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diff --git a/16469.txt b/16469.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..697362f --- /dev/null +++ b/16469.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11425 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and +Ireland (1753), by Theophilus Cibber + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) + Volume II + +Author: Theophilus Cibber + +Release Date: August 7, 2005 [EBook #16469] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIVES OF THE POETS OF *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Fred Robinson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + Preparer's Note: This e-text is taken from a facsimile of the + original 18th-century volume. The spelling, punctuation, and + other quirks have largely been retained. Only the most obvious + printer's errors have been corrected, and are marked [like this]. + + + Anglistica & Americana + +A Series of Reprints Selected by Bernhard Fabian, Edgar Mertner, Karl + Schneider and Marvin Spevack + + 17 + + GEORG OLMS VERLAGSBUCHHANDLUNG + HILDESHEIM + + + THEOPHILUS CIBBER + + The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland + + (1753) + + Vol. II + + + 1968 + + GEORG OLMS VERLAGSBUCHHANDLUNG + HILDESHEIM + + +Note + +The present facsimile is reproduced from a copy in the possession of +the Library of the University of Goettingen. +Shelfmark: H. lit. biogr. I 8464. + +Although the title-page of Volume I announces four volumes, the work +is continued in a fifth volume of the same date. Like Volumes II, III, +and IV, it is by "Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands" and is "Printed for R. +GRIFFITHS". + + M.S. + + + Reprografischer Nachdruck der Ausgabe London 1753 + Printed in Germany + Herstellung: fotokap wilhelm weihert, Darmstadt + Best.-Nr. 5102040 + + + THE + + LIVES + + OF THE + + POETS + + OF + + GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND. + + Compiled from ample Materials scattered in a Variety of Books, and + especially from the MS. Notes of the late ingenious Mr. COXETER and + others, collected for this Design, + + By Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands. + + VOL. II. + + + LONDON: + Printed for R. GRIFFITHS, at the Dunciad in St. Paul's Church-Yard. + MDCCLIII + + + VOLUME II. + + Contains the + + LIVES + + OF + + Brewer Newcastle, Duchess + May Newcastle, Duke + Taylour Birkenhead + Habington Boyle, E. Orrery + Goldsmith Head + Cleveland Hobbs + Holiday [sic] Cokaine + Nabbes Wharton + Shirley Killegrew, Anne + Howel Lee + Fanshaw Butler + Cowley Waller + Davenant Ogilby + King Rochester + [Massinger] Buckingham + Stapleton Smith + Main Otway + Milton [Oldham] + Philips [Roscommon] + + * * * * * + + _Just Published,_ + +In one small Octavo Volume, Price bound in Calf 3s. + +A TRANSLATION of the Ingenious Abbe DE MABLY'S _Observations on the_ +ROMANS. A learned and curious Performance; wherein the Policy of that +People is set in so clear a Light, and the Characters of their great +Men drawn with such a masterly Pen, as cannot but recommend it to all +Lovers of Classical Learning. + +In this Work many new Lights are cast upon the Characters and Conduct +of the following celebrated Personages: + + Romulus, | Pompey, | Otho, + Tarquin the Elder, | Cato, | Vitellius, + Servius Tullus, | Caesar, | Vespasian, + Brutus, | Cicero, | Titus, + The Gracchi, | Antony, | Domitian, + Marius, | Augustus, | Nerva, + Sylla, | Tiberius, | Trajan, + Crassus, | Caligula, | Antoninus, + Scipio, | Claudius, | Marcus Aurelius, + Hannibal, | Nero, | Diocletian, + Pyrrhus, | Galba, | Constantine the Great + &c. &c. &c. + + Printed for R. GRIFFITHS, in _Paul's Church-Yard_. + + * * * * * + + + + + THE + + LIVES + + OF THE + + POETS + + + + + ANTHONY BREWER, + + +A poet who flourished in the reign of Charles I. but of whose birth +and life we can recover no particulars. He was highly esteemed by some +wits in that reign, as appears from a Poem called Steps to Parnassus, +which pays him the following well turned compliment. + + Let Brewer take his artful pen in hand, + Attending muses will obey command, + Invoke the aid of Shakespear's sleeping clay, + And strike from utter darkness new born day. + +Mr. Winstanley, and after him Chetwood, has attributed a play to our +author called Lingua, or the Contention of the Tongue and the Five +Senses for Superiority, a Comedy, acted at Cambridge, 1606; but Mr. +Langbaine is of opinion, that neither that, Love's Loadstone, +Landagartha, or Love's Dominion, as Winstanley and Philips affirm, are +his; Landagartha being written by Henry Burnel, esquire, and Love's +Dominion by Flecknoe. In the Comedy called Lingua, there is a +circumstance which Chetwood mentions, too curious, to be omitted here. +When this play was acted at Cambridge, Oliver Cromwel performed the +part of Tactus, which he felt so warmly, that it first fired his +ambition, and, from the possession of an imaginary crown, he stretched +his views to a real one; to accomplish which, he was content to wade +through a sea of blood, and, as Mr. Gray beautifully expresses it, +shut the Gates of Mercy on Mankind; the speech with which he is said +to have been so affected, is the following, + + Roses, and bays, pack hence: this crown and robe, + My brows, and body, circles and invests; + How gallantly it fits me! sure the slave + Measured my head, that wrought this coronet; + They lie that say, complexions cannot change! + My blood's enobled, and I am transform'd + Unto the sacred temper of a king; + Methinks I hear my noble Parasites + Stiling me Caesar, or great Alexander, + Licking my feet,--&c. + +Mr. Langbaine ascribes to Brewer the two following plays, + +Country Girl, a Comedy, often acted with applause, printed in 4to. +1647. This play has been revived since the Restoration, under the +title of Country Innocence, or the Chamber-maid turned Quaker. + +Love-sick King, an English Tragical History, with the Life and Death +of Cartesmunda, the Fair Nun of Winchester; printed in 4to. London, +1655; this play was likewise revived 1680, and acted by the name of +the Perjured Nun. The historical part of the plot is founded upon the +Invasion of the Danes, in the reign of King Ethelred and Alfred. + +This last play of Anthony Brewer's, is one of the best irregular +plays, next to those of Shakespear, which are in our language. The +story, which is extremely interesting, is conducted, not so much with +art, as spirit; the characters are animated, and the scene busy. +Canutus King of Denmark, after having gained the city of Winchester, +by the villainy of a native, orders all to be put to the sword, and at +last enters the Cloister, raging with the thirst of blood, and panting +for destruction; he meets Cartesmunda, whose beauty stops his ruffian +violence, and melts him, as it were, into a human creature. The +language of this play is as modern, and the verses as musical as those +of Rowe; fire and elevation run through it, and there are many strokes +of the most melting tenderness. Cartesmunda, the Fair Nun of +Winchester, inspires the King with a passion for her, and after a long +struggle between honour and love, she at last yields to the tyrant, +and for the sake of Canutus breaks her vestal vows. Upon hearing that +the enemy was about to enter the Cloister, Cartesmunda breaks out into +the following beautiful exclamation: + + The raging foe pursues, defend us Heaven! + Take virgin tears, the balm of martyr'd saints + As tribute due, to thy tribunal throne; + With thy right hand keep us from rage and murder; + Let not our danger fright us, but our sins; + Misfortunes touch our bodies, not our souls. + +When Canutus advances, and first sees Cartesmunda, his speech is +poetical, and conceived in the true spirit of Tragedy. + + Ha! who holds my conquering hand? what power unknown, + By magic thus transforms me to a statue, + Senseless of all the faculties of life? + My blood runs back, I have no power to strike; + Call in our guards and bid 'em all give o'er. + Sheath up your swords with me, and cease to kill: + Her angel beauty cries, she must not die, + Nor live but mine: O I am strangely touch'd! + Methinks I lift my sword, against myself, + When I oppose her--all perfection! + O see! the pearled dew drops from her eyes; + Arise in peace, sweet soul. + +In the same scene the following is extremely beautiful. + + I'm struck with light'ning from the torrid zone; + Stand all between me, and that flaming sun! + Go Erkinwald, convey her to my tent. + Let her be guarded with more watchful eyes + Than heaven has stars: + If here she stay I shall consume to death, + 'Tis time can give my passions remedy, + Art thou not gone! kill him that gazeth on her; + For all that see her sure must doat like me, + And treason for her, will be wrought against us. + Be sudden--to our tents--pray thee away, + The hell on earth is love that brings delay. + + * * * * * + + + + + THOMAS MAY, + + +A Poet and historian of the 17th century, was descended of an ancient, +but decayed family in the county of Sussex, in the reign of Queen +Elizabeth[1], and was educated a fellow commoner in Sidney Sussex +College in Cambridge. He afterwards removed to London, and lived about +the court, where he contracted friendships with several gentlemen of +fashion and distinction, especially with Endymion Porter esquire, one +of the gentlemen of the bedchamber to King Charles I. while [sic] he +resided at court he wrote five plays, which are extant under his name. +In 1622, he published at London, in 8vo. a translation of Virgil's +Georgics with annotations; and in 1635, a Poem on King Edward III. It +was printed under the title of the Victorious Reign of Edward III. +written in seven books, by his Majesty's command. In the dedication to +Charles I. our author writes thus; "I should humbly have craved your +Majesty's pardon for my omission of the latter part of King Edward's +reign, but that the sense of mine own defects hath put me in mind of a +most necessary suit, so beg forgiveness for that part which is here +written. Those great actions of Edward III. are the arguments of this +poem, which is here ended, where his fortune began to decline, where +the French by revolts, and private practices regained that which had +been won from them by eminent and famous victories; which times may +afford fitter observations for an acute historian in prose, than +strains of heighth for an heroic poem." The poem thus begins, + + The third, and greatest Edward's reign we sing, + The high atchievements of that martial King, + Where long successful prowesse did advance, + So many trophies in triumphed France, + And first her golden lillies bare; who o're + Pyrennes mountains to that western shore, + Where Tagus tumbles through his yellow sand + Into the ocean; stretch'd his conquering hand. + +From the lines quoted, the reader will be able to judge what sort of +versifier our author was, and from this beginning he has no great +reason to expect an entertaining poem, especially as it is of the +historical kind; and he who begins a poem thus insipidly, can never +expect his readers to accompany him to the third page. May likewise +translated Lucan's Pharsalia, which poem he continued down to the +death of Julius Caesar, both in Latin and English verse. + +Dr. Fuller says, that some disgust was given to him at court, which +alienated his affections from it, and determined him, in the civil +wars to adhere to the Parliament. + +Mr. Philips in his Theatrum Poetarum, observes, that he stood +candidate with Sir William Davenant for the Laurel, and his ambition +being frustrated, he conceived the most violent aversion to the King +and Queen. Sir William Davenant, besides the acknowledged superiority +of his abilities, had ever distinguished himself for loyalty, and was +patronized and favoured by men of power, especially the Marquis of +Newcastle: a circumstance which we find not to have happened to May: +it is true, they were both the friends of the amiable Endymion Porter, +esq; but we are not informed whether that gentleman interested himself +on either side. + +In the year 1647, was published in London in folio, The History of the +Parliament of England, which began November 3, 1640, with a Short and +Necessary View of some precedent Years, written by Thomas May, Esq; +Secretary to the Parliament, and published by their authority. In 1650 +he published in 8vo. A Breviary of the History of the Parliament of +England. Besides these works, Mr. Philips tells us, he wrote a History +of Henry IV. in English verse, the Comedy of the Old Wives Tale, and +the History of Orlando Furioso; but the latter, Mr. Langbaine, who is +a higher authority than Philips, assures us was written before May was +able to hold a pen, much less to write a play, being printed in 4to. +London, 1594. Mr. Winstanley says, that in his history, he shews all +the spleen of a mal-content, and had he been preferred to the Bays, as +he happened to be disappointed, he would have embraced the Royal +interest with as much zeal, as he did the republican: for a man who +espouses a cause from spite only, can be depended upon by no party, +because he acts not upon any principles of honour or conviction. + +Our author died suddenly in the year 1652, and was interred near the +tomb of Camden, on the West side of the North isle of Westminster +Abbey, but his body, with several others, was dug up after the +restoration, and buried in a pit in St. Margaret's church yard[2]. Mr. +May's plays are, + +1. Agrippina, Empress of Rome, a Tragedy, printed in 12mo. London, +1639. Our author has followed Suetonius and Tacitus, and has +translated and inserted above 30 lines from Petronius Arbiter; this +circumstance we advance on the authority of Langbaine, whose extensive +reading has furnished him with the means of tracing the plots of most +part of our English plays; we have heard that there is a Tragedy on +this subject, written by Mr. Gray of Cambridge, the author of the +beautiful Elegy in a Country Church Yard; which play Mr. Garrick has +sollicited him to bring upon the stage; to which the author has not +yet consented. + +2. Antigone, the Theban Princess, a Tragedy, printed in 8vo. London, +1631, and dedicated to Endymion Porter, Esq; Our author in the +contexture of this Tragedy, has made use of the Antigone of Sophocles, +and the Thebais of Seneca. + +3. Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, a Tragedy, acted 1626, and printed in +12mo. London, 1639, and dedicated to Sir Kenelme Digby: The author has +followed the historians of those times. We have in our language two +other plays upon the same subject, one by Shakespear, and the other by +Dryden. + +4. Heir, a Comedy, acted by the company of revels, 1620; this play is +much commended by Mr. Thomas Carew, in a copy of verses prefixed to +the play, where, amongst other commendations bestowed on the stile, +and natural working up of the passions, he says thus of the oeconomy +of the play. + + The whole plot doth alike itself disclose, + Thro' the five Acts, as doth a lock, that goes + With letters, for 'till every one be known, + The lock's as fast, as if you had found none. + +If this comedy, is no better than these wretched commendatory lines, +it is miserable indeed. + +5. Old Couple, a Comedy, printed in 4to; this play is intended to +expose the vice of covetousness. + +Footnotes: +1. Langbaine's Lives of the Poets. +2. Wood's Fasti Oxon. vol. i. p. 205. + + * * * * * + + + + + JOHN TAYLOUR, Water-Poet, + + +Was born in Gloucestershire, where he went to school with one Green, +and having got into his accidence, was bound apprentice to a Waterman +in London, which, though a laborious employment, did not so much +depress his mind, but that he sometimes indulged himself in poetry. +Taylour retates [sic] a whimsical story of his schoolmaster Mr. Green, +which we shall here insert upon the authority of Winstanley. "Green +loved new milk so well, that in order to have it new, he went to the +market to buy a cow, but his eyes being dim, he cheapened a bull, and +asking the price of the beast, the owner and he agreed, and driving it +home, would have his maid to milk it, which she attempting to do, +could find no teats; and whilst the maid and her master were arguing +the matter, the bull very fairly pissed into the pail;" whereupon his +scholar John Taylour wrote these verses, + + Our master Green was overseen + In buying of a bull, + For when the maid did mean to milk, + He piss'd the pail half full. + +Our Water-poet found leisure to write fourscore books, some of which +occasioned diversion enough in their time, and were thought worthy to +be collected in a folio volume. Mr. Wood observes, that had he had +learning equal to his natural genius, which was excellent, he might +have equalled, if not excelled, many who claim a great share in the +temple of the muses. Upon breaking out of the rebellion, 1642, he left +London, and retired to Oxford, where he was much esteemed for his +facetious company; he kept a common victualling house there, and +thought he did great service to the Royal cause, by writing Pasquils +against the round-heads. After the garrison of Oxford surrendered, he +retired to Westminster, kept a public house in Phaenix Alley near Long +Acre, and continued constant in his loyalty to the King; after whose +death, he set up a sign over his door, of a mourning crown, but that +proving offensive, he pulled it down, and hung up his own picture[1], +under which were these words, + + There's many a head stands for a sign, + Then gentle reader why not mine? + +On the other side, + + Tho' I deserve not, I desire + The laurel wreath, the poet's hire. + +He died in the year 1654, aged 74, and was buried in the church yard +of St. Paul's Covent-Garden; his nephew, a Painter at Oxford, who +lived in Wood's time, informed him of this circumstance, who gave his +picture to the school gallery there, where it now hangs, shewing him +to have had a quick and smart countenance. The following epitaph was +written upon him, + + Here lies the Water-poet, honest John, + Who row'd on the streams of Helicon; + Where having many rocks and dangers past, + He at the haven of Heaven arrived at last. + +Footnote: +1. Athen. Oxon. vol. ii. p. 393. + + * * * * * + + + + + WILLIAM HABINGTON, + + +Son of Thomas Habington, Esq; was born at Hendlip in Worcestershire, +on the 4th of November 1605, and received his education at St. Omers +and Paris, where he was earnestly pressed to take upon him the habit +of a Jesuit; but that sort of life not suiting with his genius, he +excused himself and left them[1]. After his return from Paris, he was +instructed by his father in history, and other useful branches of +literature, and became, says Wood, a very accomplished gentleman. This +author has written, + +1. Poems, 1683, in 8vo. under the title of Castara: they are divided +into three parts under different titles, suitable to their subject. +The first, which was written when he was courting his wife, Lucia, the +beautiful daughter of William Lord Powis, is introduced by a +character, written in prose, of a mistress. The second are copies to +her after marriage, by the character of a wife; after which is a +character of a friend, before several funeral elegies. The third part +consists of divine poems, some of which are paraphrases on several +texts out of Job, and the book of psalms. + +2. The Queen of Arragon, a Tragi-Comedy, which play he shewed to +Philip Earl of Pembroke, who having a high opinion of it, caused it to +be acted at court, and afterwards to be published, the contrary to the +author's inclination. + +3. Observations on History, Lond. 1641, 8vo. + +4. History of Edward IV. Lond. 1640, in a thin folio, written and +published at the desire of King Charles I. which in the opinion of +some critics of that age, was too florid for history, and fell short +of that calm dignity which is peculiar to a good historian, and which +in our nation has never been more happily attained than by the great +Earl of Clarendon and Bishop Burnet. During the civil war, Mr. +Habington, according to Wood, temporized with those in power, and was +not unknown to Oliver Cromwell; but there is no account of his being +raised to any preferment during the Protector's government. He died +the 30th of November, 1654. + +We shall present the readers with the prologue to the Queen of +Arragon, acted at Black-Fryars, as a specimen of this author's poetry. + + Ere we begin that no man may repent, + Two shillings, and his time, the author sent + The prologue, with the errors of his play, + That who will, may take his money and away. + First for the plot, 'tis no way intricate + By cross deceits in love, nor so high in state, + That we might have given out in our play-bill + This day's the Prince, writ by Nick Machiavil. + The language too is easy, such as fell + Unstudied from his pen; not like a spell + Big with mysterious words, such as inchant + The half-witted, and confound the ignorant. + Then, what must needs, afflict the amourist, + No virgin here, in breeches casts a mist + Before her lover's eyes; no ladies tell + How their blood boils, how high their veins do swell. + But what is worse no baudy mirth is here; + (The wit of bottle-ale, and double beer) + To make the wife of citizen protest, + And country justice swear 'twas a good jest. + Now, Sirs, you have the errors of his wit, + Like, or dislike, at your own perils be't. + +Footnote: +1. Wood Athen. Oxon. v. 1, p, 100. + + * * * * * + + + + + FRANCIS GOLDSMITH. + + +Was the son of Francis Goldsmith, of St. Giles in the Fields in +Middlesex, Esq; was educated under Dr. Nicholas Grey, in +Merchant-Taylor's School, became a gentleman commoner in +Pembroke-College in the beginning of 1629, was soon after translated +to St. John's College, and after he had taken a degree in arts, to +Grey's-Inn, where he studied the common law several years, but other +learning more[1]. Mr. Langbaine says, that he could recover no other +memoirs of this gentleman, but that he lived in the reign of King +Charles the First, and obliged the World with a translation of a play +out of Latin called, Sophompaneas, or the History of Joseph, with +Annotations, a Tragedy, printed 4to. Lond. 1640, and dedicated to the +Right Hon. Henry Lord Marquis of Dorchester. This Drama was written by +the admirable Hugo Grotius, published by him at Amsterdam 1635, and +dedicated to Vossius, Professor of History and Civil Arts in +Amsterdam. He stiles it a Tragedy, notwithstanding it ends +successfully, and quotes for his authority in so doing, AEschilus, +Euripides, and even Vossius, in his own Art of Poetry. Some make it a +Question, whether it be lawful to found a dramatic Poem on any sacred +subject, and some people of tender consciences have murmured against +this Play, and another of the same cast called Christ's Passion; but +let us hear the opinion of Vossius himself, prefixed to this Play. "I +am of opinion, (says he) it is better to chuse another argument than +sacred. For it agrees not with the majesty of sacred things, to be +made a play and a fable. It is also a work of very dangerous +consequence, to mingle human inventions with things sacred; because +the poet adds uncertainties of his own, sometimes falsities; which is +not only to play with holy things, but also to graft in men's minds +opinions, now and then false. These things have place, especially when +we bring in God, or Christ speaking, or treating of the mysteries of +religion. I will allow more where the history is taken out of the +sacred scriptures; but yet in the nature of the argument is civil, as +the action of David flying from his son Absolom; or of Joseph sold by +his brethren, advanced by Pharaoh to the government of Egypt, and that +dignity adored by, and made known unto his brethren. Of which argument +is Sophompaneas, written by Hugo Grotius, embassador from the Queen of +Sweden to the King of France; which tragedy, I suppose, may be set for +a pattern to him, that would handle an argument from the holy +scriptures." This is the opinion of Vossius, and with him all must +agree who admire the truly admirable Samson Agonistes of Milton. + +As we have frequently mentioned Grotius, the short account of so great +a man, which is inserted in Langbaine, will not be unpleasing to the +reader. + +"Hugo Grotius, says he, was an honour to his country: he was born in +the year 1583, and will be famous to posterity, in regard of those +many excellent pieces he has published. In some of his writings he +defended Arminianism, for which he suffered imprisonment in the castle +of Louverstein, in the year 1618; at which time his associate +Barnevelt lost his head on the same account. Afterwards Grotius +escaped out of prison, by means of Maria Reigersberg his wife, and +fled into Flanders; and thence into France, where he was kindly +received by Lewis XIII. He died at Rostock in Mecclebourg, Sept. 1, +1645. His life is written at large by Melchoir Adamus, in Latin." + +As to our outhor's [sic] translation, which is in heroic verse, it is +much commended by verses from four of his friends. + +He also translated Grotius's consolatory oration to his father, with +epitaphs; and also his Catechism into English verse. + +Mr. Goldsmith died at Ashton in Northamptonshire, in September 1655, +and was buried there, leaving behind him an only daughter named +Katherine, afterwards the wife of Sir Henry Dacres. + +Footnote: +1. Wood Athen. Oxon. v. 2. p. 194. + + * * * * * + + + + + JOHN CLEVELAND, + + +Was the son of a vicar of Hinkley, in Leicestershire, where he was +born, and received his grammatical education, under one Mr. Richard +Vines, a zealous Puritan. After he had compleated his school +education, he was sent to Christ's College in Cambridge, and in a +short time distinguishing himself for his knowledge of the Latin +tongue, and for Oratory, he was preferred to a fellowship in St. +John's-College, in the said university. He continued there about nine +years, and made during that time some successful attempts in poetry. +At length, upon the eruption of the civil war, he was the first who +espoused the Royal cause in verse, against the Presbyterians, who +persecuted him in their turn with more solid severity; for he was +ejected, as soon as the reins of power were in their hands. Dr. Fuller +bestows upon our author the most lavish panegyric: He was (says he) a +general artist, pure latinist, an exquisite orator, and what was his +masterpiece, an eminent poet. Dr. Fuller thus characterizes him, but +as Cleveland has not left remains behind him sufficient to convey to +posterity so high an idea of his merit, it may be supposed that the +Doctor spoke thus in his favour, meerly on account of their agreement +in political principles. He addressed an oration, says Winstanley, to +Charles I. who was so well pleased with it, that he sent for him, and +gave him his hand to kiss, with great expressions of kindness. When +Oliver Cromwell was in election to be member for the town of +Cambridge, as he engaged all his friends and interests to oppose it; +so when it was carried but by one vote, he cried out with much +passion, that, that single vote had ruined church and kingdom[1], such +fatal events did he presage from the success of Oliver. Mr. Cleveland +was no sooner forced from the College, by the prevalence of the +Parliament's interest, but he betook himself to the camp, and +particularly to Oxford the head quarters of it, as the most proper +sphere for his wit, learning and loyalty. Here he began a paper war +with the opposite party, and wrote some smart satires against the +Rebels, especially the Scots. His poem called the Mixt Assembly; his +character of a London Diurnal, and a Committee-man, are thought to +contain the true spirit of satire, and a just representation of the +general confusion of the times. From Oxford he went to the garrison of +Newark, where he acted as judge advocate till that garrison was +surrendered, and by an excellent temperature, of both, says +Winstanley, he was a just and prudent judge for the King, and a +faithful advocate for the Country. + +Here he drew up a bantering answer and rejoinder to a Parliament +officer, who had written to him on account of one Hill, that had +deserted their side, and carried off with him to Newark, the sum of +133 l. and 8 d. We shall give part of Mr. Cleveland's answer to the +officer's first letter, by which an estimate may be formed of the +rest. + +SIXTHLY BELOVED! + +"It is so, that our brother and fellow-labourer in the gospel, is +start aside; then this may serve for an use of instruction, not to +trust in man, or in the son of man. Did not Demas leave Paul? Did not +Onesimus run from his master Philemon? Also this should teach us to +employ our talents, and not to lay them up in a napkin; had it been +done among the cavaliers, it had been just, then the Israelite had +spoiled the Egyptian; but for Simeon to plunder Levi, that--that, &c." + +The garrison of Newark defended themselves with much courage and +resolution against the besiegers, and did not surrender but by the +King's special command, after he had thrown himself into the hands of +the Scots; which action of his Majesty's Cleveland passionately +resented, in his poem called, the King's Disguise: Upon some private +intelligence, three days before the King reached them, he foresaw, +that the army would be bribed to surrender him, in which he was not +mistaken. As soon as this event took place, Cleveland, who warmly +adhered to the regal party, was obliged to atone for his loyalty by +languishing in a jail, at Yarmouth, where he remained for some time +under all the disadvantages of poverty, and wretchedness: At last +being quite spent with the severity of his confinement, he addressed +Oliver Cromwell in a petition for liberty, in such pathetic and moving +terms, that his heart was melted with the prisoner's expostulation, +and he ordered him to be set at liberty. In this address, our author +did not in the least violate his loyalty, for he made no concessions +to Oliver, but only a representation of the hardships he suffered, +without acknowledging his sovereignty, tho' not without flattering his +power. Having thus obtained his liberty, he settled himself in +Gray's-Inn, and as he owed his releasement to the Protector, he +thought it his duty to be passive, and not at least to act against +him: But Cleveland did not long enjoy his state of unenvied ease, for +he was seized with an intermitting fever, and died the 29th of April, +1685. + +[2]On the first of May he was buried, and his dear friend Dr. John +Pearson, afterwards lord bishop of Chester, preached his funeral +sermon, and gave this reason, why he declined commending the deceased, +"because such praising of him would not be adequate to the expectation +of the audience, seeing some who knew him must think it far below +him."--There were many who attempted to write elegies upon him, and +several performances of this kind, in Latin and English, are prefixed +to the edition of Cleveland's works, in verse and prose, printed in +8vo, in 1677, with his effigies prefixed. + +From the verses of his called Smectymnuus, we shall give the following +specimen, in which the reader will see he did not much excel in +numbers. + + Smectymnuus! the goblin makes me start, + I'th' name of Rabbi-Abraham, what art? + Syriack? or Arabick? or Welsh? what skilt? + Up all the brick-layers that Babel built? + Some conjurer translate, and let me know it, + 'Till then 'tis fit for a West Saxon Poet. + But do the brotherhood then play their prizes? + Like murmurs in religion with disguises? + Out-brave us with a name in rank and file, + A name, which if 'twere trained would spread a mile; + The Saints monopoly, the zealous cluster, + Which like a porcupine presents a muster. + +The following lines from the author's celebrated satire, entitled, the +Rebel-Scot, will yet more amply shew his turn for this species of +poetry. + + "Nature herself doth Scotchmen beasts confess, + Making their country such a wilderness; + A land that brings in question and suspence + God's omnipresence; but that CHARLES came thence; + But that MONTROSE and CRAWFORD'S loyal band + Aton'd their sin, and christen'd half their land.-- + A land where one may pray with curst intent, + O may they never suffer banishment! + Had Cain been Scot, God would have chang'd his doom, + Not forc'd him wander, but confin'd him home.-- + + "Lord! what a goodly thing is want of shirts! + How a Scotch stomach and no meat converts! + They wanted food and rayment, so they took + Religion for their temptress and their cook.-- + Hence then you proud impostors get you gone, + You Picts in gentry and devotion. + You scandal to the stock of verse, a race + Able to bring the gibbet in disgrace.-- + + "The Indian that heaven did forswear, + Because he heard some Spaniards were there, + Had he but known what Scots in Hell had been, + He would, Erasmus-like, have hung between." + +It is probable that this bitterness against our brethren of +North-Britain, chiefly sprang from Mr. Cleveland's resentment of the +Scots Army delivering up the King to the Parliament. + +Footnotes: +[text mark missing]. Wood fasti Oxon. p. 274. +1. Winst. Lives of the Poets +2. Winst. Lives of the Poets. + + * * * * * + + + + + Dr. BARTEN HOLYDAY, + + +Son of Thomas Holyday, a taylor, was born at All Saints parish, within +the city of Oxford, about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign; +he was entered early into Christ Church, in the time of Dr, Ravis, his +relation and patron, by whom he was chosen student, and having taken +his degrees of batchelor and master of arts, he became archdeacon of +Oxfordshire. In 1615, he entered into holy orders[1], and was in a +short time taken notice of as an eloquent or rather popular preacher, +by which he had two benefices confered on him both in the diocese of +Oxford. + +In the year 1618 he went as chaplain to Sir Francis Stewart, when he +accompanied to Spain the Count Gundamore, after he had continued +several Years at our court as embassador, in which journey Holyday +behaved in a facetious and pleasant manner, which ingratiated him in +the favour of Gundamore[2]. + +Afterwards our author became chaplain to King Charles I. and succeeded +Dr. Bridges in the archdeaconry of Oxon, before the year 1626. In 1642 +he was by virtue of the letters of the said King, created, with +several others, Dr. of divinity. When the rebellion broke out, he +sheltered himself near Oxford; but when he saw the royal party decline +so much that their cause was desperate, he began to tamper with the +prevailing power; and upon Oliver Cromwell's being raised to the +Protectorship, he so far coincided with the Usurper's interests, as to +undergo the examination of the Friers, in order to be inducted into +the rectory of Shilton in Berks, in the place of one Thomas Lawrence, +ejected on account of his being non compos mentis. For which act he +was much blamed and censured by his ancient friends the clergy, who +adhered to the King, and who rather chose to live in poverty during +the usurpation, than by a mean compliance with the times, betray the +interest of the church, and the cause of their exiled sovereign. + +After the King's restoration he quitted the living he held under +Cromwell, and returned to Eisley near Oxon, to live on his +archdeaconry; and had he not acted a temporizing part it was said he +might have been raised to a see, or some rich deanery. His poetry +however, got him a name in those days, and he stood very fair for +preferment; and his philosophy discovered in his book de Anima, and +well languaged sermons, (says Wood) speaks him eminent in his +generation, and shew him to have traced the rough parts, as well as +the pleasant paths of poetry. + +His works are, + +1. Three Sermons, on the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of our +Saviour, Lond. 1626. + +2. Two Sermons at Paul's Cross. + +3. A Sermon on the Nature of Faith. + +4. Motives to a godly Life, in Ten Sermons, Oxon, 1657. + +5. Four Sermons against Disloyalty, Oxon, 1661. + +Technogamia; or the Marriage of Arts, a Comedy, acted publicly in +Christ's Church Hall, with no great applause 1617. But the Wits of +those times being willing to distinguish themselves before the King, +were resolved, with leave, to act the same comedy at Woodstock, +whereupon (says Wood) the author making some foolish alterations in +it, it was accordingly acted on Sunday night the 26th of August 1621, +but it being too grave for the King, and too scholastic for the +Audience, or as some said, that the actors in order to remove their +timidity, had taken too much wine before, they began, his Majesty +after two acts offered several times to withdraw; at length being +persuaded by some of those who were near to him, to have patience till +it was ended, lest the young men should be discouraged, he sat it out, +tho' much against his will; upon which these Verses were made by a +certain scholar; + + At Christ Church Marriage done before the King + Lest that those Mates should want an offering, + The King himself did offer; what I pray? + He offered twice or thrice to go away. + +6. Survey of the World in Ten Books, a Poem, Oxon, 1661, which was +judged by Scholars to be an inconsiderable piece, and by some not to +be his. But being published just before his death, it was taken for a +posthumous work, which had been composed by him in his younger +Days[3]. + +He translated out of Latin into English the Satires of Persius, Oxon. +1616, in apologizing for the defects of this work, he plays upon the +word _translate_: To have committed no faults in this translation, +says he, would have been to translate myself, and put off man. Wood +calls this despicable pun, an elegant turn. + +7. Satires of Juvenal illustrated with Notes, Oxon. folio 1673. At the +end of which is the Fourth Edition of Persius, before mentioned. + +8. Odes of Horace, Lond. 1652; this Translation Wood says, is so near +that of Sir Thomas Hawkins, printed 1638, or that of Hawkins so near +this, that to whom to ascribe it he is in doubt. + +Dr. Holyday, who according to the same author was highly conceited of +his own worth, especially in his younger Days, but who seems not to +have much reason for being so, died at a Village called Eisley on the +2d day of October 1661, and was three days after buried at the foot of +Bishop King's monument, under the south wall of the [a]isle joining on +the south side to the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, near the +remains of William Cartwright, and Jo. Gregory. + +Footnotes: +1. Athen. Oxon. 259. Ed. 1721. +2. Wood ubi supra. +3. Athen. Oxon. p. 260. + + * * * * * + + + + + THOMAS NABBES. + + +A writer, in the reign of Charles I, whom we may reckon, says +Langbaine, among poets of the third rate, but who in strict justice +cannot rise above a fifth. He was patronized by Sir John Suckling. He +has seven plays and masks extant, besides other poems, which Mr. +Langbaine says, are entirely his own, and that he has had recourse to +no preceding author for assistance, and in this respect deserves +pardon if not applause from the critic. This he avers in his prologue +to Covent-Garden. + + He justifies that 'tis no borrowed strain, + From the invention of another's brain. + Nor did he steal the fancy. 'Tis the fame + He first intended by the proper name. + 'Twas not a toil of years: few weeks brought forth, + This rugged issue, might have been more worth, + If he had lick'd it more. Nor doth he raise + From the ambition of authentic plays, + Matter or words to height, nor bundle up + Conceits at taverns, where the wits do sup; + His muse is solitary, and alone + Doth practise her low speculation. + +The reader from the above specimen may see what a poet he was; but as +he was in some degree of esteem in his time, we thought it improper to +omit him. + +The following are his plays; + +1. The Bride, a Comedy; acted in the Year 1638 at a private House in +Drury-Lane by their Majesty's Servants, printed 4to. 1640. + +2. Covent Garden, a Comedy; acted in the Year 1632. + +3. Hannibal and Scipio, an Historical Tragedy, acted in the year 1635. + +4. Microcosmus, a Moral Masque, represented at a private house in +Salisbury Court, printed 1637. + +5. Spring's Glory, Vindicating Love by Temperance, against the Tenet, +Sine Cerere & Baccho friget Venus; moralized in a Masque. With other +Poems, Epigrams, Elegies, and Epithalamiums of the author's, printed +in 4to, London, 1638. At the end of these poems is a piece called A +Presentation, intended for the Prince's Birth day, May 29, 1638, +annually celebrated. + +6. Tottenham-Court, a Comedy, acted in the year 1633, at a private +house in Salisbury Court, printed in 4to. 1638. + +7. Unfortunate Lovers, a Tragedy, never acted, printed in 4to. London, +1640. + +Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley, according to their old custom, have +ascribed two other anonymous plays to our author: The Woman Hater +Arraigned, a Comedy, and Charles the First, a Tragedy, which Langbaine +has shewn not to be his. + + * * * * * + + + + + JAMES SHIRLEY, + + +A very voluminous dramatic author, was born in the city of London, +and: was descended from the Shirleys in Suffex or Warwickshire; he was +educated in grammar learning in Merchant Taylors school, and +transplanted thence to St. John's College, but in what station he +lived there, we don't find. + +Dr. William Laud, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, presiding over +that house, conceived a great affection for our author, and was +willing to cherish and improve those promising abilities early +discoverable in him. Mr. Shirley had always an inclination to enter +into holy orders, but, for a very particular reason, was discouraged +from attempting it by Dr. Laud; this reason to some may appear +whimsical and ridiculous, but has certainly much weight and force in +it. + +Shirley had unfortunately a large mole upon his left cheek, which much +disfigured him, and gave him a very forbidding appearance. Laud +observed very justly, that an audience can scarce help conceiving a +prejudice against a man whose appearance shocks them, and were he to +preach with the tongue of an angel, that prejudice could never be +surmounted; besides the danger of women with child fixing their eyes +on him in the pulpit, and as the imagination of pregnant women has +strange influence on the unborn infants, it is somewhat cruel to +expose them to that danger, and by these means do them great injury, +as ones fortune in some measure depends upon exterior comeliness[1]. +But Shirley, who was resolute to be in orders, left that university +soon after, went to Cambridge, there took the degrees in arts, and +became a minister near St. Alban's in Hertfordshire; but never having +examined the authority, and purity of the Protestant Church, and being +deluded by the sophistry of some Romish priests, he changed his +religion for theirs[2], quitted his living, and taught a grammar +school in the town of St. Alban's; which employment he finding an +intolerable drudgery, and being of a fickle unsteady temper, he +relinquished it, came up to London, and took lodgings in Gray's Inn, +where he commenced a writer for the stage with tolerable success. He +had the good fortune to gain several wealthy and beneficent patrons, +especially Henrietta Maria the Queen Consort, who made him her +servant. + +When the civil war broke out, he was driven from London, and attended +upon his Royal Mistress, while his wife and family were left in a +deplorable condition behind him. Some time after that, when the Queen +of England was forced, by the fury of opposition, to sollicit succours +from France, in order to reinstate her husband; our author could no +longer wait upon her, and was received into the service of William +Cavendish, marquis of Newcastle, to take his fortune with him in the +wars. That noble spirited patron had given him such distinguishing +marks of his liberality, as Shirley thought himself happy in his +service, especially as by these means he could at the same time serve +the King. + +Having mentioned Henrietta Maria, Shirley's Royal Mistress, the reader +will pardon a digression, which flows from tenderness, and is no more +than an expression of humanity. Her life-time in England was +embittered with a continued persecution; she lived to see the unhappy +death of her Lord; she witnessed her exiled sons, not only oppressed +with want, but obliged to quit France, at the remonstrance of +Cromwel's ambassador; she herself was loaded with poverty, and as +Voltaire observes, "was driven to the most calamitous situation that +ever poor lady was exposed to; she was obliged to sollicit Cromwel to +pay her an allowance, as Queen Dowager of England, which, no doubt, +she had a right to demand; but to demand it, nay worse, to be obliged +to beg it of a man who shed her Husband's blood upon a scaffold, is an +affliction, so excessively heightened, that few of the human race ever +bore one so severe." + +After an active service under the marquis of Newcastle, and the King's +cause declining beyond hope of recovery, Shirley came again to London, +and in order to support himself and family, returned his former +occupation of teaching a school, in White Fryars, in which he was +pretty successful, and, as Wood says, 'educated many ingenious youths, +who, afterwards in various faculties, became eminent.' After the +Restoration, some of the plays our author had written in his leisure +moments, were represented with success, but there is no account +whether that giddy Monarch ever rewarded him for his loyalty, and +indeed it is more probable he did not, as he pursued the duke of +Lauderdale's maxim too closely, of making friends of his enemies, and +suffering his friends to shift for themselves, which infamous maxim +drew down dishonour on the administration and government of Charles +II. Wood further remarks, that Shirley much assisted his patron, the +duke of Newcastle, in the composition of his plays, which the duke +afterwards published, and was a drudge to John Ogilby in his +translation of Homer's Iliad and Odysseys, by writing annotations on +them. At length, after Mr. Shirley had lived to the age of 72, in +various conditions, having been much agitated in the world, he, with +his second wife, was driven by the dismal conflagration that happened +in London, Anno 1666, from his habitation in Fleet-street, to another +in St. Giles's in the Fields. Where, being overcome with miseries +occasioned by the fire, and bending beneath the weight of years, they +both died in one day, and their bodies were buried in one grave, in +the churchyard of St. Giles's, on October 29, 1666. + +The works of this author + +1. Changes, or Love in a Maze, a Comedy, acted at a private house in +Salisbury Court, 1632. + +2. Contention for Honour and Riches, a Masque, 1633. + +3. Honoria and Mammon, a Comedy; this Play is grounded on the +abovementioned Masque. + +4. The Witty Fair One, a Comedy, acted in Drury Lane, 1633. + +5. The Traitor, a Tragedy, acted by her Majesty's servants, 1635. This +Play was originally written by Mr. Rivers, a jesuit, but altered by +Shirley. + +6. The Young Admiral, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at a private house in +Drury Lane, 1637. + +7. The Example, a Tragi-Comedy, acted in Drury Lane by her Majesty's +Servants, 1637. + +8. Hyde Park, a Comedy, acted in Drury Lane, 1637. + +9. The Gamester, a Comedy, acted in Drury Lane, 1637; the plot is +taken from Queen Margate's Novels, and the Unlucky Citizen. + +10. The Royal Master, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at the Theatre in Dublin, +1638. + +11. The Duke's Mistress, a Tragi-Comedy, acted by her Majesty's +servants, 1638. + +12. The Lady of Pleasure, a Comedy, acted at a private house in Drury +Lane, 1638. + +13. The Maid's Revenge, a Tragedy, acted at a private house in Drury +Lane, with applause, 1639. + +13 [sic]. Chabot, Admiral of France, a Tragedy, acted in Drury Lane, +1639; Mr. Chapman joined in this play; the story may be found in the +histories of the reign of Francis I. + +15. The Ball, a Comedy, acted in Drury Lane, 1639; Mr. Chapman +likewise assisted in this Comedy. + +16. Arcadia, a Dramatic Pastoral, performed at the Phaenix in Drury +Lane by the Queen's servants, 1649. + +17. St. Patrick for Ireland, an Historical Play, 1640; for the plot +see Bedes's Life of St. Patrick, &c. + +18. The Humorous Courtier, a Comedy, presented at a private house in +Drury Lane, 1640. + +19. Love's Cruelty, a Tragedy, acted by the Queen's servants, 1640. + +20. The Triumph of Beauty, a Masque, 1646; part of this piece seems to +be taken from Shakespear's Midsummer's Night's Dream, and Lucian's +Dialogues. + +21. The Sisters, a Comedy, acted at a private house in Black Fryars, +1652. + +22. The Brothers, a Comedy, 1652. + +23. The Doubtful Heir, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at Black Fryars, 1652. + +24. The Court Secret, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at a private house in +Black Fryars, 1653, dedicated to the Earl of Strafford; this play was +printed before it was acted. + +25. The Impostor, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at a private house in Black +Fryars, 1653. + +26. The Politician, a Tragedy, acted in Salisbury Court, 1655; part of +the plot is taken from the Countess of Montgomery's Urania. + +27. The Grateful Servant, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at a private house in +Drury Lane, 1655. + +28. The Gentleman of Venice, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at a private house +in Salisbury Court. Plot taken from Gayron's Notes on Don Quixote. + +29. The Contention of Ajax and Ulysses for Achilles's Armour, a +Masque, 1658. It is taken from Ovid's Metamorphosis, b. xiii. + +30. Cupid and Death, a Masque, 1658. + +30 [sic]. Love Tricks, or the School of Compliments, a Comedy, acted by the +Duke of York's servants in little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1667. + +31. The Constant Maid, or Love will find out the Way, a Comedy, acted +at the New House called the Nursery, in Hatton Garden, 1667. + +33. The Opportunity, a Comedy, acted at the private house in Drury +Lane by her Majesty's servants; part of this play is taken from +Shakespear's Measure for Measure. + +34. The Wedding, a Comedy, acted at the Phaenix in Drury Lane. + +35. A Bird in a Cage, a Comedy, acted in Drury Lane. + +36. The Coronation, a Comedy. This play is printed with Beaumont's and +Fletcher's. + +37. The Cardinal, a Tragedy, acted at a private house in Black Fryars. + +38. The Triumph of Peace, a Masque, presented before the King and +Queen at Whitehall, 1633, by the Gentlemen of the Four Inns of Court. + +We shall present the reader with a quotation taken from a comedy of +his, published in Dodsley's collection of old plays, called A Bird in +a Cage, p. 234. Jupiter is introduced thus speaking, + + Let the music of the spheres, + Captivate their mortal ears; + While Jove descends into this tower, + In a golden streaming shower. + To disguise him from the eye + Of Juno, who is apt to pry + Into my pleasures: I to day + Have bid Ganymede go to play, + And thus stole from Heaven to be + Welcome on earth to Danae. + And see where the princely maid, + On her easy couch is laid, + Fairer than the Queen of Loves, + Drawn about with milky doves. + +Footnotes: +1. Athen. Oxon. p 376 +2. Wood, ubi supra. + + * * * * * + + + + + JAMES HOWEL, Esq; + + +Was born at Abernant in Carmarthenshire, the place where his father +was minister, in the year 1594[1]. Howel himself, in one of his +familiar epistles, says, that his ascendant was that hot constellation +of Cancer about the middle of the Dog Days. After he was educated in +grammar learning in the free school of Hereford, he was sent to Jesus +College in the beginning of 1610, took a degree in arts, and then +quitted the university. By the help of friends, and a small sum of +money his father assisted him with, he travelled for three years into +several countries, where he improved himself in the various languages; +some