three dynasties who governed that state: viz. the Torelli’s, the Gonzago’s, and the Bourbons, dukes of Parma; and finishes in 1776. On account of this work, he was
, a native of Bussetto, a small town in the
duchy of Piacenza, was appointed in 1768 by the Infant
don Ferdinand to be professor of philosophy at Guastalla,
where he wrote his “Historia di Guastalla,
” 4 vols. 4to. It
commences with the reign of Charlemagne; comprizes the
three dynasties who governed that state: viz. the Torelli’s,
the Gonzago’s, and the Bourbons, dukes of Parma; and
finishes in 1776. On account of this work, he was appointed superintendant of the valuable library of Parma.
He is a diffuse writer, as he allows in his preface, but his
researches are valuable and correct. Writing under a
prince so particular as the last Infant, he was obliged to
suppress some things of a delicate kind. He wrote also
“Historia di Parma,
” printed there 2 vols. 4to, and
other works respecting the antiquities and the lives of the
sovereigns of these states. He left a manuscript history of
Peter Louis Farnese, which the Infant would not suffer to
be published. He died at the age of sixty, about the beginning of the present century.
e obtained the marshal’s confidence, and ventured to propose the daughter of his sovereign, the duke of Parma, to him, as a fit match for the king of Spain. Alberoni’s
M. de Vendome first employed him in discovering where the people in his neighbourhood had concealed their grain; an undertaking which rendered Alberoni’s departure for Spain, with Vendome, as prudent as it turned out to be advantageous. By degrees he obtained the marshal’s confidence, and ventured to propose the daughter of his sovereign, the duke of Parma, to him, as a fit match for the king of Spain. Alberoni’s proposal was attended to, and the princess was demanded in marriage by that monarch, then Philip V. The duke of Parma consented with great readiness to a match that was to procure for his daughter the sovereignty of so great a kingdom as that of Spain, When every thing was settled, and immediately before the princess was to set out for her new dominions, the ministers of Spain had heard that she was a young woman of a haughty imperious temper, and extremely intriguing and ambitious. They therefore prevailed upon the king to write to the duke, requesting another of his daughters in marriage, to whose quiet disposition they could not possibly have any objections,. The king did as he was desired, and sent his letter by a special messenger. Alberoni, who was then at Parma, hearing of this, and afraid that all his projects of ambition would come to nothing, unless the princess whom he recommended, and who of course would think herself highly obliged to him for her exalted situation, became queen of Spain, caused the messenger to be stopped at one day’s journey from Parma, and gave him his choice, either to delay his coming to Parma for a day, or to be assassinated. He of course chose the first, and the princess set out upon her journey to Spain, and became queen.
s esteem by the sovereigns of Italy, particularly pope Benedict XIV. the duke of Savoy, and the duke of Parma. The excellence of his character, the purity of his morals,
Algarottihad also studied the fine arts, and produced many
excellent specimens of painting and engraving. In
particular he designed and engraved several plates of heads in
groupes, one of which, containing thirteen in the antique
style, is dated Feb. 15, 1744. He travelled likewise over
Italy, with a painter and draftsman in his suite; and what
he has published on the arts discovers extensive knowledge and taste. Frederick II. who had become acquainted
with his talents when prince-royal, no sooner mounted
the throne, than he invited him to Berlin. Algarotti was
then in London, and, complying with his majesty’s wish,
remained at Berlin many years. Frederick conferred on
him the title of count of the kingdom of Prussia, with reversion to his brother and descendants. He made him also
his chamberlain, and knight of the order of Merit, bestowing on him at the same time many valuable presents,
and other marks of his esteem; and after Algarotti left
Berlin, the king corresponded with him for twenty-five
years. The king of Poland, Augustus III. also had him
for some time at his court, and gave him the title of privy-counselloir of war. Nor was he held in less esteem by the
sovereigns of Italy, particularly pope Benedict XIV. the
duke of Savoy, and the duke of Parma. The excellence
of his character, the purity of his morals, his elegant manners, and the eclat which surrounds a rich amateur of the
arts, contributed to his celebrity perhaps as much as the
superiority of his talents, and his acknowledged taste.
Wherever he travelled he was respected equally by the
rich, and the learned, by men of letters, by artists, and
by men of the world. The climate of Germany having
sensibly injured his health, he returned first to Venice,
and afterwards to Bologna, where he had determined to
reside, but his disorder, a consumption of the lungs,
gained ground rapidly, and put an end to his life, at Pisa,
March 3, 1764. He is said to have met death with composure, or, as his biographer terms it, with philosophical
resignation. In his latter days he passed his mornings with
Maurino (the artist who used to accompany him in his travels), engaged in the study of painting, architecture,
and the fine arts. After dinner he had his works read to
him, then printing at Leghorn, and revised and corrected
the sheets: in the evening he had a musical party. The
epitaph he wrote for himself is taken from Horace’s non
omnis moriar, and contains only the few words, “Hicjacet
Fr. Algarottus non omnis
” The king of Prussia was at
the expense of a magnificent monument in the Campo
Santo of Pisa; on which, in addition to the inscription
which Algarotti wrote, he ordered the following, “Algarotto Ovidii emulo, Newtoni discipulo, Fredericus rex,
”
and Algarotti’s heirs added only “Fredericus Magnus.
”
The works of Algarotti were published at Leghorn,
1765, 4 vols. 8vo; at Berlin, 1772, 8 vols. 8vo; and at
Venice, 17 vols. 8vo, 1791--1794. This last, the most
complete and correct edition, is ornamented with vignettes,
the greater part of which were taken from the author’s
designs. These volumes contain 1. Memoirs of his life
and writings, and his poetry. 2. An analysis of the Newtonian system. 3. Pieces on architecture, painting, the
opera, essays on vario is languages, on history, philology,
on Des Cartes, Horace, &c. 4 and 5. Essays on the military art, and on the writers on that subject. 6. His travels in Russia, preceded by an Essay on the metals of that
empire: the congress of Cytherea, the life of Pallavicini,
the Italian poet; and a humorous piece against the abuse
of learning. 7. Thoughts on different subjects of philosophy and philology. 8. Letters on painting and architecture. 9 and 10. Letters on the sciences. 11 to 16. His
correspondence, not before published, with the literati of
Italy, England, and France. 17. An unfinished critical
essay on the triumvirate of Crassus, Pompey, and Gassar.
Among his correspondents we find the names of the
Italians, Manfredi and Zanotti, his first masters, Fabri
of Bologna, Metastasio, Frugoni, Bettinelli, Frisi the celebrated mathematician and physician, Mazzuchelli, Paradisi, &c.; the Prussians, Frederic II. several princes of
the same family, and Form ey, &c.; the English, lords
Chesterfield and Hervey, Mr. Hollis, lady Montague, &c.;
jand the French, Voltaire, Maupercuis, du Chastellet, mad.
du Boccage,; &c. His Essays on painting, on the opera,
his Letters to lord Hervey and the marquis Maffei, and
his Letters, military and political, have been translated
and published in English. His biographers have generally handed down his character without a blemish; aiui
Fabroni, on whom ive mostly rely, is equally lavish in his
praises. Wiule we take his personal merits from these authorities, we have evident proof from his works that he
was an universal scholar, and wrote with facility and originality on every subject he took in hand. They present
a greater variety of reading and thought than almost any
scholar of the eighteenth century; but they are not
without redundancy, and sometimes affectation. His fame is
said to be fixed on a more solid basis in his own country,
than in those where he has been viewed only througn the
medium of translations.
Fiume Parma, lib. VIII.” Parma, 1591, 4to. Each book is dedicated to some one of the principal lords of Parma, whose pedigree and history is included in the dedication.
, an Italian historian of some
reputation, was born at Ferrara in the sixteenth century.
He was an able lawyer, and had the management of the
affairs of the dukes of Ferrara. He afterwards settled at
Parma, and became the historian of the place. Clement,
in his “Bibliotheque curieuse,
” informs us, that Angeli
having collected materials from actual observation respecting the geography of Italy, with a view to correct the errors of Ptolomey, Pliny, and the modern geographers, took
Parma in his way, and was requested to write its history.
For this purpose Erasmus Viotto, the bookseller, accommodated him with his library, and the history was finished
within six months, but was not published until after his
death, if he died in 1576, as is asserted by Baruffaldi, in
the supplement to his history of the university of Ferrara,
and by Mazzuchelli in his “Scrittori Italiaui.
” The work
was entitled “Istoria della citta di Parma e descrizione del
Fiume Parma, lib. VIII.
” Parma, 1591, 4to. Each book
is dedicated to some one of the principal lords of Parma,
whose pedigree and history is included in the dedication.
The copies are now become scarce, and especially those
which happen to contain some passages respecting P. L.
Farnese, which were cancelled in the rest of the impression.
The year before, a work by the same author was published
which ought to be joined with his history, under the title
“Descrizione di Parma, suoi Fiumi, e lar^o terntorio.
” He
wrote also the “Life of Ludovico Catti,
” a lawyer, De non sepeliendis mortuis;
”
“Gli elogi degli eroi Estensi,
” and “Discorso intorno
l'origine de Cardinali,
” -
talian scholar of the seventeenth century, was born Aug. 31, 1651, at Borgo-san-Donino, in the duchy of Parma. In 1653 his father went to reside at Parma, where he
, a very learned
Italian scholar of the seventeenth century, was born Aug.
31, 1651, at Borgo-san-Donino, in the duchy of Parma.
In 1653 his father went to reside at Parma, where he spared
no expence in the education of this son, although his fortune was considerably reduced by family imprudence. For
five years he studied the classics, under the tuition of the
Jesuits, and in his sixteenth year entered the order of St.
Benedict, on which occasion he adopted the name of that
saint, in lieu of Bernardine, his baptismal name. Soon
after, his father died, leaving his widow and three children
with very little provision. Bacchini, however, pursued his
studies, and took lesson in scholastic philosophy from
Maurice Zapata; but by the advice of Chrysogonus Fabius, master of the novices of his convent, he studied mathematics, as the foundation of a more useful species of
knowledge than the physics and metaphysics of the ancients. He afterwards applied to divinity with equal judgment, confining his researches to the fathers, councils, and
ecclesiastical history. When he had completed his course,
his abbé wished him to teach philosophy, but he had no
inclination to teach that scholastic philosophy which he did
not think worth learning and having obtained leave, on
account of his health, to retire to a monastery in the country, he remained there two years, during which he studied
the science of music, and on his recovery began to preach,
agreeably to the desire of his superiors. In 1677, Arcioni, abbe of St. Benedict at Ferrara, having appointed him.
his secretary, he was obliged to follow him to Arezzo, Venice, Placentia, Padua, and Parma. While at Piacentia,
in 1679, he pronounced a funeral oration on Margaret de
Medicis, mother of the duke of Parma, which was printed
there. In 1681 he formed an acquaintance with Magliabecchi, the cardinal Noris, and many other eminent men of
the age. In 1683, on account of his health, he solicited
permission to resign his office as secretary to the abbe“, and
as public preacher, which was granted; and having his
time again in his own hands, he began to arrange the library belonging to his monastery, and to consult the fathers
and sacred critics, and studied with assiduity and success
the Greek and Hebrew languages. In 1635 he was appointed counsellor of the inquisition at Parma, and ne^t
year had a visit of three days from father Mabillon and father Germain, and about the same time began to conduct
the
” Giornale de Letterati." In this he was encouraged
and assisted by Gaudentio Roberti, who was eminent in polite literature. Bacchini accordingly began the Parma
journal, in imitation of that published at Rome, and continued it monthly, but without his name, until 1690. But
afterwards, when at Modena, he resumed it for 1692 and
1693, after which, the death of Roberti, who defrayed all
the expence, obliged him again to discontinue it. In 1695,
however, Capponi engaged to furnish the books and all necessary expences, and he edited itfor 1696 and 1697, when
it was concluded. The whole make nine small volumes
4to, the first five printed at Parma, and the rest at Modena.
