 1599 took his degree of bachelor in divinity. He then
removed from the university to St. Ednmndsbury in Suffolk, where he had a church, aud by an assiduous application to the duties of his function, was much noticed by
many gentlemen who lived near that place. He continued
there for some years, till an opportunity offered of his
going as chaplain with sir Henry Wotton, whom king James
had appointed his ambassador to the state of Venice, about
the year 1604. While he resided in that city, he became
intimately acquainted with the famous father Paul Sarpi,
who took him into his confidence, taught him the Italian
language, of which he became a perfect master, and translated into that tongue the English Common Prayer Book,
which was extremely well received by many of the clergy
there, especially by the seven divines appointed by the
republic to preach against the pope, during the time of
the interdict, and which they intended for their model, in
case they had broken absolutely with Rome, which was
what they then sincerely desired. In return for the favours he received from father Paul, Mr. Bedell drew up
an English grammar for his use, and in many other respects assisted him in his studies. He continued eight
years in Venice, during which time he greatly improved
himself in the Hebrew language, by the assistance of the
famous rabbi Leo, who taught him the Jewish pronunciation, and other parts of rabbinical learning; and by his
means it was that he purchased a very fair manuscript of
the Old Testament, which he bequeathed, as a mark of
respect, to Emanuel-college, and which, it is said, cost
him its weight in silver. He became acquainted there
likewise, with the celebrated Antonio de Dominis, archbishop of Spalata, who was so well pleased with his conversation, that he communicated to him his secret, and
shewed him his famous book “de Kepublica Ecclesiastica,
”
which he afterwards printed at London. The original ms.
is, if we mistake not, among bishop Tanner’s collections
in the Bodleian. Bedell took the freedom which he allowed him, and corrected many misapplications of texts
of scripture, and quotations of fathers; for that prelate,
being utterly ignorant of the Greek tongue, committed
many mistakes, both in the one and the other; and some
escaped Bedell’s diligence. De Dorninis took all this in
good part from him, and entered into such familiarity with
him, and found liis assistance so useful, and indeed so necessary to himself, that he used to say, he could do nothing
without him. At Mr. Bedell’s departure from Venice,
father Paul expressed great concern, and assured him, that
himself and many others would most willingly have accompanied him, if it had been in their power. He, likewise,
gave him his picture, a Hebrew Bible without points, and
a small Hebrew Psalter, in which he wrote some sentences
expressing the sincerity of his friendship. He gave him,
also, the manuscript of his famous “History of the Council of Trent,
” with the Histories of the Interdict and Inquisition, all written by himself, with a large collection of
letters, which were written to him weekly from Rome,
during the dispute between the Jesuits and Dominicans,
concerning the efficacy of grace, which it is supposed are
lost. On his return to England, he immediately retired
to his charge at St. Edmundsbury, without aspiring to any
preferment, and went on in his ministerial labours. It was
here he employed himself in translating the Histories of
the Interdict and Inquisition (which he dedicated to the king); as also the two last books of the History of the
Council of Trent into Latin, sir Adam Newton having
translated the two first. At this time, he mixed so seldom
with the world, that he was almost totally forgotten. So
little was he remembered, that, some years after, when the
celebrated Diodati, of Geneva, came over to England, he
could not, though acquainted with many of the clergy, hear
of Mr. Bedell from any person with whom he happened to
converse. Diodati was greatly amazed, that so extraordinary a man, who was so much admired at Venice by the
best judges of merit, should not be known in his own country; and he had given up all hopes of finding him out,
when, to their no small joy, they accidentally met each
other in the streets of London. Upon this occasion, Diodati presented his friend to Morton, the learned and ancient bishop of Durham, and told him how highly he had
been valued by father Paul, which engaged the bishop to
treat Mr. Bedell with very particular respect. At length
sir Thomas Jermyn taking notice of his abilities, presented
him to the living of Horingsheath, A. D. 1615: but he
found difficulties in obtaining institution and induction from
Dr. Jegon, bishop of Norwich, who demanded large fees
upon this account. Mr. Bedell was so nice in his sentiments
of simony, that he looked upon every payment as such,
beyond a competent gratification, for the writing, the wax,
and the parchment; and, refusing to take out his title
upon other terms, left the bishop and went home, but in a
few days the bishop sent for him, and gave him his title
without fees, and he removed to Horingsheath, where he
continued unnoticed twelve years, although he gave a singular evidence of his great capacity, in a book of controversy with the church of Rome, which he published and
dedicated to king Charles I. then prince of Wales, in 1624.
It is now annexed to Burnet’s Life of our author". However neglected he lived in England, yet his fame had reached
Ireland, and he was, in 1627, unanimously elected provost
of Trinity-college in Dublin, but this he declined, until
the king laid his positive commands on him, which he
obeyed, and on August 16th of that year, he was sworn
provost. At his first entrance upon this scene, he resolved
to act nothing until he became perfectly acquainted with
the statutes of the house, and the tempers of the people
whom he was appointed to govern; and, therefore,
carTied himself so abstractedly from all affairs, that he passed
some time for a soft and weak man, and even primate
Usher began to waver in his opinion of him. When he
went to England some few months after, to bring over his
family, he had thoughts of resigning his new preferment,
and returning to his benefice in Suffolk: but an encouraging letter from primate Usher prevented him, and he
applied himself to the government of the college, with
a vigour of mind peculiar to him.
, an English antiquary, was son of Beaupré Bell, esq. of Beaupré-hall
, an English antiquary, was son of
Beaupré Bell, esq. of Beaupré-hall in Upwell and Outwell
in Clackclose hundred, Norfolk, where the Beaupré family
had settled early in the fourteenth century, and enjoyed the
estate by the name of Beaupré (or de Bello prato) till sir
Robert Bell intermarried with them about the middle of
the sixteenth. Sir Robert was speaker of the house of
commons, 14 Eliz. and chief baron of the exchequer; and
caught his death at the black assize at Oxford, 1577.
Beaupr Bell, his fourth lineal descendant, married Margaret, daughter of sir Anthony Oldfield of Spalding, bart. who
died 1720, and by whom he had issue his namesake the
subject of this article, and two daughters, of whom the
youngest married William Graves, esq. of Fulborn in Cambridgeshire, who thereby inherited the family estate near
Spalding, with the site of the abbey. Mr. Bell, junior, was
educated at Westminster school, admitted of Trinity-college, Cambridge, 1723, and soon commenced a genuine
and able antiquary. He made considerable collections of
church notes in his own and the neighbouring counties, all
which he bequeathed to the college where he received his
education. Mr. Biomfield acknowledges his obligations to
him for collecting many evidences, seals, and drawings, of
great use to him in his “History of Norfolk.
”
, an English miscellaneous writer, was born in 1745, at Kingston
, an English miscellaneous writer,
was born in 1745, at Kingston in Surrey, and educated for
trade. After serving an apprenticeship to a hosier in Newgate-street, London, he established a considerable business
for himself, which he carried on successfully, until he began to pay rather too much attention to literary pursuits,
and after keeping shop for twenty years, was obliged
finally to relinquish his trade. He became afterwards the
projector of the “Monthly Mirror,
” a periodical publication principally devoted to the business of the stage, and
which was carried on by him for some years with spirit and
success. He published also “Sadaski, or the wandering
penitent,
” 2 vols. 12mo, a novel in Dr. Hawkesworth’s
manner, and possessing considerable merit. For the stage
he wrote, “The Friends, or the benevolent Planters,
”
Lessons from Life, or Home scenes.
” On the death of his
mother he became possessed of some property, and was in
the quiet pursuit of his literary schemes, when a short but
severe illness carried him off, August 29, 1800.
in twenty-four hours the ships were not sent him, he would have an opportunity of seeing the regard an English officer had to his word. The Spaniards immediately sent
Rear-admiral Benbow sailed in the month of November
1698, and did not arrive in the West Indies till the Feb.
following, where he found that most of our colonies were
in a bad condition, many of them engaged in warm disputes
with their governors, the forces that should have been kept
up in them for their defence so reduced by sickness, desertion, and other accidents, that little or nothing was to
be expected from them; but the admiral carried with him
colonel Collingwood’s regiment, which he disposed of to
the best advantage in the Leeward Islands. This part of
his charge being executed, he began to think of performing the other part of his commission, and of looking into
the state of the Spanish affairs, as it had been recommended to him by the king; and a proper occasion of doing this
very speedily offered, for, being informed that the Spaniards at Carthagena had seized two of our ships, with an
intent to employ them in an expedition they were then
meditating against the Scots at Darien, he resolved to restore those ships to their right owners. With this view he
stood over to the Spanish coast, and coming before Boccacbica castle, he sent his men ashore for wood and water,
which, though he asked with great civility of the Spanish
governor, he would scarcely permit him to take. This
highly incensed the admiral, who sent his own lieutenant
to the governor, with a message, importing that he not
only wanted those necessaries, but that he came likewise
for the English ships that lay in the harbour, and had been
detained there for some time, which, if not sent to him immediately, he would come and take by force. The governor answered him in very respectful terms, that if he would
leave his present station, in which he seemed to block up
their port, the ships would be sent out to him. With this
request the admiral complied, but finding the governor
trifled with him, and that his men were in danger of falling
into the country distemper, he sent him another message,
that if in twenty-four hours the ships were not sent him, he
would have an opportunity of seeing the regard an English
officer had to his word. The Spaniards immediately sent
out the ships, with which the admiral returned to Jamaica.
There he received an account, that the Spaniards at PortoBello had seized several of our ships employed in the slavetrade, on the old pretence, that the settlement at Darien
was a breach of peace. At the desire of the parties concerned, the admiral sailed thither also, and demanded these
ships, but received a rude answer from the admiral of the
Barlovento fleet, who happened to be then at Porto-Bello.
Rear-admiral Benbow expostulated with him, insisting, that
as the subjects of the crown of England had never injured
those of his Catholic majesty, he ought not to make prize
of their ships for injuries done by another nation. The
Spaniards replied shrewdly, that since both crowns stood on
the same head, it wa; no wonder that he took the subjects
of the one crown for the other. After many altercations,
however, and when the Spaniards saw the colony at Darien
received no assistance from Jamaica, the ships were restored. On his return to Jamaica, towards the latter end
of the year, he received a supply of provisions from England, and, soon after, orders to return home, which he did
with six men of war, taking New England in his way, and
arrived safe, bringing with him from the Plantations sufficient testimonies of his having discharged his duty, which
secured him from all danger of censure; for, though the
house of commons expressed very high resentment at some
circumstances that attended the sending this fleet, the
greatest compliments were paid to his courage, capacity,
and integrity, by all parties; and the king, as a signal mark
of his kind acceptance of his services, granted him an
augmentation of arms, which consisted in adding to the
three bent bows he already bore, as many arrows. His majesty also consulted him as much or more than any man of
his rank, and yet without making the admiral himself vain,
or exposing him in any degree to the dislike of the ministers.
When the new war broke out, his majesty’s first care was to
put his fleet into the best order possible, and to distribute
the commands therein to officers that he could depend
upon, and to this it was that Mr. Benbow owed his being
promoted to the rank of vice-admiral of the blue. He was
at that time cruising off Dunkirk, in order to prevent an
invasion; but admiral Benbow having satisfied the ministry
that there was no danger on this side, it was resolved to
send immediately a strong squadron to the West Indies,
consisting of two third-rates and eight fourths, under the
command of au officer, whose courage and conduct might
be relied on. Mr. Benbow was thought on by the ministry,
as soon as the expedition was determined, but the king
would not hear of it. He said that Benbow was in a manner just come home from thence, where he had met with
nothing but difficulties, and therefore it was but fit some
other officer should take his turn. One or two were named
and consulted; but either their health or their affairs were
in such disorder, that they mo^t earnestly desired to be
excused. Upon which the king said merrily to some of
his ministers, alluding to the dress and appearance of these
gentlemen, “Well then, I find we must spare our Beans,
and send honest Benbow
” His Majesty accordingly sent
for him upon this occasion, and asked him whether he was
willing to go to the West Indies, assuring him, that if he
was not, he would not take it at all amiss if he desired to be
excused. Mr. Benbow answered bluntly, that he did not understand such compliments, that bethought he had no right
to druse his station, and that if his majesty thought fit to send
him to the East or West Indies, or any where else, he would
cheerfully execute his orders as became him. To conceal,
however, the design of this squadron, and its force, sir
George Rooke, then admiral of the fleet, had orders to
convoy it as far as the Isles of Scilly, and to send a strong
squadron with it thence, to see it well into the sea, aH which
he punctually performed. It is certain that king William
formed great hopes of this expedition, knowing well that
Mr. Benbow would execute, with the greatest spirit and
punctuality, the instructions he had received, which were,
to engage the Spanish governors, if possible, to disown
ling Philip, or in case that could not be brought about, to
make himself master of the galleons. In this design it is
plain that the admiral would have succeeded, notwithstanding the smallness of his force; and it is no less certain, that the anxiety the vice-admiral was under about
the execution oi his orders, was the principal reason for
his maintaining so strict a discipline, which proved unluckily the occasion of his coming to an untimely end.
The French, who had the same reasons that we had to be
very attentive to what passed in the West Indies, prosecuted their designs with great wisdom and circumspection,
sending a force much superior to ours, which, however,
would have availed them little, if admiral Benbow’s officers hatl done their duty. Bis squadron, consisting of
two third and eight fourth rates, arrived at Barbadoes on
the 3d of November, 1701, from whence he sailed to
the Leeward Islands, in order to examine the state of the
French colonies and our own. He found the former in
some confusion, and the latter in so good a situation, that
he thought he ran no hazard in leaving them to go to Jamaica, where, when he arrived, his fleet was in so good a
condition, the admiral, officers, and seamen being most of
them used to the climate, that he had not occasion to send
above ten men to the hospital, which was looked upon as a
very extraordinary thing. There he received advice of two
French squadrons being arrived in the West Indies, which
alarmed the inhabitants of that island and of Barbadoes very
much. After taking 'care, as far as his strength would permit, of both places, he formed a design of attacking Petit
Guavas; but before he could execute it, he had intelligence that Monsieur du Casse was in the neighbourhood of
Hispaniola, with a squadron of French ships, in order to
settle the Assiento in favour of the French, and to destroy
the English and Dutch trade for negroes. Upon this he
detached rear-admiral Whetstone in pursuit of him, and on
the 11 th of July, 1702, he sailed from Jamaica, in order to
have joined the rear-admiral; but having intelligence that
du Casse was expected at Leogane, on the north side of Hispaniola, he plied for that port, before which he arrived on
the 27th. Not far from the town he perceived several
ships at anchor, and one under sail, who sent out her boat
to discover his strength, which coming too near was taken;
from the crew of which they learned that there were six
merchant ships in the port, and that the ship they belonged
to was a man of war of fifty guns, which the admiral pressed
so hard, that the captain seeing no probability of escaping,
ran the ship on shore and blew her up. On the 28th the
admiral came before the town, where he found a ship of
about eighteen gnns hauled under the fortifications, which,
however, did not hinder his burning her. The rest of the
ships had sailed before day, in order to get into a better
harbour, viz. Cui de Sac. But some of our ships between
them and that port, took three of them, and sunk a fourth.
The admiral, after alarming Petit Guavas, which he found
it impossible to attack, sailed for Donna Maria Bay, where
he continued till the 10th of August, when, having received
advice that Monsieur du Casse was sailed for Carthagena,
and from thence was to sail to Porto Bello, he resolved to
follow him, and accordingly sailed that day for the Spanish
coast of Santa Martha. On the 19th of August, in the afternoon, he discovered ten sail near that place, steering
westward along the shore, under their topsails, four of them
from sixty to seventy guns, one a great Dutch-built ship of
about thirty or forty, another full of soldiers, three small
vessels, and a sloop. The vice-admiral coming up with
them, about four the engagement began. He had disposed
his line of battle in the following manner: viz. th^ Defiance, Pendennis, Windsor, Breda, Greenwich, Ruby, and
Falmouth. But two of these ships, the Defiance and
Windsor, did not stand above two or three broadsides before they loofed out of gun-shot, so that the two ster.imost
ships of the enemy lay on the admiral, and galled him very
much; nor did the ships in the rear come up to his assistance with the diligence they ought to have done. The
fight, however, lasted till dark, and though the firing then
ceased, the vice-admiral kept them company all night.
The next morning, at break of day, he was near the French
ships, but none of his squadron except the Ruby was with
him, the rest being three, four, or five miles a-stern. Notwithstanding this, the French did not fire a gun at the
vice-admiral, though he was within their reach. At two in
the afternoon the French drew into a line, though at the
same time they made what sail they could without fighting.
However, the vice-admiral and the Ruby kept them company all night, plying their chase-guns. Thus the viceadmiral continued pursuing, and at some times skirmishing
with the enemy, for four days more, but was never duly
seconded by several of the ships of his squadron. The
23d, about noon, the admiral took from them a small English ship, called the Anne Galley, which they had taken off
Lisbon, and the Ruby being disabled, he ordered her to
Port Royal. About eight at night the whole squadron was
up with the vice-admiral, and the enemy not two miles off.
There was now a prospect of doing something, and the
vice-admiral made the best of his way after them, but his
whole squadron, except the Falmouth, fell astern again.
At two in the morning, the 24th, the vice-admiral came up
with the enemy’s stern most ship, and fired his broadside,
which was returned by the French ship very briskly, and
about three the vice-admiral’s right leg was broken to
pieces by a chain-shot. In this condition he was carried
down to be dressed, and while the surgeon was at work, one
of his lieutenants expressed great sorrow for the loss of
his leg, upon which the admiral said to him, “I am sorry
for it too, but I had rather have lost them both, than have
seen this dishonour brought upon the English nation.
But, do ye hear, if another shot should take me off, behave
like brave men, and fight it out.
” As soon as it was practicable, he caused himself to be carried up, and placed,
with his cradle, upon the quarter-deck, and continued the
fight till day. They then discovered the ruins of one of
the enemy’s ships, that carried seventy guns, her main-yard
down and shot to pieces, her fore top-sail yard shot away,
her mizen-mast shot by the board, all her rigging gone,
and her sides tore to pieces. The admiral, soon after, discovered the enemy standing towards him with a strong gale
of wind. The Windsor, Pendennis, and Greenwich, ahead of the enemy, came to the leeward of the disabled
ship, fired their broadsides, passed her, and stood to the
southward. Then came the Defiance, fired part of her
broadside, when the disabled ship returning about twenty
guns, the Defiance put her helm a-weather, and run away
right before the wind, lowered both her top-sails, and ran.
in to the leeward of the Fahnouth, without any regard to
the signal of battle. The enemy seeing the other two
ships stand to the southward, expected they would have
tacked and stood towards them, and therefore they brought
their heads to the northward; but when they saw those
ships did not tack, they immediately bore down upon the
admiral, and ran between their disabled ship and him, and
poured in all their shot, by which they brought down his
main top-sail yard, and shattered his rigging very much,
none of the other ships being near him or taking the least
notice of his signals, though captain Fogg ordered two
guns to be fired at the ship’s head, in order to put them in
mind of their duty. The French, seeing things in this
condition, brought to, and lay by their own disabled ship,
remanned, and took her into tow. The Breda’s rigging
being much shattered, she was forced to lie by till ten
o'clock, and being then refitted, the admiral ordered the
captain to pursue the enemy, then about three miles to the
leeward, his line of battle signal out all the while; and
captain Fogg, by the admiral’s orders, sent to the other
captains, to order them to keep the line and behave like
men. Upon this captain Kirkby came on board the admiral, and told him, “He had better desist, that the French
were very strong, and that from what had passed he might
guess he could make nothing of it.
” The brave admiral
Benbow, more surprised at this language than at all that
had hitherto happened, said very calmly, that this was but
one man’s opinion, and therefore made a signal for the rest
of the captains to come on board, which they did in obedience to his orders; but when they came, they fell too
easily into captain Kirkby’s sentiments, and, in conjunction
with him, signed a paper, importing, that, as he had before
told the admiral, there was nothing more to be done; though
at this very time they had the fairest opportunity imaginable of taking or destroying the enemy’s whole squadron;
for ours consisted then of one ship of seventy guns, one of
sixty-four, one of sixty, and three of fifty, their yards,
masts, and in general all their tackle, in as good condition
as could be expected, the admiral’s own ship excep-ted, in
which their loss was considerable; but in the rest they had
eight only killed and wounded, nor were they in any want
of ammunition necessary to continue the fight. The enemy, on the other hand, had but four ships of between sixty
and seventy guns, one of which was entirely disabled and in
low, and all the rest very roughly handled; so that even
now, if these officers had done their duty, it is morally certain they might have taken them all. But vice-admiral
Benbow, seeing himself absolutely without support (his own captain having signed the paper before mentioned)
determined to give over the fight, and to return to Jamaica,
though he could not help declaring openly, that it was
against his own sentiments, in prejudice to the public service, and the greatest dishonour that had ever befallen the
English navy. The French, glad of their escape, continued
their course towards the Spanish coasts, and the English
squadron soon arrived safe in Port-Royal harbour, where,
as soon as the vice-admiral came on shore, he ordered the
officers who had so scandalously misbehaved, to be brought
out of their ships and confined, and immediately after directed a commission to rear-admiral Whetstone to hold a
court-martial for their trial, which was accordingly done,
and upon the fullest and clearest evidence that could be
desired, some of the most guilty were condemned, and suffered death according to their deserts. Although now so
far recovered from the fever induced by his broken leg,
as to be able to attend the trials of the captains who deserted him, and thereby vindicate his own honour, and that of
the nation, yet he still continued in si declining way,
occasioned partly by the heat of the climate, but chiefly from
that grief which this miscarriage occasioned, as appeared
by his letters to his lady, in which he expressed much more
concern for the condition in which he was like to leave the
public affairs in the West Indies, than for his own. During all the time of his illness, he behaved with great calmness and presence of mind, having never flattered himself,
from the time his leg was cut off, with any hopes of recovery? but shewed an earnest desire to be as useful as he
could while he was yet living, giving the necessary directions for stationing the ships of his squadron, for protecting commerce, and incommoding the enemy. He continued
thus doing his duty to the last moment of his life. His
spirits did not fail him until very near his end, and he preserved his senses to the day he expired, Nov. 4, 1702. He
left several sons and daughters; but his sons dying without
issue, his two surviving daughters became coheiresses, and
the eldest married Paul Calton, esq. of Milton near Abington in Berkshire, who contributed much of the admiral’s
memoirs to the Biographia Britannica. One of his sons,
John, was brought up to the sea, but in the year his father
died was shipwrecked on the coast of Madagascar, where,
after many dangerous adventures, he was reduced to live
with, and in manner of the natives, for many years, and at
last, when he least expected it, he was taken on board by a
Dutch captain, out of respect to the memory of his father,
and brought safe to England, when his relations thought
him long since dead. He was a young gentleman naturally
of a very brisk and lively temper, but by a long series of
untoward events, his disposition was so far altered that he
appeared very serious or melancholy, and did not much affect speaking, except amongst a few intimate friends. But
the noise of his remaining so long, and in such a condition,
upon the island of Madagascar, induced many to visit him;
for though naturally taciturn, he was very communicative
on that subject, although very few particulars relating to it
can now be recovered. It was supposed by Dr. Campbell,
jn his life of the admiral, that some information might have
been derived from a large work which Mr. John Benbow
composed on the history of Madagascar, but it appears from
a letter in the Gent. Mag. vol. XXXIX. p. 172, that this
was little more than a seaman’s journal, the loss of which
may perhaps be supplied by Drury’s description of Madagascar, one of the fellow-sufferers with Mr. Benbow, of
which work a new edition was published a few years ago,
Mr. Benbow’s ms. was accidentally burnt by a fire which
took place in the house, or lodgings, of his brother William,
a clerk in the Navy office, who died in 1729. The whole
family is now believed to be extinct, and a great part of the
admiral’s fortune is said to remain in the bank of England,
in the name of trustees, among the unclaimed dividends.
One William Briscoe, a hatter, and a member of the corporation of Shrewsbury, who was living in 1748, was supposed
to be his representative, but was unable to substantiate his
pretensions.
, an English critic, once of some fame, the son of sir William Benson,
, an English critic, once of some
fame, the son of sir William Benson, formerly sheriff of
London, was born in 1682. After receiving a liberal education, he made a tour on the continent, during which he
visited Hanover and some other German courts, and
Stockholm. In 1710, he served the office of high sheriff of
Wilts; and soon after wrote a celebrated letter to sir Jacob
Banks of Mihehead, by birth a Swede, but naturalized,
in which he represented the miseries of the Swedes, after
they had made a surrender of their liberties to arbitrary
power; which, according to his account, was then making
great advances at home. When summoned for this letter
before the privy council, he avowed himself the author,
but no prosecution appears to have followed, as he put his
name to the subsequent editions, of which 100,000 are
said to have been sold in English, or in translations. He
afterwards wrote “Two letters to sir Jacob Banks, concerning the Minehead doctrine,
”
that our author translated into English the Book of Psalms, at the command of queen Elizabeth, when an English version of the Bible was to be made, and that he likewise
, a learned and pious English divine, bishop of Litchfield and Coventry in the sixteenth
century, was born about the year 1513, at Shirebourne in
Yorkshire, and educated at Magdalen-college in Oxford.
He took his bachelor’s degree in arts, Feb. 20, 1543, and
was admitted perpetual fellow of that college, November
16, 1546, and took his master’s degree in arts the year
following, about which time he applied himself wholly to
the study of divinity and the Hebrew language, in which
he was extremely well skilled, as well as in the Latin and
Greek tongues. The compiler of “Anglorum Speculum
”
tells us, that he was converted from popery in the first
year of queen Mary; but we find him very zealous
against the popish religion during the reign of king Edward VI. upon which account, and his assisting one Henry
Bull of the same college, in wresting the censer out of the
bands of the choristers, as they were about to offer their
superstitious incense, he was ejected from his fellowship
by the visitors appointed by queen Mary to regulate the
university; soon after which he retired to Zurich, and afterwards to Basil in Switzerland, and became preacher to
the English exiles there, and expounded to them the entire
book of the Acts of the Apostles; a proper subject and
portion of scripture, Fuller observes, to recommend patience to his banished countrymen; as the apostle’s sufferings so far exceeded theirs. This exposition was left by
him at the time of his death, very fairly written, and
fit for the press, but it does not appear to have been
printed. In exile, as at home and in college, he led a
praise-worthy, honest, and laborious life, with little or no
preferment. Afterwards, being recalled by some of his
brethren, he returned to London under the same queen’s
reign, where he lived privately and in disguise, and was
made superintendent of a protestant congregation in that
city; whom Bentham, by his pious discipline, diligent care
and tuition, and bold and resolute behaviour in the protestant cause, greatly confirmed in their faith and religion;
so that they assembled with the greatest constancy to divine worship, at which there often appeared an hundred,
sometimes two hundred persons; no inconsiderable congregation this to meet by stealth, notwithstanding the
danger of the times, daily, together at London, in spite
of the vigilant and cruel Bonner. At length, when queen
Elizabeth came to the throne, he was, in the second year
of her reign, nominated for the see of Litchfield and Coventry, upon the deprivation of Dr. Ralph Bayne, and had
the temporalities of that see restored to him, Feb. 20, 1559,
being then about forty-six years of age. On the 30th of
October 1556, he was created, with some others, professor of divinity at London, by Laurence Humphrey, S.T.P.
and John Kenal, LL. D. who were deputed by the university of Oxford for that purpose; and in the latter end of
October 1568, he was actually created doctor of divinity,
being then highly esteemed on account of his distinguished
learning. He published a Sermon on Matth. iv. 1—11,
printed at London, 8vo. Bishop Burnet, in his History of
the Reformation, tells us, that our author translated into
English the Book of Psalms, at the command of queen
Elizabeth, when an English version of the Bible was to
be made, and that he likewise translated Ezekiel and
Daniel. He died at Eccleshal in Staffordshire, the seat belonging to the see, Feb. 19, 1578, aged sixty-five years,
and was buried under the south wall of the chancel of that
church.
is majesty, to make it pass the better, at the same time conferred the like honour on Jord Pembroke ( an English nobleman of illustrious birth). Yet it was observed,
, earl of Portland, &c. one of the greatest statesmen of his time, and
the first that advanced his family to the dignity of the
English peerage, was a native of Holland, of an ancient
and noble family in the province of Guelderland. After a
liberal education, he was promoted to be page of honour
to William, then prince of Orange (afterwards king William III. of England), in which station his behaviour and
address so recommended him to the favour of his master,
that he preferred him to the post of gentleman of his bedchamber. In this capacity he accompanied the prince into
England, in the year 1670, where, going to visit the university of Oxford, he was, together with the prince, created
doctor of civil law. In 1672, the prince of Orange being
made captain-general of the Dutch forces, and soon after
Stadtholder, M. Bentinck was promoted, and had a share
in his good fortune, being made colonel and captain of the
Dutch regiment of guards, afterwards esteemed one of the
finest in king William’s service, and which behaved with
the greatest gallantry in the wars both in Flanders and
Ireland. In 1675, the prince falling ill of the small-pox,
M. Bentinck had an opportunity of signalizing his love and
affection for his master in an extraordinary manner, and
thereby of obtaining his esteem and friendship, by one of
the most generous actions imaginable: for the small-pox
not rising kindly upon the prince, his physicians judged it
necessary that some young person should lie in the same
bed with him, imagining that the natural heat of another
would expel the disease. M. Bentinck, though he had
never had the small-pox, resolved to run this risque, and
accordingly attended the prince during the whole course
of his illness, both day and night, and his highness said
afterwards, that he believed M. Bentinck never slept; for
in sixteen days and nights, he never called once that he
was not answered by him. M. Bentinck, however, upon
the prince’s recovery, was immediately seized with the
same distemper, attended with a great deal of danger, but
recovered soon enough to attend his highness into the field,
where he was always next his person; and his courage and
abilities answered the great opinion his highness had formed of him, and from this time he employed him in his most
secret and important affairs. In 1677, M. Bentinck was
sent by the prince of Orange into England, to solicit a
match with the princess Mary, eldest daughter of James,
at that time duke of York (afterwards king James II.) which
was soon after concluded. And in 1685, upon the duke
of Monmouth’s invasion of this kingdom, he was sent over
to king James to offer him his master’s assistance, both of
his troops and person, to head them against the rebels,
but, through a misconstruction put on his message, his
highness’s offer was rejected by the king. In the year
1688, when the prince of Orange intended an expedition
into England, he sent M. Bentinck, on the elector of Brandenburgh'a death, to the new elector, to communicate to
him his design upon England, and to solicit his assistance.
In this negociation M. Bentinck was so successful as to
bring back a more favourable and satisfactory answer than
the prince had expected; the elector having generously
granted even more than was asked of him. M. Bentincfc
had also a great share in the revolution; and in this difficult and important affair, shewed all the prudence and sagacity of the most consummate statesman. It was he that
was applied to, as the person in the greatest confidence
with the prince, to manage the negociations that were set
on foot, betwixt his highness and the English nobility and
gentry, who had recourse to him to rescue them from the
danger they were in. He was also two months constantly
at the Hague, giving the necessary orders for the prince’s
expedition, which was managed by him with such secrecy,
that nothing was suspected, nor was there ever so great a
design executed in so short a time, a transport fleet of
500 vessels having been hired in three days. M. Bentinck
accompanied the prince to England, and after king James’s
abdication, during the interregnum, he held the first place
among those who composed the prince’s cabinet at that
critical time, and that, in such a degree of super-eminence,
as scarcely left room for a second: and we may presume
he was not wanting in his endeavours to procure the crown
for the prince his master; who, when he had obtained it,
was as forward on his part, in rewarding the faithful and
signal services of M. Bentinck, whom he appointed groom
of the stole, privy purse, first gentleman of the royal bedchamber, and first commoner upon the list of privy counsellors. He was afterwards naturalised by act of parliament; and, by letters patent bearing date the 9th of April
1689, two clays before the king and queen’s coronation, he
was created baron of Cirencester, viscount Woodstock,
and earl of Portland. In 1690, the earl of Portland,
with many others of the English nobility, attended king
William to Holland, where the earl acted as envoy for his majesty, at the grand congress held at the
Hague the same year. In 1695, king William made this
nobleman a grant of the lordships of Denbigh, Bromtield,
Yale, and other lands, containing many thousand acres, in
the principality of Wales, but these being part of the
demesne thereof, the grant was opposed, and the house
of commons addressed the king to put a stop to the passing
it, which his majesty accordingly complied with, and recalled the grant, promising, however, to find some other
way of shewing his favour to lord Portland, who, he said,
had deserved it by long and faithful services. It was to
this nobleman that the plot for assassinating king William
in 1695 was first discovered; and his lordship, by his indefatigable zeal, was very instrumental in bringing to light
the whole of that execrable scheme. The same year another affair happened, in which he gave such a shining proof
of the strictest honour and integrity, as has done immortal
honour to his memory. The parliament having taken into
consideration the affairs of the East India company, who,
through mismanagement and corrupt dealings, were in
danger of losing their charter, strong interest was made
with the members of both houses, and large sums distributed, to procure a new establishment of their company by
act of parliament. Among those noblemen whose interest
was necessary to bring about this affair, lord Portland’s was
particularly courted, and an extraordinary value put upon
it, much beyond that of any other peer; for he was offered no less than the sum of 50,000l. for his vote, and his
endeavours with the king to favour the design. But his
lordship treated this offer with all the contempt it deserved, telling the person employed in it, that if he ever
so much as mentioned such a thing to him again, he would
for ever be the company’s enemy, and give them all the
opposition in his power. This is an instance of public
spirit not often mst with, and did not pass unregarded;
for we find it recorded in an eloquent speech of a member
of parliament, who related this noble action to the house
of commons, much to the honour of lord Portland. It was
owing to this nobleman, also, that the Banquetting-house at
Whitehall was saved, when the rest of the Palace was destroyed by fire. In February 1696, he was created a knight
of the garter, at a chapter held at Kensington, and was installed at Windsor on the 25th of March, 1697, at which
time he was also lieutenant-general of his majesty’s forces:
for his lordship’s services were not confined to the cabinet;
he likewise distinguished himself in the field on several
occasions, particularly at the battle of the Boyne, battle of
Landen, where he was wounded, siege of Limerick, Namur, &c. As his lordship thus attended his royal master
in his wars both in Ireland and Flanders, and bore a principal command there, so he was honoured by his majesty
with the chief management of the famous peace of Ryswick; having, in some conferences with the marshal
BoufHers, settled the most difficult and tender point, and
which might greatly have retarded the conclusion of the
peace. This was concerning the disposal of king James;
the king of France having solemnly promised, in an open
declaration to all Europe, that he would never lay down his
arms tilt he had restored the abdicated king to his throne,
and consequently could not own king William, without
abandoning him. Not long after the conclusion of the
peace, king William nominated the earl of Portland to be
his ambassador extraordinary to the court of France; an,
honour justly due to him, for the share he had in bringing
about the treaty of Hysvvick; and the king could not have
fixed upon a person better qualified to support his high
character with dignity and magnificence. The French
likewise had a great opinion of his lordship’s capacity and
merit; and no ambassador was ever so respected and caressed in France as his lordship was, who, on his part, filled
his employment with equal honour to the king, the British
nation, and himself. According to Prior, however, the
earl of Portland went on this embassy with reluctance, having been for some time alarmed with the growing favour of
a rival in king William’s affection, namely, Keppel, afterwards created earl of Albermarle, a DutchmLin, who had
also been page to his majesty. “And,
” according to Prior,
“his jealousy was not ill-grounded for Albemarle so prevailed in lord Portland’s absence, that he obliged him, by
several little affronts, to lay down all his employments,
after which he was never more in favour, though the king
always shewed an esteem for him.