years after his return, the reputation of his parts was so great, +that he was made choice of to be sent into Spain, to recover of the +Spanish monarch a rich English ship, seized by the Viceroy of Sardinia +for his master's use, upon some pretence of prohibited goods being +found in it. + +During his absence, he was elected Fellow of Jesus College, 1623, and +upon his return, was patronized by Emanuel, lord Scroop, Lord +President of the North, and by him was made his secretary[2]. As he +resided in York, he was, by the Mayor and Aldermen of Richmond, chose +a Burgess for their Corporation to sit in that Parliament, that began +at Westminster in the year 1627. Four years after, he went secretary +to Robert, earl of Leicester, ambassador extraordinary from England to +the King of Denmark, before whom he made several Latin speeches, +shewing the occasion of their embassy, viz. to condole the death of +Sophia, Queen Dowager of Denmark, Grandmother to Charles I. King of +England. + +Our author enjoyed many beneficial employments, and at length, about +the beginning of the civil war, was made one of the clerks of the +council, but being extravagant in his temper, all the money he got was +not sufficient to preserve him from a Jail. When the King was forced +from the Parliament, and the Royal interest declined, Howel was +arrested; by order of a certain committee, who owed him no good-will, +and carried prisoner to the Fleet; and having now nothing to depend +upon but his wits, he was obliged to write and translate books for a +livelihood, which brought him in, says Wood, a comfortable +subsistance, during his stay there; he is the first person we have met +with, in the course of this work, who may be said to have made a trade +of authorship, having written no less than 49 books on different +subjects. + +In the time of the rebellion, we find Howel tampering with the +prevailing power, and ready to have embraced their measures; for which +reason, at the reiteration, he was not contin[u]ed in his place of +clerk to the council, but was only made king's historiographer, being +the first in England, says Wood, who bore that title; and having no +very beneficial employment, he wrote books to the last. + +He had a great knowledge in modern histories, especially in those of +the countries in which he had travelled, and he seems, by his letters, +to have been no contemptible politician: As to his poetry, it is +smoother, and more harmonious, than was very common with the bards of +his time. + +As he introduced the trade of writing for bread, so he also is charged +with venal flattery, than which nothing can be more ignoble and base. +To praise a blockhead's wit because he is great, is too frequently +practised by authors, and deservedly draws down contempt upon them. He +who is favoured and patronized by a great man, at the expence of his +integrity and honour, has paid a dear price for the purchase, a +miserable exchange, patronage for virtue, dependance for freedom. + +Our author died the beginning of November, 1666, and was buried on the +North side of the Temple church. + +We shall not trouble the reader with an enumeration of all the +translations and prose works of this author; the occasion of his being +introduced here, is, his having written + +Nuptials of Peleus and Thetis, consisting of a Masque and a Comedy, +[f]or the Great Royal Ball, acted in Paris six times by the King in +person, the Duke of Anjou, the Duke of York, with other Noblemen; also +by the Princess Royal, Henrietta Maria, Princess of Conti, &c. printed +in 4to. 1654, and addressed to the Marchioness of Dorchester. Besides +this piece, his Dodona's Grove, or Vocal Forest, is in the highest +reputation. + +His entertaining letters, many of whom were written to the greatest +personages in England, and some in particular to Ben Johnson, were +first published in four volumes; but in 1737, the tenth edition of +them was published in one volume, which is also now become scarce. +They are interspersed with occasional verses; from one of these little +pieces we shall select the following specimen of this author's +poetical talent. + + On the Author's Valentine, Mrs. METCALF. + + Could I charm the queen of love, + To lend a quill of her white dove; + Or one of Cupid's pointed wings + Dipt in the fair Caftalian Springs; + Then would I write the all divine + Perfections of my Valentine. + + As 'mongst, all flow'rs the Rose excells, + As Amber 'mongst the fragrant'st smells, + As 'mongst all minerals the Gold, + As Marble 'mongst the finest mold, + As Diamond 'mongst jewels bright + As Cynthia 'mongst the lesser lights[3]: + So 'mongst the Northern beauties shine, + So far excels my Valentine. + + In Rome and Naples I did view + Faces of celestial hue; + Venetian dames I have seen many, + (I only saw them, truck'd not any) + Of Spanish beauties, Dutch and French, + I have beheld the quintessence[3]: + Yet saw I none that could out-shine, + Or parallel my Valentine. + + Th' Italians they are coy and quaint. + But they grosly daub and paint; + The Spanish kind, and apt to please, + But fav'ring of the same disease: + Of Dutch and French some few are comely, + The French are light, the Dutch are homely. + Let Tagus, Po, the Loire and Rhine + Then veil unto my Valentine. + +Footnotes: +1. Langbaine's Lives of the Poets. +2. Athen. Oxon. p. 281. vol. ii. +3. Bad rhimes were uncommon with the poets of Howel's time. + + * * * * * + + + + + Sir RICHARD FANSHAW + + +Was the youngest, and tenth son of Sir Henry Fanshaw of Ware-park in +Hertfordshire; he was born in the year 1607, and was initiated in +learning by the famous Thomas Farnaby. He afterwards compleated his +studies in the university of Cambridge, and from thence went to travel +into foreign countries, by which means he became a very accomplished +gentleman. In 1635 he was patronized by King Charles I. on account of +his early and promising abilities; he took him into his service, and +appointed him resident at the court of Spain[1]. During his embassy +there, his chief business was, to demand reparation and punishment of +some free-booters, who had taken ships from the English, and to +endeavour the restoration of amity, trade and commerce. + +When the civil war broke out, he returned to England, having +accomplished the purposes of his embassy abroad, and attached himself +with the utmost zeal to the Royal Standard; and during those +calamitous times was intrusted with many important matters of state. + +In 1644, attending the court at Oxford, the degree of Doctor of Civil +Laws was conferred upon him[2], and the reputation of his parts every +day increasing, he was thought a proper person to be secretary to +Charles, Prince of Wales, whom he attended into the Western parts of +England, and from thence into the Isles of Scilly and Jersey. + +In 1648 he was appointed treasurer of the navy, under the command of +Prince Rupert, in which office he continued till the year 1650, when +he was created a baronet by King Charles II. and sent envoy +extraordinary to the court of Spain. Being recalled thence into +Scotland, where the King then was, he served there in quality of +secretary of state, to the satisfaction of all parties, +notwithstanding he refused to take the covenant engagements, which +Charles II. forced by the importunity of the Presbyterians, entered +into, with a resolution to break them. In 1651 he was made prisoner at +the battle of Worcester and committed to close custody in London, +where he continued, 'till his confinement introduced a very dangerous +sickness; he then had liberty granted him, upon giving bail, to go for +the recovery of his health, into any place he should chuse, provided +he stirred not five miles from thence, without leave from the +Parliament. + +In February, 1659, he repaired to the King at Breda, who knighted him +the April following. Upon his Majesty's reiteration, it was expected, +from his great services, and the regard the King had for him, that he +would have been made secretary of state, but at that period there were +so many people's merits to repay, and so great a clamour for +preferment, that Sir Richard was disappointed, but had the place of +master of requests conferred on him, a station, in those times, of +considerable profit and dignity. + +On account of his being a good Latin scholar, he was also made a +secretary for that tongue[3]. In 1661, being one of the burgesses for +the university of Cambridge, he was sworn a privy counsellor for +Ireland, and having by his residence in foreign parts, qualified +himself for public employment, he was sent envoy extraordinary to +Portugal, with a dormant commission to the ambassador, which he was to +make use of as occasion should require. Shortly after, he was +appointed ambassador to that court, where he negotiated the marriage +between his master King Charles II. and the Infanta Donna Catharina, +daughter to King John VI. and towards the end of the same year he +returned to England. We are assured by Wood, that in the year 1662, he +was sent again ambassador to that court, and when he had finished his +commission, to the mutual satisfaction of Charles II. and Alphonso +King of Portugal, being recalled in 1663, he was sworn one of his +Majesty's Privy Council. In the beginning of the year 1644 he was sent +ambassador to Philip IV. King of Spain, and arrived February 29 at +Cadiz, where he met with a very extraordinary and unexpected +salutation, and was received with some circumstances of particular +esteem. It appears from one of Sir Richard's letters, that this +distinguishing respect was paid him, not only on his own, but on his +master's account; and in another of his letters he discovers the +secret why the Spaniard yielded him, contrary to his imperious proud +nature, so much honour, and that is, that he expected Tangier and +Jamaica to be restored to him by England, which occasioned his arrival +to be so impatiently longed for, and magnificently celebrated. During +his residence at this court King Philip died, September 17, 1665, +leaving his son Charles an infant, and his dominions under the regency +of his queen, Mary Anne, daughter of the emperor Ferdinand III. Sir +Richard taking the advantage of his minority, put the finishing hand +to a peace with Spain, which was sufficiently tired and weakened with +a 25 years war, for the recovery of Portugal, which had been +dismembered from the Spanish crown in 1640; the treaty of peace was +signed at Madrid December 6, 1665. About the 14th of January +following, his excellency took a journey into Portugal, where he staid +till towards the end of March; the design of his journey certainly was +to effect an accommodation between that crown and Spain, which however +was not produced till 1667, by the interposition of his Britannic +Majesty. Our author having finished his commission was preparing for +his return to England, when June 4, 1666, he was seized at Madrid with +a violent fever, which put an end to his valuable life, the 16th of +the same month, the very day he intended to set out for England: his +body being embalmed, it was conveyed by his lady, and all his +children, then living, by land to Calais, and so to London, whence +being carried to All Saints church in Hertford, it was deposited in +the vault of his father-in-law, Sir John Harrison. The Author of the +Short Account of his Life, prefixed to his letters, says, 'that he was +remarkable for his meekness, sincerity, humanity and piety, and also +was an able statesman and a great scholar, being in particular a +compleat master of several modern languages, especially the Spanish, +which he spoke and wrote with as much advantage, as if he had been a +native.' By his lady, eldest daughter of Sir John Harrison, he had six +sons, and eight daughters, whereof only one son and four daughters +survived him. + +The following is an account of his works, + +1. An English Translation in Rhyme, of the celebrated Italian +Pastoral, called Il Pastor Fido, or the Faithful Shepherd, written +originally by Battista Guarini, printed in London, 1644 in 4to. and +1664 8vo. + +2. A Translation from English into Latin Verse, of the Faithful +Shepherders, a Pastoral, written originally by John Fletcher, Gent. +London, 1658. + +3. In the octavo edition of the Faithful Shepherd, Anno 1664, are +inserted the following Poems of our author, viz. 1st, An Ode upon the +Occasion of his Majesty's Proclamation, 1630, commanding the Gentry to +reside upon their Estates in the Country. 2d, A Summary Discourse of +the Civil Wars of Rome, extracted from the best Latin Writers in Prose +and Verse. 3d, An English Translation of the Fourth Book of Virgil's +AEneid on the Loves of Dido and AEneas. 4th, Two Odes out of Horace, +relating to the Civil Wars of Rome, against covetous, rich Men. + +4. He translated out of Portuguese into English, The Lusiad, or +Portugal's Historical Poem, written originally by Luis de Camoens, +London, 1655, &c. folio. + +After his decease, namely, in 1671, were published these two +posthumous pieces of his in 4to, Querer per solo Querer, To Love only +for Love's sake, a Dramatic Romance, represented before the King and +Queen of Spain, and Fiestas de Aranjuez, Festivals at Aranjuez: both +written originally in Spanish, by Antonio de Mendoza, upon occasion of +celebrating the Birth-day of King Philip IV. in 1623, at Aranjuez; +they were translated by our author in 1654, during his confinement at +Taukerley-park in Yorkshire, which uneasy situation induced him to +write the following stanzas on this work, which are here inserted, as +a specimen of his versification. + + Time was, when I, a pilgrim of the seas, + When I 'midst noise of camps, and courts disease, + Purloin'd some hours to charm rude cares with verse, + Which flame of faithful shepherd did rehearse. + + But now restrain'd from sea, from camp, from court, + And by a tempest blown into a port; + I raise my thoughts to muse on higher things, + And eccho arms, and loves of Queens and Kings. + + Which Queens (despising crowns and Hymen's band) + Would neither men obey, nor men command: + Great pleasure from rough seas to see the shore + Or from firm land to hear the billows roar. + +We are told that he composed several other things remaining still in +manuscript, which he had not leisure to compleat; even some of the +printed pieces have not all the finishing so ingenious an author could +have bestowed upon them; for as the writer of his Life observes, +'being, for his loyalty and zeal to his Majesty's service, tossed from +place to place, and from country to country, during the unsettled +times of our anarchy, some of his Manuscripts falling into unskilful +hands, were printed and published without his knowledge, and before he +could give them the last finishing strokes.' But that was not the case +with his Translation of the Pastor Fido, which was published by +himself, and applauded by some of the best judges, particularly Sir +John Denham, who after censuring servile translators, thus goes on, + + A new and nobler way thou dost pursue + To make translations and translators too. + They but preserve the ashes, these the flame, + True to his sense, but truer to his fame. + +Footnotes: +1. Short Account of Sir Richard Fanshaw, prefixed to his Letters. +2. Wood, Fast. ed. 1721, vol. ii. col. 43, 41. +3. Wood, ubi supra. + + * * * * * + + + + + ABRAHAM COWLEY + + +Was the son of a Grocer, and born in London, in Fleet-street, near the +end of Chancery Lane, in the year 1618. His mother, by the interest of +her friends, procured him to be admitted a King's scholar in +Westminster school[1]; his early inclination to poetry was occasioned +by reading accidentally Spencer's Fairy Queen, which, as he himself +gives an account, 'used to lye in his mother's parlour, he knew not by +what accident, for she read no books but those of devotion; the +knights, giants, and monsters filled his imagination; he read the +whole over before he was 12 years old, and was made a poet, as +immediately as a child is made an eunuch.' + +In the 16th year of his age, being still at Westminster school, he +published a collection of poems, under the title of Poetical Blossoms, +in which there are many things that bespeak a ripened genius, and a +wit, rather manly than puerile. Mr. Cowley himself has given us a +specimen in the latter end of an ode written when he was but 13 years +of age. 'The beginning of it, says he, is boyish, but of this part +which I here set down, if a very little were corrected, I should not +be much ashamed of it.' It is indeed so much superior to what might be +expected from one of his years, that we shall satisfy the reader's +curiosity by inserting it here. + + IX. + + This only grant me, that my means may lye, + Too low for envy, for contempt too high: + Some honour I would have; + Not from great deeds, but good alone, + The unknown are better than ill known, + Rumour can ope the grave: + Acquaintance I would have, but when 't depends + Not on the number, but the choice of friends. + + X. + + Books should, not business, entertain the light + And sleep, as undisturbed as death, the night: + My house a cottage, more + Than palace, and should fitting be + For all my use, no luxury: + My garden painted o'er + With nature's hand, not art, and pleasures yield, + Horace might envy in his Sabine Field. + + XI. + + Thus would I double my life's fading space, + For he that runs it well, twice runs his race; + And in this true delight, + These unbought sports, that happy state, + I could not fear; nor wish my fate; + But boldly say, each night, + To-morrow let my sun his beams display, + Or in clouds hide them: I have lived to-day. + +It is remarkable of Mr. Cowley, as he himself tells us, that he had +this defect in his memory, that his teachers could never bring him to +retain the ordinary rules of grammar, the want of which, however, he +abundantly supplied by an intimate acquaintance with the books +themselves, from whence those rules had been drawn. In 1636 he was +removed to Trinity College in Cambridge, being elected a scholar of +that house[2]. His exercises of all kinds were highly applauded, with +this peculiar praise, that they were fit, not only for the obscurity +of an academical life, but to have made their appearance on the true +theatre of the world; and there he laid the designs, and formed the +plans of most of the masculine, and excellent attempts he afterwards +happily finished. In 1638 he published his Love's Riddle, written at +the time of his being a scholar in Westminster school, and dedicated +by a copy of verses to Sir Kenelm Digby. He also wrote a Latin Comedy +entitled Naufragium Joculare, or the Merry Shipwreck. The first +occasion of his entering into business, was, an elegy he wrote on the +death of Mr. William Harvey, which introduced him to the acquaintance +of Mr. John Harvey, the brother of his deceased friend, from whom he +received many offices of kindness through the whole course of his +life[3]. In 1643, being then master of arts, he was, among many +others, ejected his college, and the university; whereupon, retiring +to Oxford, he settled in St. John's College, and that same year, under +the name of a scholar of Oxford, published a satire entitled the +Puritan and the Papist. His zeal in the Royal cause, engaged him in +the service of the King, and he was present in many of his Majesty's +journies and expeditions; by this means he gained an acquaintance and +familiarity with the personages of the court and of the gown, and +particularly had the entire friendship of my lord Falkland, one of the +principal secretaries of state. + +During the heat of the civil war, he was settled in the family of the +earl of St. Alban's, and accompanied the Queen Mother, when she was +obliged to retire into France. He was absent from his native country, +says Wood, about ten years, during which time, he laboured in the +affairs of the Royal Family, and bore part of the distresses inflicted +upon the illustrious Exiles: for this purpose he took several +dangerous journies into Jersey, Scotland, Flanders, Holland, and +elsewhere, and was the principal instrument in maintaining a +correspondence between the King and his Royal Consort, whose letters +he cyphered and decyphered with his own hand. + +His poem called the Mistress was published at London 1647, of which he +himself says, "That it was composed when he was very young. Poets +(says he) are scarce thought free men of their company, without paying +some duties and obliging themselves to be true to love. Sooner or +later they must all pass through that trial, like some Mahometan +monks, who are bound by their order once at least in their life, to +make a pilgrimage to Mecca. But we must not always make a judgment of +their manners from their writings of this kind, as the Romanists +uncharitably do of Beza for a few lascivious sonnets composed by him +in his youth. It is not in this sense that poetry is said to be a kind +of painting: It is not the picture of the poet, but of things, and +persons imagined by him. He may be in his practice and disposition a +philosopher, and yet sometimes speak with the softness of an amorous +Sappho. I would not be misunderstood, as if I affected so much gravity +as to be ashamed to be thought really in love. On the contrary, I +cannot have a good opinion of any man who is not at least capable of +being so." + +What opinion Dr. Sprat had of Mr. Cowley's Mistress, appears by the +following passage extracted from his Life of Cowley. "If there needed +any excuse to be made that his love-verses took up so great a share in +his works, it may be alledged that they were composed when he was very +young; but it is a vain thing to make any kind of apology for that +sort of writing. If devout or virtuous men will superciliously forbid +the minds of the young to adorn those subjects about which they are +most conversant, they would put them out of all capacity of performing +graver matters, when they come to them: for the exercise of all men's +wit must be always proper for their age, and never too much above it, +and by practice and use in lighter arguments, they grow up at last to +excell in the most weighty. I am not therefore ashamed to commend Mr. +Cowley's Mistress. I only except one or two expressions, which I wish +I could have prevailed with those that had the right of the other +edition to have left out; but of all the rest, I dare boldly +pronounce, that never yet was written so much on a subject so +delicate, that can less offend the severest rules of morality. The +whole passion of love is intimately described by all its mighty train +of hopes, joys and disquiets. Besides this amorous tenderness, I know +not how in every copy there is something of more useful knowledge +gracefully insinuated; and every where there is something feigned to +inform the minds of wise men, as well as to move the hearts of young +men or women." + +Our author's comedy, named the Guardian, he afterwards altered, and +published under the title of the Cutter of Coleman-Street. Langbaine +says, notwithstanding Mr. Cowley's modest opinion of this play, it was +acted not only at Cambridge, but several times afterwards privately, +during the prohibition of the stage, and after the King's return +publickly at Dublin; and always with applause. It was this probably +that put the author upon revising it; after which he permitted it to +appear publickly on the stage under a new title, at his royal highness +the Duke of York's theatre. It met with opposition at first from some +who envied the author's unshaken loyalty; but afterwards it was acted +with general applause, and was esteemed by the critics an excellent +comedy. + +In the year 1656 it was judged proper by those on whom Mr. Cowley +depended, that he should come over into England, and under pretence of +privacy and retirement, give notice of the situation of affairs in +this nation. Upon his return he published a new edition of all his +poems, consisting of four parts, viz. + +1. Miscellanies. + +2. The Mistress; or several copies of love-verses. + +3. Pindarique Odes, written in imitation of the stile and manner of +Pindar. + +4. Davedeis, a sacred poem of the troubles of David in four books. + +"Which, says Dr. Sprat, was written in so young an age, that if we +shall reflect on the vastness of the argument, and his manner of +handling it, he may seem like one of the miracles that he there +adorns; like a boy attempting Goliah. This perhaps, may be the +reason, that in some places, there may be more youthfulness and +redundance of fancy, than his riper judgement would have allowed. But +for the main of it I will affirm, that it is a better instance and +beginning of a divine poem, than ever I yet saw in any language. The +contrivance is perfectly ancient, which is certainly the true form of +an heroic poem, and such as was never yet done by any new devices of +modern wits. The subject was truly divine, even according to God's own +heart. The matters of his invention, all the treasures of knowledge +and histories of the bible. The model of it comprehended all the +learning of the East. The characters lofty and various; the numbers +firm and powerful; the digressions beautiful and proportionable. The +design, to submit mortal wit to heavenly truths. In all, there is an +admirable mixture of human virtues and passions with religious +raptures. The truth is, continues Dr. Sprat, methinks in other matters +his wit exceeded all other men's, but in his moral and divine works it +out-did itself; and no doubt it proceeded from this cause, that in the +lighter kinds of poetry he chiefly represented the humours and +affections of others; but in these he sat to himself, and drew the +figure of his own mind. We have the first book of the Davideis +translated out of English into very elegant Latin by Mr. Cowley +himself." Dr. Sprat says of his Latin poetry, "that he has expressed +to admiration all the numbers of verse and figures of poetry, that are +scattered up and down amongst the ancients; and that there is hardly +to be found in them any good fashion of speech, or colour of measure; +but he has comprehended it, and given instances of it, according as +his several arguments required either a majestic spirit, or +passionate, or pleasant. This he observes, is the more extraordinary, +in that it was never yet performed by any single poet of the ancient +Romans themselves." + +The same author has told us, that the occasion of Mr. Cowley's falling +on the pindarique way of writing, was his accidentally meeting with +Pindar's works in a place where he had no other books to direct him. +Having thus considered at leisure the heighth of his invention, and +the majesty of his stile, he tried immediately to imitate it in +English, and he performed it, says the Dr. without the danger that +Horace presaged to the man that should attempt it. Two of our greatest +poets, after allowing Mr. Cowley to have been a successful imitator of +Pindar, yet find fault with his numbers. Mr. Dryden having told us, +that our author brought Pindaric verse as near perfection as possible +in so short a time, adds, "But if I may be allowed to speak my mind +modestly, and without injury to his sacred ashes, somewhat of the +purity of English, somewhat of more sweetness in the numbers, in a +word, somewhat of a finer turn and more lyrical verse is yet wanting;" +and Mr. Congreve having excepted against the irregularity of the +measure of the English Pindaric odes, yet observes, "that the beauty +of Mr. Cowley's verses are an attonement for the irregularity of his +stanzas; and tho' he did nor imitate Pindar in the strictness of his +numbers, he has very often happily copied him in the force of his +figures, and sublimity of his stile and sentiments." + +Soon after his return to England, he was seized upon thro' mistake; +the search being intended after another gentleman of considerable note +in the King's party. The Republicans, who were sensible how much they +needed the assistance and coalition of good men, endeavoured sometimes +by promises, and sometimes by threatning, to bring our author over to +their interest; but all their attempts proving fruitless, he was +committed to a severe confinement, and with some difficulty at last +obtained his liberty, after giving a thousand pounds bail, which Dr. +Scarborough in a friendly manner took upon himself. Under these bonds +he continued till Cromwell's death, when he ventured back into France, +and there remained, as Dr. Sprat says, in the same situation as +before, till near the time of the King's return. This account is a +sufficient vindication of Mr. Cowley's unshaken loyalty, which some +called in question; and as this is a material circumstance in the life +of Cowley, we shall give an account of it in the words of the elegant +writer of his life just now mentioned, as it is impossible to set it +in a fairer, or more striking light than is already done by that +excellent prelate. "The cause of his loyalty being called in question, +he tells us, was a few lines in a preface to one of his books; the +objection, says he, I must not pass in silence, because it was the +only part of his life that was liable to misinterpretation, even by +the confession of those that envied his fame. + +"In this case it were enough to alledge for him to men of moderate +minds, that what he there said was published before a book of poetry; +and so ought rather to be esteemed as a problem of his fancy and +invention, than as a real image of his judgement; but his defence in +this matter may be laid on a surer foundation. This is the true reason +to be given of his delivering that opinion: Upon his coming over he +found the state of the royal party very desperate. He perceived the +strength of their enemies so united, that till it should begin to +break within itself, all endeavours against it were like to prove +unsuccessful. On the other side he beheld their zeal for his Majesty's +cause to be still so active, that often hurried them into inevitable +ruin. He saw this with much grief; and tho' he approved their +constancy as much as any man living, yet he found their unreasonable +shewing it, did only disable themselves, and give their adversaries +great advantages of riches and strength by their defeats. He therefore +believed it would be a meritorious service to the King, if any man who +was known to have followed his interest, could insinuate into the +Usurper's minds, that men of his principles, were now willing to be +quiet, and could persuade the poor oppressed Royalists to conceal +their affections for better occasions. And as for his own particular, +he was a close prisoner when he writ that against which the exception +is made; so that he saw it was impos[s]ible for him to pursue the ends +for which he came hither, if he did not make some kind of declaration +of his peaceable intentions. This was then his opinon; and the success +of the thing seems to prove that it was not ill-grounded. For +certainly it was one of the greatest helps to the King's affairs about +the latter end of that tyranny, that many of his best friends +dissembled their counsels, and acted the same designs under the +disguises and names of other parties. The prelate concludes this +account with observing, that, that life must needs be very +unblameable, which had been tried in business of the highest +consequence, and practised in the hazardous secrets of courts and +cabinets, and yet there can nothing disgraceful be produced against +it, but only the error of one paragraph, and single metaphor." + +About the year 1662, his two Books of Plants were published, to which +he added afterwards four more, and all these together, with his Latin +poems, were printed in London, 1678; his Books on Plants was written +during his residence in England, in the time of the usurpation, the +better to distinguish his real intention, by the study of physic, to +which he applied. + +It appears by Wood's Fasti Oxon. that our poet was created Dr. of +Physic at Oxford, December 2, 1657, by virtue of a mandamus from the +then government. After the King's restoration, Mr. Cowley, being then +past the 4Oth year of his age, the greatest part of which had been +spent in a various and tempestuous condition, resolved to pass the +remainder of his life in a studious retirement: In a letter to one of +his friends, he talks of making a voyage to America, not from a view +of accumulating wealth, but there to chuse a habitation, and shut +himself up from the busy world for ever. This scheme was wildly +romantic, and discovered some degree of vanity, in the author; for Mr. +Cowley needed but retire a few miles out of town, and cease from +appearing abroad, and he might have been sufficiently secured against +the intrusion of company, nor was he of so much consequence as to be +forced from his retirement; but this visionary scheme could not be +carried into execution, by means of Mr. Cowley's want of money, for he +had never been much on the road of gain. Upon the settlement of the +peace of the nation, he obtained a competent estate, by the favour of +his principal patrons, the duke of Buckingham, and the earl of St. +Albans. Thus furnished for a retreat, he spent the last seven or eight +years of his life in his beloved obscurity, and possessed (says Sprat) +that solitude, which from his very childhood he so passionately +desired. This great poet, and worthy man, died at a house called the +Porch-house, towards the West end of the town of Chertsey in Surry, +July 28, 1667, in the 49th year of his age. His solitude, from the +very beginning, had never agreed so well with the constitution of his +body, as his mind: out of haste, to abandon the tumult of the city, he +had not prepared a healthful situation in the country, as he might +have done, had he been more deliberate in his choice; of this, he soon +began to find the inconvenience at Barn-elms, where he was afflicted +with a dangerous and lingring fever. Shortly after his removal to +Chertsey, he fell into another consuming disease: having languished +under this for some months, he seemed to be pretty well cured of its +ill symptoms, but in the heat of the summer, by staying too long +amongst his labourers in the meadows, he was taken with a violent +defluxion, and stoppage in his breast and throat; this he neglected, +as an ordinary cold, and refused to send for his usual physicians, +'till it was past all remedy, and so in the end, after a fortnight's +sickness, it proved mortal to him. + +He was buried in Westminster Abbey, the 3d of August following, near +the ashes of Chaucer and Spenser. King Charles II. was pleased to +bestow upon him the best character, when, upon the news of his death, +his Majesty declared, that Mr. Cowley had not left a better man behind +him in England. A monument was erected to his memory in May 1675, by +George, duke of Buckingham, with a Latin inscription, written by Dr. +Sprat, afterwards lord bishop of Rochester. + +Besides Mr. Cowley's works already mentioned, we have, by the fame +hand, A Proposition for the advancement of Experimental Philosophy. A +Discourse, by way of Vision, concerning the Government of Oliver +Cromwel, and several Discourses, by way of Essays, in Prose and Verse. +Mr. Cowley had designed a Discourse on Stile, and a Review of the +Principles of the Primitive Christian Church, but was prevented by +death. In Mr. Dryden's Miscellany Poems, we find a poem on the Civil +War, said to be written by our author, but not extant in any edition +of his works: Dr. Sprat mentions, as very excellent in their kind, Mr. +Cowley's Letters to his private friends, none of which were published. +As a poet, Mr. Cowley has had tribute paid him from the greatest names +in all knowledge, Dryden, Addison, Sir John Denham, and Pope. He is +blamed for a redundance of wit, and roughness of verification, but is +allowed to have possessed a fine understanding, great reading, and a +variety of genius. Let us see how Mr. Addison characterizes him in his +Account of the great English Poets. + + Great Cowley then (a mighty genius) wrote, + O'errun with wit, and lavish of his thought; + His turns too closely on the readers press, + He more had pleased us, had he pleased us less: + One glittering thought no sooner strikes our eyes, + With silent wonder, but new wonders rise. + As in the milky way, a shining white + O'erflows the heavens with one continued light; + That not a single star can shew his rays, + Whilst jointly all promote the common blaze. + Pardon, great poet, that I dare to name, + Th' uncumber'd beauties of thy verse with blame; + Thy fault is only wit in its' excess, + But wit like thine, in any shape will please. + +In his public capacity, he preserved an inviolable honour and loyalty, +and exerted great activity, with discernment: in private life, he was +easy of access, gentle, polite, and modest; none but his intimate +friends ever discovered, by his discourse, that he was a great poet; +he was generous in his disposition, temperate in his life, devout and +pious in his religion, a warm friend, and a social companion. Such is +the character of the great Mr. Cowley, who deserves the highest +gratitude from posterity, as well for his public as private conduct. +He never prostituted his muse to the purposes of lewdness and folly, +and it is with pleasure we can except him from the general, and too +just, charge brought against the poets, That they have abilities to do +the greatest service, and by misdirecting them, too frequently fawn +the harlot face of loose indulgence, and by dressing up pleasure in an +elegant attire, procure votaries to her altar, who pay too dear for +gazing at the shewy phantom by loss of their virtue. It is no +compliment to the taste of the present age, that the works of Mr. +Cowley are falling into disesteem; they certainly contain more wit, +and good sense, than the works of many other poets, whom it is now +fashionable to read; that kind of poetry, which is known by the name +of Light, he succeeds beyond any of his cotemporaries, or successors; +no love verses, in our language, have so much true wit, and expressive +tenderness, as Cowley's Mistress, which is indeed perfect in its kind. +What Mr. Addison observes, is certainly true, 'He more had pleased us, +had he pleased us less.' He had a soul too full, an imagination too +fertile to be restrained, and because he has more wit than any other +poet, an ordinary reader is somehow disposed to think he had less. In +the particular of wit, none but Shakespear ever exceeded Cowley, and +he was certainly as cultivated a scholar, as a great natural genius. +In that kind of poetry which is grave, and demands extensive thinking, +no poet has a right to be compared with Cowley: Pope and Dryden, who +are as remarkable for a force of thinking, as elegance of poetry, are +yet inferior to him; there are more ideas in one of Cowley's pindaric +odes, than in any piece of equal length by those two great genius's +(St. Caecilia's ode excepted) and his pindaric odes being now +neglected, can proceed from no other cause, than that they demand too +much attention for a common reader, and contain sentiments so +sublimely noble, as not to be comprehended by a vulgar mind; but to +those who think, and are accustomed to contemplation, they appear +great and ravishing. In order to illustrate this, we shall quote +specimens in both kinds of poetry; the first taken from his Mistress +called Beauty, the other is a Hymn to Light, both of which, are so +excellent in their kind, that whoever reads them without rapture, may +be well assured, that he has no poetry in his soul, and is insensible +to the flow of numbers, and the charms of sense. + + + BEAUTY. + + I. + + Beauty, thou wild fantastic ape, + Who dost in ev'ry country change thy shape! + Here black, there brown, here tawny, and there white; + Thou flatt'rer which compli'st with every sight! + Thou Babel which confound'st the eye + With unintelligible variety! + Who hast no certain what nor where, + But vary'st still, and dost thy self declare + Inconstant, as thy she-professors are. + + II. + + Beauty, love's scene and masquerade, + So gay by well-plac'd lights, and distance made; + False coin, and which th' impostor cheats us still; + The stamp and colour good, but metal ill! + Which light, or base, we find when we + Weigh by enjoyment and examine thee! + For though thy being be but show, + 'Tis chiefly night which men to thee allow: + And chuse t'enjoy thee, when thou least art thou. + + III. + + Beauty, thou active, passive ill! + Which dy'st thy self as fast as thou dost kill! + Thou Tulip, who thy stock in paint dost waste, + Neither for physic good, nor smell, nor taste. + Beauty, whose flames but meteors are, + Short-liv'd and low, though thou would'st seem a star, + Who dar'st not thine own home descry, + Pretending to dwell richly in the eye, + When thou, alas, dost in the fancy lye. + + IV. + + Beauty, whose conquests still are made + O'er hearts by cowards kept, or else betray'd; + Weak victor! who thy self destroy'd must be + When sickness, storms, or time besieges thee! + Thou unwholesome thaw to frozen age! + Thou strong wine, which youths fever dost enrage, + Thou tyrant which leav'st no man free! + Thou subtle thief, from whom nought safe can be! + Thou murth'rer which hast kill'd, and devil which would damn me. + + + HYMN to LIGHT. + + I. + + First born of Chaos, who so far didst come, + From the old negro's darksome womb! + Which when it saw the lovely child, + The melancholly mass put on kind looks and smiled. + + II. + + Thou tide of glory, which no rest dost know, + But ever ebb, and ever flow! + Thou golden shower of a true Jove! + Who does in thee descend, and Heaven to earth make love! + + III. + + Hail active nature's watchful life, and health! + Her joy, her ornament and wealth! + Hail to thy husband heat, and thee! + Thou the world's beauteous bride, the lusty bridegroom he! + + IV. + + Say from what golden quivers of the sky, + Do all thy winged arrows fly? + Swiftness and power by birth are thine, + From thy great fire they came, thy fire the word divine. + + V. + + 'Tis I believe this archery to shew + That so much cost in colours thou, + And skill in painting dost bestow, + Upon thy ancient arms, the gaudy heav'nly bow. + + VI. + + Swift as light, thoughts their empty career run, + Thy race is finish'd, when begun; + Let a Post-Angel start with thee, + And thou the goal of earth shall reach as soon as he. + + VII. + + Thou in the moon's bright chariot proud and gay, + Dost thy bright wood of stars survey; + And all the year doth with thee bring + O thousand flowry lights, thine own nocturnal spring. + + VIII. + + Thou Scythian-like dost round thy lands above + The sun's gilt tent for ever move, + And still as thou in pomp dost go, + The shining pageants of the world attend thy show. + + IX. + + Nor amidst all these triumphs dost thou scorn + The humble Glow-Worms to adorn, + And with those living spangles gild, + (O greatness without pride!) the blushes of the Field. + + X. + + Night, and her ugly subjects thou dost fright, + And sleep, the lazy Owl of night; + Asham'd and fearful to appear, + They skreen their horrid shapes, with the black hemisphere. + + XI. + + With 'em there hastes, and wildly takes th' alarm, + Of painted dreams, a busy swarm, + At the first opening of thine eye, + The various clusters break, the antick atoms fly. + + XII. + + The guilty serpents, and obscener beasts, + Creep conscious to their secret rests: + Nature to thee doth reverence pay, + Ill omens, and ill sights removes out of thy way. + + XIII. + + At thy appearance, grief itself is said, + To shake his wings, and rouze his head; + And cloudy care has often took + A gentle beamy smile, reflected from thy look. + + XIV. + + At thy appearance, fear itself grows bold; + Thy sun-shine melts away his cold: + Encourag'd at the sight of thee, + To the cheek colour comes, and firmness to the knee. + + XV. + + Even lust, the master of a harden'd face, + Blushes if thou be'st in the place, + To darkness' curtains he retires, + In sympathizing nights he rolls his smoaky fires. + + XVI. + + When, goddess, thou lift'st up thy waken'd head, + Out of the morning's purple bed, + Thy choir of birds about thee play, + And all the joyful world salutes the rising day. + + XVII. + + The ghosts, and monster spirits, that did presume + A body's priv'lege to assume, + Vanish again invisibly, + And bodies gain again their visibility. + + XVIII. + + All the world's bravery that delights our eyes, + Is but thy sev'ral liveries, + Thou the rich dye on them bestow'st, + Thy nimble pencil paints this landskip as thou go'st. + + XIX. + + A crimson garment in the rose thou wear'st; + A crown of studded gold thou bear'st, + The virgin lillies in their white, + Are clad but with the lawn of almost naked light. + + XX. + + The Violet, spring's little infant, stands, + Girt in thy purple swadling-bands: + On the fair Tulip thou dost dote; + Thou cloath'st it in a gay and party-colour'd coat. + + XXI. + + With flame condens'd thou dost the jewels fix, + And solid colours in it mix: + Flora herself, envies to see + Flowers fairer than her own, and durable as she. + + XXII. + + Ah, goddess! would thou could'st thy hand with-hold, + And be less liberal to gold; + Didst thou less value to it give, + Of how much care (alas) might'st thou poor man relieve! + + XXIII. + + To me the sun is more delightful far, + And all fair days much fairer are; + But few, ah wondrous few there be, + Who do not Gold prefer, O goddess, ev'n to thee. + + XXIV. + + Thro' the soft ways of Heav'n, and air, and sea, + Which open all their pores to thee, + Like a clear river thou dost glide, + And with thy living stream through the close channels slide. + + XXV. + + But where firm bodies thy free course oppose, + Gently thy source the land overflows; + Takes there possession, and does make, + Of colours mingled light, a thick and standing lake. + + XXVI. + + But the vast ocean of unbounded day + In th'Empyraean heav'n does stay; + Thy rivers, lakes, and springs below, + From thence took first their rise, thither at last must flow. + +Footnotes: +1. Wood's Fasti Oxon, vol. ii. col. 120. +2. Essay on himself. +3. Sprat's Account of Cowley. + + * * * * * + + + + + Sir WILLIAM DAVENANT. + + +Few poets have been subjected to more various turns of fortune, than +the gentleman whose memoirs we are now about to relate. He was amongst +the first who refined our poetry, and did more for the interest of the +drama, than any who ever wrote for the stage. He lived in times of +general confusion, and was no unactive member of the state, when its +necessities demanded his assistance; and when, with the restoration, +politeness and genius began to revive, he applied himself to the +promotion of these rational pleasures, which are fit to entertain a +cultivated people. This great man was son of one Mr. John Davenant, a +citizen of Oxford, and was born in the month of February, 1605; all +the biographers of our poet have observed, that his father was a man +of a grave disposition, and a gloomy turn of mind, which his son did +not inherit from him, for he was as remarkably volatile, as his father +was saturnine. The same biographers have celebrated our author's +mother as very handsome, whose charms had the power of attracting the +admiration of Shakespear, the highest compliment which ever was paid +to beauty. As Mr. Davenant, our poet's father, kept a tavern, +Shakespear, in his journies to Warwickshire, spent some time there, +influenced, as many believe, by the engaging qualities of the handsome +landlady. This circumstance has given rise to a conjecture, that +Davenant was really the son of Shakespear, as well naturally as +poetically, by an unlawful intrigue, between his mother and that great +man; that this allegation is founded upon probability, no reader can +believe, for we have such accounts of the amiable temper, and moral +qualities of Shakespear, that we cannot suppose him to have been +guilty of such an act of treachery, as violating the marriage honours; +and however he might have been delighted with the conversation, or +charmed with the person of Mrs. Davenant, yet as adultery was not then +the fashionable vice, it would be injurious to his memory, so much as +to suppose him guilty. + +Our author received the first rudiments of polite learning from Mr. +Edward Sylvester, who kept a grammar school in the parish of All +Saints in Oxford. In the year 1624, the same in which his father was +Mayor of the city, he was entered a member of the university of +Oxford, in Lincoln's-Inn College, under the tuition of Mr. Daniel +Hough, but the Oxford antiquary is of opinion, he did not long remain +there, as his mind was too much addicted to gaiety, to bear the +austerities of an academical life, and being encouraged by some +gentlemen, who admired the vivacity of his genius, he repaired to +court, in hopes of making his fortune in that pleasing, but dangerous +element. He became first page to Frances, duchess of Richmond, a lady +much celebrated in those days, as well for her beauty, as the +influence she had at court, and her extraordinary taste for grandeur, +which excited her to keep a kind of private court of her own, which, +in our more fashionable aera, is known by the name of Drums, Routs, and +Hurricanes. Sir William afterwards removed into the family of Sir Fulk +Greville, lord Brooke, who being himself a man of taste and erudition, +gave the most encouraging marks of esteem to our rising bard. This +worthy nobleman being brought to an immature fate, by the cruel hands +of an assassin, 1628, Davenant was left without a patron, though not +in very indigent circumstances, his reputation having increased, +during the time he was in his lordship's service: the year ensuing the +death of his patron, he produced his first play to the world, called +Albovino, King of the Lombards, which met with a very general, and +warm reception, and to which some very honourable recommendations were +prefixed, when it was printed, in several copies of verses, by men of +eminence, amongst whom, were, Sir Henry Blount, Edward Hyde, +afterwards earl of Clarendon, and the honourable Henry Howard. Our +author spent the next eight years of his life in a constant attendance +upon court, where he was highly caressed by the most shining +characters of the times, particularly by the earl of Dorset, Edward +Hyde, and Lord Treasurer Weston: during these gay moments, spent in +the court amusements, an unlucky accident happened to our author, +which not a little deformed his face, which, from nature, was very +handsome. Wood has affirmed, that this accident arose from libidinous +dalliance with a handsome black girl in Axe-yard, Westminster. The +plain fact is this, Davenant was of an amorous complexion, and was so +unlucky as to carry the marks of his regular gallantries in the +depression of his nose; this exposed him to the pleasant raillery of +cotemporary wits, which very little affected him, and to shew that he +was undisturbed by their merriment, he wrote a burlesque copy of +verses upon himself. This accident happened pretty early in his life, +since it gave occasion to the following stanzas in Sir John Suckling's +Sessions of the Poets, which we have transcribed from a correct copy +of Suckling's works. + + Will Davenant ashamed of a foolish mischance, + That he had got lately travelling in France, + Modestly hop'd the handsomness of his muse, + Might any deformity about him excuse. + + Surely the company had been content, + If they cou'd have found any precedent, + But in all their records in verse, or prose, + There was none of a laureat, who wanted a nose. + +Suckling here differs from the Oxford historian, in saying that Sir +William's disorder was contracted in France, but as Wood is the +highest authority, it is more reasonable to embrace his observation, +and probably, Suckling only mentioned France, in order that it might +rhime with mischance. + +Some time after this, Davenant was rallied by another hand, on account +of this accident, as if it had been a jest that could never die; but +what is more extraordinary, is, that Sir William himself could not +forget the authoress of this misfortune, but has introduced her in his +Gondibert, and, in the opinion of some critics, very improperly. He +brings two friends, Ulfinore the elder, and Goltho the younger, on a +journey to the court of Gondibert, but in this passage to shew, as he +would insinuate the extream frailty of youth, they were arrested by a +very unexpected accident, notwithstanding the wife councils, which +Ulfinore had just received from his father[1]. The lines which have an +immediate reference to this fair enchantress, are too curious to be +here omitted. + + I. + + The black-ey'd beauty did her pride display, + Thro' a large window, and in jewels shone, + As if to please the world, weeping for day, + Night had put all her starry jewels on. + + II. + + This, beauty gaz'd on both, and Ulfinore + Hung down his head, but yet did lift his eyes + As if he fain would see a little more, + For much, tho' bashful, he did beauty prize. + + III [sic]. + + Goltho did like a blushless statue stare, + Boldly her practis'd boldness did outlook; + And even for fear she would mistrust her snare, + Was ready to cry out, that he was took. + + IV. + + She, with a wicked woman's prosp'rous art, + A seeming modesty, the window clos'd; + Wisely delay'd his eyes, since of his heart + She thought she had sufficiently dispos'd. + + V. + + Nicely as bridegroom's was her chamber drest, + Her bed as brides, and richer than a throne; + And sweeter seem'd than the Circania's nest. + Though built in Eastern groves of Cinnamon. + + VI. + + The price of princes pleasure, who her love, + (Tho'! but false were) at rates so costly bought, + The wealth of many, but many hourly prove + Spoils to some one, by whom herself is caught. + + VII. + + She sway'd by sinful beauty's destiny, + Finds her tyrannic power must now expire, + Who meant to kindle Goltho in her eye, + But to her breast has brought the raging fire. + + IX [sic]. + + Yet even in simple love she uses art, + Tho' weepings are from looser eyes, but leaks; + Yet eldest lovers scarce would doubt her heart, + So well she weeps, as she to Goltho speaks. + +During our author's attendance at court, he wrote several plays, and +employed his time in framing masques, which were acted by the +principal nobility of both sexes; the Queen herself condescended to +take a share in one of them, which gave very great offence to the +scrupulous moralists, which sprung up in those days; the particular +account of this dramatic piece we shall give in the conclusion of his +life, and now proceed in enumerating the incidents of it. + +Upon the death of Ben Johnson, which happened in the year 1637, our +poet succeeded to his laurel, notwithstanding the violent opposition +of his competitor Thomas May, who was so extremely affected with his +disappointment, though he had been a zealous courtier, yet from +resentment to the Queen, by whose interest Davenant was preferred, he +commenced an enemy to the King's party, and became both an advocate +and historian for the Parliament. + +As soon as the civil war broke out, Mr. Davenant had an early share in +them and demonstrated his loyalty by speaking and acting for the King. +He was accused by the Parliament for being embarked in a design in May +1641, of seducing the army from their adherence to the parliamentary +authority, and bringing it again under the subjection of the King, and +defence of his person. In this scheme many of Sir William's friends +were engaged, viz. Mr. Henry Piercy, afterwards lord Piercy, Mr. +Goring, Mr. Jermyn, Mr. Ashburnham, Sir John Suckling, and others: +most of these persons, upon their design being discovered, placed +their security in flight, and Mr. Davenant amongst the rest; but a +proclamation being published for apprehending him, he was stopped at +Feversham, sent up to town, and put into the custody of a sergeant at +arms[2]. In the month of July following, our author was bailed, and +not long after finding it necessary, on account of the violence of the +times, to withdraw to France, he had the misfortune to be seized again +in Kent by the Mayor of Canterbury; how he escaped the present danger, +none of his biographers have related, but it appears that he did not, +upon this occasion, suffer long confinement; he at last retired beyond +sea, where he continued for some time, but the Queen sending over a +considerable quantity of military stores, for the use of the earl of +Newcastle's army, Mr. Davenant returned again to England, offered his +service to that noble peer, who was his old friend and patron, and by +him made lieutenant-general of his ordnance: this promotion gave +offence to many, who were his rivals in his lordship's esteem: they +remonstrated, that Sir William Davenant, being a poet, was, for that +very reason, unqualified for a place of so much trust, and which +demanded one of a solid, and less volatile turn of mind, than the sons +of Parnassus generally are. In this complaint they paid but an +indifferent compliment to the General himself, who was a poet, and had +written, and published several plays. That Davenant behaved well in +his military capacity is very probable, since, in the month of +September, 1643, he received the honour of knighthood from the King, +at the siege of Gloucester, an acknowledgment of his bravery, and +signal services, which bestowed at a time when a strict scrutiny was +made concerning the merit of officers, puts it beyond doubt, that +Davenant, in his martial character, was as deserving as in his +poetical. During these severe contentions, and notwithstanding his +public character, our author's muse sometimes raised her voice, in the +composition of several plays, of which we shall give some account when +we enumerate his dramatic performances. History is silent as to the +means which induced Davenant to quit the Northern army, but as soon as +the King's affairs so far declined, as to afford no hopes of a +revival, he judged it necessary to retire into France, where he was +extremely well received by the Queen, into whose confidence he had the +honour to be taken, and was intrusted with the negotiation of matters +of the highest importance, in the summer of the year 1646. Before this +time Sir William had embraced the popish religion, which circumstance +might so far ingratiate him with the queen, as to trust him with the +most important concerns. Lord Clarendon, who had a particular esteem +for him, has given a full account of this affair, though not much to +his advantage, but yet with all the tenderness due to Sir William's +good intentions, and of that long and intimate acquaintance that had +subsisted between them; which is the more worthy the reader's notice, +as it has entirely escaped the observation of all those, who have +undertaken to write this gentleman's Memoirs, though the most +remarkable passage in his whole life. + +The King, in retiring to the Scots, had followed the advice of the +French ambassador, who had promised on their behalf, if not more than +he had authority to do, at least, more than they were inclined to +perform; to justify, however, his conduct at home, he was inclined to +throw the weight, in some measure, upon the King, and with this view, +he, by an express, informed cardinal Mazarine, that his Majesty was +too reserved in giving the Parliament satisfaction, and therefore +desired that some person might be sent over, who had a sufficient +degree of credit with the English Monarch, to persuade him to such +compliances, as were necessary for his interest. 