In the mean time, in 1688, the duke of Parma appointed him his theologian, at the request of Roberti;
In the mean time, in 1688, the duke of Parma appointed
him his theologian, at the request of Roberti; and the same
year, at the solicitation of Leo Strozza, he wrote his dissertation on the ancient sistrum, a musical instrument,
which was published under the title, “De Sistrorum figuris ac differentia ad illustriss. D. D. Leonem Strozza, ob
Sistri Romani effigiem communicatum, ctissertatio,
” Bononia,
monastery of Modena, and in 1705 he published, under the name of the abbe and monks of the monastery of Parma, “Isidori Clarii ex Monacho Episcopi Fulginatis Epistolse
In 1696 he published his monastic history, under the
title of “DelP Istoria del Monasterio di S. Benedetto di
Polirone nella Stato di Mantoua Libri cinque,
” Modena,
De Ecclesiasticae Hierarchise origine dissertatio,
” Mutina (i.e. Modena), Isidori Clarii ex Monacho Episcopi Fulginatis Epistolse ad amicos,
hactenus ineditac,
” Modena,
present at the election of a successor to king John Sobieski, then deceased. In 1698, duke Francis, of Parma, sent him to Madrid, as his deputy; and in 1710 Sophia
, an Italian count, and a man of learning, was a native of Placentia, where he was born July 3, 1654. After studying philosophy and the classics in the college of St. Francis Xavier at Bologna, he went to Rome, and passed through a course of theology, law, and mathematics. He was so pleased with Rome as to determine to take up his abode there and when the pope offered him the‘ place of nuncio at Brussels, and in Poland, he preferred a life of literary employment. Some time after, however, he accompanied cardinal d’Estrees to Paris, and the marchioness of Montecuculi to St. Germain and afterwards went to Poland, to be present at the election of a successor to king John Sobieski, then deceased. In 1698, duke Francis, of Parma, sent him to Madrid, as his deputy; and in 1710 Sophia Dorothy duchess of Placentia employed him in the same honourable office at Vienna, and at several courts in Germany, England, and Utrecht. On his return, he passed the rest of his life in a retired manner, and died Feb. 23, 1725. When in England he was elected a member of the royal society, with M. Bianchini. His rich cabinet of natural history, and his extensive library, were always open to men of learning, many of whom he assisted in their pursuits with great liberality. We know of none of his writings, except a discourse on the maps in the Atlas Historique, published at Amsterdam in 1719.
, or Basinio, of Parma, was a celebrated Italian poet of the fifteenth century.
, or Basinio, of Parma, was a celebrated Italian poet of the fifteenth century. He was born at Parma,
about 1421, and was educated under Victorin of Feltro at
Mantua, and afterwards by Theodore Gaza and Guarino at
Ferrara, where he became himself professor. From Ferrara, he went to the court of Sigismond Pandolph Malatesta, lord of Rimini, and there passed the few remaining
years of his life, dying at the age of thirty-six, in 1457.
He had scarcely finished his studies, whesh he composed a
Latin poem, in three books, on the death of Meleager,
which exists in manuscript in the libraries of Modena, Florence, and Parma. In this last repository there is also a
beautiful copy of a collection of poems printed in France,
to which Basinio appears to have been the greatest contributor. This collection was written in honour of the beautiful Isotta degli Atti, who was first mistress and afterwards
wife to the lord of Rimini. If we may believe these
poetical testimonies, she had as much genius as beauty; she
was also in poetry, another Sappho, and in wisdom and'
virtue another Penelope. Basinio was one of the three
poets, who composed the praises of this lady. The collection was printed at Paris, under the title of “Trium poetarurn elegantissimorum, Porcelii, Basinii, et Trebanii
Opuscula nunc primum edita,
” Paris, by Christ. Preudhomme, De amore Jovis in Isottam,
” and no distinction
is preserved as to the contributors. In the copy, however,
preserved at Parma, and which was transcribed in 1455,
during the life-time of Basinio, almost all the pieces which
compose the three books are attributed to him. In the
same library is a long poem by him in thirteen books, entitled “Hesperidos;
” another, in two books only, on
astronomy; a third, also in two books, on the conquest of
the Argonauts; a poem under the title of “An epistle on
the War of Ascoli, between Sigismond Malatesta, and
Francis Sforza,
” and other unpublished performances. It
is rather surprising, that none of these have been published in a city where there are so many celebrated presses,
and which may boast the honour of being the native place
of one of the best poets of his time.
, an able military commander, originally of Epirus, was born at Rocca near Tarentum. The duke of Parma, under whom he served, was highly satisfied with the success
, an able military commander, originally of Epirus, was born at Rocca near Tarentum. The
duke of Parma, under whom he served, was highly satisfied with the success of all the affairs he entrusted him
with. In 1596 he threw provisions into Fere, besieged by
Henry Tv. an enterprise which was executed with a secrecy and celerity that did him great honour, and the emperor afterwards engaged him hi his service. He signalized
himself in Hungary and in Transylvania, where he conquered and reduced the rebels. He died about 1607,
leaving two works which have preserved his memory,
1. “Maestro di campo generate,
” Venice, Governo della Cavalleria leggiera,
” Francfort,
een the Greeks and Latins. Castellanus informs us, that when Nicholas of Este founded the university of Parma, Bencius was appointed one of its first professors, and
, was a native of
Sienna, which circumstance has procured him to be recorded in some biographical works under the name of Hugo
Senensis, and Freher, otherwise a correct biographer, has
given these as distinct persons. He became one of the
most celebrated physicians of the fifteenth century, and not
less esteemed as a philosopher and divine. In such admiration was he held, that his contemporaries hailed him as
another Aristotle and a new Hippocrates; and such was his
memory, that he could readily and promptly give answers
to any questions or doubts that were propounded from the
works of Plato or Aristotle. He was, according to Ghilini,
professor of medicine at Ferrara, and was a member of the
council called to adjust the religious disputes between the
Greeks and Latins. Castellanus informs us, that when Nicholas of Este founded the university of Parma, Bencius
was appointed one of its first professors, and this Bencius
himself confirms in the introduction to his commentary on
Galen. He died at Rome in 1438, according to Castellanus, or in 1448, according to Ghilini. tjis principal works
are, 1, “In aphorismos Hippocratis,
” &c. expositio,“
Venice, 1498, folio, reprinted 1.517, 1523. 2.
” Consilia saluberrima ad omnes Ægritudines,“Venice, 1518, folio.
3.
” In tres libros Microtechni Galeni luculentissimi expositio,“ibid. 1523, fol. 4.
” In primi canonis Avicennufc
Fen primam expositio,“ibid. 1523, fol. 5.
” Supra quarta
Fen primi Avicennae expositio,“ib. 1717. 6.
” In quarti
canonis Avicennse Fen primam expositio," ibid. 1523.
There is an edition of his works, Venice, 2 vols, folio, 1518,
but whether it includes the above is not mentioned in our
authorities.
in the marquis de Pezay, who took him with him to the campaign of Italy. Bernard was at the battles of Parma and Guastalla and behaved with considerable bravery. Being
, a French poet, was the
son of a sculptor at Grenoble in Dauphine, and born in
1710. Being sent to the college of Jesuits at Lyons, he
made rapid progress under able masters, who were desirous
of attaching him to their body but the young scholar, too
fond of liberty and pleasure, would not consent to that
Confinement. Being drawn to Paris by the wish to make a
figure in the poetical world, he was obliged to employ himself for two years as clerk to a notary. The light pieces of
poetry he sent abroad at intervals, of which the best are the
epistle to Claudine, and the song of the Rose, procured
him a patron in the marquis de Pezay, who took him with
him to the campaign of Italy. Bernard was at the battles
of Parma and Guastalla and behaved with considerable
bravery. Being presented to the marechal de Coigni, who
commanded there, he was lucky enough to please him by
his wit and agreeable manners. The marechal took him
to be his secretary, admitted him to his intimacy, and
some time afterwards procured him the place of secretarygeneral of the dragoons. From gratitude he attached himself constantly to this Maecenas, till 1756, when he was
deprived of him by death. He was in great request in all
the select companies of the court and of Paris; whom he
delighted by the brilliant wit, and warmth of his verses
and airs, of which some are worthy of Anacreon. In
1771 the sudden loss of his memory put an end to his
happiness, and he fell into a state of mental imbecillity.
In this condition he went to a revival of his opera of Castor,
and was incessantly asking, “Is the king come Is the
king pleased with it Is madame de Pompadour pleased
with it
” thinking he was all the while at Versailles and
rioting in the delirium of a courtly poet. He died in this
unhappy state, Nov. 1, 1775. Besides his lighter pieces
of poetry, which got him the appellation of le gentil Bernard,
several operas added much to his reputation. In 1803 an
edition of his works was published in 2 vols. 8vo, and 4 vols.
18mo, comprehending several pieces not before published;
but upon the whole, according to the opinion of his countrymen, his talents were not of the first order, and his
popularity appears to have been owing more to his gratifying the passions than the taste of his companions and
readers.
he order in 1595, and was afterwards moral, mathematical, and philosophical professor in the college of Parma. He died at Bologna, Nov. 7, 1637. To the study of the
, a learned Italian Jesuit, was born
at Bologna, Feb. 6, 1582. He entered the order in 1595,
and was afterwards moral, mathematical, and philosophical
professor in the college of Parma. He died at Bologna,
Nov. 7, 1637. To the study of the more abstruse sciences,
he united a taste for the belles lettres, and especially Latin poetry. He has left, 1. “Rubenus hilarotragoedia satyra pastoralis,
” Parma, Clodoveus, sive Lodovicus, tragicum silviludium,
” Parma, Lycaeum morale, politicum, et poeticum,
” Venice, Urbanitates
poeticae,
” a collection of lyric poetry, which was reprinted
the same year, under the title “Eutrapeliarum, seu Urbanitatum Libri IV.
” Venice, 1626, 4to. It was again reprinted with the addition of the above two dramas, with
the title of “Florilegium variorum poematum et dramaturn pastoralium Libri IV.
” Lyons, 1633, 12mo, the ninth
edition. There is a copy in the British museum, probably
of the eighth edition, dated 1632, 8vo. 4. “Apiaria universae philosophise, mathematics, &c.
” Bologna, Euclides explicatus,
” which was printed separately, Bologna, Ærarium philosophise mathematicae,
” ibid. 1648, 8vo. 6. “Recreationum Mathematicarum Apiaria XII. novissima,
” ibid. 1660, folio, which
is a reprint of the third volume of the “Apiaria.
”
chitecture, for theatrical decorations, and for perspective, obtained him a good reception. The duke of Parma and the emperor gave him the title of their first painter,
, painter and architect,
was born at Boulogne in 1657. He studied the elements
of his art under Cignani, a distinguished artist, and
when this master produced his disciple to the world, his
talents for architecture, for theatrical decorations, and for
perspective, obtained him a good reception. The duke of
Parma and the emperor gave him the title of their first
painter, and loaded him with favours. Several magnificent
edifices were raised after his plans. His pieces of
perspective are full of taste, but there have not been wanting som
critics who have censured him for having a pencil more
fantastic than natural and just. He died blind in 1743,
leaving two books of architecture and sons worthy of their
father. It is probable that to one of them (J. Galli Bibbiena) the public is indebted for the “History of the
amours of Valeria and the noble Venetian Barbarigo,
”
translated into French, Lausanne and Geneva,
century, and died about the middle of the sixteenth. After having served in the wars under the dukes of Parma and Ferrara, and the republic of Venice, he employed himself
, an Italian mathematician,
was born at Sienna about the end of the fifteenth century,
and died about the middle of the sixteenth. After having
served in the wars under the dukes of Parma and Ferrara,
and the republic of Venice, he employed himself in studying the art of fusing and casting metal for cannon, and
improving the quality of gunpowder. He was the first of
his nation who wrote upon these subjects. The work in
which he laid down his experience and practice, was entitled “Pirotecnia, nella quale si tratta non sole della diversita delle minere, ma anco di quanto si ricerca alia
pratica di esse, e che s’appartienne all‘arte della fusione
o getto de’ metalli,
” Venice,
, a physician, descended of an illustrious family of Parma, was born at Padua in the beginning of the sixteenth century,
, a physician, descended of an
illustrious family of Parma, was born at Padua in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and in 1555 became professor of medicine in that city, where he was esteemed for
his talents and success as a practitioner. He died in 1596,
leaving behind him an immense property, an elegant house,
&c. He published, l.“De Vita conservanda,
” Padua,
De morbis muliebribus,
” ibid. Consilia medica,
” Francfort, De modo discurrendi
circa morbos eosdem curandi tractatus,
” ibid. Methodus medicinales duae,
” &c.
d a friend to send his baggage after him. In Italy his first care was to wait upon don Philippo duke of Parma, and the king of Naples, who gave him a very gracious
The loss of such a friend, and the consequences of it, were extremely distressing to Farinello. The king had hardly closed his eyes, but the favourite’s apartments were as solitary as a desert. Friends and acquaintance, whom he had loaded with benefits, now turned their backs upon him, and a general revolution took place in his affairs. Two days after the king’s death he returned to Madrid, and there remained till the arrival of king Charles from Italy. He went as far as Saragossa to ineet him, to thank him for the assurance he had given him of continuing his appointment. The king received him very graciously, and confirmed the promise he had already made him the foregoing year, at the same time adding, that he was induced to this by his moderation and discretion, and that he was thoroughly convinced that he had never abused the king’s partiality for him. After a stay of three weeks at Saragossa, he bent his course towards Italy, without returning to Madrid, where he had commissioned a friend to send his baggage after him. In Italy his first care was to wait upon don Philippo duke of Parma, and the king of Naples, who gave him a very gracious reception. The joy which his old friends and patrons testified on his retarn to Naples is not to be described. After remaining here six months, he repaired to Naples by the way of Bologna, where he passed the rest of his days in tranquillity.