” Bishop Burnet says
“That the earl of Portland observed the progress of the
king’s favour to the lord Albemaiie with great uneasiness
they grew to be not only incompatible, as all rivals for favour must be, but to hate and oppose one another in every
thing; the one (lord Portland) had more of the confidence,
the other more of the favour. Lord Portland, upon his
return from his embassy to France, could not bear the visible superiority in favour that the other was growing up to;
so he took occasion, from a small preference given lord
Albemarle in prejudice of his own post, as groom of the
stole, to withdraw from court, and lay down all his employments. The king used all possible means to divert
him from this resolution, but could not prevail on him to
alter it: he, indeed, consented to serve his majesty still in
his state affairs, but would not return to any post in the
household.
” This change, says bishop Kennet, did at first
please the English and Dutch, the earl of Albermarle having cunningly made several powerful friends in both nations, who, out of envy to lord Portland, were glad to see
another in his place; and it is said that lord Albemarle was
supported by the earl of Sutherland and Mrs. Villiers to
pull down lord Portland: however, though the first became
now the reigning favourite, yet the latter, says bishop
Kennet, did ever preserve the esteem and affection of king
William. But king William was not one of those princes
who are governed by favourites. He was his own minister
in all the greater parts of government, as those of war and
peace, forming alliances and treaties, and he appreciated
justly the merit of those whom he employed in his service.
It is highly probable, therefore, that lord Portland never
Jost the king’s favourable opinion, although he might
be obliged to give way to a temporary favourite. The
earl of Albemarle had been in his majesty’s service from
a youth, was descended of a noble family in Guelderland, attended king William into England as his page of
honour, and being a young lord of address and temper,
with a due mixture of heroism, it is no wonder his majesty took pleasure in his conversation in the intervals of
state business, and in making his fortune, who had so
long followed his own. Bishop Burnet says, it is a difficult matter to account for the reasons of the favour shewn
by the king, in the highest degree, to these two lords,
they being in all respects, not only of different, but of
quite opposite characters; secrecy and fidelity being the
only qualities in which they did in any sort agree. Lord
Albetnarle was very cheerful and gay, had all the arts of
a court, was civil to all, and procured favours for many;
but was so addicted to his pleasures that he could scarcely
submit to attend on business, and had never yet distinguished himself in any thing. On the other hand, lord
Portland was of a grave and sedate disposition, and indeed,
adds the bishop, was thought rather too cold and dry, and
had not the art of creating friends; but was indefatigable
in business, and had distinguished himself on many occasions. With another author, Mackey, his lordship has the
character of carrying himself with a very lofty mien, yet
was not proud, nor much beloved nor hated by the people.
But it is no wonder if the earl of Portland was not acceptable to the English nation. His lordship had been for ten
years entirely trusted by the king, was his chief favourite
and bosom-friend, and the favourites of kings are seldom
favourites of the people, and it must be owned king William was immoderately lavish to those he personally loved.
But as long as history has not charged his memory with
failings that might deservedly render him obnoxious to the
public, there can be no partiality in attributing this nobleman’s unpopularity partly to the above reasons, and partly
to his being a foreigner, for which he suffered not a little
from the envy and malice of his enemies, in their speeches,
libels, &c. of which there were some levelled as well
against the king as against his lordship. The same avereion, however, to foreign favourites, soon after shewed itself
against lord Albemarle, who, as he grew into power and
favour, like lord Portland, began to be looked upon with
the same jealousy; and when the king gave him the order
of the garter, in the year 1700, we are told it was generally disliked, and his majesty, to make it pass the better,
at the same time conferred the like honour on Jord Pembroke (an English nobleman of illustrious birth). Yet it
was observed, that few of the nobility graced the ceremony
of their installation with their presence, and that many
severe reflections were then made on his majesty, for giving the garter to his favourite. The king had for a long
time given the earl of Portland the entire and absolute government of Scotland; and his lordship was also employed,
in the year 1698, in the new negociation set on foot for
the succession of the Crown of Spain, called by the name
of the partition treaty > the intention of which being frustrated by the treachery of the French king, the treaty itself fell under severe censure, and was looked upon as a
fatal slip in the politics of that reign; and lord Portland
was impeached by the house of commons, in the year
1700, for advising and transacting it, as were also the
other lords concerned with him in it. This same year,
lord Portland was a second time attacked, together with
lord Albemarle, by the house of commons, when the affair of the disposal of the forfeited estates in Ireland was
under their consideration; it appearing upon inquiry, that
the king had, among many other grants, made one to lord
Woodstock (the earl of Portland’s son) of 135,820 acres of
land, and to lord Albemarle two grants, of 108,633 acres
in possession and reversion; the parliament came to a resolution to resume these grants; and also resolved, that
the advising and passing them was highly reflecting on the
king’s honour; and that the officers and instruments concerned in the procuring and passing those grants, had
highly failed in the performance of their trust and duty;
and also, that the procuring or passing exorbitant grants,
by any member now of the privy-council, or by any other
that had been a privy -counsellor, in this, or any former
reign, to his use or benefit, was a high crime and misdemeanour. To carry their resentment still farther, the
commons, immediately impeached the earls of Portland and
Albemarle, for procuring for themselves exorbitant grants.
This impeachment, however, did not succeed, and then
the commons voted an address to his majesty, that no person who was not a native of his dominions, excepting his
royal highness prince George of Denmark, should be admitted to his majesty’s councils in England or Ireland, but
this was evaded by the king’s going the very next day to
the house of lords, passing the bills that were ready, and
putting an end to the session. The partition treaty was
the last public transaction we find lord Portland engaged
in, the next year after his impeachment, 1701, having
put a period to the life of his royal and munificent master,
king William III.; but not without having shewn, even in
his last moments, that his esteem and affection for lord
Portland ended but with his life: for when his majesty
was just expiring, he asked, though with a faint voice, for
the earl of Portland, but before his lordship could come,
the king’s voice quite failed him. The earl, however,
placing his ear as near his majesty’s mouth as could be, his
lips were observed to move, but without strength to express his mind to his lordship; but, as the last testimony
of the cordial affection he bore him, he took him by the
hand, and carried it to his heart with great tenderness,
and expired soon after. His lordship had before been a
witness to, and signed his majesty’s last will and testament,
made at the Hague in 1695; and it is said, that king
William, the winter before he died, told lord Portland, as
they were walking together in the garden at Hampton
court, that he found his health declining very fast, and
that he could not live another summer, but charged his
lordship not to mention this till after his majesty’s death.
We are told, that at the time of the king’s death, lord
Portland was keeper of Windsor great park, and was displaced upon queen Anne’s accession to the throne: we are
not, however, made acquainted with the time when his
lordship became first possessed of that post. After king
William’s death, the earl did not, at least openly, concern
himself with public affairs, but betook himself to a retired
life, in a most exemplary way, at his seat at Bulstrode in
the county of Bucks, where he erected and plentifully
endowed a free-school; and did many other charities.
His lordship had an admirable taste for gardening, and
took great delight in improving and beautifying his own
gardens, which he made very elegant and curious. At
length, being taken ill of a pleurisy and malignant fever,
after about a week’s illness he died, November 23, 1709,
in the sixty-first year of his age, leaving behind him a very
plentiful fortune, being at that time reputed one of the
richest subjects in Europe. His corpse being conveyed to
London, was, on the third of December, carried with,
great funeral pomp, from his house in St. James’s square
to Westminster-abbey, and there interred in the vault
under the east window of Henry the Seventh’s chapel.
e his embarkation for America, queen Caroline endeavoured to stagger his resolution, by the offer of an English mitre but, in reply, he assured her majesty, that he
But the bishop, ever, active and attentive to the public
good, was continually sending forth something or o-ther
in 1735, the “Querist;
” in A Discourse addressed to Magistrates,
” occasioned by the enormous licence
and irreligion of the times and many other things afterwards of a smaller kind. In 1744 came forth his celebrated
and curious book, entitled, “Siris a chain of philosophical reflections and inquiries concerning the virtues of Tar
Water
” a medicine which had been useful to himself in a
case of nervous colic. This work, he has been heard to
declare, cost him more time and pains than any other he
had ever been engaged in. It underwent a second impression, with additions and emendations, in 1747 and was
followed by “Farther thoughts on Tar Water,
” in I desire to add one more to the
list of churchmen, who are evidently dead to ambition and
avarice.
” Just before his embarkation for America, queen
Caroline endeavoured to stagger his resolution, by the offer of an English mitre but, in reply, he assured her
majesty, that he chose rather to be president of St. Paul’s
college, than primate of all England.
, an English miscellaneous writer, was born, about 1730, at Leeds
, an English miscellaneous
writer, was born, about 1730, at Leeds in Yorkshire, and
educated at the grammar-school in that town. His father,
Xvho was a merchant, and a native of Holland, intended him
for trade and with that view sent him at an early age to
Germany, in order to learn foreign languages. After continuing a few years in that country, he made the tour of
Europe in company with one or more English noblemen.
On their return to Germany they visited Berlin, where
Mr. Berkenhout met with a near relation of his father’s,
the baron de Bielfeldt, a nobleman then in high estimation
with the late king of Prussia; distinguished as one of the
founders of the royal academy of sciences at Berlin, and
universally known as a politician and a man of letters.
With this relation our young traveller fixed his abode for
some time; and, regardless of his original. destination, became a cadet in a Prussian regiment of foot. He soon obtained an ensign’s commission; and, in the space of a few
years, was advanced to the rank of captain. He quitted
the Prussian service on the declaration of war between
England and France in 1756, and was honoured with the
command of a company in the service of his native country. When peace was concluded in 1760, he went to
Edinburgh, and commenced student of physic. During
his residence at that university he compiled his “Clavis
Anglica Lingux Botanicæ
” a book of singular utility to
all students of botany, and at that time the only botanical
lexicon in our language, and particularly expletive of the
Linnsean system. It was not, however, published until
1765.
this sale. Mr. Ames informs us that this book was printed in England by Thomas Vautrollier in 1584. An English edition of it was printed in 1713.
, was chief physician to king
James II. He was a man of learning, and what is now termed
an able bibliographer. His private collection of books,
which were scarce and curious, sold for upwards of 1600l.
in 1698; a large sum at that time, when the passion for
rare books was much more moderate than now. He died
Feb. 9, 1697, aged 69 years. Mr Charles Bernard, brother to Francis, and surgeon to the princess Anne, daughter of king James, had also a curious library, which was
sold by auction in 1711. The “Spaccio della Bestia triomfante,
” by Jordano Bruno, an Italian atheist, which is
said in number 389 of the Spectator to have sold for 30l.
was in this sale. Mr. Ames informs us that this book was
printed in England by Thomas Vautrollier in 1584. An
English edition of it was printed in 1713.
, an English divine of the seventeenth century, and rector of Batecombe
, an English divine of the seventeenth century, and rector of Batecombe in Somersetshire,
was author of “Thesaurus Biblicus,
” a laborious work formerly much used by way of concordance. He was also
author of an “Abstract and Epitome of the Bible.
” In
A guide to grand jurymen with respect to Witches,
” the country where he lived being, if we
may believe Glanville, formerly much infested with them.
He died in 1641, and was succeeded by the famous
nonconformist Richard Allein, of whom there is an account in
vol. I. p. 479, of this work. Mr. Bernard, of whom we have
no farther biographical memoirs, was also the author of an allegorical work, entitled “The Isle of Man, or legal proceeding in Man-shire against sin
” the tenth edition of which was
published in Pilgrim’s Progress.
” The two authors agree, however, in our opinion, only in the personification of graces
and sins, or virtues and vices, which is of higher origin
than either; and, if the comparative merits of the two
works be examined, no reader can hesitate a moment in
giving the preference to Bunyan.
an English divine, received his education at Eton, of which seminary
an English divine, received
his education at Eton, of which seminary he was a distinguished ornament; was elected from thence to King’s college, Cambridge, in 1728, of which he became a fellow
in 1731; was some time bursar, and by the provost and
fellows, when senior fellow, was presented to the living of
Greenford in Middlesex. He was also one of the Whitehall preachers. In 1771 the provost and fellows of Eton
elected him to a vacant fellowship in that society. So unexceptionable was his life, that he may truly be said to
have made no enemy in the progress of it. His fortune
was not large, yet his liberality kept more than equal pace
with it, and pointed out objects to which it was impossible
for his nature to resist lending his assistance. In his lifetime he gave 2,000l. for the better maintaining the
botanical garden at Cambridge, thereby encouraging a study
which did peculiar honour to his taste, and materially benefited mankind. So humane was his disposition, that in
1780 he founded and endowed a charity school in his own
parish and this most nobly in his life-time, when avarice
might have forbid it, or the fear of want might have excepted against it. Having previously built a school-house,
he gave, by a deed in chancery, the sum of 1600l. bankstock, of which he appropriated 30l. a-year to a master
and mistress to instruct thirty boys and girls thirty shillings for coals for the school and the remainder of the interest, except 10l. to clothe such aged men and women as
should frequently attend the sacrament, is appropriated to
clothe the children, buy books, and keep the school in
repair. As in his life he indicated the most extensive liberality, so at his death he exhibited a lasting record of his
gratitude. Impressed with the highest sense of the muni-!
ficence of the royal founder of Eton, within whose walls
he had imbibed the first seeds of education, he by his will
directed a statue of marble, in honour of Henry VI. to be
erected at the expence of 700l. And, in Order infallibly
to carry his purpose into execution, he contracted a few
months before his death with Mr. Bacon. This statue was
accordingly executed by that excellent artist, and is in
the chapel, with the inscription “Posuit Edvardus Betham, collegii hujusce socius.
” The founder holds a model of Eton college in his hand. Mr. Bethatn also gave a
bust of the king to the college library, and placed some
ancient painted glass in the chancel windows of his church
at Greenford. He died in 1783.
change, and add to, and frequently to spoil the doctor’s explication of the cuts. He had, likewise, an English title-page pasted upon the Latin one, in which, instead
, a famous anatomical writer, was
born at Amsterdam March 12, 1649. After he had passed
through his academical studies, he applied himself to
physic and anatomy, and took his degree of M. D. He
soon acquired considerable practice; in 1688 was made
professor of anatomy at the Hague, which he quitted in
1694 for the professorship of anatomy and chirurgery at
Leyden; and afterwards William III. of England appointed
him his physician, which he accepted on condition of
holding his professorship. The king died in 1702, and
Bidloo returned to his former employments, in which he
had been interrupted by his constant attendance upon that
prince. He died at Ley den, April 1713, being 64 years
of age. His chief work was his “Anatomia humani corporis,
” in Vindiciae quorundam Delineationum Anatomicarum contra ineptasAnimadversionesF. Ruyschii, &c.
” A letter to Anthony Leeuvvenhoek concerning the animals which are sometimes found in the liver of
sheep or some other animals.
” This was published in Low
Dutch, Delft, Gulielmus Cowper criminis
Literarii citatus coram tribunali nobiliss. ampliss. Societatis
Britanno-Regiae,
” Leyden, Exercitationum Anatomico-Chirurgicarum Decades
dua
”,“Leyden, 1708, 4to. 4. He published likewise a small
piece upon the disease of which king William III. of England died. 5.
” Letters of the Apostles who were martyred,“Amsterdam, 1698, 4to, in Low Dutch verse, of
which, as well as of Latin, he was very fond, and was
thought to have succeeded. He supposes jn this book,
that the apostles wrote these letters before they suffered,
martyrdom, and addressed them to their disciples, in order
to inform them of their last desires, and to instruct them in
what manner they ought to act after themselves were removed from this world. There was published at Leyden,
1719, a miscellaneous collection of our author’s poems in
Low Dutch. His brother, Lambert Bidloo, an apothecary
at Amsterdam, was the author of some Dutch poetry, and
of a work
” De re herbaria,“printed at the end of the
” Catalogue of the Garden of Amsterdam," by Commelin,
Leyden, 1709, 12mo. Lambert’s son, Nicholas, became
first physician to the Czar Peter I., and inspector of the
hospital of St. Petersburgh.
, an English divine of the seventeenth century, was born in 1S84,
, an English divine of the seventeenth century, was born in 1S84, and in 1600 became a
student in Queen’s college, Oxford, where he took his
master’s degree, and obtained a fellowship. In 1607 he
went into holy orders, and acquired much reputation for
his preaching, and among the learned, for his acquaintance with the fathers and schoolmen. In 1616 he was admitted to the reading of the sentences, and the year following became vicar of the church of Gilling, and the
chapel of Forcet, near Richmond, in Yorkshire, where he
increased his popularity by his punctual discharge of the
pastoral office, and by his exemplary life. During the
usurpation he was not ejected from this living, and died
Sept. 1656. His principal work, which was highly valued
by Selden and other learned men, is entitled “The Protestant’s evidence, shewing that for 1500 years next after
Christ, divers guides of God’s church have in sundry
points of religion taught as the church of England now
doth,
” London, 1634, 4to, and in 1657, folio, much enlarged. Some histories ol the church, particularly that of
Milner, seem to be written on this plan.
, an English divine, probably the son or grandson of the rev. John
, an English divine, probably the
son or grandson of the rev. John Biscoe of New Inn hall,
Oxford, a nonconformist, was himself educated at a dissenting academy kept by Dr. Benion at Shrewsbury, and
was ordained a dissenting minister, Dec. 19, 1716. In
1726, he conformed and received deacon’s and priest’s
orders in the church of England, and in 1727 was presented
to the living of St. Martin Outwich, in the city of London,
which he retained until his death, July 1748. He held
also a prebend of St. Paul’s, and was one of his majesty’s
chaplains in ordinary. He is now chiefly known for a
learned and elaborate work, entitled “The History of the
Acts of the Holy Apostles confirmed from other authors
and considered as full evidence of the truth of Christianity,
with a prefatory discourse upon the nature of that evidence
” being the substance of his sermons preached at
Boyle’s lecture, in 1736, 1737, 1738, and published in
2 vols. 1742, 8vo. Dr. Doddridge frequently refers to it,
as a work of great utility, and as shewing “in the most convincing manner, how incontestably the Acts of the Apostles demonstrates the truth of Christianity.
”
, an English divine, was educated at Corpus Christi college, Oxford,
, an English divine, was educated at
Corpus Christi college, Oxford, where he proceeded M.A.
in 1698, B. D. in 1708, and D. D. in 1712. In 1715 he
was chosen preacher at the Rolls, and in 1716, on the deprivation of John Harvey, A. M. a nonjuror, he was presented to the chancellorship of Hereford, by his brother
Dr. Philip Bisse, bishop of that diocese. He was also a
prebendary of Hereford, and rector of Crudley and Weston. He died April 22, 1731. He was a frequent and
eloquent preacher, and published several of his occasional
sermons. Those of most permanent reputation are, 1. “The
Beauty of Holiness in the Common Prayer, as set forth in
four Sermons preached at the Rolls chapel,
” Decency and order in public worship, three Sermons,
” A course of Sermons
on the Lord’s Prayer,
” Latin Poems
”
were published by him in
be glad to hear thatthey were no losers, the work soon becoming, and yet remaining, in every sense, an English classic.
Many imperfect and incorrect copies of his lectures having by this time got abroad, and a pirated edition of them
being either published, or preparing for publication in Ireland, he found himself under the necessity of printing a
correct edition himself; and in November, 1765, published
the first volume, under the title of “Commentaries on the
Laws of England,
” and in the course of the four succeeding
years the other three volumes, which completed a work
that will transmit his name to posterity among the first class
of English authors, and will be universally read and admired, as long as the laws, the constitution, and the language of this country remain. Two circumstances respecting this great work, omitted by his biographer, we
are enabled to add from unquestionable authority. So
anxious was he that this work should appear with every
possible advantage, that he printed three copies of the first
volume, which he sent to three learned friends, for their
opinion. The other circumstance does honour to his
liberality. After reserving the copy-right in his own hands
for some years, he disposed of it to Messrs. Strahan and
Cadell for a considerable sum, but as, immediately after
concluding the bargain, the decision passed the house of
lords, which depreciated literary property, he offered
Messrs. Strahan and Cadell, to cancel the agreement, and
substitute another, by which he thought they would be
less injured. These gentlemen, however, met his proposition with a corresponding liberality, and the original bargain stood; and every reader will be glad to hear thatthey
were no losers, the work soon becoming, and yet remaining, in every sense, an English classic.
ofessorship in the college over which her husband had so long presided, and partly for a premium for an English essay, and for the augmentation of the professors’ salaries.
In the first volume of the Archaeologia is a letter, written in 1748, by Dr. Blackwell, to Mr. Ames, containing an explanation of a Greek inscription, on a white marble, found in the isle of Tasso, near the coast of Romania, by captain Joseph Hales, in 1728. As Dr. Blackwell was singular in his style and sentiments, he likewise imbibed some religious opinions, little known at that time in the bosom of the Calvinistic church of Scotland. He was so much a Socinian, that he never read ttie first chapter of St. John in his class, but always began with the second. This on one occasion gave rise to a foolish report respecting his knowledge of Greek, which we shall have occasion to notice in the life of Dv. Gregory Sharpe. His widow, who, as alreadynoticed, died in 1793, bequeathed her estates partly to found a chemical professorship in the college over which her husband had so long presided, and partly for a premium for an English essay, and for the augmentation of the professors’ salaries.
een ascribed to him whereas it is more justly supposed to have been written by Francis Tresham, esq. an English Catholic.
He was the author of “A letter to cardinal Cajetane io.
commendation of the English Jesuits,
” written in Answers upon sundry examinations whilst he was a prisoner,
” London, Approbation of the Oath
of Allegiance letters to the Romish priests touching the
lawfulness of taking the Oath of Allegiance,
” and another
to the same purpose, all of which were printed with the
“Answers upon sundry examinations,
” &c. “Epistolae
ad Anglos Pontificios,
” London, Epistolae
ad Robertum cardinalem Bellarminum.
” See the third
volume of the Collections of Melchior Goldast, Francfort,
1613, fol. “Answer to the Censure of Paris in suspending
the secular priests obedience to his authority,
” dated May
the 29th, 1600. This was replied to by John Dorel, or
Darrel, dean of Agen the same year. “A treatise against
lying and fraudulent dissimulations,
” in manuscript, among
those given to the Bodleian library by archbishop Laud.
At the end of it is the approbation of the book written by
Blackwell, and recommended by him as fit for the press;
so that no other name being put to it, it has been ascribed
to him whereas it is more justly supposed to have been
written by Francis Tresham, esq. an English Catholic.
, an English puritan divine, was born in Staffordshire in 1597, and
, an English puritan divine, was born
in Staffordshire in 1597, and in 1616 was entered of Christ
Church, Oxford, where he took his degrees, and went
into the church. In 1648 he sided with the ruling party,
subscribed the covenant, and became pastor of St. Alcmond’s in Shrewsbury, and afterwards of Tamworth in
Staffordshire, where he was also one of the committee for
the ejection of those who were accounted “ignorant and
scandalous ministers and schoolmasters.
” He died in
June, 1657, and was buried in Tamworth church, after a
funeral sermon preached by the famous Mr. Anthony Burgess, of Sutton Colfield.
improved by more able scholars. The best, we believe, is that printed at Louvain, 1754, 2 vols. 8vo. An English translation, under the title of the “Physical Dictionary,”
, son to the preceding, was an,
eminent physician at Franeker, and one of the most voluminous compilers of his time. He published large works
on every branch of medicine and surgery, taken from all
preceding and even contemporary authors, without either
judgment or honesty; for while he took every thing good
and bad which he could find, he in general published all
as his own. His “Anatomia practica rationalis,
” Lexicon medicum GraecoLatinum,
” which has gone through a great many editions,
some of which have been improved by more able scholars.
The best, we believe, is that printed at Louvain, 1754,
2 vols. 8vo. An English translation, under the title of the
“Physical Dictionary,
” printed first in
, an English physician, born in England, of a French family, and
, an English physician,
born in England, of a French family, and a licentiate of
the college of physicians, about the beginning of the last
century, published in 1727, “The strength of imagination in pregnant women examined, &c.
” This excited a
controversy with Dr. Turner, who, in his work on the diseases of the skin, was a strong advocate for the power of
imagination in producing marks and deformities. Blondel
answered him; and by his humour, as well as argument, contributed much to remove the common prejudices on that
popular subject.
s restoration, and appointed high sheriff of the county of Hertford, in 1661. He lived after that as an English gentleman, satisfied with the honours he had acquired,
, father to the preceding, and
a considerable writer in the last century, was descended
from a very ancient and honourable family, and born December 15, 1602, at his father, sir Thomas Pope Blount’s,
seat at Tittenhanger, in Hertfordshire. He received the
first tincture of letters in the free-school of St. Alban’s,
where he manifested an unusual quickness of parts, and
having qualified himself for the university, was removed
to Trinity-college, in Oxford, and entered a gentleman
commoner there in 1616, before he was full fourteen years
of age. Some years he spent in that learned society, with
great reputation and universal respect, not so much on
account of his family, by which he was nearly related to
the founder, sir Thomas Pope, as from his personal merit.
For in his youth he was of a cheerful disposition, a sprightly
wit, an easy address, and frank and entertaining in conversation, charmed all who were of his acquaintance, and
was justly esteemed as promising a genius as any in the
university. In the year 1618 he took the degree of B.A.
and soon after left Oxford for Gray’s-inn, where for some
time he applied himself to the study of the law, and set
out on his travels in the spring of the year 1634, being
then lately become of age. He made first the tour of France,
part of Spain and Italy, and then passing to Venice, he
there contracted an acquaintance with a Janizary, with
whom he resolved to pass into the Turkish dominions.
With this view he embarked on the 7th of May, 1634, on
board a Venetian galley, in which he sailed to Spalatro,
and thence continued his journey by land to Constantinople. There he was very kindly received by sir Peter
Wich, then our ambassador at the Port. His stay at Constantinople was short, because, having an earnest desire
to see Grand Cairo, and meeting with a sudden opportunity, he readily embraced it, and after a peregrination of
near two years, returned safely into England, where, in
1636, he printed an account of his travels, London, 1636,
4to, which soon after came to a second edition, and in
1638 to a third, in the same size. It was then printed in
12mo, and reached many editions the title of the eighth
runs thus “A Voyage into the Levant, being a brief relation of a Journey lately performed from England by the
way of Venice, into Dalmatia, Sclavonia, Bosnia, Hungary, Macedonia, Thessaly, Thrace, Rhodes, and Egypt,
unto Grand Cairo; with particular observations concerning
the modern condition of the Turks, and other people under
that empire. By sir Henry Blount, knight.
” This book
made him known to the world, and so much noticed, that
shortly after, king Charles I. who desired to fill his court
with men of parts, appointed him one of the band of pensioners, then composed of gentlemen of the first families
in the kingdom. In 1638, his father, sir Thomas Pope
Blount, died, and left him the ancient seat of Blount’s
hall, in Staffordshire, and a very considerable fortune.
On the 21st of March in the succeeding year, the king
conferred on him the honour of knighthood. At the first
breaking out of the civil war, he, following the example
of the elder branches of his illustrious family, who were
eminently loyal, attended the king at York, at Oxford,
and other places, was present at the battle of Edgehill,
and had there (according to a tradition in the family) the
honour of taking care of the young princes. Afterwards
he quitted his majesty’s service, and returned to London,
where he was questioned for his adhering to the king
but he being now grown a very wary and dexterous
speaker, so well excused himself, by alleging his duty on
account of his post, that he escaped all censure, and was
thenceforward well received. It appears, however, that
he had not the courage to be faithful, or that Ije had seriously repented his loyalty to the king, for he complied
with the usurping government so implicitly, that in 1651
he was named on a committee of twenty persons, for inspecting the practice of the law, and remedying its abuses.
He declared himself very warmly against tithes, and
would willingly have reduced the income of parish ministers to one hundred pounds a year. A man of this opinion
must have been very acceptable at that time. His next appearance, however, was more to his credit. He sat with Dr.
Hichard Zouch, Dr. William Clarke, Dr. William Turner, civilians, and with several other eminent persons in the court
of king’s (then called the upper) bench, in Westminster
hall, on the 5th of July, 1654, by virtue of a commission
from Oliver Cromwell, for trying Don Pantalion Saa,
brother to the Portuguese ambassador, for murder, of
which, being found guilty, he was, much to the honour
of the justice of this nation, by sentence of that court, adjudged to suffer death, and was executed accordingly,
Jn, the same year, by the death of his elder brother Thomas Pope Blount, esq. the estate of Tittenhanger descended to him. His great reputation for general knowledge and uncommon sagacity was the reason that his
name was inserted in the list of twenty-one commissioners
appointed, November 1, 1655, to consider of the trade and
navigation of the commonwealth, and how it might be best
encouraged and promoted, in which station he did his
country eminent service. But whatever his compliances
with the forms of government set up between 1650 and
1660, he was received into favour and confidence on the
ling’s restoration, and appointed high sheriff of the county
of Hertford, in 1661. He lived after that as an English
gentleman, satisfied with the honours he had acquired, and
the large estate he possessed, and having passed upwards
uf twenty years in this independent state, be died on the
9th of October, 1682, when he wanted but four months of
four-score, and was two days afterwards interred in the
vault of his family, at Ridge in Hertfordshire. As to what
appears from his writings, he seems to have had strong
parts, a lively imagination, and, in consequence of these,
some very singular opinions. His style was manly, flowing,
and less affected than could be expected, considering the
times in, and the subjects on, which he wrote. A Latin
fragment, published by his son, in his “Oracles of Reason,
” better explains his sentiments than all the rest of his
works, and demonstrates that he was a man of an irregular
way of thinking.
, an English musician of considerable fame, was born in 1648, at
, an English musician of considerable
fame, was born in 1648, at North Collingham in Nottinghamshire, and became one of the first set of children of the
chapel royal after the restoration. In 1673, he was sworn
one of the gentlemen of the chapel, and in 1674, appointed master of the children. In 1685, he was nominated
one of the private music to king James II. and in 1687,
was likewise appointed almoner and master of the choristers in the cathedral church of St. Paul but, in 1693, he
resigned this last place in favour of his scholar Jeremiah
Clerk. Blow had his degree of doctor in music conferred
on him by the special grace of archbishop Sancroft, without performing an exercise for it at either of the universities. On the death of Purcell, in 1695, he was elected organist of St. Margaret’s, Westminster; and in 1699, appointed composer to the chapel of their majesties king
AYilliam and queen Mary, at the salary of 40l. a year,
which afterwards was augmented to 73l. A second composer, with the like appointment, was added in 1715, at
which time it was required that each should produce a new
anthem on the first Sunday of his month in waiting. Dr.
Blow died in 1708 and though he did not arrive at great
longevity, yet by beginning his course, and mounting to
the summit of his profession so early, he enjoyed a prosperous and eventful life. His compositions for the church,
and his scholars who arrived at eminence, have rendered
his name venerable among the musicians of our country.
In his person he was handsome, and remarkable for a gravity and decency in his deportment suited to his station,
though he seems by some of his compositions to have been
not altogether insensible to the delights of a convivial hour.
He was a man of blameless morals, and of a benevolent
temper; but was not so insensible to his own worth, as to
be totally free from the imputation of pride. Sir John
Hawkins furnishes us with an anecdote that shews likewise
that he had a rough method of silencing criticism. In the
reign of James II. an anthem of some Italian composer had
been introduced into the chapel royal, which the king
liked very much, and asked Blow if he could make one as
good Blow answered in the affirmative, and engaged to
do it by the next Sunday when he produced “I beheld
and lo a great multitude.
” When the service was over,
the king sent father Petre to acquaint him that he was
much pleased with it: “but,
” added Petre, “I myself
think it too long.
” “That,
” answered Blow, “is the opinion of but one fool, and I heed it not.
” This provoked
the Jesuit so much that he prevailed on the king to suspend Blow, and the consequences might perhaps have
been more serious, had not the revolution immediately
followed.
to Westminster-abbey, in 1612, entitled “Prosopopoeia Basilica,” a ms. in the Cottonian library. 4. An English translation of Lucius Florus’s Roman History. 5. “Nero
, an ingenious
writer and antiquary, in the beginning of the seventeenth
century, was a retainer to the great George Villiers, duke
of Buckingham, under whom he probably enjoyed some
office. He was a Roman catholic; and distinguished Himself by the following curious writings; l.“The Life of
king Henry II.
