, 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,
, 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.
ab iwentione typographic annis ad annum 1500, editorum,” Amst. 1688, 12mo, jejune, says our English bibliographer, and erroneous. Indeed each of these undertakings, to be completely
, whose name often occurs
in works of Bibliography, but who has not laid bibliographers under many obligations, was a bookseller at Emmerich, about the end of the seventeenth century. His
design in his compilations was evidently to serve the cause
of literature, but although all his plans were good, they were
imperfectly executed, and have proved perplexing and
useless. His principal publications in this department
were: 1. “Bibliographia Juridica et Politica,
” Amsterdam,
Bibliotheca medica et physica,
” Gallia critica et experimentalis ab anno 1665 usque ad 1681,
” Amst. Journal des
Savans.
” 4. “Bibliographia mathematica et artificiosa,
”
Bibliographia historica, chronologica, et geographica,
” Bibliographia
crudilorum critico-curiosa, seu apparatus ad historian!
literariam,
” Amst. 1689—1701, 5 vols. 12mo, a sort of
general index to all the literary journals, but containing
too many alphabets to be easily consulted. It extends
from 1665 to 1700. 7. “Incunabula typographic, sive
Catalogus librorum proximis ab iwentione typographic
annis ad annum 1500, editorum,
” Amst.
, another bibliographer, and a lawyer, was born at Leipsic in 1665, and died in 1714.
, another bibliographer, and a lawyer, was born at Leipsic in 1665, and died in 1714. He
was the first, according to Camus, who gave a course of
lectures on legal bibliography, at Wittemberg, in 1698.
This produced, 1. “Notitiae auctorum juridicorum et juris
arti inservientium, tria specimina,
” Leipsic, Declinatio juris divini naturalis et positivi universalis,
” Wittemberg,
terary history of Italy, and is considered in France, we apprehend justly, as their first critic and bibliographer in Italian literature this writer speaks of the first edition
In order to appreciate these editions, it is necessary to advert to the fate of this extraordinary work in the press. For
about a century, it was circulated in manuscript, and liberties of every kind were taken at every transcription. At length
it was printed for the first time, as has been supposed, in 1470,
and run through various editions to the end of the fifteenth,
and for more than sixty years of the sixteenth century.
During this period it was prohibited by the popqs Paul IV.
and Pius IV. who were in this respect more scrupulous than
their twenty-five or twenty-six predecessors in the papal
chair. Two grand dukes of Tuscany, Cosmo I. and
Francis I. applied one after the other to two other popes,
Pius V. and Gregory XIII. in consequence of which the
academicians were employed to reform the Decameron
important corrections were made, and many passages suppressed, and in this state various editions were permitted
to be printed. But with respect to the ancient editions,
it is now necessary to observe that there are two opinions,
which we shall state, without attempting to reconcile. We
have already noticed that the first edition has been supposed to have been printed in 1470, without a date but
on the other hand, it is contended that the edition of 1471,
by Valdarfer, is not only the first with a date (which those who maintain the existence of the edition of 1470 are disposed to allow), but that in fact there was no previous
edition. Those who are of this latter opinion very naturally ask their antagonists to produce the edition of
1470, or an edition without date that can be supposed of
that period. In England it is certain that no such edition
is known but the French bibliographers seem to be of a
different opinion. Ginguene 1 to whom we are indebted
for the greater part of this life of Boccaccio, who has written the literary history of Italy, and is considered in
France, we apprehend justly, as their first critic and
bibliographer in Italian literature this writer speaks of
the first edition without a date in the following terms
“Elle est sans date et sans nom de lieu ni d'imprimeur,
in-fol. en caracteres inegaux et mal formes.
” (Hist. Litt. d'ltalie, vol. III. p. 129). It remains, therefore, for the
reader to determine whether this is the language of a man
who has seen the book, and describes what he has seen;
and if this be decided in the affirmative, the existence of
the edition is proved, as far as his authority goes. But
it must be confessed Ginguene goes no fa ther. He says
nothing of any library which possesses this treasure, nor
of its supposed value but when he comes to speak of
Valdarfer’s edition of 1471, he informs us that it- has been
valued by bibliomaniacs (bibliomanes) at 3000 francs, or
125l. And this brings us to notice the copy of this edition
recently sold from the duke of Roxburgh’s library, to the
marquis of Blandford, for the immense (and with respect to the value of books, the unprecedented) sum of Two
Thousand Two Hundred And Sixty Pounds. In the catalogue of this library, it is stated that “no other perfect
copy is yet known to exist, after all the fruitless researches
of more than three hundred years;
” but, notwithstanding
this, we find that the French bibliographers set a value on
the edition, as if copies, however rare, were still occasionally to be found. We cannot suppose that the French
booksellers or collectors would fix a price-current on an
article which had not been seen, for three hundred years,
still less that our authority is speaking of imperfect copies,
the value of which can only be estimated by the quantum
of imperfection. It remains also to be noticed that the
French bibliographers speak precisely with the same familiarity of the Junti edition of Florence, 1527, 4to, which
they value at 600 francs, or 25l. and which sold at the
Roxburgh sale for 29 1. no great advance upon the French
price. They certainly speak both of this edition, and of
the 1471, as of rare occurrence, but by no means hint
that the latter is of that extreme rarity imputed to it in
this country .
ed the catalogue of Gaignat’s library, 2 vols. 8vo, which completely established his reputation as a bibliographer. He was succeeded in these labours by his cousin William, who,
, an eminent bookseller at
Paris, is well known to the learned throughout Europe for
the able assistance he has afforded to the study of bibliography. Of his personal history very little is related by
his countrymen, unless that he was a man of high character
in trade; and, as appears from his works, more intimately
acquainted with the history of books and editions than perhaps any man of his time in any country. He died July
15, 1782. He first published his “Museum Typographicum,
” Paris, Bibliographic Instructive,
” Essay upon Bibliography.
” The merits of this work are universally acknowledged. The abbe Rive having attacked this work with
considerable asperity, De Bure replied in “Appel aux Savans,
” Reponse a une Critique de la
Bibliographic Instructive,
”
om Tasso, by him, was published in 1594, 4to. Of this an ample specimen has lately been given in the Bibliographer.
, 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
Wood mentions B book entitled “The Praise of Music, &c.” 1586, 8vo, which an ingenious writer in the Bibliographer (vol.11.) is inclined to attribute to Dr. Case, and Dr. Farmer
He wrote, 1. “Summa veterum interpretum in universam dialecticam Aristotelis,
” London, Speculum moralium questionum in
universam ethicam Aristotelis,
” Oxon. Sphaera civitatis, sive de politica,
” Oxon.
Apologia musices, tarn vocalis, quam instrumentalis, et mixtae,
” Oxon. The Praise of Music, &c.
” Thesaurus ceconomiae, seu commentarius in ceconomia Aristotelis,
” Oxon. Appendix Theium ceconomicarum,
” ibid. 7. “lleflexus speculi moralis, seu comment, in magna moralia Arist.
” Oxon. 1596.
8. “Lapis Philosophicus, seu comment, in octo libros phisicorum Arist.
” Oxon. Ancilla philosophise, seu Epit. in 8 lib. Arist.
” Oxon.
e edition of his Biblioteca, 1771) speaks of a first edition as early as 1458, which we apprehend no bibliographer has seen.
, is the adopted name of Francis,
or Francesco Stabili; a native of Ascoli, in the march of
Ancona, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, whg
acquired considerable reputation, unfortunately for himself,
as a critic and poet. Among the many anachronisms and
contradictions in the accounts given of his life, which Tirabotchi has endeavoured to correct, we find that when
young, he was professor of astrology in the university of
Bologna, that he published a book on that science, which
being denounced to the Inquisition, he escaped by recanting what was offensive but that the same accusations
being afterwards renewed at Florence, he was condemned
to be burnt, and suffered that horrible deatb in 1327, in
the seventieth year of his age. We have already seen,
in former lives, that it was no uncommon thing for enraged
authors to apply to the secular arm for that revenge which
they could not otherwise have inflicted on one another.
