, in Latin Pricæus, a learned writer, originally of a Welsh family,
, in Latin Pricæus, a learned writer,
originally of a Welsh family, was born in 1600 at London.
He was brought up at Westminster-school, whence in,
1617 he was elected to Christ-church, Oxford. He made
>grcat proficiency in learning, and was esteemed one of the
ablest critics of his day, but espoused the Roman catholic
religion which for some time he appears to have concealed.
On leaving college he was entertained in the earl of Arundel’s family, with which he travelled into Italy, and there
was made doctor of law?. On his return to England, he
became acquainted with the earl of Strafford, who 'being
pleased with his talents and learning, took him with him to
Ireland, where he likewise became acquainted with archbishop Usher, and was one of his correspondents, their
biblical studies forming a bond of union. When his noble
patron was prosecuted, Dr. Price shared in his misfortunes,
and returned to England in 1640. During the rebellion
he endeavoured to support the royal cause by his pen, and
wrote several pamphlets, for which he was imprisoned for
a considerable time. After his release he went abroad, and
took up his residence in Florence, where the grand duke
made him superintendant of his museum, which was then
One of the finest in Europe. By the interest of this prince,
he was appointed Greek professor at Pisa, and filled that
office with great reputation. Resigning it, however, probably owing to bad health, he went to Venice, with a view
to publish Hesychius’s Lexicon, but not succeeding in the
design, he went to Rome, and was entertained by cardinal
Francis Barberini. When advanced in years, he retired to
St. Augustine’s convent at Rome, where he died in 1676,
aged seventy-six. His works are 1. “Notoe et observationes in apologiam L. Apuleii Madaurensis, philosophi
Platonici,
” Paris, Matthaeus, ex sacra pagina, sanctis
patribus, &c. illustratus,
” Paris, Annotationes in epist. Jacobi,
” Paris, Acta
Apostolorum, ex sacra pagina, sanctis patribus, &c. illustrata,
” Paris, Index Scriptorum, qui in
Hesychii Graeco vocabulario laudantur, confectus et alphabetico ordine dispositus,
” Comment, in varios Novi Test. Hbros,
”
inserted in the 5th vol. of the “Critici Sacri.
” Dr. Price is
praised by Sarravius, in his letters by archbishop Usher
on St. Ignatius’s epistles by Heinsius, in an epistle to
Carlo Dati by Selden more than once, in the second
book “de Synedriis Ebraeorum
” by Vossius, in his “Harmonia Evangelica
” by Morus, in his notes on the New
Testament by Redi, in his treatise on the Generation of
Insects but especially by Axenius on Phaedrus.