1732, and colonel in 1734. He distinguished himself in the war of, Italy, especially in the battles of Parma and Guastalla, and burnt, in presence of the French army,
, a celebrated general of the eighteenth century, was the son of Ulysses, baron
de Brown, colonel of a regiment of cuirassiers in the service of the emperors Leopold and Joseph, created in
1716, by the emperor Charles VI. a count of the holy Roman empire, his younger brother George receiving the
like dignity at the same time, who was general of foot,
counsellor of war, and a colonel of a regiment of infantry,
under Charles -VI. They were of an ancient and noble
family in Ireland. The subject of the present memoir
was born at Basle, Oct. 24, 1705-. After having passed
through the lessons of a school at Limerick in Ireland, he
was called to Hungary at ten years of age, by count
George de Brown, his uncle, and was present at the famous siege of Belgrade in 1717; about the close of the
year 1723, he became captain in his uncle’s regiment, and
then lieutenant-colonel in 1725. He went to the island of
Corsica in 1730, with a battalion of his regiment, and contributed greatly to the capture of Callansana, where he
received a wound of some consequence in his thigh. He
was appointed chamberlain to the emperor in 1732, and
colonel in 1734. He distinguished himself in the war of,
Italy, especially in the battles of Parma and Guastalla,
and burnt, in presence of the French army, the bridge
which the marechal de Noailles had thrown across the
Adige. Being appointed general in 1736, he favoured,
the year following, the retreat of the army, by a judicious
manoeuvre, and saved all the baggage at the memorable
day of Banjaluca in Bosnia, Aug. 3, 1737. This signal
piece of service procured him a second regiment of infantry, vacant by the death of count Francis de Wallis. On
his return to Vienna in 1739, the emperor Charles VI.
raised him to the dignity of general-neld-marechal-lieute.^
nanr, and gave him a seat in the Aulic council of war.
After the death of that prince, the king of Prussia having
entered Silesia, count de Brown, with but a small body oi
troops, disputed with him every foot of ground for the
space of two months. He commanded in 1741 the infantry of the right wing of the Austrian army at the battle of
Molvitz; and, though wounded, made a handsome retreat.
He then went into Bavaria, where he commanded the van
of the same army, made himself master of Deckendorf, an4
took much of the enemy’s baggage, and forced the French
to quit the banks of the Danube, which the Austrian army
afterwards passed in perfect safety; in commemoration of
which, a marble pillar was erected on the spot, with the
following inscription: “Theresise Austriacae Augustse Duce
Exercitus Carolo Alexandro Lotharingico, septemdecirn
superatis hostilibus VilHs, captoque Deckendorfio, renitentibus undis, resistentibus Gallis, Duce Exercitus Ludovico Borbonio Contio, transivit hie Danubium Ulysses
Maximilianus, S. R. I. Comes de Brown, Locumtenens
Campi Marashallusj Die 5 Junii, A. D. 1743.
” The queen
of Hungary sent him the s^me year to Worms, in quality
of her plenipotentiary to the king of Great Britain: where
he put the finishing Hand to the/ treaty of alliance between the courts of Vienna, London, and Turin, and she
declared him her actual privy counsellor at her coronation
qf Bohemia. The count de Brown, in 1744, followed
prince Lobkovitz jnto Italy, took the city of Veletri the
4th of August, notwithstanding the great superiority of the
enemy in numbers, penetrated into their camp, defeated
several regiments, and took a great many prisoners. Being
recalled to Bavaria, he performed several military exploits,
and returned to Italy in 1746. He drove the Spaniards
out of the Milanese; and, having joined the army of the
prince de Lichtenstein, he commanded the left wing of
the Austrian troops at the battle of Placentia, the 15th of
June 1746; and routed the right wing of the enemy’s
army, commanded by the marechal de Maillebois. After
this famous battle, the gaining of which was due to him, he
commanded in chief the army ordered against the Genoese,
made himself master of the pass of la Bochetta, though
defended by 4000 men, and took possession of the city of
Genoa. Count Brown then went to join the troops of the
king of Sardinia, and, in conjunction with him, took Montalbano and the territory of Nice. He passed the Var the
30th of November, in opposition to the French troops,
entered Provence, and captured the isles of Saint-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat. He had nearly made himself
master of all Provence, when the revolution at Genoa and
the army of the marechal de Belleisle obliged him to make
that fine retreat which acquired him the admiration of all
good judges of. military tactics. He employed the rest of
the year 1747 in defending the states of the house of
Austria in Italy. The empress-queen of Hungary, in reward of his signal campaigns in Italy, made him governor
of Transylvania in 1749. In 1752 he had the government
of the city of Prague, with the general command of the
troops of that kingdom; and the king of Poland, elector
of Saxony, honoured him in 1755 with the order of the
white eagle. The king of Prussia having invaded Saxony
in 1756, and attacked Bohemia, count Brown marched
against him; he repulsed that prince at the battle of Lobositz the 1st of October, although he had but 26,800
men, and the king of Prussia was at the head of at least
40,000. Within a week after this engagement, he undertook that celebrated march into Saxony, for delivering the
Saxon troops shut up between Pirna and Konigstein:
an action worthy of the greatest general whether ancient or
modern. He afterwards obliged the Prussians to retreat
from Bohemia; for which service he obtained the collar
of the golden fleece, with which he was honoured by
the empress March 6, 1757. Shortly after this count
Brown went into Bohemia, where he raised troops with the
utmost expedition, in order to make head against the king
of Prussia, who had entered it afresh at the head of his
whole army. On May 6th was fought the famous battle of
Potshernitz, or of Prague, when count Brown was dangerously wounded. Obliged to retire to Prague, he there
died of his wounds, the 26th of June 1757, at the age of
52. The count was not only a great general, he was an
equally able negotiator, and well skilled in politics. He
married, Aug. 15, 1726, Maria Philippina countess of Mar
tinitz, of an illustrious and ancient family in Bohemia, by
whom he had two sons. The life of this excellent commander was published in two separate volumes, one in
German, the other in French, printed at Prague in 1757.
gallery; but the brothers not rightly agreeing, the cardinal sent Augustine to the court of the duke of Parma, in whose service he died in 1602, being only forty-five
The fame of the Caracci reaching Rome, the cardinal
Farnese sent for Hannibal thither, to paint the gallery of
his palace. Hannibal was the more willing to go, because
he had a great desire to see Raphael’s works, with the antique statues and bas-reliefs. The gusto which he took
there from the ancient sculpture, made him change his
Bolognian manner for one more learned, but less natural
in the design and in the colouring. Augustine followed
Hannibal, to assist him in his undertaking of the Farnese
gallery; but the brothers not rightly agreeing, the cardinal sent Augustine to the court of the duke of Parma,
in whose service he died in 1602, being only forty-five
years of age. His most celebrated piece of painting is
that of the Communion of St. Jerom, in Bologna: “a
piece,
” says a connoisseur, “so complete in all its parts,
that it was much to be lamented the excellent author
should withdraw himself from the practice of an art, in
which his abilities were so very extraordinary, to follow
the inferior profession of a graver.
” Augustine had a natural son, called Antonio, who was brought up a painter
under his uncle Hannibal; and who applied himself with
so much success to the study of all the capital pieces in
Home, that it is thought he would have surpassed even
Hannibal himself, if he had lived hut he died at the age
of thirty- five, in 1618.
superior to several houses belonging to the society of Jesuits: and he presided over the university of Parma for thirty years, and acted as confessor to two successive
, a learned Jesuit, of a distinguished
family in Placentia, was born there in 1617, and became
professor of mathematics and theology at Rome. He was
one of the two ecclesiastics who contributed to convert
Christina, queen of Sweden, to the popish faith. She had
desired that two Jesuits might be sent to confer with her
on the subject. In 1652 he returned to Italy, and, as he
had considerable political talents, was appointed superior
to several houses belonging to the society of Jesuits: and
he presided over the university of Parma for thirty years,
and acted as confessor to two successive duchesses of
Parma. Amidst all these occupations he had leisure for
his mathematical studies and publications. He died at
Parma, Dec. 22, 1707. His principal works are, 1. “Vacuum proscriptum,
” Genoa, Terra machinis
mota,
” Rome, Mechanicorum libri octo,
”
De igne dissertationes,
” De angelis disputatio theologica,
” Placentia, Hydrostaticse dissertationes,
” Parma, Opticae disputationes,
” Parma,
of rarity and curiosity. He was a member of the academy of Apatisti at Florence, and of the academy of Parma, and of other learned societies. But he had, unfortunately,
, a physician at Florence, where he
was born in 1625, had not only great skill in his profession,
but very extensive literary knowlege, and few men were
better acquainted with books of rarity and curiosity. He
was a member of the academy of Apatisti at Florence, and
of the academy of Parma, and of other learned societies.
But he had, unfortunately, the art of creating enemies by
the severity of his censures and personal remarks; and
having taken some liberties of this kind in his “Biblioteca
volante
” with Dr. Moniglia, first physician to Cosmo III.
he was sent to prison, and released only on condition of
retracting what he had so imprudently advanced. After
this, he quitted the dominions of the grand duke, and
having travelled over most part of Italy, settled at Loretto,
where he practised physic, and where he died in 1706. In
1677 he published the first two parts of his “Biblioteca
volante,
” or fugitive library; a curious and useful collection of remarks and information respecting rare books, in
which he was assisted by the learned Magliabechi, who
was his intimate friend. The third, fourth, and fifth parts
he published at Naples about the year 1686. The whole
was reprinted, with additions by Sancassani, at Venice,
4 vols. 4to, 1734—1747. He had a design of publishing
an account of Tuscan authors, which we are sorry to find
was prevented by his poverty and want of encouragement.
The only other publication we know of Cinelli’s, was a new
edition, with improvements, of “Bocchi’s Curiosities of
Florence,
”
f the French academy and that of Berlin, abbe of Mureaux, preceptor of the infant don Ferdinand duke of Parma, was born at Grenoble about the year 1715, and died of
, of the French
academy and that of Berlin, abbe of Mureaux, preceptor
of the infant don Ferdinand duke of Parma, was born at
Grenoble about the year 1715, and died of a putrid fever
at his estate of Flux near Baugenci, the 2dof August 1780.
Strong sense, sound judgment, a clear and profound knowledge of metaphysics, a well chosen and extensive reading,
a sedate character, manners grave without austerity, a style
rather sententious, a greater facility in writing than in
speaking, more philosophy than sensibility and imagination;
form, according to the opinion of his countrymen, the
principal features in the portrait of the abbe de Condillac.
A collection in 3 vols. 12mo, under the title of his Works,
contains his essay on the origin of human sciences, his
treatise of sensations, his treatise of systems; all performances replete with striking and novel ideas, advanced
with boldness, and in which the modern philosophic style
seems perfectly natural to the author. His “Course of
Study,
” Commerce and Government considered in their mutual relations,
” 12mo, a book which
has been decried by anti-qeconomists, and it is allowed by
his admirers that it might have been as well if the author
had not laid down, certain systems on the commerce
of grain; that he had given his principles an air less
profound and abstracted, and that on those matters that
are of moment to all men, he had written for the perusal of all men. It is observed in some of the abbe Condillac’s works, that he had a high opinion of his own merit,
and thought it his duty not to conceal it. He has also
been more justly censured for having, in his treatise of
“Sensations,
” established principles from which the materialists have drawn pernicious conclusions and that in
his course of study, he has, like an incompetent judge,
condemned several flights of Boileau, by submitting poetry,
which in its very nature is free, irregular, and bold, to the
rules of geometry. His works we may suppose are still in
favour in France, as a complete edition was printed in
1798, in 25 vols. 8vo.
d before this solicited, and successfully, the appointment for him of librarian to the infant prince of Parma, who was at this period committed to the immediate care
, one of the French Encyclopaedists, was born at Portets, in the vicinity of Bonrdeanx, in January 1726; was at an early age admitted into the college of the Jesuits, and, when only fifteen years old, was invested with their order. He was a youth of much imagination and sensibility, and at the same time strongly addicted to mental melancholy; during which he almost uninterruptedly directed his thoughts to the two great extremes of futurity, heaven and hell, which distressed him with perpetual agitations of mind. Deleyre, however, did not long continue in this state of mind, but quitted the Jesuit society, and with this, we have no small reason to believe, every religious faith whatever. As he was of plebeian birth, he could have no expectations from the court; his only alternatives were philosophy and the law; and the latter did not exactly correspond, we are told by his eulogist, either with his sensibility or his independence of mind. Montesquieu was at this time the Miecenas of Guienne, and became the patron of Deleyre from a thorough conviction of his talents: he introduced him to Diderot, d'Alembert, J. J. Rousseau, and Duclos; and his destiny was fixed: he decided for philosophy, and became a writer in the Encyclopedic. In this new capacity his hardihood was not inferior to that of his colleagues; the famous, or rather infamous, article on fanaticism was soon known to have been of his production, and it was likely to have been essentially detrimental to him; for he had now fixed his attention upon matrimony, and had obtained the consent of a lady; but the priests of the parish in which the ceremony was to have been celebrated, refused to unite them, in consequence of their having heard that Deleyre was the author of this article. His patronage, however, was at this time increased, and he had found a warm and steady friend in the due de Nivernois, who interfered in the dispute, and Deleyre obtained the fair object of his wishes. The duke had before this solicited, and successfully, the appointment for him of librarian to the infant prince of Parma, who was at this period committed to the immediate care of Condillac. In this situation he continued for some considerable time; and although a dispute respecting the mode of educating their pupil at length separated him from this celebrated logician, he appears to have always entertained for him the highest degree of respect.