'The Queen, says the +noble historian, who was never advised by those, who either +understood, or valued her Husband's interest, consulted those about +her, and sent Sir William Davenant, an honest man, and a witty, but in +all respects unequal to such a trust, with a letter of credit to the +King, who knew the person well enough under another character than was +likely to give him much credit upon the argument, with which he was +entrusted, although the Queen had likewise otherwise declared her +opinion to his Majesty, that he should part with the church for his +peace and security.' Sir William had, by the countenance of the French +ambassador, easy admission to the King, who heard patiently all he had +to say, and answered him in a manner, which demonstrated that he was +not pleased with the advice. When he found his Majesty unsatisfied, +and not disposed to consent to what was earnestly desired by those by +whom he had been sent, who undervalued all those scruples of +conscience, with which his Majesty was so strongly possessed, he took +upon himself the liberty of offering some reasons to the king, to +induce him to yield to what was proposed, and among other things said, +it was the opinion and advice of all his friends; his Majesty asked, +what friends? to which Davenant replied, lord Jermyn, and lord +Colepepper; the King upon this observed, that lord Jermyn did not +understand any thing of the church, and that Colepepper was of no +religion; but, says his Majesty, what is the opinion of the Chancellor +of the Exchequer? to which Davenant answered, he did not know, that he +was not there, and had deserted the Prince, and thereupon mentioned +the Queen's displeasure against the Chancellor; to which the King +said, 'The Chancellor was an honest man, and would never desert him +nor the Prince, nor the Church; and that he was sorry he was not with +his son, but that his wife was mistaken.' + +Davenant then offering some reasons of his own, in which he treated +the church with indignity, his Majesty was so transported with anger, +that he gave him a sharper rebuke than he usually gave to any other +man, and forbad him again, ever to presume to come into his presence; +upon which poor Davenant was deeply affected, and returned into France +to give an account of his ill success to those who sent him. + +Upon Davenant's return to Paris, he associated with a set of people, +who endeavoured to alleviate the distresses of exile by some kind of +amusement. The diversion, which Sir William chose was of the literary +sort, and having long indulged an inclination of writing an heroic +poem, and having there much leisure, and some encouragement, he was +induced to undertake one of a new kind; the two first books of which +he finished at the Louvre, where he lived with his old friend Lord +Jermyn; and these with a preface, addressed to Mr. Hobbs, his answer, +and some commendatory poems, were published in England; of which we +shall give some further account in our animadversions upon Gondibert. + +While he employed himself in the service of the muses, Henrietta +Maria, the queen dowager of England whose particular favourite he was +found out business for him of another nature. She had heard that vast +improvements might be made in the loyal colony of Virginia, in case +proper artificers were sent there; and there being many of these in +France who were destitute of employment, she encouraged Sir William to +collect these artificers together, who accordingly embarked with his +little colony at one of the ports in Normandy; but in this expedition +he was likewise unfortunate; for before the vessel was clear of the +French coast, she was met by one of the Parliament ships of war, and +carried into the Isle of Wight, where our disappointed projector was +sent close prisoner to Cowes Castle, and there had leisure enough, and +what is more extraordinary, wanted not inclination to resume his +heroic poem, and having written about half the third book, in a very +gloomy prison, he thought proper to stop short again, finding himself, +as he imagined under the very shadow of death. Upon this occasion it +is reported of Davenant, that he wrote a letter to Hobbes, in which he +gives some account of the progress he made in the third book of +Gondibert, and offers some criticisms upon the nature of that kind of +poetry; but why, says he, should I trouble you or myself, with these +thoughts, when I am pretty certain I shall be hanged next week. This +gaiety of temper in Davenant, while he was in the most deplorable +circumstances of distress, carries something in it very singular, and +perhaps could proceed from no other cause but conscious innocence; for +he appears to have been an inoffensive good natured man. He was +conveyed from the Isle of Wight to the Tower of London, and for some +time his life was in the utmost hazard; nor is it quite certain by +what means he was preserved from falling a sacrifice to the prevailing +fury. Some conjecture that two aldermen of York, to whom he had been +kind when they were prisoners, interposed their influence for him; +others more reasonably conjecture that Milton was his friend, and +prevented the utmost effects of party rage from descending on the head +of this son of the muses. But by whatever means his life was saved, we +find him two years after a prisoner of the Tower, where he obtained +some indulgence by the favour of the Lord Keeper Whitlocke; upon +receiving which he wrote him a letter of thanks, which as it serves to +illustrate how easily and politely he wrote in prose, we shall here +insert. It is far removed either from meanness or bombast, and has as +much elegance in it as any letters in our language. + + +My Lord, + +"I am in suspense whether I should present my thankfulness to your +lordship for my liberty of the Tower, because when I consider how much +of your time belongs to the public, I conceive that to make a request +to you, and to thank you afterwards for the success of it, is to give +you no more than a succession of trouble; unless you are resolved to +be continually patient, and courteous to afflicted men, and agree in +your judgment with the late wise Cardinal, who was wont to say, If he +had not spent as much time in civilities, as in business, he had +undone his master. But whilst I endeavour to excuse this present +thankfulness, I should rather ask your pardon, for going about to make +a present to you of myself; for it may argue me to be incorrigible, +that, after so many afflictions, I have yet so much ambition, as to +desire to be at liberty, that I may have more opportunity to obey your +lordship's commands, and shew the world how much + +"I am, + "My Lord, + "Your lordship's most + "Obliged, most humble, + "And obedient servant, + + "Wm. Davenant." + +Our author was so far happy as to obtain by this letter the favour of +Whitlocke, who was, perhaps, a man of more humanity and gentleness of +disposition, than some other of the covenanters. He at last obtained +his liberty entirely, and was delivered from every thing but the +narrowness of his circumstances, and to redress these, encouraged by +the interest of his friends, he likewise made a bold effort. He was +conscious that a play-house was entirely inconsistent with the +gloominess, and severity of these times; and yet he was certain that +there were people of taste enough in town, to fill one, if such a +scheme could be managed; which he conducted with great address, and at +last brought to bear, as he had the countenance of lord Whitlocke, Sir +John Maynard, and other persons of rank, who really were ashamed of +the cant and hypocrisy which then prevailed. In consequence of this, +our poet opened a kind of theatre at Rutland House, where several +pieces were acted, and if they did not gain him reputation, they +procured him what is more solid, and what he then more wanted, money. +Some of the people in power, it seems, were lovers of music, and tho' +they did not care to own it, they were wise enough to know that there +was nothing scandalous or immoral in the diversions of the theatre. +Sir William therefore, when he applied for a permission called what he +intended to represent an opera; but when he brought it on the stage, +it appeared quite another thing, which when printed had the following +title: + +First day's entertainment at Rutland House by declamation and music, +after the manner of the ancients. + +This being an introductory piece, it demanded all the author's wit to +make it answer different intentions; for first it was to be so +pleasing as to gain applause; and next it was to be be so remote from +the very appearance of a play, as not to give any offence to that +pretended sanctity that was then in fashion. It began with music, then +followed a prologue, in which the author rallies the oddity of his own +performance. The curtain being drawn up to the sound of slow and +solemn music, there followed a grave declamation by one in a guilded +rostrum, who personated Diogenes, and shewed the use and excellency of +dramatic entertainments. The second part of the entertainment +consisted of two lighter declamations; the first by a citizen of +Paris, who wittily rallies the follies of London; the other by a +citizen of London, who takes the same liberty with Paris and its +inhabitants. To this was tacked a song, and after that came a short +epilogue. The music was composed by Dr. Coleman, Capt. Cook, Mr. Henry +Laws, and Mr. George Hudson. + +There were several other pieces which Sir William introduced upon this +stage of the same kind, which met with as much success, as could be +expected from the nature of the performances themselves, and the +temper and disposition of the audience. Being thus introduced, he at +last grew a little bolder, and not only ventured to write, but to act +several new plays, which were also somewhat in a new taste; that is, +they were more regular in their structure, and the language generally +speaking, smoother, and more correct than the old tragedies. These +improvements were in a great measure owing to Sir William's long +residence in France, which gave him an opportunity of reading their +best writers, and hearing the sentiments of their ablest critics upon +dramatic entertainments, where they were as much admired and +encouraged, as at that time despised in England. That these were +really improvements, and that the public stood greatly indebted to Sir +William Davenant as a poet, and master of a theatre, we can produce no +less an authority than that of Dryden, who, beyond any of his +predecessors, contemporaries, or those who have succeeded him, +understood poetry as an art. In his essay on heroic plays, he thus +speaks, "The first light we had of them, on the English theatre (says +he) was from Sir William Davenant. It being forbidden him in the +religious times to act tragedies or comedies, because they contained +some matter of scandal to those good people, who could more easily +dispossess their lawful sovereign, than endure a wanton jest, he was +forced to turn his thoughts another way, and to introduce the examples +of moral virtue written in verse, and performed in recitative music. +The original of this music, and of the scenes which adorned his works, +he had from the Italian opera's; but he heightened his characters, as +I may probably imagine, from the examples of Corneille, and some +French poets. In this condition did this part of poetry remain at his +Majelty's return, when grown bolder as now owned by public authority, +Davenant revived the Siege of Rhodes, and caused it to be acted as a +just drama. But as few men have the happiness to begin and finish any +new project, so neither did he live to make his design perfect. There +wanted the fulness of a plot, and the variety of characters to form it +as it ought; and perhaps somewhat might have been added to the beauty +of the stile: all which he would have performed with more exactness, +had he pleased to have given us another work of the fame nature. For +myself and others who came after him, we are bound with all veneration +to his memory, to acknowledge what advantage we received from that +excellent ground work, which is laid, and since it is an easy thing to +add to what is already invented, we ought all of us, without envy to +him, or partiality to ourselves, to yield him the precedence in it." + +Immediately after the restoration there were two companies of players +formed, one under the title of the King's Servants, the other, under +that of the Duke's Company, both by patents, from the crown; the first +granted to Henry Killigrew, Esq; and the latter to Sir William +Davenant. The King's company acted first at the Red Bull in the upper +end of St. John's Street, and after a year or two removing from place +to place, they established themselves in Drury-Lane. It was some time +before Sir William Davenant compleated his company, into which he took +all who had formerly played under Mr. Rhodes in the Cock-Pit in +Drury-Lane, and amongst these the famous Mr. Betterton, who appeared +first to advantage under the patronage of Sir William Davenant. He +opened the Duke's theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields with his own +dramatic performance of the Siege of Rhodes, the house being finely +decorated, and the stage supplied with painted scenes, which were by +him introduced at least, if not invented, which afforded certainly an +additional beauty to the theatre, tho' some have insinuated, that fine +scenes proved the ruin of acting; but as we are persuaded it will be +an entertaining circumstance to our Readers, to have that matter more +fully explained, we shall take this opportunity of doing it. + +In the reign of Charles I, dramatic entertainments were accompanied +with rich scenery, curious machines, and other elegant embellishments, +chiefly condufted by the wonderful dexterity of that celebrated +English, architect Inigo Jones. But these were employed only in +masques at court, and were too expensive for the little theatres in +which plays were then acted. In them there was nothing more than a +ouftain of very coarse stuff, upon the drawing up of which, the stage +appeared either with bare walls on the sides, coarsly matted, or +covered with tapestry; so that for the place originally represented, +and all the successive changes in which the poets of those times +freely indulged themselves, there was nothing to help the spectator's +understanding, or to assist the actor's performance, but bare +imagination. In Shakespear's time so undecorated were the theatres, +that a blanket supplied the place of a curtain; and it was a good +observation of the ingenious Mr. Chitty, a gentleman of acknowledged +taste in dramatic excellence, that the circumstance of the blanket, +suggested to Shakespear that noble image in Macbeth, where the +murderer invokes + + Thick night to veil itself in the dunnest smoke of Hell, + Nor Heaven peep thro' the blanket of the dark + To cry hold, hold. + +It is true, that while things continued in this situation, there were +a great many play-houses, sometimes six or seven open at once. Of +these some were large, and in part open, where they acted by day +light; others smaller, but better fitted up, where they made use of +candles. The plainness of the theatre made the prices small, and drew +abundance of company; yet upon the whole it is doubtful, whether the +spectactors in all these houses were really superior in number, to +those who have frequented the theatres in later times. If the spirit +and judgment of the actors supplied all deficiencies, and made as some +would insinuate, plays more intelligible without scenes, than they +afterwards were with them, it must be very astonishing; neither is it +difficult to assign another cause, why those who were concerned in +play-houses, were angry at the introduction of scenes and decorations, +which was, that notwithstanding the advanced prices, their profits +from that time were continually sinking; and an author, of high +authority in this case, assures us, in an historical account of the +stage, that the whole sharers in Mr. Hart's company divided a thousand +pounds a year a-piece, before the expensive decorations became +fashionable. Sir William Davehant considered things in another light: +he was well acquainted with the alterations which the French theatre +had received, under the auspice of cardinal Rich[e]lieu, who had an +excellent taste; and he remembered the noble contrivances of Inigo +Jones, which were not at all inferior to the designs of the best +French masters. Sir William was likewise sensible that the monarch he +served was an excellent judge of every thing of this kind; and these +considerations excited in him a passion for the advancement of the +theatre, to which the great figure it has since made is chiefly owing. +Mr. Dryden has acknowledged his admirable talents in this way, and +gratefully remembers the pains taken by our poet, to set a work of his +in the fairest light possible, and to which, he ingenuously ascribes +the success with which it was received. This is the hislory of the +life and progress of scenery on our stage; which, without doubt, gives +greater life to the entertainment of a play; but as the best purposes +may be prostituted, so there is some reason to believe that the +excessive fondness for decorations, which now prevails, has hurt the +true dramatic taste. Scenes are to be considered as secondary in a +play, the means of setting it off with lustre, and ought to engross +but little attention; as it is more important to hear what a character +speaks, than to observe the place where he stands; but now the case is +altered. The scenes in a Harlequin Sorcerer, and other unmeaning +pantomimes, unknown to our more elegant and judging fore-fathers, +procure crowded houses, while the noblest strokes of Dryden, the +delicate touches of Otway and Rowe, the wild majesty of Shakespear, +and the heart-felt language of Lee, pass neglected, when put in +competition with those gewgaws of the stage, these feasts of the eye; +which as they can communicate no ideas, so they can neither warm nor +reform the heart, nor answer one moral purpose in nature. + +We ought not to omit a cirrumstance much in favour of Sir William +Davenant, which proves him to have been as good a man as a poet. When +at the Restoration, those who had been active in disturbing the late +reign, and secluding their sovereign from the throne, became obnoxious +to the royal party, Milton was likely to feel the vengeance of the +court, Davenant actuated by a noble principle of gratitude, interposed +all his influence, and saved the greatest ornament of the world from +the stroke of an executioner. Ten years before that, Davenant had been +rescued by Milton, and he remembered the favour; an instance, this, +that generosity, gratitude, and nobleness of nature is confined to no +particular party; but the heart of a good man will still discover +itself in acts of munificence and kindness, however mistaken he may be +in his opinion, however warm in state factions. The particulars of +this extraordinary affair are related in the life of Milton. + +Sir William Davenant continued at the head of his company of actors, +and at last transferred them to a new and magnificent theatre built in +Dorset-Gardens, where some of his old plays were revived with very +singular circumstances of royal kindness, and a new one when brought +upon the stage met with great applause. + +The last labour of his pen was in altering a play of Shakespear's, +called the Tempest, so as to render it agreeable to that age, or +rather susceptible of those theatrical improvements he had brought +into fashion. The great successor to his laurel, in a preface to this +play, in which he was concerned with Davenant, 'says, that he was a +man of quick and piercing imagination, and soon found that somewhat +might be added to the design of Shakespear, of which neither Fletcher +nor Suckling had ever thought; and therefore to put the last hand to +it, he designed the counterpart to Shakespear's plot, namely, that of +a man who had never seen a woman, that by this means, these two +characters of innocence and love might the more illustrate and commend +each other. This excellent contrivance he was pleased to communicate +to me, and to defire my assistance in it. I confess that from the +first moment it so pleased me, that I never wrote any thing with so +much delight. I might likewise do him that justice to acknowledge that +my writing received daily amendments, and that is the reason why it is +not so faulty, as the rest that I have done, without the help or +correction of so judicious a friend. The comical parts of the sailors +were also of his invention and Writing, as may easily be discovered +from the stile.' + +This great man died at his house in little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, April +17, 1668, aged 63, and two days afterwards was interred in +Westminster-Abbey. On his gravestone is inscribed, in imitation of Ben +Johnson's short epitaph, + + O RARE SIR WILLIAM DAVENANT! + +It may not be amiss to observe, that his remains rest very near the +place out of which those of Mr. Thomas May, who had been formerly his +rival for the bays, and the Parliament's historian, were removed, by +order of the ministry. As to the family our author left behind him, +some account of it will be given in the life of his son Dr. Charles +Davenant, who succeeded him as manager of the theatre. Sir William's +works entire were published by his widow 1673, and dedicated to James +Duke of York. + +After many storms of adversity, our author spent the evening of his +days in ease and serenity. He had the happiness of being loved by +people of all denominations, and died lamented by every worthy good +man. As a poet, unnumbered evidences may be produced in his favour. +Amongst these Mr. Dryden is the foremost, for when his testimony can +be given in support of poetical merit, we reckon all other evidence +superfluous, and without his, all other evidences deficient. In his +words then we shall sum up Davenant's character as a poet, and a man +of genius. + +'I found him, (says he) in his preface to the Tempest, of so quick a +fancy, that nothing was proposed to him on which he could not quickly +produce a thought extreamly pleasant and surprizing, and these first +thoughts of his, contrary to the old Latin proverb, were not always +the least happy, and as his fancy was quick, so likewise were the +products of it remote and new. He borrowed not of any other, and his +imaginations were such as could not easily enter into any other man. +His corrections were sober and judicious, and he corrected his own +writings much more severely than those of another man, bestowing twice +the labour and pain in polishing which he used in invention.' + +Before we enumerate the dramatic works of Sir William Davenant, it +will be but justice to his merit, to insert some animadversions on his +Gondibert; a poem which has been the subject of controversy almost a +hundred years; that is, from its first appearance to the present time. +Perhaps the dispute had been long ago decided, if the author's leisure +had permitted him to finish it. At present we see it to great +disadvantage; and if notwithstanding this it has any beauties, we may +fairly conclude it would have come much nearer perfection, if the +story, begun with so much spirit, had been brought to an end upon the +author's plan. + +Mr. Hobbes, the famous philosopher of Malmsbury, in a letter printed +in his works, affirms, 'that he never yet saw a poem that had so much +shape of art, health of morality and vigour, and beauty of expression, +as this of our author; and in an epistle to the honourable Edward +Howard, author of the British Princes, he thus speaks. My judgment in +poetry has been once already censured by very good wits for commending +Gondibert; but yet have they not disabled my testimony. For what +authority is there in wit? a jester may have it; a man in drink may +have it, and be fluent over night, and wise and dry in the morning: +What is it? and who can tell whether it be better to have it or no? I +will take the liberty to praise what I like as well as they, and +reprehend what they like.'--Mr. Rymer in his preface to his +translation of Rapin's Reflexions on Aristototle's [sic] Treatise of +Poetry, observes, that our author's wit is well known, and in the +preface to that poem, there appears some strokes of an extraordinary +judgment; that he is for unbeaten tracts, and new ways of thinking, +but certainly in the untried seas he is no great discoverer. One +design of the Epic poets before him was to adorn their own country, +there finding their heroes and patterns of virtue, where example, as +they thought, would have the greater influence and power over +posterity; "but this poet, says Rymer, steers a different course; his +heroes are all foreigners; he cultivates a country that is nothing +a-kin to him, and Lombardy reaps the honour of all. Other poets chose +some action or hero so illustrious, that the name of the poem prepared +the reader, and made way for its reception; but in this poem none can +divine what great action he intended to celebrate, nor is the reader +obliged to know whether the hero be Turk or Christian; nor do the +first lines give any light or prospect into the design. Altho' a poet +should know all arts and sciences, yet ought he discreetly to manage +his knowledge. He must have a judgment to select what is noble and +beautiful, and proper for the occasion. He must by a particular +chemistry, extract the essence of things; without soiling his wit with +dross or trumpery. The sort of verse Davenant makes choice of in his +Gondibert might contribute much to the vitiating his stile; for +thereby he obliges himself to stretch every period to the end of four +lines: Thus the sense is broken perpetually with parentheses, the +words jumbled in confusion, and darkness spread over all; but it must +be acknowledged, that Davenant had a particular talent for the +manners; his thoughts are great, and there appears something roughly +noble thro' the whole." This is the substance of Rymer's observations +on Gondibert. Rymer was certainly a scholar, and a man of discernment; +and tho' in some parts of the criticisms he is undoubtedly right, yet +in other parts he is demonstrably wrong. He complains that Davenant +has laid the scene of action in Lombardy, which Rymer calls neglecting +his own country; but the critic should have considered, that however +well it might have pleased the poet's countrymen, yet as an epic poem +is supposed to be read in every nation enlightened by science, there +can no objections arise from that quarter by any but those who were of +the same country with the author. His not making choice of a pompous +name, and introducing his poem with an exordium, is rather a beauty +than a fault; for by these means he leaves room for surprize, which is +the first excellency in any poem, and to strike out beauties where +they are not expected, has a happy influence upon the reader. Who +would think from Milton's introduction, that so stupendous a work +would ensue, and simple dignity is certainly more noble, than all the +efforts and colourings which art and labour can bestow. + +The ingenious and learned Mr. Blackwall, Professor of Greek in the +university of Aberdeen, in his enquiry into the life and writings of +Homer, censures the structure of the poem; but, at the same time pays +a compliment to the abilities of the author. "It was indeed (says he) +a very extraordinary project of our ingenious countryman, to write an +epic poem without mixing allegory, or allowing the smallest fiction +throughout the composure. It was like lopping off a man's limb, and +then putting him upon running races; tho' it must be owned that the +performance shews, with what ability he could have acquitted himself, +had he been sound and entire." + +Such the animadversions which critics of great name have made on +Gondibert, and the result is, that if Davenant had not power to begin +and consummate an epic poem, yet by what he has done, he has a right +to rank in the first class of poets, especially when it is considered +that we owe to him the great perfection of the theatre, and putting it +upon a level with that of France and Italy; and as the theatrical are +the most rational of all amusements, the latest posterity should hold +his name in veneration, who did so much for the advancement of +innocent pleasures, and blending instruction and gaiety together. + +The dramatic works of our author are, + +1. Albovine King of the Lombards, a tragedy. This play is commended by +eight copies of verses. The story of it is related at large, in a +novel, by Bandello, and is translated by Belleforest[3]. + +2. Cruel Brother, a tragedy. + +3. Distresses, a tragi-comedy, printed in folio, Lond. 1673. + +4. First Day's Entertainment at Rutland-House, by declamation and +music, after the manner of the ancients. Of this we have already given +some account. + +5. The Fair Favourite, a tragi-comedy, printed in folio, 1673. + +6. The Just Italian, a tragi-comedy. + +7. Law against Lovers, a tragi-comedy, made up of two plays by +Shakespear, viz. Measure for Measure, and Much Ado about Nothing. + +8. Love and Honour, a tragi-comedy; which succeeded beyond any other +of our author's plays, both on the theatre at Lincoln's-Inn, and +Dorset-Garden. + +9. Man's the Master, a tragi-comedy, acted upon the Duke of York's +theatre. + +10. Platonic Lovers, a tragi-comedy. + +11. Play House to be Let. It is difficult to say, under what species +this play should be placed, as it consists of pieces of different +kinds blended together, several of which the author wrote in Oliver's +time, that were acted separately by stealth.--The History of Sir +Francis Drake, expressed by instrumental and vocal music, and by art +of perspective scenes, and the cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru, were +first printed in 4to. and make the third and fourth acts of this play. +The second act consists of a French farce, translated from +Mollier[e]'s Ganarelle, ou le Cocu Imaginaire, and purposely by our +author put into a sort of jargon, common to Frenchmen newly come over. +The fifth act consists of tragedy travestie; or the actions of Caesar, +Anthony and Cleopatra in burlesque verse. + +12. Siege of Rhodes in two parts. These plays, during the civil war, +were acted in Stilo Recitativo, but afterwards enlarged, and acted +with applause at the Duke's theatre. Solyman the second took this +famous city in the year 1522, which is circumstantially related by +Knolles in his History of the Turks, from whence our author took the +story. + +13. Siege, a tragi-comedy. + +14. News from Plymouth, a comedy. + +15. Temple of Love, presented by Queen Henrietta, wife to King Charles +I and her ladies at Whitehall, viz. The Marchioness of Hamilton; Lady +Mary Herbert; Countess of Oxford; Berkshire; Carnarvon: The noble +Persian Youths were represented by the Duke of Lenox, and the Earls of +Newport and Desmond. + +16. Triumphs of the Prince d'Amour, presented by his Highness the +Prince Elector, brother-in-law to Charles I. at his palace in the +Middle Temple. This masque, at the request of this honourable society, +was devised and written by the author in three days, and was presented +by the members thereof as an entertainment to his Highness. A list of +the Masquers names, as they were ranked according to their antiquity, +is subjoined to the Masque. + +17. Wits, a comedy; first acted at Black-Fryars, and afterwards at the +Duke of York's theatre. This piece appeared on the stage with +remarkable applause. + +These pieces have in general been received with applause on the stage, +and have been read with pleasure by people of the best taste: The +greatest part of them were published in the author's life-time in 4to. +and all since his death, collected into one volume with his other +works, printed in folio, Lond. 1673; and dedicated by his widow to the +late King James, as has been before observed. + +Footnotes: +1. Gond. b. iii. cant. 3. stanz. 31. +2. Athen. Oxon. vol. ii, col. 412. +3. Histories Tragiques, Tom. IV. No. XIX. + + * * * * * + + + + + HENRY KING, Bishop of Chichester, + + +The eldest son of Dr. John King lord bishop of London, whom Winstanley +calls a person well fraught with episcopal qualities, was born at +Wornal in Bucks, in the month of January 1591. He was educated partly +in grammar learning in the free school at Thame in Oxfordshire, and +partly in the College school at Westminster, from which last he was +elected a student in Christ Church 1608[1], being then under the +tuition of a noted tutor. Afterwards he took the degrees in arts, and +entered into holy orders, and soon became a florid preacher, and +successively chaplain to King James I. archdeacon of Colchester, +residentiary of St. Paul's cathedral, canon and dean of Rochester, in +which dignity he was installed the 6th of February 1638. In 1641, says +Mr. Wood, he was made bishop of Chichester, being one of those persons +of unblemished reputation, that his Majesty, tho' late, promoted to +that honourable office; which he possessed without any removal, save +that by the members of the Long Parliament, to the time of his death. + +When he was young he delighted much in the study of music and poetry, +which with his wit and fancy made his conversation very agreeable, and +when he was more advanced in years he applied himself to oratory, +philosophy, and divinity, in which he became eminent. + +It happened that this bishop attending divine service in a church at +Langley in Bucks, and hearing there a psalm sung, whose wretched +expression, far from conveying the meaning of the Royal Psalmist, not +only marred devotion, but turned what was excellent in the original +into downright burlesque; he tried that evening if he could not +easily, and with plainness suitable to the lowest understanding, +deliver it from that garb which rendered it ridiculous. He finished +one psalm, and then another, and found the work so agreeable and +pleasing, that all the psalms were in a short time compleated; and +having shewn the version to some friends of whose judgment he had a +high opinion, he could not resist their importunity (says Wood) of +putting it to the press, or rather he was glad their sollicitations +coincided with his desire to be thought a poet. + +He was the more discouraged, says the antiquary, as Mr. George +Sandys's version and another by a reformer had failed in two different +extremes; the first too elegant for the vulgar use, changing both +metre and tunes, wherewith they had been long acquainted; the other as +flat and poor, and as lamely executed as the old one. He therefore +ventured in a middle way, as he himself in one of his letters +expresses it, without affectation of words, and endeavouring to leave +them not disfigured in the sense. This version soon after was +published with this title; + +The Psalms of David from the New Translation of the Bible, turned into +Metre, to be sung after the old tunes used in churches, Lond. 1651, in +12mo. + +There is nothing more ridiculous than this notion of the vulgar of not +parting with their old versions of the psalms, as if there were a +merit in singing hymns of nonsense. Tate and Brady's version is by far +the most elegant, and best calculated to inspire devotion, because the +language and poetry are sometimes elevated and sublime; and yet for +one church which uses this version, twenty are content with that of +Sternhold and Hopkins, the language and poetry of which, as Pope says +of Ogilvy's Virgil, are beneath criticism.-- + +After episcopacy was silenced by the Long Parliament, he resided in +the house of Sir Richard Hobbart (who had married his sister) at +Langley in Bucks. He was reinstated in his See by King Charles II. and +was much esteemed by the virtuous part of his neighbours, and had the +blessings of the poor and distressed, a character which reflects the +highest honour upon him. + +Whether from a desire of extending his beneficence, or instigated by +the restless ambition peculiar to the priesthood, he sollicited, but +in vain, a higher preferment, and suffered his resentment to betray +him into measures not consistent with his episcopal character. He died +on the first day of October 1669[2], and was buried on the south side +of the choir, near the communion table, belonging to the cathedral +church in Chichester. Soon after there was a monument put over his +grave, with an inscription, in which it is said he was, + + Antiqua, eaque regia Saxonium apud Danmonios in agro Devoniensi, + prosapia oriundus, + +That he was, + + Natalium Splendore illustris, pietate, Doctrina, et virtutibus + illustrior, &c. + +This monument was erected at the charge of his widow, Anne daughter of +Sir William Russel of Strensham in Worcestershire, knight and baronet. + +Our author's works, besides the version of the Psalms already +mentioned, are as follows; + +A Deep Groan fetched at the Funeral of the incomparable and glorious +Monarch King Charles I. printed 1649. + +Poems, Elegies, Paradoxes, Sonnets, &c. Lond. 1657. + +Several Letters, among which are extant, one or more to the famous +archbishop Usher, Primate of Ireland, and another to Isaac Walton, +concerning the three imperfect books of Richard Hooker's +Ecclesiastical Polity, dated the 13th of November 1664, printed at +London 1665. + +He has composed several Anthems, one of which is for the time of Lent. +Several Latin and Greek Poems, scattered in several Books. + +He has likewise published several Sermons, + +1. Sermon preached at Paul's Cross 25th of November 1621, upon +occasion of a report, touching the supposed apostasy of Dr. John +King--late bishop of London, on John xv. 20, Lond. 1621; to which is +also added the examination of Thomas Preston, taken before the +Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth 20th of December 1621, concerning +his being the author of the said Report. + +2. David's Enlargement, Morning Sermon on Psalm xxxii. 5. Oxon. 1625. +4to. + +3. Sermon of Deliverance, at the Spittal on Easter Monday, Psalm xc. +3. printed 1626, 4to. + +4. Two Sermons at Whitehall on Lent, Eccles. xii. 1, and Psalm lv. 6. +printed 1627, in 4to. + +5. Sermon at St. Paul's on his Majesty's Inauguration and Birth, on +Ezekiel xxi. 27. Lond. 1661. 4to. + +6. Sermon on the Funeral of Bryan Bishop of Winchester, at the Abbey +Church of Westminster, April 24, 1662, on Psalm cxvi. 15. Lond. 1662. +4to. + +7. Visitation Sermon at Lewis, October 1662. on Titus ii. 1. Lond. +1663. 4to. + +8. Sermon preached the 30th of January, 1664, at Whitehall, being the +Day of the late King's Martyrdom, on 2. Chron. xxxv. 24, 25. Lond. +1665, 4to. + +To these Sermons he has added an Exposition of the Lord's Prayer, +delivered in certain Sermons, on Matth. vi. 9. &c. Lond. 1628. 4to. + +We shall take a quotation from his version of the 104th psalm. + + My soul the Lord for ever bless: + O God! thy greatness all confess; + Whom majesty and honour vest, + In robes of light eternal drest. + + He heaven made his canopy; + His chambers in the waters lye: + His chariot is the cloudy storm, + And on the wings of wind is born. + + He spirits makes his angels quire, + His ministers a flaming fire. + He so did earth's foundations cast, + It might remain for ever fast: + + Then cloath'd it with the spacious deep, + Whose wave out-swells the mountains steep. + At thy rebuke the waters fled, + And hid their thunder-frighted head. + + They from the mountains streaming flow, + And down into the vallies go: + Then to their liquid center hast, + Where their collected floods are cast. + + These in the ocean met, and joyn'd, + Thou hast within a bank confin'd: + Not suff'ring them to pass their bound, + Lest earth by their excess be drown'd. + + He from the hills his chrystal springs + Down running to the vallies brings: + Which drink supply, and coolness yield, + To thirsting beasts throughout the field. + + By them the fowls of heaven rest, + And singing in their branches nest. + He waters from his clouds the hills; + The teeming earth with plenty fills. + + He grass for cattle doth produce, + And every herb for human use: + That so he may his creatures feed, + And from the earth supply their need. + + He makes the clusters of the vine, + To glad the sons of men with wine. + He oil to clear the face imparts, + And bread, the strength'ner of their hearts. + + The trees, which God for fruit decreed, + Nor sap, nor moistning virtue need. + The lofty cedars by his hand + In Lebanon implanted stand. + + Unto the birds these shelter yield, + And storks upon the fir-trees build: + Wild goats the hills defend, and feed, + And in the rocks the conies breed. + + He makes the changing moon appear, + To note the seasons of the year: + The sun from him his strength doth get, + And knows the measure of his set. + + Thou mak'st the darkness of the night, + When beasts creep forth that shun the light, + Young lions, roaring after prey, + From God their hunger must allay. + + When the bright sun casts forth his ray, + Down in their dens themselves they lay. + Man's labour, with the morn begun, + Continues till the day be done. + + O Lord! what wonders hast thou made, + In providence and wisdom laid! + The earth is with thy riches crown'd, + And seas, where creatures most abound. + + There go the ships which swiftly fly; + There great Leviathan doth lye, + Who takes his pastime in the flood: + All these do wait on thee for food. + + Thy bounty is on them distill'd, + Who are by thee with goodness fill'd. + But when thou hid'st thy face, they die, + And to their dust returned lie. + + Thy spirit all with life endues, + The springing face of earth renews, + God's glory ever shall endure, + Pleas'd in his works, from change secure. + + Upon the earth he looketh down, + Which shrinks and trembles at his frown: + His lightnings touch, or thunders stroak, + Will make the proudest mountains smoak. + + To him my ditties, whilst I live, + Or being have, shall praises give: + My meditations will be sweet, + When fixt on him my comforts meet. + + Upon the earth let sinners rot, + In place, and memory forgot. + But thou, my soul, thy maker bless: + Let all the world his praise express; + +Footnotes: +1. Athen. Oxon, vol. ii. p. 431. 1721 Ed. +2. Wood Athen. Oxon, p. 431, vol. 2. + + * * * * * + + + + + PHILIP MASSINGER, + + +A poet of no small eminence, was son of Mr. Philip Massinger, a +gentleman belonging to the earl of Montgomery, in whose service he +lived[1]. + +He was born at Salisbury, about the year 1585, and was entered a +commoner in St. Alban's Hall in Oxford, 1601, where, though he was +encouraged in his studies (says Mr. Wood) by the earl of Pembroke, yet +he applied his mind more to poetry and romances, than to logic and +philosophy. He afterwards quitted the university without a degree, and +being impatient to move in a public sphere, he came to London, in +order to improve his poetic fancy, and polite studies by conversation, +and reading the world. He soon applied himself to the stage, and wrote +several tragedies and comedies with applause, which were admired for +the purity of their stile, and the oeconomy of their plots: he was +held in the highest esteem by the poets of that age, and there were +few who did not reckon it an honour to write in conjunction with him, +as Fletcher, Middleton, Rowley, Field and Decker did[2]. He is said to +have been a man of great modesty. He died suddenly at his house on the +bank side in Southwark, near to the then playhouse, for he went to bed +well, and was dead before morning. His body was interred in St. +Saviour's church-yard, and was attended to the grave by all the +comedians then in town, on the 18th of March, 1669. Sir Aston +Cokain[e] has an epitaph on Mr. John Fletcher, and Mr. Philip +Massinger, who, as he says, both lie buried in one grave. He prepared +several works for the public, and wrote a little book against +Scaliger, which many have ascribed to Scioppius, the supposed author +of which Scaliger, uses with great contempt. Our author has published +14 plays of his own writing, besides those in which he joined with +other poets, of which the following is the list, + +1. The Bashful Lover, a Tragi-Comedy, often acted at a private house +in Black Fryars, by his Majesty's Servants, with success, printed in +8vo. 1655. + +2. The Bondman, an ancient Story, often acted at the Cockpit in Drury +Lane, by the Lady Elizabeth's servants, printed in 4to. London, 1638, +and dedicated to Philip, Earl of Montgomery. + +3. The City Madam, a Comedy, acted at a private house in Black-fryars, +with applause, 4to. 1659, for Andrew Pennywick one of the actors, and +dedicated by him to Anne, Countess of Oxford. + +4. The Duke of Milan, a Tragedy printed in 4to. but Mr. Langbaine has +not been able to find out when it was acted. + +5. The Emperor of the East, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at the Black Fryars, +and Globe Playhouse, by his Majesty's Servants, printed in 4to. +London, 1632, and dedicated to John, Lord Mohune, Baron of Okehampton; +this play is founded on the History of Theodosius the younger; see +Socrates, lib. vii. + +6. The Fatal Dowry, a Tragedy, often acted at private house in Black +Fryars, by his Majesty's servants, printed in 4to. London, 1632; this +play was written by our author, in conjunction with Nathaniel Field. +The behaviour of Charlois in voluntarily chusing imprisonment to +ransom his father's corpse, that it might receive the funeral rites, +is copied from the Athenian Cymon, so much celebrated by Valerius +Maximus, lib. v. c. 4. ex. 9. Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos, +notwithstanding, make it a forced action, and not voluntary. + +7. The Guardian, a comical History, often acted at a private house in +Black Fryars, by the King's Servants, 1665. Severino's cutting off +Calipso's nose in the dark, taking her for his wife Jolantre, is +borrowed from the Cimerian Matron, a Romance, 8vo. the like story is +related in Boccace. Day 8. Novel 7. + +7 [sic]. The Great Duke of Florence, a comical History, often +presented with success, at the Phaenix in Drury Lane, 1636; this play +is taken from our English Chronicles, that have been written in the +reign of Edgar. + +9. The Maid of Honour, a Tragi-Comedy, often acted at the Phaenix in +Drury Lane, 1632. + +10. A New Way to pay Old Debts, a Comedy, acted 1633; this play met +with great success on its first representation, and has been revived +by Mr. Garrick, and acted on the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane, 1750. + +11. Old Law, a New Way to please You, an excellent Comedy, acted +before the King and Queen in Salisbury-house, printed in 4to. London, +1656. In this play our author was assisted by Mr. Middleton, and Mr. +Rowley. + +12. The Picture, a Tragi-Comedy, often presented at the Globe and +Black Fryars Playhouse, by the King's servants, printed in London, +1636, and dedicated to his selected friends, the noble Society of the +Inner-Temple; this play was performed by the most celebrated actors of +that age, Lowin, Taylor, Benfield. + +13. The Renegado, a Tragi-Comedy, often acted by the Queen's Servants, +at the private Playhouse in Drury Lane, printed in 4to. London, 1630. + +14. The Roman Actor, performed several times with success, at a +private house in the Black-Fryars, by the King's Servants; for the +plot read Suetonius in the Life of Domitian, Aurelius Victor, +Eutropius, lib. vii. Tacitus, lib. xiii. + +15. Very Woman, or the Prince of Tarent, a Tragi-Comedy, often acted +at a private house in Black Fryars, printed 1655. + +16. The Virgin Martyr, a Tragedy, acted by his Majesty's Servants, +with great applause, London, printed in 4to. 1661. In this play our +author took in Mr. Thomas Decker for a partner; the story may be met +with in the Martyrologies, which have treated of the tenth persecution +in the time of Dioclesian, and Maximian. + +17. The Unnatural Combat, a Tragedy, presented by the King's Servants +at the Globe, printed at London 1639. This old Tragedy, as the author +tells his patron, has neither Prologue nor Epilogue, "it being +composed at a time, when such by-ornaments were not advanced above the +fabric of the whole work." + +Footnotes: +1. Langbaine's Lives of the Poets. +2. Langbaine, ubi supra. + + * * * * * + + + + + Sir ROBERT STAPLETON. + + +This gentleman was the third son of Richard Stapleton, esq; of +Carleton, in Mereland in Yorkshire, and was educated a Roman Catholic, +in the college of the English Benedictines, at Doway in Flanders, but +being born with a poetical turn, and consequently too volatile to be +confined within the walls of a cloister, he threw off the restraint of +his education, quitted a recluse life, came over to England, and +commenced Protestant[1]. Sir Robert having good interest, found the +change of religion prepared the way to preferment; he was made +gentleman usher of the privy chamber to King Charles II. then Prince +of Wales; we find him afterwards adhering to the interest of his Royal +Master, for when his Majesty was driven out of London, by the +threatnings and tumults of the discontented rabble, he followed him, +and on the 13th of September, 1642, he received the honour of +knighthood. After the battle of Edgehill, when his Majesty was obliged +to retire to Oxford, our author then attended him, and was created Dr. +of the civil laws. When the Royal cause declined, Stapleton thought +proper to addict himself to study, and to live quietly under a +government, no effort of his could overturn, and as he was not amongst +the most conspicuous of the Royalists, he was suffered to enjoy his +solitude unmolested. At the restoration he was again promoted in the +service of King Charles II. and held a place in that monarch's esteem +'till his death. Langbaine, speaking of this gentleman, gives him a +very great character; his writings, says he, have made him not only +known, but admired throughout all England, and while Musaeus and +Juvenal are in esteem with the learned, Sir Robert's fame will still +survive, the translation of these two authors having placed his name +in the temple of Immortality. As to Musaeus, he had so great a value +for him, that after he had translated him, he reduced the story into a +dramatic poem, called Hero and Leander, a Tragedy, printed in 4to. +1669, and addressed to the Duchess of Monmouth. Whether this play was +ever acted is uncertain, though the Prologue and Epilogue seem to +imply that it appeared on the stage. + +Besides these translations and this tragedy, our author has written + +The slighted Maid, a Comedy, acted at the Theatre in Little +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, by the Duke of York's Servants, printed in +London 1663, and dedicated to the Duke of Monmouth. + +Pliny's Panegyric, a Speech in the Senate, wherein public Thanks are +presented to the Emperor Trajan, by C. Plenius Caecilius Secundus, +Consul of Rome, Oxon, 1644. + +Leander's Letter to Hero, and her Answer, printed with the Loves; 'tis +taken from Ovid, and has Annotations written upon it by Sir Robert. + +A Survey of the Manners and Actions of Mankind, with Arguments, +Marginal Notes, and Annotations, clearing the obscure Places, out of +the History of the Laws and Ceremonies of the Romans, London, 1647, +8vo. with the author's preface before it. It is dedicated to Henry, +Marquis of Dorchester, his patron. + +The History of the Low-Country War, or de bello Gallico, &c. 1650, +folio, written in Latin by Famianus Strada. Our author paid the last +debt to nature on the eleventh day of July, 1669, and was buried in +the Abbey of St. Peter at Westminster. He was uncle to Dr. Miles +Stapleton of Yorkshire, younger brother to Dr. Stapleton, a +Benedictine Monk, who was president of the English Benedictines at +Delaware in Lorraine, where he died, 1680. + +Footnote: +1. Wood's Fasti, vol. ii. p. 23. + + * * * * * + + + + + + Dr. JASPER MAIN. + + +This poet was born at Hatherleigh, in the Reign of King James I. He +was a man of reputation, as well for his natural parts, as his +acquired accomplishments. He received his education at Westminster +school, where he continued 'till he was removed to Christ Church, +Oxon, and in the year 1624 admitted student. He made some figure at +the university, in the study of arts and sciences, and was sollicited +by men of eminence, who esteemed him for his abilities, to enter into +holy orders; this he was not long in complying with, and was preferred +to two livings, both in the gift of the College, one of which was +happily situated near Oxford. + +Much about this time King Charles I. was obliged to keep his court at +Oxford, to avoid being exposed to the resentment of the populace in +London, where tumults then prevailed, and Mr. Main was made choice of, +amongst others, to preach before his Majesty. Soon after he was +created doctor of divinity, and resided at Oxford, till the time of +the mock visitation, sent to the university, when, amongst a great +many others, equally distinguished for their loyalty and zeal for that +unfortunate Monarch, he was ejected from the college, and stript of +both his livings. During the rage of the civil war, he was patronized +by the earl of Devonshire, at whose house he resided till the +restoration of Charles II. when he was not only put in possession of +his former places, but made canon of Christ's Church, and arch-deacon +of Chichester, which preferments he enjoyed till his death. He was an +orthodox preacher, a man of severe virtue, a ready and facetious wit. +In his younger years he addicted himself to poetry, and produced two +plays, which were held in some esteem in his own time; but as they +have never been revived, nor taken notice of by any of our critics, in +all probability they are but second rate performances. + +The Amorous War. a Tragedy, printed in 4to. Oxon. 1658. + +The City Match, a Comedy, acted before the King and Queen in +Whitehall, and afterwards on the stage in Black Fryars, with great +applause, and printed in 4to. Oxon. 1658. These two plays have been +printed in folio, 4to, and 8vo. and are bound together. + +Besides these dramatic pieces, our author wrote a Poem upon the Naval +Victory over the Dutch by the Duke of York, a subject which Dryden has +likewise celebrated in his Annus Mirabilis. He published a translation +of part of Lucian, said to be done by Mr. Francis Hicks, to which he +added some dialogues of his own, though Winstanley is of opinion, that +the whole translation is also his. In the year 1646, --47, --52, --62, +he published several sermons, and entered into a controversy with the +famous Presbyterian leader, Mr. Francis Cheynel, and his Sermon +against False Prophets was particularly levelled at him. Cheynel's +Life is written by a gentleman of great eminence in literature, and +published in some of the latter numbers of of the Student, in which +the character of that celebrated teacher is fully displayed. Dr. Main +likewise published in the year 1647 a book called The People's War +examined according to the Principles of Scripture and Reason, which he +wrote at the desire of a person of quality. He also translated Dr. +Donne's Latin Epigrams into English, and published them under the +title of, A Sheaf of Epigrams. + +On the 6th of December, 1642, he died, and his remains were deposited +on the North side of the choir in Christ's Church. In his will he left +several legacies for pious uses: fifty pounds for the rebuilding of +St. Paul's; a hundred pounds to be distributed by the two vicars of +Cassington and Burton, for the use of the poor in those parishes, with +many other legacies. + +He was a man of a very singular turn of humour, and though, without +the abilities, bore some resemblance to the famous dean of St. +Patrick's, and perhaps was not so subject to those capricious whims +which produced so much uneasiness to all who attended upon dean Swift. +It is said of Dr. Main, that his propension to innocent raillery was +so great, that it kept him company even after death. Among other +legacies, he bequeathed to an old servant an old trunk, and somewhat +in it, as he said, that would make him drink: no sooner did the Dr. +expire, than the servant, full of expectation, visited the trunk, in +hopes of finding some money, or other treasure left him by his master, +and to his great disappointment, the legacy, with which he had filled +his imagination, proved no other than a Red Herring. + +The ecclesiastical works of our author are as follow, + +1. A Sermon concerning Unity and Agreement, preached at Carfax Church +in Oxford, August 9, 1646. 1 Cor. i. 10. + +2. A Sermon against False Prophets, preached in St. Mary's Church in +Oxford, shortly after the surrender of that garrison, printed in 1697. +Ezek. xxii. 28. He afterwards published a Vindication of this Sermon +from the aspersions of Mr. Cheynel. + +3. A Sermon preached at the Consecration of the Right Reverend Father +in God, Herbert, Lord Bishop of Hereford, 1662. 1 Tim. iv. 14. + +4. Concio ad Academiam Oxoniensem, pro more habita inchoante Jermino, +Maii 27, 1662. + +As a specimen of his poetry, we present a copy of verses addressed to +Ben Johnson. + + Scorn then, their censures, who gave't out, thy wit + As long upon a comedy did fit, + As elephants bring forth: and thy blots + And mendings took more time, than fortune plots; + That such thy draught was, and so great thy thirst, + That all thy plays were drawn at Mermaid[1] first: + That the King's yearly butt wrote, and his wine + Hath more right than those to thy Cataline. + Let such men keep a diet, let their wit, + Be rack'd and while they write, suffer a fit: + When th' have felt tortures, which outpain the gout; + Such as with less the state draws treason out; + Sick of their verse, and of their poem die, + Twou'd not be thy wont scene-- + +Footnote: +1. A tavern in Bread-street. + + * * * * * + + + + + JOHN MILTON. + + +The British nation, which has produced the greatest men in every +profession, before the appearance of Milton could not enter into any +competition with antiquity, with regard to the sublime excellencies of +poetry. Greece could boast an Euripides, Eschylus, Sophocles and +Sappho; England was proud of her Shakespear, Spenser, Johnson and +Fletcher; but then the ancients had still a poet in reserve superior +to the rest, who stood unrivalled by all succeeding times, and in epic +poetry, which is justly esteemed the highest effort of genius, Homer +had no rival. When Milton appeared, the pride of Greece was humbled, +the competition became more equal, and since Paradise Lost is ours; it +would, perhaps, be an injury to our national fame to yield the palm to +any state, whether ancient or modern. + +The author of this astonishing work had something very singular in his +life, as if he had been marked out by Heaven to be the wonder of every +age, in all points of view in which he can be considered. He lived in +the times of general confusion; he was engaged in the factions of +state, and the cause he thought proper to espouse, he maintained with +unshaken firmness; he struggled to the last for what he was persuaded +were the rights of humanity; he had a passion for civil liberty, and +he embarked in the support of it, heedless of every consideration of +danger; he exposed his fortune to the vicissitudes of party +contention, and he exerted his genius in writing for the cause he +favoured. + +There is no life, to which it is more difficult to do justice, and at +the same time avoid giving offence, than Milton's, there are some who +have considered him as a regicide, others have extolled him as a +patriot, and a friend to mankind: Party-rage seldom knows any bounds, +and differing factions have praised or blamed him, according to their +principles of religion, and political opinions. + +In the course of this life, a dispassionate regard to truth, and an +inviolable candour shall be observed. Milton was not without a share +of those failings which are inseparable from human nature; those +errors sometimes exposed him to censure, and they ought not to pass +unnoticed; on the other hand, the apparent sincerity of his +intentions, and the amazing force of his genius, naturally produce an +extream tenderness for the faults with which his life is chequered: +and as in any man's conduct fewer errors are seldom found, so no man's +parts ever gave him a greater right to indulgence. + +The author of Paradise Lost was descended of an ancient family of that +name at Milton, near Abingdon in Oxfordshire. He was the son of John +Milton a money-scrivener, and born the 9th of December, 1608. The +family from which he descended had been long seated there, as appears +by the monuments still to be seen in the church of Milton, 'till one +of them, having taken the unfortunate side in the contests between the +houses of York and Lancaster, was deprived of all his estate, except +what he held by his wife[1]. Our author's grandfather, whose name was +John Milton, was under-ranger, or reaper of the forest of Shotover, +near Halton in Oxfordshire: but a man of Milton's genius needs not +have the circumstance of birth called in to render him illustrious; he +reflects the highest honour upon his family, which receives from him +more glory, than the longest descent of years can give. Milton was +both educated under a domestic tutor, and likewise at St. Paul's +school under Mr. Alexander Gill, where he made, by his indefatigable +application, an extraordinary progress in learning. From his 12th year +he generally sat up all night at his studies, which, accompanied with +frequent head-aches, proved very prejudicial to his eyes. In the year +1625 he was entered into Christ's College in Cambridge, under the +tuition of Mr. William Chappel, afterwards bishop of Ross in Ireland, +and even before that time, had distinguished himself by several Latin +and English poems[2]. After he had taken the degree of master of arts, +in 1632 he left the university, and for the space of five years lived +with his parents at their house at Horton, near Colebrook in +Buckinghamshire, where his father having acquired a competent fortune, +thought proper to retire, and spend the remainder of his days. In the +year 1634 he wrote his Masque of Comus, performed at Ludlow Castle, +before John, earl of Bridgwater, then president of Wales: It appears +from the edition of this Masque, published by Mr. Henry Lawes, that +the principal performers were, the Lord Barclay, Mr. Thomas Egerton, +the Lady Alice Egerton, and Mr. Lawes himself, who represented an +attendant spirit. + +The Prologue, which we found in the General Dictionary, begins with +the following lines. + + Our stedfast bard, to his own genius true, + Still bad his muse fit audience find, tho' few; + Scorning the judgment of a trifling age, + To choicer spirits he bequeath'd his page. + He too was scorned, and to Britannia's shame, + She scarce for half an age knew Milton's name; + But now his fame by every trumpet blown, + We on his deathless trophies raise our own. + Nor art, nor nature, could his genius bound: + Heaven, hell, earth, chaos, he survey'd around. + All things his eye, thro' wit's bright empire thrown, + Beheld, and made what it beheld his own. + +In 1637 Our author published his Lycidas; in this poem he laments the +death of his friend Mr. Edward King, who was drowned in his passage +from Chester on the Irish seas in 1637; it was printed the year +following at Cambridge in 4to. in a collection of Latin and English +poems upon Mr. King's death, with whom he had contracted the strongest +friendship. The Latin epitaph informs us, that Mr. King was son of Sir +John King, secretary for Ireland to Queen Elizabeth, James I. and +Charles I. and that he was fellow in Christ's-College Cambridge, and +was drowned in the twenty-fifth year of his age. But this poem of +Lycidas does not altogether consist in elegiac strains of tenderness; +there is in it a mixture of satire and severe indignation; for in part +of it he takes occasion to rally the corruptions of the established +clergy, of whom he was no favourer; and first discovers his acrimony +against archbishop Laud; he threatens him with the loss of his head, a +fate which he afterwards met, thro' the fury of his enemies; at least, +says Dr. Newton, I can think of no sense so proper to be given to the +following verses in Lycidas; + + Besides what the grim wolf, with privy paw, + Daily devours apace, and nothing said; + But that two-handed engine at the door, + Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more. + +Upon the death of his mother, Milton obtained leave of his father to +travel, and having waited upon Sir Henry Wotton, formerly ambassador +at Venice, and then provost of Eaton College, to whom he communicated +his design, that gentleman wrote a letter to him, dated from the +College, April 18, 1638, and printed among the Reliquiae Wottonianae, +and in Dr. Newton's life of Milton. Immediately after the receipt of +this letter our author set out for France, accompanied only with one +man, who attended him thro' all his travels. At Paris Milton was +introduced to the famous Hugo Grotius, and thence went to Florence, +Siena, Rome, and Naples, in all which places he was entertained with +the utmost civility by persons of the first distinction. + +When our author was at Naples he was introduced to the acquaintance of +Giovanni Baptista Manso, Marquis of Villa, a Neapolitan nobleman, +celebrated for his taste in the liberal arts, to whom Tasso addresses +his dialogue on friendship, and whom he likewise mentions in his +Gierusalemme liberata, with great honour. This nobleman shewed +extraordinary civilities to Milton, frequently visited him at his +lodgings, and accompanied him when he went to see the several +curiosities of the city. He was not content with giving our author +these exterior marks of respect only, but he honoured him by a Latin +distich in his praise, which is printed before Milton's Latin poems. +Milton no doubt was highly pleased with such extreme condescension and +esteem from a person of the Marquis of Villa's quality; and as an +evidence of his gratitude, he presented the Marquis at his departure +from Naples, his eclogue, entitled Mansus; which, says Dr. Newton, is +well worth reading among his Latin poems; so that it may be reckoned a +peculiar felicity in the Marquis of Villa's life to have been +celebrated both by Tasso and Milton, the greatest poets of their +nation. Having seen the finest parts of Italy, and conversed with men +of the first distinction, he was preparing to pass over into Sicily +and Greece, when the news from England, that a civil war was like to +lay his country in blood, diverted his purpose; for as by his +education and principles he was attached to the parliamentary +interest, he thought it a mark of abject cowardice, for a lover of his +country to take his pleasure abroad, while the friends of liberty were +contending at home for the rights of human nature. He resolved +therefore to return by way of Rome, tho' he was dissuaded from +pursuing that resolution by the merchants, who were informed by their +correspondents, that the English jesuits there were forming plots +against his life, in case he should return thither, on account of the +great freedom with which he had treated their religion, and the +boldness he discovered in demonstrating the absurdity of the Popish +tenets; for he by no means observed the rule recommended to him by Sir +Henry Wotton, of keeping his thoughts close, and his countenance open. +Milton was removed above dissimulation, he hated whatever had the +appearance of disguise, and being naturally a man of undaunted +courage, he was never afraid to assert his opinions, nor to vindicate +truth tho' violated by the suffrage of the majority. + +Stedfast in his resolutions, he went to Rome a second time, and stayed +there two months more, neither concealing his name, nor declining any +disputations to which his antagonists in religious opinions invited +him; he escaped the secret machinations of the jesuits, and came safe +to Florence, where he was received by his friends with as much +tenderness as if he had returned to his own country. Here he remained +two months, as he had done in his former visit, excepting only an +excursion of a few days to Lucca, and then crossing the Appenine, and +passing thro' Bologna, and Ferrara, he arrived at Venice, in which +city he spent a month; and having shipped off the books he had +collected in his travels, he took his course thro' Verona, Milan, and +along the Lake Leman to Geneva. In this city he continued some time, +meeting there with people of his own principles, and contracted an +intimate friendship with Giovanni Deodati, the most learned professor +of Divinity, whose annotations on the bible are published in English; +and from thence returning to France the same way that he had gone +before, he arrived safe in England after an absence of fifteen months, +in which Milton had seen much of the world, read the characters of +famous men, examined the policy of different countries, and made more +extensive improvements than travellers of an inferior genius, and less +penetration, can be supposed to do in double the time. Soon after his +return he took a handsome house in Aldersgate-street, and undertook +the education of his sister's two sons, upon a plan of his own. In +this kind of scholastic solitude he continued some time, but he was +not so much immersed in academical studies, as to stand an indifferent +spectator of what was acted upon the public theatre of his country. +The nation was in great ferment in 1641, and the clamour against +episcopacy running very high, Milton who discovered how much inferior +in eloquence and learning the puritan teachers were to the bishops, +engaged warmly with the former in support of the common cause, and +exercised all the power of which he was capable, in endeavouring to +overthrow the prelatical establishment, and accordingly published five +tracts relating to church government; they were all printed at London +in 4to. The first was intitled, Reformation touching Church Discipline +in England, and the Causes that have hitherto hindered it: two books +written to a friend. The second was of Prelatical Episcopacy, and +whether it may be deducted from Apostolical Times, by virtue of those +Testimonies which are alledged to that purpose in some late treatises; +one whereof goes under the name of James Usher archbishop of Armagh. +The third was the Reason of Church Government urged against the +Prelacy, by Mr. John Milton, in two books. The fourth was +Animadversions upon the Remonstrants Defence against Smectymnuus; and +the fifth an Apology for a Pamphlet called, a Modest Confutation of +the Animadversions upon the Remonstrants against Smectymnuus; or as +the title page is in some copies, an Apology for Smectymnuus, with the +Reason of Church Government, by John Milton. + +In the year 1643 Milton married the daughter of Richard Powel, Esq; of +Forrest-hill in Oxfordshire; who not long after obtaining leave of her +husband to pay a visit to her father in the country, but, upon +repeated messages to her, refusing to return, Milton seemed disposed +to marry another, and in 1644 published the Doctrine and Discipline of +Divorce; the Judgment of Martin Bucer concerning Divorce, and the year +following his Tetrachordon and Colasterion. Mr. Philips observes, and +would have his readers believe, that the reason of his wife's aversion +to return to him was the contrariety of their state principles. The +lady being educated in loyal notions, possibly imagined, that if ever +the regal power should flourish again, her being connected with a +person so obnoxious to the King, would hurt her father's interest; +this Mr. Philips alledges, but, with submission to his authority, I +dissent from his opinion. Had she been afraid of marrying a man of +Milton's principles, the reason was equally strong before as after +marriage, and her father must have seen it in that light; but the true +reason, or at least a more rational one, seems to be, that she had no +great affection for Milton's person. + +Milton was a stern man, and as he was so much devoted to study, he was +perhaps too negligent in those endearments and tender intercourses of +love which a wife has a right to expect. No lady ever yet was fond of +a scholar, who could not join the lover with it; and he who expects to +secure the affections of his wife by the force of his understanding +only, will find himself miserably mistaken: indeed it is no wonder +that women who are formed for tenderness, and whose highest excellence +is delicacy, should pay no great reverence to a proud scholar, who +considers the endearments of his wife, and the caresses of his +children as pleasures unworthy of him. It is agreed by all the +biographers of Milton, that he was not very tender in his disposition; +he was rather boldly honourable, than delicately kind; and Mr. Dryden +seems to insinuate, that he was not much subject to love. "His rhimes, +says he, flow stiff from him, and that too at an age when love makes +every man a rhymster, tho' not a poet. There are, methinks, in +Milton's love-sonnets more of art than nature; he seems to have +considered the passion philosophically, rather than felt it +intimately." + +In reading Milton's gallantry the breast will glow, but feel no +palpitations; we admire the poetry, but do not melt with tenderness; +and want of feeling in an author seldom fails to leave the reader +cold; but from whatever cause his aversion proceeded, she was at last +prevailed upon by her relations, who could foresee the dangers of a +matrimonial quarrel, to make a submission, and she was again received +with tenderness. + +Mr. Philips has thus related the story.--'It was then generally +thought, says he, that Milton had a design of marrying one of Dr. +Davy's daughters, a very handsome and witty gentlewoman, but averse, +as it is said, to this motion; however the intelligence of this caused +justice Powel's family to let all engines at work to restore the +married woman to the station in which they a little before had planted +her. At last this device was pitched upon. There dwelt in the lane of +St. Martin's Le Grand, which was hard by, a relation of our author's, +one Blackborough, whom it was known he often visited, and upon this +occasion the visits were more narrowly observed, and possibly there +might be a combination between both parties, the friends on both sides +consenting in the same action, tho' in different behalfs. One time +above the rest, making his usual visits, his wife was ready in another +room; on a sudden he was surprized to see one, whom he thought never +to have seen more, making submission, and begging pardon on her knees +before him. He might probably at first make some shew of aversion, and +rejection, but partly his own generous nature, more inclinable to +reconciliation than to perseverance in anger and revenge, and partly +the strong intercession of friends on both sides, soon brought him to +an act of oblivion and a firm league of peace for the future; and it +was at length concluded that she should remain at a friend's house, +till he was settled in his new house in Barbican, and all things +prepared for her reception. The first fruits of her return to her +husband was a brave girl, born within a year after, tho', whether by +ill constitution, or want of care, she grew more and more decrepit.' + +Mr. Fenton observes, that it is not to be doubted but the +abovementioned interview between Milton and his wife must wonderfully +affect him; and that perhaps the impressions it made on his +imagination contributed much to the painting of that pathetic scene in +Paradise Lost, b. 10. in which Eve addresses herself to Adam for +pardon and peace, now at his feet submissive in distress. + +About the year 1644 our author wrote a small piece in one sheet 4to, +under this title, Education, to Mr. Samuel Hartly, reprinted at the +end of his Poems on several occasions; and in the same year he +published at London in 4to, his Areopagitica, or a speech of Mr. J. +Milton for the liberty of unlicensed printing, to the Parliament of +England. + +In 1645 his Juvenile Poems were printed at London, and about this time +his zeal for the republican party had so far recommended him, that a +design was formed of making him adjutant-general in Sir William +Waller's army; but the new modelling the army proved an obstruction to +that advancement. Soon after the march of Fairfax and Cromwell with +the whole army through the city, in order to suppress the insurrection +which Brown and Massey were endeavouring to raise there, against the +army's proceedings, he left his great house in Barbican, for a smaller +in High Holborn, where he prosecuted his studies till after the King's +trial and death, when he published his Tenure of Kings and +Magistrates: His Observations on the Articles of peace between James +Earl of Ormond for King Charles I. on the one hand, and the Irish +Rebels and Papists on the other hand; and a letter sent by Ormond to +colonel Jones governor of Dublin; and a representation of the Scotch +Presbytery at Belfast in Ireland. + +He was now admitted into the service of the Commonwealth, and was made +Latin Secretary to the Council of State, who resolved neither to write +nor receive letters but in the Latin tongue, which was common to all +states. + +'And it were to be wished,' says Dr. Newton, 'that succeeding Princes +would follow their example, for in the opinion of very wise men, the +universality of the French language will make way for the universality +of the French Monarchy. Milton was perhaps the first instance of a +blind man's possessing the place of a secretary; which no doubt was a +great inconvenience to him in his business, tho' sometimes a political +use might be made of it, as men's natural infirmities are often +pleaded in excuse for their not doing what they have no great +inclination to do. Dr. Newton relates an instance of this. When +Cromwell, as we may collect from Whitlocke, for some reasons delayed +artfully to sign the treaty concluded with Sweden, and the Swedish +ambassador made frequent complaints of it, it was excused to him, +because Milton on account of his blindness, proceeded slower in +business, and had not yet put the articles of treaty into Latin. Upon +which the ambassador was greatly surprized that things of such +consequence should be entrusted to a blind man; for he must +necessarily employ an amanuensis, and that amanuensis might divulge +the articles; and said, it was very wonderful there should be only one +man in England who could write Latin, and he a blind one.' + +Thus we have seen Milton raised to the dignity of Latin Secretary. It +is somewhat strange, that in times of general confusion, when a man of +parts has the fairest opportunity to play off his abilities to +advantage, that Milton did not rise sooner, nor to a greater +elevation; he was employed by those in authority only as a writer, +which conferred no power upon him, and kept him in a kind of +obscurity, who had from nature all that was proper for the field as +well as the cabinet; for we are assured that Milton was a man of +confirmed courage. + +In 1651 our author published his Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio, for +which he was rewarded by the Commonwealth with a present of a thousand +pounds, and had a considerable hand in correcting and polishing a +piece written by his nephew Mr. John Philips, and printed at London +1652, under this title, Joannis Philippi Angli Responsio ad Apologiam +Anonymi cujusdam Tenebrionis pro Rege & Populo Anglicano +infantissimam. During the writing and publishing this book, he lodged +at one Thomson's, next door to the Bull-head tavern Charing-Cross; but +he soon removed to a Garden-house in Petty-France, next door to lord +Scudamore's, where he remained from the year 1652 till within a few +weeks of the Restoration. In this house, his first wife dying in +child-bed, 1652, he married a second, Catherine, the daughter of +Captain Woodcock of Hackney, who died of a consumption in three months +after she had been brought to bed of a daughter. This second marriage +was about two or three years after he had been wholly deprived of his +sight; for by reason of his continual studies, and the head-ach[e], to +which he was subject from his youth, and his perpetual tampering with +physic, his eyes had been decaying for twelve years before. + +In 1654 he published his Defensio Secunda; and the year following his +Defensio pro Se. Being now at ease from his state adversaries, and +political controversies, he had leisure again to prosecute his own +studies, and private designs, particularly his History of Britain, and +his new Thesaurus Linguae Latinae according to the method of Robert +Stevens, the manuscript of which contained three large volumes in +folio, and has been made use of by the editors of the Cambridge +Dictionary, printed 4to, 1693. + +In 1658 he published Sir Walter Raleigh's Cabinet Council; and in 1659 +a Treatise of the Civil Power in Ecclesiastical Causes, Lond. 12mo. +and Considerations touching the likeliest Means to remove Hirelings +out of the Church; wherein are also Discourses of Tithes, Church-fees, +Church-Revenues, and whether any Maintenance of Ministers can be +settled in Law, Lond. 1659, 12mo. + +Upon the dissolution of the Parliament by the army, after Richard +Cromwell had been obliged to resign the Protectorship, Milton wrote a +letter, in which he lays down the model of a commonwealth; not such as +he judged the best, but what might be the readiest settled at that +time, to prevent the restoration of kingly government and domestic +disorders till a more favourable season, and better dispositions for +erecting a perfect democracy. He drew up likewise another piece to the +same purpose, which seems to have been addressed to general Monk; and +he published in February 1659, his ready and easy way to establish a +free Commonwealth. Soon after this he published his brief notes upon a +late sermon, entitled, the Fear of God and the King, printed in 4to, +Lond. 1660. Just before the restoration he was removed from his office +of Latin secretary, and concealed himself till the act of oblivion was +published; by the advice of his friends he absconded till the event of +public affairs should direct him what course to take, for this purpose +he retired to a friend's house in Bartholomew-Close, near +West-Smithfield, till the general amnesty was declared. + +The act of oblivion, says Mr. Phillips, proving as favourable to him, +as could be hoped or expected, through the intercession of some that +stood his friends both in Council and Parliament; particularly in the +House of Commons, Mr. Andrew Marvel member for Hull, and who has +prefixed a copy of verses before his Paradise Lost, acted vigorously +in his behalf, and made a considerable party for him, so that together +with John Goodwin of Coleman-Street, he was only so far excepted as +not to bear any office in the Commonwealth; but as this is one of the +most important circumstances in the life of our author, we shall give +an account of it at large, from Mr. Richardson, in his life of Milton, +prefixed to his Explanatory Notes, and Remarks on Paradise Lost. + +His words are + +'That Milton escaped is well known, but not how. By the accounts we +have, he was by the Act of Indemnity only incapacitated for any public +employment. This is a notorious mistake, though Toland, the bishop of +Sarum, Fenton, &c, have gone into it, confounding him with Goodwin; +their cases were very different, as I found upon enquiry. Not to take +a matter of this importance upon trust, I had first recourse to the +Act itself. Milton is not among the excepted. If he was so +conditionally pardoned, it must then be, by a particular instrument. +That could not be after he had been purified entirely by the general +indemnity, nor was it likely the King, who had declared from Breda, he +would pardon all but whom the Parliament should judge unworthy of it, +and had thus lodged the matter with them, should, before they came to +a determination, bestow a private act of indulgence to one so +notorious as Milton. It is true, Rapin says, several principal +republicans applied for mercy, while the Act was yet depending, but +quotes no authority; and upon search, no such pardon appears on +record, though many are two or three years after, but then they are +without restrictions; some people were willing to have a particular, +as well as a general pardon; but whatever was the case of others, +there was a reason besides what has been already noted, that no such +favour would be shewn to Milton. The House of Commons, June 16, 1660, +vote the King to be moved to call in his two books, and that of John +Goodwin, written in justification of the murder of the King, in order +to be burnt, and that the Attorney General do proceed against them by +indictment. June 27, an Order of Council reciting that Vote of the +16th, and that the persons were not to be found, directs a +Proclamation for calling in Milton's two books, which are here +explained, to be that against Salmasius, and the Eikon Basilike, as +also Goodwin's book; and a Proclamation was issued accordingly, and +another to the same purpose the 13th of August: as for Goodwin he +narrowly escaped for his life, but he was voted to be excepted out of +the Act of Indemnity, amongst the twenty designed to have penalties +inflicted short of death, and August 27, these books of Milton and +Goodwin were burnt by the hangman. The Act of Oblivion, according to +Kennet's Register, was passed the 29th. It is seen by this account, +that Milton's person and Goodwin's are separated, tho' their books are +blended together. As the King's intention appeared to be a pardon to +all but actual regicides, as Burnet says, it is odd, he should assert +in the same breath, almost all people were surprized that Goodwin and +Milton escaped censure. Why should it be so strange, they being not +concerned in the King's blood? that he was forgot, as Toland says, +some people imagined, is very unlikely. However, it is certain, from +what has been shewn from bishop Kennet, he was not. That he should be +distinguished from Goodwin, with advantage, will justly appear +strange; for his vast merit, as an honest man, a great scholar, and a +most excellent writer, and his fame, on that account, will hardly be +thought the causes, especially when it is remembered Paradise Lost was +not produced, and the writings, on which his vast reputation stood, +are now become criminal, and those most, which were the main pillars +of his fame. Goodwin was an inconsiderable offender, compared with +him; some secret cause must be recurred to in accounting for this +indulgence. I have heard that secretary Morrice, and Sir Thomas +Clarges were his friends, and managed matters artfully in his favour; +doubtless they, or some body else did, and they very probably, as +being powerful friends at that time. But still how came they to put +their interest at such a stretch, in favour of a man so notoriously +obnoxious? perplexed, and inquisitive as I was, I at length found the +secret. It was Sir William Davenant obtained his remission, in return +of his own life, procured by Milton's interest, when himself was under +condemnation, Anno 1650. A life was owing to Milton (Davenant's) and +it was paid nobly; Milton's for Davenant, at Davenant's intercession. +The management of the affair in the house, whether by signifying the +King's desire, or otherwise, was, perhaps by those gentlemen named.' + +This account Mr. Richardson had from Mr. Pope, who was informed of it +by Betterton, the celebrated actor, who was first brought upon the +stage by Sir William Davenant, and honoured with an intimacy with him, +so that no better authority need be produced to support any fact. + +Milton being secured by his pardon, appeared again in public, and +removed to Jewin street, where he married his third wife, Elizabeth, +the daughter of Mr. Minshul of Cheshire, recommended to him by his +friend Dr. Paget, to whom he was related, but he had no children by +her: soon after the restoration he was offered the place of Latin +secretary to the King, which, notwithstanding the importunities of his +wife, he refused: we are informed, that when his wife pressed him to +comply with the times, and accept the King's offer, he made answer, +'You are in the right, my dear, you, as other women, would ride in +your coach; for me, my aim is to live and die an honest man.' Soon +after his marriage with his third wife, he removed to a house in the +Artillery Walk, leading to Bunhill-fields, where he continued till his +death, except during the plague, in 1665, when he retired with his +family to St. Giles's Chalfont Buckinghamshire, at which time his +Paradise Lost was finished, tho' not published till 1667. Mr. Philips +observes, that the subject of that poem was first designed for a +tragedy, and in the fourth book of the poem, says he, there are ten +verses, which, several years before the poem was begun, were shewn to +me, and some others, as designed for the very beginning of the +tragedy. The verses are, + + O thou that with surpassing glory crown'd + Look'st from thy sole dominion like the god, + Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars + Hide their diminish'd heads; to thee I call, + But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, + O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams, + Which brings to my remembrance, from what state + I fell; how glorious once above thy sphere, + 'Till pride, and worse ambition, threw me down, + Warring in Heaven, 'gainst Heav'ns matchless King. + +Mr. Philips further observes, that there was a very remarkable +circumstance in the composure of Paradise Lost, which, says he, 'I +have particular reason to remember, for whereas I had the perusal of +it from the very beginning, for some years, as I went from time to +time to visit him, in a parcel of ten, twenty, or thirty verses at a +time, which being written by whatever hand came next, might possibly +want correction, as to the orthography and pointing; having, as the +summer came on, not been shewn any for a considerable while, and +desiring the reason thereof, was answered, that his vein never happily +flowed but from the autumnal equinox to the vernal, and that whatever +he attempted at other times, was never to his satisfaction, though he +courted his fancy never so much; so that in all the years he was about +his poem, he may be said to have spent but half his time therein.'[3] +Mr. Toland imagines that Mr. Philips must be mistaken in regard to the +time, since Milton, in his Latin Elegy upon the Approach of the +Spring, declares the contrary, and that his poetic talent returned +with the spring. This is a point, as it is not worth contending, so it +never can be settled; no poet ever yet could tell when the poetic vein +would flow; and as no man can make verses, unless the inclination be +present, so no man, can be certain how long it will continue, for if +there is any inspiration now amongst men, it is that which the poet +feels, at least the sudden starts, and flashes of fancy bear a strong +resemblance to the idea we form of inspiration. + +Mr. Richardson has informed us, 'that when Milton dictated, he used to +sit leaning backwards obliquely in an easy chair, with his legs flung +over the elbows of it; that he frequently composed lying a-bed in a +morning, and that when he could not sleep, but lay awake whole nights, +he tried, but not one verse could he make; at other times flowed easy +his unpremeditated verse, with a certain Impetus as himself used to +believe; then at what hour soever, he rung for his daughter to secure +what came. I have been also told he would dictate many, perhaps 40 +lines in a breath, and then reduce them to half the number.' I would +not omit, says Mr. Richardson, the least circumstance; these indeed +are trifles, but even such contract a sort of greatness, when related +to what is great. + +After the work was ready for the press, it was near being suppressed +by the ignorance, or malice of the licenser, who, among other trivial +objections, imagined there was treason in that noble simile, b. i. v. +594-- + + --As when the sun new ris'n + Looks thro' the horizontal misty air, + Shorn of his beams; or from behind the moon, + In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds + On half the nations, and with fear of change + Perplexes monarchs. + +The ignorance of this licenser, in objecting to this noble simile, has +indeed perpetuated his name, but it is with no advantage; he, no +doubt, imagined, that _Perplexes Monarchs_ was levelled against the +reigning Prince, which is, perhaps, the highest simile in our +language; how ridiculously will people talk who are blinded by +prejudice, or heated by party. But to return: After Milton had +finished this noble work of genius, which does honour to human nature, +he disposed of it to a Bookseller for the small price of fifteen +pounds; under such prejudice did he then labour, and the payment of +the fifteen pounds was to depend upon the sale of two numerous +impressions. This engagement with his Bookseller proves him extremely +ignorant of that sort of business, for he might be well assured, that +if two impressions sold, a great deal of money must be returned, and +how he could dispose of it thus conditionally for fifteen pounds, +appears strange; but while it proves Milton's ignorance, or +inattention about his interest in this affair, it, at the same time, +demonstrates the Bookseller's honesty; for he could not be ignorant +what money would be got by two numerous editions. After this great +work was published, however, it lay some time in obscurity, and had +the Bookseller advanced the sum stipulated, he would have had reason +to repent of his bargain. It was generally reported, that the late +lord Somers first gave Paradise Lost a reputation; but Mr. Richardson +observes, that it was known and esteemed long before there was such a +man as lord Somers, as appears by a pompous edition of it printed by +subscription in 1688, where, amongst the list of Subscribers, are the +names of lord Dorset, Waller, Dryden, Sir Robert Howard, Duke, Creech, +Flatman, Dr. Aldrich, Mr. Atterbury, Sir Roger L'Estrange, lord +Somers, then only John Somers, esq; Mr. Richardson further informs us, +that he was told by Sir George Hungerford, an ancient Member of +Parliament, that Sir John Denham came into the House one morning with +a sheet of Paradise Lost, wet from the press, in his hand, and being +asked what he was reading? he answered, part of the noblest poem that +ever was written in any language, or in any age; however, it is +certain that the book was unknown till about two years after, when the +earl of Dorset recommended it, as appears from the following story +related to Mr. Richardson, by Dr. Tancred Robinson, an eminent +physician in London, who was informed by Sir Fleetwood Sheppard, 'that +the earl, in company with that gentleman, looking over some books in +Little Britain, met with Paradise Lost; and being surprized with some +passages in turning it over, bought it. The Bookseller desired his +lordship to speak in its favour, since he liked it, as the impression +lay on his hands as waste paper. The earl having read the poem, sent +it to Mr. Dryden, who, in a short time, returned it with this answer: +This man cuts us all, and the ancients too.' + +Critics have differed as to the source from which our [author] drew +the first hint of writing Paradise Lost; Peck conjectures that it was +from a celebrated Spanish Romance called Guzman, and Dr. Zachary +Pearce, now bishop of Bangor, has alledged, that he took the first +hint of it from an Italian Tragedy, called Il Paradiso Perso, still +extant, and printed many years before he entered on his design. Mr. +Lauder in his Essay on Milton's Use and Imitation of the Moderns, has +insinuated that Milton's first hint of Paradise Lost, was taken from a +Tragedy of the celebrated Grotius, called Adamus Exul, and that Milton +has not thought it beneath him to transplant some of that author's +beauties into his noble work, as well as some other flowers culled +from the gardens of inferior genius's; but by an elegance of art, and +force of nature, peculiar to him, he has drawn the admiration of the +world upon passages, which in their original authors, stood neglected +and undistinguished. If at any time he has adopted a sentiment of a +cotemporary poet, it deserves another name than plagiary; for, as +Garth expresses it, in the case of Dryden, who was charged with +plagiary, that, like ladies of quality who borrow beggars children, it +is only to cloath them the better, and we know no higher compliment +could have been paid to these moderns, than that of Milton's doing +them the honour to peruse them, for, like a Prince's accepting a +present from a subject, the glory is reflected on him who offers the +gift, not on the Monarch who accepts it. But as Mr. Lauder's book has +lately made so great a noise in the world, we must beg leave to be a +little more particular. + +Had Mr. Lauder pursued his plan of disclosing Milton's resources, and +tracing his steps through the vast tracts of erudition that our author +travelled, with candour and dispassionateness, the design would have +been noble and useful; he then would have produced authors into light +who were before unknown; have recommended sacred poetry, and it would +have been extreamly pleasing to have followed Milton over all his +classic ground, and seen where the noblest genius of the world thought +proper to pluck a flower, and by what art he was able to rear upon the +foundation of nature so magnificent, so astonishing a fabric: but in +place of that, Mr. Lauder suffers himself to be overcome by his +passion, and instead of tracing him as a man of taste, and extensive +reading, he hunts him like a malefactor, and seems to be determined on +his execution. + +Mr. Lauder could never separate the idea of the author of Paradise +Lost, and the enemy of King Charles. Lauder has great reading, but +greater ill nature; and Mr. Douglas has shewn how much his evidence is +invalidated by some interpolations which Lauder has since owned. It is +pity so much classical knowledge should have been thus prostituted by +Lauder, which might have been of service to his country; but +party-zeal seldom knows any bounds. The ingenious Moses Brown, +speaking of this man's furious attack upon Milton, has the following +pretty stanza. + + The Owl will hoot that cannot sing, + Spite will displume the muse's wing, + Tho' Phoebus self applaud her; + Still Homer bleeds in Zoilus' page + A Virgil 'scaped not the Maevius' rage, + And Milton has his Lauder.