James Smith

son of Tho. Smith Rector of Merston in Bedfordshire, and Brother to Dr. Tho. Smith sometimes an eminent Physician of Brasn. Coll, was born in the said Town of Merston, matriculated as a member of Ch. Ch. in Lent term 1622/3 aged 18 years, and soon after was transplanted to Linc. Coll. where he continued for some years a Commoner. Thence he was preferred to be Chaplain at Sea to Henry Earl of Holland, who was Admiral of a squadron of Ships sent for a supply to the Isle of Ree. Afterwards he was domestick Chaplain to Tho. Earl of Cleevland, who had an especial respect for him for his ingenuity and excellent parts. In his service he continued six years, had a benefice in Lincolnshire which he kept for a time, and in 1633 took the degree of Bach. of Div. by accumulation, being then much in esteem with the poetical Wits of that time, particularly with Philip Massenger, who call [•] d him his Son, Will. D’avenant, John Mennes, &c. From his Benefice in Lincolnsh. he removed to Kings Nimphton in Devons, and leaving a Curat there, he went as Chaplain to the before mention’d Earl of Holland Lieutenant General of the English Forces in the first expedition against the Scots. Returning thence soon after, he setled at Kings Nimphton, where he resided during all the changes of government, by compliance with the power that was uppermost. After his Majesties return, he was made one of the Canons of S. Peters Cathedral in Exeter, Archdeacon of Barnstaple, Chaplain to Edw. Earl of Clarendon, and in July 1661, he was actually created Doct. of Divinity. In the next year he became Chauntor of Exeter in the place of Dr. S. Ward promoted to the Episcopal See of that place, and in 1663 was presented to the rectory of Alphyngton in Devonshire, (at which time he resigned Kings Nymphton and his Archdeaconry) where he finished his course. His chief works, that are of Poetry, are in

Musarum delitiae: or, the muses recreation, containing several pieces of poetick wit. Lond. 1656 oct. second edit. (See more in John Mennes under the year 1670.) and also in another book entit.

Wit restored, in several select poems. Lond. 1658. oct. Which book, I say, is mostly of our author Smiths composition. At the end of which is his translation, or poem, called The innovation of Penelope and Ulysses, a mock poem. Lond. 1658. oct. And at the end of that also, is Cleavlands Rebel Scot, translated into Latine. He also composed.

Certain Anthems—Not the musical, but poetical, part of them; which are to this day used and sung in the Cath. Ch. at Exeter. At length paying his last debt to nature at Alphyngton on the 20. day of June in sixteen hundred sixty and seven,1667. his body was conveyed to Kings Nimphton before mention’d, and was buried in the Chancel belonging to the Church there, near to the body of Elizabeth his first Wife. Over their graves was soon after put a comely monument, with an inscription thereon, (enlarged after the death of his second Wife, who died 4 years after him) the contents of which, shall now for brevity sake be omitted.