” intended to be inserted in Speed’s Chronicle; but the author being too partial to Thomas Becket,
another life was written by Dr. Barcham. 2. “The Elements of Armories,
” Lond. Prosopopoeia Basilica,
” a ms. in the Cottonian library. 4.
An English translation of Lucius Florus’s Roman History.
5. “Nero Cæsar, or Monarchic depraved. An historicall
worke, dedicated with leave to the duke of Buckingham,
lord-admiral,
” Lond. Vindiciae Britannicae, or London righted
by rescues and recoveries of antiquities of Britain in general, and of London in particular, against unwarrantable
prejudices, and historical antiquations amongst the learned;
for the more honour, and perpetual just uses of the noble
island and the city.
” It consists of seven chapters. In
the first, he treats “of London before the Britann rebells
sackt and fired it in hatred and defiance of Nero.
” In the
second he shows, that “London was more great and famous in Nero’s days, than that it should be within the
description, which Julius Cæsar makes of a barbarous Britann town in his days.
” In the third, he proves, “that
the credit of Julius Cæsar’s writings may subsist, and yet
London retain the opinion of utmost antiquity.
” In the
fourth, “the same fundamental assertion is upholden with
other, and with all sorts of arguments or reasons.
” The
fifth bears this title, “The natural face of the seat of
London (exactly described in this section) most sufficiently
proved, that it was most antiently inhabited, always presupposing reasonable men in Britain.
” The sixth contains
“a copious and serious disquisition about the old book of
Brute, and of the authority thereof, especially so far forth
as concerns the present cause of the honour and antiquity
of London, fundamentally necessary in general to our national history.
” The last chapter is entitled, <; Special, as
well historical, as other illustrations, for the use of the
coins in my Nero Cæsar, concerning London in and before
that time.“This ms. (for it never was printed) was in the
possession of Hugh Howard, esq and afterwards sold among
Thomas Rawiinson’s to Endymion Porter. Mr. Bolton was
also author of
” Hypercritica, or a rule of judgement for
writing or reading our histories. Delivered in four supercensorian addresses by occasion of a censorian epistle,
prefixed by sir Henry Savile, knt. to his edition of some
of our oldest historians in Latin, dedicated to the late
queen Elizabeth. That according thereunto, a complete
body of our affairs, a Corpus Rerum Anglicarum may at
last, and from among our ourselves, come happily forth in
either of the tongues. A felicity wanting to our nation,
now when even the name thereof is as it were at an end.“It was published by Dr. Hall, at the end of
” Triveti Annales,“Oxford, 1722, 8vo. Bolton likewise intended to
compose a
” General History of England, or an entire and
complete body of English affairs;“and there is in the
Cottonian collection, the outline of a book entitled
” Agon
Heroicus, or concerning Arms and Armories," a copy of
which is in the Biog. Britannica. The time and place of
his death are unknown.
gave occasion to the following Latin distich, which cannot be translated so as to be intelligible to an English reader:
, a cardinal, was born in that city June 22, 1332, and descended from a noble and illustrious family. He studied divinity at Paris, where he distinguished himself by his uncommon parts and application, and afterwards taught divinity. He was of the order of St. Augustin, of which he was made general in 1377, on the death of Beauregard. Pope Urban VI. gave him a cardinal’s cap the year after, or as some say, in 1384. This engaging him to stand up for the rights of the church against Francis de Carrario of Padua, that petty tyrant contrived to have him murdered. He was dispatched with the shot of an arrow, as he was passing St. Angelo’s bridge at Rome. This event some place in 1385, others in 1389, 1396, and 1398. The manner of his death gave occasion to the following Latin distich, which cannot be translated so as to be intelligible to an English reader:
which Gregory probably thought might procure from the German converts more respect to the pope, than an English one. Solicitous also to preserve his dignity, Gregory
After some time he returned to Rome, where Gregory II.
consecrated him bishop of the new German churches,
by the name of Boniface, a Roman name, which Gregory
probably thought might procure from the German converts more respect to the pope, than an English one.
Solicitous also to preserve his dignity, Gregory exacted
from Boniface an oath of subjection to the papal authority,
drawn up in very strong terms. Boniface then returned to
the scenes of his mission, and had great success in Hesse,
encouraged now by Charles Martel, the dominion of the
French extending at this time a considerable way into Germany. We do not, however, find that he derived any
other assistance from the civil authority, than personal
protection, which doubtless was of great importance. If
he complied with the instructions sent from England, he
employed no means but what became a true missionary.
These, instructions, or rather advice sent to him by Daniel,
bishop of Winchester, about the year 723, afford too
striking an instance of good sense and liberality in that
dark age, to be omitted. Daniel’s method of dealing with
idolaters was conceived in these words, “Do not contradict in a direct manner their accounts of the genealogy of
their gods; allow that they were born from one another
in the same way that mankind are: this concession will
give you the advantage of proving, that there was a time
when they had no existence. Ask them who governed the
world before the birth of their gods, and if these gods have
ceased to propagate? If they have not, shew them the
consequence; namely, that the gods must be infinite in
number, and that no man can rationally be at ease in worshipping any of them, lest he should, by that means, offend
one, who is more powerful. Argue thus with them, not
in the way of insult, but with temper and moderation: and
take opportunities to contrast these absurdities with the
Christian doctrine: let the pagans be rather ashamed than
incensed by your oblique mode of stating these subjects.
Shew them the insufficiency of their plea of antiquity; inform them that idolatry did anciently prevail over the
world, but that Jesus Christ was manifested, in order to
reconcile men to God by his grace.
” From this same prelate he received other instructions respecting reforming the
church, and exercising discipline 'with the refractory and
scandalous priests, who occasioned much obstruction to
his mission. In the mean time, the report of his success
induced many of his countrymen to join him, who dispersed
themselves and preached in the villages of Hesse and Thuringia.
, an English miscellaneous writer, and poet of considerable merit,
, an English miscellaneous
writer, and poet of considerable merit, was nephew to the
preced ng, being the younger son of general George Boscawen, third son of lord Falmouth. He was born August
28, 1752, and was sent to Eton school before he was seven
years old, where he obtained the particular notice and
favour of the celebrated Dr. Barnard. From school he was
removed to Oxford, where he became a gentleman commoner of Exeter college, but left it, as is not unusual with
gentlemen intended for the law, without taking a degree.
He then studied the law, as a member of the Middle Temple, and the practice of special pleading under Mr. (afterwards judge) Buller: was called to the bar, and for a time
went the Western circuit. Nor were his legal studies unfruitful, as he published an excellent work under the title
of “A Treatise of Convictions on Penal Statutes; with
approved precedents of convictions before justices of the
peace, in a variety of cases; particularly under the Game
Laws, the Revenue Laws, and the Statutes respecting Manufactures, &c.
”
, an English clergyman of ingenuity and learning, was descended from
, an English clergyman of ingenuity
and learning, was descended from an ancient family in
Staffordshire, and born at Derby in 1688. His grandfather had been a major on the parliament side in the civil
wars; his father had diminished a considerable paternal
estate by gaming; but his mother, a woman of great
prudence, contrived to give a good education to six children.
Thomas the youngest acquired his grammatical learning at
Derby; had his education among the dissenters; and was
appointed to preach to a presbyterian congregation at
Spalding in Lincolnshire. Not liking this mode of life, he
removed to London at the end of queen Anne’s reign, with
a view of preparing himself for physic; but changing his
measures again, he took orders in the church of England,
soon after the accession of George I. and was presented to
the rectory of Winburg in Norfolk. About 1725 he was
presented to the benefice of Reymerston; in 1734, to the
rectory of Spixworth; and, in 1747, to the rectory of
Edgefield; all in Norfolk. About 1750, his mental powers
began to decline; and, at Christmas 1752, he ceased to
appear in the pulpit. He died at Norwich, whither he had
removed, in 1753, with his family, Sept. 23, 1754, leaving a wife, whom he mafried in 1739; and also a son, Edmund Bott, esq. of Christ church in Hampshire, a fellow
of the Antiquarian society, who published, in 1771, A collection of cases relating to the Poor laws. Dr. Kippis,
who was his nephew by marriage, has given a prolix article
on him, and a minute character, in which, however, there
appears to have been little of the amiable, and in his religious opinions he was capricious and unsteady. His works
were, 1. “The peace and happiness of this world, the
immediate design of Christianity, on Luke ix. 56,
” a pamphlet in 8vo, The principal and peculiar notion of a
late book, entitled, The religion of nature delineated, considered, and refuted,
” Remarks upon Butler’s 6th chapter of the Analogy of Religion, &c. concerning Necessity,
”
id not live to complete, vas published at London and Amsterdam, in 1730, 8vo and about the same time an English translation of it appeared His letters, also, on the
, comte de St. Saire,
where he was born October 21, 1658, of a noble and ancient family, was educated at Juilli, by the rithers of the
oratory, and gave proofs of genius and abilities from his
childhood. His chief study was history, which he afterwards cultivated assiduously. He died January 23, 1722,
at Paris, having been twice married, and left only daughters. He was author of a History of the Arabians, and
Mahomet, 12mo, “Memoires sur l'ancien Governement de
France; ou 14 lettres sur les anciens Parlemens de
France,
” 3 vols. 12mo; “Histoire de France jusqu'a
Charles VIII.
” 3 vols. 12mo; and “l'Etatde la Fiance,
”
6 vols. 12mo, in the Dutch edition, and eight in the edition of Trevoux, “Memoire presente a M. le due d‘Orleans, sur l’Administration des Finances,
” 2 vols. 12mo
“Histoire de la Pairie de France,
” 12mo “Dissertations
sur la Noblesse de France,
” 12mo. Ah his writings on
the French history have been collected in 3 vols. fol. They
Sire riot written (says M. de Montesquieu) with all the free-.
dom and simplicity of the ancient nobility, from which he
descended. M. Boulainvilliers left some other works in
ms. known to the learned, who have, with great reason,
been astonished to find, that he expresses in them his
doubts of the most incontestable dogmas of religion, while
he blindly gives credit to the reveries of juticial astrology
an inconsistency common to many other infjdels. Mosheim
informs us that Boulainvilliers was such an admirer of the
pernicious opinions of Spinosa, that he formed the design
of expounding and illustrating it, as is done wth respect to
the doctrines of the gospel in books of piety, accommodated to ordinary capacities. This design he attually executed, but in such a manner as to set the atheim and impiety of Spinosa in a clearer light than they hid ever appeared before. The work was published by lenglet du
Fresnoy, who, that it might be bought with avdity, and
read without suspicion, called it a Refutation of theErrors of
Spinosa, artfully adding some separate pieces, to which this
title may, in some measure, he thought applicabk. The
whole title runs, “Refutation des Erreurs de Beioit de
Spinosa, par M. de Fenelon, archeveque de Cambay, par
le Pere Lauri Benedictin, et par M. Le Comte de Bulainvilliers, avec la Vie de Spinosa, ecrite par Jean COerus,
minister de l‘Eglise Lutherienne de la Haye, augnsntée
de beaucoup de particularites tirees d’une vie manucrite
de ce philosophe, fait par un de ses amis,
” (Luczs, the atheistical physician), Brussels,
pire was drained of immense sums of money. To check this destructive fashion, Mr. Boydell sought for an English engraver who could equal, it not excel them; and jn
His conduct during his apprenticeship was eminently
assiduous. Eager to attain all possible knowledge of an
art on which his mind was bent, and of every thing that
could be useful to him, and^impelled by an industry that
seemed inherent in his nature, he, whenever he could,
attended the academy in St. Martin’s-lane to perfect himself in drawing; his leisure hours in the evening were devoted to the study of perspective, and to the learning of
French without the aid of a master. After very steadily
pursuing his business for six years, and finding himself a
better artist than his teacher, he bought from Mr. Toms
the last year of his apprenticeship, and became his own
master. In 1745 or 1746 he published six small landscapes, designed and engraved by himself. This publication, from his having in most of the views chosen a situation in which a bridge formed part of the scenery, was
entitled “The Bridge book,
” and sold for a shilling.
Small as this sum was, he sometimes spoke with apparent
pleasure of a silversmith in Duke’s-court, St. Martin’s
lane, having sold so many, that when he settled his annual
account, he thought it would be civil to take a silver pint
mug in part of payment, and this mug he retained until
his dying day. He afterwards designed and engraved
many other views, generally of places in and about London, and published the greater part of them at the low
price of one shilling each. But even at this early period
he was so much alive to fame, that after having passed
several months in copying an historical sketch of Coriolanus by Sebastian Concha, he so much disliked his own
engraving, that he cut the plate to pieces. Besides these,
he engraved many prints from Brocking, Berchem, Salvator ilosa, &c. The manner in which many of them are
executed, is highly respectable; and, being done at a
time when the artist had much other business to attend to,
displays an industry rarely to be paralleled, and proves
that had he devoted all his time to engraving, he wcmld
have ranked high in the profession. His facility of execution, and unconquerable perseverance, having thus enabled him to complete one hundred and fifty-two prints,
tie collected the whole in one port-folio, and published it
at fi,ve guineas. He modestly allowed that he himself had
not at that time arrived at any eminence in the art of engraving, and that those prints are now chiefly valuable
from a comparison of them with the improved state of the
art within the last fifty years. In fact, there were at that
time no eminent engravers in England, and Mr. Boydell
saw the necessity of forcing the art by stimulating men of
genius with suitable rewards. With the profits of the folio
volume of prints above-mentioned, he' was enabled to pay
very liberally the best artists of his time, and thus presented the world with English engravings from the works of
the greatest masters. The encouragement that he experienced from the public was equal to the spirit and patriotism of his undertaking, and soon laid the foundation
of an ample fortune. He used to observe, that he believed
the book we have alluded to was the first that had ever
made a lord mayor of London; and that when the smallness of the work was compared with what had followed, it
would impress all young men with the truth of what he
had often held out to them, “that industry, patience, and
perseverance, if united to moderate talents, are certain
to surmount all difficulties.
” Mr. Boydell, though he
never himself made any great progress as an engraver, was
certainly the greatest encourager of the art that this country
ever knew. The arts were at the time he began, at a
very low ebb in this country. Wotton’s portraits of hounds
^nd horses, grooms and squires, with a distant view of the
dog-kennel and stable; and Hudson’s portraits of gentlemen in great coats and jockey caps, were in high repute.
Inferior prints from poor originals were almost the only
works our English artists were thought capable of performing; and, mortifying as it must be to acknowledge it,
yet it must be admitted, that (with the exception of the inimitable Hogarth, and two or three others) the generality of them were not qualified for much better things.
The powers of the artists were, however, equal to the
taste of a great majority of their customers; and the few
people of the higher order who had a relish for better
productions, indulged it in the purchase of Italian and
Flemish pictures and French prints; for which, even at
th?t time, the empire was drained of immense sums of
money. To check this destructive fashion, Mr. Boydell
sought for an English engraver who could equal, it not
excel them; and jn Woollett he found one. The Temple
of Apollo, from Claude, and two premium pictures from
the Smiths of Chichester, were amongst the first large
works which this excellent artist engraved; but the Niobe
and the Phaeton, from Wilson, established his fame. For
the first of them the alderman agreed to give the engraver
fifty guineas, and when it was completed paid him a
hundred. The second, the artist agreed to engrave for
fifty guineas, and the alderman paid him one hundred and
twenty. The two prints were published by subscription,
at five shillings each. Proof prints were not at that time
considered as having any particular value; the few that
were taken off to examine the progress of the plate were
delivered to such subscribers as chose to have them, at the
subscription price. Several of these have since that time
been sold at public auctions, at ten and eleven guineas
each. By these and similar publications he had the satisfaction to see in his own time the beneficial effects of his
exertions. We have before observed, that previous to his
establishing a continental correspondence for the exportation of prints, immense sums were annually sent out of
the country for the purchase of those that were engraved
abroad; but he changed the course of the current, and
for many of the later years of his life, the balance of the
print-trade with the continent was very much in favour of
Great Britain.
ing the art of engraving in this country, he resolved to direct his next efforts to the establishing an English school of historical painting; and justly conceiving
Having been so successful in promoting the art of engraving in this country, he resolved to direct his next
efforts to the establishing an English school of historical
painting; and justly conceiving that no subject could be
more appropriate for such a national attempt than England’s inspired poet, and great painter of nature, Shakspeare, he projected, and just lived to see completed, a
most splendid edition of the works of that author, illustrated by engravings from paintings of the first artists that
the country could furnish, and of which the expence was
prodigious. These paintings afterwards formed what was
termed “The Shakspeare gallery,
” in Pall Mall; and we
believe there are few individuals possessed of the least
taste, or even curiosity, who have not inspected and been
delighted by them.
two sons and five daughters. His writings are these: 1. “The Irish colours displayed; in a reply of an English Protestant to a letter of an Irish Roman catholic,”
Soon after this affair, his lordship, with sir Charles
Coote, lately made earl of Montrath, and sir Maurice
Eustace, were constituted lords justices of Ireland, and
commissioned to call and hold a parliament. Some time
before the meeting of the parliament, he drew with his
own hand the famous act of settlement, by which he fixed
the property, and gave titles to their estates to a whole nation. When the duke of Ormond was declared lord lieutenant, the earl of Orrery went into Munster, of which
province he was president. By virtue of this office, he
heard and determined causes in a court called the residency-court; and acquired so great a reputation in his
judicial capacity, that he was offered the seals both by the
king and the duke of York after the fall of lord Clarendon;
but, being very much afflicted with the gout, he declined
a post that required constant attendance. During the first
Dutch war, in which France acted as a confederate with
Holland, he defeated the scheme formed by the duke de
Beaufort, admiral of France, to get possession of the harbour of Kinsale, and took advantage of the fright of the
people, and the alarm of the government, to get a fort
erected under his own directions, which was named Fort
Charles. He promoted a scheme for inquiring into, and
improving the king’s revenue in Ireland; but his majesty
having applied great sums out of the revenue of that kingdom which did not come plainly into account, the inquiry was never begun. Ormond, listening to some malicious insinuations, began to entertain a jealousy of
Orrery, and prevailed with the king to direct him to lay
down his residential court; as a compensation for which,
his majesty made him a present of 8000l. Sir Thomas
Clifford, who had been brought into the ministry in England, apprehensive that he cpuld not carry his ends in
Ireland whilst Orrery continued president of Munster,
procured articles of impeachment of high treason and misdemeanours to be exhibited against him in the English
house of commons; but his lordship being heard in his
place, gave an answer so clear, circumstantial, and ingenuous, that the affair was dropt. The king laboured in
vain to reconcile him to the French alliance, and the reducing of the Dutch. At the desire of the king and the
duke of York, he drew the plan of an act of limitation,
by which the successor would have been disabled from encroaching on civil and religious liberty; but the proposing
thereof being postponed till after the exclusion-bill was
set on foot, the season for making use of it was past. The
iing, to hinder his returning to Ireland, and to keep him
about his person, offered him the place of lord-treasurer;
but the earl of Orrery plainly told his majesty that he was
guided by unsteady counsellors, with whom he could not
act. He died in October 1679, aged fifty-eight; leaving
behind him the character of an able general, statesman,
and writer. He had issue by his lady, two sons and five
daughters. His writings are these: 1. “The Irish colours
displayed; in a reply of an English Protestant to a letter
of an Irish Roman catholic,
” London, An
answer to a scandalous letter lately printed, and subscribed
by Peter Walsh, procurator for the secular and regular
popish priests of Ireland, entitled A letter desiring a just
and merciful regard of the Roman catholics of Ireland,
given about the end of October 1660, to the then marquis,
now duke of Ormond, and the second time lord lieutenant of
that kingdom. By the right honourable the earl of Orrery, &c. being a full discovery of the treachery of the
Irish rebels since the beginning of the rebellion there, necessary to be considered by all adventurers, and other
persons estated in that kingdom,
” Dublin, A poem on his majesty’s happy restoration.
” 4. “A
poem on the death of the celebrated Mr. Abraham CowJey,
” London, The history of Henry V.
a tragedy,
” London, Mustapha, the son
of Soliman the Magnificent, a tragedy,
” London, Ifi67,
fol. and 1668. 7. “The Black Prince, a tragedy,
”
London, Triphon, a tragedy,
” London,
Parthenissa, a romance in three volumes,
” London,
A Dream.
” In this piece
he introduces the genius of France persuading Charles II.
to promote the interest of that kingdom, and act upon
French principles. He afterwards introduces the ghost of
his father, dissuading him from it, answering all the arguments the genius of France had urged, and proving to him
from his own misfortunes and tragical end, that a kind’s
onths lord Orrery so far recovered his health and spirits as to be able to attend his public duty as an English baron. He took his seat in the house of peers in the
In a few months lord Orrery so far recovered his health and spirits as to be able to attend his public duty as an English baron. He took his seat in the house of peers in the session of parliament which opened on the 13th of January, 1731-2, and soon distinguished himself by a speech in opposition to the ministry, against the mutiny-bill; the inconsistency of a standing army with the liberties of a free people being at that period the topic constantly insisted upon by the patriotic party. Though no notice is taken of his lordship’s speech in Timberland’s Debates, it is certain that he acquired considerable credit on this occasion. Mr. Budgell, in the dedication to his Memoirs of the Family of the Boyles, published in 1732, celebrates our noble lord as having displayed the united forces of reason and eloquence; and Mr. Ford, in a letter to Dr. Swift, written in the same year, mentions with pleasure a character which the dean had given of the earl of Orrery, and says, that he was extremely applauded for a speech he made against the army- bill. The approbation which his lordship received in this lirst exertion of his parliamentary talents, did not encourage him to become a public speaker; and we meet with only another instance in which he took any active part in a debate/ on the 13th of February, 1733-4, in favour of the duke of Marlborough’s bill for preventing the officers of the land forces from being deprived of their commissions, otherwise than by judgment of a court martial to be held for that purpose, or by address of either house of parliament. The delicacy of lord Orrery’s health, his passion for private life, and the occasions he had of sometimes residing in Ireland, seem to have precluded him from a very constant and regular attendance in the English house of peers. However, he did not fail to go thither when he apprehended himself to be called to it by particular duty; and we find his name to a considerable number of the protests which were so frequent during the grand opposition to sir Robert Waipole’s administration.
his, the admirers of Bracton will not apprehend much from this determined enemy to his reputation as an English lawyer.
, a celebrated English lawyer
in the thirteenth century, was, according to Mr. Prince,
born in Devonshire; and studied at Oxford, where he took
the degree of LL. D. Applying himself afterwards to the
study of the laws of England, he rose to great eminence at
the bar; and, in 1244, was by king Henry III. made one
of the judges itinerant. At present he is chiefly known by
his learned work, “Delegibus et consuetudinibus Angliae,
”
the first printed edition of it was in Anciennes Loix des Francois.
” After this,
the admirers of Bracton will not apprehend much from this
determined enemy to his reputation as an English lawyer.
, an English divine of good parts and learning, the son of Nicholas
, an English divine of good
parts and learning, the son of Nicholas Brady, an officer
in the king’s army in the civil wars of 1641, was born at
Bandon, in the county of Cork, Oct. the 28th, 1659; and
continued in Ireland till he was 12 years of age. Then he
was sent over to England to Westminster-school; and from
thence elected stuJent to Christ-church in Oxford. After
continuing there about four years, he went to Dublin,
where his father resided; at which university he immediately commenced B. A. When he was of due stanuing,
his diploma for the degree of D. D. was, on account of his
uncommon merit, presented to him by that university while
he was in England; and brought over by Dr Pratt, then
senior travelling fellow, afterwards provost of that college.
His first ecclesiastical preferment was to a prebend in the
cathedral of St. Barry, at Cork; to which he was collated
by bishop Wettenhal, whose domestic chaplain he was.
He was a zealous promoter of the revolution, and in consequence of his zeal suffered for it. In 1690, when the
troubles broke out in Ireland, by his interest with king
Tatnes as general, M'Carty, he thrice prevented the burning of the town of Bandon, after three several orders given
by that prince to destroy it. The same year, having been
deputed by the people of Bandon, he went over to England, to petition the parliament for a redress of some grievances they had suffered while king James was in Ireland;
and afterwards quitting his preferments in Ireland, he settled in London; where, being celebrated for his abilities in
the pulpit, he was elected minister of St. Catherine Cree
church, and lecturer of St. Michael’s Wood-street. He
afterwards became minister of Richmond in Surry. and
Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire, and at length rector
of Clapham in Surry; which last, together with Richmond, he held till his death. His preferments amounted
to 600l. a year, but he was so little of an Œconomist as to
be obliged to keep a school at Richmond. He was also
chaplain to the duke of Ormond’s troop of horse-guards, as
he was to their majesties king William and queen Mary.
He died May 20, 1726, aged 66, leaving behind him the
character of being a person of an agreeable temper, a polite gentleman, an excellent preacher, and a good poet.
He has no high rank, however, among poets, and would
have long ere now been forgotten in that character, if his
name was not so familiar as a translator of the new version
of the “Psalms,
” in conjunction with Mr. Tate, which version was licensed 1696. He translated also the Æneids of
Virgil,“published by subscription in 1726, 4 vols. 8vo,and a tragedy, called
” The Rape, or the Innocent Impos-tors,“neither performances of much character. His prose
works consist of
” Sermons," three volumes of which were
published by himself in 1704, 1706, and 1713, and three
others by his eldest son, who was a clergyman at Tooting,
in Surry, London, 1730, 8vo.
, an English poetess, was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Hughes, of Bryn-
, an English poetess, was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Hughes, of Bryn- Griffith near Mould in
Flintshire, by Anne Jones, his wife, and was born in 1685.
Being observed to be endowed by nature with a great capacity, her talents were assiduously cultivated by her father, who was himself a man of excellent parts. Mr.
Hughes, however, dying when she was only sixteen, she
soon lost these advantages; but early discovered a turn
for poetry, which her acquaintance encouraged. In Jan,
1711 she married Mr. Thomas Brereton, at that time a
commoner of Brazen-nose college, Oxford, only son of
major Brereton, son and heir of William Brereton, esq.
of Cheshire. Her husband soon spent his fortune, and
went over to Paris; and some time after this, a separation,
having taken place, she retired, 1721, to her native country, Wales, where she led a solitary life, seeing little company, except some intimate friends. About this time Mr.
Brereton obtained from lord Sunderland a post Belonging
to the customs at Park-gate near Chester; but in Feb.
1722, was unfortunately drowned in crossing the water of
Saltney, when the tide was coming in. Mrs. Brereton
then retired to Wrexham in Denbighshire, for the benefit
of her children’s education, where she died Aug. 7, 1740,
aged fifty -five, leaving two daughters, Lucy and Charlotte,
the latter probably the author of <c The Rattle,“a song,
in Fawkes and Woty’s
” Poetical Calendar," vol. XI. p. 14.
, an English divine, attached to the principles of the puritans,
, an English divine, attached
to the principles of the puritans, was born at Nottingham
in 1557, and was educated in Queen’s college, Cambridge,
and long maintained a controversy on the discipline and
ceremonies of the church, which seems to have led 'him
to write his Commentaries in Latin on the Song of Solomon
and the Revelations. This last was afterwards translated
under the title of “The Revelation of St. John illustrated,
” Brightman Redivivus, or the posthumian offspring of Thomas Brightman,
in four Sermons,
” 4to.
l advantages which will accrue from a commercial Intercourse between the two nations.” Of this work, an English translation was published, both in England and America.
Brissot, at the period of his residence at Boulogne, had
been introduced to mademoiselle Dupont, who was employed under mad. de Genlis as reader to the daughter of
the duke of Orleans, and whose mother kept a lodginghouse in that place: and having married this lady, he
found it necessary to exert his literary talents for gaining
a subsistence. But as France did not afford that liberty,
which he wished to indulge, he formed a design of printing,
in Swisserland or Germany, a series of works in a kind of
periodical publication, under the title of “An universal
Correspondence on points interesting to the welfare of
Man and of Society,
” which he proposed to smuggle into
France. With this view, he visited Geneva and Neuchatel, in order to establish correspondences; and he also
made a journey to London, which was to be the central
point of the establishment, and the fixed residence of the
writers. His intentions, however, were divulged by the
treachery of some of his confidential associates; and the
scheme totally failed. During his abode in London, he
concerted the plan of a periodical work or journal, on the
literature, arts, and politics of England, which, being published in London, was allowed to be reprinted at Paris, and
first appeared in 1784. The avowed object of this publication, as he himself declares, was “the universal
emancipation of men.
” In London, he was arrested for debt;
but, being liberated by the generosity of a friend, he returned to Paris, where he was committed to the Bastille
in July 1784, on the charge of being concerned in a very
obnoxious publication. But by the interest of the duke
of Orleans, he was released, on condition of never residing
in England, and discontinuing his political correspondence.
In 1785, he published two letters to the emperor Joseph
II. “Concerning the Right of Emigration, and the Right
of the People to revolt,
” which he applied particularly to
the case of the Waiachsans: and in the following year appeared his “Philosophical Letters on the History of England,
” in 2 vols. and “A critical Examination of the Travels of the marq is de Chatelleux in North America.
” With
a view of promoting a close, political, and commercial
union between France and the United States, he wrote in
1787, with the assistance of Claviere, a tract, entitled
“De la France et des Etats Unis, &c.
” “On France and
the United States or on the Importance of the American
Revolution to the kingdom of France, and the reciprocal
advantages which will accrue from a commercial Intercourse between the two nations.
” Of this work, an English translation was published, both in England and America. At this time he was in the service of the duke of
Orleans, as secretary to his chancery, with a handsome
salary, and apartments in the palais royal; and, without
doubt, employed in aiding that monster in his schemes of
ambition. In this situation, he wro:e a pamphlet against
the administration of the archbishop of Sens, entitled “No
Bankruptcy, &c.
” which occasioned the issuing of a lettre
de cachet against him. But to avoid its effect, he went
to Holland, England, and the Low Countries; and at
Mechlin, he edited a newspaper, called “Le Courier Beigique.
” For the purpose of promoting the views of a society at Paris, denominated “Les Amis des Noirs,
” and
established for the purpose of abolishing negro slavery, he
embarked for America in 1788; and, during his residence
in that country, he sought for a convenient situation, in
which a colony of Frenchmen might be organized into a
republic, according to his ideas of political liberty. But
his return was hastened in 1789 by the intelligence he
received of the progress of the French revolution. After
his arrival, he published his “Travels in America;
” (Nouveau Voyage dans les Etats Unis, &. Paris, 1791, 3 vols. 8vo), and as he found the attention of the public directed
to the approaching assembly of the states-general, he
wrote his “Plan of Conduct for the Deputies of the People.
” At this time, he had withdrawn from the partisans of
the duke of Orleans; and he took an active part in the
plans that were then projected for the organization of the
people, with a view to their union and energy in accomplishing the revolution. To the lodgings of Brissot, as a
person who was held in estimation at this period, the keys
of the Bastille, when it was taken, were conveyed; he also
became president of the Jacobin club; and he distinguished
himself in various ways as a zealous promoter of those
revolutionary principles, which afterwards gave occasion
to a great jiumber of atrocious excesses. After the king’s
flight to Varennes, Brissot openly supported the republican
cause; but, as some form of monarchy was still the object
of the national wish, he was obliged to restrain his impetuosity. The popularity acquired by his writings and
conduct was such, as to induce the Parisians to return him
as one of their members in the “Legislative national assembly,
” which succeeded the “Constituent assembly,
”
in October Girondists
” or “La Gironde,
” the name of the department
to which several of its members belonged, and also from
his own name “Brissotins.
” In his career of ambition, he
does not seem to have been influenced by pecuniary cc nsiderations; power, more than wealth, being the object of
his aim; for, at this time, he and his family lodged in an
apartment up four pair of stairs, and subsisted on his stipend as deputy, and the inconsiderable gains accruing
from a newspaper. As a determined enemy to monarchy,
he was unremitting in his efforts to engage the nation in a
war, with the avowed purpose of involving the king and
his ministers in difficulties which would terminate in their
ruin, and this part of his political conduct must ever be
lamented and execrated by the friends of freedom and of
mankind. In the impeachment of M. Delessart, the minister for foreign affairs, Brissot took a principal lead; and
alleged against him several articles of accusation, in consequence of which, he was apprehended, tried by the high
national court at Orleans, and condemned to die, without
being h'rst heard in his own defence, so that he became
the first victim to that desperate faction, which afterwards
deluged France with blood. His colleagues were so complex ly terrified by this event, that they requested leave to
resign, and the ministry was at once completely dissolved.
Their successors, appointed by the king, under the direction and inriuence of Brissot, were Dumourier, Roland, and
Ciaviere. This appointment was followed bya declaration
of war, decreed by the national assembly, against the king
of Hungary and Bohemia; and Brissot, during the existence of this administration, which terminated soon, was
considered as the most powerful person in France. About
this time, Brissot began to entertain secret jealousy and
suspicion of La Fayette, and concurred with other members of the assembly, in signing an accusation against him,
which, however, he was not able to substantiate. He and his
republican party were likewise industrious in their endeavours to throw an odium on the court, by alleging, that a
private correspondence was carried on between the king
and queen and the emperor; and they even averred, that
an “Austrian Committee,
” and a conspiracy in favour of
the enemies of the country, existed among the friends of
the court. The charge seemed to be unsupported by sufficient evidence; the king publicly contradicted these accusations as calumnies; nevertheless, they made no small
impression on the minds of the public. To the writings
and conduct of Brissot, the horrid massacres at the Tuiileries, on the 10th of August, 1792, have been principally
ascribed; and it is a poor excuse that he is said to have
preserved the lives of several of the Swiss guards on that
fatal day. He was employed to draw up the declaration to
the neutral powers concerning the suspension of the king’s
authority; but he is said to have regarded with horror the
sanguinary spirit that was now predominant among the
leaders of the jacobins. Whilst, indeed, he was ascending
to the pinnacle of power, he seems to have been the ardent
advocate of insurrection and the revolutionary power: but
as he found himself raised to that station, he began to inculcate “order and the constitution,
” the usual cant of all
demagogues who think they have attained their object.