r twenty: two years. He removed from thence in 1585, to serve the church at Flushing, after the duke of Parma had taken Brussels. He understood Greek and the oriental
, protestant minister of Leyden, and professor in the Walloon college of that city, a man of great abilities, and uncommonly versed in the oriental languages, was born April 7, 1590, at Flushing, where his father Daniel de Dieu was minister. Daniel was a man of great merit, and a native of Brussels, where he had been a minister twenty: two years. He removed from thence in 1585, to serve the church at Flushing, after the duke of Parma had taken Brussels. He understood Greek and the oriental languages, and could preach with the applause of his auditors in German, Italian, French, and English. The churches of the Netherlands sent him, in 1588, over to queen Elizabeth, to inform her of the designs of the duke of Parma, who secretly made her proposals of peace, while the king of Spain was equipping a formidable fleet against England. Lewis, his son, studied under Daniel Colonius, his uncle by his mother’s side, who was professor at Leyden in the Walloon college. He was two years minister of the French church at Flushing; and might have been court-minister at the Hague, if his natural aversion to the manners of a court had not restrained him from accepting that place. There are some circumstances relating to that affair which deserve to be remembered. Prince Maurice, being in Zealand, heard Lewis de Dieu preach, who was yet but a student; and some time after sent for him to court. The young man modestly excused himself, declaring, that he designed to satisfy his conscience in the exercise of his ministry, and to censure freely what he should find deserved censure; a liberty, he said, which courts did not care to allow. Besides, he thought the post which was offered him more proper for a man in years than a student. The prince, conscious that he was in the right, commended his modesty and prudence. He was called to Leyden in 1619 to teach, with his uncle Colonius, in the Walloon college; and he discharged the duty of that employment with great diligence till his death, which happened in 1642. He refused the post, which was offered him, of divinity-professor in the new university of Utrecht; but, if he had lived long enough, he would have been advanced to the same post in that of Leyden. He married the daughter of a counsellor of Flushing, by whom he had eleven children.
bo in his letters. He taught also at Parma, and there printed a Latin oration in 1532 on the praises of Parma, and the study of classical literature, “De laudibus Parmae
, a very learned scholar of the
sixteenth century, was born at Zano, a seat belonging to
the family of Nogarola, in the diocese of Verona in Italy.
He became professor of Greek and Latin at Padua, whence
he went to teach the same languages at Capo d'Istria, as
mentioned by Bembo in his letters. He taught also at
Parma, and there printed a Latin oration in 1532 on the
praises of Parma, and the study of classical literature,
“De laudibus Parmae et de studiis humanioribus.
” After
this he appears to have given lessons in the duchy of Ferrara, whence he returned and died in his own country,
much regretted as an accomplished scholar. He made the
Latin translation of the Evangelical Demonstration of Eusebius, which was magnificently printed, and afterwards used
in a Paris edition, Greek and Latin, but without noticing that
it was his. He translated also some pieces of Galen, Xenophon, and Aristotle; and was editor of the first Greek
edition of Chrysostom the first edition of Œcumenius
of Aretas on the Apocalypse two books of John Damascenus on Faith; and superintended an edition of Macrobius and Censorinus. In 1540 he published “De Pldtonicae, et Aristotelicae philosophise, differentia,
” Venice, 8vo,
but this was a posthumous work, if according to Saxius, he
died in 1540.
in and every thing threatened the most formidable naval enterprize that Europe ever beheld. The duke of Parma was to conduct the landforces, twenty-thousand of whom
Philip, however, proceeded with unremitting diligence, and every part of his dominions resounded with the noise of armaments. The marquis of Santa Croce, a sea-officer of great reputation and experience, was destined to command the fleet. In all the ports of Sicily, Naples, Spain, and Portugal, artizans were employed in building vessels of uncommon size and force naval stores were bought at a great expence armies were levied, and quartered along the maritime parts of Spain and every thing threatened the most formidable naval enterprize that Europe ever beheld. The duke of Parma was to conduct the landforces, twenty-thousand of whom were on board the fleet, and thirty-four thousand more were assembled in the Netherlands, ready to be transported into England. The most renowned nobility, and princes of Italy and Spain were ambitious of sharing in the honour of this great enterprize, and the Spaniards, ostentatious of their power, already denominated their navy the Invincible Armada.
d Seymour, second son of the protector Somerset, and lay off Dunkirk, in order to intercept the duke of Parma. The land forces of England, though more numerous than
When the news reached England that this mighty fleet was preparing to sail, terror and consternation universally seized the inhabitants. A fleet of not above thirty ships of war, and those very small in comparison, was all that they had to oppose it by sea. All the commercial towns of England, however, were required to furnish ships for reinfiprciqg this small navy. The citizens of London, instead of fifteen vessels, which they were commanded to equip, voluntarily fitted out double the number. The gentry and nobility equipped forty three ships at their own charge. Lord Howard of Effingham was admiral, and under him served Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, all celebrated for courage and capacity. The principal fleet was stationed at Plymouth. A smaller squadron, consisting of forty vessels, English and Flemish, was commanded by lord Seymour, second son of the protector Somerset, and lay off Dunkirk, in order to intercept the duke of Parma. The land forces of England, though more numerous than the enemy, were greatly inferior in discipline and experience. An army of 20,000 men was disposed in different bodies along the south coast; and a body of 22,000 foot and 1000 horse was stationed at Tilbury, in order to defend the capital. The principal army consisted of 34,000 foot and 2000 horse, and was commanded by lord Hunsdon. These forces were reserved for guarding the queen’s person; and were appointed to march whithersoever the enemy should appear. The fate of England, if all the Spanish armies should be aule to land, seemed to depend on the issue of a single battle; from which no favourable expectation could be formed, considering the force of 60,000 veteran Spaniards, commanded by experienced officers, under the duke of Parma, the greatest general of the age.
The armada had now reached Calais, and cast anchor before that place; in expectation that the duke of Parma, who had gotten intelligence of their approach, would
The armada had now reached Calais, and cast anchor before that place; in expectation that the duke of Parma, who had gotten intelligence of their approach, would put to sea and join his forces to them. The English admiral practised here a successful stratagem upon the Spaniards. He took eight of his smaller ships, and filling them with all combustible materials, sent them one after another into the midst of the enemy. The Spaniards fancied that they were fireships of the same contrivance with a famous vessel which had lately done so much execution in the Scheld near Antwerp; and they immediately cut their cables, and took to flight with the greatest disorder and precipitation. The English fell upon them next morning while in confusion; and besides doing great damage to other ships, they took oV destroyed about twelve of the enemy. By this time it was become apparent, that the intention for which these preparations were made by the Spaniards, was entirely frustrated. The vessels provided by the duke of Parma were made for transporting soldiers, not for fighting; and that general, when urged to leave the harbour, positively refused to expose his flourishing army to such apparent hazard; while the English were not only able to keep the sea, but seemed even to triumph over their enemy. The Spanish admiral found, in many rencounters, that while he lost so considerable a part of his own navy, he had destroyed only one small vessel of the English and he foresaw that by continuing so unequal a combat, he must draw inevitable destruction on all the remainder. He prepared therefore to return homewards; but as the wind was contrary to his passage through the channel, he resolved to sail northwards, and making the tour of the island, reach the Spanish harbours by the ocean. The English feet followed him during some time; and had not their ammuniiion fallen short, by the negligence of the offices in supplying them, they had obliged the whole armada to surrender at discretion. The duke of Medina had once taken that resolution; but was diverted from it by the advice of his confessor. This conclusion of the enterprize would have been more glorious to the English; but the event proved almost equally fatal to the Spaniards. A violent tempest overtook the armada after it passed the Orkneys; the ships had already lost their anchors, and were obliged to keep to sea; the mariners, unaccustomed to such hardships, and not able to govern such unwieldy vessels, yielded to the fury of the storm, and allowed their ships to drive either on the western isles of Scotland, or on the coast of Ireland, where they were miserably wrecked^ Not a half of the navy returned to Spain; and the seamen as well as soldiers who remained, were so overcome with hardships and fatigue, and so dispirited by their discomfiture, that they filled all Spain with accounts of the desperate valour of the English, and of the tempestuous violence of that ocean which surrounds them. Such was the miserable and dishonourable conduct of an enterprize which had been preparing for three years, which had exhausted the revenue and force of Spain, and which had long filled all Europe with anxiety or expectation, and which was intended to have destroyed the civil liberties, as well as the reformed religion, in England. Soon after this, which was one of the most important events in the history of Elizabeth, or any other sovereign of England, Elizabeth became the ally of Henry IV. in order to vindicate his title, and establish him firmly on the throne of France, and for some years the Englisii auxiliaries served in France, while several naval expeditions, undertaken by individuals, or by the queen, raised the reputation of England to an extraordinary height. At this period Robert Devereux earl of Essex, the queen’s favourite, highly distinguished himself; but the events of his unfortunate life have been already given. (See Devereux.)
o funebris in exequiis ducissae Parmse,” &c. that is, “A funeral oration on the Death of the duchess of Parma, daughter of Charles V. and governess of the Netherlands.”
Wood has given us the following catalogue of his works:
1. “A Conference dialogue-wise held between the lady
Jane Dudley and Mr. John Feckenham, four days before
her death, touching her faith and belief of the sacrament,
and her religion, 1554.
” In April 1554, he had been
sent by the queen to this lady to commune with her, and
to reduce her from the doctrine of Christ to queen Mary’s
religion, as Fox expresses it. The substance of this conference may be seen also in Fox’s “Acts and Monuments
of Martyrs.
” 2. “Speech in the house of lords, 1553.
”
5. “Two Homilies on the first, second, and third articles
of the Creed.
” 4. “Oratio funebris in exequiis ducissae
Parmse,
” &c. that is, “A funeral oration on the Death of
the duchess of Parma, daughter of Charles V. and governess of the Netherlands.
” 5. “Sermon at the exequy of
Joan queen of Spain, 1555.
” 6. The declaration of such
scruples and staies of conscience, touching the Oath of
Supremacy, delivered by writing to Dr. Home, bishop of
Winchester, 1566.“7.
” Objections or Assertions made
against Mr. John Cough’s Sermon, preached in the Tower
of London, Jan. 15, 1570.“8.
” Caveat emptor:“which
seems to have been a caution against buying abbey-lands.
He had also written,
” Commentaries on the Psalms,“and
a
” Treatise on the Eucharist,“which were lost among
other things. Thus far Wood: but another author mentions, 9.
” A Sermon on the Funeral of queen Mary, on
“Ecclesiastes iv. 2.
”
f his life, notwithstanding the tempting offers he received from several seats of learning. The duke of Parma, in particular, pressed him to take the professorship
, a physician of Messagna, in the territory of Otranto, where he was born, October, or according to Niceron, Nov. 2, 1569, cultivated the study of the Latin and Greek poets at an early age, and wrote elegant verses in both these languages. In 1583 he went to Naples with the intention of going through the courses of philosophy and medicine; but in 1591, all strangers were compelled to leave the place. Ferdinand, returning to his own country, taught geometry and philosophy until 1594) when the viceroy’s edict being revoked, he returned to Naples, pursued a course of medical studies, and receired the degree of doctor in medicine and philosophy. He then repaired to his native place, where he settled himself in practice, and remained to the end of his life, notwithstanding the tempting offers he received from several seats of learning. The duke of Parma, in particular, pressed him to take the professorship of medicine in the university of his city; and the same invitation, was given from the university of Padua. In 1605, he was chosen syndic-general of his country, and acquitted himself with great credit in that office. He died Dec. 6, 1638, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.
est specimens of correct and elegant printing which the eighteenth century has produced. Even Bodoni of Parma, or Barbou of Paris, have not gone beyond some of the
, two learned printers
of Scotland, were, it is supposed, natives of Glasgow,
and passed their early days in obscurity. Ingenuity and
perseverance, however, enabled them to establish a press
from which have issued some of the finest specimens of
correct and elegant printing which the eighteenth century has produced. Even Bodoni of Parma, or Barbou of
Paris, have not gone beyond some of the productions from
the press of Robert and Andrew Foulis. It would b
highly agreeable to trace the progress of these ingenious
men, but their history has been neglected by their
countrymen, and at this distance little can be recovered. Robert Foulis began printing about 1740, and one of his first
essays was a good edition of Demetrius Phalereus, in 4to.
In 1744 he brought out his celebrated immaculate edition,
of Horace, 12mo, and soon afterwards was in partnership
with his brother Andrew. Of this edition of Horace, the
sheets, as they were printed, were hung up in the college
of Glasgow, and a reward was offered to those who should
discover an inaccuracy. It has been several times reprrnted at Glasgow, but not probably with the same fidelity.