[4] + +But if Lauder is hot and furious, his passion soon subsides. Upon +hearing that the grand-daughter of Milton was living, in an obscure +situation in Shoreditch, he readily embraced the opportunity, in his +postscript, of recommending her to the public favour; upon which, some +gentlemen affected with the singularity of the circumstance, and +ashamed that our country should suffer the grand-daughter of one from +whom it derives its most lasting and brightest honour, to languish +neglected, procured Milton's Comus to be performed for her benefit at +Drury Lane, on the 5th of April, 1750: upon which, Mr. Garrick spoke a +Prologue written by a gentleman, who zealously promoted the benefit, +and who, at this time, holds the highest rank in literature. + +This prologue will not, we are persuaded, be unacceptable to our +readers. + +A PROLOGUE spoken by Mr. GARRICK, Thursday, April 5, 1750. at the +Representation of COMUS, for the Benefit of Mrs. ELIZABETH FOSTER, +MILTON's Grand-daughter, and only surviving descendant. + + Ye patriot crouds, who burn for England's fame, + Ye nymphs, whose bosoms beat at Milton's name, + Whose gen'rous zeal, unbought by flatt'ring rhimes, + Shames the mean pensions of Augustan times; + Immortal patrons of succeeding days, + Attend this prelude of perpetual praise! + Let wit, condemn'd the feeble war to wage + With close malevolence, or public rage; + Let study, worn with virtue's fruitless lore, + Behold this theatre, and grieve no more. + This night, distinguish'd by your smile, shall tell, + That never Briton can in vain excel; + The slighted arts futurity shall trust, + And rising ages hasten to be just. + + At length our mighty bard's victorious lays + Fill the loud voice of universal praise, + And baffled spite, with hopeless anguish dumb, + Yields to renown the centuries to come. + With ardent haste, each candidate of fame + Ambitious catches at his tow'ring name: + He sees, and pitying sees, vain wealth bestow: + Those pageant honours which he scorn'd below; + While crowds aloft the laureat dust behold, + Or trace his form on circulating gold. + Unknown, unheeded, long his offspring lay, + And want hung threat'ning o'er her slow decay. + What tho' she shine with no Miltonian fire, + No fav'ring muse her morning dreams inspire; + Yet softer claims the melting heart engage, + Her youth laborious, and her blameless age: + Hers the mild merits of domestic life, + The patient suff'rer, and the faithful wife. + Thus grac'd with humble virtue's native charms + Her grandsire leaves her in Britannia's arms, + Secure with peace, with competence, to dwell, + While tutelary nations guard her cell. + Yours is the charge, ye fair, ye wife, ye brave! + 'Tis yours to crown desert--beyond the grave! + +In the year 1670 our author published at London in 4to. his History of +Britain, that part, especially, now called England, from the first +traditional Beginning, continued to the Norman Conquest, collected out +of the ancientest and best authors thereof. It is reprinted in the +first volume of Dr. Kennet's compleat History of England. Mr. Toland +in his Life of Milton, page 43, observes, that we have not this +history as it came out of his hands, for the licensers, those sworn +officers to destroy learning, liberty, and good sense, expunged +several passages of it, wherein he exposed the superstition, pride, +and cunning of the Popish monks in the Saxon times, but applied by the +sagacious licensers to Charles IId's bishops. In 1681 a considerable +passage which had been suppressed in the publication of this history, +was printed at London in 4to under this title. Mr. John Milton's +character of the Long Parliament and Assembly of Divines in 1651, +omitted in his other works, and never before printed. It is reported, +and from the foregoing character it appears probable, that Mr. Milton +had lent most of his personal estate upon the public faith, which when +he somewhat earnestly pressed to have restored, after a long, and +chargeable attendance, met with very sharp rebbukes; upon which, at +last despairing of any success in this affair, he was forced to return +from them poor and friendless, having spent all his money, and wearied +all those who espoused his cause, and he had not, probably, mended his +circumstances in those days, but by performing such service for them, +as afterwards he did, for which scarce any thing would appear too +great. In 1671 he published at London in 8vo. Paradise Regained, a +Poem in four Books, to which is added Sampson Agonistes: there is not +a stronger proof of human weakness, than Milton's preferring this Poem +of Paradise Regained, to Paradise Lost, and it is a natural and just +observation, that the Messiah in Paradise Regained, with all his +meekness, unaffected dignity, and clear reasoning, makes not so great +a figure, as when in the Paradise Lost he appears cloathed in the +Terrors of Almighty vengeance, wielding the thunder of Heaven, and +riding along the sky in the chariot of power, drawn, as Milton greatly +expresses it, 'with Four Cherubic Shapes; when he comes drest in awful +Majesty, and hurls the apostate spirits headlong into the fiery gulph +of bottomless perdition, there to dwell in adamantine chains and penal +fire, who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms.' + +Dr. Newton has dissented from the general opinion of mankind, +concerning Paradise Regained: 'Certainly, says he, it is very worthy +of the author, and contrary to what Mr. Toland relates, Milton may be +seen in Paradise Regained as well as Paradise Lost; if it is inferior +in poetry, I know not whether it is inferior in sentiment; if it is +less descriptive, it is more argumentative; if it does not sometimes +rise so high, neither doth it ever sink below; and it has not met with +the approbation it deserves, only because it has not been more read +and considered. His subject indeed is confined, and he has a narrow +foundation to build upon, but he has raised as noble a superstructure, +as such little room, and such scanty materials would allow. The great +beauty of it is the contrast between the two characters of the tempter +and Our Saviour, the artful sophistry, and specious insinuations of +the one, refuted by the strong sense, and manly eloquence of the +other.' The first thought of Paradise Regained was owing to Elwood the +Quaker, as he himself relates the occasion, in the History of his own +Life. When Milton had lent him the manuscript of Paradise Lost at St. +Giles's Chalfont, and he returned it, Milton asked him how he liked +it, and what he thought of it? 'which I modestly and freely told him +(says Elwood) and after some further discourse about it, I pleasantly +said to him, thou hast said much of Paradise Lost, but what hast thou +to say of a Paradise Found? He made me no answer, but sat some time in +a muse, then broke off that discourse, and fell upon another subject.' +When Elwood afterwards waited upon him in London, Milton shewed him +his Paradise Regained, and in a pleasant tone said to him, 'this is +owing to you, for you put it into my head by the question you put me +at Chalfont, which before I had not thought of.' + +In the year 1672 he published his Artis Logicae plenior Institutio ad +Rami methodum concinnata, London, in 8vo. and in 1673, a Discourse +intitled, Of True Religion, Heresy, Schism, Toleration, and what best +Means may be used against the Growth of Popery, London, in 4to. He +published likewise the same year, Poems, &c. on several Occasions, +both English and Latin, composed at several times, with a small +Tractate of Education to Mr. Hartlib, London, 8vo. In 1674 he +published his Epistolarum familiarium, lib. i. & Prolusiones quaedam +Oratoriae in Collegio Christi habitae, London, in 8vo and in the same +year in 4to. a Declaration of the Letters Patent of the King of +Poland, John III. elected on the 22d of May, Anno Dom. 1674, now +faithfully translated from the Latin copy. Mr. Wood tells us[5], that +Milton was thought to be the author of a piece called the Grand Case +of Conscience, concerning the Engagement Stated and Resolved; or a +Strict Survey of the Solemn League and Covenant in reference to the +present Engagement; but others are of opinion that the stile and +manner of writing do not in the least favour that supposition. His +State Letters were printed at London 1676 in 12mo. and translated into +English, and printed 1694, as his Brief History of Muscovy, and of +their less known Countries, lying Eastward of Russia, as far as +Cathay, was in 1682 in 8vo. His Historical, Poetical, and +Miscellaneous Works were printed in three volumes in folio 1698 at +London, though Amsterdam is mentioned in the title page with the life +of the author, by Mr. Toland; but the most compleat and elegant +edition of his prose works was printed in two volumes in folio at +London 1738, by the rev. Mr. Birch, now secretary to the Royal +Society, with an Appendix concerning two Dissertations, the first +concerning the Author of the [Greek: EIKON BASILIKE], the Portraiture +of his sacred Majesty in his solitude and sufferings; and the prayer +of Pamela subjoined to several editions of that book; the second +concerning the Commission said to be given by King Charles I. in 1641, +to the Irish Papists, for taking up arms against the Protestants in +Ireland. In this edition the several pieces are disposed according to +the order in which they were printed, with the edition of a Latin +Tract, omitted by Mr. Toland, concerning the Reasons of the War with +Spain in 1655, and several pages in the History of Great Britain, +expanged by the licensers of the press, and not to be met with in any +former impressions. It perhaps is not my province to make any remarks +upon the two grand disputations, that have subsisted between the +friends and enemies of Charles I. about the author of the Basilike, +and the Commission granted to the Irish Papists; as to the last, the +reader, if he pleases, may consult at the Life of Lord Broghill, in +which he will find the mystery of iniquity disclosed, and Charles +entirely freed from the least appearance of being concerned in +granting so execrable a commission; the forgery is there fully +related, and there is all the evidence the nature of the thing will +admit of, that the King's memory has been injured by so base an +imputation. As to the first, it is somewhat difficult to determine, +whether his Majesty was or was not the author of these pious +Meditations; Mr. Birch has summed up the evidence on both sides; we +shall not take upon us to determine on which it preponderates; it will +be proper here to observe, the chief evidence against the King in this +contention, is, Dr. Gauden, bishop of Exeter, who claimed that book as +his, and who, in his letters to the earl of Clarendon, values himself +upon it, and becomes troublesomely sollicitous for preferment on that +account; he likewise told the two princes that the Basilike was not +written by their father, but by him; now one thing is clear, that +Gauden was altogether without parts; his Life of Hooker, which is the +only genuine and indisputed work of his, shews him a man of no extent +of thinking; his stile is loose, and negligently florid, which is +diametrically opposite to that of these Meditations. Another +circumstance much invalidates his evidence, and diminishes his +reputation for honesty. After he had, for a considerable time, +professed himself a Protestant, and been in possession of an English +bishopric, and discovered an ardent desire of rising in the church, +notwithstanding this, he declared himself at his death a Papist; and +upon the evidence of such a man, none can determine a point in +disputation; for he who durst thus violate his conscience, by the +basest hypocrisy, will surely make no great scruple to traduce the +memory of his sovereign. + +In a work of Milton's called Icon Oclastes, or the Image broken, he +takes occasion to charge the king with borrowing a prayer from Sir +Philip Sidney's Arcadia, and placing it in his Meditations without +acknowledging the favour. Soon after the sentence of the Regicides had +been put in execution these Meditations were published, and as Anthony +by shewing the body of murdered Caesar, excited the compassion of +multitudes, and raised their indignation against the enemies of that +illustrious Roman; so these Meditations had much the same effect in +England. The Presbyterians loudly exclaimed against the murder of the +King; they asserted, that his person was sacred, and spilling his +blood upon a scaffold was a stain upon the English annals, which the +latest time could not obliterate. These tragical complaints gaining +ground, and the fury which was lately exercised against his Majesty, +subsiding into a tenderness for his memory, heightened by the +consideration of his piety, which these Meditations served to revive, +it was thought proper, in order to appease the minds of the people, +that an answer should be wrote to them. + +In this task Milton engaged, and prosecuted it with vigour; but the +most enthusiastic admirer of that poet, upon reading it will not fail +to discover a spirit of bitterness, an air of peevishness and +resentment to run through the whole. Milton has been charged with +interpolating the prayer of Pamela into the King's Meditations, by the +assistance of Bradshaw, who laid his commands upon the printer so to +do, to blast the reputation of the King's book. Dr. Newton is of +opinion that this fact is not well supported, for it is related +chiefly upon the authority of Henry Hills the printer, who had +frequently affirmed it to Dr. Gill, and Dr. Bernard, his physicians, +as they themselves have testified; but tho' Hills was Cromwell's +printer, yet afterwards he turned Papist in the reign of King James +II. in order to be that King's Printer; and it was at that time he +used to relate this story; so that little credit is due to his +testimony. It is almost impossible to believe Milton capable of such +disingenuous meanness, to serve so bad a purpose, and there is as +little reason for fixing it upon him, as he had to traduce the King +for profaning the duty of prayer, with the polluted trash of romances; +for in the best books of devotion, there are not many finer prayers, +and the King might as lawfully borrow and apply it to his own purpose, +as the apostle might make quotations from Heathen poems and plays; and +it became Milton, the least of all men, to bring such an accusation +against the King, as he was himself particularly fond of reading +romances, and has made use of them in some of the best and latest of +his writings. + +There have been various conjectures concerning the cause that produced +in Milton so great an aversion to Charles I. One is, that when Milton +stood candidate for a professorship at Cambridge with his much +esteemed friend Mr. King, their interest and qualifications were +equal, upon which his Majesty was required by his nomination to fix +the professor; his answer was, let the best-natured man have it; to +which they who heard him, immediately replied; 'then we are certain it +cannot be Milton's, who was ever remarkable for a stern ungovernable +man.'--Whether this conjecture is absolutely true, we cannot +determine; but as it is not without probability, it has a right to be +believed, till a more satisfactory one can be given. + +In whatever light Milton may be placed as a statesman, yet as a poet +he stands in one point of view without a rival; the sublimity of his +conceptions, the elevation of his stile, the fertility of his +imagination, and the conduct of his design in Paradise Lost is +inimitable, and cannot be enough admired. + +Milton's character as a poet was never better pourtray'd than in the +epigram under his picture written by Mr. Dryden. + + Three poets in three distant ages born, + Greece, Italy, and England, did adorn. + The first in loftiness of thought surpass'd; + The next in majesty; in both the last: + The force of nature could no further go, + To make a third, she join'd the former two.-- + +This great man died at his house at Bunhill, Nov. 15, 1674, and was +interred near the body of his father, in the chancel of the church of +St. Giles, Cripplegate. By his first wife he had four children, a son +and three daughters. The daughters survived their father. Anne married +a master-builder, and died in child-bed of her first child, which died +with her; Mary lived single; Deborah left her father when she was +young, and went over to Ireland with a lady, and came to England again +during the troubles of Ireland under King James II. She married Mr. +Abraham Clark, a weaver in Spittal-fields, and died Aug. 24, 1727, in +the 76th year of age. She had ten children, viz. seven sons, and three +daughters, but none of them had any children except one of her sons +named Caleb, and the youngest daughter, whose name is Elizabeth. Caleb +went over to Fort St. George in the East-Indies, where he married and +had two sons, Abraham and Isaac; of these Abraham the elder came to +England with governor Harrison, but returned again upon advice of his +father's death, and whether he or his brother be now living is +uncertain. Elizabeth, the youngest child of Deborah, married Mr. +Thomas Foster, a weaver, and lives now in Hog-lane, Shoreditch, for +whom Comus, as we have already observed, was performed at Drury-Lane, +and produced her a great benefit. She has had seven children, three +sons and four daughters, who are all now dead. This Mrs. Foster is a +plain decent looking Woman. Mr. John Ward, fellow of the Royal +Society, and professor of rhetoric in Gresham-College, London, saw the +above Mrs. Clark, Milton's daughter at the house of one of her +relations not long before her death, when she informed me, says that +gentleman, 'That she and her sisters used to read to their father in +eight languages, which by practice they were capable of doing with +great readiness, and accuracy, tho' they understood no language but +English, and their father used often to say in their hearing, one +tongue was enough for a woman. None of them were ever sent to school, +but all taught at home by a mistress kept for that purpose. Isaiah, +Homer, and Ovid's Metamorphoses were books which they were often +called to read to their father; and at my desire she repeated a great +number of verses from the beginning of both these poets with great +readiness. I knew who she was upon the first sight of her, by the +similitude of her countenance with her father's picture. And upon my +telling her so, she informed me, that Mr. Addison told her the same +thing, on her going to wait on him; for he, upon hearing she was +living sent for her, and desired if she had any papers of her +father's, she would bring them with her, as an evidence of her being +Milton's daughter; but immediately on her being introduced to him, he +said, Madam, you need no other voucher; your face is a sufficient +testimonial whose daughter you are; and he then made her a handsome +present of a purse of guineas, with a promise of procuring for her an +annual provision for life; but he dying soon after, she lost the +benefit of his generous design. She appeared to be a woman of good +sense, and genteel behaviour, and to bear the inconveniencies of a low +fortune with decency and prudence.' + +Her late Majesty Queen Caroline sent her fifty pounds, and she +received presents of money from several gentlemen not long before her +death. Milton had a brother, Mr. Christopher Milton who was knighted +and made one of the barons of the Exchequer in King James II's reign, +but he does not appear to have been a man of any abilities, at least +if he had any, they are lost to posterity in the lustre of his +brother's. + +There is now alive a grand-daughter of this Christopher Milton, who is +married to one Mr. John Lookup, advocate at Edinburgh, remarkable for +his knowledge of the Hebrew tongue. The lady, whom I have often seen, +is extremely corpulent, has in her youth been very handsome, and is +not destitute of a poetical genius. She has writ several copies of +verses, published in the Edinburgh Magazines; and her face bears some +resemblance to the picture of Milton. + +Mr. Wood, and after him Mr. Fenton, has given us the following +description of Milton's person. + +"He was of a moderate size, well-proportioned, and of a ruddy +complexion, light brown hair, and had handsome features, yet his eyes +were none of the quickest. When he was a student in Cambridge, he was +so fair and clear, that many called him the Lady of Christ's-College. +His deportment was affable, and his gait erect and manly, bespeaking +courage and undauntedness; while he had his sight he wore a sword, and +was well skilled in using it. He had a delicate tuneable voice, an +excellent ear, could p[l]ay on the organ, and bear a part in vocal and +instrumental music."[6] + +The great learning and genius of Milton, have scarcely raised him more +admirers, than the part he acted upon the political stage, has +procured him enemies. He was in his inclination a thorough Republican, +and in this he thought like a Greek or Roman, as he was very +conversant with their writings. And one day Sir Robert Howard, who was +a friend of Milton's, and a well wisher to the liberty of his country, +asked him, how he came to side with the Republicans? Milton answered, +among other things, 'Because theirs was the most frugal government; +for the trappings of a Monarchy might set up an ordinary +Commonwealth.' But then his attachment to Cromwell must be condemned, +as being neither consistent with his republican principles, nor with +his love of liberty. It may be reasonably presumed, that he was far +from entirely approving of Cromwell's proceeding; but considered him +as the only person who could rescue the nation from the tyranny of the +Presbyterians, who he saw, were about to erect a worse dominion of +their own upon the ruins of prelatical episcopacy; for if experience +may be allowed to teach us, the Presbyterian government carries in it +more of ecclesiastical authority, and approaches more to the thunder +of the Vatican, than any other government under the sun. Milton was an +enemy to spiritual slavery, he thought the chains thrown upon the mind +were the least tolerable; and in order to shake the pillars of mental +usurpation, he closed with Cromwell and the independants, as he +expected under them greater liberty of conscience. In matters of +religion too, Milton has likewise given great offence, but infidels +have no reason to glory. No such man was ever amongst them. He was +persuaded of the truth of the christian religion; he studied and +admired the holy scriptures, and in all his writings he plainly +discovers a religious turn of mind. + +When he wrote the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, he appears to +have been a Calvinist; but afterwards he entertained a more favourable +opinion of Arminius. Some have thought that he was an Arian, but there +are more express passages in his works to overthrow this opinion, than +any there are to confirm it. For in the conclusion of his Treatise on +Reformation, he thus solemnly invokes the Trinity: + +'Thou therefore that sittest in light and glory unapproachable, parent +of angels and of men! next thee I implore omnipotent king, redeemer of +that lost remnant, whose nature thou didst assume, ineffable and +everlasting love! and thee the third subsistence of the divine +infinitude, illuminating spirit, the joy and solace of created things! +one tri-personal god-head.' + +In the latter part of his life he was not a professed member of any +particular sect of christians; he frequented no public worship, nor +used any religious rite in his family; he was an enemy to all kinds of +forms, and thought that all christians had in some things corrupted +the simplicity and purity of the gospel. He believed that inward +religion was the best, and that public communion had more of shew in +it, than any tendency to promote genuine piety and unaffected +goodness. + +The circumstances of our author were never very mean, nor very +affluent; he lived above want, and was content with competency. His +father supported him during his travels. When he was appointed Latin +secretary, his sallary amounted to 200 l. per ann. and tho' he was of +the victorious party, yet he was far from sharing the spoils of his +country. On the contrary, as we learn from his Second Defence, he +sustained great losses during the civil war, and was not at all +favoured in the imposition of taxes, but sometimes paid beyond his due +proportion; and upon a turn of affairs, he was not only deprived of +his place, but also lost 2000 l. which he had for security, put into +the Excise office. + +In the fire of London, his house in Bread-street was burnt, before +which accident foreigners have gone out of devotion, says Wood, to see +the house and chamber where he was born. Some time before he died, he +sold the greatest part of his library, as his heirs were not qualified +to make a proper use of it, and as he thought he could dispose of it +to greater advantage, than they could after his death. He died (says +Dr. Newton) by one means or other worth 1500 l. besides his houshold +goods, which was no incompetent subsistence for him, who was as great +a philosopher as a poet. + +Milton seems not to have been very happy in his marriages. His first +wife offended him by her elopement; the second, whose love, sweetness, +and delicacy he celebrates, lived not a twelvemonth with him; and his +third was said to be a woman of a most violent spirit, and a severe +step-mother to his children. + +'She died, says Dr. Newton, very old, about twenty years ago, at +Nantwich in Cheshire, and from the accounts of those who had seen her, +I have learned that she confirmed several things related before; and +particularly that her husband used to compose his poetry chiefly in +the winter, and on his waking on a morning would make her write down +sometimes twenty or thirty verses: Being asked whether he did not +often read Homer and Virgil, she understood it as an imputation upon +him for stealing from these authors, and answered with eagerness, that +he stole from no body but the muse that inspired him; and being asked +by a lady present who the muse was, she answered, it was God's grace +and holy spirit, that visited him nightly. She was likewise asked, +whom he approved most of our English poets, and answered, Spenser, +Shakespear, and Cowley; and being asked what he thought of Dryden, she +said Dryden used sometimes to visit him, but he thought him no poet, +but a good rhimist.' + +The reader will be pleased to observe, that this censure of Milton's +was before Dryden had made any great appearance in poetry, or composed +those immortal works of genius, which have raised eternal monuments to +him, and carried his name to every country where poetry and taste are +known. Some have thought that Dryden's genius was even superior to +Milton's: That the latter chiefly shines in but one kind of poetry; +his thoughts are sublime, and his language noble; but in what kind of +writing has not Dryden been distinguished? He is in every thing +excellent, says Congreve, and he has attempted nothing in which he has +not so succeeded as to be entitled to the first reputation from it. + +It is not to be supposed, that Milton was governed by so mean a +principle as envy, in his thus censuring Dryden. It is more natural to +imagine, that as he was himself no friend to rhime, and finding Dryden +in his early age peculiarly happy in the faculty of rhiming, without +having thrown out any thoughts, which were in themselves +distinguishedly great, Milton might, without the imputation of ill +nature, characterise Dryden, as we have already seen. + +These are the most material incidents in the life of this great man, +who if he had less honour during the latter part of his life than he +deserved, it was owing to the unfavourable circumstances under which +he laboured. It is always unpleasing to a good man to find that they +who have been distinguished for their parts, have not been equally so +for their moral qualities; and in this case we may venture to assert, +that Milton was good as well as great; and that if he was mistaken in +his political principles, he was honestly mistaken, for he never +deviated from his first resolution; no temptations could excite him to +temporise, or to barter his honour for advantage; nor did he ever once +presume to partake of the spoils of his ruined country. Such qualities +as these are great in themselves, and whoever possesses them, has an +unexceptionable claim to rank with the good. + +We might have entered more minutely into the merit of Milton's poems, +particularly the great work of Paradise Lost; but we should reckon it +arrogant as well as superfluous in us, to criticise on a work whose +beauties have been displayed by the hand of Mr. Addison. That critic +has illustrated the most remarkable passages in Paradise Lost; such as +are distinguished by their sublimity; and elevation; such whose +excellence is propriety; others raised by the nobleness of the +language; and those that are remarkable for energy and strong +reasoning. + +A later critic, the ingenious author of the Rambler, has animadverted +upon Milton's versification with great judgment; and has discovered in +some measure that happy art, by which Milton has conducted so great a +design, with such astonishing success. + +From these two writers may be drawn all the necessary assistances for +reading the Paradise Lost with taste and discernment; and as their +works are in almost in every body's hands, it would be needless to +give any abstract of them here. + +Footnotes: +1. Philips's Life of Milton, p. 4. Preface prefixed to the English + Translation of his Letters of State. +2. Birch's Critical Account of Milton's Life and Writings. +3. Life of Milton, p. 40. +4. Gentleman's Magazine. +5. Fasti Oxon. col. 275. +6. Fasti Oxon. p. 266. Ed. 1721. + + * * * * * + + + + + Mrs. KATHERINE PHILIPS, + + +The celebrated Orinda, was daughter of John Fowles of Bucklersbury, a +merchant in London. She was born in the parish of St. Mary Wool +Church, 1631. Mr. Aubrey tells us, (in a MS. of his in Mr. Ashmole's +study, No. 18. Vol. 23.) that she had the early part of her education +from her cousin Mrs. Blacker. At eight years old she was removed to a +school at Hackney, and soon made great improvements under the care of +Mrs. Salmon; so great that whoever reads the account that Mr. Aubrey +gives of her at that time of her life, will consider her succeeding +progress to be no more than what might be naturally expected from such +indications of genius. He tells us, 'that she was very apt to learn, +and made verses when she was at school; that she devoted herself to +religious duties when she was very young; that she would then pray by +herself an hour together; that she had read the bible through before +she was full five years old; that she could say, by heart, many +chapters and passages of scripture; was a frequent hearer of sermons, +which she would bring away entire in her memory.' + +The above is extracted from Mr. Ballard's account of the Ladies of +Great Britain, who have been celebrated for their writings; and serves +to shew the early piety of this amiable lady, who lived to be +distinguished for her ripened understanding.--She became afterwards a +perfect mistress of the French tongue, and learned the Italian under +the tuition of her ingenious and worthy friend Sir Charles Cotterel. +She was instructed in the Presbyterian principles, which it appears by +her writings, she deserted, as soon as her reason was strong enough to +exert itself in the examination of religious points. She warmly +embraced the royal interest, and upon many occasions was a strenuous +advocate for the authority of the established church. + +She was married to James Philips of the Priory of Cardigan, Esq; about +the year 1647. By this gentleman she had one son, who died in his +infancy, and one daughter, married to a gentleman of Pembrokeshire. +She proved an excellent wife, not only in the conjugal duties, and +tender offices of love, but was highly serviceable to her husband in +affairs, in which few wives are thought capable of being useful; for +his fortune being much encumbered, she exerted her interest with Sir +Charles Cotterel, and other persons of distinction, who admired her +understanding (for she had few graces of person) in her husband's +favour, who soon extricated him from the difficulties under which he +laboured. It no where appears that the husband of Mrs. Philips was a +man of any abilities, and if he met with respect in the world, it was +probably reflected from his wife. This lady had too much piety and +good sense to suffer her superior understanding to make her insolent; +on the other hand, she always speaks of her husband with the utmost +respect, under the name of Antenor. In a letter to Sir Charles +Cotterel, after having mentioned her husband in the most respectful +terms, and of his willingness to forward her journey to London, in +order to settle his perplexed affairs, she adds + +"And I hope God will enable me to answer his expectations, by making +me an instrument of doing some handsome service, which is the only +ambition I have in the world, and which I would purchase with the +hazard of my life. I am extreamly obliged to my lady Cork for +remembering me with so much indulgence; for her great desire to be +troubled with my company; but above all for her readiness to assist my +endeavours for Antenor, which is the most generous kindness can be +done me." + +As this lady was born with a genius for poetry, so she began early in +life to improve it, and composed many poems on various occasions for +her amusement, in her recess at Cardigan, and retirement elsewhere. +These being dispersed among her friends and acquaintance, were by an +unknown hand collected together, and published in 8vo. 1663, without +her knowledge or consent. This accident is said to have proved so +oppressive to our poetess, as to throw her into a fit of illness, and +she pours out her complaints in a letter to Sir Charles Cotterel, in +which she laments, in the most affecting manner, the misfortune and +the injuries which had been done to her by this surreptitious edition +of her Poems. + +That Mrs. Philips might be displeased that her Poems were published +without her consent, is extremely probable, as by these means they +might appear without many graces, and ornaments which they otherwise +would have possessed; but that it threw her into a fit of illness, no +body who reads the human heart can believe. Surreptitious editions are +a sort of compliment to the merit of an author; and we are not to +suppose Mrs. Philips so much a saint, as to be stript of all vanity, +or that natural delight, which arises from the good opinion of others, +however aukwardly it may be discovered; and we may venture to affirm, +that Mrs. Philips's illness proceeded from some other cause, than what +is here assigned. + +The reputation of her abilities procured her the esteem of many +persons of distinction and fashion, and upon her going into Ireland +with the viscountess of Duncannon, to transact her husband's affairs +there, her great merit soon made her known to those illustrious peers, +Ormond, Orrery, and Roscommon, and many other persons of the first +fashion, who shewed her singular marks of their esteem. While Mrs. +Philips remained in that kingdom, at the pressing importunity of the +abovementioned noblemen, but particularly lord Roscommon, she +translated, from the French of Corneille, the tragedy of Pompey, which +was brought upon the Irish stage somewhat against her inclination; +however it was several times acted in the new theatre there, with very +great applause in the years 1663 and 1664, in which last year it was +made public. It was afterwards acted with equal applause at the Duke +of York's theatre, 1678. This play is dedicated to the Countess of +Cork. Lord Roscommon wrote the Prologue, wherein he thus compliments +the ladies and the translator. + + But you bright nymphs, give Caesar leave to woo, + The greatest wonder of the world, but you; + And hear a muse, who has that hero taught + To speak as gen'rously, as e'er he fought; + Whose eloquence from such a theme deters + All tongues but English, and all pens but hers. + By the just fates your sex is doubly blest, + You conquer'd Caesar, and you praise him best. + +She also translated from the French of Corneille, a Tragedy called +Horace; Sir John Denham added a fifth Act to this Play, which was +acted at Court by Persons of Quality. The Duke of Monmouth spoke the +Prologue, in which are these lines. + + So soft that to our shame we understand + They could not fall but from a lady's hand. + Thus while a woman Horace did translate, + Horace did rise above the name of fate. + +While Mrs. Philips was in Ireland, she was happy in carrying on her +former intimacy with the famous Jeremy Taylor, the bishop of Down and +Connor, who had some time before done her much honour by writing, and +publishing a Discourse on the Nature, Offices, and Measures of +Friendship, with Rules for conducting it, in a letter addressed to +her. It is probable that this prelate's acquaintance with so +accomplished a lady as Mrs. Philips, might be one reason of his +entertaining so high an opinion of the fair sex in general; it is +certain he was a great admirer of them, by which the good sense, as +well as piety, of that great man is demonstrated; for whoever has +studied life, examined the various motives of human actions, compared +characters, and, in a word, scrutinized the heart, will find that more +real virtue, more genuine and unaffected goodness exist amongst the +female sex, than the other, and were their minds cultivated with equal +care, and did they move in the bustle of life, they would not fall +short of the men in the acute excellences; but the softness of their +natures exempts them from action, and the blushes of beauty are not to +be effaced by the rough storms of adversity: that man is happy who +enjoys in the conjugal state, the endearments of love and innocence, +and if his wife is less acquainted with the world than he, she makes a +large amends, by the artless blandishments of a delicate affection. + +We are persuaded our fair readers will not be displeased if we insert +a paragraph from the discourse already mentioned by this worthy +churchman; it appearing to be so sincere a tribute to their merit. +'But by the way, madam, you may see how I differ from the majority of +those cynics, who would not admit your sex into the community of a +noble friendship. I believe some wives have been the best friends in +the world; and few stories can outdo the nobleness and piety of that +lady, that sucked the poisonous purulent matter from the wounds of the +brave Prince in the holy land, when an assassin had pierced him with a +venomed arrow: and if it be told that women cannot retain council, and +therefore can be no brave friends, I can best confute them by the +story of Porcia, who being fearful of the weakness of her sex, stabbed +herself in the thigh to try how she could bear pain; and finding +herself constant enough to that sufferance, gently chid her Brutus for +not trusting her, since now she perceived, that no torment could wrest +that secret from her, which she hoped might be entrusted to her. If +there were no more things to be said for your satisfaction, I could +have made it disputable, which have been more illustrious in their +friendship, men or women. I cannot say that women are capable of all +those excellencies by which men can oblige the world, and therefore a +female friend, in some cases, is not so good a counsellor as a wise +man, and cannot so well defend my honour, nor dispose of relief and +assistances, if she be under the power of another; but a woman can +love as passionately, and converse as pleasantly, and retain a secret +as faithfully, and be useful in her proper ministries, and she can die +for her friend, as well as the bravest Roman knight; a man is the best +friend in trouble, but a woman may be equal to him in the days of joy: +a woman can as well increase our comforts, but cannot so well lessen +our sorrows, and therefore we do not carry women with us when we go to +fight; but in peaceful cities and times, women are the beauties of +society, and the prettinesses of friendship, and when we consider that +few persons in the world have all those excellences by which +friendship can be useful, and illustrious, we may as well allow women +as men to be friends; since they have all that can be necessary and +essential to friendships, and those cannot have all by which +friendships can be accidentally improved.' + +Thus far this learned prelate, whose testimony in favour of women is +the more considerable, as he cannot be supposed to have been +influenced by any particular passion, at least for Mrs. Philips, who +was ordinary in her person and was besides a married lady. In the year +1663 Mrs. Philips quitted Ireland, and went to Cardigan, where she +spent the remaining part of that, and the beginning of the next year, +in a sort of melancholy retirement; as appears by her letters, +occasioned, perhaps, by the bad success of her husband's affairs. +Going to London, in order to relieve her oppressed spirits with the +conversation of her friends there, she was seized by the smallpox, and +died of it (in Fleet street,) to the great grief of her acquaintance, +in the 32d year of her age, and was buried June 22, 1664, in the +church of St. Bennet Sherehog[1], under a large monumental stone, +where several of her ancestors were before buried. Mr. Aubrey in his +manuscript abovementioned, observes, that her person was of a middle +stature, pretty fat, and ruddy complexioned. + +Soon after her death, her Poems and Translations were collected and +published in a volume in folio, to which was added Monsieur +Corneille's Pompey and Horace, Tragedies; with several other +Translations out of French, London 1667, with her picture, a good +busto, before them, standing on a pedestal, on which is inscribed +Orinda; it was printed again at London 1678. In a collection of +Letters published by Mr. Thomas Brown, in 1697, are printed four +Letters from Mrs. Philips to the Honourable Berenice. Many years after +her death, were published a volume of excellent Letters from Mrs. +Philips to Sir Charles Cotterel with the ensuing title, Letters from +Orinda to Polliarchus, 8vo. London 1705. Major Pack, in his Essay on +Study, inserted in his Miscellanies, gives the following character of +these Letters; 'The best Letters I have met with in our English +tongue, are those of the celebrated Mrs. Philips to Sir Charles +Cotterel; as they are directed all to the same person, so they run all +in the same strain, and seem to have been employed in the service of a +refined and generous friendship. In a word, they are such as a woman +of spirit and virtue, should write to a courtier of honour, and true +gallantry.' The memory of this ingenious lady has been honoured with +many encomiums. Mr. Thomas Rowe in his epistle to Daphne, pays the +following tribute to her fame. + + At last ('twas long indeed!) Orinda came, + To ages yet to come an ever glorious name; + To virtuous themes, her well tun'd lyre she strung; + Of virtuous themes in easy numbers sung. + Horace and Pompey in her line appear, } + With all the worth that Rome did once revere: } + Much to Corneille they owe, and much to her. } + Her thoughts, her numbers, and her fire the same, + She soar'd as high, and equal'd all his fame. + Tho' France adores the bard, nor envies Greece + The costly buskins of her Sophocles. + More we expected, but untimely death, + Soon stopt her rising glories with her breath. + +More testimonies might be produced in favour of Mrs. Philips, but as +her works are generally known, and are an indelible testimony of her +merit, we reckon it superfluous. Besides the poetical abilities of the +amiable Orinda, she is said to have been of a generous, charitable +disposition, and a friend to all in distress. + +As few ladies ever lived more happy in her friends than our poetess, +so those friends have done justice to her memory, and celebrated her, +when dead, for those virtues they admired, when living. Mr. Dryden +more than once mentions her with honour, and Mr Cowley has written an +excellent Ode upon her death. As this Ode will better shew the high +opinion once entertained of Mrs. Philips, than any thing we can say, +after giving a specimen of her poetry, we shall conclude with this +performance of Cowley's, which breathes friendship in every line, and +speaks an honest mind: so true is the observation of Pope, upon the +supposition that Cowley's works are falling into oblivion, + + Lost is his epic, nay, pindaric art, + But still I love the language of his heart. + +Mrs. Philips's poetry has not harmony of versification, or amorous +tenderness to recommend it, but it has a force of thinking, which few +poets of the other sex can exceed, and if it is without graces, it has +yet a great deal of strength. As she has been celebrated for her +friendship, we shall present the reader with an Ode upon that subject, +addressed to her dearest Lucasia. + + I. + + Come my Lucasia, since we see + That miracles men's faith do move + By wonder, and by prodigy; + To the dull angry world lets prove + There's a religion in our love. + + II. + + For tho' we were designed t'agree, + That fate no liberty destroys, + But our election is as free + As angels, who with greedy choice + Are yet determined to their joys. + + III. + + Our hearts are doubled by the loss, + Here mixture is addition grown; + We both diffuse, and both engross: + And we whose minds are so much one, + Never, yet ever are alone. + + IV. + + We court our own captivity, + Than thrones more great and innocent: + 'Twere banishment to be set free, + Since we wear fetters whose intent + Not bondage is, but ornament. + + V. + + Divided joys are tedious found, + And griefs united easier grow: + We are ourselves, but by rebound, + And all our titles shuffled so, + Both princes, and both subjects too. + + VI. + + Our hearts are mutual victims laid, + While they (such power in friendship lies) + Are altars, priests, and offerings made: + And each heart which thus kindly dies, + Grows deathless by the sacrifice. + + + On the DEATH of Mrs. PHILIPS. + + I. + + Cruel disease! ah, could it not suffice, + Thy old and constant spite to exercise + Against the gentlest and the fairest sex, + Which still thy depredations most do vex? + Where still thy malice, most of all + (Thy malice or thy lust) does on the fairest fall, + And in them most assault the fairest place, + The throne of empress beauty, ev'n the face. + There was enough of that here to assuage, + (One would have thought) either thy lust or rage; + Was't not enough, when thou, profane disease, + Didst on this glorious temple seize: + Was't not enough, like a wild zealot, there, + All the rich outward ornaments to tear, + Deface the innocent pride of beauteous images? + Was't not enough thus rudely to defile, + But thou must quite destroy the goodly pile? + And thy unbounded sacrilege commit + On th'inward holiest holy of her wit? + Cruel disease! there thou mistook'st thy power; + No mine of death can that devour, + On her embalmed name it will abide + An everlasting pyramide, + As high as heav'n the top, as earth, the basis wide. + + II. + + All ages past record, all countries now, + In various kinds such equal beauties show, + That ev'n judge Paris would not know + On whom the golden apple to bestow, + Though goddesses to his sentence did submit, + Women and lovers would appeal from it: + Nor durst he say, of all the female race, + This is the sovereign face. + And some (tho' these be of a kind that's rare, + That's much, oh! much less frequent than the fair) + So equally renown'd for virtue are, + That is the mother of the gods might pose, + When the best woman for her guide she chose. + But if Apollo should design + A woman Laureat to make, + Without dispute he would Orinda take, + Though Sappho and the famous nine + Stood by, and did repine. + To be a Princess or a Queen + Is great; but 'tis a greatness always seen; + The world did never but two women know, + Who, one by fraud, th'other by wit did rise + To the two tops of spiritual dignities, + One female pope of old, one female poet now. + + III. + + Of female poets, who had names of old, + Nothing is shown, but only told, + And all we hear of them perhaps may be + Male-flatt'ry only, and male-poetry. + Few minutes did their beauties light'ning waste, + The thunder of their voice did longer last, + But that too soon was past. + The certain proofs of our Orinda's wit, + In her own lasting characters are writ, + And they will long my praise of them survive, + Though long perhaps too that may live, + The trade of glory manag'd by the pen + Though great it be, and every where is found. + Does bring in but small profit to us men; + 'Tis by the number of the sharers drown'd. + Orinda on the female coasts of fame, + Ingrosses all the goods of a poetic name. + She does no partner with her see, + Does all the business there alone, which we + Are forc'd to carry on by a whole company. + + IV. + + But wit's like a luxuriant vine; + Unless to virtue's prop it join, + Firm and erect towards Heav'n bound; + Tho' it with beauteous leaves and pleasant fruit be crown'd, + It lyes deform'd, and rotting on the ground. + Now shame and blushes on us all, + Who our own sex superior call! + Orinda does our boasting sex out do, + Not in wit only, but in virtue too. + She does above our best examples rise, + In hate of vice, and scorn of vanities. + Never did spirit of the manly make, + And dipp'd all o'er in learning's sacred lake, + A temper more invulnerable take. + No violent passion could an entrance find, + Into the tender goodness of her mind; + Through walls of stone those furious bullets may + Force their impetuous way, + When her soft breast they hit, damped and dead they lay. + + V. + + The fame of friendship which so long had told + Of three or four illustrious names of old, + 'Till hoarse and weary with the tale she grew, + Rejoices now t'have got a new, + A new, and more surprizing story, + Of fair Leucasia's and Orinda's glory. + As when a prudent man does once perceive + That in some foreign country he must live, + The language and the manners he does strive + To understand and practise here, + That he may come no stranger there; + So well Orinda did her self prepare, + In this much different clime for her remove, + To the glad world of poetry and love. + +Footnote: +1. Ballard's Memoirs. + + * * * * * + + + + + MARGARET, Duchess of NEWCASTLE, + + +The second wife of William Cavendish, duke of Newcastle, was born at +St. John's near Colchester in Essex, about the latter end of the reign +of King James I. and was the youngest daughter of Sir Charles Lucas, a +gentleman of great spirit and fortune, who died when she was very +young. The duchess herself in a book intitled Nature's Pictures, drawn +by Fancy's pencil to the life, has celebrated both the exquisite +beauty of her person, and the rare endowments of her mind. This lady's +mother was remarkably assiduous in the education of her children, and +bestowed upon this, all the instructions necessary for forming the +minds of young ladies, and introducing them into life with advantage. +She found her trouble in cultivating this daughter's mind not in vain, +for she discovered early an inclination to learning, and spent so much +of her time in study and writing, that some of her Biographers have +lamented her not being acquainted with the learned languages, which +would have extended her knowledge, corrected the exuberances of +genius, and have been of infinite service to her, in her numerous +compositions. + +In the year 1643 she obtained leave of her mother to go to Oxford, +where the court then resided, and was made one of the Maids of Honour +to Henrietta Maria, the Royal Consort of King Charles I. and when the +Queen was forced to leave the arms of her Husband, and fly into +France, by the violence of the prevailing power, this lady attended +her there. At Paris she met with the marquis of Newcastle, whose +loyalty had likewise produced his exile; who, admiring her person and +genius, married her in the year 1645. The marquis had before heard of +this lady, for he was a patron and friend of her gallant brother, lord +Lucas, who commanded under him in the civil wars. He took occasion one +day to ask his lordship what he could do for him, as he had his +interest much at heart? to which he answered, that he was not +sollicitous about his own affairs, for he knew the worst could be but +suffering either death, or exile in the Royal cause, but his chief +sollicitude was for his sister, on whom he could bestow no fortune, +and whose beauty exposed her to danger: he represented her amiable +qualities, and raised the marquis's curiosity to see her, and from +that circumstance arose the marquis's affection to this lady. From +Paris they went to Rotterdam, where they resided six months: from +thence they returned to Antwerp, where they settled, and continued +during the time of their exile, as it was the most quiet place, and +where they could in the greatest peace enjoy their ruined fortune. She +proved a most agreeable companion to the marquis, during the gloomy +period of exile, and enlivened their recess, both by her writing and +conversation, as appears by the many compliments and addresses he made +her on that occasion. + +The lady undertook a voyage into England, in order to obtain some of +the marquis's rents, to supply their pressing necessities, and pay the +debts they had been there obliged to contract; and accordingly went +with her brother to Goldsmith's Hall, where, it seems, the committee +of sequestration sat, but could not obtain the smallest sum out of the +marquis's vast inheritance, which, amounted to 20,000 l. per annum; +and had it not been for the generosity and tenderness of Sir Charles +Cavendish (who greatly reduced his own fortune, to support his brother +in distress) they must have been exposed to extreme poverty. + +Having raised a considerable sum, by the generosity of her own, and +the marquis's, relations, she returned to Antwerp, where she continued +with her lord, till the restoration of Charles II, upon which, the +marquis, after six years banishment, made immediate preparation for +his return to his native country, leaving his lady behind him to +dispatch his affairs there, who, having conducted them to his +lordship's satisfaction, she soon followed her consort into England. +Being now restored to the sunshine of prosperity, she dedicated her +time to writing poems, philosophical discourses, orations and plays. +She was of a generous turn of mind, and kept a great many young ladies +about her person, who occasionally wrote what she dictated. Some of +them slept in a room, contiguous to that in which her Grace lay, and +were ready, at the call of her bell, to rise any hour of the night, to +write down her conceptions, lest they should escape her memory. + +The young ladies, no doubt, often dreaded her Grace's conceptions, +which were frequent, but all of the poetical or philosophical kind, +for though she was very beautiful, she died without issue: she is said +to have been very reserved and peevish, perhaps owing to the +circumstance just mentioned, of having never been honoured with the +name of mother. + +Mr. Jacob says, that she was the most voluminous writer of all the +female poets; that she had a great deal of wit, and a more than +ordinary propensity to dramatic poetry; and Mr. Langbaine tells us, +that all the language and plots of her plays were her own, which, says +he, is a commendation preferable to fame built on other people's +foundation, and will very well atone for some faults in her numerous +productions. As the Duchess is said to be negligent, in regard to +chronology in her historical writings, so others have been equally +remiss, in this respect, with regard to her Grace, for, among the many +authors who have taken notice of her, not one has mentioned the year +in which she died, and even her monumental inscription, where one +might reasonably expect it, is silent, both in respect to her age, and +the time of her death. But Mr. Fulman, in the 15th volume of his MS. +collections in the Corpus Christi College Archives, observes, that she +died in London Anno 1673, and was buried at Westminster, January 7, +1673-4, where an elegant monument is erected to her memory, of which, +take the following account given by Dr. Crul in the Antiquities of +that Church. 