The pretence for putting this poor man to death, was his
“Commentary on the Sphere of John de Sacrabosco,
” in
which, following the superstition of the times, he asserted
that wonderful things might be done by the agency of certain demons who inhabited the first of the celestial spheres.
This was foolish enough, but it was the prevalent folly of
the times, and Cecco probably believed what he wrote.
That he was not an impostor wiser than those whom he
duped, appears from his conduct to Charles, duke of Calabria, who appointed him his astrologer, and who, having
consulted him on the future conduct of his wife and daughter, Cecco, by his art, foretold that they would turn out
very abandoned characters. Had he not persuaded himself into the truth of this, he surely would have conciliated
so powerful a patron by a prediction of a more favourable
kind; and this, as may be supposed, lost him the favour of
the duke. But even the loss of his friend would not have
brought him to the stake, if he had not rendered himself
unpopular by attacking the literary merit of Dante and
Guido Cavalcanti, in his poem entitled “Acerba.
” This
provoked the malice of a famous physician, named Dino
del Garbo, who never desisted until he procured him to be
capitally condemned. This poem “Acerba,
” properly
“Acerbo,
” or “Acervo,
” in Latin Acervus, is in the
sesta rima divided into five books, and each of these into
a number of chapters, treating of the heavens, the elements, virtues, vices, love, animals, minerals, religion,
&c. The whole is written in a bad style, destitute of harmony, elegance, or grace; and, according to a late author, much of the plan, as well as the materials, are taken
from the “Tresor
” of Brunetto Latini. It is, however, a
work in demand with collectors, and although often
printed, most of the editions are now very scarce. The
first was printed at Venice in 1476, 4to, with the commentary of Nicolo Massetti, and was reprinted in 1478.
Haym (in the edition of his Biblioteca, 1771) speaks of a
first edition as early as 1458, which we apprehend no bibliographer has seen.
, an eminent German bibliographer, was a French preacher at Hanover, a man profoundly acquainted
, an eminent German bibliographer,
was a French preacher at Hanover, a man profoundly acquainted with the history of literature, and the author of
a well-known collection of bibliography, entitled “Bibliotheque curieuse, historique, et critique, ou Catalogue raisonne de livres difficiles a trouver,
” 9 vols. 4to, Gottingen,
&c. 1750 1760, at which last date^this useful work was
interrupted by his death, and has never been completed.
It is in alphabetical order, and extends no farther than the
letter H. Its only fault is that the author marks many
books as rare, which are very common. He published also
“Specimen Bibliothecae Hispano-Maiansianae, sive idea
novi catalog! critici operum scriptorum Hispanorum, quse
kabet in sua bibliotheca Gregorius Maiansius,
” Hanover,
these volumes are noticed in the Censura Literaria, one in Beloe’s Anecdotes, and one in the British Bibliographer, by Mr. Haslewood, whose character of Davis’s poetry may be
His poetical works are numerous, but discover very little
taste or talent: 1. “St. Peter’s Complaint, with other
Poems,
” Loud. Mirum in modo; a glimpse
of God’s glory, and the soul’s shape,
” ibid. Microcosmus, or the Discovery of the Little
World,
” Oxon. The Holy Rood of
Christ’s Church,
” Lond. Humours Heaven and Earth, with the civil wars of
Death and Fortune,
” ibid. Wit’s Pilgrimage,
” Lond. 4to, no date. 7. “Muse’s Sacrifice, or
Divine Meditations,
” ibid. The Muse’s
Tears for the loss of their hope, the heroic and never too
much praised Henry, prince of Wales,
” ibid. Davis’s poetical attempts are generally heavy, dull, obscure, and inharmonious and his pages are remarkable
for inconsistency. One while he is pouring forth celestial
rhapsodies, and then * with jerkes of wit (as he terms them)
to whip every vice,' blundering on expressions too gross
for pen or press, while the reader, who may have been
edified by his morality, is left to fill up the blank of a disgusting parenthesis. His witticisms are often feeble puns,
double entendres, and occasionally have their point depending on a fabricated name. Yet though the whole of
his pieces now class as rare, from their number it seems
presumable they were not ill received. To us moderns,
however, there seldom appears poignancy in his wit, or
nerve in his poetry.
”
, an eminent German bibliographer, and principal librarian of the imperial library of Vienna,
, an eminent German bibliographer,
and principal librarian of the imperial library of Vienna,
was born at Sclarden, in Bavaria, in 1729, and died at
Vienna in 1800, in the seventy -first year of his age. He
published several works on subjects of philology, bibliography, literary, and even natural history, and poetry.
The principal of these are, 1. A translation into German of “Ossian’s poems,
” Vienna, The Songs
of the Bard Sined,
” (Denis) with a preliminary dissertation on the ancient poetry of the North, Vienna, 1772,
8vo. 3. “A systematic catalogue of Butterflies in the
environs of Vienna,
” ibid. An
Introduction to the knowledge of Books,
” 2 vols. 4to,
1777 — 1778. This, which like most of his works, is written in German, contains a division of Bibliography into
three periods. The first relates to the state of book-writing,
previous to Christianity; the second comprehends the
state of Bibliography from the introduction of Christianity
to the restoration of letters, or the invention of printing;
and the third extends from this latter period to the present times. Each of these periods contains an historical
and mechanical account of book-making. The historical
account of the first period exhibits the origin, progress,
and decline of the art of writing and preserving books in
different nations; and the other part of this same period
contains a description of the alphabets, paper, and instruments employed in writing, and the form of books in these
early times. In the second period is the history of printing; and in the third, an account of the most celebrated
libraries of that time in Italy, England, France, Holland,
Spain, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Germany, and Vienna,
comprehending printed books and manuscripts. In this
exhibition, the books are reduced, like the sciences, under
the distinct classes of theology, law, philosophy, physic,
mathematics, history, and philology, and are considered
with respect to their number, their qualities, their rarity,
&c. and the manuscripts, whether Hebrew, Greek, Latin,
Gothic, Lombard, French, or Anglo-Saxon, are enumerated, though without many critical illustrations. 5. “A
Typographical History of Vienna from the year 1482 to
1560,
” ibid. 8.
Augustini Sermones inediti, admixtis quibusdarn dubiis,
”
ibid. 1792, fol. These were copied from a manuscript of
the twelfth century in the imperial library. 7. “Codices
manuscripti theologici Latiui aliarumque occidentis linguarum bibliothecae Palatinse Vindobon.
” vol. I. Carmina qusedam,
” Vienna,
ed at the Tower of London, Dec. 11, 1569,“ibid. 158-k These three are noticed, with extracts, in the Bibliographer, vol. I. 4.” Certain godly and comfortable Letters, full of
, a puritan divine of the sixteenth
century, was a native of the county of Kent, and related
to the Derings of Surrenden. He was educated at Christ’s
college, Cambridge, of which he was chosen fellow ia
1668, and then took his degree of bachelor of divinity.
The year before, according to Mr. Cole, he was admitted
lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. He was also one of
the preachers at St. Paul’s, and in 1569 obtained the rectory of Pluckley in the diocese of Canterbury, and became
chaplain to the duke of Norfolk. On Dec. 20, 1571, he
was presented by the queen to the prebend of Chardstoke
in the cathedral of Salisbury. He was much celebrated
for his eloquence in the pulpit, and for his general learning and acuteness as a disputant, of which last he gave a
proof, in a work written against the popish Dr. Harding,
entitled “A Sparing Restraint of many lavish Untruths,
”
&c. like a sheep
”),
but now it might be tanquam indomita juvjenca (“like an untamed heifer
”). The queen, however, retained so much
of her milder character as only to forbid his preaching at
court; to which Neal, who quotes Fuller for this anecdote,
adds that “he lost all his preferments in the church,
” although no such words are to be found in Fuller. His principal works are, 1. a A Lecture or Exposition upon a part
of the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, as it was
read in St. Paul’s, Dec. 6, 1572,“Lond. 1581, Itnno.