The two brothers then proceeded in producing, for thirty
years, a series of correct and well printed books, particularly classics, which, either in Greek or Latin, are as remarkable for their beauty and exactness as any in the
Aldine series. Among those classics we may enumerate
J. “Homer,
” 4 vols. fol. Gr. 2. “Herodotus,
” 9 vols.
J2mo. 3. “Thucydides,
” 8 vols. 12mo. 4. “Xenophon,
” 8 vols. 12mo. 5. “Epictetus,
” 12mo. 6. “Longiniis,
” 12mo. 7. “Ciceronis Opera,
” 20 vols. 12mo.
%. “Horace,
” 12mo and 4to. 9. “Virgil,
” I3mo. 10.
' Tibullus and Propertius,“12mo. 11.
” Cornelius Nepos,“3 vols. 12mo. 12.
” Tacitus,“4 vols. 12mo. 13.
11 Juvenal and Persius,
” 12mo. 14. “Lucretius,
” 12mo.
To these may be added a beautiful edition of the Greek
Testament, small 4to; Gray’s Poems; Pope’s Works;
Hales of Eton, &c. &c. &c.
or comic, and seize instantaneously upon any passion of the human mind. He exhibited before the duke of Parma, by reciting a soliloquy of Macbeth; and had friendly
In 1763, he undertook a journey into Italy, and set out for Dover, in his way to Calais, Sept. 17. His historian assigns several causes of this excursion, and among the chief, the prevalence of Covent-garden theatre under the management of Mr. Beard, the singer; but the real cause probably was, the indifferent health of himself and Mrs. Garrick, to the latter of whom the baths of Padua were afterwards of service, During his trayels, he gave frequent proofs of his theatrical talents; and he readily complied with requests of that kind, because indeed nothing was more easy to him. He could, without the least preparation, transform himself into any character, tragic or comic, and seize instantaneously upon any passion of the human mind. He exhibited before the duke of Parma, by reciting a soliloquy of Macbeth; and had friendly contests with the celebrated mademoiselle Clairon at Paris. He saw this actress when he paid his first visit to Paris in 1752; and though mademoiselle Dumesnil was then the, favourite actress of the French theatre, he ventured to pronounce that Clairon would excel all competitors; which prediction was fulfilled.
Gruter, burgomaster of Antwerp; who, having, among others, signed the famous petition tq the duchess of Parma, the governess of the Netherlands, which gave rise to
, a celebrated philologer,
was born December 3, 1560, at Antwerp. He was the
son of John Walter Gruter, burgomaster of Antwerp;
who, having, among others, signed the famous petition tq
the duchess of Parma, the governess of the Netherlands,
which gave rise to the word Gueux (Beggars), was banished
his country. He crossed the sea to Norwich in England,
taking his wife (who was an English woman) and family
along with him. Young Gruter was then but an infant; he
had the peculiar felicity, like Cicero, of imbibing the elements of learning from his mother, Catharine Tishem;
who, besides French, Italian, and English, was complete
mistress of Latin, and so well skilled in Greek that she
could read Galen in the original. The family found an
hospitable asylum in England, where they resided several
years, and at a proper age sent their son to complete his
education at Cambridge. His parents, after some time,
repassing the sea to Middleburg, the son followed them to
Holland and, going to Leyden, studied the civil law, and
took his doctor’s degree there in that faculty but,
applying himself at the same time to polite literature, he became an early author, as appears by some Latin verses
which he published, under the title of “Ocelli,
” at twenty
years of age.
he States had possessed themselves of it; but, when the city was threatened with a siege by the duke of Parma in 15S4-, was sent to France, where he resided some years,
After taking his degree, he went to Antwerp, to his fa ther, who had returned thither as soon as the States had possessed themselves of it; but, when the city was threatened with a siege by the duke of Parma in 15S4-, was sent to France, where he resided some years, and then visited other countries. The particular route and circumstances of his travels afterwards are not known; but it appears that he read public lectures upon the Classics at Rostock, particularly on Suetonius. He was in Prussia, when Christian, duke of Saxony, offered him the chair of hi story -professor in the university of Wittemburg; which place he enjoyed but a few months: for, upon the death of that prince, his successors desiring the professors to subscribe the act of concord on pain of forfeiting their places, Gruterus chose rather to resign than subscribe a confession of faith which he could not reconcile to his conscience. He was treated with particular seventy on this occasion for, while two others who were deprived on the same account, had half a year’s salary allowed them by way of gratification, according to the custom of those countries, with regard to persons honourably discharged; yet in the case of Gruterus, they did not defray even the expences of his journey. Where he went immediately after this does not appear; but we are told, that, being at Padua at the time of Riccoboni’s death, that professor’s place was offered to him, together with liberty of conscience: the salary too was very considerable, yet he refused all these advantages. He was apprehensive that so profitable and honourable an employment would expose him to the attacks of envy, and he would not submit to the bare exercise of his religion in private. He was therefore much better pleased with an invitation to Heidelberg, where he filled the professor’s chair with great reputation for many years; and, in 1602, had the direction of that famous library, which was afterwards carried to Rome.
His merit in this government recommended him, in 1521, to that of Parma, whence he drove away the French, and confirmed the Parmesans
His merit in this government recommended him, in 1521, to that of Parma, whence he drove away the French, and confirmed the Parmesans in their obedience; and this at a time when the holy see was vacant by the death of Leo, and the people he commanded full of fears, disheartened, and unarmed. He retained the same post under Adrian VI, to whom he discovered the dangerous designs of Alberto Pio da Carpi, and got him removed from the government of Reggio and Rubiera. Clement VII. on his exaltation to the pontificate, confirmed him in that government. This pope was of the house of Medici, to which Guicciardini was particularly attached; and, in return, we find him presently raised to the highest dignities in the ecclesiastical state. Having in 1523 prevented the duke of Ferrara from seizing Modena, the pope, in acknowledgement thereof, not only made him governor of that city, but constituted him president of Romagna, with unlimited authority. This was a post of great dignity and power, yet as factions then ran very high, the situation was both laborious and dangerous. However, he not only by his prudence overcame all these difficulties, but found means, in the midst of them, to improve the conveniences and delight of the inhabitants. Their towns which lay almost in rubbish, he embellished with good houses and stately buildings; a happiness, of which they were so sensible, that it rendered the name of Guicciardini dear to them, and they were overjoyed, when, after a farther promotion of Francis, they understood he was to be succeeded in his government by his brother. This happened June 6,
s. He had afterwards a desire to see Rome, and, in 1683, going thither by the permission of the duke of Parma, and being already known by his poems y found no difficulty
, an Italian poet, was born at Pavia^ in Milan, 1650, and sent to Parma at sixteen years of age. His uncommon talents for poetry recommended him so powerfully at court, that he received great encouragement from the duke. He composed some pieces at that time, which, though they savoured of the bad taste thei> prevailing, yet shewed genius, and a capacity for better things. He had afterwards a desire to see Rome, and, in 1683, going thither by the permission of the duke of Parma, and being already known by his poems y found no difficulty in being introduced to persons of the first distinctiort. Among others, Christina queen of Sweden wished to see him; and was so pleased with a poem, which he composed at her request, that she had a great desire to retain him at her court. The term allowed him by the duke being expired, he returned to Parma; but the queen having signified her desire to that prince’s resident at Rome, and the duke being acquainted with it, Guidi was sent back to Rome in May 1685.
od benefice for him from Innocent XI. yet he did not cease to feel the esteem of his master the duke of Parma, but received from him a pension, which was paid very
His abode in this city was highly advantageous to him; for, being received into the academy which was held at the queen of Sweden’s, he became acquainted with several of the learned who were members of it. He began then to read the poems of Dante, Petrarch, and Chiabrara; which reformed the bad taste he had contracted. The reading of these and other good authors entirely changed his manner of writing; and the pieces he wrote afterwards were of quite a different style and taste. Though the queen of Sweden was very kind to him, and obtained a good benefice for him from Innocent XI. yet he did not cease to feel the esteem of his master the duke of Parma, but received from him a pension, which was paid very punctually. The death of his royal patroness happened in 1689, but he did not leave Rome; lor the duke of Parma gave him an apartment in his palace there, and his loss was abundantly recompensed by the liberality of many persons of quality. In July 1691, he was made a member of the academy of Arcadi at Rome, under the name of Erilo Cleoneo, nine months after its foundation, and was one of its chief ornaments. Clement XI. who knew him well, and did him kind offices while he was a cardinal, continued his favours to him after he was raised to the pontificate.
for fear of raising troubles in his dominions, drove them out in 1767. The king of Naples, the duke of Parma, and the grand master of Malta followed his example in
They experienced, however, from time to time, the
strorigest opposition in several countries; in Spain, and
particularly in France. No society ever had so many
enemies as the Jesuits have had; the very books which
have been written against them, would form a considerable
library. Nor has this opposition been without the justest
foundation. However serviceable they were to the see of
Rome, to which they were always most devoutly attached,
they were very pernicious in other countries, by propagating doctrines which have exposed sovereign princes to
slaughter, and states to revolutions; and by corrupting
religion and morality by mental reserves and logical distinctions to such a degree, that, according to them, the
vilest and most profligate wretches in the world might do
what they pleased, yet not offend against their rules; and
for this they have often been thoroughly exposed, especially in the “Provincial Letters
” of M. Pascal. They
also became merchants, thinking by their riches to make
dependents in every court, and, by that means to have
absolute sway; while the individuals who, without gaining
any particular advantage, laboured to aggrandize the body,
were the victims of the infatuation of their superiors. The
king of Portugal, persuaded that they instigated the assassins who attempted his life in 1758, drove them from
his dominions in 1759. The king of France, considering
this institution, which had been only tolerated in that
kingdom, as being incompatible with its laws, suppressed
it in 1763; and the king of Spain, for reasons which he
concealed, for fear of raising troubles in his dominions,
drove them out in 1767. The king of Naples, the duke
of Parma, and the grand master of Malta followed his
example in 1768; and pope Clement XIV. obliged to yield
to the united power of the house of Bourbon, issued a bull
for their final suppression, dated July 21, 1773.
of which was employed in teaching Greek and Latin at Reggio: he was afterwards secretary to the duke of Parma, and died in 1568, at the age of forty-five. He wrote,
, of Udina in the Venetian territory, was an eminent scholar in the sixteenth
century. He was born in 1523, and was remarkable for
the integrity of his life, part of which was employed in
teaching Greek and Latin at Reggio: he was afterwards
secretary to the duke of Parma, and died in 1568, at the
age of forty-five. He wrote, 1. “Parergon libri tres,
” inserted in the third volume of Gruter’s “Fax Critica;
” and
consisting of illustrations of various obscure passages in
ancient authors. 2. A Latin commentary on Horace’s Art
of Poetry, published in 4to, at Venice, in 1544. 3. A
treatise “de componendis Animi affectibus,
” Bale, 1562,
in 8vo.
, a statesman and elegant writer, was born at Borgo Taro, a small town of the dukedom of Parma, on the 14th April, 1714. He was the eldest son of Marcel
, a statesman and elegant writer, was born at Borgo Taro, a small town of the dukedom of Parma, on the 14th April, 1714. He was the eldest son of Marcel marquis of Ozzano, of an ancient family amongst the Parmesan nobility, and of a lady named Pellegrini, of birth equally illustrious. As soon as he arrived at an age competent for a learned education, he was placed in the college of Parma, where he went through all his studies with assiduity and success; and in the earliest period of his youth displayed that peculiar fondness for the belles lettres and fine arts, which afterwards constituted his predominant and almost exclusive passion. On quitting college, he repaired to his native place, where his father, with a view of giving him some knowledge of domestic economy, associated him in the management of his large estate, and thus gave him for some time rather more occupation than was compatible with his literary pursuits. After his father’s death he married a lady of noble birth, of the name of Antini; and soon added to his other occupations that of superintending the education of his children. In this way he spent many years, on his manor of Borgo Taro, and occasionally gave specimens of his talents in painting and poetry. His performances in the former art were not numerous or highly distinguished, and were only intended as presents to his friends; but in poetry he reached the highest degree of merit, and seemed to have well availed himself of those favourable circumstances which the spirit of the age had introduced. The abbe" Frugoni was then one of the most conspicuous leaders of the new poetical band; and having fixed his residence at Parma, he naturally became, in that small metropolis, the head of a school, in which, by exploding the frequent antitheses, the inflation of style, the wantonness of conceits, and the gigantic strains of imagination, he introduced an easy, regular, descriptive, sentimental, and elegant poesy, and what was more remarkable, gave to blank verse a strength and harmony till then unknown. Mr. Manara, although a professed admirer of Frugoni and his disciples, did not choose to be of their number as far as regarded their enthusiasm, imagery, rapidity of thoughts, and luxury of versification. He was conscious that his own poetical fire was like his temper, endowed with gentleness and sensibility; and with this spirit wrote those elegant eclogues, which soon proved rivals to the pastoral songs of the celebrated Pompei; and in the opinion of the best judges, united the flowing style of Virgil with the graces of Anacreon. His sonnets, too, though not numerous, might be put in competition with those of Petrarch.
slightly glance at them. The celebrated Theatin Paciaudi being directed to new model the university of Parma, he established it on the same plan as that of Turin 1
From 1767 to 1781 his farther advancements were so rapid, that we can only slightly glance at them. The celebrated Theatin Paciaudi being directed to new model the university of Parma, he established it on the same plan as that of Turin 1 he invested a committee of secular clergymen with the power of directing all moral and religious concerns in it, and another committee of lay noblemen, under the name of magistracy of reform, with that of superintending all its temporal and economical transactions. Manara was appointed one of these magistrates, with the additional prerogative of being the exclusive director of that branch of the establishment which was called the royal college of noblemen, and in this double capacity he answered the most sanguine expectations. In 1771 he was appointed counsellor of state to his royal highness, and in 1773 was sent ambassador to the court of Turin, for the purpose of felicitating his late Sardinian majesty on his accession to the crown.