In the shocking massacre of the prisoners at Paris in September, he had probably no other concern, than the inwhich his irritating speeches and writings had
created on the minds of the more active agents. When
the “National convention,
” the idea of which is said to
have been suggested by him, assumed the direction of the
state, and assembled on the 20th of September, 1792, he
was returned as member for the department of Eure and
Loire, his native country. In this assembly, he openly
avowed himself an advocate for a republican government,
in opposition both to the Jacobins and Orleanists; and was
expelled the Jacobin club. On this occasion, he wrote a
vindication of his public conduct, under the title of “An
Address to all the Republicans.
” He is said to have been
so far shocked by the prospect of the fatal issue of the
king’s trial, as to have attempted the preservation of his
life, by deferring his execution till the constitution should
be perfected; a proposition of which the absurdity and
cruelty are nearly equal. The war with England, which
soon followed the death of Louis, is ascribed to his ardour
find credulity; for he was led to imagine, that the consequence of it would be a civil war in this country; and it is
said, that this, as well as the war with Holland, was decreed
in the national convention, Feb. 1, 1793, at his motion.
This charge, however, he retorts on his accusers, and says,
that the anarchists, by voting the death of the king, were
themselves the authors of the war,
undred hexameter verses, he described a battle fought that year by a French ship, la Cordeliere, and an English ship, the Regent. More, who was not then in the high
, a learned Frenchman, was born about the end of the fifteenth century, at
Auxerre, or in that diocese; and in his education made
great progress in the learned languages, particularly the
Greek, from which he translated into Latin, Chrysostom’s
treatise on the priesthood; his first eight homilies on the
epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, and some other works,
which contributed very much to his reputation. He used
frequently to compose Greek verses, with which he entertained the literati at his house, where they were sure of an
open table. From 1512 he was secretary to queen Anne,
and archdeacon of Albi. In 1515 he had a canonry conferred upon him in the church of Auxerre, which, in 1520,
he resigned, on being promoted to the same rank at Paris.
He calls himself almoner to the king in the title of his rare
book “Germani Brixii, gratulatoriae quatuor ad totidem
viros classissimos, &c.
” Paris, Christ. Longolii perduellionis rei detensiones duae,
” Chordigera,
”.
where in three hundred hexameter verses, he described a
battle fought that year by a French ship, la Cordeliere,
and an English ship, the Regent. More, who was not
then in the high station which he afterwards reached, composed several epigrams in derision of this poem. Brixius,
piqued at this affront, revenged himself by the “AntiMorus,
” an elegy of about Flores
Epigrammatum
” of Leodegarius a Quercu, or Leger du
Che'ne. The third is in the “Corpus Poetarum Latinorum
” collected by Janus Gruterus, under the anagrammatic name of Ranutius Gerus. Erasmus says that More
despised this poem so much as to have intended to print
it; Erasmus at the same time advised More to take no notice of it. The chancellor’s great-grandson and biographer,
More, seems to think that he had written something in
answer to Brixius, before he received this advice from
Erasmus, but called in the copies, “so that,
” says his
biographer, “it is now very hard to be found; though
some have seen it of late.
” Much correspondence on the
subject may be perused in our authorities.
, an English poet, has the reputation of ably assisting the royal
, an English poet, has the reputation of ably assisting the royal party in the time of
Charles I. and of even having no inconsiderable hand in
promoting the restoration. Of his personal history, we
have only a few notices in the Biographia Dramatica. He
was born in 1620, and died June 30, 1666. He was an
attorney in the lord mayor’s court, and through the whole
of the protectorship, maintained his loyalty, and cheered
his party by the songs and poems in his printed works,
most of which must have been sung, if not composed, at
much personal risk. How far they are calculated to excite
resentment, or to promote the cause which the author
espoused, the reader must judge. His songs are in^neasures, varied with considerable ease and harmony, and have
many sprightly turns, and satirical strokes, which the
Roundheads must have felt. Baker informs us that he
was the author of much the greater part of those songs and
epigrams which were published against the rump. Phillips
styles him the “English Anacreon.
” Walton has draxvn a
very favourable character of him in the eclogue prefixed to
his works, the only one of the commendatory poems which
seems worthy of a republication; Mr. Ellis enumerates
three editions of these poems, the first in 1660, the second
in 1664, and the third in 1668. That, however, used in
the late edition of the English Poets is dated 1661. In
1660 he published “A Congratulatory Poem on the miraculous and glorious Return of Charles II.
” which we have
not seen. Besides these poems he published a “Translation of Horace,
” by himself, Fanshaw, Holliday, Hawkins,
Cowley, Ben Jonson, &c. and had once an intention to
translate Lucretius, In 1654 he published a comedy entitled “The Cunning Lovers,
” which was acted in
, an English clergyman, was a native of Shropshire, but where educated
, an English clergyman, was a native
of Shropshire, but where educated is not known. In the
beginning of king James II.'s reign he was curate of St.
Giles’s in the Fields, London, but afterwards turned Roman catholic, and was employed as a corrector of the press
in the king’s printing-house, which afforded him a comfortable subsistence. When obliged to quit that, after the
revolution, he undertook a boarding-school for the instruction of young gentlemen, some of whom being the sons of
opulent persons, this employment proved very beneficial.
His biographer informs us that Pope, the celebrated poet,
was one of his pupils. He afterwards travelled abroad with
some young gentlemen, as tutor, but retired at last to his
own country, where he died Jan. 10, 1717. He published
only a translation of the “Catechism of the Council of
Trent,
” Lnhd.
, an English traveller and scholar, the son of James Brown, M. D.
, an English traveller and scholar, the
son of James Brown, M. D. (who died Nov. 24, 1733), was
born at Kelso, in the shire or Roxburgh, in Scotland, May
23, 1709, and was educated under Dr. Freind at Westminster school, where he made great proficiency in the Latin
and Greek classics. In the latter end of 1722, he went
with his father to Constantinople, and having a great aptitude for the learning of languages, acquired a competent
knowledge of the Turkish, vulgar Greek, and Italian; and
on his return home in 1725, made himself master of the
Spanish tongue. About the year 1732, he first started the
idea of a very useful book in the mercantile world, although
not deserving a place in any literary class, “The Directory,
”
or list of principal traders in London; and having taken
some pains to lay the foundation of it, he gave it to the
late Mr. Henry Kent, printer in Finch-lane, Cornhill, who
continued it from year to year, and acquired an estate by it.
In 1741, Mr. Brown entered into an agreement with
twenty-four of the principal merchants of London, members of the Russia Company, as their chief agent or factor,
for the purpose of carrying on a trade, through Russia, to
and from Persia, and he sailed for Riga Sept. 29. Thence
he passed through Russia, down the Volga to Astracan, and
sailed along the Caspian sea to Reshd in Persia, where he
established a factory, in which he continued near four years.
During this time, he travelled in state to the camp of
Nadir Shah, commonly known by the name of Kouli Khan,
with a letter which had been transmitted to him from the
late George II. to that monarch. While he resided in this
country, he applied himself much to the study of that language, and made such proficiency in it that, after his return home, he compiled a very copious “Persian Dictionary and Grammar,
” with many curious specimens of
their writing, which is yet in manuscript. But not being
satisfied with the conduct of some of the merchants in London, and being sensible of the dangers that the factory was
constantly exposed to from the unsettled and tyrannical
nature of the government of Persia, he resigned his charge
to the gentlemen who were appointed to succeed him, returned to London Dec. 25, 1746, and lived to be the last
survivor of all the persons concerned in the establishment
of that trade, having outlived his old friend Mr. Jonas
Hanway above two years. In May 1787, he was visited
with a slight paralytic stroke, all the alarming effects of
which very speedily vanished, and he retained his wonted
health and chearfulness till within four 1 days of his death;
when a second and more severe stroke proved fatal Nov.
30, 1788. He died at his house at Stoke Newington,
where he had been an inhabitant since 1734, and was succeeded by his worthy son James Brown, esq. F. S. A. now
of St. Alban’s. Mr. Lysons informs us that the elder Mr.
Brown published also a translation of two “Orations of
Isocrates
” without his name. He was a man of the strictest
integrity, unaffected, piety, and exalted, but unostentatious benevolence; of an even, placid, chearful temper,
which he maintained to the last, and which contributed to
lengthen his days. Few men were ever more generally
esteemed in life, or more respectfully spoken of after death
by all who knew him.
, an English divine of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth
, an English divine of the sixteenth
and beginning of the seventeenth century, from whom the
sect of the Brownists derived its name, was descended of
an ancient and worshipful family, says Fuller, (one whereof founded a fair hospital in Stamford), and was nearly allied
to the lord-treasurer Cecil. He was the son of Anthony
Brown, of Tol thorp, in Rutlandshire, esq. (though born at Northampton, according to Mr. Collier), and grandson
of Francis Brown, whom king Henry VIII. in the eighteenth year of his reign, privileged by charter to wear
Jiis cap in the presence of himself, his heirs, or any of his
nobles, and not to uncover but at his own pleasure;
which charter was confirmed by act of parliament. Robert
Brown studied divinity at Cambridge, in Corpus Christi
college, and was afterwards a schoolmaster in Southwark. He was soon discovered by Dr. Still, master of
Trinity-college, to have somewhat extraordinary in him
that would prove a great disturbance to the church. Brown
soon verified what the doctor foretold, for he not only jm^
bibed Cartwright’s opinions, but resolved to refine upon
his scheme, and to produce something more perfect of his
own. Accordingly, about the year 1580, he began to inveigh openly against the discipline and ceremonies of the
church of England, and soon shewed that he intended to
go much farther than Cartwright had ever done. In his
discourses the church government was antichristian; her
sacraments clogged with superstition; the liturgy had a
mixture of Popery and Paganism in it; and the mission of
the clergy was no better than that of Baal’s priests in the
Old Testament. He first preached at Norwich, in 1581,
where the Dutch having a numerous congregation, many
of them inclined to Ahabaptism; and, therefore, being the
more disposed to entertain any new resembling opinion,
he made his first essay upon them; and having made some
progress, and raised a character for zeal and sanctity, he
then began to infect his own countrymen; for which purpose he called in the assistance of one Richard Harrison, a
country schoolmaster, and they formed churches out of
both nations, but mostly of the English. He instructed
his audience that the church of England was no true
church; that there was little of Christ’s institution in the
public ministrations, and that all good Christians were
obliged to separate from those impure assemblies; that
their only way was to join him and his disciples, among
whom all was pure and unexceptionable, evidently inspired by the Spirit of God, and refined from all alloy and
prophanation. These discourses prevailed on the audience; and his disciples, now called Brownists, formed a
society, and made a total defection from the church, refusing to join any congregation in any public office of
worship. Brown being convened before Dr. Freake, bishop
of Norwich, and other ecclesiastical commissioners, he
maintained his schism, to justify which he had also written
a book, and behaved rudely to the court, on which he was
committed to the custody of the sheriff of Norwich; but
his relation, the lord treasurer Burghley, imputing his
error and obstinacy to zeal, rather than malice, interceded
to have him charitably persuaded out of his opinions, and
released. To this end he wrote a letter to the bishop of
Norwich, which procured his enlargement. After this,
hisjordship ordered Brown up to London, and recommended him to archbishop Whitgift for his instruction and
counsel, in order to his amendment; but Brown left the
kingdom, and settled at Middleburgh in Zealand, where
he and his followers obtained leave of the states to form a
church according to their own model, which was drawn in
a book published by Brown at Middleburgh in 1582, and
called “A treatise of Reformation, without staying for any
man.
” How long he remained at Middleburgh, is not
precisely known; but he was in England in 1585, when
he was cited to appear before archbishop Whitgift, to
answer to certain matters contained in a book published by
him, but what this was, we are not informed. The archbishop, however, by force of reasoning, brought Brown
at last to a tolerable compliance with the church of England; and having dismissed him, the lord treasurer Burgh.Jey sent him to his father in the country, with a letter to
recommend him to his favour and countenance, but from
another letter of the lord treasurer’s, we learn that Brown’s
errors had sunk so deep as not to be so easily rooted out as
was imagined; and that he soon relapsed into his former opinions, and shewed himself so incorrigible, that his good old
father resolved to own him for his son no longer than his son
owned the church of England for his mother; and Brown
chusing rather to part with his aged sire than his new schism,
he was discharged the family. When gentleness was found
ineffectual, severity was next practised; and Brown, after
wandering up and down, and enduring great hardships, at
length went to live at Northampton, where, industriously
labouring to promote his sect, Lindsell, bishop of Peterborough, sent him a citation to come before him, which Brown
refused to obey; for which contempt he was excommunicated. This proved the means of his reformation; for he was
so deeply affected with the solemnity of this censure, that
he made his submission, moved for absolution, and received
it; and from that time continued in the communion of the
church, though it was not in his power to close the chasrn^
or heal the wound he had made in it. It was towards the
year 1590 that Brown renounced his principles of separation, antl was soon after preferred to the rectory of
Achurch, near Thrapston in Northamptonshire. Fuller
does not believe that Brown ever formally recanted his
opinions, either by word or writing, as to the main points
of his doctrine; but that his promise of a general compliance with the church of England, improved by the countenance of his patron and kinsman, the earl of Exeter, prevailed upon the archbishop, and procured this extraordinary favour for him. He adds, that Brown allowed a
salary for one to discharge his cure; and though he opposed his parishioners in judgment, yet agreed in taking
their tithes. He was a man of good parts and some learning, but was imperious and uncontroulable; and so far
from the Sabbatarian strictness afterwards espoused by
some of his followers, that he led an idle and dissolute life.
In a word, says Fuller, he had a wife with whom he never
lived, and a church in which he never preached, though
he received the profits thereof: and as all the other scenes
of his life were stonny and turbulent, so was his end: for
the constable of his parish requiring, somewhat roughly,
the payment of certain rates, his passion moved him to
blows, of which the constable complaining to justice St.
John, he rather inclined to pity than punish him but
Brown behaved with so much insolence, that he was sent
to Northampton gaol on a feather-bed in a cart, being
very infirm, and aged above eighty years, where he soon
after sickened and died, anno 1630, after boasting, “That
he had been committed to thirty-two prisons, in some of
which he could not see his hand at noon-day.
” He was
buried in his church of Achurch in Northamptonshire.
, an English judge, the son of sir Weston Browne of Abhess-roding
, an English judge, the son
of sir Weston Browne of Abhess-roding in Essex, was born
in that county, and educated for some time at Oxford,
whence he removed to the Middle Temple, where he became eminent in the law, and was chosen summer reader
in the first of queen Mary, 1553. The following year he
was made serjeant at law, and was the first of the call.
Soon after he was appointed serjeant to the king and queen,
Philip and Mary. In 1558, he was preferred to be lord
chief justice of the common pleas; but removed upon
queen Mary’s decease, to make way for sir James Dyer,
for though a Roman catholic, and queen Elizabeth might
not chuse he should preside in that court, she had such an
opinion of his talents that he was permitted to retain the
situation of puisne on the bench as long as he lived. It is
even said that he refused the place of lord keeper, which
was offered to him, when the queen thought of removing
sir Nicholas Bacon for being concerned in Hales’s book,
written against the Scottish line, in favour of the house of
Suffolk. This book sir Anthony privately answered , or
made large collections for an answer, which Leslie, bishop
of Ross, and Morgan Philips afterwards made use of, in
the works they published in defence of the title of Mary
queen of Scots. Sir Anthony Browne died at his house in
the parish of Southwold in Essex, May 6, 1567. The
only works attributed to him were left in ms.: namely,
1. “A Discourse upon certain points touching the Inheritance of the Crown,
” mentioned already, and 2. “A book
against Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester,
” mentioned by
Dr. Matthew Paterson, in his “Jerusalem and Babel,
”
a
judge of profound genius and great eloquence.
”
atin poets into English verse. He afterwards composed several little pieces for the use of children, an English grammar and spelling-book, an abstract of the scripture
Whilst he was under the influence of this strange frenzy,
it was extremely remarkable, that his faculties appeared
to be in every other respect in their full vigour. He continued to apply himself to his studies, and discovered the
same force of understanding which had formerly distinguished him, both in his conversation and in his writings.
Having, however, quitted the ministry, he retired into the
country, to his native town of Shepton-Mallet. Here, for
some time, he amused himself with translating several parts
of the ancient Greek and Latin poets into English verse.
He afterwards composed several little pieces for the use of
children, an English grammar and spelling-book, an abstract of the scripture -history, and a collection of fables,
the two last both in metre. With great labour he also
amassed together, in a short compass, all the themes of
the Greek and Latin tongues, and compiled likewise a
dictionary to each of these works, in order to render the
learning of both those languages more easy and compendious. But neither of these pieces, nor several others
which were written by him during his retirement, were
ever printed. During the last two years of his life, he
employed himself in the defence of the truth of Christianity, against some of the attacks which were then made
against it; and also in recommending mutual candour to
Christians of different sentiments concerning the doctrine
of the Trinity. In 1732, he published, in 8vo, “A sober
and charitable disquisition concerning the importance of
the Doctrine of the Trinity; particularly with regard to
Worship, and the doctrine of Satisfaction: endeavouring to
shew, that those in the different schemes should bear with
each other in their different sentiments; nor separate communions, and cast one another out of Christian-fellowship
on this account.
” The same year he published, “A fit
Rebuke to a ludicrous Infidel, in some remarks on Mr.
Woolston’s fifth Discourse on the Miracles of our Saviour.
With a preface concerning the prosecution of such writers
by the civil powers.
” It was in the same year also that
he published his “Defence of the Religion of Nature,
and the Christian Revelation, against the defective account
of the one, and the exceptions against the other, in a
book, entitled, Christianity as old as the Creation.
” In all
these pieces, though written in his retirement, with little
assistance from books, or learned conversation, he yet displayed considerable extent of knowledge, and of argumentative powers. But to the last of these performances,
he prefixed a very singular dedication to queen Caroline,
expressive of the unhappy delusion under which he laboured; and which his friends prudently suppressed, aU
though it is too great a curiosity to be lost .
After his retirement into the country, he could not be
prevailed upon to use any kind of exercise or recreation;
so that a complication of disorders, contracted by his sedentary mode of living, at length brought on a mortification in his leg, which put a period to his life, at the close
of the year 1732, in the fifty-second year of his age. He
had several daughters, who survived him. He was a man
of extensive knowledge, and very considerable learning.
He was well skilled in theology, his sentiments were liberal, and he was a zealous advocate for freedom of inquiry.
He appears, from the general tenor of his life, and of his
writings, to have been a man of distinguished virtue, and
of the most fervent piety, and to have been animated by
an ardent zeal for the interests of rational and practical religion. His abilities made him respected, and his virtues
rendered him beloved: but such was the peculiarity of his
case, that he lived a melancholy instance of the weakness
of human nature.
that shewed the usual concomitant, a warm and generous heart. It having been determined to give him an English education, he was sent to London to the house of William
, a celebrated modern traveller, descended of an ancient and honourable family, was the son of David Bruce, esq. of Kinnaird, by Marion Graham, daughter of James Graham, esq. of Airth, dean of the faculty of advocates, and judge of the high court of admiralty in Scotland. He was born at the family residence of Kinnaird, in the county of Stirling, Dec. 14, 1730. Of his first years few particulars are recorded of much consequence, except that his temper, contrary to the character which it afterwards assumed, was gentle and quiet; but as he advanced in life, became bold, hasty, and impetuous, accompanied, however, with a manly openness, that shewed the usual concomitant, a warm and generous heart. It having been determined to give him an English education, he was sent to London to the house of William Hamilton, esq. a barrister, and his uncle, with whom he remained for some time, and in 1742 he was placed at Harrow school, where he made great proficiency in classical learning. After leaving Harrow in May 1746, he lived about a year in the academy of a Mr. Gordon till April 1747, where he prosecuted his classical education, and studied French, arithmetic, and geometry. In May of that year he returned to Scotland in order to commence a course of study at the university of Edinburgh, preparatory to his following the profession of the law; but it does not appear that he made much progress, or indeed had much inclination for this study, and the precarious state of his health at this time rendered much study of any kind dangerous. His own expectations of success in the law became gradually abated, and various other circumstances determined him to relinquish it for ever.
, an English poet and warrior, was born of a genteel family, educated
, an English poet and warrior, was born of a genteel family, educated at Oxford, and afterwards spent some time in travelling abroad. In 1522, he attended, in a military capacity, the earl of Surrey on his expedition to the coast of Britany, and commanded the troops in the attack of the town of Morlaix, which he took and burnt. For this service he was knighted on the spot by the earl, which Tanner says took place in Germany, 1532, instead of Britany, 1522. In 1528 he was in Spain, but in what service is doubtful. In 1529 he was sent ambassador to France, and the following year ta Rome on account of the king’s divorce. He had also been therein 1522, in the same capacity, when cardinal Wolsey’s election to the holy see was in agitation. In 1533 he was one of those sent by Henry to be witnesses to the interview between the pope and the king of France at Marseilles. He was gentleman of the privy chamber to Henry VIII. and to his successor Edward VI. in the beginning of whose reign he marched with the protector against the Scots, and after the battle of Musselborough in 1547, in which he commanded the light horse with great bravery, he was made banneret. In 1549 he was appointed chief governor of Ireland, by the title of lord chief justice, and there he married the countess of Ormond. He appears to have died in 1550, and was buried at Walerford. He was nephew to John Bourchier, lord Berners, the translator of Froissart.
, an English divine, wa<s born at Woodhill, in Bedfordshire, 1582,
, an English divine, wa<s born at
Woodhill, in Bedfordshire, 1582, and educated at St.
John’s college, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship.
He had an estate left to him by his father, whom he succeeded in the living of Woodhill. Here he remained for
twenty-one years, until he was silenced for non-conformity
by archbishop Laud. On this he converted his estate into
money, and went to New England in 1635, and carrying
with him some planters, they settled at a place which they
called Concord, and where they succeeded better than
Mr. Bulkley did, who sunk his property in improvements.
He died there March 9, 1658—9. His only publication
was entitled “The Gospel Covenant opened,
”
pleased by its wild and extravagant horrors; and in 1798, his " Wild Huntsman’s Chase' 7 appeared hi an English dress; but Burger’s style has obtained, perhaps, more
, a German poet of
considerable celebrity in his own country, and known in
this by several translations of one of his terrific tales, was
born in 1748, at Wolmerswende, in the principality of Halberstadt. His father was a Lutheran minister, and appears
to have given him a pious domestic education; but to school
or university studies young Burger had an insuperable
aversion, and much of his life was consumed in idleness
and dissipation, varied by some occasional starts of industry, which produced his poetical miscellanies, principally ballads, that soon became very popular from the
simplicity of the composition. In the choice of his subjects, likewise, which were legendary tales and traditions,
wild, terrific, and grossly improbable, he had the felicity
to hit the taste of his countrymen. His attention was also
directed to Shakspeare and our old English ballads, and
he translated many of the latter into German with considerable effect. His chief employment, or that from which he
derived most emolument, was in writing for the German
Almanack of the Muses, and afterwards the German Musaeum. In 1787 he lectured on the critical philosophy of
Kant, and in 1789 was appointed professor of belles-lettres
in the university of Gottingen. He married three wives,
the second the sister of the first, and the third a lady who
courted him in poetry, but from whom, after three years
cohabitation, he obtained a divorce. Her misconduct is
said to have contributed to shorten his days. He died in
June 1794. His works were collected and published by
Reinhard, in 1798—99, 4 vols. 8vo, with a life, in which
there is little of personal history that can be read with
pleasure. Immorality seems to have accompanied him the
greater part of his course, but he was undoubtedly a man
of genius, although seldom under the controul of judgment. His celebrated ballad of “Leonora
” was translated
into English in
able roof of the earl of Warwick, and afterwards retired to Holland, where he was chosen minister of an English congregation at Rotterdam. In 1642 he returned to England,
, a puritan divine, was
born in 1599, and educated at Cambridge, but was obliged
to quit that university for nonconformity. He sheltered
himself for some time under the hospitable roof of the earl
of Warwick, and afterwards retired to Holland, where he
was chosen minister of an English congregation at Rotterdam. In 1642 he returned to England, and became
preacher of two of the largest and most numerous congregations in London, Stepney and Cripplegate. It was not
his object to spread sedition, but peace, for which he earnestly laboured. His “Irenicum
” was one of the last
subjects upon which he preached. He was a man of learning, candour, and modesty, and of irreproachable life. A
considerable number of his writings are in print, many of
Vhich were published after his death, which happened November 14, 1646. When the assembly of divines reformed
the church by placing that of Scotland in lieu of that of
England, Mr. Burroughes was a dissenter from their decrees, and lamented that after all the mischiefs of rebellion
and revolution, men were not allowed to have liberty of
conscience any more than before. These divisions are
said to have shortened his days. Baxter used to say that
if all presbyterians had been like Mr. Marshall, and all independents like Mr. Burroughes, their differences might
easily have been compromised. Such men, however, in
those distracted times were the “rari nantes in gurgite
vasto.
” We have before us a list of twelve quartos, and
four octavos, mostly published from his Mss. after his
death, among which is an “Exposition on Hosea,
” 3 vols.
but none of them seem, to have attained any great degree
of popularity.
Cambr. 1647, 8vo. 2. “Juvenalis et Persii Satira?,” Lond. 1656, purged of all indecent passages. 3. “ An English Introduction to the Latin Tongue,” Lond. 1659, &c. 8vo.
, the most eminent schoolmaster in
his time, was the second son of Richard Busby, of the
city of Westminster, gent, but born at Lutton in Lincolnshire, September 22, 1606. He received his education in
Westminster-school, as a king’s scholar; and in 1624 was
elected student of Christ Church. He took the degree of
bachelor of arts Oct. 21, 1628; and that of master June
18, 1631; at which time he was esteemed a great master
of the Greek and Latin tongues, and a complete orator.
Towards the expence of taking his degrees, a sum was honourably voted him by the vestry of St. Margaret, Westminster (in all 11l. 13s. 4d.) which he afterwards as honourably repaid, adding to it an annual sum towards the
maintenance of the parish school. On the 1st of July
1639, he was admitted to the prebend and rectory of Cudworth, with the chapel of Knowle annexed, in the church
of Wells; of which he lost the profits during the civil
wars; but found means to keep his student’s place, and
other preferment. He was appointed master of Westminster-school, December 13, 1640; in which laborious station he continued above fifty-five years, and bred up the
greatest number of learned scholars that ever adorned any
age or nation . But he met with great uneasiness from
the second master, Edward Bagshaw, who endeavoured to
supplant him; but was himself removed out of his place
for his insolence, in May 1658 (See Edward Bagshaw).
After the restoration, Mr. Busby’s merit being noticed>
his majesty conferred on him a prebend of Westminster,
into which he was installed July 5, 1660; and the llth of
August following, he was made treasurer and canon-residentiary of Wells. On October 19, 1660, he took the
degree of D. D. At the coronation of king Charles II.
April 1661, he carried the Ampulla. In the convocation,
which met June 24, the same year, he was proctor for the
chapter of Bath and Wells; and one of those who approved and subscribed the Common Prayer-Book. He
gave two hundred and fifty pounds towards repairing and
beautifying Christ Church college and cathedral; and intended, but never completed the foundation of two lectures in the same college, one for the Oriental languages,
and another for the mathematics; but he left a stipend
for a catechetical lecture, 10 be read in one of the parish
churches in Oxford, by a member of Christ Church . He
contributed also to the repair of Lichfield church. As for
his many other benefactions, they are not upon record,
because they were done in a private manner. This great
man, after a loBg, healthy, and laborious life, died April
6, 1695, aged eighty-nine, and was buried in Westminsterabbey, where there is a curious monument erected to him.
He composed several books for the use of his school, as,
1. “A short institution of Grammar,
” Cambr. Juvenalis et Persii Satira?,
” Lond. An English Introduction to the
Latin Tongue,
” Lond. Pvlartiaiis Epigrammata selecta,
” Lond. Grsecae Grammaticae Rudimenta,
” Lond. Nomenclatura Brevis Reformata, adjecto cum Syllabo Verborum et
Adjectivorum,
” At the end is printed “Duplex Centenarius Proverbiorum Anglo-Latino-Graecorum,
” Lond.
Ανθολογία δευτέρα: sive Græcorum Epigrammatum Florilegium novum,
” Lond. 1673, &c. 8vo.
8. “Rudimentum Anglo-Latinum, Grammatica literalis et
numeralis,
” Lond. Rudimentum Grammaticæ Græco-Latinæ Metricum,
” Lond.
to England to acquaint the king with the state of his government, he was advanced to the dignity of an English dukedom; but, notwithstanding this mark of royal favour,
During his short residence in this country, he corresponded with the Irish for the purpose of inducing them to
engage in the royal cause; and having engaged lord Inchiquin to receive him in Munster, he landed at Cork,
after escaping the imminent danger of shipwreck, in 1648,
and on his arrival, adopted measures which were not a little
assisted by the abhorrence which the king’s death excited
through the country; and in consequence of this favourable
impression, the lord lieutenant caused Charles II. to be immediately proclaimed. But Owen O'Neile, instigated by
the pope’s nuncio, and supported by the old Irish, raised
obstacles in his way, which he determined to overcome by
the bold enterprise of attacking the city of Dublin, then
held for the Parliament by governor Jones. This enterprise, however, failed, with very considerable loss on the
part of the marquis; and soon after Cromwell arrived in
Ireland, and having stormed Drogheda, surrendered it to
military execution, thus striking tenor into the Irish, so
that they becoming dissatisfied with the lord lieutenant,
and insisting on his leaving the kingdom, he embarked for
France, in 1650, and joined the exiled family. In order to
retrieve his affairs, the marchioness went over to Ireland, and having in some measure succeeded in exempting
her own estate from forfeiture, she remained in the country, and never saw her husband till after the restoration.
In the mean while the marquis was employed in various
Commissions in behalf of the king; and he rendered
essential service to his cause by rescuing the duke of Gloucester out of the hands of the queen-mother, and preventing her severe treatment from inducing him to embrace the
Catholic religion. He was also instrumental in detaching
the Irish Catholic regiments from the service of France,
one of which he was appointed to command, and in obtaining the surrender of the town of St. Ghilan, near
Brussels, to the Spaniards. In a secret embassy to England for the purpose of inquiring into the actual state of
the royal party, he had some narrow escapes from the spies
of Cromwell; and at length, when Charles II. was restored
to the throne of his ancestors, the Marquis accompanied
him, and not only recovered his large estates in the county
of Tipperary, but was raised to the dignity of duke of
Ormond, and officiated as lord high steward of England at
the king’s coronation. In 1662, he was again appointed
lord lieutenant, and had considerable success in reducing
the country to a state of tranquillity; and he promoted
various very important and lasting -improvements, particularly with respect to the growth of flax and manufacture
of linen. His attachment to earl Clarendon, however, involved him in the odium which pursued that great man;
and notwithstanding the purity of his conduct, he was
deprived of his government by the machinations of the
duke of Buckingham, in 1669; but in the same year he
was elected to the office of chancellor of the university of
Oxford. In 1670 a desperate design was formed ' against
him by colonel Blood, whom he had imprisoned in Ireland
on account of his having engaged in a plot for the surprisal
of D.ublin castle. Blood, being at this time in London,
determined to seize his person, in his return from an entertainment given in the city to the Prince of Orange; and
in the prosecution of his purpose, his accomplices dragged
the duke out of his coach, and placed him behind one of
them who was on horseback, in order to convey him to
Tyburn, and execute him on the pubiic gallows; or, as
others say, to take him out of the kingdom, and compel
him to sign certain papers relating to a forfeited estate of
Blood. The duke by his struggles threw both the man and
himself from the horse, and by seasonable assistance he
was released from the custody of these assassins. This
daring act of violence excited the king’s resentment; but
Blood, for certain reasons, having been taken into favour,
hi* Majesty requested the duke to forgive the insult. To
which message he replied, “that if the king could forgive
Blood for attempting to steal his crown, he might easily
forgive him for an attempt on his life; and that he would
obey his Majesty’s pleasure without inquiring into his reasons.
” For seven years the duke was neither in favour
with the court nor employed by it; but at length, in 1677,
he was surprised by a message announcing the king’s intention to visit him. The object of this visit was to disclose his Majesty’s resolution of appointing him to the
lord lieutenancy of Ireland; and this resolution had been
adopted by the influence of the duke of York, who had
reason to imagine, that the “cabal,
” or court party, proposed to introduce the duke of Monmouth into this high
station in the room of the earl of Essex, who had been removed. In order to counteract this plan, the duke of York
recommended his grace of Ormond to the king, as the most
likely person to engage general confidence, and to unite
discordant parties in both countries. On this the duke consented, and upon his arrival adopted vigorous measures for
disarming the papists and maintaining public tranquillity;
and though he did not escape calumny, the king determined to support him against all attempts for removing him,
and declared with an oath, *' that while the duke of Ormond lived, he should never be put out of that government." He opposed the duke only in the measure of calling a parliament in Ireland for settling affairs, to which
the king would not give his consent. In 1682, when he
came over to England to acquaint the king with the state
of his government, he was advanced to the dignity of an
English dukedom; but, notwithstanding this mark of royal
favour, he had given such offence by his importunity with
respect to an Irish parliament, that immediately on his
return he was apprised of an intention to remove him.
Upon the accession of James, the duke caused him to be
proclaimed, and soon after resigned his office and came
over to England.; Although the duke’s principles did
not suit the projects of the new reign, he was treated
with respect by the king, and received from him the
honour of a visit whilst he was confined to his chamber with the gout. He died at Kingston ^hall, in Dorsetshire, July 21, 1688, in the seventy-eighth year of
his age, and was buried in Westminster-abbey.
ich was in Latin: “In the year of our Lord 1497, John Cabot, a Venetian, and his son Sebastian, with an English fleet, set out from Bristol, and discovered that island
John Cabot, attended by his son Sebastian, set sail with
this fleet in the spring of the year 1497. They sailed
happily on their north west course, till the 24th of June,
jn the same year, about five in the morning, when they
discovered the island of Baccalnos, now much better known
by the name of Newfoundland. The very day on which
they made this important discovery, is known by a large?
map, drawn by Sebastian Cabor, and cut by Clement
Adams, which hung in the privy gallery at Whitehall;
whereon was this inscription, under the author’s picture
“Eftigics Seb. Caboti, Angli, Filii Jo. Caboti, Venetian!,
'IMilitis Aurati, &c.