This work was extended to
” Twenty-seven Lectures or
Readings upon part of that Epistle,“1576. 2.
” A Sermon preached before the Queen’s Majesty, Feb. 25, 1569,“Lond. 1584. 3.
” A Sermon preached at the Tower of
London, Dec. 11, 1569,“ibid. 158-k These three are
noticed, with extracts, in the Bibliographer, vol. I. 4.
” Certain godly and comfortable Letters, full of Christian consolation," &c. no date, 4to, all which, with some other
tracts of Dering’s, were collected and printed in one vol.
8vo, by Field in 1595. His correspondence with lord
Burleigh may be seen in Strype’s Annals.
very necessary to be read and regarded of all men,” 1584, 8vo. Extracts from these are given in the Bibliographer. The time of his death is no where mentioned, but as the archdeaconry
, an English divine and poet, of the
sixteenth century, was educated at St. John’s college,
Cambridge, where he took his degree of bachelor in divinity in 1569. The same year he was admitted to the prebend of Firles in the cathedral of Chichester, June 27, and
on July 2 to that of Chamberlaynward in St. Paul’s, and
March 9 following, he was installed archdeacon of Lewes.
He seems to have been chaplain to Grindall, when archbishop of York. He was a tolerable Latin poet, and translated the Ecclesiastes into Latin hexameters, 1572, 4to,
and published two miscellanies of Latin poetry, the one
entitled “Sylva,
” and the other “Poemata varia et externa,
” the last printed at Paris. In the “Sylva,
” he
mentions his new version of David’s psalms, which Wartou
supposes to have been in English, and says, he had begun
to translate the Iliad, but had gone no further than the
fourth book. In 1566 he published what he called “A
medicinable Morall, that is, the two bookes of Horace his
satyres Englished, according to the prescription of St.
Hierome,
” &c. Lond. and in the following year appeared
“Horace, his arte of Poetrie, Pistles, and Satyrs Englished.
”
This version, which Drant undertook in the character of a
grave divine, and as a teacher of morality, is very paraphrastic, and sometimes parodical. His other publications
are, 1. “Gregory Nazianzen his Epigrams and spiritual
sentences,
” Shaklocki, epigrammatis in
mortem Cuthberti Scoti, apomaxis,
” Lond. An
Epygrame of the death of Cuthberte Skotte some tyme
beshoppe of Chester, by Roger Shacklocke, and replyed
against by Thomas Drant.
” 3. “Thomae Drantae Angli,
Advordingamiae Praesul,
” Three godly and learned
Sermons, very necessary to be read and regarded of all
men,
”
’s Helicon,” first published at the close of queen Elizabeth’s reign, and lately republished in the “ Bibliographer.” He wrote also a “Description of Friendship,” a poem in the
He wrote pastoral odes and madrigals, some of which
are in “England’s Helicon,
” first published at the close of
queen Elizabeth’s reign, and lately republished in the
“Bibliographer.
” He wrote also a “Description of
Friendship,
” a poem in the Ashmolean Museum, where
also, from Aubrey’s ms. we learn that he almost entirely
spent an estate of 4000l. a year. There is a letter of his
to sir Christopher Hatton, dated Oct. 9, 1512, in the Harleian Mss. and another to the earl of Leicester, dated
May 22, 1586, in the Cottonian collection, and some of
his unpublished verses are in a ms collection, formerly
belonging to Dr. Uawlinson, now in the Bodleian library.
Sir Edward died some years after James came to the throne,
and was succeeded in his chancellorship of the garter by
sir John Herbert, knt. principal secretary of state.
the most part extant in “The Paradise of Dainty Devises,” Lond. 1578, 4to, lately reprinted in the “ Bibliographer,” where, as well as in our other authorities, are some farther
, one of our ancient English
poets, was born in Somersetshire in 1523, and admitted
scholar of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, under the tuition
of George Etheridge, May 11, 1540, and probationer fellow Aug. 11, 1514. In 1547, when Christ church was
founded by Henry VIII. he was admitted student of the
upper table, and the same year took his master’s degree.
Warton cites a passage from his poems to prove that in his
early years, he was employed in some department about
the court. In the British Museum there is a small set of
manuscript sonnets, signed with his initials, addressed to
some of the beauties of the courts of queen Mary and
queen Elizabeth. He therefore probably did not remain
long at the university. In the beginning of Elizabeth’s
reign, he was made one of the gentlemen of her chapel, and
master of the children there, having the character of not
only being an excellent musician, but an exact poet, as
many of his compositions in music and poetry testify. For
these he was highly valued, by those who knew him, especially his associates in Lincoln’s- Inn (of which he was a member), and much lamented by them when he died.
This event, according to sir John Hawkins, happened Oct.
31, 1556, but others say in 1566. He wrote “Damon
and Pythias,
” a comedy, acted at court and in the university, first printed in 1570, or perhaps’ in 1565, and “Palamon and Arcyte,
” another comedy in two parts, probably never printed, but acted in Christ-church hall, 1566,
before queen Elizabeth, of which performance Wood gives
a curious account. Warton thinks it probable that he
wrote many other dramatic pieces now lost. He is mentioned by Puttenham, as gaining the prize for comedy and
interlude. Besides being a writer of regular dramas, he
appears to have been a contriver of masques, and a composer of poetry for pageants. In a word, he united all
those arts and accomplishments which ministered to popular pleasantry, in an age when the taste of the courtiers
was not of a much higher order than that of the vulgar in
our time. His English poems, for he wrote also Latin
poetry, are for the most part extant in “The Paradise of
Dainty Devises,
” Lond. Bibliographer,
” where, as well as in our other authorities, are some farther notices of Edwards. It is justly observed by Warton, that his popularity seems to have altogether arisen from those pleasing talents, of which no specimens could be transmitted to posterity, and which prejudiced his partial contemporaries in favour of his poetry.
he gave an account of all that passed in 1653, concerning the affair of Jansenism. According to the bibliographer of the Jesuits, he wrote a book concerning the immortality of
, a French Jesuit, and a native of
Rouergue, and confessor to the king of France, was born
in 1614, and turned a Jesuit in 1632. He had taught
philosophy fonr years, divinity twelve years, and ethics
two years. He had been principal of the college of Toulouse, and had acquitted himself very well of that employment. The Jesuits probably looked upon him as a very
able man, since they designed to make him the king’s
confessor, to which office he was promoted in 1670. He
died in the convent of the Jesuits at Paris, October 29,
1674. He was one of the ablest antagonists of Jansenius’s
followers, and his thesis concerning probability, which hq
maintained at Toulouse the 8th and the llth of June 1659,
made a considerable noise. He wrote a Latin answer to
father Baron’s objections against the “Scientia media,
”
entitled “Responsio ad Objectiones Vincentianas,
” Toulouse,
mmon Lawe.” Of this last, as well as of his “Sheapheardes Logike,” a ms., an account is givenin the “ Bibliographer,” and a few particulars of the authors other writings may be
, an English versifier in queert
Elizabeth’s time, whose works are still an object of some
curiosity, was educated at the ex pence of air Philip Sydney at St. John’s college, Cambridge, where he took his
master’s degree, and afterwards went to Gray’s-lnn, where
be remained till he was called to the bar of the court of the
Marches in Wales. In August 1590, he was recommended
by Henry earl of Pembroke, to lord treasurer Burleigh,
as 41 man in every respect qualified for the place of her
majesty’s solicitor in that court, but his history cannot
Ixe traced any farther. He wrote, 1 “The Lamentations
of Amituas for the death of Phillis, in English hexameters,
” London, The countess of Pembroke’s Ivy-church and Emamiel,
” in English hexameters, London, The Lamentations of Corydon,
”
&c. Fraunce also translated the beginning of “Heliodorns’s Ethiopics,
” Lond. Tke Lawier’s Logike, exemplifying the
precepts of Logike by the practice of the Common Lawe.