2, which he found in the duke of Devonshire’s library, and which is also in lord Spencer’s; and that of Parma, 1473, belonging to the earl of Sunderland. The “Statius,”
Mr. Markland found the “Sylvae
” of Statins in a very
corrupt state, obscure in itself, and mangled by its editors;
yet, notwithstanding the want of ms copies, of which there
were none in England, he appears to have Accomplished
his task by uncommon felicity of judgment and conjecture.
It is not very easy to comprehend Ernesti’s objection, that
he “sometimes rather indulged his ingenuity and exquisite
learning against the expressed authority of books,
” since
his object was to prove how much those books had failed
in exhibiting a pure text. Of the ancient editions, Mr.
Markland owns his obligations to that of Venice, 1472,
which he found in the duke of Devonshire’s library, and
which is also in lord Spencer’s; and that of Parma, 1473,
belonging to the earl of Sunderland. The “Statius,
” as
well as the “Epistola Critica,
” was dedicated to his friend
bishop Hare.
portance. Sainte Aldegonde was afterwards consul at Antwerp, which city he defended against the duke of Parma, in 1584, and died at Leyden, December 15, 1598, aged
, seigneur du Mont, sainte Aldegonde, by which last name he is recorded by some biographers, was born in 1538, at Brussels, of noble parents,
who were originally of Savoy. He was Calvin’s disciple at
Geneva, and appointed ecclesiastical counsellor to Charles
Louis, elector palatine; but William, prince of Orange,
invited him back again some time after, and employed him
usefully in affairs of the utmost importance. Sainte Aldegonde was afterwards consul at Antwerp, which city he
defended against the duke of Parma, in 1584, and died at
Leyden, December 15, 1598, aged sixty, while he was employed in a Flemish version of the Bible. He left “Controversial Theses,
” Antwerp, Circular Epistles to the Protestants;
” “Apologies;
” a “Portrait of different Religions,
” in which he ridicules the church of
Rome, Leyden, 1603, and 1605, 2 vols. 8vo; and other
works. Sainte Aldegonde drew up the form of the celebrated confederacy, by which several lords of the Netherlands engaged to oppose the odious tribunal of the inquisition, in 1566.
er of his delivery, obliged him to relinquish that duty. The marquis of Felino, minister of the duke of Parma, founded a professorship of history, and Millot, through
, a late French historian, was born at Besanc,on, in March 1726, and belonged, for some time, to the order of Jesuits. He was one of
those who were appointed to preach, and continued so to
do after he had quitted that society. But the weakness of
his voice, his timidity, and the embarrassed manner of his
delivery, obliged him to relinquish that duty. The marquis of Felino, minister of the duke of Parma, founded a
professorship of history, and Millot, through the interest
ef the duke of Nivernois, was appointed to it. A revolt
having arisen among the people of Parma, while he was
there, in consequence of some innovations of the minister,
Millot very honourably refused to quit him. It was represented that by so doing he risked his place. “My
place,
” he replied, “is to attend a virtuous man who is
my benefactor, and that office I am determined not to
lose.
” After having held this professorship, with great
reputation for some time, he returned into France, and
was appointed preceptor to the duke D‘Enghien. He was
still employed in this duty in 1785, when he was removed
by death, at the age of fifty-nine. Millot was not a man
who shone in conversation; his manner was dry and reserved, but his remarks were generally able and judicious.
D’Alembert said of him, that he never knew a man of so
few prejudices, and so few pretensions. His works are
carefully drawn up, in a pure, natural, and elegant style.
They are these: 1. “Elements of the History of France,
from Clovis to Louis XV.
” 3 vols. 12mo; an abridgment
made with remarkable judgment in the selection of facts,
and great clearness in the divisions and order. 2. “Elements of the History of England, from the time of the Romans to George II.
” This work has the same characteristic merits as the former. 3. “Elements of Universal History,
” 9 vols. 12mo. It has been unjustly said, that this is
pirated from the general history of Voltaire. The accusation is without foundation; the ancient part is perfectly
original, and the modern is equally remarkable for the selection of facts, and the judicious and impartial manner in
which they are related. 4. “History of the Troubadours,
”
3 vols. 12mo. This work was drawn up from a vast collection of materials made by M. de St. Palaye, and, notwithstanding the talents of the selector, has still been considered
as uninteresting. 5. “Political and military Memoirs towards the History of Louis XIV. and XV. composed of
original documents collected by Adrian Maurice, duke of
Noailles, mareschal of France,
” 6 vols. 12mo There are
extant also, by Millot, “Discourses on Academical Subjects,
” and, “Translations of some select ancient Orations,
from the Latin Historians.
” All these are written in French.
Notwithstanding a few objections that have been made to
him, as being occasionally declamatory, there is no doubt
that Millot is a valuable historian, and his elements of
French and English history have been well received in this
country in their translations.
, antiquary and librarian to the duke of Parma, and historiographer of the order of Malta, was born at
, antiquary and librarian to
the duke of Parma, and historiographer of the order of
Malta, was born at Turin, Nov. 13, 1710. After studying
in the university of Turin, he took the religious habit in
the order of the Theatins, at Venice, and then went to
Bologna to study mathematics and natural philosophy under
the celebrated Beccari. It appears that he began his subsequent literary career with the last-mentioned pursuit;
and that as soon as he had attained the higher orders, he
was appointed professor of philosophy in the college of
Genoa; and was one of those who first dared, to explode,
from the schools of Italy, the old rooted prejudices of fantastic systems, and to substitute for them the eternal truths
discovered by Newton. He did not, however, long remain in the professorship of philosophy, at Genoa, but
quitted philosophy for divinity, and devoted ten years to
preaching and the composition of sermons, by neither of
which he acquired much reputation; but within this period
he published some orations, his “Treatise on the Antiquities of Hipa Transone,
” the ancient Cupra; and three years
after, his “Explanation of an ancient engraved Stone.
”
the organization of the library, he received additional honours and commissions from the royal court of Parma. In 1763 he was appointed antiquary to his royal highness,
Whilst he was thus active in the organization of the
library, he received additional honours and commissions
from the royal court of Parma. In 1763 he was appointed
antiquary to his royal highness, and director of the excavations which, under the authority of government, had
been undertaken in the ancient town of Velleja, situated
in the Parmesan dominions; and in 1767, on the expulsion of the Jesuits, he was declared “president of studies,
”
with the power of new modelling as he thought proper,
the whole system of public instruction throughout the state.
In this new organization of studies he displayed the same
spirit of order by which he had been already distinguished
in the formation of the library. He endeavoured to arrange
the different subjects in the minds of his pupils as he had
formerly classified the books upon the different shelves.
Notwithstanding so many signal services to the court of Parma, Paciaudi fell a victim to mean intrigues, and lost the
Notwithstanding so many signal services to the court of
Parma, Paciaudi fell a victim to mean intrigues, and lost
the favour of his sovereign. He had been intimately connected with the minister who then happened to be disgraced, and was in some measure involved in the same
misfortune. He forfeited his places. But, conscious of
his own integrity, he did not choose to leave Parma, and
patiently waited for the transit of the storm. His innocence being soon ascertained, he was restored to his several
functions, and to the good opinion of the prince. He
made, however, of this favourable event, the best use that
a prudent man could do; he endeavoured to secure himself against a similar misfortune in future, by soliciting
permission to retire to his native country; and this “voluntary exile,
” says M. Dacier, in the eulogy of Paciaudi,
“banished the last remains of suspicion against him.
Nothing was now remembered but his merit and his zeal:
his loss was severely felt; and the most engaging
solicitations were made to him to resume his functions. In vain
did he plead in excuse his advanced age, and the necessity
of repose; his excuses were not admitted, and he was
finally obliged to return to Parma.
”
devoted to it some of his latter years, and, in 1780, published from the unrivalled press of Bodoni, of Parma, his “Memorie de Gran Maestri,” &c. or “Memoirs of the
The literary establishments which had been formed by
him in that place, did not then require so much of his attention and care, as to prevent him from indulging himself
in other pursuits. He therefore conceived the plan of a
general biography of the grand masters of the order of
Malta. In 1749, when he published, at Naples, the series
of medals concerning the government of Malta, he had
received from the grand master, Pinto, the place of historiographer of the order; but his uninterrupted labours in
other pursuits had prevented him, for nearly thirty years,
from directing his attention to that great object, the most
interesting, perhaps, in the religious and military history
of the middle ages. At last he devoted to it some of his
latter years, and, in 1780, published from the unrivalled
press of Bodoni, of Parma, his “Memorie de Gran Maestri,
” &c. or “Memoirs of the Grand Masters of the Holy
Military Order of Jerusalem,
” in 3 vols. 4to. This publication contains only the history of the first century of the
order, and consequently, not more than the lives of its
founder and of the first ten grand masters. It would have
been continued, if the author had not, soon after its appearance, fallen into that languor, which generally attends
long labours and old age, and which accompanied him till
his death, which took place on the 2d of February 1785,
in the 75th year of his age.
perceptible in his works. He flourished about 1580, and had a son Alexander, who painted in the dome of Parma, in 1571. He was a feeble imitator of the family style.
Parmigiano had a cousin and pupil, G. Mazzuoli, who
is little known beyond Parma and its districts, though for
“impasto,
” and the whole mystery of colour, he has few
equals. There is reason to believe that several pictures
ascribed to Francis, especially those of a stronger and
gayer tone, have been painted by this artist. He was
more attached to the style of Correggio than Francis, and
seized its character with great felicity in the Nuptials of
St. Catherine, in the church del Carmine. He excelled
in perspective, and in the Last Supper, in the refectory of
S. Giovanni, placed and painted a colonnade with all the
illusion of Pozzo. To the most harmonious chiaro-scuro,
he added grandeur, variety, vivacity, in fresco. None of
his fellow artists equalled him in copiousness, fertility, and
execution; and to these perhaps we may ascribe the inequality perceptible in his works. He flourished about
1580, and had a son Alexander, who painted in the dome
of Parma, in 1571. He was a feeble imitator of the family style.
h principles in several of his books. Another was, to persuade the pope to make his kinsman the duke of Parma king of England, by joining with the lady Arabella, and
After the defeat of the armada in 1588, he used every means in his power to persuade the Spanish monarch to a second invasion; and when he failed in this, he endeavoured to raise a rebellion in England, urging the earl of Derby to appear at the head of it, who is said to have been poisoned, at his instigation, for refusing to acquiesce. Nor did he stop here. We find sir Ralph Winwood informing secretary Cecil from Paris, in 1602, of an attempt to assassinate the queen that year by another English Jesuit, at the instigation of father Parsons; and when all these plans proved abortive, he endeavoured to prevent the succession of king James by several means; one of which was, exciting the people to set up a democratic form of government, for which he had furnished them with principles in several of his books. Another was, to persuade the pope to make his kinsman the duke of Parma king of England, by joining with the lady Arabella, and marrying her to the duke’s brother, cardinal Farnese. Cardinal d'Ossat gives the king of France a large account of both these projects in one of his letters; and in another mentions a third contrivance which Parsons had communicated to him, and whose object was, that the pope, the king of France, and the king of Spain, should first appoint by common consent a successor for England, who should be a catholic; and then should form an armed confederacy to establish him on the throne.
cter too was such as made him beloved by every person who knew him. He was chosen by Hannuncio, duke of Parma, to arrange his rich and curious cabinet of medals, of
, a learned antiquary, was born of a noble family at Mantua, in 1646. He
entered himself among the Jesuits, and became distinguished for his deep knowledge of history and antiquities.