” and on this map was likewise the following account of the discovery, the original of which was
in Latin: “In the year of our Lord 1497, John Cabot,
a Venetian, and his son Sebastian, with an English fleet,
set out from Bristol, and discovered that island which no
man before had attempted. This discovery was made on
the four and twentieth of June, about five o'clock in the
morning. This land he called Prima Vistu. (or First Seen),
because it was that part of which they had the first sight
from the sea. The island, which lies out before the land,
he called the island of St. John, probably because it was
discovered on the festival of St. John the Baptist. The
inhabitants of this island wore beasts’ skins, and esteemed
them as the finest garments.
” To this Purchas adds, “In
their wars they used bows, arrows, pikes, darts, wooden
clubs, and slings. They found the soil barren in some
places, and yielding little fruit; but it was full of white
bears and stags, far larger than those of Europe. It yielded
plenty of fish, and those of the larger kind, as seals and
salmon. They found soles there above a yard in length,
and great abundance of that kind of fish which the savages
called baccalaos. They also observed there partridges, as
likewise hawks and eagles; but what was remarkable in
them, they were all as black as ravens.
”
pleased with it, when, being after the reading of it somewhat pensive, and being asked the reason by an English prelate standing by and observing it, he told him he
July 12, the king came to that city in person, and soon
after Hewet and Simpson were deprived and imprisoned.
After this, Calderwood was called upon, and refusing to
comply with what the king in person required of him,
James, after haranguing at some length on his disobedience, committed him to prison; and afterwards the/
privy-council, according to the power exercised by them
at that time, directed him to banish himself out of the
king’s dominions before Michaelmas following, and not to
return without licence; and upon giving security for this
purpose, he was discharged out of prison, and suffered to
return to his parish, but forbid to preach. Having applied
to the king for a prorogation of his sentence without success, because he would neither acknowledge his offence,
nor promise conformity for the future, he retired to Holland in 1619, where his publications were securely
multiplied, and diffused through Scotland, particularly one
entitled “The Perth Assembly,
” which was condemned
by the council. In Altare Damascenum, seu ecclesiae Anolicanse politia, ecclesiae Scoticanae obtrusa a formalista quodam delineata, illustrata, et examinata,
” The writer of
the preface prefixed to Calderwood’s “True history of
the church of Scotland
” telis us, that “the author of this
very learned and celebrate 1 treatise (which is an answer to Lin wood’s ‘ Description of the Policy of the church of England’) doth irrefragably and unanswerably demonstrate
the iniquity of designing and endeavouring to model and
conform the divinely simple worship, discipline, and government of the church of Scotland to the pattern of the
pompously prelatic and ceremonious church of England;
under some conviction whereof it seems king James himself
was, though implacably displeased with it, when, being
after the reading of it somewhat pensive, and being asked
the reason by an English prelate standing by and observing
it, he told him he had seen and read such a book; whereupon the prelate telling his majesty not to suffer that to
trouble him, for they would answer it he replied, not
without some passion, < What would you answer, man
There is nothing here but scripture, reason, and the fathers’.
” This work was in fact an enlargement, in Latin, of
one which he wrote in English, and published in 1621,
under the title of “The Altar of Damascus,
” and which is
uncommonly rare. It concludes with noticing a rumour
spread by bishop Spotswood, that Mr. Calderwood had
turned Brownist, which rumour it denies in strong language,
and with the following intemperate and unbecoming threat:
“If either Spotswood, or his supposed author, persist in
their calumny after this declaration, 1 shall try if there be
any blood in their foreheads.
” Calderwood having in Altare Damascenum,
” with a design, as Calderwood believed, to have
dispatched him: but Calderwood had privately returned
into his own country, where he remained for several years.
Scot gave out that the king furnished him with the matter
for the pretended recantation, and that he only put it in
order.
, or Chaldwell, an English physician, was born in Staffordshire about 1513, and
, or Chaldwell, an English physician, was born in Staffordshire about 1513, and was admitted into Brazen-nose college in Oxford, of which he
was in due season elected fellow. In 1539 he took his
degree of M. A. and became one of the senior students of
Christ Church in 1547, which was a little after its last
foundation by king Henry VIII. Afterwards he studied
physic and took the degrees in that faculty, and became
so highly esteemed for his learning and skill, that he was
examined, approved, admitted into, and elected censor
of, the college of physicians at London in the same day.
Six weeks after, he was chosen one of the elects of the said
college, and in 1570 made president of it. Wood tells
us, that he wrote several pieces upon subjects relating to
his profession; but does not say what they were. He mentions a book written by Horatio Moro, a Florentine physician, and called “The Tables of Surgery, briefly comprehending the whole art and practice thereof;
” which
Caldwall translated into English, and published at London
in 1585. We learn from Camden, that Caldwall founded
a chirurgical lecture in the college of physicians, and endowed it with a handsome salary. He died in 1585, and
was buried at the church of St. Bennet near Paul’s wharf.
of flattery in points where filial piety and mean ambition divided the mind of the reigning monarch. An English historian in such a reign could not indulge the same
His impartiality has been attacked on several parts of this work. He has been charged with being influenced in his account of the queen of Scots by complaisance for her son, and with contradictions in the information given by him to M. deThou, and his own account of the same particulars. It is not to be wondered if James made his own corrections on the ms. which his warrant sets forth he had perused before he permitted it to be published. It was no easy matter to speak the truth in that reign of flattery in points where filial piety and mean ambition divided the mind of the reigning monarch. An English historian in such a reign could not indulge the same freedom as Thuanus. The calumnies cast upon him for his detail of Irish affairs were thought by him beneath the notice his friends wanted to take of them. But though he declined adding his own justification to that which the government of Ireland thought proper to publish of their own conduct, we have the letters he wrote on the subject to archbishop Usher and others and it had this effect on him, that he declined publishing in his life-time the second part of his history, which he completed in 1617. He kept the original by him, which was preserved in the Cottonian library, and sent an exact copy of it to his friend Mr. Dupuy, who had given him the strongest assurances that he would punctually perform the duty of this important trust, and faithfully kept his word. It was first printed at Leyden, 1625, 8vo, again London, 1627, folio, Leyden, 1639, 8vo, &c. But the most correct edition of the whole is that by Hearne from Dr. Smith’s copy corrected by Mr. Camden’s own hand, collated with another ms. in Mr. Rawlinson’s library. Both parts were translated into French by M. Paul de Belligent, advocate in the parliament of Paris; and from thence into English with many errors, by one Abraham D'Arcy, who did not understand English. The materials whence Camden compiled this history are most of them to be found in the Cottonian library. We learn from a ms letter of Dr. Goodman’s, that he desired them as a legacy, but received for answer, that they had been promised to archbishop Bancroft, upon whose death he transferred them to his successor Abbot, and archbishop Laud said they were deposited in the palace at Lambeth, but whereever they were archbishop Sancroft could not find one of them.
incorrectly. The original is in Trinity college, Cambridge, and Dr. Smith printed these and parts of an English Diary.
From this time he seems to have lived in retirement at
Chiselhurst, declining the solicitations of his friend Saville,
to make his house at Eton his own, and to have amused
himself with entering memoranda of events as they happened,- which have been printed at the end of his epistles
by Dr. Smith, and called “Apparatus annalium regis Jacobi I.
” These are called by Wood “A skeleton of a history of James I. or bare touches to put the author in mind
of greater matters,
” or rather memoranda for private use.
He adds, bishop Hacket stole, and Dugdale borrowed and
transcribed them, as did sir Henry St. George, Clarencieux,
both incorrectly. The original is in Trinity college, Cambridge, and Dr. Smith printed these and parts of an English Diary.
, an eminent cardinal of the Romish church, and an English bishop, was a native of Bologna, the son of John Campegio,
, an eminent cardinal of the Romish church, and an English bishop,
was a native of Bologna, the son of John Campegio, a learned
lawyer, and was himself professor of law at Padua. After
the death of his wife, he went into the church, and in
1510 became auditor of the Rota, and in 1512 bishop of
Feltria. Being afterwards, in 1517, created cardinal, he
was sent as pope’s legate into England in the following
year. His chief business at the English court was to persuade Henry VIII. to join the confederation of Christian
princes against the Turks. He was very favourably received on this occasion, and had several spiritualities bestowed upon him, among which was the bishoprick of Salisbury, but not having been able to accomplish the business of his mission, he returned to Rome. When the controversy respecting Henry’s divorce began, in 1527, -cardinal Campegio was sent a second time into England, to
call a legantine court, where he and his colleague cardinal
Wolsey were to sit as judges. Having arrived in London
Oct. 1528, the first session began at Blackfriars, May 31,
1529, and the trial lasted until July 23, when the queen
Catherine appealing to the pope, the court was adjourned
until Sept. 28, and was then dissolved. Afterwards Campegio was recalled to Rome, the king making him considerable presents upon his departure; but a rumour being
spread, that he carried along with him a treasure belonging to cardinal Wolsey, whose downfall was at this time
contrived, and who, it was suspected, intended to follow
him to Rome, he was pursued by the king’s orders, and
overtaken at Calais. His baggage was searched, but nothing being found of the kind suspected, he complained
louilly of this violation of his sacred character. In this,
however, he obtained no redress, and when king Henry
understood that the see of Rome was not disposed to favour
him with a divorce from his queen, he deprived Campegio
of his see of Salisbury. He died at Rome in August 1539,
leaving the character of a man of learning, and a patron of
learned men, and much esteemed by Erasmus, Sadolet,
and other eminent men of that time. His letters only remain, which contain many historical particulars, and were
published in “Epistolarum miscellanearum, libri decem,
”
Basil,
, by some called Marbres, an English Franciscan monk, and an able Aristotelian of the fourteenth
, by some called Marbres, an
English Franciscan monk, and an able Aristotelian of the fourteenth century, studied some time at
Oxford, from which he removed to Paris, where he became a pupil of Duns Scotus, whom, says Pits, he long
attended, and always imitated. He returned afterwards to
Oxford, and there taught theology to the time of his death,
which, according to Dupin, happened about the year 1340.
Dupin also says that he was a doctor of divinity of Paris.
He was particularly learned in the Aristotelian philosophy,
and in civil and canon-law. In Lincoln college library,
Oxford, is one of his manuscripts, to which are prefixed
many verses in honour of him, and in one of them he is
styled “Alter Aristoteles.
” His published works are, 1.
“In Aristotelis Physica, Lib. VIII.' 7 printed at St. Alban’s
in 1481, 8vo, and reprinted at Venice 1431, 1492, and
1505. 2.
” Lecturae magistrales; Lib. I. Questiones disputatae, Lib. I. Qusestiones dialectices, Lib. I." printed
with the former at Venice, 1492 and 1516.
n a “History of the Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire,” A. D. 1300 1683, which was published in an English translation by Tindal, Lond. 1734, fol. Gibbon says
, of an illustrious family in
Tartary, and prince of Moldavia, was born in 1673. His
father, who was governor of the three cantons of Moldavia,
became prince of this province in 1664. Demetrius, being
sent early to Constantinople, flattered himself with the
prospect of succeeding him; but was supplanted by a rival
at the Porte. Being sent in 1710 by the Ottoman minister
to defend Moldavia against the czar Peter, he delivered
it up to that monarch and, following his new master
through his conquests, indemnified himself for all he had
lost; for he obtained the title of prince of the empire, with
full power and authority over the Moldavians, who quitted
their country to attach themselves to his fortunes. He
died, 1723, in his territories of the Ukraine, much lamented. He was studious and learned, and is said to have
understood eleven languages. He wrote in Latin a “History of the Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire,
”
A. D. System of the Mahometan Religion
” was written and printed
in the Russian language, by order of czar Peter; his moral
dialogues entitled “The World and the Soul,
” were
printed in Moldavia in Greek and Moldavian “The present state of Moldavia
” was printed in Latin his e< Musical
Airs with Turkish Words,“and
” An Introduction to Music," in Moldavian. He was also the author of other pieces,
which were either lost in his shipwreck, or still remain
in ms.
tyled “another Livy, another Maro, another Papinian,” epithets somewhat too high fot his real merit. An English translation of “Godfrey of Bulloigne,” from Tasso, by
, author of the Survey of Cornwal,
and brother of the preceding sir George Carew, the ambassador, was the eldest son of Thomas Carew, of Mast
Anthony, esq. by Elizabeth Edgecombe, daughter of Richard Edgecombe, of Edgecombe, esq. both in the same
county, and was born in 1555. When very young, he
became a gentleman commoner of Christ Church college,
Oxford; and at fourteen years of age had the honour of
disputing, extempore, with the afterwards famous sir Philip
Sydney, in the presence of the earls of Leicester, Warwick, and other nobility. After spending three years at
the university, he removed to the Middle Temple, where
he also resided three years, and then travelled into France,
and applied himself so diligently to the acquisition of the
French language, that by reading and conversation he
gained a complete knowledge of it in three quarters of a
year. Not long after his return to England he married, in
1577, Juliana Arundel, of Trerice. In 1581, Mr. Carew
was made justice of the peace, and in 1586 was appointed
high sheriff of the county of Cornwal; about which time
he was, likewise, queen’s deputy for the militia. In 1589
he was elected a member of the college of antiquaries, a
distinction to which he was entitled by his literary abilities
and pursuits. What particularly engaged his attention
was his native county, his “Survey
” of which was published
in quarto, at London, in Survey
” must have been greatly diminished.
Mr. Gough remarks, that the history and monuments of
this county were faintly touched by Mr. Carew; but it is
added, that he was a person extremely capable of describing them, if the infancy of those studies at that time had
afforded him light and materials. Another work of our
author was a translation from the Italian, but originally
written by Huarte in Spanish, entitled “The Examination
of Men’s Wits. In which, by discovering the variety of
natures, is shewed for what profession each one is apt, and
how far he shall profit therein.
” This was published at
London in 1504, and afterwards in 1604; and, thouo-h.
Richard Carew’s name is prefixed to it, has been principally ascribed by some persons to his father. According
to Wood, Mr. Carevv wrote also “The true and ready way
to learn the Latin Tongue,
” in answer to a query, whether
the ordinary method of teaching the Latin by the rules of
grammar, be the best mode of instructing youths in that
language? This tract t is involved in Mr. Samuel Hartlib’s
book upon the same subject, and with the same title. It
is certain that Mr. Carew was a gentleman of considerable
abilities and literature,and that he was held in great estimation by some of the most eminent scholars of his time. He
was particularly intimate with sir Henry Spelman, who
extols him for his ingenuity, virtue, and learning. Amongst
his neighbours he was celebrated as the most excellent
manager of bees in Cornwall. He died Nov. 6, 1620, and
was buried with his ancestors, in the church of St. Anthony,
where a splendid monument, with a large inscription, in
Latin, was erected to his memory. In an epigram written upon him he was styled “another Livy, another
Maro, another Papinian,
” epithets somewhat too high fot
his real merit. An English translation of “Godfrey of
Bulloigne,
” from Tasso, by him, was published in
, an English poet, was the younger brother of sir Matthew Carevv,
, an English poet, was the younger
brother of sir Matthew Carevv, a zealous adherent to the
fortunes of Charles I. and of the family of Carews in Gloucestershire, but descended from the more ancient family
of that name in Devonshire. He is supposed to have been
born in 1589. According to Anthony Wood, he received his
academical education at Corpus Christi college, Oxford,
but was neither matriculated, nor took any degree. After
leaving college he improved himself by travelling, according to the custom of the age, and by associating with men
of learning and talents both at home and abroad'; and
being distinguished for superior elegance of manners and
taste, he was received into the court of Charles I. as
gentleman of the privy-chamber, and sewer in ordinary. His
wit had recommended him to his sovereign, who, however,
Clarendon informs us, incurred the displeasure of the
Scotch nation by bestowing upon him the place of sewer,
in preference to a gentleman recommended upon the interest of the courtiers of that nation. He appears after this
appointment to have passed his days in affluence and gaiety.
His talents were highly valued by his contemporaries, particularly Ben Jonson and sir William Davenant. Sir John
Suckling only, in his Session of the Poets, insinuates that
his poems cost him more labour than is consistent with the
fertility of real genius. But of this there are not many
marks visible in his works, and what sir John mistakes for
the labour of costiveness, may have been only the laudable
care he employed in bringing his verses to a higher degree
of refinement than many of his contemporaries. His death
is said to have taken place in 1639, which agrees with the
information we have in Clarendon’s Life. “He was a
person of a pleasant and facetious wit, and made many
poems (especially in the amorous way) which for the sharpness of the fancy, and the elegance of the language in
which that fancy was spread, were at least equal, if not
superior to any of that time. But his glory was, that after
fifty years of his life spent with less severity or exactness
than it ought to have been, he died with great remorse for
that licence, and with the greatest manifestation of Christianity, that his best friends could desire.
” It is pleasing
to record such a*mple atonement for the licentiousness of
some of his poems, which, however, most of his editors
have persisted in handing down to posterity.
inued the siege of Quebec in the following year, 1776, he thought proper to retire on the arrival of an English squadron. General Carleton being now reinforced by troops,
In 1775, when the American war broke out, general Carleton had an ample field for the display of his military talents. The American congress, having resolved to resort to arms, began soon to turn their eyes to Canada, where they knew the late acts were very unpopular, not only among the British settlers, but the French Canadians themsi-lvrs, who having experienced the difference between a French and British constitution, gave the preference to the latter. To co-operate with the disaffected in Canada, and to anticipate the probable and suspected designs of general Carleton, the congress formed the bold project of invading this province. General Montgomery, their commander, headed the expedition, and proceeded with such vigour, that he compelled the fort of St. John’s to surrender at discretion on the 2d of November. Hence, crossing St. Laurence, he proceeded to Montreal, which being incapable of defence against the American force, general Carleton evacuated ir, and retired to" Quebec. Having taken possession of Montreal, Montgomery made dispositions for advancing to besiege the capital of Canada, and there were several circumstances favourable to his hopes of success. The works of the town had been neglected for a long time of peace; the garrison did not exceed 1100, of which few were regulars, and the majority of the inhabitants were disaffected to the framers of their new constitution, and particularly to general Carleton, who was supposed to have had a chief hand in that measure. While he was endeavouring to defend Quebec amidst all these disadvantages, the American generals Montgomery and Arnold summoned him to surrender, which he treated with contempt, and refused to hold any correspondence with rebels. The inhabitants too, displeased as they were with their new constitution, joined the British troops with cordial unanimity, and the American commander, unprepared for a regular siege, endeavoured to take the place by storm. In this attempt Montgomery fell at the head of his troops, whom the garrison, after an obstinate resistance, drove from the town with great loss; and although Arnold encamped on the heights of Abraham, where he fortified himself, and continued the siege of Quebec in the following year, 1776, he thought proper to retire on the arrival of an English squadron. General Carleton being now reinforced by troops, which, added to what he had, formed a body of 13,Ooo, prepared for offensive operations, and the Amer cans evacuated their conquests, stationing themselves at Crown Point, whither the British commander did not follow them for the present. An armament was now prepared for crossing Lake Champlain, in order to besiege Crown Point and Ticonderago. The Americans had a considerable fleet on Lake Champlain, whereas the British had not a single vessel. The general, therefore, used every effort to procure the requisite naval force; but October was begun before this was ready to oppose the enemy. On Oct. 11, the British fleet, commanded by capt. Pringle, and under the general direction of Carleton, discovered the American armament; and engaging them, the conflict continued on both sides for several hours with great intrepidity, but a contrary wind preventing the chief British ships from taking a part, and night coming on, it was thought prudent to discontinue the action, and Arnold took advantage of the night to retreat. The British pursued them the next day and the following, and overtook them a few leagues from Crown Point; where, after a furious battle of two hours, they yielded to our superior force and skill. General Carleton remained at Crown Point till Nov. 3, and as the winter was commencing, did not think proper to besiege Ticonderago. He returned therefore to St. John’s, whence he distributed his army into winter quarters.
, an English clergyman o great learning and parts, was born in the
, an English clergyman o great learning and parts, was born in the parsonage-house of North- Lew (not Northlegh, as Wood says), near Hatherlegh, in Devonshire, Feb. 7, 1588. His father, John Carpenter, a native of Cornwall, was at that time rector of this place, and author of some sermons enumerated by Wood. His son, after a private education, was entered of Edmund hall, Oxford; and in 1607, by the casting vote of the vice-chancellor, was elected fellow of Exeter college, to which he removed, and became distinguished as a logician, mathematician, and philosopher.- He took his degree of B. A. in 1610, of M. A. in 1613, and of B. D. in 1620, and soon after completing his master’s degree, entered into holy orders, and had the reputation of a very popular divine. About 1626 he became acquainted with
, an English divine, was the son of Thomas Carte, a clothier at Coventry,
, an English divine, was the son of
Thomas Carte, a clothier at Coventry, where he was born.
October 21, 1652, or 1653, and in the free-school of which
place he received his grammatical education. He was afterwards removed to Magdalen college, Oxford, where he
took his degree of B. A. 1672; and M. A. 1675. After he
entered into holy orders he had several preferments, the
chief of which were, a prebend in the cathedral church of
Litchfield, the rectory of Eastwell in Leicestershire, and,
last of all, the vicarage of St. Martin’s, in the town of Leicester. It has been supposed that he resigned his preferments
at the accession of king George the First, and that at one
time he assisted the celebrated Jeremiah Collier, in preaching to a nonjuring congregation in Broad-street, London;
but this belongs to his son. It is certain that Mr. Samuel
Carte spent the latter part of his life on his living at Leicester, where he died on the 16th of April, 1740, in the eightyseventh year of his age. A high, and, we doubt not, a
just character is given of him, in an inscription to his memory in the chancel of St. Martin’s church. He published
two sermons, and “Tabula Chronologica Archiepiscopatuum
et Episcopatuum in Anglia et Wallia, Ortus, Divisiories,
TransUuiones, &c. breviter exhibens; una cum Indice alphabetioo Nominum, quibus apucl Authores insigniuntur,
”
folio, without date. Part of a letter of his on a tesselated
pavement at Leicester is in Phil. Trans. No. 331, and his
account of Leicester is in the Bib]. Top. Britannica. Those
eminent antiquaries, Dr. Willis and Mr. Stukeley, acknowledged his assistance and correspondence.
aries, public and private, by which means he was enabled to collect large materials for illustrating an English edition of Thuanus. The collection was in such forwardness
In 1712 be made the tour of Europe with a nobleman,
and on his return entered into orders, and was appointed
render of the Abbey-church at Bath; where he preached
a sermon on Jan. 30, 171 J-, in which he took occasion to
vindicate Charles I. from aspersions cast upon his memory
with regard to the Irish rebellion. This drew Mr. Carte
into a controversy with Mr. (afterwards the celebrated Dr.)
Chandler, and gave rise to our historian’s first publication,
entitled “The Irish Massacre sot in a clear light,
” &c.
which is inserted in lord Sotners’s Tracts. ‘ Upon the accession of George I. Mr. Carte’s principles not permitting
him to take the oaths to the new government, he assumed a
lay-habit, and at one time assisted the celebrated Jeremiah
Collier, who preached to a non’} tiring congregation in a
house in Broad-street, London, and on a Sunday he used
to put on his gown and cassock, and perform divine service
in his own family. What particular concern he had in the
rebellion of 1715 does not appear; but that he had some
degree of guilt in this respect, or, at least, that he was
strongly suspected of it by administration, is evident, from
the king’s troops having orders to discover and apprehend
him. He had the good fortune to elude their search, by
concealing himself at Coleshili, Warwickshire, in the house
of Mr. Badger, then curate of that town. Mr. Carte himself officiated for a time as curate of the same place;
after which, he was some time secretary to bishop Atterbury. This connexion threw him into fresh difficulties:
so deeply was he thought to he engaged in the conspiracy
ascribed to that eminent prelate, that a charge of high
treason was brought against him; and a proclamation was
issued, Aug. 13, 1722, offering a reward of 1000l. for
seizing his person. He was again successful in making his
escape, and fled into France, where he resided several
years, under the borrowed name of Philips. Whilst Mr.
Carte continued in that country, he was introduced to the
principal men of learning and family, and gained access to
the most eminent libraries, public and private, by which
means he was enabled to collect large materials for illustrating an English edition of Thuanus. The collection was
in such forwardness in 1724, that he consulted Dr. Mead r
at that time the great patron of literary undertakings, on the
mode of publication. The doctor, who perceived that the
plan might he rendered more extensively useful, obtained
Mr. Carte’s materials at a very considerable price, and engaged Mr. Buckley in the noble edition completed in 17^3,
in 7 vols. fol. Mr. Carte would probably himself have
been the principal editor, if he had not been an exile
at the time the undertaking commenced, but we find that
the Latin address to Dr. Mead, prefixed to that work, and
dated from the Inner-temple, Jan. 1733, is signed Thomas
Carte. Whilst this grand work was carrying on, queen
Caroline, whose regard to men of letters is well known,
received such favourable impressions of Mr. Carte, that
she obtained permission for his returning to England in
security; which he did some time between the years 1728
and 1730. He had not long been restored to his own country
before he engaged in one of the most important of his
works, “The history of the life of James duke of Ormonde,
from his birth, in 1610, to his death, in 1688,
” 3 vols. fol.
The third volume, which was published first, came out in
1735, and the first and second volumes in 1736. From a
letter of Mr. Carte’s to Dr. Swift, dated Aug. 11, 1736, it
appears, that in writing the life of the duke of Ormonde,
he had availed himself of some instructions which he had
derived from the dean . In the same letter he mentions
his design of composing a general history of England and
finds great fault, not only with Rapin, but with Ilymer’s
Fcedera; but his accusations of that noble collection are in
several respects erroneous and groundless.
, an English lady of profound learning and genius, was the eldest
, an English lady of profound
learning and genius, was the eldest daughter of the rev.
Dr. Nicholas Carter, a clergyman in Kent, who, with
other preferment, held the cure of the chapel of Deal,
where this daughter was born, Dec. 16, 1717, and educated by her father. At first she discovered such a slowness of faculties, as to make him despair of her progress ia
intellectual attainment, even with the aid of the greatest
industry, and the most ardent desire, which characterized
her efforts. She herself, however, though mortified and
sorrowful at her own difficulties, resolved to persevere, and
her perseverance was crowned with unexampled success.
She early became mistress of Latin, Greek, French, German, and afterwards understood Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew, and last of all acquired something of
Arabic. Before she was seventeen years of age, many of
her poetical attempts had appeared, particularly in the
Gentleman’s Magazine for 1734, with the signature of
Eliza. This extraordinary display of genius and acquirements procured her immediate celebrity, and the learned
flocked about her with admiration. In 1738, when she
was about twenty, Cave, the proprietor of the Gentleman’s
Magazine, published some of her poems in a quarto
pamphlet, now little known, as it was published without
her name. It is probable she did not think many of these
worthy of her; as in 1762, when she published a small collection with her name, she admitted only two from the former publication, the “Lines on her birth-day,
” and the
“Ode of Anacreon.
”
, an English poet of the seventeenth century, was born at Northway
, an English poet of the
seventeenth century, was born at Northway near Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, Sept. 1611. His father, after
spending a good estate, was reduced to keep an inn at
Cirencester; at the free-school of which town his son was
educated under Mr. William Topp. Being chosen a king’s
scholar, he was removed to Westminster school, under
Dr. Osbaldiston, and thence elected a student of Christ
church, Oxford, in 1628. After pursuing his studies, with
the reputation of an extraordinary scholar and genius,
he took his master’s degree in 1635, and in 1638 went
into holy orders, becoming “a most florid and seraphical
preacher in the university.
” One sermon only of his is in
print, from which we are not able to form a very high
notion of his eloquence; but whdn Mr. Abraham Wright,
of St. John’s, Oxford, compiled that scarce little book,
entitled “Five Sermons in five several styles, or ways of
Preaching,
” it appears that Dr. Maine and Mr. Cartwright
were of consequence enough to be admitted as specimens
of university preaching. The others are bishop Andrews’,
bishop Hall’s, the presbyterian and independent “ways
of preaching.
”
In 1642, bishop Duppa, with whom he lived in the
strictest intimacy, bestowed on him the place of succentur
of the church of Salisbury. In the same year he was one
of the council of war or delegacy, appointed by the university of Oxford, for providing for the troops sent by the
king- to protect the colleges. His zeal in this office occasioned his being imprisoned by the parliamentary forces
when they arrived at Oxford, but he was bailed soon after.
In 1643, he was chosen junior proctor of the university,
and was also reader in metaphysics. “The exposition of
them,
” says Wood, “was never better performed than by
him and his predecessor Thomas Barlow, of Queen’s college.
” Lloyd asserts that he studied at the rate of sixteen
hours a day. From such diligence and talents much might
have been expected, but he survived the last- mentioned
appointments a very short time, dying on December 23,
1643, in the thirty-second year of his age, of a malignant
fever, called the camp disease, which then prevailed at
Oxford. He was honourably interred towards the upper
end of the south aile of the cathedral of Christ church.
em of politeness, and has been translated into most European languages. In 1774, it was published in an English translation, 12mo. There are complete editions of Casa’s
, an eminent Italian writer, was
born at Florence in 1503, and educated at Bologna, and at
Florence under Ubaldino Bandinelli. In 153S he became
clerk of the apostolic chamber, and was in his youth distinguished for the elegance of his writings, and the licentiousness of his morals. In 1544 he was promoted to the
archbishopric of Benevento, and sent as pope’s nuncio to
Venice, and it is thought would have been made a cardinal,
but for some indecent writings which he had published in
his youth: but there must have been some other reason
than this for his not obtaining that honour, as these writings had been no obstruction to his advancement to the
archbishopric. He was engaged, however, in several political negociations, until he became involved in the disgrace of the cardinal Alexander Farnese, and retired to
Venice. Upon the accession of pope Paul IV. who had an
esteem for him, he returned to Rome, where he amused
himself with literary pursuits, and where he died in 1556
or 1557. He was considered as one of the most elegant
writers of his time, both in Latin and Italian; of the former we have sufficient proof in his “Latina Monimenta,
”
Florence, Galateo,
” or art of living in the world, which is a system
of politeness, and has been translated into most European
languages. In 1774, it was published in an English translation, 12mo. There are complete editions of Casa’s works,
Venice, 1752, 3 vols. and 5 vols. and Naples, 6 vols. 4to.
Some of his Italian poems are sufficiently licentious, but
the authenticity of other works of that description attributed to him has been questioned, particularly by Marchand,
and by other authorities specified by Saxius.
notis ejusdem,” Lond. 1659, 8vo. The Latin translation in this edition is that of Jerom Wolfius. 17. An English translation of, and notes on, “Lucius FJorus’s History
His works, besides his two vindications already mentioned, are, 1. “Optati Libri vii. de Schismate Donatistarum, cum Notis & Emendationibus,
” Lond. M. Aurelius Antoninus’s Meditations concerning himself, with
notes,
” Lond. A Treatise of
Use and Custom,
” Lond. The Use of
daily public Prayers in three positions,
” Lond. 1641, 4to.
5. “Marci Antonini Imperatoris de Seipso & ad Seipsum
libri xii. Guil. Xylander Augustanus Graece &, Latine primus edidit: nunc vero, Xylandri versionem locis plurimis
etnendavit, & novam fecit in Antonini libros Notas &
Emendationes adjecit Mericus Casaubonus, Is. F. In eosdem Xylandri Annotationes,
” Lond. The original of Temporal
Evils; the opinions of the most ancient Heathens concerning it examined by the Sacred Scriptures, and referred
unto them, as unto the source and fountain, from whence
they spring,
” Lond. A discourse concerning Christ his Incarnation and Exinanition. With an
introduction concerning the principles of Christianity and
Divinity,
” Lond. De verborum usu, &
accuratse eorum cognitionis utilitate Diatriba,
” Lond. Persii Satyrse cum
notis Isaaci Casaubon,
” Lond. De quatuor Linguis Commentationis, Pars I. Quse de Lingua
Hebraica & de Lingua Saxonica. Accesserunt Gulielmi
Somneri ad verba vetera Germanica Lipsiana Notae,
”
Lond. Terentius, cum notis Thomoe Farnabii in quatuor priores Comoedias, & Merici Casauboni in Phormionem & Hecyram,
”
Lond. Some Annotations on the Psalms
and Proverbs.
” He tells us, that these observations
were extorted from him, by the importunity of printers,
when he was not very well furnished either with books or
leisure; but, worst of all, of will, when nothing could be
expected to be acceptable and welcome, but what relished
of schism and rebellion. These Annotations were inserted
in one of the latter editions of the “Assembly’s Annotations on the Bible.
” 13. “In Hieroclis commentarium de
Providentia & Fato, notae & emendationes,
” Lond. A Treatise
concerning Enthusiasm, as it is an effect of Nature; but is
mistaken by many for either divine inspiration, or diabolical possession,
” Lond.- De nupera
Homeri editione Lugduno-Batavica Hackiana, cum 'Latina
versione, & Didymi Scholiis sed & Eustathio, & locis
aliquot insignioribus ad Odysseam pertinentibus. Item
super loco Homerico dubise apud antiques interpretations,
quo Dei in hominum tarn mentes quam fortunas imperium
asseritur, binse dissertationes,
” Lond. 1659, 8vo, reprinted
in Almeloveen’s edition of Casaubon’s Letters. 16. “Epicteti Enchiridion, Graere & Latine, cum notis Merici Casauboni & Cebetis Tabula, cum notis ejusdem,
” Lond.