”
Of this last, as well as of his “Sheapheardes Logike,
” a
ms., an account is givenin the “Bibliographer,
” and a
few particulars of the authors other writings may be found
in our authorities.
, an industrious French author and bibliographer, was born at Chalons sur Saone, Aug. 20, 1608. He was educated
, an industrious French author and
bibliographer, was born at Chalons sur Saone, Aug. 20,
1608. He was educated among the Carmelites, and
entered into that order in 1625, and, during his studies,
the distinguished progress he made in theology and 'he
belles lettres, procured him easy access to the libraries
and the collections of literary men of eminence, who
contributed very readily to promote his taste for bibliography
and literary history. In 1639 he went to Italy, and resided
some time at Rome, consulting the libraries, and collecting
materials for his future works, particularly his “Bibliotheca
Pontificia,
” which he undertook at the solicitation of Gabriel Naude“, and published at Lyons in 1642; but this is
by far the worst specimen of his talents, and has many
ridiculous errors, which we can only ascribe to his having
hastily copied erroneous catalogues, without consulting the
books themselves. On his return to Paris he became
librarian to de Gondi, afterwards cardinal de Retz, and
was likewise appointed counsellor and almoner to the king.
We find him then librarian to de Harlay, first president of
the parliament of Paris, in whose house he lodged, and
where he died May 10, 1670. He was a man of great
industry and application, and continually employed in
inquiries into the history of literature and literary men;
but he was deficient in critical taste, undertook too many
things at once, and hence committed errors which have
thrown a suspicion on the general accuracy of all his
works. Niceron has enumerated thirty-seven of his
publications, of which the principal are, 1.
” Bibliotheca
Pontificia,“already mentioned, Lyons, 1643, 4to. 2.
” Traite“des plus belles Bibliotheques du monde,
” Paris,
1644, 8vo. 3. “Bibliotheca Parisina, hoc est Catalogus
omnium librorum Parisiis annis 1643 & 1644 inclusive
excusorum,
” Paris, Bibliotheca Gallica universalis,
” for the
same or a greater number of years, including books published in other parts of France. 4. “De Claris Scriptoribus Cabilonensibus, libri tres,
”
genes in his singularitie, &c.” Lond. 1591, 4to. Of this satire the reader may see an account in the Bibliographer. 8. “The Divel conjured,” ibid. 1596, 4to. noticed in the “Restituta.”
His other writings were, 1. “Alarm against the Usurers,
containing tried experiences against worldly abuses,
” Lond.
History of Tribonius and Prisseria, with Truth’s
Complaint over England.
” 3. “Euphues Golden Legacy.
”
4. “Treatise of the Plague, containing the nature, signs,
and accidents of the same,
” Lond. Countess of Lincoln’s Nursery,
” Oxford, Treatise in defence of Plays.
” 7. “Catharos Diogenes in his
singularitie, &c.
” Lond. The
Divel conjured,
” ibid. Restituta.
” He translated also into English Josephus’s Works,
Lond. 1602, 1609, 1620, &c. fol. and Seneca’s Works,
“both moral and natural,
” ibid. 1614, 1620, &c. fol.
, an eminent French historian and bibliographer, was born at Paris, April 19, 1665. His mother dying while he
, an eminent French historian and
bibliographer, was born at Paris, April 19, 1665. His
mother dying while he was very young, his father married
again, and entrusted his education to one of his relations,
a priest, who was director of the religious at Estampes.
After he had been taught grammar and Latin for two or
three years under this ecclesiastic, his father sent him to
Malta, with a view to procure him admission among the
clerks of the order of St. John of Jerusalem. He had
scarcely arrived here when the plague broke out, to which
he incautiously exposed himself; but although he escaped
the contagion, he fancied that the air of Malta did not
agree with him, and obtained leave of his superiors to return to Paris, where he might prosecute his studies in the
classics, philosophy, and divinity. As he had not taken
the vows in the order of St. John, he had no sooner completed his studies at home, than he entered into the congregation of the oratory. His year of probation being
passed, he was sent to the college of Jully, where he
taught mathematics, and went afterwards to the seminary
of Notre Dame des Vertus, where he employed his leisure
time in study, particularly of philosophy, which brought
him acquainted with father Malbranche. On his return
to Paris he was appointed to the care of the library belonging to the fathers of the oratory, a place for which he was
admirably qualified, as he was not only acquainted with
Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and the Chaldean, but with the
Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and English languages, and
had a very extensive knowledge of literary history, of books,
editions, and printing. The continual pains, however,
which he bestowed on this library, and on his own publications, undermined his constitution, which was originally
delicate, and brought on a complaint in the chest, which
proved fatal, Aug. 13, 1721, in the fifty. sixth year of his
life. His time for many years had been divided between
devotion and study; he allowed very little to sleep, and
less to the table. Although a man of extensive knowledge,
and often consulted, he was equally modest and unaffected.
In all his researches he shewed much acuteness and judgment, but the course of his studies had alienated him from
works of taste and imagination, for which he had little relish. His principal object was the ascertaining of truth in
matters of literary history; and the recovery of dates and
other minutiae, on which he was frequently obliged to
bestow the time that seemed disproportionate, was to him
a matter of great importance, nor was he to be diverted
from such accuracy by his friend Malbranche, who did not
think philosophy concerned in such matters. “Truth,
”
said Le Long, “is so valuable, that we ought not to
neglect it even in trifles.
” His works are, 1. “Methode
Hebraique du P. Renou,
” Bibliotheca
Sacra, sive syllabus omnium ferme Sacrse Scripture eclitionum ac versionum,
” Paris, Discours historique sur les principales Editions des Bibles
Polyglottes,
” Paris, Histoire des demelez du pape Boniface VIII. avec Philippe Le Bel, roi de France,
” 1718, 12mo, a posthumous
work of M. Baillet, to which Le Long added some documents illustrating that period of French history. 5. “Bibliotheque Historique de France,
”
in the preface to his elaborate life of dean Newell, and an account has since been published in the Bibliographer. The other biographical collection said to be by Lupton is a
, whom Granger, by mistake, calls
Dr. Lupton, was one of the earliest publishers of biographical collections in English, but with his own history we
are almost totally unacquainted. We can only gather from
one of his dedications that he had served in the army several years, and from the contents of his two principal publications, that he was a man of piety, and an admirer of the
characters of those eminent fathers and divines who made
the greatest figure in the church from the earliest periods
to the reformation. The first of these is entitled “The
History of the Moderne Protestant Divines, &c. faithfully
translated out of Latin,
” Lond. farmers of the
custom-house.
” It contains twenty-two foreign lives, and
twenty-three English, translated from Holland’s “Heroologia, and Verheiden’s
” Effigies,“with each an engraved
head dopied, in small, from those in Holland and Verheiden. Mr. Churton has made particular mention of this
curious and very scarce volume in the preface to his elaborate life of dean Newell, and an account has since been
published in the Bibliographer. The other biographical
collection said to be by Lupton is a 4to volume, entitled
” The Glory of their Times, or the Lives of the Primitive
Fathers,“&c. London, printed by J. Okes, 1640. This
contains forty four lives, with heads of the same scale as.
the other, but of less value, as being mostly imaginary.