'Against the skreen of the chapel of St. Michael, is a +most noble spacious tomb of white marble, adorned with two pillars of +black marble, with entablatures of the Corinthian order, embellished +with arms, and most curious trophy works; on the pedestal lye two +images, in full proportion, of white marble in a cumbent posture, in +their robes, representing William Cavendish, duke of Newcastle, and +Margaret his duchess, his second and last wife, being the daughter of +Sir Charles, and the sister of lord Lucas of Colchester; who as she +had deservedly acquired the reputation of a lady of uncommon wit, +learning, and liberality; so the duke her husband had rendered himself +famous for his loyalty, and constant fidelity to the royal family, +during the civil wars in this kingdom and in Scotland. The duke having +caused this stately monument to be erected here to the memory of his +lady, died soon after in the year 1676, aged 84, and was interred +here.' + + The Epitaph for the Duchess. + +"Here lies the loyal Duke of Newcastle and his Duchess, his second +wife, by whom he had no issue. Her name was Margaret Lucas, youngest +sister to the Lord Lucas of Colchester, a noble family, for all the +brothers were valiant, and all the sisters virtuous. This Duchess was +a wise, witty, and learned Lady, which her many books do well testify: +She was a most virtuous, and loving, and careful wife, and was with +her Lord all the time of his banishment and miseries; and when they +came home never parted with him in his solitary retirements." + +The following is a catalogue of her works, in which we have taken +pains to be as accurate as possible, in order to do justice to the +poetical character of this lady. + +1. The World's Olio. + +2. Nature's Picture drawn by Fancy's Pencil to the Life. + +In this volume there are several feigned stories of natural +descriptions, as comical, tragical, and tragi-comical, poetical, +romancical, philosophical, and historical, both in prose and verse, +some all verse, some all prose, some mixt; partly prose, and partly +verse; also some morals, and some dialogues, Lond. 1656. folio. + +3. Orations of different sorts, on different occasions, Lond. 1662. + +4. Philosophical and Physical Opinions, 1633, folio. + +5. Observations on Experimental Philosophy; to which is added, the +Description of a New World. Mr. James Bristow began to translate some +of these Philosophical Discourses into Latin. + +6. Philosophical Letters; or modest Reflections on some Opinions in +Natural Philosophy, maintained by several famous and learned authors +of this age, expressed by way of letters, Lond. 1664, fol. + +7. Poems and Fancies, Lond. 1664, folio. + +8. Sociable Letters, 1664, folio. + +9. The Life of the Duke of Newcastle her husband, which was translated +into Latin, and is thought to be the best performance of this lady. + +10. Observations of the Duke's, with Remarks of her own, + +In the Library of the late Mr. Thomas Richardson was the Duchess of +Newcastle's poems, 2 Vol. fol. MS. and in the library of the late +bishop Willis was another MS. of her poems in folio. + +Her Dramatic Works are, + +1. Apocryphal Ladies, a Comedy; it is not divided into acts. + +2. Bell in Campo, a Tragedy, in two parts. + +3. Blazing World, a Comedy. + +4. Bridals, a Comedy. + +5. Comical Hash, a Comedy. + +6. Convent of Pleasure, a Comedy. + +7. Female Academy, a Comedy. + +8. Lady Contemplation, a Comedy, in two parts. + +9. Love's Adventure, in two parts, a Comedy. + +10. Matrimonial Troubles, in two parts; the second being a Tragedy, or +as the authoress stiles it, a Tragi-comedy. + +11. Nature's three Daughters, Beauty, Love, and Wit, a Comedy, in two +parts. + +12. Presence, a Comedy. + +13. Public Wooing, a Comedy, in which the Duke wrote several of the +suitors speeches. + +14. Religious, a Tragi-Comedy. + +15. Several Wits, a Comedy. + +16. Sociable Companions, or the Female Wits, a Comedy. + +17. Unnatural Tragedy. Act II. Scene III. the Duchess inveighs against +Mr. Camden's Britannia. + +18. Wit's Cabal, a Comedy, in two parts. + +19. Youth's Glory, and Death's Banquet, a Tragedy in two parts. + +Mr. Langbaine has preserved part of the general prologue to her plays, +which we shall insert as a specimen of her versification: + + But noble readers, do not think my plays + Are such as have been writ in former days; + As Johnson, Shakespear, Beaumont, Fletcher writ, + Mine want their learning, reading, language, wit. + The Latin phrases, I could never tell, + But Johnson could, which made him write so well. + Greek, Latin poets, I could never read, + Nor their historians, but our English Speed: + I could not steal their wit, nor plots out-take; + All my plays plots, my own poor brain did make. + From Plutarch's story, I ne'er took a plot, + Nor from romances, nor from Don Quixote. + + * * * * * + + + + + WILLIAM CAVENDISH, + + +Baron Ogle, viscount Mansfield, earl, marquis, and duke of Newcastle, +justly reckoned one of the most finished gentlemen, as well as the +most distinguished patriot, general, and statesman of his age. He was +son of Sir Charles Cavendish, youngest son of Sir William Cavendish, +and younger brother of the first earl of Devonshire, by Katherine +daughter of Cuthbert lord Ogle[1]. + +He was born in the year 1592, and discovered in his infancy a +promptness of genius, and a love of literature. His father took care +to have him instructed by the best masters in every science. He no +sooner appeared at the court of King James I. than the reputation of +his abilities drew the attention of that monarch upon him, who made +him a knight of the Bath 1610, at the creation of Henry Prince of +Wales[2]. + +In 1617 his father died, who left him a great estate; and having +interest at court, he was by letters patent, dated Nov. 3, 1620, +raised to the dignity of a peer of the realm, by the stile and title +of baron Ogle, and viscount Mansfield; and having no less credit with +King Charles I. than he had with his father, in the third year of the +reign of that prince, he was advanced to the higher title of earl of +Newcastle upon Tyne, and at the same time he was created baron +Cavendish of Balsovor. Our author's attendance upon court, tho' it +procured him honour, yet introduced him very early into difficulties; +and it appears by Strafford's letters, that he did not stand well with +the favourite duke of Buckingham, who was jealous of his growing +interest, and was too penetrating not to discover, that the quickness +of his lordship's parts would soon suggest some methods of rising, +independent of the favourite, and perhaps shaking his influence. "But +these difficulties, says Clarendon, (for he was deeply plunged in +debt) tho' they put him on the thoughts of retirement, never in the +least prevented him from demonstrating his loyalty when the King's +cause demanded it." + +Notwithstanding the earl's interest was not high with the ministers, +yet he found means so to gain and to preserve the affection of his +Majesty, that in the year 1638, when it was thought necessary to take +the Prince of Wales out of the hands of a woman, his Majesty appointed +the earl his governor, and by entrusting to his tuition the heir +apparent of his kingdoms, demonstrated the highest confidence in his +abilities and honour[3]. + +In the spring of the year 1639, the troubles of Scotland breaking out, +induced the King to assemble an army in the North, soon after which he +went to put himself at the head of it, and in his way was splendidly +entertained by the earl at his seat at Welbeck, as he had been some +years before when he went into Scotland to be crowned, which in +itself, tho' a trivial circumstance, yet such was the magnificence of +this noble peer, that both these entertainments found a place in +general histories, and are computed by the duchess of Newcastle, who +wrote the life of her lord, to have amounted to upwards of ten +thousand pounds. He invited all the neighbouring gentry to pay their +compliments to his Majesty, and partake of the feast, and Ben Johnson +was employed in fitting such scenes and speeches as he could best +devise; and Clarendon after mentioning the sumptuousness of those +entertainments, observes, that they had a tendency to corrupt the +people, and inspire a wantonness, which never fails to prove +detrimental to morals. + +As such an expedition as the King's against the Scots required immense +sums, and the King's treasury being very empty, his lordship +contributed ten thousand pounds, and raised a troop of horse, +consisting of about 200 knights and gentlemen, who served at their own +charge, and was honoured with the title of the Prince's troop[4]. + +Tho' these instances of loyalty advanced him in the esteem of the +King, yet they rather heightened than diminished the resentment of the +ministers, of which the earl of Holland having given a stronger +instance, than his lordship's patience could bear, he took notice of +it in such a way, as contributed equally to sink his rival's +reputation, and raise his own; and as there is something curious in +the particular manner in which the earl of Holland's character +suffered in this quarrel, we shall upon the authority of the duchess +of Newcastle present it to the reader. + +The troop which the earl of Newcastle raised was stiled the Prince's, +but his lordship commanded it as captain. When the army drew near +Berwick, he sent Sir William Carnaby to the earl of Holland, then +general of the horse, to know where his troop should march; his answer +was, next after the troops of the general officers. The earl of +Newcastle sent again to represent, that having the honour to march +with the Prince's colours, he thought it not fit to march under any of +the officers of the field; upon which the general of the horse +repeated his orders, and the earl of Newcastle ordered the Prince's +colours to be taken off the staff, and marched without any. When the +service was over, his lordship sent Mr. Francis Palmer, with a +challenge to the earl of Holland, who consented to a place, and hour +of meeting; but when the earl of Newcastle came thither, he found not +his antagonist, but his second. The business had been disclosed to the +King, by whose authority (says Clarendon) the matter was composed; but +before that time, the earl of Holland was never suspected to want +courage; and indeed he was rather a cunning, penetrating, than a brave +honest man, and was remarkably selfish in his temper. + +The earl of Newcastle however found himself hard pressed by the +ministerial faction, and being unwilling to give his Majesty any +trouble about himself, he was generous enough to resign his place as +governor to the Prince, and the marquis of Hertford was appointed in +his room. + +His lordship having no more business at court, and being unwilling to +expose himself further to the machinations of his enemies, thought +proper to retire to the country, where he remained quiet till he +received his Majesty's orders to revisit Hull: Tho' this order came at +twelve o'clock at night, yet such was his unshaken loyalty and +affection, that he went directly, and tho' forty miles distant, he +entered the place with only three or four servants early the next +morning. He offered to his Majesty, says Clarendon, to have secured +for him that important fortress, and all the magazines that were in +it; but instead of receiving such a command, he had instructions sent +him to obey the orders of the Parliament, who suspecting his +principles not to be favourable to the schemes of opposition then +engaged in, called him to attend the service of the house; and some +disaffected members formed a design to have attacked him, but his +character being unexceptionable, their scheme proved abortive, and he +had leave to retire again into the country. This he willingly did, as +he saw the affairs of state hastening to confusion and his country +ready to be steeped in blood, and sacrificed to the fury of party. But +when the opposition rose high, and it would have been cowardice to +have remained unactive, he embraced the royal cause, accepted a +commission for raising men, to take care of the town of Newcastle, and +the four adjoining counties, in which he was so expeditious and +successful, that his Majesty constituted him general of all the forces +raised North of Trent; and likewise general and commander in chief of +such as might be raised in the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, +Chester, Leicester, Rutland, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Norfolk, Suffolk, +and Essex, with power to confer the honour of knighthood, coin money, +print, and set forth such declarations as should seem to him +expedient: of all which extensive powers, tho freely conferred, and +without reserve, his lordship made a very sparing use; but with +respect to the more material point of raising men, his lordship +prosecuted it with such diligence, that in three months he had an army +of eight thousand horse, foot, and dragoons, with which he marched +directly into Yorkshire; and his forces having defeated the enemy at +Pierce Bridge, his lordship advanced to York, where Sir Thomas +Glenham, the governor, presented him with the keys, and the earl of +Cumberland and many of the nobility resorted thither to compliment, +and assist his lordship[5]. + +In the course of this civil war, we find the earl of Newcastle very +successful in his master's service; he more than once defeated Sir +Thomas Fairfax the general of the Parliament, and won several +important forts and battles; for which his Majesty in gratitude for +his services, by letters patent, dated the 27th of Oct. 1643, advanced +him to the dignity of marquiss of Newcastle; and in the preamble of +his patent, all his services (says Dugdale) are mentioned with +suitable encomiums. + +In the year 1644, after Prince Rupert had been successful in raising +the siege of York, and flushed with the prosperity of his arms, +against the consent of the marquis, he risked the battle of Marston +Moor, in which the marquis's infantry were cut to pieces. Seeing the +King's affairs in these counties totally undone, he made the best of +his way to Scarborough, and from thence with a few of the principal +officers of his army took shipping for Hamburgh, and left his estates, +which were valued at upwards of twenty thousand pounds per ann. to be +plundered by the Parliament's forces. After staying six months at +Hamburgh, he went by sea to Amsterdam, and from thence made a journey +to Paris, where he continued for some time, and where, notwithstanding +the vast estate he had when the civil war broke out, his circumstances +were now so bad, that himself and his young wife, were reduced to pawn +their cloaths for sustenance[6]. He removed afterwards to Antwerp, +that he might be nearer his own country; and there, tho' under very +great difficulties, he resided for several years, while the Parliament +in the mean time levied vast sums upon his estate, insomuch that the +computation of what he lost by the disorders of those times, tho' none +of the particulars can be disproved, amount to an incredible sum; but +notwithstanding all these severities of fortune, he never lost his +spirit, and was often heard to say, that if he was not much mistaken, +the clouds of adversity which then hung over his country, would be +dispersed at last by the King's restoration; that rebellion would +entangle itself in its own toils, and after an interval of havock and +confusion, order would return once more by the restoration of an +exiled Prince. Notwithstanding the hardships of an eighteen years +banishment, in which he experienced variety of wretchedness, he +retained his vigour to the last. He was honoured by persons of the +highest distinction abroad, and Don John of Austria and several +princes of Germany visited him[7]. But what comforted him most, was +the company frequently of his young King, who in the midst of his +sufferings bestowed upon him the most noble Order of the Garter. The +gloomy period at last came to an end, and the marquis returned to his +country with his sovereign; and by letters patent dated the 16th of +March 1664, he was advanced to the dignity of earl of Ogle, and duke +of Newcastle. He spent the evening of his days in a country +retirement, and indulged himself in those studies, with which he was +most affected. + +This noble person from his earliest youth was celebrated for his love +of the muses, and was the great patron of the poets, in the reign of +King Charles I. This propension has drawn on him, tho' very unjustly, +the censure of some grave men. Lord Clarendon mentions it, with +decency; but Sir Philip Warwick, in his history of the rebellion, +loses all patience, and thinks it sufficient to ruin this great +general's character, that he appointed Sir William Davenant, a poet, +his lieutenant general of the ordnance, insinuating that it was +impossible a man could have a turn for poetry, and a capacity for any +thing else at the same time; in which observation, Sir Philip has +given a convincing proof of his ignorance of poetry, and want of +taste. The example of the glorious Sidney is sufficient to confute +this historian; and did not Mr. Chillingworth combat with great +success, though in other branches of literature, against the Papal +church, by the dint of reason and argument, and at the same time +served as engineer in the royal army with great ability[8]? The truth +is, this worthy nobleman having himself a taste for the liberal arts, +was always pleased to have men of genius about him, and had the +pleasure to rescue necessitous merit from obscurity. Ben Johnson was +one of his favourites, and he addressed to him some of his verses, +which may be seen in his works. + +In the busy scenes of life it does not appear that this nobleman +suffered his thoughts to stray so far from his employment, as to turn +author; but in his exile, resuming his old taste of breaking and +managing horses, (than which there cannot be a more manly exercise) he +thought fit to publish his sentiments upon a subject of which he was +perfectly master. The title is, The New Method for managing Horses, +with cuts, Antwerp 1658. This book was first written in English, and +afterwards translated into French, by his lordship's directions. + +This great man died in the possession of the highest honours and +fairest reputation the 25th of December 1676, in the 84th year of his +age. His grace was twice married, but had issue only by his first +lady. His titles descended to his son, Henry earl of Ogle, who was the +last heir male of his family, and died 1691, with whom the title of +Newcastle in the line of Cavendish became extinct. + +In his exile he wrote two comedies, viz. + +The Country Captain, a Comedy, printed at Antwerp 1649, afterwards +presented by his Majesty's servants at Black-Fryars, and very much +commended by Mr. Leigh. + +Variety, a Comedy, presented by his Majesty's Servants at +Black-Fryars, and first printed in 1649, and generally bound with the +Country Captain; it was also highly commended in a copy of verses by +Mr. Alexander Brome. + +He likewise has written + +The Humourous Lovers, a Comedy, acted by his royal highness's +servants, Lond. 1677, 4to. This was received with great applause, and +esteemed one of the best plays of that time. + +The Triumphant Widow; or, the Medley of Humours, a Comedy, acted by +his royal highness's servants, Lond. 1677, 4to. which pleased Mr. +Shadwell so well, that he transcribed a part of it into his Bury Fair, +one of the most taking plays of that poet. + +Shadwell says of his grace, that he was the greatest master of wit, +the most exact observer of mankind, and the most accurate judge of +humour, that ever he knew. + +Footnotes: +1. Dugdale's Baron. vol. 2. +2. Dugdale vol. 2. p. 421. +3. Dugdale, ubi supra. +4. Rushworth's collection, vol. 1. p. 929. +5. Clarendon, p. 283. +6. Life of the D. of Newcastle, p. 56. +7. Ashmole's order of the garter. +8. See his life by Mr. des Maizeaux. + + * * * * * + + + + + Sir JOHN BIRKENHEAD. + + +Winstanley, in his short account of this gentleman, says, that they +who are ignorant of his works, must plead ignorance of all wit and +learning; but the truth is, though he made some figure in his time, +yet it was not so considerable as to transmit his name with any lustre +to posterity, and Winstanley has been too peremptory, in secluding +those from wit, who should be ignorant of the fame of Birkenhead. This +observation, however, excited us to a search after some particulars +concerning him; for Winstanley himself has given very few, and closes +his life in his usual way, with only informing the readers that he +lived in such a reign. The best account we could find of him, is in +the Athenae Oxon. of Wood. Our author was son of Randal Birkenhead of +Northwich in Cheshire, Sadler, and was born there; he became a +servitor of Oriel College, under the tuition of Humphrey Lloyd, +afterwards lord bishop of Bangor. He continued in the college till he +was made bachelor of arts, and then becoming Amanuensis to Dr. Laud, +afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, who, taking a liking to him for +his ingenuity, did, by his diploma make him master of arts, An. 1639, +and by his letters commendatory thereupon, he was elected probationer +fellow of All-Souls College, in the year following. After the +rebellion broke out, and the King set up his court at Oxford, our +author was appointed to write the Mercurii Aulici, which being very +pleasing to the loyal party, his Majesty recommended him to the +electors, that they would chuse him moral philosophy reader; which +being accordingly done, he continued in that office, with little +profit from it, till 1648, at which time he was not only turned out +thence, but from his fellowship, by the Presbyterian visitors. +Afterwards, in this destitute situation, Wood observes, that he +retired to London, and made shift to live upon his wits; having some +reputation in poetry, he was often applied to by young people in love, +to write epistles for them, and songs, and sonnets on their +mistresses: he was also employed in translating and writing other +little things, so as to procure a tolerable livelihood. + +Having, in this manner, supported the gloomy period of confusion, he +was, at his Majesty's restoration, by virtue of his letters, sent to +the university, created doctor of the civil law, and in 1661 he was +elected a Burgess for Wilton, to serve in that Parliament which began +at Westminster the 8th of May, the same year. In 1662, November 14, he +received the honour of knighthood, and January 1663 he was constituted +one of the masters of requests, in the room of Sir Richard Fanshaw, +when he went ambassador into Spain, he being then also master of the +faculties, and a member of the Royal Society. An anonymous writer +tells us, that Sir John Berkenhead was a poor alehouse-keeper's son, +and that he rose by lying, or buffooning at court, to be one of the +masters of requests, and faculty office, and also got by gifts at +court 3000 l. This is a poor reflexion upon him, and indeed rather +raises, than detracts from his reputation, for a man certainly must +have merit, who can rise without the advantage of fortune or birth, +whereas these often procure a fool preferment, and make him eminent, +who might otherwise have lived and died in obscurity. It is said of +Birkenhead, that when an unmannerly Member of Parliament, in opposing +him, took occasion to say, that he was surprized to hear an +alehouse-keeper's son talk so confidently in the House, he coolly +replied, I am an alehouse-keeper's son, I own it, and am not ashamed +of it, but had the gentleman, who upbraided me with my birth, been +thus descended, in all probability he would have been of the same +profession himself; a reply at once, sensible and witty. Mr. Wood, +however, seems to be of opinion, that he was too much given to +bantering, and that if he had thrown less of the buffoon or mimic into +his conversation, his wit would have been very agreeable. He is +charged by Wood with a higher failing, which ought indeed rather to be +construed one of the blackest crimes, that is, ingratitude to those +who assisted him in distress, whom, says he, he afterwards slighted. +This is a heavy charge, and, if true, not a little diminishes his +reputation, but methinks some apology may even be made for his +slighting those who assisted him in distress; we find they were such +persons as could never challenge esteem, young men in love, for whom +he wrote sonnets, and for whom he might have no friendship; it often +happens, that men of parts are so unhappy as to be obliged to such +people, with whom, were their situation otherwise, it would be beneath +them to associate; and it is no wonder when prosperity returns, that +they, in some measure, forget obligations they owed to those of a rank +so much inferior: and something must be allowed to that pride, which a +superior understanding naturally inspires. + +Our author's works are + +Mercurius Aulicus. Communicating the Intelligence, and the Affairs of +the Court at Oxford to the rest of the Kingdom, the first of these was +published on the 1st of January, 1642, and were carried on till about +the end of 1645, after which time they were published but now and +then. They were printed weekly in one sheet, and sometimes in more, in +4to, and contain, says Wood, a great deal of wit and buffoonery. + +News from Pembroke and Montgomery, or Oxford Manchestered, &c. printed +in 1648 in one sheet 4to. It is a feigned speech, as spoken by Philip, +earl of Pembroke, in the Convocation House at Oxford, April 12, 1648, +when he came to visit, and undo the University, as Edward, Earl of +Manchester had done that of Cambridge, while he was Chancellor +thereof. It is exceeding waggish, and much imitating his Lordship's +way of speaking. + +Paul's Church-yard; Libri Theologici, Politici, Historici, mundinis +Paulinis (una cum Templo) prostant venales, &c. printed in three +several sheets in 4to. Anno 1649. These Pamphlets contain feigned +Titles of Books, and Acts of Parliaments, and several Questions, all +reflecting on the Reformers, and Men in those times. + +The Four Legg'd Quaker, a Ballad, to the Tune of the Dog and Elders +Maid, London 1659, in three columns in one side of a sheet of paper. + +A New Ballad of a famous German Prince, without date. + +The Assembly Man, written 1647, London 1663, in three sheets in 4to. +The copy of it was taken from the author by those that said they could +not rob, because all was theirs; at length after it had slept several +years, the author published it to avoid false copies; it is also +printed in a Book entitled Wit and Loyalty Revived, in a Collection of +some smart Satires in Verse and Prose, on the late times, London 1682, +said to be written by Cowley, our Author, and the famous Butler; he +hath also scattered Copies of Verses and Translations extant, to which +are vocal Compositions, set by Henry Lawes, such as Anacreon's Ode, +called The Lute. + +An Anniversary on the Nuptial of John, Earl of Bridgwater. He has also +wrote a Poem on his staying in London, after the Act of Banishment for +Cavaliers, and another called the Jolt, made upon Cromwel's being +thrown off the Coach-box of his own Coach, which he would drive +through Hyde Park, drawn by six German Horses, sent him as a present +by the Count of Oldenburgh, while his Secretary John Thurloe sat in +the Coach, July 1654. Our author died within the Precincts of +Whitehall, in the year 1679, and was buried in the Church-yard of St. +Martin's in the Fields, leaving behind him a collection of Pamphlets, +which came into the hands of his executors, Sir Richard Mason, and Sir +Muddeford Bramston. + + * * * * * + + + + + ROGER BOYLE, Earl of ORRERY, + + +Was younger brother of Richard earl of Burlington and Cork, and fifth +son of Richard, stiled the great earl of Cork. He was born April 25, +1621, and independent of the advantage of his birth and titles, was +certainly one of the ablest politicians, as well as most accomplished +noblemen of his age. By the influence of his father with lord deputy +Faulkland, he was raised to the dignity of baron Broghill, in the +kingdom of Ireland in 1628, when only seven years old[1]. He received +his education at the college of Dublin, where he studied with so much +diligence as gave great hopes of his future atchievements, and the +rapid progress he made in erudition, induced his father to send him +about 1636 to make the tour of France and Italy, under the care of one +Mr. Marcomes, and in the company of lord Kynalmeaky, his elder +brother; and this method the earl took to perfect all his sons, after +they had gone through the course of a domestic education; and it is +remarkable, that all his children travelled under the same gentleman's +protection, who has no small honour reflected on him from his +illustrious pupils. Upon his return from his travels, he found a war +ready to break out against the Scots, and was pressed by the earl of +Northumberland, the commander in chief of the expedition, to share in +reducing them; but this commotion subsiding, his lordship employed +himself another way. By his father's desire, who loved to settle his +children early in the world, he married lady Margaret Howard, daughter +to the earl of Suffolk, and setting out for Ireland, landed there the +very day the rebellion broke out, viz. Oct. 23, 1641. The post +assigned him in this time of danger, was the defence of his father's +castle of Lismore; in which he gave proofs of the most gallant spirit, +as well as political conduct: The first of which he shewed in the +vigorous sally he made to the relief of Sir Richard Osborn, who was +besieged in his own house by the rebels, till relieved by lord +Broghill, who raised the siege, and saved him and all his family[2]; +and a strong proof of the latter, by advising Sir William St. Leger, +then president of Munster, to act vigorously against the Irish, +notwithstanding they produced the King's commission, which he was +penetrating enough to discern to be a forgery. + +After the cessation in Ireland, lord Broghill came to Oxford, then the +residence of King Charles I. and paid his duty to that monarch, and +was honoured with many private audiences, when he represented to his +Majesty, the temper and disposition of the Irish Papists, and the +falshood of the pretended Committee they had sent over to mislead his +Majesty, that the King was convinced the Irish never meant to keep the +cessation, and that therefore it was not the interest of the English +subjects to depend upon it. + +Now that we have mentioned the Irish Papists, one thing must not be +omitted, as it is both curious in itself, and reflects honour on lord +Broghill. Many years after the reduction of these rebels, his +lordship, who was then earl of Orrery, happened to pay a visit to the +duke of Ormond at Kilkenny, where he met with lord Muskerry, who +headed the insurrection, and produced a false commission for what he +did. Finding Muskerry in an open good humour, he took occasion to +retire with him, and to ask him in a pleasant manner, how he came by +that commission which had so much the appearance of being genuine: +'Lord Muskerry answered, I'll be free, and unreserved with you, my +lord; it was a forged commission drawn up by one Walsh, a lawyer, and +others; who having a writing to which the Great Seal was affixed, one +of the company very dextrously took off the sealed wax from the label +of that writing, and fixed it to the label of the forged commission. +Whilst this was doing another accident happened, which startled all +present; and almost disconcerted the scheme. The forged commision +being finished, while the parchment was handling and turning, in order +to put on the seal, a tame wolf which lay asleep by the fire, awakened +at the crackling of the parchment, and running to it, seized it, and +tore it to pieces, notwithstanding their haste and struggle to prevent +him; so that after all their pains, they were obliged to begin a new, +and write it all over again.'[3] Lord Orrery struck with the daring +wickedness of this action, could not help expressing himself to that +effect, while Muskerry replied merrily, it would have been impossible +to have kept the people together without this device. + +'Till the death of King Charles I. we find lord Broghill warm in the +royal interest, and that he abhorred those measures which he foresaw +would distract his country; and as soon as that melancholy event +happened, he quitted his estate[4] as ruined past all hopes, and hid +himself in the privacy of a close retirement. How he came, afterwards +to alter his conduct, and join with a party he before so much +abhorred, we shall endeavour to shew. + +Upon his lordship's coming from Ireland, he withdrew to Marston in +Somersetshire, where he had leisure to reflect on the ruined state of +the Kingdom[5]; and when he revolved in his mind its altered and +desperate situation, he was ashamed to think that he should remain an +idle spectator of his country's miseries, being of a different opinion +from Mr. Addison: 'That when vice prevails, and wicked men bear sway, +the post of honour is a private station.' These reflexions roused him +to action, and produced a scheme worthy of himself. He resolved to +attempt something in favour of the King; and accordingly under the +pretence of going to the Spa for his health, he determined to cross +the seas, and apply to Charles II. for a commission to raise forces in +Ireland, in order to restore his Majesty, and recover his own estate. +Having formed this resolution, he desired the earl of Warwick, who had +an interest with the prevailing party, to procure a licence for him to +go to the Spa. He communicated his scheme to some confirmed royalists, +in whom he thought he could confide, and having rais'd a considerable +sum of money, he came up to London to prosecute his voyage. Lord +Broghil[l], however, was betrayed, and the committee, who then took +upon them the government of the realm, threatened him with +destruction. Cromwell interceeded, and being sensible of his +lordship's great abilities, obtained a permission to talk privately +with him before they proceeded to extremities. Cromwell waited upon +Broghill, and reproached him gently for his intention, which his +lordship denied; but Cromwell producing letters of his writing to +several Royalists, in whom he confided, he found it was in vain to +dissemble any longer. The General then told him, that he was no +stranger to his merit, tho' he had never before seen him; and that as +the reduction of Ireland was intrusted to him, he had authority from +the Committee to offer his lordship a command in that war, and +insisted upon his answer immediately, as the Committee were then +sitting, and waiting his return. Lord Broghill was infinitely +surprized at so generous and unexpected an offer from Cromwell: He +thought himself at liberty, by all the rules of honour to serve +against the Irish, whose cruelty and rebellion were equally detested +by the royal party, as by the Parliament; and his life and freedom +being in danger if he refused, he accepted the commission, and +immediately repaired to Bristol to wait there till forces should be +sent him. This story we have from Mr. Morrice, who heard it from lord +Orrery himself; and he adds, that it is very probable his lordship's +design was betrayed out of pure love and affection by his sister +Ranelagh, but how this love and affection enabled her to foresee that +Cromwell would interpose to remove the danger which she exposed him +to, is left by the reverend author unaccounted for. Ever after this +interposition and friendly offer of Cromwell, we find gratitude +binding lord Broghill to a faithfull service in his interest; and in +the course of his ministry to Cromwell, he prevented many shameful +acts of cruelty, which would have been otherwise perpetrated. + +No sooner had Broghill arrived in Ireland, but his old friends flocked +round him, and demonstrated the great heig[h]th of popularity to which +he had risen in that kingdom; nor did his accepting this new +commission make him negligent of their interest, for he did all he +could for the safety of their persons and estates. An opportunity soon +presented in which he very remarkably distinguished himself. He +engaged at Macroom (with two thousand horse and dragoons) a party of +Irish, consisting of upwards of five thousand, whom he totally +defeated, and took their general the titular bishop of Ross +prisoner[6]. This battle was fought May 10, 1650. Lord Broghill +offered the bishop his life, if he would order those who were in the +castle of Carigdrog-hid to surrender, which he promised; but when he +was conducted to the place, he persuaded the garrison to defend it to +the last extremity. Upon this lord Broghill caused him to be hanged; +(tho' Mr. Morrice says, the soldiers hanged him without orders) and +then commanded his heavy artillery to be brought up, which astonished +his own army exceedingly, they knowing he had not so much as a single +piece of battering cannon. He caused, however, several large trees to +be cut, and drawn at a distance by his baggage horses; the besieged +judging by the slowness of their motion, they were a vast size, +capitulated before they came up, as his lordship advised, threatening +otherwise to give them no quarter. He relieved Cromwell at Clonmell, +and assisted both him and his father-in-law Ireton in their +expedition; but because he could not moderate the fury of one, and +mitigate the cruelty of the other, he incurred the displeasure of +both; and Ireton was heard to say, that neither he nor Cromwell could +be safe while Broghill had any command. Notwithstanding the aversion +of Ireton to his lordship, yet he took care not to remit any of his +diligence in prosecuting the war, he marched to that general's +assistance at the siege of Limerick, and by his conduct and courage +was the means of that town's falling into the hands of the +Commonwealth; and till Ireland was entirely reduced, he continued +active in his commission. + +When Oliver rose to the dignity of Lord Protector, he sent for lord +Broghill, merely to have his advice; and we are told by Oldmixon in +his history of the Stewarts, that he then proposed to Cromwell to +marry his daughter to King Charles II. and that as the Prince was then +in distress abroad, he doubted not but his necessity would make him +comply with the offer; he represented to the Protector the great +danger to which he was exposed by the fickle humour of the English, +who never doat long upon a favourite, but pull that man from eminence +to day, whom they had but yesterday raised out of the dust; that this +match would rivet his interest, by having the lawful prince so nearly +allied to him; and perhaps his grandchild the indisputed heir of the +crown. That he might then rule with more safety, nor dread either the +violence of the Royalists, or the insidious enemies of his own +government. Upon hearing this, Cromwell made a pause, and looking +stedfastly in my lord's face, he asked him if he was of opinion, that +the exiled prince could ever forgive his father's murderer; he +answered as before, that his necessity was great, and in order to be +restored to his crown, would even sacrifice his natural resentment to +his own ease and grandeur; but Cromwell could not be induced to +believe that ever Charles could pardon him. + +Whether lord Broghill was serious in this proposal cannot be +determined; but if he was, it is certain, he had a mean opinion of +Charles; to have capitulated upon any terms with Cromwell, would have +been betraying the dignity of his birth, and his right to reign; but +to have stooped so low, as to take to his arms a child of his, who had +murdered his father, and driven him to his exile, would have been an +instance of the most infamous meanness that ever was recorded in +history; and all the blemishes of that luxurious Prince's character, +and the errors of his reign collected, do not amount to any thing so +base, as would have been those nuptials. + +In the year 1656 it was proposed to his lordship by the Protector to +go down to Scotland, with an absolute authority, either because he +suspected Monk, or was willing to give the people of that country some +satisfaction, who complained of his severity; but he was very +unwilling to receive the charge, and took it at last upon these +conditions[7]: The first was: that he should be left to himself, and +receive no orders; and the second, that no complaints should find +credit, or procure directions in his absence; and the third, that he +should be recalled in a year. He was very acceptable to the Scotch, +and gained a great influence over them by speaking and acting with +moderation. After his return, he was with Whitlock and Thurloe +admitted into all the confidence that could be expected from a person +in the Protector's circumstances; who if he had any chearful moments, +spent them in their company, where he appeared quite another person +than in the ordinary course of his conduct, which was built on a +policy suited to his condition, the people he had to deal with, and +the critical juncture of the times. Our author stood high in +Cromwell's favour to the last; and it was, no doubt, in some measure +owing to his gratitude, that he attached himself so firmly to his son +and successor Richard. It perhaps will appear strange, but it is +supported by evidence, that Cromwell did not love his own family so +well as lord Broghill did. Being asked upon his death-bed whom he +appointed his successor, he answered, "That in such a closet his will +would be found," in which he named Fleetwood, but one of the +Protector's daughters getting first to the drawer, she took the will +and destroyed it[8]. + +Thus Richard against his father's intention obtained the government, +which, however, it is very plain he was not fit to hold; for all the +art and industry of Broghill could never so govern his proceedings, +but that some steps either too violent or too remiss were taken, by +which his administration fell into contempt; and doubtless the reason +why Cromwell excluded his son, was, that he discovered his weakness, +and found him without a capacity of reigning. When the oppression of +committees, the general distraction amongst the people, and the +anarchy into which the English affairs had fallen, began to point +towards a restoration, we find lord Broghill declaring early for the +King, going over into Ireland, there sounding the minds of the +officers, and preparing that kingdom for the reception of his Majesty +with open arms. + +Thus we have seen him discharge with honour the debt of gratitude he +owed to Cromwell; but notwithstanding the figure he made in the +service, it is by no means clear that ever he was warmly attached to +the republic; he was detected in having drank the King's health in +company with the Protector's children, which Oliver very prudently +thought proper to pass over. After the restoration, Broghill wanted +not enemies, who insinuated things against him to King Charles, and +blamed his tardiness in procuring his Majesty's return; but his +lordship made it clear, that he was the first who declared for him in +Ireland, and the most zealous, as well as the most powerful promoter +of his interest. His Majesty was so well satisfied with his lordship's +proceedings, that he wrote to him with his own hand, and thanked him +for his loyalty[9]. On September 5, 1660, as an incontested proof of +his Majesty's affection for his lordship, he by letters patent +advanced him to the honour of earl of Orrery in the county of +Cork[10]; and Sir Maurice Eustace, a friend of the duke of Ormond's, +being appointed chancellor, Roger earl of Orrery, and Charles Coote, +earl of Montrath, were with him made lords justices, about the close +of that memorable year. + +From that time till his death we find lord Orrery in the highest +esteem in the three nations: He was employed by his Majesty to confer +with the earl of Clarendon, whose imperious steps, it seems, had +highly disobliged his master, and when that great man fell, the King +made an offer of the seals to the earl of Orrery, who on account of +his want of bodily vigour, declined it. At the same time he accepted a +most arduous and unpleasing office from the King, and that was, to +expostulate with the duke of York, and bring him to ask pardon for the +haughty and insolent measures he took in supporting the chancellor. + +His Majesty warmly pressed him to become a favourer of the French +alliance, and for the reduction of the Dutch; neither of which were at +all agreeable to his notions, and therefore that he might more +concisely express the mischievous consequences he apprehended from +these measures, he reduced his thoughts into a poem; and this was very +well received by the King, who thought to have made some impression on +him, in his turn, in a long audience he gave him for that purpose; but +the earl's duty would not permit him to coincide in his opinion with +the King, when he was sensible that the King's scheme was contrary to +the interest of the nation; and this led him in plain terms to +declare, that he never would concur in counsels to aggrandize France, +which was already too great; or to break the power of the Dutch, which +was barely sufficient for their own defence[11]. + +There is a particular circumstance in relation to this affair, which +must not be omitted. When lord Orrery came from the audience of his +Majesty, he was met by the earl of Danby, who asked him, whether he +had closed with the King's proposals; to which lord Orrery answered, +no. Then replied the other statesman, "Your lordship may be the +honester man, but you will never be worth a groat." This passage is +the more remarkable, because Danby was of the same opinion with +Orrery, and temporized purely for the sake of power, which cost him +afterwards a long imprisonment, and had very near lost him his life: +So dear do such men often pay for sacrificing honour to interest. In +the year 1679, Oct. 16, this great statesman died in the full +possession of honours and fame: he had lived in the most tumultuous +times; he had embarked in a dangerous ocean, and he had the address to +steer at last to a safe haven. As a man, his character was very +amiable; he was patient, compassionate, and generous; as a soldier, he +was of undaunted courage; as a statesman, of deep penetration, and +invincible industry; and as a poet, of no mean rank. + +Before we give an account of his works, it will not be amiss, in order +to illustrate the amiable character of lord Orrery, to shew, that tho' +he espoused the Protector's interest, yet he was of singular service +to the nation, in restraining the violence of his cruelty, and +checking the domineering spirit of those slaves in authority, who then +called themselves the legislature. + +The authors of the Biographia Britannica, say, 'that our author +opposed in Parliament, and defeated, the blackest measure Cromwell +ever entered into, which was the passing a law for decimating the +royal party, and his lordship's conduct in this, was by far the +greatest action of his whole life. He made a long and an elaborate +speech, in which he shewed the injustice, cruelty, and folly, of that +truly infamous and Nero-like proposition. Finding that he was likely +to lose the question upon the division, which probably would have +issued in losing his life also; he stood up and boldly observed, "That +he did not think so many Englishmen could be fond of slavery." 