Lucius FJorus’s History of the Romans,
” Lond.
of Europe, particularly in London, about 1756, when the plan and pretended effects were published in an English pamphlet, its exhibition was soon neglected and forgotten,
It would be useless to analyse and critically examine this plan, which is truly visionary, false in its ratios, and incapable of producing the promised effects. After being tried in all parts of Europe, particularly in London, about 1756, when the plan and pretended effects were published in an English pamphlet, its exhibition was soon neglected and forgotten, and has been scarcely heard of since.
practice of inoculating for the small pox, she herself submitted to the operation under the care of an English practitioner, and she persuaded the grand duke to follow
In 1764, when the throne of Poland had become vacant by the death of Augustus III. in the October of the preceding year, Catherine displayed her political talents and influence in the advancement of her early favourite count Poiu'atowsky to that dignity. At this time she made a tour through Esthonia, Livonia, and Courland; but during her absence on this expedition, an insurrection broke out in the prison of the dethroned Ivan, which threatened the stability of her own throne. But this was soon quelled by the murder of that unhappy prince. What share the empress had in this affair is not very clear, but the event was certainly in her favour, and she now proceeded in her improvements, and in the establishment of useful institutions, endeavouring to soften the manners of her subjects by instruction. She also seemed determined to be at once both conqueror and legislatrix, and it is certain that the laws of the Russian empire were much simplified under her reign, and the administration of justice rendered milder and more impartial. Her purpose was to form a solid, and not an arbitrary legislation. Her whole plan was directed to prevent all those who governed under her from exercising a capricious and cruel authority, by subjecting them to invariable laws, which no authority should be able to infringe, but in this, when they were at a distance, she was not always successful. She also continued to cultivate and encourage the arts and sciences; to make her empire an asylum to the learned and ingenious and the transit of Vqihis, which happened in 1769, afforded an opportunity of exhibiting as well the munificence of Catherine as the attention she paid to astronomy. About the middle of the year 1767, the empress conceived the useful project of sending several learned men to travel into the interior of her immense territories, for the purpose of determining the geographical position of the principal places, of marking their temperature, and of examining into the nature of their soil, their productions, their wealth, as well as the manners and characters of the several people by whom they are inhabited. The selection of the learned travellers destined for this expedition, the helps that were granted them, and the excellent instructions that were given them, will be a lasting honour to the academy of sciences, by which they were appointed. About this time, viz. in 1768, the court of Catherine became the asylum of the sciences, to which she invited learned men from every part of Europe. She encouraged artists and scholars of all denominations; she granted new privileges to the academy of sciences, and exhorted the members to add the names of several celebrated foreigners to those which already conferred a lustre on their society. Nor was she less attentive to the academy of arts, by increasing the number of its pupils, and adding such regulations as tended more than ever to the attainment of the end for which it was endowed. For the further encouragement of the fine arts in her dominions, the empress assigned an annual sum of 5000 rubles for the translation of foreign works into the Russian language. The improvement of the state of physic was another important object of her concern; and in order to give the highest possible sanction to the salutary practice of inoculating for the small pox, she herself submitted to the operation under the care of an English practitioner, and she persuaded the grand duke to follow her example. In 1768, Dr. T Dimsdale, of Hertford, was invited to Russia for the purpose of introducing inoculation:. upon the recovery of trie grand duke, Catherine rewarded his services by creating him a baron of the Russian empire, and appointed him counsellor of state and physician to her imperial majesty, with a pension of 500l. a year, to be paid him in England; besides 10,000l. sterling, which he immediately received; and she also presented him with a miniatnre picture of herself, and another of the grand duke, as a memorial of his services. Her majesty likewise expressed her approbation of the conduct of his son, by conferring on him the same title, and ordering him to be presented with a superb gold snuff-box, richly set with diamonds. On December 3, 1768, a thanksgiving service was performed in the chapel of the palace on account of her majesty’s recovery and that of the grand duke from the small-pox: and the senate decreed, that this event should be solemnized by an anniversary festival, which has been regularly observed ever since.
ed John Wilkes printed a very correct edition of Catullus some years ago, but not for sale. In 1795, an English translation of his poems was printed with the Latin
The best editions of this author are, that of Vulpius, Padua, 1757, 4to, and that of Barbou, Paris, 12mo, but his works are most generally printed with those of Tibullus and Propertius. The celebrated John Wilkes printed a very correct edition of Catullus some years ago, but not for sale. In 1795, an English translation of his poems was printed with the Latin text and notes, but the author having translated the licentious passages, we are prevented from recommending what is otherwise executed with taste and spirit.
and custos rotulorum of the county of Derby, and justiceship in Eyre, was perhaps as much honour as an English subject could enjoy. After the queen’s death, when the
He was one of the earliest in inviting over the prince of Orange; and James II. upon the first alarm from Holland, being jealous of him above any other peer, endeavoured to draw him to court, which the earl evaded. Upon the prince’s landing, he appeared in arms for him, and was afterwards received by him with the highest marks of affection and esteem. In the debates of the house of lords concerning the throne, he was very zealous for declaring the prince and princess of Orange king and queen of England. Feb. 14, 1689, he was admitted one of the privy-council, and not long after, named lord steward of their majesties’ houshold; and, April 3, 1689, chosen a knight of the garter. At their majesties’ coronation he acted as lord high steward of England; and, in the first session of parliament afterwards, procured a resolution of the house of lofds, as to the illegality of the judgment given against him in the former reign, and a vote, that no peer ought to be committed for non-payment of a fine to the crown. Jan. 1691 he attended king William to the congress at the Hague, where he lived in the utmost state and magnificence; and had the honour to entertain several sovereign princes at his table, the king himself being also present incognito. May 12, 1694, he was created marquis of Harrington, and duke of Devonshire; which, with his garter and white staff, the place of lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county of Derby, and justiceship in Eyre, was perhaps as much honour as an English subject could enjoy. After the queen’s death, when the king’s absence made the appointment of regents necessary, he was one of the lords justices for seven successive years; an honour which no other temporal peer enjoyed.
, an English poet, the son of Thomas Cawthorn, upholsterer and c
, an English poet, the son of
Thomas Cawthorn, upholsterer and cabinet-maker in
Sheffield, by Mary, daughter of Mr. Edward Laughton, of
Gainsborough, was born at Sheffield Nov. 4, 17 J 9. His
early inclination to letters, joined to a sprightly turn and
quick apprehension, induced his parents to send him to the
grammar-school of Sheffield, then superintended by the
rev. Mr. Robinson. Here he made a considerable proficiency in classical learning, and became so soon ambitious
of literary fame as to attempt a periodical paper, entitled
“The Tea Table,
” but was discouraged by his father, who
probably thought that he was too young for an observer of
men and manners, and too ignorant of the world to become
its adviser. In 1735, Mr. Cawthorn was removed to the
grammar-school at Kirkby Lonsdale in Westmoreland,
where he made his first poetical attempts, several of which
are said -to be still extant in his hand-writing: three of
these were admitted into the edition of his works published
in 1771; but one of them proved to be a production of
Mr. Christopher Pitt. In 1736, however, he published at
Sheffield, a poem entitled “The Perjured Lover,
” formed
on a lesser poem which he wrote about that time, on the
popular story of Inkle and Yarico. This has been consigned to oblivion. In the same year he appears to have
been employed as an assistant under the rev. Mr. Christian of liotheram. In 1758 he was matriculated of Clarehall, Cambridge, but his name is not to be found among the
graduates, nor can we learn how long he pursued his academical studies. When promoted to the school of Tunbridge, he had obtained the degree of M. A. probably from
some northern university.
he honour Of having printed a single classic. No Greek book, of any kind, had hitherto appeared from an English press. It is believed, that the first Greek characters
Caxton, Mr. Warton observes, by translating, or procuring to be translated, a great number of books from the
French, greatly contributed to promote the state of literature in England. It was only in this way that he could
introduce his countrymen to the knowledge of many valuable publications, at a time when an acquaintance with the
learned languages was confined to a few ecclesiastics.
Ancient learning had as yet made too little progress among
us, to encoumge him to publish the Roman authors in
their original tongue. Indeud, had not the French furnished Caxton with materials, it is not probable, that
Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, and many other good writers, vtoukl
by the means of his press have been circulated in the
English language, so early as the close of the fifteenth
century. It is remarkable, that from the time in which
Caxton began ta print, down to the year 1540, during which
period the English press flourished greatly under the conduct of many indnstrious, ingenious, and even learned
artists, only a few classics, some of which scarcely deserve
that name, were printed in England. The university of
Oxford, during this period, produced only the first book
of “Tully’s Epistles,
” at the expence of cardinal Wolsey,
without date or printer’s name. The university of Cainbridge cannot boast, during the term specified, the honour
Of having printed a single classic. No Greek book, of any
kind, had hitherto appeared from an English press. It is
believed, that the first Greek characters used in any work
printed in England, are in Linacet’s translation of “Galen
de Temperamentis,
” printed at Cambridge in 15LM. In.
this book a few Greek words, and abbreviatures, are here
and there introduced. In the same author’s treatise, “De
emendata Structura Latini Sermonis,
” printed by Pinson
in Oratio de Laudibus &
Utilitate trium Linguarum Arabicae, Chaldaicse, & Hebraicae;
” but he was obliged to omit his whole third part,
because the printer, who was Wynkyn de Worde, had no
Hebrew types. There are, however, some few Hebrew
and Arabic characters introduced; but they are extremely
rude, and evidently cut in wood. They are the first of
the sort used in England. It was a circumstance favourable at least to English literature, that the illiteracy of the
times obliged our first printers to employ themselves so
little on books written in the learned languages. Most of
the works printed by Caxton and his immediate successors
were English. The multiplication of English copies multiplied English readers, and these again produced new
vernacular writers; the existence of a press inducing many
persons to turn authors, who were only qualified to write
in their native tongue.
. to which we may add a very recent edition published at Edinburgh and London in 1809, 8vo. In 1756, an English translation, with notes, was published by Dr. Grieve,
, an ancient and elegant writer on the subject of physic, flourished in the first
century, under the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius; but
of his personal history, his family, or even his profession,
we know little. It has been doubted whether he practised
physic, but without the experience arising from practice,
it is difficult to conceive how he could have so accurately
described diseases and given the remedies. Dr. Freind,
who studied his works with great attention, decides in favour of his having practised, and agrees with Le Clerc
that he was a Roman by birth, and probably of the Cornelian family. He is said to have written on rhetoric and
other subjects; but his “De iVlediciua iibri octo,
” on
which his fame rests, is the only work now remaining, and
has gone through a great number of editions. The surgical part is most esteemed as corresponding nearest to the
present practice; but the whole is written in a style so
pure and elegant, as to entitle him to a place among the
Latin classics. Dr. Clarke has enumerated nearly forty
editions, the best of which are thought to be AUneloveen’s,
Padua, 1722, 8vo, reprinted in 1750, and one by Krause,
Leipsic, 1766, 8vo, with the notes of Scaliger, Casaubon,
Almeloveen, Morgagni, &c. to which we may add a very
recent edition published at Edinburgh and London in
1809, 8vo. In 1756, an English translation, with notes,
was published by Dr. Grieve, the historian of Kamshatka.
A short abridgement of rhetoric, “De arte dicendi,
” attributed to Celsus, was first published at Cologne in 1569,
8vo, and is inserted in the Bibl. Lat. of Fabricius, but it is
generally thought to have been the production of Julius
Severianus.
or at that time there is great probability that his Catholic majesty was not over desirous of having an English minister, and more especially one of sir Thomas’s disposition,
, a gallant soldier, an able
statesman, and a very learned writer in the sixteenth century, was descended from a good family in Wales, and
born at London about 1515. His quick parts discovered
themselves even in his infancy; so that his family, to promote that passionate desire of knowledge for whidh he was
so early distinguished, sent him to the university of Cambridge, where he remained some years, and obtained great
credit, as well by the pregnancy of his wit as his constant
and diligent application, but especially by his happy turn
for Latin poetry, in which he exceeded most of his contemporaries. Upon his removing from college he came
up to court, and being there recommended to the esteem
and friendship of the greatest men about it, he was soon
sent abroad into Germany with sir Henry Knevet, as the
custom was in the reign of Henry VIII. when young men
of great hopes were frequently employed in the service of
ambassadors, that they might at once improve and polish
themselves by travel, and gain some experience in business. He was so well received at the court of the emperor
Charles V. and so highly pleased with the noble and generous spirit of that great monarch, that he attended him in
his journies, and in his wars, particularly in that fatal expedition against Algiers, which cost the lives of so many
brave men, and was very near cutting short the thread of
Mr. Chaloner’s; for in the great tempest by which the
emperor’s fleet was shattered on the coast of Barbary in
1541, the vessel, on board of which he was, suffered shipwreck, and Mr. Chaloner having quite wearied and exhausted himself by swimming in the dark, at length beat
his head against a cable, of which laying hold with his
teeth, he was providentially drawn up into the ship to which
it belonged. He returned soon after into England, and as
a reward of his learning and services, was promoted to the
office of first clerk of the council, which he held during
the remainder of that reign. In the beginning of the next
he came into great favour with the duke of Somerset,
whom he attended into Scotland, and was in the battle of
Mussleburgh, where he distinguished himself so remarkably in the presence of the duke, that he conferred upon
him the honour of knighthood Sept. 28, 1547, and after
his return to court, the duchess of Somerset presented
him with a rich jewel. The first cloud that darkened his
patron’s fortune, proved fatal to sir Thomas Chaloner’s
pretensions; for being a man of a warm and open temper,
and conceiving the obligation he was under to the duke as
a tie that hindered his making court to his adversary, a
stop was put to his preferment, and a vigilant eye kept
upon his actions. But his loyalty to his prince, and his
exact discharge of his duty, secured him from any farther
danger, so that he had leisure to apply himself to his
studies, and to cultivate his acquaintance with the worthiest
men of that court, particularly sir John Cheke, sir Anthony Coke, sir Thomas Smith, and especially sir William
Cecil, with whom he always lived in the strictest intimacy.
Under the reign of queen Mary he passed his time, though
safely, yet very unpleasantly; for being a zealous protestant, he could not practise any part of that complaisance
which procured some of his friends an easier life. He
interested himself deeply in the affair of sir John Cheke,
and did him all the service he was able, both before and
after his confinement. This had like to have brought sir
Thomas himself into trouble, if the civilities he had shewn
in king Edward’s reign, to some of those who had the
greatest power under queen Mary, had not moved them,
from a principle of gratitude, to protect him. Indeed, it
appears from his writings, that as he was not only sincere,
but happy in his friendships, and as he was never wanting
to his friends when he had power, he never felt the want
of them when he had it not, and, which he esteemed the
greatest blessing of his life, he lived to return those kindnesses to some who had been useful to him in that dangerous season. Upon the accession of Elizabeth, he appeared at court with his former lustre; and it must afford
us a very high opinion of his character as well as his capacity, that he was the first ambassador named by that wise
princess, and that also to the first prince in Europe, Ferdinand I. emperor of Germany. In this negociation, which
was of equal importance and delicacy, he acquitted himself with great reputation, securing the confidence of the
emperor and his ministers, and preventing the popish
powers from associating against Elizabeth, before she
was well settled on the throne, all which she very
gratefully acknowledged. After his return from this embassy, he was very soon thought of for another, which was
that of Spain; and though it is certain the queen could
not give a stronger proof than this of her confidence in
his abilities, yet he was very far from thinking that it was
any mark of her kindness, more especially considering the
terms upon which she then stood with king Philip, and
the usage his predecessor, Chamberlain, had met with at
that court. But he knew the queen would be obeyed,
and therefore undertook the business with the best grace
he could, and embarked for Spain in 1561. On his first
arrival he met with some of the treatment which he dreaded.
This was the searching of all his trunks and cabinets, of
which he complained loudly, as equally injurious to himself as a gentleman, and to his character as a public minister. His complaints, however, were fruitless; for at that
time there is great probability that his Catholic majesty
was not over desirous of having an English minister, and
more especially one of sir Thomas’s disposition, at his
court, and therefore gave him no satisfaction. Upon this
sir Thomas Chaloner wrote home, set out the affront that
he had received in the strongest terms possible, and was
very earnest to be re-called; but the queen his mistress
contented herself with letting him know, that it was the
duty of every person who bore a public character, to bear
with patience what happened to them, provided no personal indignity was offered to the prince from whom they
came. Yet, notwithstanding this seeming indifference on
her part, the searching sir Thomas Chaloner’s trunks was,
many years afterwards, put into that public charge which
the queen exhibited against his Catholic majesty, of injuries done to her before she intermeddled with the affairs of
the Low Countries. Sir Thomas, however, kept up his
spirit, and shewed the Spanish ministers, and even that
haughty monarch himself, that the queen could not have
entrusted her affairs in better hands than his. There were
some persons of very good families in England, who, for
the sake of their religion, and no doubt out of regard to
the interest to which they had devoted themselves, desired
to have leave from queen Elizabeth to reside in the Low
Countries or elsewhere, and king Philip and his ministers
made it a point to support their suit. Upon this, when a
conference was held with sir Thomas Chaloner, he answered very roundly, that the thing in itself was of very
little importance, since it was no great matter where the
persons who made this request spent the remainder of their
days; but that considering the rank and condition of the
princes interested in this business, it was neither fit for the
one to ask, nor for the other to grant; and it appeared
that he spoke the sense of his court, for queen Elizabeth
would never listen to the proposal. In other respects he
was not unacceptable to the principal persons of the
Spanish court, who could not help admiring his talents as
a minister, his bravery as a soldier, with which in former
times they were well acquainted, his general learning and
admirable skill in Latin poetry, of which he gave them
many proofs during his stay in their country. It was here,
at a time when, as himself says in the preface, he spent
the winter in a stove, and the summer in a barn, that he
composed his great work of “The right ordering of the
English republic.
” But though this employment might in
some measure alleviate his chagrin, yet he fell into a very
grievous fit of sickness, which brought him so low that his
physicians despaired of his life. In this condition he
addressed his sovereign in an elegy after the manner of
Ovid, setting forth his earnest desire to quit Spain and
return to his native country, before care and sickness
forced him upon a longer journey. The queen granted
his petition, and having named Dr. Man his successor in
his negociation, at length gave him leave to return home
from an embassy, in which he had so long sacrificed his
private quiet to the public conveniency. He accordingly
returned to London in the latter end of 1564, and published
the first five books of his large work before-mentioned,
which he dedicated to his good friend sir William Cecil;
but the remaining five books were probably not published.
in his life-time. He resided in a fair large house of his
own building in Clerkenwell-close, over-against the decayed nunnery; and Weever has preserved from oblivion
an elegant fancy of his, which was penciled on the frontispiece of his dwelling. He died Oct. 7, 1565, and was
buried in the cathedral church of St. Paul with great funeral
solemnity, sir William Cecil, then principal secretary of
state, assisting as chief mourner, who also honoured his
memory with some Latin verses, in which he observes,
that the most lively imagination, the most solid judgment,
the quickest parts, and the most unblemished probity,
which are commonly the lot of different men, and when so
dispersed frequently create great characters, were, which
very rarely happens, all united in sir Thomas Chaloner,
justly therefore reputed one of the greatest men of his
time. He also encouraged Dr. William Malim, formerly
fellow of King’s college in Cambridge, and then master of
St. Paul’s school, to collect and publish a correct edition
of our author’s poetical works; which he accordingly did,
and addressed it in an epistle from St. Paul’s school, dated
August 1, 1579, to lord Burleigh. Sir Thomas Chaloner
married Ethelreda, daughter of Edward Frodsham of EJton,
in the county palatine of Chester, esq. by whom he had
issue his only son Thomas, the subject of the next article.
This lady, not long after sir Thomas’s decease, married
sir * * * Brockett, notwithstanding which the lord Burleigh continued his kindness to her, out of respect to that
friendship which he had for her first husband. Sir Thomas’s epitaph was written by one of the best Latin poets of
that age, Dr. Walter Haddon, master of requests to queen
Elizabeth.
, an English poet of singular genius and character, was born Nov.
, an English poet of singular genius and character, was born Nov. 20, 1752. His father was originally a writing usher to a school in Bristol, afterwards v a singing man in the cathedral, and lastly, master of the free-school in Pyle-street in the same city. He died about three months before this son was born. It is not quite unimportant to add that our poet was descended from a long line of ancestors who held the office of sexton of St. Mary Reclcliffe; since it was in the muniment room of this church that the materials were found from which he constructed that system of imposture which has rendered his name celebrated, and his history interesting. At five years of age he was sent to the school in Pyle-street, then superintended by a Mr. Love; but here he improved so little that his mother took him back. While under her care his childish attention is said to have been engaged by the illuminated capitals of an old musical manuscript in French, which circumstance encouraged her to initiate him in the alphabet, and she afterwards taught him to read from an old black-letter Testament or Bible. That a person of her rank in life should be able to read the blackletter is somewhat extraordinary, but the fact rests upon her authority, and has been considered as an introduction to that fondness for antiquities for which he was afterwards distinguished.
cloth* of silver, which makes it probable, that it was the veiy book that was presented to the king. An English translation of it, done by the learned W. Elstob, formerly
His works are: 1. A Latin translation of two of St.
Chrysostom’s Homilies, never before published, “Contra
observatores novilunii;
” and “De dormientibus in Christo,
” London, De Fato,
” and “Providentia
Dei,
” Lond. The hurt of Sedition, how grievous it is to a commonwealth.
” The running title is,
“The true subject to the rebel*
” It was published in
Communion-book;
”
done for the use of M. Bucer, and printed among Bucer’s
“Opuscula Angiicana.
” 5. “De obitu doctissimi et sanctissimi Theologi domini Martini Buceri, &c. Epistolae
duse,
” Lond. Scripta Angiicana.
” He also wrote an epicedium on the death of that
learned man. 6. “Carmen heroicum, or Epitaphium, in
Antonium Deneium clarissimum virum,
” Lond. 4to. This
sir Anthony Denny was originally of St. John’s college in
Cambridge, and a learned man: afterwards he became one
of the gentlemen of the privy chamber, and groom of the
stole to Henry VIII. and one of the executors of his will.
7. “De Pronuntiatione Graecse potissimum linguae disputationes,
” &c. containing his dispute on this subject with
Gardiner, Basil, 1555, 8vo. 8. “De superstitione ad regem Henricum.
” This discourse on superstition was drawn
up for king Henry’s use, in order to excite that prince to a
thorough reformation of religion. It is written in very elegant Latin, and was prefixed by the author, as a dedicar
tion to a Latin translation of his, of Plutarch’s book of Superstition. A copy of this discourse, in manuscript, is still
preserved in the library of University college, Oxon, curiously written, and bound up in cloth* of silver, which
makes it probable, that it was the veiy book that was presented to the king. An English translation of it, done by
the learned W. Elstob, formerly fellow of that college, was
published by Mr. Strype, at the end of his Life of sir John
Cheke. 9. Several “Letters
” of his are published in the
Life just now mentioned, and eight in Harrington’s “Nugae
antiquae,
” and perhaps in other places. 10. A Latin translation of Archbishop Cranmer’s book on the Lord’s Supper,
was also done by sir John Cheke, and printed in 1553. 11.
He likewise translated “Leo de apparatu bellico,
” Basil,
of Noel Chomel, an agriculturist, and the author of the “DictionTiaire œconomique,” of which we have an English translation by Bradley, 1725, 2 vols. folio. He was
, a French physician, was
the son of Noel Chomel, an agriculturist, and the author of
the “DictionTiaire œconomique,
” of which we have an
English translation by Bradley, 1725, 2 vols. folio. He was
born at Paris towards the end of the seventeenth century,
and studied medicine at Montpellier, where he took his
degree of doctor, in 1708. Returning to his native city,
he was appointed physician and counsellor to the king.
The following year he published “Universal Medicince
Theoricse pars prima, seu Physiologia, ad usum scholae accommodata,
” Montpellier, Traite des Eaux Minerales, Baines et Douches de Vichi,
”
Memoirs
”
sent to the academy of sciences, and his “Defence of
Tournefort,
” published in the Journal des Savans, he published “Abrege de L'Histoire des Pi antes usuelles,
” Paris,
1712, 12mo. This was in 1715 increased to two, and in
1730, to three volumes in 12mo, and is esteemed an useful
manual. His son, John Baptiste Lewis, was educated also
at Paris, and took his degree of doctor in medicine in
1732. He was several years physician in ordinary to the
king, and in November 1754 was chosen dean of the
faculty. He died in 1765. He published in 1745, 1. “An
account of the disease then epidemic among cattle,
” and
boasts of great success in the cure, which was effected, he
says, by using setons, imbued with white hellebore. 2.
“Dissertation historique sur la Mai de Gorge Gangreneaux, qui a regne parmi les enfans, en 1748:
” the malignant sore throat, first treated of in this country by Dr.
Fothergill, about ten years later than this period. 3. “Essai historique sur la Medicine en France,
” Vie de M. Morin,
” and “Eloge historique
de M. Louis Duret,
”
, an English poet of unquestionable genius, was born in Vine-street,
, an English poet of unquestionable genius, was born in Vine-street, in the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, some time in February, 1731. His father was for many years curate and lecturer of that parish, and rector of Rainham, near Grays*, in Essex. He placed his son, when ahout eight years of age, at Westminster-school, which was then superintended by Dr. Nichols and Dr. Pierson Lloyd. His proficiency at school, although not inconsiderable, was less remarkable than his irregularities. On entering his nineteenth year he applied for matriculation at the university of Oxford, where it is reported by some, he was rejected on account of his deficiency in the learned languages, and by others, that he was hurt at the trifling and childish questions put to him, and answered the examiner with a contempt which was mistaken for ignorance. It is not easy to reconcile these accounts, and, perhaps, not of great importance. Churchill, however, was afterwards admitted of Trinity college, Cambridge, but immediately returned, to London, and never visited the university any more.
heatre of his art, was born at Pistoia, about the year 1727. He received his first instructions from an English artist of the name of Heckford (who had settled in that
, an eminent artist, claimed
by the English school, from England being so long the
theatre of his art, was born at Pistoia, about the year 1727.
He received his first instructions from an English artist of
the name of Heckford (who had settled in that city), and
afterwards went under the tuition of Gabbiani, by the study
of whose works he became a vigorous designer. Italy possesses few of his pictures, but Lanzi mentions two, painted
for the abbey of St. Michele, in Pelago, in the neighbourhood of Pistoia; the one of St. Tesauro, the other of Gregory VII. In 1750 he went to Rome, where he had much
employment, but chiefly in drawing; and in August 1755
came to England with Mr. Wilton and sir William Chambers, who were then returning from the continent. His
reputation having preceded him, he was patronized by lord
Tilney, and the late duke of Richmond, and other noblemen. When, in 1758, the duke of Richmond opened the
gallery at his house in Privy- garden as a school of art,
Wilton and Cipriani were appointed to visit the students
the former giving them instructions in sculpture, and the
latter in painting; but this scheme was soon discontinued.
At the foundation of the Royal Academy, Cipriani was
chosen one of the founders, and was also employed to make
the design for the diploma, which is given to the academicians and associates at their admission. For this work,
which he executed with great taste and elegance, the president and council presented him with a silver cup, “as an
acknowledgment for the assistance the academy received
from his great abilities in his profession.
” The original
drawing of this diploma was purchased at the marquis of
Lansdowne’s sale of pictures, drawings, &c. in 1806 for
thirty-one guineas by Mr. G. Baker.
, an English divine, was born in Canterbury about the year 1607,
, an English divine, was born
in Canterbury about the year 1607, and in 1628 was entered
a student of Merton-college, in Oxford, where in October
1631, he took his degree of B. A. Afterwards he remoYed
to Magdalen-hall, and took his degree of M. A. in June
1634, being then generally esteemed a very able moderator in philosophy. About 1636 he became vicar of Melbourne, in Dorsetshire; and some years after was elected
preacher at St. Mary’s church, in St. Edmundsbury, Suffolk, where he was held in great veneration for his edifying
manner of preaching, and for his singular piety. He died
Sept. 12, 1663, and was buried in the chancel of St. Mary’s
Church, before mentioned. He published, “The Abuses
of God’s Grace, discovered in the kinds, causes, &c. proposed as a seasonable check to the wanton libertinism of
the present age,
” Oxon.
, an English divine, who deserves to be recorded among the benefactors
, an English divine, who deserves to be recorded among the benefactors of mankind, was the son of Alured Clarke, gent, by Ann, the fourth daughter of Charles Trimnell, rector of Abbots Riptou in Hampshire, and a sister of the bishop of Winchester of that name. He was born in 1696; and alter receiving his early education at St. Paul’s school, was admitted pensioner in Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, April 1, 1713, where after taking the degree of A. B. he was made fellow in 1718, and proceeded A.M. two years after. At this early age he became a candidate with Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Ward, for the professorship of rhetoric in Gresham college, but without success. In May 1723, he was collated to the rectory of Chilbolton in Hampshire, and installed prebendary of Winchester on the 23d of that month. He was appointed one of the chaplains in ordinary to king George I. and continued in the same dignity in the subsequent reign, when George II. on his visit to Cambridge in April 1728, honoured him with the degree of D. D. and promoted him to a prebend in the church of Westminster, in which he was installed May 8, 1731; being then one of the deputy clerks of the closet. As a farther mark of the royal favouiy his majesty advanced him to the deanery of Exeter May 12, 1740; but he did not enjoy this long, being always of an infirm and weak constitution, which was worn out before he had completed his forty-sixth year. He died May 31, 1742, and was interred without any monument in Westminster.
, an English organist and composer of church music, was educated
, an English organist and composer of church music, was educated in the Chapel Royal,
under Dr. Blow, who seems to have had a paternal
affection for hir. In 1693 he resigned, in his favour,
the place of master of the children and almoner of
St. Paul’s, of which cathedral Clarke was soon after
likewise appointed organist. In 1700 Dr. Blow and his
pupil were appointed gentlemen extraordinary in the
King’s chapel; of which, in 1704, on the death of Mr.
Francis Pigoot, they were jointly admitted to the place of
organist. The compositions of Clarke are not numerous,
as an untimely aud melancholy end was put to his life
before his genius had been allowed time to expand.
Early in life he was so unfortunate as to conceive a violent
and hopeless passion for a very beautiful lady of a rank far
superior to his own; and his sufferings, under these circumstances, became at length so intolerable, that he resolved to terminate them by suicide. The late Mr. Samuel
Wiley, one of the lay-vicars of St. Paul’s, who was very
intimate with him, related the following extraordinary
story. “Being at the house of a friend in the country, he
found himself so miserable, that he suddenly determined
to return to London: his friend, observing in his behaviour
great marks of dejection, furnished him with a horse, and
a servant to attend him. In his way to town, a fit of melancholy and despair having seized him, he alighted, and
giving his horse to the servant, went into a field, in the
corner of which there was a pond surrounded with trees,
which pointed out to his choice two ways of getting rid of
life; but not being more inclined to the one than the other,
he left it to the determination of chance; and taking a
piece of money out of his pocket, and tossing it in the air,
determined to abide by its decision; but the money falling
on its edge in the clay, seemed to prohibit both these
means of destruction. His mind was too much disordered
to receive comfort, or take advantage of this delay; he
therefore mounted his horse and rode to London, determined to find some other means of getting rid of life. And
in July 1707, not many weeks after his return, he shot
himself in his own hotise in St. Paul’s church -yard; the
late Mr. John Reading, organist of St. Dunstan’s church,
a scholar of Dr. Blow, and master of Mr. Stanley, intimately acquainted with Clarke, happening to go by the
door at the instant the pistol went off, upon entering the
house, found his friend and fellow-student in the agonies
of death.
”
ninth, are critical dissertations upon points of ecclesiastical antiquity; and the tenth relates to an English version of his additions to Hammond’s annotations on
In 1696 he published the two first volumes of what is
said to have been his Favourite work, his “Ars Critica,
” to
which he added, in Epistolae Criticae & Ec
clesiasticae,
” as a third volume. The censures he passes
upon Quintus Curtius at the end of the second volume,
involved him in a controversy with certain critics; and
Perizonius in particular. His third volume is employed
chiefly in defending himself against exceptions which had
been made by the learned Dr. Cave to some assertions in
the tenth volume of his “Bibliotheque Universelle,
” and
elsewhere, Le Clerc had said, that Cave, in his “Historia
Literaria,
” had concealed many things of the fathers, for
the sake of enhancing their credit, which an impartial
historian should have related; and that, instead of lives of
the fathers, he often wrote panegyrics upon them; Le
Clerc had also asserted the Arianism of Eusebius. Both
these assertions Cave endeavoured to refute, in a Latin
dissertation published at London, in 1696, which, with a
defence of it, was reprinted in the second edition of his
“Historia Literaria.
” To this dissertation Le Clerc’s
third volume is chiefly an answer and the first six letters,
containing the matters of dispute between him and Cave,
are inscribed to three English prelates, to whom Le Clerc
thought fit to appeal for his equity and candid dealing;
the first and second to Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury;
the third and fourth to Burnet, bishop of Salisbury; and
the fifth and sixth to Lloyd, bishop of Worcester. The
seventh, eighth, and ninth, are critical dissertations upon
points of ecclesiastical antiquity; and the tenth relates to
an English version of his additions to Hammond’s annotations on the New Testament; wherein the translator, not
having done him justice, exposed him to the censure of
Cave and other divines here. At the end of these epistles,
there is addressed to Limborch, what he calls an ethical
dissertation, in which this question is debated, “An semper respondendum sit calurnniis theologorurn;
” but the
previous question should undoubtedly have been whether
the answers of his opponents deserved the name of calumnies? The fourth edition of the “Ars Critica,
” which
had been corrected and enlarged in each successive edition, was printed at Amsterdam in 1712.