His private character too was such as made him beloved by
every person who knew him. He was chosen by Hannuncio,
duke of Parma, to arrange his rich and curious cabinet of
medals, of which, in 1694, he began to publish an account
under the title of “I Cassari in oro raccolti nel Farnese
Musaeo o publicati colle loro congrue interpretazioni;
” and
be continued his labours till his death, Jan. 20, 1721. This
work, in its complete form, consists of ten vols. folio, and
bears the title of “Museo Farnese
” but is not held in so
much estimation on the continent as to bear a high price.
t archbishop of Malines, was made cardinal in 1561, by Pius IV. and at length counsellor to Margaret of Parma, governess of the Netherlands, where, according to Strada’s
, better known by the name of cardinal de Granvelle, was born 1517, at Besançon, and was son of Nicholas Perrenot, seigneur de Granvelle, chancellor to the emperor Charles V. Born with an ambitious, intriguing, and firm temper, joined to great abilities, he speedily raised himself, was made canon and archdeacon of Besançon, then bishop of Arras, in which character he spoke very forcibly at the council of Trent when but twenty-four years of age, and afterwards served the emperor Charles V. in several embassies to France, England, and elsewhere. This prince had so particular an esteem for Granvelle, and such confidence in him, that on abdicating the empire, he recommended him to his son Philip II. who scarce ever took any step relative either to private or public affairs, without his advice and assistance. Granvelle was afterwards appointed the first archbishop of Malines, was made cardinal in 1561, by Pius IV. and at length counsellor to Margaret of Parma, governess of the Netherlands, where, according to Strada’s account, his ambition and cruelty occasioned part of the outrages which were committed. Philip II. recalled him a second time to court, and entrusted him with all the affairs of the Spanish monarchy. Cardinal de Granvelle died at Madrid September 21, 1586, aged seventy, after having been nominated to the archbishopric of Besançon. His Life, written by D. Prosper Levêque, a Benedictine, was printed at Paris, 1753, 2 vols. 12mo. It is interesting, but the author is unpardonably partial, and conceals the cruelty, ambition, and other faults of this celebrated cardinal.
“Africa.” It was probably from that family that he obtained the dignity of archdeacon in the church of Parma; and in 1342, when he wai sent to compliment Clement VI.
From Rome Petrarch went to Parma, where he passed
some time with his protectors, the lords of Corregio, and
employed himself in finishing his “Africa.
” It was probably from that family that he obtained the dignity of archdeacon in the church of Parma; and in 1342, when he wai
sent to compliment Clement VI. on his accession, in the
name of the senate and people of Rome, a priory in the
diocese of Pisa was given him by this pope. In the following year he composed his curious “Dialogue with
St. Augustine,
” in which he confesses the passion for
Laura, which still held dominion over his soul. In 1348
he had the misfortune to lose this object of his affections,
who died of the universal pestilence which ravaged all
Europe. The same pestilence deprived him of his great
friend and patron, cardinal Colonna. From Padua, where
he appears to have been when these misfortunes befell
him, he travelled, for a year or two, to Parma, Carpi, and
Mantua; and in 1350 he again visited Padua, where he
obtained a canonry, and wrote a very eloquent letter to
the emperor Charles IV. exhorting him to come into Italy
for the purpose of remedying the many evils with which
that country was oppressed. After various other removals,
he went to Milan, where the kindness and pressing solicitation of John Visconti, its archbishop and sovereign, induced him to settle for some time. Here he vvas admitted
into the council of state; and in 1354 was sent to Wnice, to
make another effort for pacifying the two hostile republics,
but his eloquence proved fruitless. In the same year he
went to Mantua to meet the emperor, who having at length
come to Italy, gave him a most gracious reception; and
although no advantages resulted to his country from this
interview, the emperor afterwards sent him a diploma,
conferring the title of count palatine. In 1360 Petrarch
was sent to Paris, to congratulate king John on his liberation from English captivity; and his reception in that capital was answerable to the celebrity of his name.
queen’s licence, visited Italy as he describes himself a beholder of the feast given by the duchess of Parma, to this nobleman, at the court of Brussels. His return
, an English poet and poetical
critic, flourished in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Very
little is known of his life, and for that little- we are indebted to Mr. Haslewood, whose researches, equally accurate and judicious, have so frequently contributed to illustrate the history of old English poetry. By Ames, Puttenham was called Webster, but his late editor has brought
sufficient proof that his name was George. He appears
to have been born some time between 1529 and 1535.
As his education was liberal, it may be presumed that his
parents were not of the lowest class. He was educated at
Oxford, but in what college, how long he resided, or whether he took a degree, remain unascertained. Wood had
made none of these discoveries when he wrote his
“Athense.
” His career at court might commence at the
age of eighteen, when he sought to gain the attention of
the youthful king Edward VI. by an P^clogue, entitled
“Elpine.
” He made one or two tours on the continent,
and proved himself neither an idle nor inattentive observer.
He visited successively the courts of France, Spain, and
Italy, and was at the Spa nearly about the year 1570. It
is not improbable that he had a diplomatic appointment
under Henry earl of Arundel, an old courtier, who, with
the queen’s licence, visited Italy as he describes himself
a beholder of the feast given by the duchess of Parma, to
this nobleman, at the court of Brussels. His return was
probably early after the above period, but nothing can be
stated with certainty. It may however be inferred from
his numerous adulatory verses addressed to queen Elizabeth, before the time of publishing his “Art of Poesie,
”
that he must have been a courtier of long standing, and was
then one of her gentlemen pensioners.
an excellent scholar, marshal of the camp, chamberlain to his royal highness the infant duke of Parma, and governor of that citadel, was born atComo in 1709.
an excellent
scholar, marshal of the camp, chamberlain to his royal highness the infant duke of Parma, and governor of that citadel,
was born atComo in 1709. He acquired distinction in the
army and at court, but must have devoted much of his life
to literary pursuits. His first publication was a folio volume,
printed at Como in 1742, entitled “De suppositis militaribus stipendiis Benedicti Odeschalci, qui pontifex maxiinus
anno 1676, Innocentii prsenomine fuit renunciatus.
” His
next was a volume of poetry, “Musarum Epinicia,
” addressed to Louis XV. Parma, 1757; but that which most
entitles him to notice was his “Disquisitiones Plinianae, sive
de utriusque Flinii patria, scriptis, codicibus, editionibus,
atque interpretibus,
” Parma, Academical Discourses
”
in Italian, published by count Rezzonico in
tice at Bologna, &c. by copying, and obtained the favour and patronage of Rannuccio, the second duke of Parma. By the liberality of that prince, he was honourably maintained
, an artist of temporary fame, was born at Belluno, near Trevisano, in 1659; and having discovered an early genius for painting, was conducted by his father to Venice, and placed as a disciple with Fred. Cervelli, a Milanese artist of good reputation, with whom he studied for nine years. He afterwards improved his practice at Bologna, &c. by copying, and obtained the favour and patronage of Rannuccio, the second duke of Parma. By the liberality of that prince, he was honourably maintained at Rome, studying the productions of the best ancient and modern masters; and there he formed that manner which distinguishes his productions, and for a while raised him into the highest esteem. Having quitted Rome, he returned to Venice, where he was so eagerly solicited for his paintings, that he had scarcely time to take even necessary refreshment. His fame spread through Europe, and he received an invitation to the court of the emperor at Vienna, to adorn the magnificent palace of Schoenbrun. From thence he was encouraged to visit London, where he was immediately and incessantly employed by the court, the nobility, and persons of fortune. Here he remained ten years, with his nephew and coadjutor, IVfarco Ricci, who painted skilfully scenes of architecture and landscape at Burlington house and Bulstrode. He acquired great wealth by the immense occupation he found; and then returned to Venice, where he remained until his death, in 1734, in the seventy-fifth year of his. age.
t success, the works and manner of Corregio. When his early works came to be admired, Ranuccio, duke of Parma, took him into his service, and for this patron he painted
, or rather Schedone (Bartolomeo), was born at Modena in 1560. He is said to have acquired the principles of the art of painting in the school of the Caracci, but must have remained there a very short time, as it is difficult to meet with any traces of their style in his works. He afterwards studied, and with the greatest success, the works and manner of Corregio. When his early works came to be admired, Ranuccio, duke of Parma, took him into his service, and for this patron he painted several pictures, which were among the principal ornaments of the collection of the king of Naples, who was heir to the Farnese family. Sir Robert Strange counted in that palace and the city of Naples near fourscore pictures by this artist. There are but few in the other collections. In the cathedral of Modena there is an admirable picture of his, of S. Geminiano restoring a dead child to life; there are also a few at Parma, but in general they are seldom to be met with to purchase. In all he is the imitator of Corregio, and between their works some connoisseurs have found it difficult to distinguish, nor has any artist so successfully imitated him, either in the harmony of his colouring, his knowledge of light and shadow, or the graces he has diffused throughout many of his compositions. Schidoni is said to have been addicted to gaming, which wasted his substance, and disturbed his mind; and at last to have fallen a sacrifice to it, not being able to overcome the mortification of having one night lost more than he was able to pay. He died at the age of fifty-six, in 1616.
ived from the king of the Two Sicilies a copy of the “Antiquities of Herculaneum,” and from the duke of Parma the “Museum Florentinum.” He came to England at the beginning
, a learned historian and
antiquary, was born September 6, 1694-, at Sulzbourg, a
town in the margraviate of Baden Dourlach; his father,
holding an honourable office in the margrave’s court, died
soon after in Alsace, leaving his son to the care of his mother. After tei: years studying at Dourlach and Basil, he
kept a public exercise on some contested points of ancient
history with applause, and finished his studies in eight
years more at Strasbourg. In 1717, he there spoke a
Latin panegyric on Ge^manicus, that favourite hero of
Germany, which was printed by order of the city. In
return for this favour he spoke a funeral oration on M.
Barth, under whom he had studied; and another on Kuhn,
the professor of eloquence and history there, whom he was
soon after elected to succeed in 1720, at the age of twenty ix. The resort of students to him from the Northern nations was very great, and the princes of Germany sent their
sons to study law under him. The professorship of history
at Francfort on the Oder was offered to him; the czarina
invited him to another at St. Petersburg, with the title of
historiographer royal; Sweden offered him the same professorship at Upsal, formerly held by Scheffer and Boeder,
his countrymen; and the university of Leyden named him
successor to the learned Vitriarius. He preferred Strasbourg to all. Amidst the succession of lectures public and
private, he found time to publish an innumerable quantity
of historical and critical dissertations, too many to be here
particularised. In 1725 he pronounced a congratulatory
oration before king Stanislaus, in the name of the university, on the marriage of his daughter to the king of France;
and, in 1726, another on the birth of the dauphin, besides
an anniversary one on the king of France’s birthday, and
others on his victories. In 1726 he quitted his professorship, and began his travels at the public expence. From
Paris he went to Italy, stayed at Rome six months, re*
ceived from the king of the Two Sicilies a copy of the
“Antiquities of Herculaneum,
” and from the duke of
Parma the “Museum Florentinum.
” He came to England at the beginning of the late king’s reign, and left it
the day that Pere Courayer, driven out of Paris by theological disputes, arrived in London. He was now honoured
with a canonry of St. Thomas, one of the most distinguished
Lutheran chapters, and visited Paris a third time in 1728.
Several dissertations by him are inserted in the “Memoirs
of the academy of inscriptions and belles lettres;
” one,
ascribing the invention of moveable types to Guttenberg of
Strasbourg, 1440, against Meerman,
, an Italian annalist, was born in 1613, and was a monk of Parma, where he employed the leisure hours which a monastic
, an Italian annalist, was born in 1613,
and was a monk of Parma, where he employed the leisure
hours which a monastic life afforded, in writing- the history
of his times. The confidence placed in him by political
men, and the correspondence to which he had access, enabled him to penetrate into the secret motives and causes
of actions and events, and gave an air of authenticity and
consequence to his public communications. He is said to
have been the first, in Italy at least, who published a kind
of political journal under the name of “Memorie recondite,
” afterwards collected into volumes. The first two having found their way into France, induced cardinal Mazarine to entertain a very high opinion of the author, and by
his persuasion, Louis XIV. invited Siri to Paris. On his
arrival, he was preferred to a secular abbey, and quitting
his ecclesiastical functions, lived at court in great intimacy
and confidence with the king and his ministers, and was
made almoner and historiographer to his majesty. There,
in 1677, he published the 3d and 4th volumes of his journal, and continued it as far as the eighth, 4to. This, says
Baretti, is as valuable a history as any in Italian, though
the style and language are but indifferent, and it is very
difficult to find all the volumes. The period of time they
include is from 1601 to 1640. He published also another
work of a similar kind, called “11 Mercurio, owero istoria de' correnti Tempi,
” from 1647 to 1682, which extends to fifteen 4to volumes, the two last of which are more
difficult to be found than all the rest. The former work,
however, is in most estimation on account of the historical
documents it contains, which are always useful, whatever
colouring an editor may please to give. Siri has not escaped
the imputation of venality, especially in his attachment to
the French court, yet Le Cierc observes (Bibl. Choisie, vol. IV.) that no French writer dared to speak so freely of
the public men of that nation as Siri has done. There is
a French translation of the “Memorie recondite,
” under
the title of “Memoires secrets,
” which, Landi says, might
have been much improved from Siri’s extensive correspondence with almost all the ministers of Europe, now extant
in the Benedictine library of Parma, and among the private
archives of Modena. Siri died in 1683, in the seventieth
year of his age.
e was at that time a citizen of Geneva, a title of which he was very proud, a member of the nobility of Parma, first physician to the duke of Orleans, and to the infant
, a celebrated physician, was
apparently the grandson of Lewis Troncbin, and was born
at Geneva in 1709. His father, John Robert Tronchin,
having lost his property in the fatal Mississippi speculation,
Theodore left home at the age of eighteen, and came to
England to lord Bolingbroke, to whom he is said to have
been related, we know not in what degree; but Bolingbroke
had it not in his power to do much for him, and he went to
Holland to study chemistry under Boerhaave, whose work
on that subject had engaged his attention, and made him
desiror.s of seeing the author. Boerhaave is said to have
soon distinguished Tronchin from the general mass of his
pupils, and in 1731 advised him to settle at Amsterdam,
where he introduced him to practice, and in a, short time
Tronchin was at the head of the physicians of Amsterdam.
