Samuel Austin

a Cornish man born, was entred a Communer of Wadham Coll. under the tuition of Gilb. Stokes Chapl. of that house in 1652. aged 16 years, took one degree in Arts, compleated it by Determination and then went to Cambridge for a time. But such was the vanity of this Person, that he being extremely conceited of his own worth, and over-valuing his poetical fancy, more than that of Cleveland, who was then accounted by the Bravadoes the Hectoring Prince of Poets, fell into the hands of the Satyrical wits of this University, who having easily got some of his prose and poetry, served him as the wits did Tom. Coryat in his time, and published them under these titles.

Naps upon Pernassus. A sleepy muse nipt and pincht, though not awakened, &c. Lond. 1658. oct.

Characters—Printed with the former. Both which were usher’d into the world by more than twenty Copies of verses (advantaging the sale of the book) by such that had the name of, or at least pretended to be, Poets. Among them were Tho. Flatman, Tho. Sprat, and Sam. Woodford, since noted and famed for their Poetical works. Silvanus Taylour and George Castle of Alls. Coll the former better at Musick, the other at lying and buffooning, than Poetry. And among others, not now to be named, must not be forgotten Alexander Amidei a Jew and Florentine born, then a Teacher of Hebrew and other tongues in the University, afterwards a converted Christian and Reader of a Hebrew Lecture in Sion Coll. Lond. Our Author Austin hath also written and published

A Panegyrick on K. Ch. 2. Lond. 1661. oct. wherein, just after the Preface, he promised to publish more Poems, conditionally the said Paneg. took; the Subjects of which are there set down. But what prevented him, Clar. 1664. unless death, which hapned about the plague year in 1665, I cannot tell.