, an English poet, the son of Thomas Cokayne, esq. of Ashbourne-hall,
, an English poet, the son of Thomas Cokayne, esq. of Ashbourne-hall, in Derbyshire, and of Pooley, in Warwickshire, was born in 1608, at Elvaston, in Derbyshire, the seat of the family of his mother, Anne, daughter of sir John Stanhope, of Elvaston, knt, He was educated at Trinity- college, Cambridge, and in 1632 set out on his travels through France and Italy, of which he has given an account in a poem to his sou Mr. Thomas Cokayne. On his return he married Anne, daughter of sir Gilbert Kniveton, of Mercaston, in Derbyshire, knt. and retiring to his lordship of Fooley, gave himself up to his books and boon companions. Fie boasts, among his poetical friends, of Donne, Suckling/ Randolph, Drayton, Massinger, Habington, Sandys, and May; and appears also to have cultivated the acquaintance of sir William Dugdale, and other antiquaries. During the civil war, he suffered greatly for his religion, the Romari Catholic, and for what was then as obnoxious, his loyalty to Charles I. under whom he claimed the title ofa baronet. His losses also were increased by his want of ceconomy, and he was obliged to part with his estates during his life, which terminated in Feb. 1684, when he was privately buried in the chancel of Polesworth church. His poems and plays, with altered title-pages, were printed and reprinted in 1658, and are now purchased at high prices, chiefly as curiosities. His mind appears to have been much cultivated with learning, and it is clear that he possessed considerable talents, but he scarcely exhibits any marks of genius. He is never pathetic, sublime, or even elegant; but is generally characterized by a kind of familiarity which amounts to doggrel, and frequently to flatness and insipidity. Still, as our valuable authority adds, it is im possible to read notices of so many of his contemporaries, whose habits of life are recalled to our fancies, without feeling a subordinate kind of pleasure that gives these domestic rhymes a lively attraction.
, an English lawyer, and legal antiquary, was born in the Isle of
, an English lawyer, and legal antiquary, was born in the Isle of Ely in 1722, and
educated at St. John’s college, Cambridge, which he left
after taking his bachelor’s degree in 1743; and having
studied law in the Inner Temple, was admitted to the bar.
He became afterwards Registrar to the corporation of Bedford Level, and published “A Collection of Laws which
form the constitution of the Bedford Level Corporation,
with an introductory history thereof,
” History of embanking and drayning of divers terms and
marshes, &c.
” originally printed
, an English botanist, was the son of a clergyman, and born at Adderbury,
, an English botanist, was the son of
a clergyman, and born at Adderbury, in Oxfordshire,
about 1626. After he had been well-instructed in grammar-learning and the classics, he was entered in 1642 of
Me rton- college, in Oxford. In 1650 he took a degree in
arts; after which he left the university, and retired to
Putney, near London; where he lived several years, and
became the most famous simpler or botanist or his time.
In 1656 he published “The art of simpling, or an introduction to the knowledge of gathering plants, wherein the
definitions, divisions, places, descriptions, and the like,
are compendiously discoursed of;
” with which was also
printed “Perspicillum microcosmologicum, or, a prospective for the discovery of the lesser world, wherein man is a
compendium, c.
” And in Adam
in Eden, or Nature’s paradise: wherein is contained the
history of plants, herbs, flowers, with their several original
names.
” Upon the restoration of Charles II. in 1660, he
was made secretary to Duppa, bishop of Winchester, in
whose service he died in 1662.
s as were judged most capable of Hieroglyphics; illustrated with twenty-four copper-plates, &c.” 5. “ An English Dictionary, explaining the difficult terms that are
, author of a Dictionary once in much
reputation, was born in Northamptonshire about 1640.
Towards the end of 1658, he was entered of Magdalencollege, in Oxford, but left it without taking a degree;
and retiring to London, taught Latin there to youths, and
English to foreigners, about 1663, with good success in
Russel-street, near Covent-garden, and at length became
one of the ushers in merchant-taylors’ school. But being
there guilty of some offence, he was forced to withdraw
into Ireland, from whence he never returned. He was,
says Wood, a curious and critical person in the English
and Latin tongues, did much good in his profession, and
wrote several useful and necessary books for the instruction of beginners. The titles of them are as follows: 1.
“The Complete English Schoolmaster or, the most natural and easy method of spelling and reading English, according to the present proper pronunciation of the language
in Oxford and London, &c.
” Lond. The
newest, plainest, and shortest Short-hand; containing,
first, a brief account of the short-hand already extant, with their alphabets and fundamental rules. Secondly, a plain and easy method for beginners, less
burdensome to the memory than any other. Thirdly, a v
new invention for contracting words, with special rules for
contracting sentences, and other ingenious fancies, &c.
”
Lond. Nolens Volens or, you shall
make Latin, whether you will or no; containing the plainest
directions that have been yet given upon that subject,
”
Lond. The Youth’s
visible Bible, being an alphabetical collection (from the whole Bible) of such general heads as were judged most
capable of Hieroglyphics; illustrated with twenty-four
copper-plates, &c.
” 5. “An English Dictionary, explaining the difficult terms that are used in divinity, husbandry, physic, philosophy, law, navigation, mathematics,
and other arts and sciences,
” Lond. A Dictionary, English-Latin,
and Latin-English; containing all things necessary for the
translating of either language into the other,
” Lond. The most natural and easy Method of
learning Latin, by comparing it with English: Together
with the Holy History of Scripture-War, or the sacred art
military, c.
” Lond. The Harmony of
the Four Evangelists, in a metrical paraphrase on the history of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
” Lond. The Young Scholar’s best
Companion: or an exact guide or directory for children
and youth, from the A B C, to the Latin Grammar, comprehending the whole body of the English learning, &c.
”
Lond. 12mo. Cole’s Dictionary continued to be a schoolbook in very general use, for some time after the publication of Ainswdrth’s Thesaurus. But it has fallen almost
into total neglect, since other abridgments of Ainsworth
have appeared, by Young, Thomas, and other persons.
The men, however, who have been benefactors to the cause
of learning, ought to be remembered with graiitude, though
their writings may happen to be superseded by more perfeet productions. It is no small point of honour to be the
means of paving the way for superior works.
tage, as containing particulars which are not to be found elsewhere. About 1701, he published also, “ An English translation of Antoninus’s Meditations, &c. to which
The next thing Collier undertook was a work of considerable industry, that of translating Moreri’s great “Historical, geographical, genealogical, and poetical Dictionary.
” The two first volumes were printed in Supplement,
” in An Appendix,
” in An English translation of Antoninus’s Meditations,
&c. to which is added, the Mythological Picture of Cebes,
&c.
” In the reign of queen Anne, some overtures were
made to engage him to a compliance, and he was promised
preferment, if he would acknowledge and submit to the
government; but as he became a nonjuror upon a principle of conscience, he could not be prevailed upon to
listen to any terms. Afterwards he published, in 2 vols.
folio, “An Ecclesiastical History of Great Britain, chiefly
of England, from the first planting of Christianity, to the
end of the reign of Charles II. with a brief account of the
affairs of religion in Ireland, collected from the best ancient historians, councils, and records.
” The first volume,
which comes down to Henry Vie was published in 1708,
the second in 1714. This history, which contains, besides
a relation of facts, many curious discourses upon ecclesiastical and religious subjects, was censured by bishop
Burnet, bishop Nicolson, and doctor Kennet, afterwards
bishop of Peterborough; but was defended by Collier in
two pieces. The first was entitled “An Answer to some
exceptions in bishop Burnet’s third part of the History of
the Reformation, &c. against Mr. Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; together with a reply to some remarks in bishop Nicolson’s English Historical Library, &c. upon the same subject, 1715;
” the second, “Some Remarks on Dr. Kennet’s second and third Letters; wherein his misrepresenta-.
tions of Mr. Collier’s Ecclesiastical History are laid open,
and his calumnies disproved, 1717.
” Collier’s prejudices,
however, in favour of the popish establishment, aud against
the reformers, render it necessary to read this work with
much caution: on the other hand, we cannot but observe,
to Collier’s credit, an instance of his great impartiality in
the second volume of his history; which is, that in disculpating the presbyterians from the imputation of their being
consenting to the murder of Charles I. he has shewn, that
as they only had it in their power to protest, so they did
protest against that bloody act, both before and after it was
committed.
reasing, he left that employment and went to sea, where he spent the greatest part of seven years in an English merchantman, which became a man of war in the Venetian
, an eminent accomptant and mathematician, was the son of a nonconformist divine, and horn
at Wood Eaton near Oxford in March 1624. At sixteen
years of age he was put apprentice to a bookseller in Oxford; but soon left that trade, and was employed as clerk
under Mr. John Mar, one of the clerks of the kitchen to
prince Charles, afterwards Charles II. This Mar was eminent for his mathematical knowledge, and constructed those
excellent dials with which the gardens of Charles I. were
adorned: and under him Collins made no small progress in
the mathematics. The intestine troubles increasing, he
left that employment and went to sea, where he spent the
greatest part of seven years in an English merchantman,
which became a man of war in the Venetian service against
the Turks. Here having leisure, he applied himself to
merchants accompts, and some parts of the mathematics,
for which he had a natural turn; and on coming home, he
took to the profession of an accomptant, and composed
several useful treatises upon practical subjects. In 1652
he published a work in folio, entitled “An Introduction
to Merchants’ Accompts,
” which was reprinted in with an additional part, entitled
” Supplements to accomptantship and arithmetic.“A part of this work, relating to
interest, was reprinted in 1685, in a small 8vo volume In
1658 he published in 4to, a treatise called
” The Sector
on a Quadrant; containing the description and use of four
several quadrants, each accommodated for the making of
sun-dials, &c. with an appendix concerning reflected dialling, from a glass placed at any inclination.“In 1659,
4to, he published his
” Geometrical dialling;“and also
the same year, his
” Mariner’s plain Scale new plained.“In the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, of
which he was now become a member, he fully explained
and demonstrated the- rule given by the Jesuit De Billy,
for
” finding the number of the Julian period for any year
assigned, the cycles of the sun and moon, with the Roman
indiction for the years being given.“To this he has
added some very neatly-contrived rules for the ready finding on what day of the week any day of the month falls for
ever; and other useful and necessary kalendar rules. In
the same Transactions he has a curious dissertation concerning the resolution of equations in numbers. In No.
69 for March 1671, he has given a most elegant construction of that chorographical problem, namely:
” The distances of three objects in the same plane, and the angles
made at a fourth place in that plane, by observing each
object, being given; to find the distances of those objects
from the place of observation?“In 1680 he published a
small treatise in 4to, entitled
” A Plea for the bringing in
of Irish cattle, and keeping out the fish caught by foreigners; together with an address to the members of parliament of the counties of Cornwall and Devon, about the
advancement of tin, fishery, and divers manufactures.“In
1682 he published in 4to,
” A discourse of Salt and
Fishery;“and in the Philosophical Transactions, No. 159,
for May 1684, is published a letter of his to Dr. JohnWallis,
oh some defects in algebra. Besides these productions of his
own, he was the chief promoter of many other valuable
publications in his time. It is to him that the world is indebted for the publication of Barrow’s
” Optical and geometrical lectures;“his abridgment of
” Archimedes’s works,“and of
” Apollonius’s Conies“Branker’s translation of
” Rhonius’s Algebra, with Pell’s additions“” Kersey’s
Algebra“Wallis’s History of Algebra
” “Strode of Combinations
” and many other excellent works, which were
procured by his unwearied solicitations.
his mind by any but himself; but he had withdrawn from study, and travelled with no other book than an English Testament, such as children carry to the school: when
About this time Dr. Johnson fell into his company, who
tells us, that “the appearance of Collins was decent and
manly; his knowledge considerable, his views extensive,
his conversation elegant, and his disposition cheerful. By
degrees,
” adds the doctor, “I gained his confidence; and
one day was admitted to him when he was immured by a
bailiff, that was prowling in the street. On this occasion
recourse was had to the booksellers, who, on the credit of
a translation of ‘ Aristotle’s Poetics,’ which
” he engaged to
write with a large commentary, advanced as much money
as enabled him to escape into the country. He shewed
me the guineas safe in his hand. Soon afterwards his uncle,
Mr. Martin, a lieutenant-colonel, left him about 2000l. a
sum which Collins could scarcely think exhaustible, and
which he did not live to exhaust. The guineas were then
repaid; and the translation neglected. But man is not
born for happiness: Collins, who, while he studied to live,
felt no evil but poverty, no sooner lived to study, than his
life was assailed by more dreadful calamities, disease and
insanity.“Dr. Johnson’s character of him, while it was distinctly
impressed upon that excellent writer’s memory, is here at
large inserted:
” Mr. Collins was a man of extensive literature, and of vigorous faculties. He was acquainted,
not only with the learned tongues, but with the Italian,
French, and Spanish languages. He had employed his
mind chiefly upon works of fiction, and subjects of fancy;
and by indulging some peculiar habits of thought, was
eminently delighted with those flights of imagination which
pass the bounds of nature, and to which the mind is reconciled only by a passive acquiescence in popular traditions. He loved fairies, genii, giants, and monsters;
he delighted to rove through the meanders of enchantment, to gaze on the magnificence of golden palaces, to
repose by the water-falls of Elysian gardens. This was,
however, the character rather of his inclination than his
genius; the grandeur of wildness, and the novelty of extravagance, were always desired by him, but were not
always attained. Yet as diligence is never wholly lost; if
his efforts sometimes caused harshness and obscurity, they
likewise produced in happier moments sublimity and splendour. This idea which he had formed of excellence, led
him to Oriental fictions and allegorical imagery; and,
perhaps, while he was intent upon description, he did not
sufficiently cultivate sentiment. His poems are the productions of a mind not deficient in fire, nor unfurnished
with knowledge either of books or life, but somewhat obstructed in its progress by deviation in quest of mistaken
beauties. His morals were pure, and his opinions pious:
in a long continuance of poverty, and long habits of dissipation, it cannot be expected that any character should
be exactly uniform. There is a degree of want by which
the freedom of agency is almost destroyed; and long association with fortuitous companions will at last relax the
strictness of truth, and abate the fervour of sincerity.
That this man, wise and virtuous as he was, passed always
linen tangled through the snares of life, it would be prejudice and temerity to affirm; but it may be said that at
least he preserved the source of action unpolluted, that
his principles were never shaken, that his distinctions of
right and wrong were never confounded, and that his faults
had nothing of malignity or design, but proceeded from
some unexpected pressure, or casual temptation. The
latter part of his life cannot be remembered but with pity
and sadness. He languished some years under that depression of mind which enchains the faculties without destroying them, and leaves reason the knowledge of right
without the power of pursuing it. These clouds which
he perceived gathering on his intellects, he endeavoured
to disperse by travel, and passed into France; but found
himself constrained to yield to his malady, and returned.
He was for some time confined in a house of lunatics, and
afterwards retired to the care of his sister in Chichester ,
where death, in 1756, came to his relief. After his return
from France, the writer of this character paid him a visit
at Islington, where he was waiting for his- sister, whom
he had directed to meet him there was then nothing of
disorder discernible in his mind by any but himself; but
he had withdrawn from study, and travelled with no other
book than an English Testament, such as children carry
to the school: when his friend took it into his hand out
of curiosity, to see what companion a man of letters had
chosen: ‘ I have but one book,’ says Collins, ‘ but that
is the best.’ Such was the fate of Collins, with whom I
once delighted to converse, and whom I yet remember with
tenderness. He was visited at Chichester in his last illness
by his learned friends Dr. Warton and his brother; to whom
he spoke with disapprobation of his t Oriental Eclogues,‘
as not sufficiently expressive of Asiatic manners, and called
them his ’ Irish Eclogues.‘ He shewed them, at the
same time, an ode inscribed to Mr. John Hume, ’ On
the Superstitions of the Highlands;' which they thought
superior to his other works, but which no search has
yet found. His disorder was not alienation of mind, but
general laxity and feebleness, a deficiency rather of his
vital than intellectual powers. What he spoke wanted neither judgment nor spirit; but a few minutes exhausted him,
so that he was forced to rest upon the couch, till a short cessation restored his powers, and he was again able to talk with
his former vigour. The approaches of this dreadful malady
he began to feel soon after his uncle’s death; and with
the usual weakness of men so diseased, eagerly snatched
that temporary relief with which the table and the bottle
flatter and seduce. But his health continually declined,
and he grew more and more burthensome to himself.
“To what I have formerly said of his writings may bft
added, that his diction was often harsh, unskilfully laboured,
and injudiciously selected. He alVected the obsolete when
it was not worthy of revival; and he puts his words out of
the common order, seeming to think, with some later candidates for fame, that not to write prose is certainly to
write poetry. His lines commonly are of slow motion,
clogged and impeded with clusters of consonants. As
men are often esteemed who cannot be loved, so the poetry of Collins may sometimes extort praise when it gives
little pleasure .
”
d to immortality, a doctrine, if it deserves the name, which, having been afterwards transfused into an English publication, has been treated with merited ridicule
After the death of Louis, Condorcet undertook to frame
a new constitution, which was approved by the convention,
but which did not meet the wishes and expectations of the
nation. A new party, calling themselves the Mountain,
were now gaining an ascendancy in the convention over
Brissot and his friends. At first the contest was severe;
the debates, if tumult and discord may be so denominated,
ran high, and the utmost acrimony was exercised on all
sides. Condorcet, always timid, always anxious to avoid
danger, retired as much as possible from the scene. By
this act of prudence he at first escaped the destruction
which overwhelmed the party; but having written against
the bloody acts of the mountain, and of the monster Robespierre, a decree was readily obtained against him. He
was arrested in July 1793, but contrived to escape from
the vigilance of the officers under whose care he was
placed. For nine months he lay concealed at Paris, when,
dreading the consequences of a domiciliary visit, he fled
to the house of a friend on the plain of Mont-Rouge, who
was at the time in Paris. Condorcet was obliged to pass
eight-and-forty hours in the fields, exposed to all the
wretchedness of cold, hunger, and the dread of his enemies.
On the third day he obtained an interview with his friend;
he, however, was too much alive to the sense of danger to
admit Condorcet into his habitation, who was again obliged
to seek the safety which unfrequented fields and pathless
woods could afford. Wearied at length with fatigue and
want of food, on March 26 he entered a little inn and demanded some eggs. His long beard and disordered clothes,
having rendered him suspected by a member of the revolutionary committee of Clamar, who demanded his passport, he was obliged to repair to the committee of the
district of Bourg-la-Reine. Arriving too late to be examined that night, he was confined in the prison, by the
name of Peter Simon, until he could be conveyed to Paris.
He was found dead next day, March 28, 1794. On inspecting the body, the immediate cause of his death could
not be discovered, but it was conjectured that he had
poisoned himself. Condorcet indeed always carried a dose
of poison in his pocket, and he said to the friend who was
to have received him into his house, that he had been
often tempted to make use of it, but that the idea of a wife
and daughter, whom he loved tenderly, restrained him.
During the time that he was concealed at Paris, he wrote
a history of the “Progress of the Human Mind,
” in two
volumes, of which it is necessary only to add, that among
other wonderful things, the author gravely asserts the possibility, if not the probability, that the nature of man may
be improved to absolute perfection in body and mind, and
his existence in this world protracted to immortality, a
doctrine, if it deserves the name, which, having been afterwards transfused into an English publication, has been
treated with merited ridicule and contempt.
, an English dramatic writer and poet, the son of William Congreve
, an English dramatic writer
and poet, the son of William Congreve ofBardsey Grange,
about eight miles from Leeds, was born in Feb. 1669-70.
He was bred at the school of Kilkenny in Ireland, to which
country he was carried over when a child by his father,
who had a command in the army there. In 1685 he was
admitted in the university of Dublin, and after having
studied there some years, came to England, probably to
his father’s house, who then resided in Staffordshire. On
the 17th of March 1690-1, he became a member of the
society of the Middle Temple; but the law proving too
dry for him, he troubled himself little with it, and continued to pursue his former studies. His first production
as an. author, was a novel, which, under the assumed
name of Cleophil, he dedicated to Mrs. Catherine Leveson.
The title of it was, “Incognita, or Love and Duty reconciled,
” which has been said to have considerable merit as
the production of a youth of seventeen, but it is certain he
was now full twenty-one, and had sense enough to publish
it without his name, and whatever reputation he gained by
it, must have been confined within the circle of a few acquaintance.
, an English poet of the 16th century, is said to have been born,
, an English poet of the 16th
century, is said to have been born, or at least descended
from a family of that name, in Yorkshire, and was for some
time educated at Oxford, but took his bachelor’s degree at
St. John’s college, Cambridge, in 1579. Edmund Bolton,
in his “Hypercritica,
” says, “Noble Henry Constable
was a great master of the English tongue; nor had any
gentleman of our nation a more pure, quick, or higher delivery of conceit: witness, among all other, that sonnet of
his before his Majesty’s Lepanto.
” He was the author of
“Diana, or the excellent conceitful sonnets of H. C. augmented with divers quatorzains of honorable and learned
personages, divided into eight decads,
” the first sonneteer of his time.
” The most striking of his
productions is that entitled “The Shepheard’s song of Venus and Adonis,
” which is elegantly and harmoniously expressed. Mr. Malone, who reprinted it in the notes to the
10th volume of his Shakspeare, p. 74, thinks it preceded
Shakspeare’s poem on the same subject, which it far excels,
at least in taste and natural touches. Of his life, no memorials have been discovered. Dr. Birch, in his Memoirs of
queen Elizabeth, thought him to be the same Henry Constable, who was a zealous Roman Catholic, and whose religion seems to have obliged him to live in a state of banishment from England. Sir E. Brydges is inclined to the
same opinion. Constable afterwards came privately to
London, but was soon discovered, and imprisoned in the
Tower of London, whence he was released in the latter end
of the year 1604. There was another of the name in the
early part of the 16th century, a John Constable, the
son of Roger Constable, who was born in London, and
educated under the celebrated William Lilye. From
thence he was sent to Byham Hall, opposite Merlon college, Oxford, where, in 1515, he took the degree of M.A.
and was accounted at that time an excellent poet and rhetorician. He obtained some preferment, but of that, or of his
subsequent history, we have no account. He published, in
Latin, “Querela veritatis,
”and “Epigrammata,
”
, an English officer and statesman, the second son of Francis, first
, an English officer and
statesman, the second son of Francis, first lord Conway,
was born in 1720, and appeared first in public life in 1741
as one of the knights for the county of Antrim, in the parliament of Ireland; and in the same year was elected
for Higham Ferrers, to sit in the ninth parliament of Great
Britain. He was afterwards chosen for various other places
from 1754 to 1780, when he represented St. Edmund’s
Bury. In 1741 he was constituted captain-lieutenant in
the “first regiment of foot-guards, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; and in April 1746, being then aid-de-camp
to the duke of Cumberland, he got the command of the
xorty-eighth regiment of foot, and the twenty-ninth in July
1749. He was constituted colonel of the thirteenth regiment of dragoons in December 1751, which he resigned
upon being appointed colonel of the first, or royal regiment of dragoons, Septembers, 1759. In January 1756
he was advanced to the rank of major-general; in March
1759, to that of lieutenant-general; in May 1772, to that
of general; and in October 12, 1793, to that of field
marshal. He served with reputation in his several military
capacities, and commanded the British forces in Germany,
under prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, in 1761, during the
absence of the marquis of Granby. He was one of the
grooms of the bed-chamber to George II. and likewise to
his present majesty till April 1764, when, at the end of
the session of parliament, he resigned that office and his
military commands, or, more properly speaking, was dismissed for voting against the ministry in the question of
general warrants. His name, however, was continued in
the list of the privy counsellors in Ireland; and William,
the fourth duke of Devonshire, to whom he had been secretary when the duke was viceroy in Ireland, bequeathed
him at his death, in 1764, a legacy of 5000l. on account of
his conduct in parliament. On the accession of the Rockingham administration in 1765, he was sworn of the privy
council, and appointed joint- secretary of state with the
duke of Grafton, which office he resigned in January 1768.
In February following, he was appointed colonel of the
fourth regiment of dragoons; in October 1774, colonel of
the royal regiment of horse-guards; and in October 1772,
governor of the island of Jersey. On March 30, 1782, he
was appointed commander in chief of his majesty’s forces,
which he resigned in December 1783. He died at his seat
at Park-place, near Henley upon Thames, July 9, 1795.
General Conway was an ingenious man, of considerable
abilities, but better calculated to be admired in the private and social circle, than to shine as a great public character. In politics, although we believe conscientious, he
was timid and wavering. He had a turn for literature, and
some talent for poetry, and, if we mistake not, published,
but without his name, one or two political pamphlets. In
his old age he aspired to the character of a dramatic writer,
producing in 1789, a play, partly from the French, entitled
” False Appearances," which was not, however, very successful. His most intimate friend appears to have been
the late lord Orford, better known as Horace Walpole,
who was his cousin, and addressed to him a considerable
part of those letters which form the fifth volume of his
lordship’s works. This correspondence commenced in
1 7-1-0, when Walpole was twenty-three years old, and Mr.
Couway twenty. They had gone abroad together with the
celebrated poet Gray in 1739, had spent three months
together at Rheims, and afterwards separated at Geneva.
Lord Orford’s letters, although evidently prepared for the
press, evince at least a cordial and inviolable friendship
for his correspondent, of which also he gave another proof
in 3 letter published in defence of general Couway when
dismissed from his offices; and a testimony of affection
yet more decided, in bequeathing his fine villa of Strawberry Hill to Mrs. Darner, general Con way’s daughter, for
her life.
an English artist, was born in 1642. Having a taste for historical
an English artist, was born in 1642. Having a taste for historical painting, he travelled to Italy for the purpose of improving himself in this branch of the art, and studied under Sulvator Rosa; but, on his return to England, met with so little encouragement, that for many years he remained in want and obscurity, and at last was obliged to fly for a murder which he committed on a person who courted one of his mistresses. On his return, when this affair was forgot, his talents gained him notice, and he was employed by king William to repair his cartoons; he likewise finished the equestrian portrait of Charles II. at Chelsea college, painted the choir of New College chapel, Oxford, as it stood before the late repairs, and the staircase at Ranelagh house, besides many other works mentioned by lord Orford. He is also said to have tried portrait painting, but to have given it up, disgusted with the caprices of those who sat to him. He died 18th Nov. 1700.
ols. 12mo, and in 1728 his translation of “Hesiod.” In 1734 he published an edition of Terence, with an English translation, 3 vols. 12mo, and in 1737 “A Translation
, a poet and miscellaneous writer,
was born at Braintree in Essex, in 1702 or 1703, where
his father was an inn-keeper, and as Pope used to say, a
Muggletonian. He was educated at Felsted school, where
he made considerable proficiency, but how long he remained here, or what was his destination in life is not
known. For some time he appears to have been domesticated in the family of lord Pembroke, who died in 1733,
and who probably suggested to him a translation of Hesiod,
to which his lordship contributed some notes. Before this
nobleman’s death, he came to London in 1722, and became a writer by profession, and a strenuous supporter
of revolution-principles, which formed a bond of union
between him and Tickell, Philips, Welsted, Steele, Dennis,
and others, whose political opinions agreed with his own.
He wrote in some of the weekly journals of the time, and
was considered as a man of learning and abilities. He is
supposed to have attacked Pope from political principles,
but it is fully as probable, that, as he was a good Greek
scholar, he wished to derive some reputation from proving
that Pope, in his translation of Homer, was deficient in
that language. In 1725 he published a poem entitled
“The Battle of the Poets,
” in which Pope, Swift, and
some others were treated with much freedom and translated and published in the Daily Journal, 1727, the episode
of Thersites, from the second book of the Iliad, to show
how much Pope had mistaken his author. For this attack
Pope gave him a place in the “Dunciad,
” and notices
him with equal contempt in his Epistle to Dr. Arbutlmot.
In a note likewise he informs us that Cooke “wrote letters
at the same time to him, protesting his innocence;
” but
Cooke’s late biographer, sir Joseph Mawbey, is inclined
to doubt this, and rather to believe that he was regardless
of Pope’s enmity. In a subsequent edition of “The Battle of the Poets
” Cooke notices the Dunciad with becoming spirit, and speaks with little respect of Pope’s
“philosophy or dignity of mind, who could be provoked
by what a boy writ concerning his translation of Homer,
and in verses which gave no long promise of duration.
”
In 1725 or 172G, Cooke published “The Knights of
the Bath,
” and “Philander and Cydippe,
” both poetical
tales; and several other pieces of poetry the former evidently meant to attract the public attention, on the revival,
about that time, of the order of the Bath. He wrote soon
after “The Triumphs of Love and Honour,
” a play; “The
Eunuch,
” a farce; and “The Mournful Nuptials,
” a tragedy; all performed at Drury-lane theatre, but with little
success. In 1726 he published an account of the “Life
and Writings of Andrew Marvell, esq.
” prefixed to an
edition of the poetical works of that celebrated politician,
2 vols. 12mo, and in 1728 his translation of “Hesiod.
”
In A Translation of Cicero on the Nature of the Gods,
” with philosophical, critical, and explanatory notes, to which is added
an examination into the astronomy of the ancients, 8vo.
In 1741 he encreased his classical reputation by an edition
of Virgil, with an interpretation in Latin, and notes in
English. In 1742 he published a volume of his original
“Poems,
” with imitations and translations, and in
, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, was born in 1723. He
, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, was born in 1723. He descended, according to the account of his life in the Biographia Britannica, from an ancient family in Nottinghamshire, impoverished on account of its loyalty during the rebellion in
Charles the First’s time. Thurgaton Priory in that county
was granted to one of his ancestors by Henry VIII. and after
some interruption, became the residence of our poet’s
father, and still continues in the family. In Thoroton’s
Nottinghamshire, it is stated that the family name was
Gilbert, and that, in 1736, John Gilbert, esq. obtained
leave to use the surname and arms of Cooper, pursuant to
the will of John Cooper, of Thurgaton, esq. He was educated at Westminster-school under Dr. John Nichols, and
in 1743 became a fellow-commoner of Trinity college,
Cambridge, where he resided two or three years, without
taking a degree, but not without a due attention to his
studies. With some tincture of foppery, he was a young
man of very lively parts, and attached ^to classical learning,
which it is only to be regretted he did not pursue with
judgment* He quitted the university on his marriage with
Susanna, the grand-daughter of sir Nathan Wright, lord
keeper. la. 1745, he published “The Power of Harmony,
” in two books, in which he endeavoured to recommend a constant attention to what is perfect and beautiful
in nature, as the means of harmonizing the soul to a responsive regularity and sympathetic order. This imitation
of the language of the Shaftesbury school was not affectation. He had studied the works of that nobleman with enthusiasm, and seems entirely to have regulated his conduct
by the maxims of the ancient and modern academics.
The poem brought him into notice with the public, but he
appears not at this time to have courted the fame of authorship. When Dodsley began to publish his “Museum,
”
he invited the aid of Mr. Cooper among others who were
friendly to him, and received a greater portion of assistance from our author’s pen than from that of any other individual. His papers, however, were signed, not Pkilalethes, as mentioned in the Biographia Britannica, but Philaretes.
, an English prelate, but better known and perhaps more respected
, an English prelate, but better
known and perhaps more respected as a poet, was the son
of Vincent Corbet, and was born at Ewell in Surrey, in
1582. His father, who attained the age of eighty, appears
to have been a man of excellent character, and is celebrated in one of his son’s poems with filial ardour. For
some reason he assumed the name of Pointer, or, perhaps,
relinquished that for Corbet, which seems more probable:
his usual residence was at Whitton in the county of
Middlesex, where he was noted for his skill in horticulture,
and amassed considerable property in houses and land,
which he bequeathed to his son at his death in 1619. Our
poet was educated at Westminster school, and in Lenu
term, 1597-8, entered in Broadgate hall (afterwards Pembroke college), and the year following was admitted a student of Christ Church, Oxford, where he soon became
noted among men of wit and vivacity. In 1605 he took
his master’s degree, and entered into holy orders. In
3612 he pronounced a funeral oration in St. Mary’s church,
Oxford, on the death of Henry, prince of Wales; and the
following year, another on the interment of that eminent
benefactor to learning, sir Thomas Bodley. In 1618 he
took a journey to France, from which he wrote the epistle
to sir Thomas Aylesbury. His “Journey to Fiance,
” one
of his most humorous poems, is remarkable for giving some
traits of the French character that are visible in the present
day. King James, who showed no weakness in the choice
of his literary favourites, made him one of his chaplains in
ordinary, and in 1627 advanced him to the dignity of dean,
of Christ Church. At this time he was doctor in divinity,
vicar of Cassington near Woodstock, in Oxfordshire, and
prebendary of Bedminster Secunda in the church of Sarum.
, an English prelate, was the son of Giles Cosin, a rich citizen
, an English prelate, was the son of Giles
Cosin, a rich citizen of Norwich, and born in that city
Nov. 30, 1594. He was educated in the free-school there,
till 14 years of age; and then removed to Caius college in
Cambridge, of which he was successively scholar and fellow. Being at length distinguished for his ingenuity and
learning, he had, in 1616, an offer of a librarian’s place
from Overall bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and Andrews bishop of Ely, and accepted the invitation of the
former; who dying in 1619, he became domestic chaplain
to Neil bishop of Durham. He was made a prebendary of
Durham in 1624; and the year following collated to the
archdeaconry of the east riding in the church of York,
vacant by the resignation of Marmaduke Blakestone, whose
daughter he had married that year. July 1626, Neil presented him to the rich rectory of Branspeth, in the diocese
of Durham; the parochial church of which he beautified in
an extraordinary manner. About that time, having frequent meetings at the bishop of Durham’s house in London, with Laud and other divines of that party, he began
to be obnoxious to the puritans, who suspected him to be
popishly affected; grounding their suspicion on his “Collection of Private Devotions,
” published in
, an English artist, was one of the founders of the Royal Academy,
, an English artist, was one of the founders of the Royal Academy, he and three others (Moser, West, and Chambers) being the only persons who signed the petition presented to his Majesty, to solicit that establishment. He was the son of an apothecary, who resided in Cork-street, Burlington-gardens, and was born in 1726. He was the pupil of Knapton, but in the sequel much excelled his master. He was particularly eminent for his portraits in crayons, in which branch of the art he surpassed all his predecessors; though it must be confessed that he owed something of his excellence to the study of the portraits of Rosalba. He also painted with considerable ability in oil colours; and at one time Hogarth declared him to be superior to sir Joshua Reynolds; an opinion, however, which must have arisen from some prejudice, for sir Joshua had then produced some of his best portraits. But though those of Cotes deserve not this high character, they were very pleasing, well finished, coloured with great spirit, and, by the aid of Mr. Toms’s draperies (who generally supplied him with these), were justly ranked with the best portraits of the time. Yet his greatest excellence was in crayons, which were much improved under his hands, both in their preparation and application. Lord Orford says, that his pictures of the queen holding the princess royal, then an infant, in her lap; of his own wife; of Polly Jones, a woman of pleasure; of Mr. Obryen, the comedian; of Mrs. Child, of Osterley-park; and of Miss Wilton, afterwards lady Chambers; are portraits which, if they yield to Rosalba’s in softness, excel hers in vivacity and invention.