'Upon +which so many members rose and followed him, that the Speaker without +telling, declared from the chair the Noes have it, and the bill was +accordingly thrown out. Upon this, he went immediately up to Cromwell, +and said, "I have done you this day as great a service as ever I did +in my life. How? returned Cromwell; by hindring your government, +replied my lord, from becoming hateful, which already begins to be +disliked; for if this bill had passed, three kingdoms would have risen +up against you; and they were your enemies, and not your friends who +brought it in." 'This Cromwell so firmly believed, that he never +forgave nor trusted them afterwards.' + +King Charles II. put my lord upon writing plays, which he did, upon +the occasion of a dispute that arose in the Royal presence, about +writing plays in rhime. Some affirmed, that it was to be done, others +that it would spoil the fancy to be so confined; but lord Orrery was +of another opinion, and his Majesty being willing, that a trial should +be made, laid his commands on his lordship, to employ some of his +leisure time that way, which his lordship readily complied with, and +soon after composed the Black Prince. + +It is difficult to give a full and accurate account of this nobleman's +compositions; for it must be owned, he was a better statesman than a +poet, and fitter to act upon the wide theatre of life, than to write +representations for the circumscribed theatre of the stage. In the +light of an author he is less eminent, and lived a life of too much +hurry to become proficient in poetry, a grace which not only demands +the most extensive abilities, but much leisure and contemplation. But +if he was not extremely eminent as a poet, he was far removed above +contempt, and deserves to have full mention made of all his writings; +and we can easily forgive want of elegance and correctness in one who +was of so much service to his country, and who was born rather to live +than to write a great part. + +According to the least exceptionable account, his works are as follow: + +1. The Irish Colours displayed, in a reply of an English Protestant, +to an Irish Roman Catholic, Lond. 1662, 4to. + +2. An Answer to a scandalous Letter lately printed and subscribed be a +Peter Walsh, procurator for the Secular and Romish priests of Ireland: +This was the same infamous Walsh who forged the commisssion to act +against the Protestants. In this letter his lordship makes a full +discovery of the treachery of the Irish rebels, Dublin 1662, 4to. +Lond. 1662, 4to. + +3. A Poem on his Majesty's Restoration, presented by the earl himself +to the King. + +4. A Poem on the Death of the celebrated Mr. Abraham Cowley, Lond. +1667, fol. reprinted by Dr. Sprat, before his edition of Cowley's +works; also reprinted and much commended by Mr. Budgel. + +5. History of Henry V. a tragedy. Lond. 1668, fol. In this play Mr. +Harris who played Henry, wore the Duke of York's coronation suit; and +Betterton, who played Owen Tudor, by which he got reputation, wore the +King's; and Mr. Liliston, to whom the part of the Duke of Burgundy was +given, wore the Earl of Oxford's. + +6. Mustapha the Son of Solyman the Magnificent, a Tragedy, Lond. 1667, +fol. This play succeeded tollerably well. + +7. The Black Prince, a Tragedy, Lond. 1672, fol. When this play was +begun his lordship lay ill of the gout, and after he had finished two +acts of it, he sent it to the King for his perusal, and at the same +time told his Majesty, that while he laboured under that disorder, he +had done these two acts; and perhaps would do no more till he was +taken ill again; upon which his Majesty pleasantly said, that if it +was not to be compleated till the return of the gout, he wished him a +lusty fit of it[12]. + +8. Tryphon, a Tragedy, Lond. 1672, fol. These four plays were +collected, and printed in fol. 1690, and make the entire first volume +of the new edition of the earl's Dramatic Works. + +9. Parthenissa, a Romance, in three volumes, Lond. 1665, 4to. 1677, +fol. This romance is divided into six parts, the last written at the +desire of, and therefore dedicated to, her royal highness the Princess +Henrietta Maria, Duchess of Orleans, sister to King Charles II. + +10. A Dream. This poem has been before mentioned. In it, the genius of +France is introduced, saying every thing the French ministers could +insinuate to inveigle King Charles II. to endeavour at making himself +arbitrary, or to deceive him into a mean and scandalous dependence on +Lewis XIV. to all which the ghost of Charles I. is next brought in, +giving reasons why the sole foundation of a Monarch's power, is the +love and confidence of his people. + +11. The Art of War, Lond. 1677, fol. This work he addresses to the +King, in a large dedication, which was but the first part of what he +intended upon the subject; and was so strangely received, that the +second never appeared. + +12. Poems on most of the festivals of the church. This work, tho' +printed and published, was never finished by our author. It was +written in the last year of his life, under much weakness of body; and +Budgel observes, very justly, that his poetry in this composition runs +low; and indeed his characteristical fault as a poet, is want of +elevation. + +His posthumous works are these; + +1. Mr. Anthony, a Comedy, 4to. Lond. 1692. + +2. Guzman, a Comedy. 1693, 4to. upon a Spanish plot, and written in +the Spanish manner. + +3. Herod the Great, a Tragedy, Lond. 1694, 4to. + +4. Altemira a Tragedy, brought upon the stage by Mr. Francis Manning +1702, dedicated to Lionel earl of Orrery, grandson to the author, with +a prologue by lord viscount Bolingbroke. We may add to them his state +letters, which have been lately published in one volume fol. The rest +of his lordship's political papers perished in the flames, when his +house at Charleville was burnt in the year 1690, by a party of King +James's soldiers, with the duke of Berwick at their head. + +We shall give a specimen of his lordship's poetry from a speech in +Altemira, in a scene between Altemira and her lover. + + ALTEM. I can forgive you all my Lycidor, + But leaving me, and leaving me for war, + For that, so little argument I find, + My reason makes the fault look more unkind. + + LYCIDOR. You see my griefs such deep impressions give, + I'd better die than thus afflicted live. + Yet to those sorrows under which I groan, + Can you still think it fit to add your own? + + ALTEM. 'Tis only you, have your own troubles wrought, + For they alas! are not impos'd but sought; + Did you but credit what you still profess, + That I alone can make your happiness: + You would not your obedience now decline, + But end by paying it, your griefs and mine. + +Footnotes: +1. Earl of Cork's True Remembrance. +2. Morrice's Memoirs of E. Orrery, chap. 6. +3. Memoirs of the Earl of Orrery, p. 36. +4. Carte's Life of the Duke of Ormond. +5. Memoirs of the Interregnum, p. 133. +6. Cox's History of Ireland, vol. 2. part 2d. p. 16. +7. Thurloe's State Papers. +8. Morrice's Memoirs chap. 5. +9. Budgel's Memoirs of the family of the Boyles. +10. Collin's peerage, vol. iv. p. 26. +11. Love's Memoirs of the Earl of Orrery. +12. Memoirs of the Earl of Orrery. + + * * * * * + + + + + RICHARD HEAD + + +Was the son of a minister in Ireland, who being killed in the +rebellion there in 1641, amongst the many thousands who suffered in +that deplorable massacre, our author's mother came with her son into +England, and he having, says Winstanley, been trained up in learning, +was by the help of some friends educated at Oxford, in the same +college where his father formerly had been a student; but as his +circumstances were mean, he was taken away from thence, and bound +apprentice to a bookseller in London, but his genius being addicted to +poetry, before his time was expired, he wrote a piece called Venus +Cabinet unlocked; and afterwards he married and set up for himself, in +which condition, he did not long continue, for being addicted to +gaming, he ruined his affairs. In this distress he went over to +Ireland, and composed his Hic & Ubique, a noted comedy; and which +gained him some reputation. He then returned to England, reprinted his +comedy, and dedicated it to the duke of Monmouth, from whom he +received no great encouragement. This circumstance induced him to +reflect, that the life of an author was at once the most dissipated +and unpleasing in the world; that it is in every man's power to injure +him, and that few are disposed to promote him. Animated by these +reflexions, he again took a house, and from author resumed his old +trade of a bookseller, in which, no doubt he judged right; for while +an author (be his genius and parts ever so bright) is employed in the +composition of one book, a bookseller may publish twenty; so that in +the very nature of things, a bookseller without oppression, a crime +which by unsuccessful writers is generally imputed to them, may grow +rich, while the most industrious and able author can arrive at no more +than a decent competence: and even to that, many a great genius has +never attained. + +No sooner had Mr. Head a little recovered himself, than we find him +cheated again by the syren alurements of pleasure and poetry, in the +latter of which, however, it does not appear he made any proficiency. +He failed a second time, in the world, and having recourse to his pen, +wrote the first part of the English Rogue, which being too libertine, +could not be licensed till he had expunged some of the most luscious +descriptions out of it. + +Mr. Winstanley, p. 208, has informed us, that at the coming out of +this first part, he was with him at the Three Cup tavern in Holborn +drinking a glass of Rhenish, and made these verses upon him, + + + What Gusman, Buscan, Francion, Rablais writ, + I once applauded for most excellent wit; + But reading thee, and thy rich fancy's store, + I now condemn what I admir'd before. + Henceforth translations pack away, be gone, + No Rogue so well writ, as the English one. + +We cannot help observing, that Winstanley has a little ridiculously +shewn his vanity, by informing the world, that he could afford to +drink a glass of Rhenish; and has added nothing to his reputation by +the verses, which have neither poetry nor wit in them. + +This English Rogue, described in the life of Meriton Latroon, a witty +extravagant, was published anno 1666, in a very large 8vo. There were +three more parts added to it by Francis Kirkman and Mr. Head in +conjunction. + +He also wrote + +Jackson's Recantation; or the Life and Death of a notorious +highwayman, then hanging in chains at Hamstead, 1674. + +Proteus Redivivus; or, the Art of wheedling, Lond. 1675. + +The Floating Island; or a voyage from Lambethanio to Ramalia. + +A Discovery of Old Brazil. + +The Red Sea. + +He wrote a Pamphlet against Dr. Wild, in answer to Wild's letter +directed to his friend, upon occasion of his Majesty's declaration for +liberty of conscience: This he concludes in the following manner, by +which it will be seen that he was but a poor versifier. + + Thus, Sir, you have my story, but am sorry + (Taunton excuse) it is no better for ye, + However read it, as your pease are shelling; + For you will find, it is not worth the telling. + Excuse this boldness, for I can't avoid + Thinking sometimes you are but ill employ'd. + Fishing for souls more fit, than frying fish; + That makes me throw pease-shellings in your dish. + You have a study, books wherein to look, + How comes it then the Doctor turn'd a cook? + Well Doctor Cook, pray be advised hereafter, + Don't make your wife the subject of our laughter. + I find she's careless, and your maid a slut, + To let you grease your Cassock for your gut. + You are all three in fault, by all that's blest; + Mend you your manners first, then teach the rest. + +Mr. Winstanley says, that our author met with a great many afflictions +and crosses in his time, and was cast away at sea, as he was going to +the Isle of Wight 1678. + + * * * * * + + + + +THOMAS HOBBS. + + +This celebrated philosopher was son of Thomas Hobbs, vicar of +Westport, within the Liberty of Malmesbury, and of Charlton in Wilts, +and was born at Westport on the 5th of April 1588[1]. It is related by +Bayle, that his mother being frighted at the rumours of the report of +the Spanish Armada, was brought to bed of him before her time, which +makes it somewhat surprizing that he should live to so great an age. +He had made an extraordinary progress in the languages before he +arrived at his 14th year, when he was sent to Oxford, where he studied +for five years Aristotle's philosophy. In the year 1607 he took the +degree of batchelor of arts, and upon the recommendation of the +principal of the college, he entered into the service of William +Cavendish, baron Hardwicke, soon afterwards earl of Devonshire[2], by +whom being much esteemed for his pleasantry and humour, he was +appointed tutor to his son lord William Cavendish, several years +younger than Hobbs. Soon after our author travelled with this young +nobleman thro' France and Italy, where he made himself master of the +different languages of the countries thro' which he travelled; but +finding that he had in a great measure forgot his Greek and Latin, he +dedicated his leisure hours to the revival of them, and in order to +fix the Greek language more firmly in his mind, upon his return to +England, he set about and accomplished a translation of Thucydides, +who appeared to him preferable to all other Greek historians, and by +rendering him into English he meant to shew his countrymen from the +Athenian history, the disorders and confusions of a democratical +government. + +In the year 1628, the earl of Devonshire dying, after our author had +served him 20 years, he travelled again into France with a son of Sir +Gervas Clifton; at which time, and during which preregrination (says +Wood) 'he began to make an inspection into the elements of Euclid, and +be delighted with his method, not only for the theorems contained in +it, but for his art of reasoning. In these studies he continued till +1631, when his late pupil the earl of Devonshire called him home in +order to undertake the education of his son, then only thirteen years +of age, in all the parts of juvenile literature; and as soon as it was +proper for him to see the world, Hobbs again set out for France and +Italy, and directed his young pupil to the necessary steps for +accomplishing his education. + +When our author was at Paris, he began to search into the fundamentals +of natural science, and contracted an intimacy with Marius Marsennus a +Minim, conversant in that kind of philosophy, and a man of excellent +moral qualities. + +In 1637 he was recalled to England, but finding the civil war ready to +break out, and the Scots in arms against the King, instigated by a +mean cowardice, he deferred his country in distress, and returned to +Paris, that he might without interruption pursue his studies there, +and converse with men of eminence in the sciences. The Parliament +prevailing, several of the Royalists were driven from their own +country, and were obliged to take shelter in France. The Prince of +Wales was reduced likewise to quit the kingdom and live at Paris: +Hobbs was employed to teach the young Prince mathematics, in which he +made great proficiency; and our author used to observe, that if the +Prince's application was equal to the quickness of his parts, he would +be the foremost man in his time in every species of science. All the +leisure hours that Hobbs enjoyed in Paris, he dedicated to the +composition of a book called, The Leviathan, a work by which he +acquired a great name in Europe; and which was printed at London while +he remained at Paris. Under this strange name he means the body +politic. The divines of the church of England who attended King +Charles II. in France, exclaimed vehemently against this performance, +and said that it contained a great many impious assertions, and that +the author was not of the royal party. Their complaints were regarded, +and Hobbs was discharged the court; and as he had extremely provoked +the Papists, he thought it not safe for him to continue longer in +France, especially as he was deprived of the protection of the King of +England. He translated his Leviathan into Latin, and printed it with +an appendix in 1668. + +About ten years afterwards, the Leviathan was printed in Low Dutch. +The character of this work is drawn as under, by bishop Burnet. + +'His [Hobbs's] main principles were, that all men acted under an +absolute necessity, in which he seemed protected by the then received +doctrine of absolute decrees. He seemed to think that the universe was +god, and that souls were material, Thought being only subtle and +imperceptible motion. He thought interest and fear were the chief +principles of society; and he put all morality in the following that +which was our own private will or advantage. He thought religion had +no other foundation than the laws of the land; and he put all the law +in the will of the Prince, or of the people: For he writ his book at +first in favour of absolute monarchy, but turned it afterwards to +gratify the Republican party.' + +Upon his return to England, he lived retired at the seat of the earl +of Devonshire, and applied himself to the study of philosophy; and as +almost all men who have written any thing successfully would be +thought poets, so Hobbs laid claim to that character, tho' his poetry +is too contemptible for crit[i]cism. Dr. White Kennet in his memoirs +of the family of Cavendish informs us, 'That while Mr. Hobbs lived in +the earl of Devonshire's family, his professed rule was to dedicate +the morning to his health, and the afternoon to his studies; and +therefore at his first rising he walked out, and climbed any hill +within his reach; or if the weather was not dry, he fatigued himself +within doors, by some exercise or other till he was in a sweat, +recommending that practice upon his opinion, that an old man had more +moisture than heat; and therefore by such motion heat was to be +acquired, and moisture expelled; after this he took a breakfast, and +then went round the lodgings to wait upon the earl, the countess, and +the children, and any considerable strangers, paying some short +addresses to them all. He kept these rounds till about 12 o'clock, +when he had a little dinner provided for him, which he eat always by +himself without ceremony. Soon after dinner he retired into his study, +and had his candle, with ten or twelve pipes of tobacco laid by him, +then shutting the door he fell to smoaking and thinking, and writing +for several hours.' + +He retained a friend or two at court to protect him if occasion should +require; and used to say, it was lawful to make use of evil instruments +to do ourselves good. 'If I were cast (said he) into a deep pit, and +the Devil should put down his cloven foot, I should take hold of it to +be drawn out by it.' + +Towards the end of his life he read very few books, and the earl of +Clarendon says, that he had never read much but thought a great deal; +and Hobbs himself used to observe, that if he had read as much as +other philosophers, he should have been as ignorant as they. If any +company came to visit him, he would be free of his discourse, and +behave with pleasantry, till he was pressed, or contradicted, and then +he had the infirmities of being short and peevish, and referring them +to his writings, for better satisfaction. His friends who had the +liberty of introducing strangers to him, made these terms with them +before admission, that they should not dispute with the old man, or +contradict him. + +In October 1666, when proceedings against him were depending, with a +bill against atheism and profaneness, he was at Chatsworth, and +appeared extremely disturbed at the news of it, fearing the messengers +would come for him, and the earl of Devonshire would deliver him up, +the two houses of Parliament commit him to the bishops, and they +decree him a heretic. This terror upon his spirits greatly disturbed +him. He often confessed to those about him, that he meant no harm, was +no obstinate man, and was ready to make any satisfaction; for his +prevailing principle and resolution was, to suffer for no cause +whatever. + +Under these apprehensions of danger, he drew up, in 1680, an +historical naration of heresy, and the punishments thereof, +endeavouring to prove that there was no authority to determine heresy, +or to punish it, when he wrote the Leviathan. + +Under the same fears he framed an apology for himself and his +writings; observing, that the exceptionable things in his Leviathan +were not his opinions, so much as his suppositions, humbly submited to +those who had the ecclesiastical power, and never since dogmatically +maintained by him either in writing or discourse; and it is much to be +suspected, as Dr. Kennet observes, that upon this occasion, he began +to make a more open shew of religion and church communion. He now +frequented the chapel, joined in the service, and was generally a +partaker of the sacrament; and when any strangers used to call in +question his belief, he always appealed to his conformity in divine +service, and referred them to the chaplain for a testimony of it. +Others thought it a meer compliance with the orders of the family; and +observed, he never went to any parish church, and even in the chapel +upon Sundays he went out after prayers, and would not condescend to +hear the sermon, and when any friend asked the reason of it, he gave +no other answer but this, that preachers could tell him nothing but +what he knew. He did not conceal his hatred to the clergy; but it was +visible his aversion proceeded from the dread of their civil power and +interest. He had often a jealousy that the bishops would burn him; and +of all the bench he was most afraid of Dr. Seth Ward, bishop of Sarum, +because he had most offended him. Dr. Kennet further observes, that +his whole life was governed by his fears. + +In the first Parliament of 1640, while it seemed to favour the +measures of the court, he wrote a little tract in English wherein he +demonstrated as himself tells us, that all the power and rights +necessary for the peace of the kingdom, were inseparably annexed to +the sovereignty of the King's person. But in the second parliament of +that year, when they proceeded fiercely against those who had written +or preached in defence of the regal power; he was the first that fled, +went over into France, and there continued eleven years. Whether from +the dread of assassination, or as some have thought from the notion of +ghosts and spirits, is uncertain, but he could not endure to be left +in an empty house; whenever the earl of Devonshire removed, he would +accompany him; even in his last stage from Chatsworth to Hardwick, +when in a weak condition, he dared not be left behind, but made his +way upon a feather bed in a coach, tho' he survived the journey but a +few days. He could not bear any discourse of death, and seemed to cast +off all thoughts of it; he delighted to reckon upon longer life. The +winter before he died he had a warm coat made him, which he said must +last him three years, and then he would have such another. A few days +after his removal to Hardwick, Wood says that he was struck with a +dead palsy, which stupified his right side from head to foot, +depriving him of his speech and reason at the same time; but this +circumstance is not so probable, since Dr. Kennet has told us, that in +his last sickness he frequently enquired, whether his disease was +curable; and when it was told him that he might have ease but no +remedy, he used these expressions. 'I shall be glad then to find a +hole to creep out of the world at;' which are reported to be his last +sensible words, and his lying some days following in a state of +stupefaction, seemed to be owing to his mind, more than to his body. +The only thought of death which he appeared to entertain in time of +health, was to take care of some inscription on his grave; he would +suffer some friends to dictate an epitaph, amongst which he was best +pleased with these words: + + "This is the true Philosopher's Stone." + +He died at Hardwick, as above-mentioned, on the 4th of Dec. 1679. +Notwithstanding his great age, for he exceeded 90 at his death, he +retained his judgment in great vigour till his last sickness. + +Some writers of his life maintain, that he had very orthodox notions +concerning the nature of God and of all the moral virtues; +notwithstanding the general notion of his being a downright atheist; +that he was affable, kind, communicative of what he knew, a good +friend, a good relation, charitable to the poor, a lover of justice, +and a despiser of money. This last quality is a favourable +circumstance in his life, for there is no vice at once more despicable +and the source of more base designs than avarice. His warmest votaries +allow, that when he was young he was addicted to the fashionable +libertinism of wine and women, and that he kept himself unmarried lest +wedlock should interrupt him in the study of philosophy. + +In the catalogue of his faults, meanness of spirit and cowardice may +be justly imputed to him. Whether he was convinced of the truth of his +philosophy, no man can determine; but it is certain, that he had no +resolution to support and maintain his notions: had his doctrines been +of ever so much consequence to the world, Hobbs would have abjured +them all, rather than have suffered a moment's pain on their account. +Such a man may be admired for his invention, and the planning of new +systems, but the world would never have been much illuminated, if all +the discoverers of truth, like the philosopher of Malmsbury, had had +no spirit to assert it against opposition. In a piece called the Creed +of Mr. Hobbs examined, in a feigned Conference between him and a +Student of Divinity, London 1670, written by Dr. Tenison, afterwards +archbishop of Canterbury, the Dr. charges Mr. Hobbs with affirming, +'that God is a bodily substance, though most refined, and forceth evil +upon the very wills of men; framed a model of government pernicious in +its consequences to all nations; subjected the canon of scripture to +the civil powers, and taught them the way of turning the Alcoran into +the Gospel; declared it lawful, not only to dissemble, but firmly to +renounce faith in Christ, in order to avoid persecution, and even +managed a quarrel against the very elements of Euclid.' Hobbs's +Leviathan met with many answers, immediately after the restoration, +especially one by the earl of Clarendon, in a piece called a Brief +View and Survey of the dangerous and pernicious Errors to Church and +State, in Mr. Hobbs's Book entitled Leviathan, Oxon. 1676. The +university of Oxford condemned his Leviathan, and his Book de Cive, by +a decree passed on the 21st of July 1638, and ordered them to be +publickly burnt, with several other treatises excepted against. + +The following is a catalogue of his works, with as full an account of +them as consists with our plan. + +He translated into English the History of the Grecian War by +Thucydides, London 1628, and 1676 in fol. and since reprinted in two +volumes in octavo. + +De Mirabilibus Pecci, a Latin Poem, printed at London 1636; it was +translated into English by a person of quality, and the translation +was published with the original at London 1678. + +Elementa Philosophica, seu Politica de Cive, id est, de Vita civili & +politica prudenter instituenda, Paris 1642 in 4to. Mr. Hobbs printed +but a few copies of this book, and revised it afterwards, and made +several additions to it, with which improvements it was printed at +Amsterdam, under the direction of Monsieur Forbier, who published a +French translation of it. Dr. John Bramhall, bishop of Derry in +Ireland, in the Preface to his Book entitled a Defence of true +Liberty, from an antecedent and extrinsical Necessity, tells us, 'that +ten years before he had given Mr. Hobbs about sixty exceptions, one +half political, and the other half theological to that book, and every +exception justified by a number of reasons, to which he never yet +vouchsafed any answer.' Gassendus, in a letter to Sorbiere, tells us, +that our author's Book de Cive, deserves to be read by all who would +have a deep insight into the subject. Puffendorf observes, that he had +been much obliged to Mr. Hobbs, whose hypothesis in this book, though +it favours a little of irreligion, is in other respects sufficiently +ingenious and sound. + +An Answer to Sir William Davenant's Epistle or Preface to Gondibert, +Paris 1650, 12mo. and afterwards printed with Gondibert. See Davenant. + +Human Nature, or the Fundamental Elements of Policy, being a Discovery +of the Faculties, Acts, and Passions of the Soul of Man, from their +original Causes, according to such philosophical Principles as are not +commonly known or asserted. + +De Corpore Politico, or the Elements of Law, London 1650. + +Leviathan, or the Matter, Power, and Form of a Commonwealth, London +1651 in fol. reprinted again in fol. 1680; a Latin Version was +published at Amsterdam 1666 in 4to; it was likewise translated into +Low Dutch, and printed at Amsterdam 1678 in 4to. To the English +editions is subjoined a Review of the Leviathan. + +A Compendium of Aristotle's Rhetoric and Rhamus's Logic. + +A Letter about Liberty and Necessity, London 1654 in 12mo. to this +piece several answers were given, especially by Dr. Bernard Laney, and +Dr. Bramhall, bishop of Derry, London 1656 in 4to. + +Elementorum Philosophiae sectio prima de Corpore, London 1655 in 8vo; +in English, London 1656 in 4to. sectio secunda, London 1657 in 4to. +Amsterdam 1680 in 4to. + +Six Lessons to the Professors of Mathematics of the Institution of Sir +Henry Saville, London 1656 in 4to; this is written against Dr. Seth +Ward, and Dr. John Wallis. + +The Remarks of the Absurd Geometry, Rural Language, &c. of Dr. John +Wallis, London 1657 in 8vo. Dr. Wallis having published in 1655 his +Elenchus Geometriae Hobbianae. It occasioned a notable controversy +between these two great men. + +Examinatio et Emendatio Mathematicae hodiernae, &c. in sex Dialogis, +London 1660, in 4to. Amsterdam 1668 in 4to. + +Dialogus Physicus, sive de Natura Aeris, London 1661 in 4to. + +De Duplicatione Cubi, London 1661, 4to. Amsterdam 1668 in 4to. + +Problemata Physica, una cum magnitudine Circuli, London 1662, 4to. + +De Principiis et Ratiocinatione Geometrarum, contra sastuosum +Professorem Geometrae, Amsterdam 1668 in 4to. + +Quadratura Circuli, Cubatio sphaerae, Duplicatio Cubi; una cum +Responsione ad Objectiones Geometriae Professoris Saviliani Oxoniae +editas Anno 1669, London in 4to. 1669. + +Rosetum Geometricum, sive Propositiones aliquot frustra antehac +tentatae, cum censura brevi Doctrinae Wallisianae de Motu, London 1671 in +4to. There is an account of this book in the Philosophical +Transactions, Numb. 72, for the year 1671. + +Three Papers presented to the Royal Society against Dr. Wallis, with +Considerations on Dr. Wallis's Answer to them, London 1671, 4to. + +Lux Mathematica &c. + +Censura Doctrinae Wallisianae de Libra. + +Rosetura Hobbesii, London 1672 in quarto. + +Principia et Problemata aliquot Geometrica ante desperata, nunc +breviter explicata & demonstrata, London 1674, 4to. + +Epistola ad Dom. Ant. Wood Authorem Historiae & Antiquitat Universit. +Oxon. dated April 20, 1674; the substance of this letter is to +complain of the figure which Mr. Wood makes him appear in, in that +work; Hobbs, who had an infinite deal of vanity, thought he was +entitled to higher encomiums, and more a minute relation of his life +than that gentleman gave. An Answer was written to it by Dr. Fell, in +which Hobbs is treated with no great ceremony. + +A Letter to William, Duke of Newcastle, concerning the Controversy he +had with Dr. Laney, Bishop of Ely, about Liberty and Necessity, London +1670 in 12mo. + +Decameron Phisiologicum, or Ten Dialogues on Natural Philosophy, +London 1678, 8vo. To this is added the Proportion of a Straight Line +to hold the Arch of a Quadrant; an account of this book is published +in the Philosophical Transactions, Numb. 138. + +His Last Words, and Dying Legacy, printed December 1679, and published +by Charles Blunt, Esq; from the Leviathan, in order to expose Mr. +Hobbs's Doctrine. + +His Memorable Sayings in his Books, and at the Table, printed with his +picture before it. + +Behemoth, the History of the Civil Wars of England, from 1640 to 1660, +printed London, 1679. + +Vita Thomae Hobbs; this is a Latin Poem, written by himself, and +printed in 4to, 1679. + +Historical Narration of Heresy, and the Punishment thereof, London +1680, in four sheets and a half in folio, and in 1682 in 8vo. of this +we have already made some mention. + +Vita Thomae Hobbs, written by himself in prose, and printed at +Caropolis, i.e. London, and prefixed to Vitae Hobbianae Auctarium 1681 +in 8vo. and 1682 in 4to. + +A Brief of the Art of Rhetoric, containing the Substance of all that +Aristotle hath written in his three Books on that Subject, printed in +12mo. but without a date. + +A Dialogue between a Philosopher and a Student of the Common Law of +England. + +An Answer to Archbishop Bramhall's Book called the Catching of the +Leviathan, London 1682 in 8vo. + +Seven Philosophical Problems, and two Positions of Geometry, London +1682 in 8vo. dedicated to the King 1662. + +An Apology for himself and his Writings, of which we have already +taken notice. + +Historia Ecclesiastica carmine elegiaco concinnata, London 1688 in +8vo. + +Tractatus Opticus, inserted in Mersennus's Cogitata +Physico-Mathematica, Paris 1644 in 4to. + +He translated into English Verse the Voyages of Ulysses, or Homer's +Odysseys. B. ix, x, xi, xii. London 1674 in 8vo. + +Homer's Iliads and Odysse[y]s, London 1675, and 1677 in 12mo; to which +is prefixed a Preface concerning Heroic Poetry. Mr. Pope in his +Preface to his Translation of Homer's Iliad, says, 'that Mr. Hobbs, in +his Version, has given a correct explanation of the sense in general, +but for particulars and circumstances, lops them, and often omits the +most beautiful. As for its being a close translation, I doubt not, +many have been led into that error by the shortness of it, which +proceeds not from the following the original line by line, but from +the contractions above mentioned. He sometimes omits whole similes and +sentences, and is now and then guilty of mistakes, into which no +writer of his learning could have fallen but through carelessness. His +poetry, like Ogilby's, is too mean for criticism.' He left behind +likewise several MSS. Mr. Francis Peck has published two original +Letters of our author; the first is dated at Paris October 21, 1634, +in which he resolves the following question. Why a man remembers less +his own face, which he sees often in a glass, than the face of a +friend he has not seen a great time? The other Letter is dated at +Florence, addressed to his friend Mr. Glen 1636, and relates to Dr. +Heylin's History of the Sabbath. + +Thus have we given some account of the life and writings of the famous +Philosopher of Malmsbury, who made so great a figure in the age in +which he lived, but who, in the opinion of some of the best writers of +that time, was more distinguished for his knowledge than his morals, +and there have not been wanting those who have declared, that the +lessons of voluptuousness and libertinism, with which he poisoned the +mind of the young King Charles II. had so great an effect upon the +morals of that Prince, that our nation dearly suffered by this +tutorage, in having its wealth and treasure squandered by that +luxurious Monarch. Hobbs seems not to have been very amiable in his +life; he was certainly incapable of true friendship, for the same +cowardice, or false principle, which could instigate him to abandon +truth, would likewise teach him to sacrifice his friend to his own +safety. When young, he was voluptuous, when old, peevish, destitute +alike of resolution and honour. However high his powers, his character +is mean, he flattered the prevailing follies, he gave up virtue to +fashion, and if he can be produced as a miracle of learning, he can +never be ranked with those venerable names, who have added virtue to +erudition, and honour to genius; who have illuminated the world by +their knowledge, and reformed it by example. + +Footnotes: +1. Wood, ubi supra. +2. Athen. Oxon. p. 251. + + * * * * * + + + + + Sir ASTON COKAINE, + + +A gentleman who lived in the reign of Charles I. He was son of Thomas +Cokaine, esq; and descended from a very ancient family at Ambourne in +the Peak of Derbyshire; born in the year 1608, and educated at both +the universities[1]. Mr. Langbaine observes, that Sir Aston's +predecessors had some evidence to prove themselves allied to William +the Conqueror, and in those days lived at Hemmingham Castle in Essex. +He was a fellow-commoner at Trinity College in Cambridge, as he +himself confesseth in one of his books. After he had left the +university, he went to the Inns of Court, where continuing awhile for +fashion's sake, he travelled afterwards with Sir Kenelm Digby into +France, Italy, Germany, &c. and was absent the space of twelve years, +an account of which he has written to his son[2], but it does not +appear to have been printed. He lived the greatest part of his time in +a lordship belonging to him called Pooley, in the parish of Polesworth +in Warwickshire, and addicted himself much to books and the study of +poetry. During the civil wars he suffered much for his religion, which +was that of Rome, and the King's cause; he pretended then to be a +baronet, created by King Charles I. after by violence he had been +drawn from the Parliament, about June 10, 1641; yet he was not deemed +so by the officers of the army, because no patent was enrolled to +justify it, nor any mention of it made in the docquet books belonging +to the clerk of the crown in Chancery, where all Patents are taken +notice of which pass the Great Seal. Sir Aston was esteemed by some a +good poet, and was acknowledged by all a great lover of the polite +arts; he was addicted to extravagance; for he wasted all he had, +which, though he suffered in the civil wars, he was under no necessity +of doing from any other motive but profusion. + +Amongst our author's other poetical productions, he has written three +plays and a masque, which are in print, which we shall give in the +same order with Mr. Langbaine. + +1. A Masque, presented at Bretbie in Derbyshire, on Twelfth-Night +1639. This Entertainment was presented before the Right Honourable +Philip, first Earl of Chesterfield, and his Countess, two of their +sons acting in it. + +2. The Obstinate Lady, a Comedy, printed in 8vo. London 1650. +Langbaine observes, that Sir Aston's Obstinate Lady, seems to be a +cousin Jerman to Massinger's Very Woman, as appears by comparing the +characters. + +3. The Tragedy of Ovid, printed in 8vo. 1669. 'I know not (says Mr. +Langbaine) why the author calls this Ovid's Tragedy, except that he +lays the scene in Tomos, and makes him fall down dead with grief, at +the news he received from Rome, in sight of the audience, otherwise he +has not much business on the stage, and the play ought rather to have +taken the name of Bassane's Jealousy, and the dismal Effects thereof, +the Murder of his new Bride Clorina, and his Friend Pyrontus.' + +4. Trapolin creduto Principe, or Trapolin supposed a Prince, an +Italian Tragi-Comedy, printed in 8vo. London 1658. The design of this +play is taken from one he saw acted at Venice, during his abode in +that city; it has been since altered by Mr. Tate, and acted at the +Theatre in Dorset-Garden; it is now acted under the title of Duke and +No Duke. + +He has written besides his plays, + +What he calls a Chain of Golden Poems, embellished with Mirth, Wit, +and Eloquence. Another title put to these runs thus: Choice Poems of +several sorts; Epigrams in three Books. He translated into English an +Italian Romance, called Dianea, printed at London 1654. + +Sir Aston died at Derby, upon the breaking of the great Frost in +February 1683, and his body being conveyed to Polesworth in +Warwickshire beforementioned, was privately buried there in the +chancel of the church. His lordship of Pooley, which had belonged to +the name of Cokaine from the time of King Richard II. was sold several +years before he died, to one Humphrey Jennings, esq; at which time our +author reserved an annuity from it during life. The lordship of +Ambourne also was sold to Sir William Boothby, baronet. There is an +epigram of his, directed to his honoured friend Major William Warner, +which we shall here transcribe as a specimen of his poetry, which the +reader will perceive is not very admirable. + + Plays, eclogues, songs, a satyr I have writ, + A remedy for those i' th' amorous fit: + Love elegies, and funeral elegies, + Letters of things of diverse qualities, + Encomiastic lines to works of some, + A masque, and an epithalamium, + Two books of epigrams; all which I mean + Shall in this volume come upon the scene; + Some divine poems, which when first I came + To Cambridge, I writ there, I need not name. + Of Dianea, neither my translation, + Omitted here, as of another fashion. + For Heaven's sake name no more, you say I cloy you; + I do obey you; therefore friend God b'wy you. + +Footnotes: +1. Athen. Oxon. p. 756, vol. ii. +2. Wood, ubi supra. + + * * * * * + + + + + + Sir GEORGE WHARTON + + +Was descended of an ancient family in Westmoreland, and born at +Kirby-Kendal in that county, the 4th of April 1617, spent some time at +Oxford, and had so strong a propensity to the study of astronomy and +mathematics, that little or no knowledge of logic and philosophy was +acquired by him[1]. After this, being possesed of some patrimony, he +retired from the university, and indulged his genius, till the +breaking out of the civil wars, when he grew impatient of sollitude, +and being of very loyal principles turned all his inheritance into +money, and raised for his Majesty a gallant troop of horse, of which +he himself was captain. + +After several generous hazards of his person, he was routed, about the +21st of March 1645, near Stow on the Would in Glouceste[r]shire, where +Sir Jacob Astley was taken prisoner, and Sir George himself received +several scars of honour, which he carried to his grave[2]. After this +he retired to Oxford the then residence of the King, and had in +recompence of his losses an employment conferred upon him, under Sir +John Heydon, then lieutenant-general of the ordnance, which was to +receive and pay off money, for the service of the magazine, and +artillery; at which time Sir Edward Sherborne was commissary-general +of it. It was then, that at leisure hours he followed his studies, was +deemed a member of Queen's-College, being entered among the students +there, and might with other officers have had the degree of master of +arts conferred on him by the members of the venerable convocation, but +neglected it. After the surrender of the garrison of Oxford, from +which time, the royal cause daily declined, our author was reduced to +live upon expedients; he came to London, and in order to gain a +livelihood, he wrote several little things, which giving offence to +those in power, he was seized on, and imprisoned, first in the +Gatehouse, then in Newgate, and at length in Windsor Castle, at which +time, when he expected the fevered stroke of an incensed party to fall +upon him, he found William Lilly, who had formerly been his +antagonist, now his friend, whose humanity and tenderness, he amply +repaid after the restoration, when he was made treasurer and paymaster +of his Majesty's ordnance, and Lilly stood proscribed as a rebel. Sir +George who had formerly experienced the calamity of want, and having +now an opportunity of retrieving his fortune, did not let it slip, but +so improved it, that he was able to purchase an estate, and in +recompence of his stedfast suffering and firm adherence to the cause +of Charles I. and the services he rendered Charles II. he was created +a baronet by patent, dated 31st of December 1677. + +Sir George was esteemed, what in those days was called, a good +astrologer, and Wood calls him, in his usual quaint manner, a thorough +paced loyalist, a boon companion, and a waggish poet. He died in the +year 1681, at his house at Enfield in Middlesex, and left behind him +the name of a loyal subject, and an honest man, a generous friend, and +a lively wit. + +We shall now enumerate his works, and are sorry we have not been able +to recover any of his poems in order to present the reader with a +specimen. Such is commonly the fate of temporary wit, levelled at some +prevailing enormity, which is not of a general nature, but only +subsists for a while. The curiosity of posterity is not excited, and +there is little pains taken in the preservation of what could only +please at the time it was written. + +His works are + +Hemeroscopions; or Almanacks from 1640 to 1666, printed all in octavo, +in which, besides the Gesta Britannorum of that period, there is a +great deal of satirical poetry, reflecting on the times. + +Mercurio-caelico Mastix; or an Anti caveat to all such as have had the +misfortune to be cheated and deluded by that great and traiterous +impostor, John Booker, in answer to his frivolous pamphlet, entitled, +Mercurius Caelicus; or, a Caveat to the People of England, Oxon. 1644, +in twelve sheets in 4to. + +England's Iliads in a Nutshell; or a Brief Chronology of the Battles, +Sieges, Conflicts, &c. from December 1641, to the 25th of March 1645, +printed Oxon. 1645. + +An Astrological Judgment upon his Majesty's present March, begun from +Oxon. 7th of May 1645 printed in 4to. + +Bellum Hybernicale; or Ireland's War, Astrologically demonstrated from +the late Celestial Congress of two Malevolent Planets, Saturn and +Mars, in Taurus, the ascendant of that kingdom, &c. printed 1647, 40. + +Merlini Anglici Errata; or the Errors, Mistakes, &c. of Mr. William +Lilly's new Ephemeris for 1647, printed 1647. + +Mercurius Elenictus; communicating the unparallelled Proceedings at +Westminster, the head quarters, and other places, printed by stealth +in London. + +This Mercury which began the 29th of October came out sheet by sheet +every week in 4to. and continuing interruptedly till the 4th of April +1649, it came out again with No. 1, and continued till towards the end +of that year. Mr. Wood says, he has seen several things that were +published under the name of Mercurius Elenictus; particularly the +Anatomy of Westminster Juncto; or a summary of their Designs against +the King and City, printed 1648 in one sheet and a half, 4to. and also +the first and second part of the Last Will and Testament of Philip +Earl of Pembroke, &c. printed 1649; but Mr. Wood is not quite positive +whether Wharton is the author of them or no. + +A Short Account of the Fasts and Festivals, as well of the Jews as +Christians, &c. + +The Cabal of the Twelve Houses astrological, from Morinus, written +1659; and approved by William Oughtred. + +A learned and useful Discourse teaching the right observation, and +keeping of the holy feast of Easter, &c. written 1665. + +Apotelesma; or the Nativity of the World, and revolution thereof. + +A Short Discourse of Years, Months, and Days of Years. + +Something touching the Nature of Eclipses, and also of their Effects. + +Of the Crises in Diseases, &c. + +Of the Mutations, Inclinations, and Eversions, &c. + +Discourse of the Names, Genius, Species, &c. of all Comets. + +Tracts teaching how Astrology may be restored from Marinus. + +Secret Multiplication of the Effects of the Stars, from Cardan. + +Sundry Rules, shewing by what laws the Weather is governed, and how to +discover the Various Alterations of the same. + +He also translated from Latin into English the Art of divining by +Lines and Signatures, engraven in the Hand of Man, written by John +Rockman, M.D. Lond. 1652, 8vo. + +This is sometimes called Wharton's Chiromancy. + +Most of these foregoing treatises were collected and published +together, anno 1683, in 8vo, by John Gadbury; together with select +poems, written and published during the civil wars. + +Footnotes: +1. Wood Athen Oxon. v. ii. +2. Wood, ubi supra. + + * * * * * + + + + + ANNE KILLEGREW. + + +This amiable young lady, who has been happy in the praises of Dryden, +was daughter of Dr. Henry Killegrew, master of the Savoy, and one of +the prebendaries of Westminster. She was born in St. Martin's-Lane in +London, a little before the restoration of King Charles II. and was +christened in a private chamber, the offices of the Common prayer not +being then publickly allowed. She gave the earliest discoveries of a +great genius, which being improved by the advantage of a polite +education, she became eminent in the arts of poetry and painting, and +had her life been prolonged, she might probably have excelled most of +the prosession in both[1]. Mr. Dryden is quite lavish in her praise; +and we are assured by other cotemporary writers of good probity, that +he has done no violence to truth in the most heightened strains of his +panegyric: let him be voucher for her skill in poetry. + + Art she had none, yet wanted none, + For nature did that art supply, + So rich in treasures of her own, + She might our boasted stores defy; + Such noble vigour did her verse adorn, + That it seem'd borrow'd, where 'twas only born. + +That great poet is pleased to attribute to her every poetical +excellence. Speaking of the purity and chastity of her compositions, +he bestows on them this commendation, + + Her Arethusian stream remains unsoil'd, } + Unmix'd with foreign filth and undefil'd; } + Her wit was more than man, her innocence a child. } + +She was a great proficient in the art of painting, and drew King James +II, and his Queen; which pieces are also highly applauded by Mr. +Dryden. She drew several history pieces, also some portraits for her +diversion, exceeding well, and likewise some pieces of still life. + +Those engaging and polite accomplishments were the least of her +perfections; for she crowned all with an exemplary piety, and +unblemished virtue. She was one of the maids of honour to the Duchess +of York, and died of the small-pox in the very flower of her age, to +the unspeakable grief of her relations and acquaintance, on the 16th +day of June 1685, in her 25th year. + +On this occasion, Mr. Dryden's muse put on a mournful habit, and in +one of the most melting elegiac odes that ever was written, has +consigned her to immortality. + +In the eighth stanza he does honour to another female character, whom +he joins with this sweet poetess. + + Now all those charms, that blooming grace, + The well-proportion'd shape, and beauteous face, + Shall never more be seen by mortal eyes; + In earth, the much lamented virgin lies! + Not wit, nor piety could fate prevent; + Nor was the cruel destiny content + To finish all the murder at a blow, + To sweep at once her life, and beauty too; + But like a hardened felon took a pride + To work more mischievously flow, + And plundered first, and then destroy'd. + O! double sacrilege, on things divine, + To rob the relique, and deface the shrine! + + But thus Orinda died; + + Heav'n by the same disease did both translate, + As equal was their souls, so equal was their fate. + +Miss Killegrew was buried in the chancel of St. Baptist's chapel in +the Savoy hospital, on the North side of which is a very neat monument +of marble and free-stone fixed in the wall, with a Latin inscription, +a translation of which into English is printed before her poems. + +The following verses of Miss Killegrew's were addressed to Mrs. +Philips. + + Orinda (Albion, and her sex's grace) + Ow'd not her glory to a beauteous face. + It was her radiant soul that shone within, + Which struck a lustre thro' her outward skin; + That did her lips and cheeks with roses dye, + Advanc'd her heighth, and sparkled in her eye. + Nor did her sex at all obstruct her fame. + But high'r 'mongst the stars it fixt her name; + What she did write, not only all allow'd, + But evr'y laurel, to her laurel bow'd! + +Soon after her death, her Poems were published in a large thin quarto, +to which Dryden's ode in praise of the author is prefixed. + +Footnote: +1. Ballard's Memoirs of Learned Ladies. + + * * * * * + + + + + NAT. LEE. + + +This eminent dramatic poet was the son of a clergyman of the church of +England, and was educated at Westminster school under Dr. Busby. After +he left this school, he was some time at Trinity College, Cambridge; +whence returning to London, he went upon the stage as an actor. + +Very few particulars are preserved concerning Mr. Lee. He died before +he was 34 years of age, and wrote eleven tragedies, all of which +contain the divine enthusiasm of a poet, a noble fire and elevation, +and the tender breathings of love, beyond many of his cotemporaries. +He seems to have been born to write for the Ladies; none ever felt the +passion of love more intimately, none ever knew to describe it more +gracefully, and no poet ever moved the breasts of his audience with +stronger palpitations, than Lee. The excellent Mr. Addison, whose +opinion in a matter of this sort, is of the greatest weight, speaking +of the genius of Lee, thus proceeds[1]. "Among our modern English +poets, there is none who was better turned for tragedy than our +author; if instead of favouring the impetuosity of his genius, he had +restrained it, and kept it within proper bounds. His thoughts are +wonderfully suited for tragedy; but frequently lost in such a cloud of +words, that it is hard to see the beauty of them. There is an infinite +fire in his works, but so involved in smoke, that it does not appear +in half its lustre. He frequently succeeds in the passionate part of +the tragedy; but more particularly where he slackens his efforts, and +eases the stile of those epithets and metaphors in which he so much +abounds." + +It is certain that our author for some time was deprived of his +senses, and was confined in Bedlam; and as Langbaine observes, it is +to be regretted, that his madness exceeded that divine fury which Ovid +mentions, and which usually accompany the best poets. + + Est Deus in nobus agitante calescimus illo. + +His condition in Bedlam was far worse; in a Satire on the Poets it is +thus described, + + There in a den remov'd from human eyes, + Possest with muse, the brain-sick poet lies, + Too miserably wretched to be nam'd; + For plays, for heroes, and for passion fam'd: + Thoughtless he raves his sleepless hours away + In chains all night, in darkness all the day. + And if he gets some intervals from pain, } + The fit returns; he foams and bites his chain, } + His eye-balls roll, and he grows mad again. } + +The reader may please to observe, the two last lines are taken from +Lee himself in his description of madness in Caesar Borgia, which is +inimitable. Dryden has observed, that there is a pleasure in being +mad, which madmen only know, and indeed Lee has described the +condition in such lively terms, that a man can almost imagine himself +in the situation, + + To my charm'd ears no more of woman tell, + Name not a woman, and I shall be well: + Like a poor lunatic that makes his moan, + And for a while beguiles his lookers on; + He reasons well.