We know not on what authority this work is attributed to
Lupton, >as there is no mention of his name in any part of
the copy now before us, and the preface, or address to
the reader, is signed Typographies. From internal evidence,
however, we should be inclined to think it was his compilation. Lupton’s other productions werte,
” London and the
countrey carbonadoed and quartered into several chafacters,“1632, 8vo
” ObjectorUm reductio; or daily employment for the soule,“1634, 8vo
” Emblems of Rarities; or choice Observations out of worthy Histories, &c.“1636, l&tTio; and
” England’s command of the Seas; or
the English Seas guarded," 1653, 12mo.
heir history, their editions, differences, and every species of information which forms the accurate bibliographer. During the time that Mr. Bernard published the “Nouvelles de
, an author to whom the curious in literary history are greatly indebted, was probably
a native of Paris, and born towards the conclusion of the
seventeenth century. He was bred up as a bookseller in
that city, a business which always requires some knowledge
of books, but which he carried to an extent very unusual,
and for forty years employed almost the whole of his time
in inspecting the works of eminent authors, inquiring into
their history, their editions, differences, and every species
of information which forms the accurate bibliographer.
During the time that Mr. Bernard published the “Nouvelles de la Republiques des Lettres,
” Marchand was his
constant correspondent, and contributed all the literary
anecdotes from Paris, which appeared in that journal.
Being, however, a conscientious protestant, and suspecting that in consequence of the repeal of the edict of Nantz,
he might be interrupted in the exercise of his religion, he
went to reside in Holland, and carried on the bookselling
trade there for some time, until meeting with some lack of
honesty among his brethren (pen de bonne-foi qiCil avoit trouvej, he relinquished business, and devoted his time entirely to literary history and biography. In both his knowledge was so conspicuous, that the booksellers were always happy to avail themselves of his opinion respecting intended publications, and more happy when they could engage his assistance as an editor. In the latter character, we find that he superintended an edition, 1. of Bayle’s “Dictionary,
” and “Letters,
” both which he illustrated with notes. 2. “Satyre Menippee,
” Ratisbonne (Brussels), Cymbalum mundi,
” by Bonaventure de
Perrieres, Amst. Direction pomla conscience d'un roi,
” Hague, Histoire des Revolutions de Hongrie,
” ibid. Lettres, Memoires, et Negociations du comte d'Estrades,
”
London (Hague)^ Histoire de
Fenelon,
” Hague, Oeuvres de Brantome,
” ibid. Oeuvres de Villon,
”
ibid.
, a learned bibliographer and miscellaneous writer, familiarly known in France by the
, a learned bibliographer
and miscellaneous writer, familiarly known in France by
the title of the abbe de St. Leger, was born at Lyons,
April 1, 1734. He entered when young, into the congregation of St. Genevieve, of which he became librarian, at
the time that the learned Pingre, his predecessor in that
office, went to observe the transit of Venus. In 1764,
when Louis XV. visited this library, he was so much
pleased with Mercier’s intelligent manner of displaying its
treasures, that he appointed him abbe of St. Leger at
Soisson, a preferment which then happened to be vacant
Mercier often travelled to Holland and the Netherlands to
visit the libraries and learned men of those countries, and
was industriously following his various 'literary pursuits,
when the revolution interrupted his tranquillity, and reduced him to a state of indigence. This he could have
borne; but the many miseries he witnessed around him,
and particularly the sight of his friend the abbe Poyer
dragged to the scaffold, proved too much for his constitution. He continued to linger on, however, until May 13,
1799, when death relieved him. He was a man of great
learning and research, as his works evidently shew, and in
his private character, social, communicative, and amiable.
His works are, 1. “Lettre sur la Bibliographic de Debure,
”
Lettre a M. Capperonier,
” on the
same subject, which was followed by a third, printed in
the “Journal de Trevoux.
” 3. “Lettre sur le veritable
auteur du Testament Politique du cardinal de Richelieu,
”
Paris, Supplement a l‘Histoire de l’imprimerie de Prosper Marchand,
” Lettre sur la Pucelle D'Orleans,
” Dissertation sur Pauteur du livre de
PImitation de Jesus-Christ.
” 7. “Notice du livre rare,
intitule* Pedis Admirandte, par J. d'Artis.
” 8. “Notice
de la Platopodologie d'Antoine Fiance, medecin de Besangon,
” a curious satire by Fiance. 9. “Lettre a un ami,
sur la suppression de la Charge de Bibliothecaire du roi en
France,
” (Paris), Notice sur les tornbeaux des dues de Bourgogne.
” 11. '“Lettres sur differentes editions rares du 15 siecle,
” Paris, Observations
surPEssai d'un projet de Catalogue de Bibliotheque.
” 13.
“Description* d'une giraffe vue a Fano.
” 14. “Notice
raisonnée des ouvrages de Gaspard Schott, Jesuite,
” Bibliotheque de Romans traduits du Grec.
”
Lettre sur le projet de decret
concernant les religieux, proposee a PAssemblee Nationale
par M. Treilhard,
” Lettre sur un nouveau Dictionnaire Historique portatif en 4 vols. 8vo.
” This,
wbich appeared in the *' Journal de Trevoux," contains a
sharp critique upon the first volumes of Cbaudon’s Dictionary. Mercier bestowed great pains in correcting and
improving his copy of this work, which fell in the hands of
thcs editors of the last edition of the Diet. Hist. Mercier
was frequently employed in the public libraries; and those
of Soubise and La Valliere owe much of their treasures to
his discoveries of curious books. He was also a frequent
writer in the Journal de Trevoux, the Journal des S9avans,
the Magazin Encyclopedique, and the Annee Litteraire.
He left some curious manuscripts, and manuscript notes
and illustrations of many of his books.
quill of England,” &c. all published in 1589, 4to, and analyzed, with specimens, in vol. II. of the “ Bibliographer.” Nash wrote with considerable ease, harmony, and energy, yet
As a satirist, his most virulent paper-war was carried on
with Gabriel Harvey, particularly in his tract, entitled
“Have with you to Saffron-Walden,
” which was Harvey’s
residence. His dramatic pieces were only three “Dido,
queen of Carthage,
” a tragedy, Summer’s Last Will and Testament,
” a comedy, The Isle of Dogs,
” above-mentioned, not published.
He engaged on the side of the church against Martin Marprelate; and the following are supposed to have formed
his share of this controversy: “A Countercuffe given to
Martin, junior,
” &c.; “Martin’s month’s minde
” “The
Returne of the renowned cavaliero Pasquill of England,
”
&c. all published in Bibliographer.
” Nash wrote
with considerable ease, harmony, and energy, yet Ma lone
says, that “of all the writers of the age of queen Elizabeth, Nash is the most licentious in his language; perpetually distorting words from their primitive signification,
in a manner often puerile and ridiculous, but more frequently incomprehensible and absurd.
” He pleased his
own age, however, for we find that his “Have with you
to Saffron-Walden,
” passed through six editions; and an
eminent poetical critic and antiquary thinks that Malone
must have formed his severe censure of Nash from this
piece, which was intended to ridicule the inflated and
turgid language of Harvey, in his astrological tracts. The
style of “Pierce Penniless,
” adds sir E. Brydges, is very
dissimilar, and his “Address to the two Universities,
” published in
, a learned French writer and bibliographer, was born at Paris in the beginning of February 1600, and having
, a learned French
writer and bibliographer, was born at Paris in the beginning of February 1600, and having discovered a strong
inclination in his earliest years for reading, his parents
determined to give him every benefit of education. After
studying Latin, and being initiated in the principles of religion, in a community of the religious, he was sent to the
university, where he made such proficiency in humanity
and philosophy, as to be admitted to the degree of master
of arts much before the usual age. He then, principally
by the advice of his friends, began to study with a view to
the church; but this was not agreeable to his sentiments,
which were more free in matters of religion than consisted
with a cordial profession of the prevailing tenets. He
therefore soon preferred the study of medicine, and in 1626
attended the lectures with such application as to acquire a
name in the world. Henry de Mesmes, president-a-mortier, hearing of him, appointed him to that for which it
appeared afterwards he was best qualified, the office of librarian; and it was for this patron’s use that he wrote his
excellent little work, entitled “Avis pour dresser une
Bibliotheque,
” printed at Paris in Traite des plus belles Bibliotheques.