, an English poet, was the son of Charles Cotton, esq. of Beresford
, an English poet, was the son of Charles Cotton, esq. of Beresford in Staffordshire, a man of considerable fortune and high accomplishments. His son, who inherited many of these characteristics, was born on the 28th of April, 1630, and educated at the university of Cambridge, where he had for his tutor Mr. Ralph Rawson, whom he celebrates in the translation of an ode of Joannes Secundus. At the university, he is said to have studied the Greek and Roman classics with distinguished success, and to have become a perfect master of the French and Italian languages. It does not appear, however, that he took any degree, or studied with a view to any learned profession; but after his residence at Cambridge, travelled into France and other parts of the continent. On his return, he resided during the greater part of his life at the family seat at Beresford. In 1656, when he was in his twenty-sixth year, he married Isabella, daughter of sir Thomas Hutchinson, knt. of Owthorp in the county of Nottingham, a distant relation, and took her home to his father’s house, as he had no other establishment. In 1658 he succeeded to the family estate encumbered by some imprudencies of his deceased father, from which it does not appear that he was ever able to relieve it.
, an English physician, poet, and amiable man, was born in 1707,
, an English physician, poet, and amiable man, was born in 1707, but in what county, or of what family, is not known. He studied physic under the celebrated Boerhaave, at Leyden, and is supposed to have taken his degree at that university, which was then the first medical school in Europe, and the resort of all who wished to derive honour from the place of their education. On his return he endeavoured to establish himself as a general practitioner, but circumstances leading him more particularly to the study of the various species of lunacy, he was induced to become the successor of a Dr. Crawley, who kept a house for the reception of lunatics at Dunstable, in Bedfordshire: and having engaged the housekeeper, and prevailed on the patients’ friends to consent to their removal, he opened a house for their reception at St. Alban’s. Here he continued for some years, adding to his knowledge of the nature of mental disorders, and acquiring considerable fame by the success and humanity of his mode of treatment. When his patients began to increase, he found it necessary to hire a larger house, where he formed a more regular establishment, and dignified it by the name of The College. His private residence was in St. Peter’s street in the town of St. Alban’s, and was long known as the only house in that town defended from the effects of lightning by a conductor.
Avec les preuves justiticatives des faits avancez dans cet ouvrage. Par l'Auteur de la Dissertation.“ An English translation of this also was afterwards published at
, a learned divine of the
church of Rome, who was long resident in England, was
born at Vernon in “Normandy, in the year 1681, and being
educated for the church, became canon regular and librarian of the abbey of St. Genevieve, a situation extremely
favourable to the prosecution of his studies, as the library
of which he had the care is a very considerable one. Among
other theological inquiries, he engaged in one, which was
productive of very important consequences respecting his
future life. Having been employed in reading abbe Reuaudot’s
” Memoire sur la validite des Ordinations des
Anglois,“inserted in abbe Gould’s
” La veritable croyance
de T'eglise Catholique,“he was induced to enter into a farther examination of that subject. Accordingly he drew up
a memoir upon it, for his own satisfaction only, but which
grew insensibly into a treatise; and at the instance of some
friends to whom it was communicated, he was at length
prevailed with to consent to its publication. He therefore
made the usual application for permission to print it; and
obtained the approbation of Mons. Arnaudin, the royal licenser of the press. Some persons, however, afterwards
found means to prevail on the chancellor to refuse to affix
the seal to the approbation of the licenser. Terms were
proposed to father Courayer, to which he could not accede,
and he gave up all thoughts of publishing. Some of his
friends, however, being in possession of a copy, resolved
to print it; and this obliged him to acquiesce in the
publication. When he first wrote his treatise, all his materials were taken from printed authorities, and he had no
acquaintance or correspondence in England. But sundry
difficulties, which occurred to him in the course of his inquiries, suggested to him the propriety of writing to England, in order to obtain clearer information on some points;
and knowing that a correspondence had been carried on
between Dr. Wake, then archbishop of Canterbury, and
Dr. Dupin, on the project of re-uniting the churches of
England and France, he took the liberty, in 1721, although
entirely unknown to that prelate, to desire his information
respecting some particulars. The archbishop answered his
inquiries with great readiness, candour, and politeness, and
many letters passed between them on this occasion. Father
Courayer’s book was at length published in 1723, in two
volumes small 8vo, entitled,
” Dissertation sur la validite
des Ordinations des Anglois, et sur la Succession des
Evesques de l'Eglise Anglicane: avec les preuves justificatives des faits avancez dans cet ouvrage.“It was printed
at Nancy, though Brussels is placed in the title. It was
afterwards translated into English, by the rev. Mr. Daniel
Williams, and published at London in one volume 8vo,
under the title
” A Defence of the validity of the English
Ordinations, and of the Succession of the Bishops in the
Church of England: together with proofs justifying the
facts advanced in this treatise.“Father Courayer’s work
was immediately attacked by several popish writers, particularly by father le Quien and father Hardouin. But in
1726 he published, in four volumes 12mo,
” Defense de la
Dissertation sur la validite des Ordinations des Anglois,
coutre les differentes reponsesqui y out 6te faites. Avec les
preuves justiticatives des faits avancez dans cet ouvrage.
Par l'Auteur de la Dissertation.“An English translation
of this also was afterwards published at London, in two
volumes 8 vo, under the following title:
” A Defence of
the Dissertation on the validity of the English Ordinations," &c.
e afterwards printed. But though his book had procured this honourable testimonial of his merit from an English university, his enemies in France were not satisfied
But father Courayer was not only attacked by those writers who published books against him: he was likewise censured both by the mandates and by the assemblies of several bishops, and particularly by cardinal de Noaiiles, archbishop of Paris, and the bishop of Marseilles. During this time he retired from Paris into the country, but was recalled by his superior to reside at the priory of Hennemonte, four leagues from Paris. Here he received a diploma for the degree of doctor in divinity from the university of Oxford, dated Aug. 28, 1727: and from hence he returned his thanks to the University in an elegant Latin letter, dated Dec. 1, the same year, both of which he afterwards printed. But though his book had procured this honourable testimonial of his merit from an English university, his enemies in France were not satisfied with publishing censures and issuing episcopal mandates against him, but proceeded to measures for compelling him to recant what he had written, and to sign such submissions as were inconsistent with the dictates of his conscience. In this critical state of things, he resolved to quit his native country, and to seek an asylum in England. He was the more inclined to embrace this resolution in consequence of the warm and friendly invitations which he had received from archbishop Wake, who had conceived a great regard for him. After having spent four months very disagreeably at Hennemonte, he obtained leave to remove to Senlis; but, instead of going thither, he took the road to Calais in the common stage-coach, from thence got safely over to Dover, and arrived in London on the 24tlr of January, 1728.
r les differens dogmes de la Religion. par feu pierre franois le courayer, docteuren theologie,” &c. An English translation of this has been since published. The original
In 1787 was 'published, in octavo, by the rev. William
Bell, D. D. prebendary of Westminster, “Declaration de
mes derniers sentimens sur les differens dogmes de la Religion.
par feu pierre franois le courayer, docteuren theologie,
”
&c. An English translation of this has been since published.
The original manuscript, which was given by father Courayer to the princess Amelia, who had a great esteem for
him, was written in 1767, which was about nine years before his death. The princess Amelia left this manuscript
by will to Dr. Bell; who published it, as being of opinion,
that the last sentiments of a writer of Dr. Courayer’s reputation, and whose situation was so peculiar, were calculated
to excite the attention of the learned, and of those who
were zealously attached to the interests of religion: and,
indeed, it appears to have been the wish of the author
himself that it should be published, though not till after
his death.
, an English poet, was the son of the rev. William Crashaw, a divine
, an English poet, was the son
of the rev. William Crashaw, a divine of some note in his
day, and preacher at the Temple church, London. He
published several volumes on points controverted between
the Roman catholics and protestants, either original or
translated; and in 1608, a translation of the Life of Galeacius Caracciolo, marquis of Vico, an Italian nobleman,
who was converted by the celebrated reformer Peter
Martyr, and forsook all that rank, family, and wealth
could yield, for the quiet enjoyment of the reformed religion. Mr. Crashaw also translated a supposed poem of
St. Bernard’s, entitled “The Complaint or Dialogue between the Soule and the Bodie of a damned man,
” Manual for true Catholics, or a handfull or rather a heartfull of holy Meditations
and Prayers.
” All these show him to have been a zealous
protestant; but, like his son, somewhat tinctured with a
love of mystic poetry and personification.
oyal. He is said to have lived with his father as with a friend and a brother; and his marriage with an English woman, whom Crebiilon the father did not approve, only
, son of
the preceding, was born at Paris February 12, 1707, and
died there April 12, 1777, at the age of 70. It is said that
his father being one day asked, in a large company, which
of his works he thought the best? “I don't know,
” answered he, “which is my best production; but this
(pointing to his son, who was present) is certainly my
worst.
” “It is,
” replied the son, with vivacity, “because
no Carthusian had a hand in it:
” alluding to the report,
that the best passages in his father’s tragedies had been
written by a Carthusian friar, who was his friend. His
father had gained his fame as a manly and nervous writer;
the son was remarkable for the ease, elegance, and caustic
malignity of his conversation and writings, and might be
surnamed the Petronius of France, as his father had been
characterised by that of the Æschylus. The abbe Boudot,
who lived on familiar terms with him, said to him one day
in reply to some of his jokes: “Hold thy tongue! Thy
father was a great man; but as for thee, thou art only a
great boy.
” “Crebiilon the father,
” says M. d'Alembert,
“paints in the blackest colours the crimes and wickedness
of man. The son draws, with a delicate and just pencil,
the refinements, the shades, and even the graces of our
vices; that seducing levity which renders the French what
is called amiable, but which does not signify worthy of being beloved; that restless activity, which makes them feel
ennui even in the midst of pleasure; that perversity of
principles, disguised, and as it were softened, by the mask
of received forms; in short, our manners, at once frivolous and corrupt, wherein the excess of depravity combines
with the excess of ridiculousness.
” This parallel is more
just than the opinion of L'Advocat, who says that the romances of Crebiilon are extremely interesting, because all
the sentiments are drawn from a sensible heart, but it is
plain that this “sensible heart
” is full of affectation, and
that the author describes more than he feels. However
this may be, Crebiilon never had any other post than that
of censor-royal. He is said to have lived with his father
as with a friend and a brother; and his marriage with an
English woman, whom Crebiilon the father did not approve, only produced a transient misunderstanding. The
principal works of the son are: 1. Letters from the marchioness to the count of ***, 1732, 2 vols. 12rno. 2. Tanzai and Neadarne“, 1734, 2 vols. 12mo. This romance,
abounding in satirical allusions and often unintelligible,
and which caused the author to be put into the bastille,
was more applauded than it deserved. 3.
” Les egarements du coeur & de Tesprit,“1736, three parts, 12mo.
4.
” The Sopha,“a moral tale, 1745, 1749, 2 vols. 12mo,
grossly immoral, as most of his works are. For this he Was
banished from Paris for some time. 5.
” Lettres
Atheniennes,“177I,4vols. 12mo. 6.
” Ah! que?i conte“1764,
8 parts, 12mo. 7.
” Les Heureux Orphelins,“1754, 2
vols. 12mo. 8.
” La Nuit & le Moment,“1755, 12mo.
9.
” Le hasard du coin du feu,“1763, 12mo. 10.
” Lettres de la duchesse de ***,' &c. 1768, 2 vols. 12mo.
11. “Lettres de la marquise de Pompadour,
” 12mo, an
epistolary romance, written in an easy and bold style; but
relates few particulars of the lady whose name it bears.
The whole of his works have been collected in 7 vols.
12mo, 1779.
, an English poet, chiefly noted for his translatious of ancient
, an English poet, chiefly noted for
his translatious of ancient authors, was son of Thomas
Creech, and born near Sherbourne in Dorsetshire, 1659.
He was educated in grammar learning under Mr. Gurganven of Sherbourne, to whom he afterwards dedicated a
translation of one of Theocritus’s Idylliums; and entered
a commoner of Wadham college in Oxford, 1675. Wood
tells us, that his father was a gentleman; but Jacob says,
in his “Lives and Characters of English Poets,
” that his
parents were not in circumstances sufficient to support him
through a liberal education, but that his disposition and
capacity for learning raised him up a patron in colonel
Strangeways, whose generosity supplied that defect.
Creech certainly distinguished himself much; and was
accounted a good philosopher and poet, and a severe student. June 13, 1683, he took the degree of M. A. and not
long after was elected probationer fellow of All-souls college; to which, Jacob observes, the great reputation acquired by his translation of Lucretius recommended him.
Wood tells us, that upon this occasion he gave singular
proofs of his classical learning and philosophy before his
examiners. In 1696 he took his degree of bachelor of
divinity, and began to be well known by the works he published; but they were of no great advantage to his fortune,
since his circumstances were always indifferent. In 1699,
having taken orders, he was presented by his college to the
living of Welwyn in Hertfordshire; but while at Oxford,
on another occasion, in June 1700, he put an end to his
life. The motives of this fatal catastrophe have been variously represented. M. Bernard informs us, in the “
Republic of Letters,
” that in 1700, Creech fell in love with a,
woman, who treated him contemptuously, though she was
complaisant enough to others; that not being able to digest
this usage, he was resolved not to survive it; and that he
hanged himself in his study, in which situation he was
found three days after. Jacob says nothing of the particular manner of his death, but only that he unfortunately
made away with himself: which he ascribes to a naturally
morose and splenetic temper, too apt to despise the understandings and performances of others. “This,
” says Jacob, “made him less esteemed than his great merit deserved; and his resentments on this account frequently
engaged him in those heats and disputes which in the end
proved fatal to him.
” But from an original letter of Arthur Charlett, preserved in the Bodleian library, it has
lately been discovered, that this unhappy event was owing
to a very different cause. There was a fellow collegian of
whom Creech frequently borrowed money; but repeating
his applications too often, he met one day with such a
cold reception, that he retired in a fit of gloomy disgust,
and in three days was found hanging in his room: and
Mr. Malone has more recently published a letter from Dr.
Tanner, by which it appears that Creech had before exhibited marks of insanity.
sted discovery of weakness in the Grounds of the Church’s Infallibility,” 1662, 8vo. 2. “A Letter to an English gentleman, dated July 6th, 1662, wherein bishop Morley
After the restoration, and the marriage of king Charles II.
queen Catharine appointed our author, who was then become one of the mission in England, her chaplain, and
from that time he resided in Somerset-house, in the Strand.
The great regularity of his life, his sincere and unaffected
piety, his modest and mild behaviour, his respectful deportment to persons of distinction, with whom he was formerly acquainted when a protestant, and the care he took
to avoid all concern in political affairs or intrigues of state,
preserved him in quiet and safety, even in the most troublesome times- He was, however, a very zealous champion in the cause of the church of Rome, and was continually writing in defence of her doctrines, or in answer
to the books of controversy written by protestants of distinguished learning or figure; and as this engaged him in
a variety of disputes, he had the good fortune to acquire
great reputation with both parties, the papists looking
upon him to be one of their ablest advocates, and the protestants allowing that he was a grave, a sensible, and a
candid writer. Among the works he published after his
return to England, were: 1. “A non est inventus returned to Mr. Edward Bagshaw’s enquiry and vainly boasted
discovery of weakness in the Grounds of the Church’s Infallibility,
” A Letter to an English gentleman, dated July 6th, 1662, wherein bishop Morley is
concerned, printed amongst some of the treatises of that
reverend prelate,
” 3. “Roman Catholic Doctrines no Novelties; or, an answer to Dr. Pierce’s court-sermon, miscalled The primitive rule of Reformation,
” The Church History of
Britanny,
” Roan, upon account of some nice controversies between the
see of Rome, and some of our English kings, which might
give offence.
” While engaged on this work, he found leisure to interfere in all the controversies of the times, as
will presently be noticed. His last dispute was in reference
to a book written by the learned Dr. Stillingfleet, afterwards bishop of Worcester, to which, though several answers were given by the ablest of the popish writers, there
was none that seemed to merit reply, excepting that
penned by father Cressey, and this procured him the honour of a very illustrious antagonist, his old friend and
acquaintance at Oxford, Edward earl of Clarendon. Being
now grown far in years, and having no very promising scene
before his eyes, from the warm spirit that appeared against
popery amongst all ranks of people, and the many excellent books written to confute it by the most learned of the
clergy, he was the more willing to seek for peace in the
silence of a country retirement; and accordingly withdrew
for some time to the house of Richard Caryll, esq. a gentleman of an ancient family and affluent fortune, at East
Grinstead, co. Sussex, and dying upon the 10th of August 1674, being then near the seventieth year of his age,
was buried in the parish church there. His loss was much
regretted by those of his communion, as being one of their
ablest champions, ready to draw his pen in their defence
on every occasion, and sure of having his pieces read with
singular favour and attention. His memory also was revered by the protestants, as well on account of the purity
of his manners, and his mild and humble deportment, as
for the plainness, candour, and decency with which he
had managed all the controversies that he had been engaged in, and which had procured him, in return, much
more of kindness and respect, than almost any other of
his party had met with, or indeed deserved. It is very remarkable, however, that he thought it necessary to apologize to his popish readers for the respectful mention he
made of the prelates of our church. Why this should require an apology, we shall not Inquire, but that his candour and politeness deserve the highest commendation will
appear from what he says of archbishop Usher: “As for
B. Usher, his admirable abilities in ‘chronological and historical erudition,’ as also his faithfulness and ingenuous
sincerity in delivering without any provoking reflection*,
what with great labour he has observed, ought certainly at
least to exempt him from being treated by any one rudely
and contemptuously, especially by me, who am moreover
always obliged to preserve a just remembrance of very
many kind effects of friendship, which I received from,
him.
”
We have already taken notice of his inclination to the
mystic divinity, which led him to take so much pains about
the works of father Baker, and from the same disposition
he also published “Sixteen revelations of divine love,
shewed to a devout servant of our Lord, called mother Juliana, an anchorete of Norwich, who lived in the days of
king Edward Hi.
” He left also in ms. “An Abridgment
of the book called The cloud of unknowing, and of the
counsel referring to the same.
” His next performance,
was in answer to a famous treatise, written by Dr. Stillingfleet, against the church of Rome, which made a very
great noise in those days, and put for some time a stop to
the encroachments their missionaries were daily making,
which highly provoked those of the Roman communion.
This was entitled “Answer to part of Dr. Stillingfleet’s
book, entitled Idolatry practised in the church of Rome,
”
Fanaticism fanatically
imputed to the Catholic Church by Dr. Stillingfleet, and
the imputation refuted and retorted,
” &c. Question, Why are you a Catholic? Question, Why
are you a Protestant?
” Animadversions
” upon our author’s answer; in which he very plainly
tells him and the world, that it was not devotion, but necessity and want of a subsistence, which drove him first
out of the church of England, and then into a monastery.
As this noble peer knew him well at Oxford, it may be
very easily imagined that what he said made a very strong
impression, and it was to efface this, that our author thought
tit to send abroad an answer under the title of “Epistle
apologetical to a person of honour, touching his vindication of Dr. Stillingfleet,' 1 1674, 8vo. In this work he
gives a large relation of the state and condition of his affairs, at the time of what he styles his conversion, in order
to remove the imputation of quitting his faith to obtain
bread. The last work that he published was entitled
” Remarks upon the Oath of Supremacy."
of Church Music.” In 1715 he was created doctor in music at Oxford: his exercise for that degree was an English and also a Latin ode, written by Mr. (afterwards Dr.)
, a musician, was born at NetherEatington in Warwickshire, about 1657. He was educated
in the royal chapel under Dr. Blow, and became organist
at St. Anne’s, Westminster. In 1700 he was admitted a
gentleman-extraordinary of the chapel royal, and in 1704organist of the same. In 1708 he succeeded Dr. Blow as
master of the children, and composer to the chapel royal,
and also as organist at Westminster-abbey. In 1712 he
published, but without his name, “Divine Harmony, or a
new collection of select anthems;
” to which is prefixed,
“A brief account of Church Music.
” In Musicus apparatus Academicus.
” In Musica Sacra, or Select Anthems in score,
” in 2 vols, the first containing the burial
service, which Purcell had begun, but lived not to complete. He died Aug. 1727, of an illness occasioned by
attending upon his duty at the coronation of George II;
and there is a monument erected for him in Westminsterabbey, by his friend Humphrey Wyrley Birch, esq. a gentleman of the bar, of a whimsical character, and extremely
fond of funeral music. The character of Croft’s musical
compositions is given in our authorities.
, an English artist, and famous copier of paintings, flourished in
, an English artist, and famous copier of paintings, flourished in the reigns of Charles I. and Charles II. Being employed by the first of these kings to copy several eminent pieces in Italy, and having leave of the state of Venice to copy the celebrated Madonna of Raphael in St. Mark’s church, he performed the task so admirably well, that he is said to have put a trick upon the Italians, by leaving his copy, and bringing away the original; and that several messengers were sent after him, but that he had got the start of them so far as to carry it clear off. This picture was afterwards, in Oliver Cromwell’s days, bought by the Spanish ambassador, when the king’s collection was exposed to sale. Cross copied likewise Titian’s Europa, and other celebrated pieces, very successfully. He must be distinguished from Lewis Cross, who died 1724, and of whom it is recorded that he re-painted a little picture of Mary queen of Scots, in the possession of the duke of Hamilton, and was ordered to make it as handsome as he could. He made the face a round one. For many years it was believed an original, and innumerable copies have been made from it.
born at Stockholm in 1656, and came to London at an early age, being introduced into this country by an English merchant, but he afterwards travelled to Paris, and
, a painter, was born at Stockholm in 1656, and came to London at an early age, being introduced into this country by an English merchant, but he afterwards travelled to Paris, and resided there some time. He then visited Italy, where he painted, amongst others, the portrait of queen Christina of Sweden. In 1688 he returned to England, where he acquired very considerable reputation as a portrait painter, and was no contemptible rival of sir Godfrey Kneller, with whom he lived in habits of friendship. He died in London in 1743 at the advanced age of 87 years. His portraits of Addison, queen Anne, prince George of Denmark, the duke of Marlborough, and the duke of Ormond, have been engraved.
, and orthodox churchmen in England have acknowledged its high worth and merit; and so early as 1651 an English translation of it was published by the learned Thomas
Daille was received minister in 1623, and first exercised
his office in the family of du Plessis Mornay: but this did
not last long; for that lord fell sick a little after, and died
the same year, in the arms of the new pastor. Daille spent
the following year in digesting some papers of his, which
were afterwards published in two volumes, under the title
of “Memoirs.
” In De l'usage des Peres,
” or, “Of the Use
of the Fathers;
” but, on account of some troubles which
seemed to be coming upon the protestants in France, it
was not published till 1631. Bayle has pronounced this
work a master-piece; but it has been attacked with great
seventy by some, as tending to lessen the just respect due
to the fathers, and to the views of religious opinions which
they exhibit, and which are at least important in point of
historical evidence. On the other hand, some eminent
scholars, and orthodox churchmen in England have acknowledged its high worth and merit; and so early as 1651
an English translation of it was published by the learned
Thomas Smith, B. D. fellow of Christ’s college in Cambridge. An advertisement is prefixed to it, from which we
transcribe a passage or two, as illustrating the translator’s
opinion and views of the work: “The translation of this
tract,
” says Mr. Smith, “hath been often attempted, and
oftener desired by many noble personages of this and
other nations: among others by sir Lucius Gary late lord
viscount Falkland, who, with his dear friend Mr. Chillingworth, made very much use of it in all their writings against
the Romanists. But the papers of that learned nobleman,
wherein this translation was half finished, were long since
involved in the common loss. Those few, which have
escaped it, and the press, make a very honourable mentipn of this monsieur, whose acquaintance the said lord
was wont to say, was worth a voyage to Paris. In page 202
of his Reply, he hath these words: ‘This observation of
mine hath been confirmed by consideration of what hath
been so temperately, learnedly, and judiciously written by
M. Daille, our protestant Perron.’ I shall add but one
lord’s testimony more, namely, the lord George Digby*S
in his late Letters concerning Religion, in these words,
p. 27, 28: 'The reasons prevalent with me, whereon and
enquiring and judicious person should be obliged to rely
and acquiesce, are so amply and so learnedly set down by
M. Daille in his `Emploi des Peres,‘ that I think little,
which is material and weighty, can he said on this subject,
that his rare and piercing observation hath not anticipated.’
And for myself, I must ingenuously profess, that it was the
reading of this rational book, which first convinced me
that my study in the French language was not ill employed;
which hath also enabled me to commend this to the
world, as faithfully translated by a judicious hand.
” Mr.
Mettayer, who was minister of St. Quintin, published a
Latin translation of this work; which translation was revised and augmented with new observations, by Daille
himself, and was printed at Geneva in 1656.
, an English lawyer, was born somewhere in the county of Cambridge,
, an English lawyer, was born
somewhere in the county of Cambridge, in 1554, and bred
to his profession in Lincoln’s-inn, or Gray’s-inn, and was
formerly as well known for his book on the office of justice
of the peace, as Burn is at present: his “Duty of Sheriffs
”
was also a book in good esteem. In Neal’s “History of the
Puritans,
” mention is made of Mr. Dalton the queen’s
counsel, who, in 1590, pleaded against Mr. Udal, who
was condemned for writing a libel called “A demonstration of Discipline:
” this was probably our Dalton, who
also in A Breviary or Chronology of the state of the lioinan or Western church or Empire; the decay of true religion, and the rising of papacy, from the time of our
Saviour till Martin Luther.
” In this he is styled Michael
Dalton of Gray’s-inn, esq. It is supposed that he died
before the commencement of the civil war.
e made several trading voyages, for upwards of fifteen months, and afterwards entered as a gunner to an English factory at Bencoolen. Upon this coast he staid till
Their success in this part of the world having been very
indifferent, and there appearing no probability of its mending, Swan and Dampier agreed to steer their course for
the East Indies. They sailed to St. John’s island, and to
the Piscadores, to Bouton island, to New Holland, to
Triest; and arriving at Nicobar, Dampier with others was
left on shore, and treated with great civility by the inhabitants. He, however, left them, and arrived at the English factory at Achen, where he became acquainted with
captain Bowry, who would have persuaded him to sail with
him to Persia in quality of boatswain but he declined accepting of this proposal, on account of the ill state of his
health. He afterwards engaged with captain Weldon, under whom he made several trading voyages, for upwards
of fifteen months, and afterwards entered as a gunner to
an English factory at Bencoolen. Upon this coast he
staid till 1691, and then embarked for England, when he
was obliged to make his escape by creeping through one
of the port-holes, for the governor had revoked his promise of allowing him to depart; but he brought off his
journal and most valuable papers. He arrived in the
Downs Sept. 16; and being in want of money, sold his
property in a painted Indian prince, who was carried about
for a sight, and shewn for money. He appears afterwards
to have been concerned in an expedition concerted by the
merchants of Bristol to Uie South Sea, commanded by
caplain Woodes “Rogers, which sailed in Aug. 1708, and returned Sept. 1711; a voyage attended with many singular
circumstances, and a great number of curious and entertaining events. We have no further particulars of Dampier’s life or death. His
” Voyage round the World" has
gone through many editions, and the substance of it has
been transferred to many collections of voyages. It was
first published in 3 vols. 8vo, Lond. 1697.
, an English poet and historian, the son of a music-master, was born
, an English poet and historian, the
son of a music-master, was born near Taunton, in Somersetshire, in 1562. In 1579 he was admitted a commoner
of Magdalen-hall, Oxford, where he continued about three
years, and by the help of an excellent tutor, made
considerable improvement in academical studies. He left the
university, however, without taking a degree, and pursued
the study of history and poetry under the patronage of the
earl of Pembroke’s family. This he thankfully acknowledges in his “Defence of Rhime,
” which is printed in
the late edition of his works, as a necessary document to
illustrate the ideas of poetry entertained in his time. To
the same family he was probably indebted for an university
education, as no notice occurs of his father, who, if a
music-master, could not well have escaped the researches
of Dr. Burney. The first of his product ions, at the age
of twenty-three, was a translation of Paulns Jovius’s ' Discourse of Rare Inventions, both military and amorous,
called Imprese,“London, 1585, 8vo, to which he prefixed an ingenious preface. He afterwards became tutor
to the lady Anne Clifford, sole daughter and heiress to
George, earl of Cumberland, a lady of very high accomplishments, spirit, and intrepidity. To her, when at the
age of thirteen, he addressed a delicate admonitory epistle.
She was married, first to Richard, earl of Dorset, and afterwards to the earl of Pembroke,
” that memorable simpleton,“says lord Orford,
” with whom Butler has so
much diverted himself." The pillar which she erected in
the county of Westmoreland, on the road-side between
Penrith and Appleby, the spot where she took her last
leave of her mother,
narrative goes on to inform us, that Mr. Day went instantly into France with these girls, not taking an English servant, that they might receive no ideas, except those
From a comparison of dates it appears to have been in 1769, when he came of age, that he formed this curious project. Accompanied by a Mr. Bicknell, a barrister, rather older than himself, he went to Shrewsbury to explore the Foundling hospital, and from these children, Mr. Day, in the presence of Mr. Bicknell, selected two girls of twelve years each; both beautiful: one fair, with flaxen locks and light eyes, whom he called Lucretia; the other, a clear auburn brunette, with darker eyes, more glowing bloom, and chesnut tresses, he called Sabrina. These girls were obtained on written conditions, for the performance of which Mr. Bicknell was guarantee. They were to this effect: that Mr. Day should, within the twelvemonth after taking them, resign one into the protection of some respectable tradeswoman, giving one hundred pounds to bind her apprentice; maintaining her, if she behaved well, till she married, or began business for herself. Upon either of these events he promised to advance four hundred pounds more. He avowed his intention of educating the girl he should retain, with a view to make her his future wife: solemnly engaged never to violate her innocence; and if he should renounce his plan, to maintain her decently in some creditable family till she married, when he promised five hundred pounds as her wedding portion. It would, probably, be quite unnecessary to make any appeal to the feelings of parents, or to offer any remarks on the conduct of the governors of this hospital respecting this strange bargain, for the particulars of which we are indebted to Miss Seward. The narrative goes on to inform us, that Mr. Day went instantly into France with these girls, not taking an English servant, that they might receive no ideas, except those which himself might chuse to impart, and which he soon found were not very acceptable. His pupils teazed and perplexed him; they quarrelled; they sickened of the small pox; they chained him to their bed-side, by crying if they were ever left alone with any person who could not speak English. Hence he was obliged to sit up with them many nights, and to perform for them the lowest offices of assistance. They lost no beauty, however, by their disease, and came back with Mr. Day in eight months, when Sabrina was become the favourite. He placed Lucretia with a chamber milliner, and she afterwards became the wife of a linendraper in London. With Sabrina he actually proceeded during some years, in the execution of his favourite project; but none of his experiments had the success he wished. Her spirit could not be armed against the dread of pain and the appearance of danger, a species of courage which, with him, was a sine qua non in the character of a wife. When he dropped melted sealing-wax upon her arms, she did not endure it heroically; nor when he fired pistols at her petticoats, which she believed to be charged with balls, could she help starting aside, or suppress her screams. When he tried her fidelity in secret-keeping, by telling her of well-invented dangers to himself, in which greater danger would result from its being discovered that he was aware of them, he once or twice detected her having imparted them to the servants, and to her play-fellows. He persisted, however, in these foolish experiments, and sustained their continual disappointment during a whole year’s residence in the vicinity of Lichfield. The difficulty seemed to be in giving her motive to self-exertion, self-denial, and heroism. It was against his plan to draw it from the usual sources, pecuniary reward, luxury, ambition, or vanity. His watchful cares had precluded all knowledge of the value of money, the reputation of beauty, and its concomitant desire of ornamented dress. The only inducement, therefore, which this girl could have to combat and subdue the natural preference in youth of ease to pain, and of vacant sport to the labour of thinking, was the desire of pleasing her protector, though she knew not how, or why he became such; and in that desire fear had greatly the ascendant of affection. At length, however, he renounced all hopes of moulding Sabrina into the being which his disordered imagination had formed; and, ceasing now to behold her as a wife, placed her at a boardingschool at Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, where, durin^ three years, she gained the esteem of her instructress, grew feminine, elegant, and amiable. She is still living, an ornament to the situation in which she is placed.
, an English divine and theological writer, became a student of Baliiol
, an English divine and theological
writer, became a student of Baliiol college, Oxford, in
the beginning of 1590; and, when he had taken the degree of M. A. entered into holy orders, and was afterwards
admitted to the degree of D. D. He was domestic chaplain to George duke of Buckingham, and to James I. and
successively vicar of all the three churches in Reading;
being instituted to St. Lawrence’s, Jan. 7, 1603; to St.
Giles’s, July 9, 1612; and to St. Mary’s, March 31, 1614.
He died at Reading, in Jan. 1628-9, and was buried in
St. Mary’s church. Besides some sermons, enumerated by
Wood, he published, 1. “A threefold resolution necessary to salvation, &c.
” Loud. Justification of kneeling at the Sacrament,
” ibid. 16!9,
8vo. 3. “On the two Sacraments, Baptism and the
Lord’s Supper,
” ibid. De confessionis auricularis vanitate, adversus Card. Bellarmini sophismata,
” Oxon.