But having married a young lady of the family of the celebrated patriot De Witt, he fancied that the name would be
disgraced by his accepting a place at court, and therefore
he refused that of first physician to the stadtholder, and
quitting Amsterdam when the stadtholderate was made
hereditary, returned to Geneva, where he could live in a
pure republic. Here the council gave him the title of honorary professor of medicine, but no duties were attached
to it. It was not his intention, however, to be idle, and he
gave lectures on the general principles of medicine, in
which he endeavoured to free the science from rooted prejudices and false theories. In 1756 he was called to Paris
to inoculate the children of the duke of Orleans. He bad
introduced this practice both in Holland and at Geneva,
and, in the former at least, without almost any opposition;
and the success he had in his Hrst trial in France, on these
princes of the blood, having contributed not a little to his
celebrity, he rose to the highest honours of his profession,
and acquired great wealth. In 1765 he was invited to
Parma to inoculate the royal children of that court. Although averse to accept any situations which might form a
restraint upon his time or studies, he consented to the title
of first physician to the duke of Orleans, and in 1766 fixed
his residence at Paris. The arrival of an eminent physician
in Paris is always accompanied by a revolution in practice.
Tronchin brought with him a new regimen, new medicines,
and new methods of cure, and many of them certainly of
great importance, particularly the admission and change of
air in sick rooms, and a more hardy method of bringing up
children; he also recommend-ed to the ladies more exercise
and less effeminacy in thair modes of living and in diet.
His prescriptions were generally simple; but perhaps his
fame was chiefly owing to his introducing the practice of
inoculation, which he pursued upon the most rational plan.
In all this he had to encounter long established prejudices,
and being a stranger, had to contend with the illiberality of
some of the faculty, obstacles which he removed by a
steady, humane course, and his frequent success completed his triumph. He was in person a fine figure; there
was a mixture of sweetness and dignity in his countenance;
his air and external demeanour inspired affection, and commanded respect; his dress, voice, and manner, were graceful and pleasing: all which no doubt gave an additional
luslre to his reputation, and perhaps an efficacy to his prescriptions. His extensive practice prevented his writing
or publishing more than a few papers on some medical
cases, one “De colica pictorum,
” Oeuvres de
Baillou,
”
tain him there. He had a desire to return into the Low Countries, of which Alexander Farnese, prince of Parma, was then governor. He drew the prince’s picture in armour,
a Dutch painter of
great eminence, was descended of a considerable family
in Leyden, and born in 1556. He was carefully educated
by his parents in the belles lettres, and at the same time
learned to design of Isaac Nicolas. In his fifteenth year,
when the civil wars obliged him to leave his country, he
retired to Liege, finished his studies, and there gave the
first proofs of his talents. He was particularly known to
cardinal Groosbeck, who gave him letters of recommendation when he went to Rome, where he was entertained by
cardinal Maduccio. His genius was so active, that he at
once applied himself to philosophy, poetry, mathematics,
and painting, the latter under Frederico Zuchero. He
acquired an excellence in all the parts of painting, especially in the knowledge of the chiar-oscuro, and he was the
first who explained to the Flemish artists the principles of
lights and shadows, which his disciple Rubens afterwards
carried to so great a degree of perfection. He lived at
Rome seven years, during which time he executed several
fine pictures; and then, passing into Germany, was received into the emperor’s service. After this the duke of
Bavaria and the elector of Cologn employed him: but all
the advantages he got from the courts of foreign princes
could not detain him there. He had a desire to return into
the Low Countries, of which Alexander Farnese, prince of
Parma, was then governor. He drew the prince’s picture
in armour, which confirmed his reputation in the Netherlands. After the death of that prince, Venius returned to
Antwerp, where he adorned the principal churches with
his paintings. The archduke Albert, who succeeded the
prince of Parma in the government of the Low Countries,
sent for him to Brussels, and made him master of the mint,
a place which took up much of his time; yet he found
spare hours for the exercise of his profession. He drew
the archduke and the infanta Isabella’s portraits at large,
which were sent to James L of Great Britain: and, to
shew his knowledge of polite learning, as well as of painting, he published several treatises, which he embellished
with cuts of his own designing. Among these are, 1. “Horatii Emblemata,
” Antwerp, Amoris divini emblemata,
” Antwerp, Amorum emblemata,
”
ibid. Batavorum cum Romanis bellum,
&c.
” ibid.
88, he was part of the English garrison which gallantly defended Bergen -op- Zoom against the prince of Parma and “that true courage might not want its due reward or
, a brave English commander, was second son to Geoffrey Vere, who was third son of John Vere,
earl of Oxford. He was born in 1554, and applying himself early to the military art, became one of the most famous generals of his time. He served first among the
forces sent by queen Elizabeth, under the command of
the earl of Leicester, to the assistance of the States of
Holland, where he gave proofs of a warlike genius, and
undaunted courage. In 1588, he was part of the English garrison which gallantly defended Bergen -op- Zoom
against the prince of Parma and “that true courage
might not want its due reward or distinction,
” says Camden, “the lord Willoughby, who was general of the English after Leicester’s departure, conferred the honour of
knighthood on sir Francis Vere, whose great fame commenced from this siege.
”
f instrument in the taking that place; and it was also through his conduct and valour, that the duke of Parma received a signal defeat before Knodsenburgh fort, near
Sir Francis also assisted count Maurice at the siege of Deventer, being the chief instrument in the taking that place; and it was also through his conduct and valour, that the duke of Parma received a signal defeat before Knodsenburgh fort, near Nimeguen: which obliged that prince to retire from thence, with more dishonour than m any action that he had undertaken in those wars. In 1596 he was recalled from the Low Countries, and employed in the expedition against Cadiz, -with the title of Lord Marshal: and in this enterprize he displayed his usual courage and military skill. He returned again to Holland the following year, and had a principal share in the action near Turnhout, where near three thousand of the enemy were killed and taken. Some time after he was appointed governor of the Brill, one of the cautionary towns in the Low Countries, and was permitted at the same time to retain the command of the English troops in the service of the States. In 1599, when a new Spanish invasion was apprehended, the queen constituted him Lord Marshal: and being sent over in all possible haste, he embarked on the 22d of August at the Brill, and arrived in London the next day, where he remained until all apprehensions of an invasion were over. He then returned back to the Hague, and had there an audience of the States.
g to be ill rewarded for this undertaking, he went to Placentia, where he gave a design for the duke of Parma’s palace, which was executed by his son Hyacinth, who
In order to acquire a greater knowledge of the principles of architecture, Vignola went to Rome, and at first returned to painting fora maintenance; but not reaping much profit, abandoned that art a second time, and procured employment as a draughtsman from Melighini, of Ferrara, then architect to pope Paul III. and who had established a school of architecture at Rome. Yignola was afterwards employed to make drawings, for the use of this academy, of the ancient edifices of the city, from which he derived great advantage in his studies. While here, about 1537, or J 540, he met with Primaticcio, who was employed by Francis I. king of France, to purchase antiques (See Primaticcio); and Vignola was of so much service in making casts for him, that Primaticcio engaged him to go with him to France. There Vignola assisted that celebrated artist in all his works, and particularly in making the bronze casts which are at Fontainebleau. He also made various architectural designs for the king, who was prevented from having them executed, by the wars in which France was then involved. After a residence of about two years, he was invited to Bologna, to undertake the new church of St. Petronius, and his design was allowed the preference, and highly approved by Julio Romano, the celebrated painter, and Christopher Lombard, the architect. At Minerbio, near Bologna, he built a magnificent palace for count Isolani, and in Bologna the house of Achilles Bocchi. The portico of the exchange in that city is also of his designing, but it was not built until 1562, in the pontificate of Pius IV. His most useful work at Bologna was the canal of Navilio, which he constructed with great skill for the space of a league. But happening to be ill rewarded for this undertaking, he went to Placentia, where he gave a design for the duke of Parma’s palace, which was executed by his son Hyacinth, who was now able to assist him in his various works. He afterwards built several churches and chapels in various parts of Italy, which it is unnecessary to specify. These, it is supposed, he had finished before his return to Rome in 1550, where Vasari presented him to pope Julius III. who appointed him his architect. While at Rome, he was employed in various works, both of grandeur and utility, the last of which, and reckoned his finest work, was the magnificent palace or castle of Caprarola, so well described and illustrated by plates in his works.
nd free, and his disposition judicious. He had so much fame in his profession, that, when the prince of Parma made himself master of Antwerp, he made De Vos a visit,
, a Flemish painter of the sixteenth century, was born at Antwerp in 1520, and was first entered in his profession under his father. Having made himself somewhat eminent in Flanders, he travelled to Venice, Home, and Florence, where he made a collection of curious drawings of several sorts of vases made use of by the old Greeks and Romans at their entertainments, funerals, and sacrifices. At his return into Flanders he painted some of these old festival-solemnities, in which the disposition and lively representation of these vases were very ornamental to his performance. He excelled in most branches of the art, but his drawings in particular, were reckoned some of the best and most serviceable for beginners. His colouring was strong and lively; his design natural and free, and his disposition judicious. He had so much fame in his profession, that, when the prince of Parma made himself master of Antwerp, he made De Vos a visit, and sat to him. He died at Antwerp in 1604, being eighty-four years of age.
ed year he appears again in the army commanded by the earl of Leicester in Flanders. When the prince of Parma laid siege to Venlo in Guelderland, Williams, with one
, a brave officer in the reign of
queen Elizabeth, was the son of Thomas Williams, of Penrose in Monmouthshire, and educated at Oxford, probably
in Brasenose college. After leaving the university, he became a volunteer in the army, and served under the duke
of Alva. In 1581, he was in the English army commanded
by general Norris in Friesland, where Camden says the
enemy’s troops were defeated by sir Roger Williams at
Northern, who probably therefore was knighted for his
gailant exploits before this time, although Wood says that honour was not conferred upon him until 1586. In this lastmentioned year he appears again in the army commanded
by the earl of Leicester in Flanders. When the prince of
Parma laid siege to Venlo in Guelderland, Williams, with
one Skenk, a Frieslander, undertook to pierce through the
enemy’s camp at midnight, and enter the town. They
penetrated without much difficulty, as far as the prince of
Parma’s tent, but were then repulsed. The attempt, however, gained them great reputation in the army.* In 1591,
Williams was sent to assist in the defence of Dieppe, and
remained there beyond August 24, 1593. What other exploits he performed, we know not, but it is probable that
he continued in the service of his country during the war
in the Low Countries, of which war he wrote a valuable
history. He died in London in 1595, and was buried in
St. Paul’s, attended to his grave by the earl of Essex, and
other officers of distinction. “He might,
” says Camden,
“have been compared with the most famous captains of
our age, could he have tempered the heat of his warlike
spirit with more wariness and prudent discretion.
” Wood
calls him a colonel, but it does not clearly appear what
rank he attained in the army. From his writings, which
are highly extolled by Camden, he appears to have been
a man of strong natural parts, and sound judgment. His
principal writing is entitled “The Actions of the Low
Countries,
” Lond. A brief discourse of War, with his opinion
concerning some part of military discipline,
” ibid. Actions
of the Low Countries,
” a “Discourse of the Discipline of
the Spaniards;
” and in Rymer’s Fcedera is his “Advice
from France, Nov. 20, 1590.
” Some of his Mss. and
Letters are in the Cotton Library in the British Museum.
e. found materially to affect the interests of the Netherlands. At length Elizabeth, and the duchess of Parma, regent of the Low Countries, exchanged in Dec. 1564,
The public services of Wotton were afterwards employed in regard to the trade of the English merchants, who had been ill-treated not only in Spain, but more particularly in the Netherlands, upon pretence of civil differences, but in fact out of hatred to the protestant religion. They therefore removed their mart to Embden in East Friesland, But Guzman de Sylva (canon of Toledo), then the Spanish ambassador in England, endeavoured to compose these differences, which he. found materially to affect the interests of the Netherlands. At length Elizabeth, and the duchess of Parma, regent of the Low Countries, exchanged in Dec. 1564, a mutual agreement, by which the commerce between the two countries was restored, and viscount Montague, dean Wotton, and Dr. Haddon, were sent commissioners to Bruges in order to a full discussion of the subject. But, in the following year, the troubles in the Netherlands put a stop to their farther conference, after it had been agreed, that there should be an open trade, till one prince denounced war against the other; and in that case, the merchants should have forty days notice to dispose of themselves and their effects.