”
have been published, with a minuteness of description which would have reflected credit on a modern bibliographer. The last edition of his “Erotemata” was edited at Leipsic in
From his works he appears to have deserved the high
character he enjoyed during his life-time, and which some
critics of modern times have revived. He was one of the
very few in those days who turned their thoughts to the
history of literature. His first publication was “Erotema
Grascae Linguae, cum proefatione Philippi Melanchthonis
de utilitate Grsecae linguse,
” Basil, Pandectae variorum auctorum et scriptorum.
” From the sketch he had
given of the proposed contents of this work, there is great
reason to regret that he did not complete it; in the second
edition of his “Erotemata
” he has given a specimen of
what he could have done, in a dissertation on ancient libraries, on books that are lost, and on the libraries of his
own time which contained the most valuable Mss. and an
account of the principal Greek and Latin authors, whose
works have been published, with a minuteness of description which would have reflected credit on a modern bibliographer. The last edition of his “Erotemata
” was edited
at Leipsic in Graecae Linguae Tabulae,
”
Basil, Linguae Hebreae Erotemata, cum veterurn Rabbinorurn testimoniis de
Christo, apophthegmatibus veterum Hebreeorum et notitia
de Talmude, Cabbala, &c.
” Basil, Erotemata Graecae Linguae,
” containing
notices of the most eminent Oriental scholars, the writings
of the rabbins, the editions of the Bible, &c. 4. “Aristologia Pindarica Graeco-Latina, et Sententiae novem Lyricorum,
” Basil, Aristologia GraecoLatina Euripidis; argumenta quoque singulis tragcediis
praemissa sunt,
” ibid. Anthologicum Graeco-Latinum,
” ibid. Gnomonologia Graeco-Latina, sive insigniores sententiae
philosophorum, poetarum, oratorum, et historicorum, ex
magno Anthologio Joannis Stobaei excerptae, et in locos
supra bis centum digests,
” ibid. Opus
aureum et Scholasticum,
” Leipsic, Sententiae Theologicae
selectiores, Græco-Latinæ,
” Basil, 1557, 8vo. 10. “Catechesis parva Martini Lutheri Graeco-Latina,
” &c. ibid. Loci communes Philosophic! Graeci,
”
Leipsic, Gnomonologia Latina ex
omnibus Latinis vetustis ac probatis autoribus, recentioribus etiam aliquot, in locos communes digesta,
” Leipsic,
Phraseologia Isocratis GraecoLatina,
” Basil, Joannis Vollandi de re
Poetica Graecorum libri quatuor, e noutionibus et bibliotheca Mich. Neandri collecti,
” Leipsic, Argonautica, Thebaica, Troica, Ilias
parva; poematia Graeca anonymi (Laur. Rhodomani) primum edita cum argumentis a Mich. Neandro,
” Leipsic,
rates and Students,” from Gratarolus, Lond. 1574, 12mo; of this a copious extract may be seen in the Bibliographer, vol. II, 8. “Commentary on the two Epistles general of St.
He wrote, 1. “A notable history of the Saracens, &c.
drawn out of Aug. Curio, in three books,
” Lond. A Summary, or brief Chronicle of the Saracens and
Turks,
” &c. printed with the former. 3. “Approved medicines and cordial precepts, with the nature and symptoms,
” &c. ibid. Illustrium aliquot Anglorum encomia,
” ibid. Encomia.
” 5. “Atropoion Delion or the death of
Delia, with the tears of her funeral. A poetical Discourse
of our late Elizabeth,
” ibid. A pleasant
new History: or a Fragrant Posie made of three flowers:
Rose, Rosalynd, and Rosemary,
” ibid. Embryon Relimatum,
” written by John Stambridge, but he was not the author of the two parts of Tamerlane the great Scythian emperor, which were written
by Marlow. He translated the following works: 7. “A
Direction for the Health of Magistrates and Students,
”
from Gratarolus, Lond. Commentary on the two Epistles general of St. Simon and St.
Jude,
” from Luther, ibid. Touchstone of
Complexions,
” from Levinus Lemnius, ibid. Censura Literaria,
” with an extract, vol. VI.
10. “The third tragedy of L. An. Seneca, entitled Thebais,
” ibid. Herbal to the Bible,
” printed in Levini Lemnii explicatio similitudjnum quæ in Bibliis
ex herbis et arboribus sumuntur.
” He conceives also that
Newton was the writer of the commendatory lines prefixed
to Lyte’s Herbal, in which, after complimenting the author for his judicious selection of useful knowledge from
former writers, he has versified, in less than two pages,
the names of more than two hundred worthies in medical
science, from the earliest antiquity to his own times. Warton observes that most of the ingenious and learned men of
that age courted his favours as a polite and popular encomiast. Warton also infers that he was a partizan of the
puritans, from no better authority than his having written
“Christian friendship, with an invective against dice-play
and other profane games,
” Lond.
d encomiastic,” 1614, 8vo. Ample specimens of his poetry are given in Headley’s “Beauties,” and the “ Bibliographer.”
, whom Mr. Headley considers as a poet of great elegance and imagination,
and one of the ornaments of the reign of Elizabeth, was
born in London, of genteel parents, in 1584. In 1602 he
entered a student of Magdalen college, Oxford, whence,
after a short time, he removed to Magdalen hall, and took
the degree of B. A. in 1606. After remaining at the university some years, and being esteemed among the most
ingenious men of his day, according to Wood, he quitted
Oxford for London, where he “obtained an employment
suitable to his faculty.
” What this employment was, we
are left to conjecture. The time of his death is also uncertain, but he appears to have been alive at least in 1616,
and was then but young. The most material of his works
are his additions to “The Mirror for Magistrates,
” a book
most popular in its time (see Higgins), containing a series
of pieces by Sackville, Baldwyne, Ferrers, Churchyard,
Phayer, Higgins, Drayton. It was ultimately completed,
and its contents new arranged by Nichols, whose supplement to the edition of 1610 is entitled “A Winter Night’s
Vision,
” To this likewise is improperly subjoined “England’s Eliza; or the victorious and triumphant reigneof that
virgin Empress, &c. Elizabeth, queen of England,
” &c.
His other writings are, “The Cuckow, a Poem,
” London,
Monodia, or Waltham’s complaint upon the death
of the most vertuous and noble lady, late deceased, the
lady Honor Hay,
” ibid. TheTwynnes
Tragedye
” is attributed to him in the Biog. Dram.; but we
can, on better authority, add “London’s Artillery, briefly
containing the noble practice of that worthie Society,
” &c.
&c. The Three Sisters’ Tears, shed at the
late solernne Funerals of the royal Henry, prince of Wales,
”
&c. The Furies, with Vertue’s encomium,
&c. in two books of epigrammes, satirical and encomiastic,
” Beauties,
” and the “Bibliographer.
”
, a bibliographer of great industry and accuracy, was born July 14, 1696. He was
, a bibliographer of great industry and accuracy, was born July 14, 1696. He was the natural son of Dr. William Oldys, chancellor of Lincoln, commissary of St. Catharine’s, official of St. Alban’s, and advocate of the Admiralty, by a woman who was maintained by her keeper in a very penurious and private manner, and whose son, it is probable, had but little assistance in his education from parents so circumstanced.
, an eminent bibliographer, was born at Sulzbach in the Upper Palatinate, March 16, 1729,
, an eminent
bibliographer, was born at Sulzbach in the Upper Palatinate, March 16, 1729, and having been educated for the
church, took his doctor’s degree in divinity and philosophy, and became pastor of the cathedral church of St. Sebaldus at Nuremberg, where he died in 1805. No farther
particulars have yet reached us of this learned and laborious writer, who has long been known here by his “Annales Typographiei, ab artis inventæ origine ad annum
M. D. post Maittairii, Denisii, aliorumque doctissimorum
virorum curas in ordinem redacti, emendati et aucti,
” Nuremberg, Annals of ancient German Literature, or an account of books printed in
Germany frpm the invention of the art to 1520,
” Nuremberg, Account of the most ancient German
Bibles, printed in the fifteenth century, which are in the
library at Nuremberg,
” History of Bibles
printed at Nuremberg, from the invention of the Art,
”
Nuremberg, History of early Printing at Nuremberg to the year 1500,
” ibid.
mselves, who have happened to look at the above-mentioned catalogue, will not only coincide with our bibliographer’s opinion, but will perhaps smile at seeing all the branches
The first person who attempted to give a sketch of
universal bibliography and literary history was the learned
and laborious Christopher-Augustus Hermann, professor
in the university of Gottingen, in the year 1718, when,
ie published his well known work, ‘ Conspectus Reipublicae Literarioe, sive Via ad Historian! Literariam*’
which gradually went through seven editions, the last
of which was published at Hanover, 1763. Numberless
other works, analogous to this, were published in the
same interval, in Germany. About the period alluded
to, many detailed, descriptive, and rational catalogues of
books appeared in the several countries of Europe; the
art and the taste of constructing libraries became more
general than in any preceding age; and the only thing
which appears worthy of remark, and rather unaccountable,
is that, even after the progress of philosophy or bibliography, the Germans, in this department, have excelled every
other people in Europe. It is universally acknowledged,
that the best work of the kind that ever appeared, about
that time, was the catalogue of the celebrated library of
the count of Bunau, better known under the name of
“Bibliotheca Bunaviana,
” so remarkable, indeed, for number, selection, order, connexion, references, and universal
interest. The only historical system of national literature
exhibited in Europe was that of the Italian, by Tiraboschi.
IVlr. Paterson supplied some important materials towards
one among ourselves, in his “Bibliotheca Anglica Curiosa,
1771.
” He was an enemy to those systems of bibliography which are now generally practised on the continent;
and he set no importance even on the newly-established
classification of the “Universal Repertory of Literature,
”
published at Jena. We hope, indeed, that those among
the readers themselves, who have happened to look at the
above-mentioned catalogue, will not only coincide with
our bibliographer’s opinion, but will perhaps smile at seeing all the branches of human knowledge confined in sixteen classes, and the last of them entitled “Miscellaneous
Works;
” the proper meaning of which words has a tendency to destroy the whole classification! Mr. Paterson
acted consistently with these ideas in all his bibliographical
performances; and it is owing to the merit of an appropriate, circumstantial, and judicious classification, that his
catalogues are unrivaled, and some of them are justly regarded as models. We refer the readers to the catalogues
themselves, and especially to the Bibliotheca Fleetwoodiana, Beauclerktana, Croftsiana, Pinelliana, published from
time to time, as well as to those of the Strange, Fagel, and
Tyssen libraries, which he performed within the last two
years of his life; and they will perceive in each of them
an admirable spirit of order, exhibited in different ways,
and suggested by those superior abilities which alone can
discover and appreciate these variable combinations of the
several circumstances.
Mr. Paterson’s fame had come to the ears of the late marquis of Lansdown, who requested the learned bibliographer to arrange his elegant and valuable library, to compile a detailed
A man so thoroughly conversant in the history of literature could not fail to perceive that a vast number of
books were held as valuable and scarce in England,
which were rather common in other countries. He thought
he could do his native country an essential service, and
procure emolument for himself, if he should undertake
a journey through some parts of the continent, and succeed in purchasing some articles of this description. With
this view he set out for the continent in the year 1776, and
actually bought a capital collection of books, which, on
his return to England, he digested in the catalogue (the best, perhaps, of his performances) that bears the title of
“Bibliotheca Universalis Selecta.
” One of the most respectable booksellers of London had been his fellow-traveller in that journey; and, being informed of his design,
and relying on his good sense and excellent intention,
offered him his friendly assistance. He lent him a thousand pounds, to be employed in an additional purchase
of books, in hopes that he might have the money returned to him when the speculation was carried into execution. Mr. Paterson, as usual, proved unsuccessful; and
the generous friend, sympathising in his misfortunes, never
claimed the return of his loan! Mr. Paterson’s fame
had come to the ears of the late marquis of Lansdown, who
requested the learned bibliographer to arrange his elegant
and valuable library, to compile a detailed catalogue of
his books and manuscripts, and to accept, for the purpose,
the place of his librarian, with a liberal salary. Mr. Paterson accordingly entered into the office of librarian, remained in it for some years, and perhaps expected to close
his life in the same station when, unfortunately, a misunderstanding took place between the noble lord and him,
by which he was obliged to withdraw.
, a German statesman, but more known as an accomplished scholar and bibliographer, was born in Hungary Nov. 4, 1737. Among his other diplomatic
, a German statesman, but more known as an accomplished scholar and bibliographer, was born in Hungary Nov. 4, 1737. Among his other diplomatic appointments he resided for some years in London as envoy from the Imperial court, and afterwards in a private capacity. He died at Vienna in August 1793.
warde the VI.” and is in stanzas of alternate metre. The reader will find some account of it in the “ Bibliographer,” vol. I.
In an old comedy, or scenical history, whichever it is
proper to call it, with the following whimsical title, “When
you see me you know me,
” by Samuel Rowley, printed in
1623, wherein are represented in the manner of a drama
some of the remarkable events during the reign of Henry
VIII. is a conversation between prince Edward and Dr.
Tye on the subject of music, which, for its curiosity, sir
John Hawkins has transcribed at length. The “Acts of
the Apostles,
” mentioned in this dialogue, were never
completed; but the first fourteen chapters thereof were, in
1553, printed by Wyllyam Seres, with the following quaint
title: “The Actes of the Appostles, translated into Englyshe metre, and dedicated to the kynges most excellent
majestye by Christofer Tye, doctor in musyke, and one of
the Gentylmen of hys graces moste honourable Chappell,
wyth notes to eche Chapter, to syng and also to play upon,
the Lute, very necessarye for studentes after theyr studye,
to fyle theyr wyttes, and alsoe for all Christians that cannot synge to reade the good and godlye storyes of the Hues
of Christ hys Apostles.
” The dedication is, “To the vertuous and godlye learned prynce Edwarde the VI.
” and is
in stanzas of alternate metre. The reader will find some
account of it in the “Bibliographer,
” vol. I.
he manners of the times, and the principal personages. A particular account of both is given in the “ Bibliographer,” vol. II. by which it appears that Vaughan had translated a
, a Latin poet and moral writer,
was the son of Walter Vaughan, of the Golden Grove, in
Carmarthenshire, esq. and younger brother to sir John
Vaughan, first earl of Carbery, and patron of bishop Jeremy Taylor. He was born at Golden Grove in 1577, and
became a commoner of Jesus college, Oxford, in 1591,
where he took his degrees in arts. The fruits of his scholastic attainments began to appear uncommonly early, as
he was only in his fifteenth year when he prepared for
printing an easy paraphrase of Persius in English and Latin; and his publications which appeared in 1597 and 1598
bespeak a prematurity of genius. After taking his degrees
in arts, he applied to the study of the law, but before he
proceeded in that faculty, set out on his travels, and at
Vienna performed the necessary exercises for a doctor’s
degree, in which he was incorporated at Oxford in 1605.
He afterwards appears to have meditated a settlement in
Cambriol, Newfoundland, where he was living in 1628,
but the time of his death is not mentioned. His Latin
poems are, 1. the “Song of Solomon, and some of the
Psalms,
” translated, Lond. Varia Poemata de
Sphaerarum online,
” Poemata continent.
Encom. Roberti Comitis Essex,
” Cambrensium Caroleia,
” &c. a poem on the nuptials of Charles
I. The
Golden Grove, moralized in three books,
” The Golden
Fleece,
” Bibliographer,
” vol. II. by which it appears
that Vaughan had translated a part of Boccalini’s Advices
from Parnassus, and had published “Circles called the
Spirit of Detraction, conjured and convicted,
” and “Commentaries upon, and paraphrase of, Juvenal and Persius,
”
all in early life.
he largest collection of his poetry is in the “Paradise of dainty Devises,” lately reprinted in the “ Bibliographer;” and Dr. Percy and Mr. Ellis have printed “The Assault of Cupid,”
As a poet, he has long been deprived of his merit by his
pieces having been attributed to his father, Nicholas lord
Vaux, an error which Dr. Percy first detected, and the
title of Thomas lord Vaux seems now indisputable. The
largest collection of his poetry is in the “Paradise of dainty
Devises,
” lately reprinted in the “Bibliographer;
” and
Dr. Percy and Mr. Ellis have printed “The Assault of Cupid,
” and the “Dyttye, or sonet made by the lorde Vaus
in time of the noble queeneMarye, representinge the image
of Deathe;
” but the popular notion of lord Vaux’s having
composed this last on his death-bed, seems unfounded.
From the prose prologue to Sackville’s “Induction,
” in
the “Mirror for Magistrates,
” it would seem that lord Vaux
had undertaken to pen the history of king Edward’s two
sons cruelly murdered in the Tower of London; but what
he performed of his undertaking does not appear. Lord
Vaux, as a poet, is more distinguished by morality of sentiment than by imagery; yet even in the latter, his two
celebrated poems of “The Assault of Cupid,
” and the
“Aged Lover’s renunciation of Love,
” are far from deficient and the sweet and touching simplicity of the ideas,
and the airy ease of the language, entitle them to high
commendation.
, a very useful biographer and bibliographer, was born at Montbrison en Forez, Nov. 11, 1544. He appears
, a very
useful biographer and bibliographer, was born at Montbrison en Forez, Nov. 11, 1544. He appears to have
served the king both in a military and civil capacity, and
was historiographer and gentleman in ordinary to his majesty. He died at Duerne, Sept. 25, 1600. In his youth
he had cultivated poetry, but of his poetical efforts he published only some indifferent specimens in his great work.
He had, according to Scaliger, a fine library of Italian,
French, Spanish, Greek, and Latin authors, and was conversant in books of all kinds. The fruits of his labours
were, 1. “La Prosopographie, ou Description des personnes
insignes, &c. avec les effigies d‘aucuns d’iceux, et braves
observations de leur temps, annees, fails, et dits,
” Lyons,
Les Diverses lemons d'Antoine Duverclier, suivant celJes de P. Messi-e,
” Lyons, Le Compseutique, ou Traits facetieux,
” 12mo; but there are some
doubts whether this, which did not appear until 1584-, was
not the compilation of another author. 4. “La Bibliotheque d'Ant. Duverdier, contenant le catalogue de tons
les auteurs qui ont ecrit ou traduit en Frangais, avec le
supplement Latin, du meme Duverdier, a la biblioiheque
de Gesner,
” Lyons, 1585, folio. Croix Du Maine’s work
of the same kind had appeared the year before, and was
thought to be the best executed of the two; but they have
both been republished with so many improvements, that,
like Moreri’s, they retain very little of the original authors.
This improved edition was the production of Rigoley and
Juvigny, who added the notes of Lamonnoye, the president
Bouhier and Falconet, and published the whole in six
handsome volumes, 4to, under the title of Les Bibliotheques Franchises de Lacroix du Maine et de Duverdier,“1772. The work is undoubtedly still capable of improvement, but, as it is, it forms a very valuable addition to the
bibliographical library. There is a copy in the king’s
library at Paris, with a vast mass of ms additions and corrections by Mercier de Saint-Leger. Le Long and some
others attribute to Du. Verdier
” La Biographic et Prosopographie des rois de France jusqu'a Henri III.“Paris,
1583, and 1586, 8vo. But others have doubted this, because he makes no mention of it in a list of his works which
he wrote in 1585, and in which he gave not only what he
had published, but what remained in manuscript, such as
a translation of Seneca, &c. His son, Claude Verdier,
was born about 1566, and had the ambition to become an
author, but turned out to be a bad poet and a worse critic;
he also spent the property his father left him, and lived an
obscure and miserable life till about 1649, which is said to
have been its period. The worst feature of his character
is the disrespectful manner in which he has treated his father’s talents and labours, in a work which he published in
1586, and 1609, 4to, entitled
” In autores pene omnes anttquos potissimum censiones et correctiones." It is a sufficient character of this work, that he blames Virgil for his
bad Latin.
ections of the times, and particularly in the “Paradise of dayntie devises,” lately reprinted in the Bibliographer. In these there appear the same traits as are said to have been
His character appears to have been marked with haughtiness, vanity, and affectation. He aped Italian dresses,
and was called “the mirror of Tuscanismo.
” His rank,
however, and his illustrious family commanded the respect
of a large portion of the literary world, and among his
eulogists were the contemporary writers, Watson, Lily,
Golding, Munday, Greene, Lock, and Spenser. Scattered
pieces of his poetry are found in the collections of the
times, and particularly in the “Paradise of dayntie devises,
” lately reprinted in the Bibliographer. In these
there appear the same traits as are said to have been exhibited in his character. They are generally affected, full of
conceit and antithesis, and obscure. He is said also to
have written comedies, and to have been reckoned the best
writer of comedy in his time, but the very names of these
plays are lost. His lady, Anne, has lately been introduced
to public observation, as a poetess, by Mr. George Steeveris, the editor of Shakspeare. Her poetical attempts
are to be found in a collection of odes and sonnets, entitled
“Diana,
” published by one John Southern or Soothern.
Some account of these, which seem to be below mediocrity, is given by Mr. Park as a supplementary article to
Walpole’s “Royal and Noble Authors.
”
Walton’s Angler, and other works on the same subject, an accurate catalogue is given in the British Bibliographer, vol. II. Of his “Lives” a much improved edition was published
In the cathedral of Winchester, on a large black flat
marble stone, is an inscription to his memory, the poetry
of which has very little to recommend it. Of the various
editions of Walton’s Angler, and other works on the same
subject, an accurate catalogue is given in the British Bibliographer, vol. II. Of his “Lives
” a much improved edition was published by Dr. Zouch in 1796, 4to, reprinted
since in 8vo. The life of Walton followed in the preceding
sketch, is principally that by sir John Hawkins, in his edition of the Angler. Dr. Zouch’s is perhaps more elegant,
but has few additional facts. "
at is valuable in the present sketch of Wither, taken frorii a more copious life of the poet in the “ Bibliographer.” In the same work, the reader may be referred to a very accurate
That Wither was a poet, and a poet deserving to be better known, has been sufficiently proved by the selection
from his “Juvenilia,
” printed by the late Alexander Dalfymple, esq. in 1785, and particularly by the more recent
republications of his “Shepherd’s Hunting,
” Fidelia,
” Hymns and Songs of the
Church,
” Bibliographer.
” In
the same work, the reader may be referred to a very accurate list, and history, by Mr. Park, of all Wither’s writings,
amounting to 112 articles in prose and verse, from which
very pleasing selections may yet be made, They are almost
all of rare occurrence, and expensive in proportion, since
the attention of the public has been drawn to them by the
various critics mentioned in our references.