--His eyes their wildness lose + He vows the keepers his wrong'd sense abuse. + But if you hit the cause that hurt his brain, } + Then his teeth gnash, he foams, he shakes his chain, } + His eye-balls roll, and he is mad again. } + +If we may credit the earl of Rochester, Mr. Lee was addicted to +drinking; for in a satire of his, in imitation of Sir John Suckling's +Session of the Poets, which, like the original, is destitute of wit, +poetry, and good manners, he charges him with it. + +The lines, miserable as they are, we shall insert; + + Nat. Lee stept in next, in hopes of a prize; + Apollo remembring he had hit once in thrice: + By the rubies in's face, he could not deny, + But he had as much wit as wine could supply; + Confess'd that indeed he had a musical note, + But sometimes strain'd so hard that it rattled in the throat; + Yet own'd he had sense, and t' encourage him for't + He made him his Ovid in Augustus's court. + +The testimony of Rochester indeed is of no great value, for he was +governed by no principles of honour, and as his ruling passion was +malice, he was ready on all occasions to indulge it, at the expence of +truth and sincerity. We cannot ascertain whether our author wrote any +of his plays in Bedlam, tho' it is not improbable he might have +attempted something that way in his intervals. + +Mad people have often been observed to do very ingenious things. I +have seen a ship of straw, finely fabricated by a mad ship-builder; +and the most lovely attitudes have been represented by a mad statuary +in his cell. + +Lee, for aught we know, might have some noble flights of fancy, even +in Bedlam; and it is reported of him, that while he was writing one of +his scenes by moon-light, a cloud intervening, he cried out in +ecstasy, "Jove snuff the Moon;" but as this is only related upon +common report, we desire no more credit may be given to it, than its +own nature demands. We do not pretend notwithstanding our high opinion +of Lee, to defend all his rants and extravagancies; some of them are +ridiculous, some bombast, and others unintelligible; but this +observation by no means holds true in general; for tho' some passages +are too extravagant, yet others are nobly sublime, we had almost said, +unequalled by any other poet. + +As there are not many particulars preserved of Lee's life, we think +ourselves warranted to enlarge a little upon his works; and therefore +we beg leave to introduce to our reader's acquaintance a tragedy which +perhaps he has not for some time heard of, written by this great man, +viz. Lucius Junius Brutus, the Father of his country. + +We mention this tragedy because it is certainly the finest of Lee's, +and perhaps one of the most moving plays in our language. Junius +Brutus engages in the just defence of the injured rights of his +country, against Tarquin the Proud; he succeeds in driving him out of +Rome. His son Titus falls in love, and interchanges vows with the +tyrant's daughter; his father commands him not to touch her, nor to +correspond with her; he faithfully promises; but his resolutions are +baffled by the insinuating and irresistible charms of Teraminta; he is +won by her beauties; he joins in the attempt to restore Tarquin; the +enterprize miscarries, and his own father sits in judgment upon him, +and condemns him to suffer. + +The interview between the father and son is inexpressibly moving, and +is only exceeded by that between the son and his Teraminta. Titus is a +young hero, struggling between love and duty. Teraminta an amiable +Roman lady, fond of her husband, and dutiful to her father. + +There are throughout this play, we dare be bold to affirm, as +affecting scenes as ever melted the hearts of an audience. Why it is +not revived, may be difficult to account for. Shall we charge it to +want of taste in the town, or want of discernment in the managers? or +are our present actors conscious that they may be unequal to some of +the parts in it? yet were Mr. Quin engaged, at either theatre, to do +the author justice in the character of Brutus, we are not wanting in a +Garrick or a Barry, to perform the part of Titus; nor is either stage +destitute of a Teraminta. This is one of those plays that Mr. Booth +proposed to revive (with some few alterations) had he lived to return +to the stage: And the part of Brutus was what he purposed to have +appeared in. + +As to Lee's works, they are in every body's hands, so that we need not +trouble the reader with a list of them. + +In his tragedy of the Rival Queens, our author has shewn what he could +do on the subject of Love; he has there almost exhausted the passion, +painted it in its various forms, and delineated the workings of the +human soul, when influenced by it. + +He makes Statira thus speak of Alexander. + + Not the spring's mouth, nor breath of Jessamin, + Nor Vi'lets infant sweets, nor op'ning buds + Are half so sweet as Alexander's breast! + From every pore of him a perfume falls, + He kisses softer than a Southern wind + Curls like a Vine, and touches like a God! + Then he will talk! good Gods! how he will talk! + Even when the joy he sigh'd for is possess'd, + He speaks the kindest words, and looks such things, + Vows with such passion, swears with so much grace + That 'tis a kind of Heaven to be deluded by him. + If I but mention him the tears will fall, + Sure there is not a letter in his name, + But is a charm to melt a woman's eyes. + +His Tragedy of Theodosius, or the Force of Love, is the only play of +Lee's that at present keeps possession of the stage, an argument, in +my opinion, not much in favour of our taste, that a Genius should be +so neglected. + +It is said, that Lee died in the night, in the streets, upon a frolic, +and that his father never assisted him in his frequent and pressing +necessity, which he was able to do. It appears that tho' Lee was a +player, yet, for want of execution, he did not much succeed, though +Mr. Cibber says, that he read excellently, and that the players used +to tell him, unless they could act the part as he read it, they could +not hope success, which, it seems, was not the case with Dryden, who +could hardly read to be understood. Lee was certainly a man of great +genius; when it is considered how young he died, he performed +miracles, and had he lived 'till his fervour cooled, and his judgment +strengthened, which might have been the consequence of years, he would +have made a greater figure in poetry than some of his contemporaries, +who are now placed in superior rank. + +Footnote: +1. Spectator. No. 39, vol. 1st. + + * * * * * + + + + + SAMUEL BUTLER, + + +The celebrated author of Hudibras, was born at Strensham in +Worcestershire, 1612; His father, a reputable country farmer, +perceiving in his son an early inclination to learning, sent him for +education to the free-school of Worcester, under the care of Mr. Henry +Bright, where having laid the foundation of grammar learning, he was +sent for some time to Cambridge, but was never matriculated in that +university[1]. After he had resided there six or seven years, he +returned to his native county, and became clerk to Mr. Jefferys of +Earl's-Croom, an eminent justice of the peace for that county, with +whom he lived for some years, in an easy, though, for such a genius, +no very reputable service; during which time, through the indulgence +of a kind master, he had sufficient leisure to apply himself to his +favourite studies, history and poetry, to which, for his diversion, he +added music and painting. + +The anonymous author of Butler's Life tells us, that he had seen some +pictures of his drawing, which were preserved in Mr. Jefferys's +family, which I mention not (says he) 'for the excellency of them, but +to satisfy the reader of his early inclination to that noble art; for +which also he was afterwards entirely loved by Mr. Samuel Cooper, one +of the most eminent Painters of his time.' Wood places our poet's +improvement in music and painting, to the time of his service under +the countess of Kent, by whose patronage he had not only the +opportunity of consulting all kinds of books, but conversing also with +the great Mr. Selden, who has justly gained the epithet of a living +library of learning, and was then conversant in that lady's family, +and who often employed our poet to write letters beyond sea, and +translate for him. He lived some time also with Sir Samuel Luke, a +gentleman of a good family in Bedfordshire, and a famous commander +under Oliver Cromwel. + +Much about this time he wrote (says the author of his Life) 'the +renowned Hudibras; as he then had opportunities of conversing with the +leaders of that party, whose religion he calls hypocrisy, whose +politics rebellion, and whose speeches nonsense;' he was of an +unshaken loyalty, though he was placed in the house of a rebel, and it +is generally thought, that under the character of Hudibras, he +intended to ridicule Sir Samuel Luke. After the restoration of Charles +II. he was made secretary to the earl of Carbury, lord president of +the principality of Wales, who appointed him steward of Ludlow Castle, +when the court was revived there; and about this time he married one +Mrs. Herbert, a gentlewoman of very good family. Anthony Wood says, +she was a widow, and that Butler supported himself by her jointure; +for though in his early years he had studied the common law, yet he +had made no advantage by the practice of it; but others assert, that +she was not a widow, and that though she had a competent fortune, it +proved of little or no advantage to Butler, as most of it was +unfortunately lost by being put out on bad security. Mr. Wood likewise +says, that he was secretary to the duke of Buckingham, when that lord +was chancellor of the university of Cambridge, and the life writer +assures us he had a great kindness for him: but the late ingenious +major Richardson Pack tells a story, which, if true, overthrows both +their assertions, and as it is somewhat particular, we shall give it a +place here. Mr. Wycherley had taken every opportunity to represent to +his grace the duke of Buckingham, how well Mr. Butler had deserved of +the Royal Family, by writing his inimitable Hudibras, and that it was +a reproach to the court, that a person of his loyalty and wit should +languish in obscurity, under so many wants. The duke seemed always to +hearken to him with attention, and, after some time, undertook to +recommend his pretentions to his Majesty. Mr. Wycherly, in hopes to +keep him steady to his word, obtained of his Grace to name a day, when +he might introduce that modest, unfortunate poet to his new patron; at +last an appointment was made, Mr. Butler and his friend attended +accordingly, the duke joined them. But, as the devil would have it +(says the major) 'the door of the room, where he sat, was open, and +his Grace, who had seated himself near it, observing a pimp of his +acquaintance (the creature too was a knight) trip by with a brace of +ladies, immediately quitted his engagement to follow another kind of +business, at which he was more ready, than at doing good offices to +men of desert, though no one was better qualified than he, both in +regard to his fortune, and understanding to protect them, and from +that hour to the day of his death, poor Butler never found the least +effect of his promise, and descended to the grave oppressed with want +and poverty.' + +The excellent lord Buckhurst, the late earl of Dorset and Middlesex, +was a friend to our poet, who, as he was a man of wit and parts +himself, knew how to set a just value on those who excelled. He had +also promises of places and employment from lord chancellor Clarendon, +but, as if poor Butler had been doomed to misfortunes, these proved[2] +meer court promises. Mr. Butler in short, affords a remarkable +instance of that coldness and neglect, which great genius's often +experience from the court and age in which they live; we are told +indeed by a gentleman, whose father was intimate with Butler, Charles +Longueville, Esq; that Charles II. once gave him a gratuity of three +hundred pounds, which had this compliment attending it, that it passed +all the offices without any fee, lord Danby being at that time high +treasurer, which seems to be the only court favour he ever received; a +strange instance of neglect! when we consider King Charles was so +excessive fond of this poem of Hudibras; that he carried it always in +his pocket, he quoted it almost on every occasion, and never mentioned +it, but with raptures. + +This is movingly represented in a poem of our author's, published in +his remains called Hudibras at Court. He takes occasion to justify his +poem, by hinting its excellences in general, and paying a few modest +compliments to himself, of which we shall transcribe the following +lines. + + Now you must know, sir Hudibras, + With such perfections gifted was, + And so peculiar in his manner, + That all that saw him did him honour; + Amongst the rest, this prince was one, + Admired his conversation: + This prince, whose ready wit, and parts + Conquer'd both men and women's hearts; + Was so o'ercome with knight and Ralph, + That he could never claw it off. + He never eat, nor drank, nor slept, + But Hudibras still near him kept; + Nor would he go to church or so, + But Hudibras must with him go; + Nor yet to visit concubine, + Or at a city feast to dine, + But Hudibras must still be there, + Or all the fat was in the fire. + Now after all was it not hard, + That he should meet with no reward, + That fitted out the knight and squire, + This monarch did so much admire? + That he should never reimburse + The man for th' equipage and horse, + Is sure a strange ungrateful thing + In any body, but a King. + But, this good King, it seems was told + By some, that were with him too bold, + If e'er you hope to gain your ends, + Caress your foes, and trust your friends. + Such were the doctrines that were taught, + 'Till this unthinking King was brought + To leave his friends to starve and die; + A poor reward for loyalty. + +After having lived to a good old age, admired by all, though +personally known but to few, he died September 25, 1680, and was +buried at the expence of his good friend Mr. Longueville of the +Temple, in the church-yard of St. Paul's Covent-Garden. Mr. +Longueville had a strong inclination to have him buried in Westminster +Abbey, and spoke with that view to several persons who had been his +admirers, offering to pay his part, but none of them would contribute; +upon which he was interred privately, Mr. Longueville, and seven or +eight more, following him to the grave. Mr. Alderman Barber erected a +monument to Butler in Westminster-Abbey. + +The poem entitled Hudibras, by which he acquired so high a reputation, +was published at three different times; the first part came out in +1668 in 8vo. afterwards came out the second part, and both were +printed together, with several additions, and annotations; at last, +the third and last part was published, but without any annotations, as +appears by the printed copy 1678. The great success and peculiarity of +manner of this poem has produced many unsuccessful imitations of it, +and some vain attempts have been made to translate some parts of it +into Latin. Monsieur Voltaire gives it a very good character, and +justly observes, that though there are as many thoughts as words in +it, yet it cannot be successfully translated, on account of every +line's having some allusion to English affairs, which no foreigner can +be supposed to understand, or enter into. The Oxford antiquary +ascribes to our author two pamphlets, supposed falsely, he says, to be +William Prynne's; the one entitled Mola Asinaria, or the Unreasonable +and Insupportable Burthen pressed upon the Shoulders of this Groaning +Nation, London 1659, in one sheet 4to. the other, Two Letters: One +from John Audland, a Quaker, to William Prynne; the other, Prynne's +Answer, in three sheets fol. 1672. The life writer mentions a small +poem in one sheet in 4to. on Du Val, a notorious highwayman, said to +be written by Butler. These pieces, with a great many others, are +published together, under the title of his Posthumous Works. The life +writer abovementioned has preserved a fragment of Mr. Butler's, given +by one whom he calls the ingenious Mr. Aubrey, who assured him he had +it from the poet himself; it is indeed admirable, and the satire +sufficiently pungent against the priests. + + No jesuit e'er took in hand + To plant a church in barren land; + Nor ever thought it worth the while + A Swede or Russ to reconcile. + For where there is no store of wealth, + Souls are not worth the charge of health. + Spain in America had two designs: + To sell their gospel for their mines: + For had the Mexicans been poor, + No Spaniard twice had landed on their shore. + 'Twas gold the Catholic religion planted, + Which, had they wanted gold, they still had wanted. + +Mr. Dryden[3] and Mr. Addison[4] have joined in giving testimony +against our author, as to the choice of his verse, which they condemn +as boyish and being apt to degenerate into the doggrel; but while they +censure his verse, they applaud his matter, and Dryden observes, that +had he chose any other verse, he would even then have excelled; as we +say of a court favourite, that whatever his office be, he still makes +it uppermost, and most beneficial to him. + +We cannot close the life of this great man, without a reflection on +the degeneracy of those times, which suffered him to languish in +obscurity; and though he had done more against the Puritan interest, +by exposing it to ridicule, than thousands who were rioting at court +with no pretensions to favour, yet he was never taken notice of, nor +had any calamity redressed, which leaves a stain on those who then +ruled, that never can be obliterated. A minister of state seldom fails +to reward a court tool, and a man of pleasure pays his instruments for +their infamy, and what character must that ministration bear, who +allow wit, loyalty and virtue to pass neglected, and, as Cowley +pathetically expresses it, + + 'In that year when manna rained on all, why + should the muses fleece be only dry.' + +The following epigram is not unworthy [of] a place here. + + Whilst Butler, needy wretch, was yet alive, + No gen'rous patron would a dinner give; + But lo behold! when dead, the mould'ring dust, + Rewarded with a monumental bust! + A poet's fate, in emblem here is shewn, + He ask'd for bread, and he received--a stone. + +Footnotes: +1. Life of Butler, p 6. +2. Posthumous Works of Wycherly, published by Mr. Theobald. +3. Juv. Ded. +4. Spect. No. 6. Vol. i. + + * * * * * + + + + + EDMUND WALLER Esq; + + +Was descended of a family of his name in Buckinghamshire, a younger +branch of the Wallers of Kent. He was born March 3, 1605 at Coleshill, +which gives Warwickshire the honour of his birth. His father dying +when he was very young, the care of his education fell to his mother, +who sent him to Eton School, according to the author of his life, but +Mr. Wood says, 'that he was mostly educated in grammaticals under one +Dobson, minister of Great Wycombe in Bucks, who had been educated in +Eton school,' without mentioning that Mr. Waller had been at all at +Eton school: after he had acquired grammar learning, he was removed to +King's college in Cambridge, and it is manifest that he must have been +extremely assiduous in his studies, since he acquired so fine a taste +of the ancients, in so short a time, for at sixteen or seventeen years +of age, he was chosen into the last Parliament of King James I. and +served as Burgess for Agmondesham. + +In the year 1623, when Prince Charles nearly escaped being cast away +in the road of St. Andre, coming from Spain, Mr. Waller wrote a Poem +on that occasion, at an age when, generally speaking, persons of the +acutest parts just begin to shew themselves, and at a time when the +English poetry had scarce any grace in it. In the year 1628 he +addressed a Poem to his Majesty, on his hearing the news of the duke +of Buckingham's death, which, with the former, procured him general +admiration: harmony of numbers being at that time so great a novelty, +and Mr. Waller having, at once, so polished and refined versification, +it is no wonder that he enjoyed the felicity of an universal applause. +These poems recommended him to court-favour, and rendered him dear to +persons of the best taste and distinction that then flourished. A +Writer of his life observes, as a proof of his being much caressed by +people of the first reputation, that he was one of the famous club, of +which the great lord Falkland, Sir Francis Wainman, Mr. Chillingworth, +Mr. Godolphin, and other eminent men were members. These were the +immortals of that age, and to be associated with them, is one of the +highest encomiums which can possibly be bestowed, and exceeds the most +laboured strain of a panegyrist. + +A circumstance related of this club, is pretty remarkable: One +evening, when they were convened, a great noise was heard in the +street, which not a little alarmed them, and upon enquiring the cause, +they were told, that a son of Ben Johnson's was arrested. This club +was too generous to suffer the child of one, who was the genuine son +of Apollo, to be carried to a Jail, perhaps for a trifle: they sent +for him, but in place of being Ben Johnson's son, he proved to be Mr. +George Morley, afterwards bishop of Winchester. Mr. Waller liked him +so well, that he paid the debt, which was no less than one hundred +pounds, on condition that he would live with him at Beconsfield, which +he did eight or ten years together, and from him Mr. Waller used to +say, that he learned a taste of the ancient poets, and got what he had +of their manner. But it is evident from his poems, written before this +incident of Mr. Morley's arrest, that he had early acquired that +exquisite Spirit; however, he might have improved it afterwards, by +the conversation and assistance of Mr. Morley, to whom this adventure +proved very advantageous. + +It is uncertain, at what time our author was married, but, it is +supposed, that his first wife Anne, daughter and heir of Edward Banks, +esq; was dead before he fell in love with lady Dorothy Sidney, +daughter to the earl of Leicester, whom he celebrates under the name +of Sacharissa. Mr. Waller's passion for this lady, has been the +subject of much conversation; his verses, addressed to her, have been +renowned for their delicacy, and Sacharissa has been proposed, as a +model to succeeding poets, in the celebration of their mistresses. One +cannot help wishing, that the poet had been as successful in his +Addresses to her, as he has been in his love-strains, which are +certainly the sweetest in the world. The difference of station, and +the pride of blood, perhaps, was the occasion, that Sacharissa never +became the wife of Waller; though in reality, as Mr. Waller was a +gentleman, a member of parliament, and a person of high reputation, we +cannot, at present, see so great a disproportion: and, as Mr. Waller +had fortune, as well as wit and poetry, lord Leicester's daughter +could not have been disgraced by such an alliance. At least we are +sure of one thing, that she lives for ever in Waller's strains, a +circumstance, which even her beauty could not have otherwise procured, +nor the lustre of the earl of Sunderland, whom she afterwards married: +the countess of Sunderland, like the radiant circles of that age, long +before this time would have slept in oblivion, but the Sacharissa of +Waller is consigned to immortality, and can never die but with poetry, +taste, and politeness. + +Upon the marriage of that lady to lord Spenser, afterwards earl of +Sunderland, which was solemnized July 11, 1639, Mr. Waller wrote the +following letter to lady Lucy Sidney, her sister, which is so full of +gallantry, and so elegantly turned, that it will doubtedly give +pleasure to our readers to peruse it. + +MADAM, + +'In this common joy at Penshurst[1], I know, none to whom complaints +may come less unseasonable than to your ladyship, the loss of a +bedfellow, being almost equal to that of a mistress, and therefore you +ought, at least, to pardon, if you consent not to the imprecations of +the deserted, which just Heaven no doubt will hear. May my lady +Dorothy, if we may yet call her so, suffer as much, and have the like +passion for this young lord, whom she has preferred to the rest of +mankind, as others have had for her; and may his love, before the year +go about, make her taste of the first curse imposed upon womankind, +the pains of becoming a mother. May her first born be none of her own +sex, nor so like her, but that he may resemble her lord, as much as +herself. May she, that always affected silence and retirement, have +the house filled with the noise and number of her children, and +hereafter of her grand-children; and then may she arrive at that great +curse, so much declined by fair ladies, old age; may she live to be +very old, and yet seem young; be told so by her glass, and have no +aches to inform her of the truth; and when she shall appear to be +mortal, may her lord not mourn for her, but go hand in hand with her +to that place, where we are told there is neither marrying, nor giving +in marriage, that being there divorced, we may all have an equal +interest in her again! my revenge being immortal, I wish all this may +befall her posterity to the world's end, and afterwards! To you, +madam, I wish all good things, and that this loss may, in good time, +be happily supplied, with a more constant bedfellow of the other sex. +Madam, I humbly kiss your hands, and beg pardon for this trouble, from + +'Your ladyship's + 'most humble servant, + 'E. WALLER.' + +He lived to converse with lady Sunderland when she was very old, but +his imprecations relating to her glass did not succeed, for my lady +knew she had the disease which nothing but death could cure; and in a +conversation with Mr. Waller, and some other company at lady +Wharton's, she asked him in raillery, 'When, Mr. Waller, will you +write such fine verses upon me again?' 'Oh Madam,' said he, 'when your +ladyship is as young again.' + +In the year 1640, Mr. Waller was returned Burgess for Agmondesham, in +which Parliament he opposed the court measures. The writer of his life +observes[2], 'that an intermission of Parliaments for 12 years +disgusted the nation, and the House met in no good humour to give +money. It must be confessed, some late proceedings had raised such +jealousies as would be sure to discover themselves, whenever the King +should come to ask for a supply; and Mr. Waller was one of the first +to condemn those measures. A speech he made in the House upon this +occasion, printed at the end of his poems, gives us some notion of his +principles as to government.' Indeed we cannot but confess he was a +little too inconstant in them, and was not naturally so steady, as he +was judicious; which variable temper was the cause of his losing his +reputation, in a great measure, with both parties, when the nation +became unhappily divided. His love to poetry, and his indolence, laid +him open to the insinuations of others, and perhaps prevented his +fixing so resolutely to any one party, as to make him a favourite with +either. As Mr. Waller did not come up to the heighths of those who +were for unlimited monarchy, so he did not go the lengths of such as +would have sunk the kingdom into a commonwealth, but had so much +credit at court, that in this parliament the King particularly sent to +him, to second his demands of some subsidies to pay the army; and Sir +Henry Vane objecting against first voting a supply, because the King +would not accept it, unless it came up to his proportion; Mr. Waller +spoke earnestly to Sir Thomas Jermyn, comptroller of the houshold, to +save his master from the effects of so bold a falsity; for, says he, I +am but a country gentleman, and cannot pretend to know the King's +mind: but Sir Thomas durst not contradict the secretary; and his son +the earl of St. Alban's, afterwards told Mr. Waller, that his father's +cowardice ruined the King. + +In the latter end of the year 1642, he was one of the commissioners +appointed by the Parliament, to present their propositions for peace +to his Majesty at Oxford. Mr. Whitelocke, in his Memorials, tells us, +that when Mr. Waller kissed the King's hand in the garden at Christ's +Church, his Majesty said to him, 'though you are last, yet you are not +the worst, nor the least in our favour.' The discovery of a plot, +continues Mr. Whitelocke, 'then in hand in London to betray the +Parliament, wherein Mr. Waller was engaged, with Chaloner, Tomkins, +and others, which was then in agitation, did manifest the King's +courtship of Mr. Waller to be for that service.' + +In the beginning of the year 1643, our poet was deeply engaged in the +design for the reducing the city of London, and the Tower, for the +service of his Majesty, which being discovered, he was imprisoned, and +fined ten thousand pounds. As this is one of the most memorable +circumstances in the life of Waller, we shall not pass it slightly +over, but give a short detail of the rise, progress, and discovery of +this plot, which issued not much in favour of Mr. Waller's reputation. + +Lord Clarendon observes[3], 'that Mr. Waller was a gentleman of very +good fortune and estate, and of admirable parts, and faculties of wit +and eloquence, and of an intimate conversation and familiarity with +those who had that reputation. He had, from the beginning of the +Parliament, been looked upon by all men, as a person of very entire +affections to the King's service, and to the established government of +church and state; and by having no manner of relation to the court, +had the more credit and interest to promote the service of it. When +the ruptures grew so great between the King, and the two houses, that +many of the Members withdrew from those councils, he, among the rest, +absented himself, but at the time the standard was set up, having +intimacy and friendship with some persons now of nearness about the +King, with his Majesty's leave he returned again to London, where he +spoke, upon all occasions, with great sharpness and freedom, which was +not restrained, and therefore used as an argument against those who +were gone upon pretence, that they were not suffered to declare their +opinion freely in the House; which could not be believed, when all men +knew what liberty Mr. Waller took, and spoke every day with impunity, +against the proceedings of the House; this won him a great reputation +with all people who wished well to the King; and he was looked upon as +the boldest champion the crown had in either House, so that such Lords +and Commons who were willing to prevent the ruin of the kingdom, +complied in a great familiarity with him, at a man resolute in their +ends, and best able to promote them; and it may be, they believed his +reputation at court so good, that he would be no ill evidence there of +other men's zeal and affection; so all men spoke their minds freely to +him, both of the general distemper, and of the passions and ambition +of particular persons, all men knowing him to be of too good a +fortune, and too wary a nature, to engage himself in designs of +hazard.' + +Mr. Tomkins already mentioned, had married Waller's sister, and was +clerk of the Queen' council, and of very good fame for honesty and +ability; great interest and reputation in the city, and conversed much +with those who disliked the proceedings of the Parliament, from whom +he learned the dispositions of the citizens on all accidents, which he +freely communicated to his brother Waller, as the latter imparted to +him whatever observations he made from those with whom he conversed. +Mr. Waller told him, that many lords and commons were for a peace. Mr. +Tomkins made the same relation with respect to the most substantial +men of London, which Mr. Waller reported to the well affected members +of both houses; and Mr. Tomkins to the well affected citizens; whence +they came to a conclusion, that if they heartily united in the mutual +assistance of one another, they should be able to prevent those +tumults which seemed to countenance the distractions, and both parties +would be excited to moderation. The lord Conway at that time coming +from Ireland incensed against the Scotch, discontented with the +Parliament here, and finding Waller in good esteem with the earl of +Nor[t]humberland, and in great friendship with the earl of Portland, +entered into the same familiarity; and being a soldier, in the +discourses they had, he insinuated, it was convenient to enquire into +the numbers of the well affected in the city, that they might know +whom they had to trust to. Mr. Waller telling Mr. Tomkins this, the +latter imparted it to his confidents there; and it was agreed, that +some trusty persons in every ward and parish about London should make +a list of all the inhabitants, and by guessing at their several +affections, compute the strength of that party which opposed an +accommodation, and that which was for it. + +Lord Clarendon declares, that he believes this design, was to beget +such a combination among the well affected parties, that they would +refuse to conform to those ordinances of the twentieth part, and other +taxes for the support of the war; and thereby or by joint petitioning +for peace, and discountenancing the other who petitioned against it, +to prevail with the Parliament to incline to a determination of the +war, 'but that there ever was, says the earl, 'any formed design +either of letting the King's army into London, which was impossible to +be effected, or raising an army there, and surprizing the Parliament, +or any person of it, or of using any violence in, or upon the city, I +could never yet see cause to believe.' But it unluckily happened, that +while this combination was on foot, Sir Nicholas Crisp procured a +commission of array to be sent from Oxford to London, which was +carried by the lady Aubigny, and delivered to a gentleman employed by +Sir Nicholas to take it of her; and this being discovered at the same +time Mr. Waller's plot was, the two conspiracies were blended into +one; tho' the earl of Clarendon is satisfied that they were two +distinct designs. His lordship relates the discovery of Mr. Waller's +plot in this manner: 'A servant of Mr. Tomkins, who had often +cursorily overheard his master and Mr. Waller discourse of the subject +which we are upon, placed himself behind the hangings, at a time when +they were together; and there whilst either of them discovered the +language and opinion of the company which they kept, overheard enough +to make him believe, that his information and discovery could make him +welcome to those whom he thought concerned, and so went to Mr. Pym, +and acquainted him with all he had heard, or probably imagined. The +time when Mr. Pym was made acquainted with it, is not known; but the +circumstance of publishing it was such as filled all men with +apprehensions.' + +'It was on Wednesday the 31st of May, their solemn fast day, when +being all at their sermon in St. Margaret's church, Westminster, +according to their custom, a letter or message was brought privately +to Mr. Pym; who thereupon with some of the most active members rose +from their seats, and after a little whispering together, removed out +of the church. This could not but exceedingly affect those who stayed +behind. Immediately they sent guards to all the prisons, at +Lambeth-house, Ely-house, and such places where malignants were in +custody, with directions to search the prisoners, and some other +places which they thought fit should be suspected. After the sermon +was ended, the houses met, and were only then told, that letters were +intercepted going to the King and the court at Oxford, which expressed +some notable conspiracy in hand, to deliver up the Parliament and the +city into the hands of the Cavaliers; and that the time for the +execution of it drew near. Hereupon a committee was appointed to +examine all persons they thought fit, and to apprehend some nominated +at that time; and the same night this committee apprehended Mr. Waller +and Mr. Tomkins, and the next day such as they suspected.' + +The Houses were, or seemed to be, so alarmed with the discovery of the +plot, that six days after they took a sacred vow and covenant, which +was also taken by the city and army, denouncing war against the King +more directly than they had done before. The earl of Portland and lord +Conway were imprisoned on Mr. Waller's accusation, and often +confronted with him before the committee, where they as peremptorily +denying, as he charging them, and there being no other witness but him +against them, they were kept a while in restraint, and then bailed. +Mr. Waller, after he had had 'says the earl of Clarendon, with +incredible dissimulation, acted such a remorse of conscience, that his +trial was put off out of christian compassion, till he should recover +his understanding (and that was not till the heat and fury of the +prosecutors was abated by the sacrifices they had made) and by drawing +visitants to himself of the most powerful ministers of all factions, +had by his liberality and penitence, his receiving vulgar and vile +sayings from them with humility and reverence, as clearer convictions, +and informations than in his life he had ever had; and distributing +great sums to them for their prayers and ghostly council, so satisfied +them, that they satisfied others; was brought at his suit to the bar +of the House of Commons on on the 4th of July 1643, where being a man +in truth very powerful in language, and who, by what he spoke, and the +manner of speaking it, exceedingly captivated the good will, and +benevolence of his hearers, with such flattery, as was most exactly +calculated to that meridian, with such a submission as their pride +took delight in, and such a dejection of mind and spirit, as was like +to couzen the major part. He laid before them, their own danger and +concernment if they should suffer one of their body, how unworthy and +monstrous soever, to be tried by the soldiers, who might thereby grow +to such power hereafter, that they would both try those they would not +be willing should be tried, and for things which they would account no +crime, the inconvenience and insupportable mischief whereof wise +commonwealths had foreseen and prevented, by exempting their own +members from all judgments but their own. He prevailed, not to be +tried by a Council of War, and thereby preserved his dear-bought life; +so that in truth he did as much owe the keeping his head to that +oration, as Cataline did the loss of his to those of Tully; and having +done ill, very well, he by degrees drew that respect to his parts, +which always carries some companion to the person, that he got leave +to compound for his transgression and them to accept of ten thousand +pounds for his liberty; whereupon he had leave to recollect himself in +another country (for his liberty was to be banishment) how miserable +he had made himself in obtaining that leave to live out of his own. +And there cannot be a greater evidence of the inestimable value of his +parts, than that he lived in the good affection and esteem of many, +the pity of most, and the reproach and scorn of few, or none.' + +After this storm had subsided, Mr. Waller travelled into France, where +he continued several years. He took over his lady's jewels to support +him, and lived very hospitably at Paris, and except that of lord +Jermyn, afterwards earl of St. Alban's, who was the Queen of England's +prime minister when she kept her court there, there was no English +table but Mr. Waller's; which was so costly to him, that he used to +say, 'he was at last come to the Rump Jewel.' Upon his return to +England, such was the unsteadiness of his temper, he sided with those +in power, particularly the Lord Protector, with whom he lived in great +intimacy as a companion, tho' he seems not to have acted for him. He +often declared that he found Cromwell very well acquainted with the +Greek and Roman story; and he frequently took notice, that in the +midst of their discourse, a servant has come to tell him, that such +and such attended; upon which Cromwell would rise and stop them; +talking at the door, where Mr. Waller could over-hear him say, 'The +lord will reveal, the lord will help,' and several such expressions; +which when he returned to Mr. Waller, he excused, saying, 'Cousin +Waller, I must talk to these men after their own way.' + +In 1654 he wrote a panegyric on Oliver Cromwell, as he did a poem on +his death in 1658. At the restoration he was treated with great +civility by King Charles II, who always made him one of his party in +his diversions at the duke of Buckingham's, and other places, and gave +him a grant of the provostship of Eaton-College; tho' that grant +proved of no effect. He sat in several Parliaments after the +restoration, and wrote a panegyric upon his Majesty's return, which +however, was thought to fall much short of that which he before had +wrote on Cromwell. The King one day asked him in raillery, 'How is it +Waller, that you wrote a better encomium on Cromwell than on me.' May +it please your Majesty, answered the bard, with the most admirable +fineness, 'Poets generally succeed best in fiction.' Mr. Waller +continued in the full vigour of his genius to the end of his life; his +natural vivacity bore up against his years, and made his company +agreeable to the last; which appears from the following little story. + +King James II having ordered the earl of Sunderland to desire Mr. +Waller to attend him one afternoon; when he came, the King carried him +into his closet, and there asked him how he liked such a picture? +'Sir, says Mr. Waller, my eyes are dim, and I know not whose it is.' +The King answered, 'It is the Princess of Orange;' and says Mr. +Waller, 'she is like the greatest woman in the world.' 'Whom do you +call so, said the King,' 'Queen Elizabeth, said he.' 'I wonder, Mr. +Waller, replied the King, you should think so; but I must confess, she +had a wise council;' and Sir, said Mr. Waller, 'did you ever know a +Fool chuse a wise one.' + +Mr. Waller died of a dropsy October 21, 1687. Finding his distemper +encrease, and having yielded all hopes of recovery, he ordered his +son-in-law Dr. Peter Birch, to desire all his children to join with +him, and give him the sacrament. He at the same time professed himself +a believer in revealed religion with great earnestness, telling them, +that he remembered when the duke of Buckingham, once talked profanely +before King Charles, he told him, 'My lord, I am a great deal older +than your grace, and I believe I have heard more arguments for +atheism, than ever your grace did; but I have lived long enough to +see, there was nothing in them, and so I hope will your grace.' It is +said, that had Mr. Waller lived longer, he would have inclined to the +revolution, which by the violent measures of James II. he could +foresee would happen. He was interred in the church-yard of +Beaconsfield, where a monument is erected to his memory, the +inscriptions on it were written by Mr. Thomas Rymer. + +He left several children behind him: He bequeathed his estate to his +second son Edmund, his eldest, Benjamin, being so far from inheriting +his father's wit, that he had not a common portion. Edmund, the second +Son, used to be chosen member of Parliament for Agmondesham, and in +the latter part of his life turned Quaker. William, the third son, was +a merchant in London, and Stephen, the fourth, a civilian. Of the +daughters, Mary was married to Dr. Peter Birch, prebendary of +Westminster; another to Mr. Harvey of Suffolk, another to Mr. Tipping +of Oxfordshire. + +These are the most material circumstances in the life of Mr. Waller, a +man whose wit and parts drew the admiration of the world upon him when +he was living, and has secured him the applause of posterity. As a +statesman, lord Clarendon is of opinion, he wanted steadiness, and +even insinuates, that he was deficient in point of honour; the earl at +least construes his timidity, and apparent cowardice, in a way not +very advantageous to him. + +All men have honoured him as the great refiner of English poetry, who +restored numbers to the delicacy they had lost, and joined to +melifluent cadence the charms of sense. But as Mr. Waller is +unexceptionally the first who brought in a new turn of verse, and gave +to rhime all the graces of which it was capable, it would be injurious +to his fame, not to present the reader with the opinions of some of +the greatest men concerning him, by which he will be better able to +understand his particular excellencies, and will see his beauties in +full glow before him. To begin with Mr. Dryden, who, in his dedication +to the Rival Ladies, addressed to the earl of Orrery, thus +characterizes Waller. + +'The excellency and dignity of rhime were never fully known till Mr. +Waller sought it: He first made writing easily an art; first shewed us +to conclude the sense most commonly in distichs, which in the verses +of those before him, runs on for so many lines together, that the +reader is out of breath to overtake it.' + +Voltaire, in his letters concerning the English nation, speaking of +British poets, thus mentions Waller. 'Our author was much talked of in +France. He had much the same reputation in London that Voiture had in +Paris; and in my opinion deserved it better. Voiture was born in an +age that was just emerging from barbarity; an age that was still rude +and ignorant; the people of which aimed at wit, tho' they had not the +least pretensions to it, and sought for points and conceits instead of +sentiments. Bristol stones are more easily found than diamonds. +Voiture born with an easy and frivolous genius, was the first who +shone in this Aurora of French literature. Had he come into the world +after those great genius's, who spread such glory over the age of +Lewis XIV, he would either have been unknown, would have been +despised, or would have corrected his stile. Waller, tho' better than +Voiture, was not yet a finished poet. The graces breathe in such of +Waller's works as are wrote in a tender strain; but then they are +languid thro' negligence, and often disfigured with false thoughts. +The English had not at this time attained the art of correct writing; +but his serious compositions exhibit a strength and vigour, which +could not have been expected from the softness and effeminacy of his +other pieces.' + +The anonymous author of the preface to the second part of our author's +poems, printed in the year 1690, has given his character at large, and +tells us; 'That Waller is a name that carries every thing in it that +is either great, or graceful in poetry. He was indeed the parent of +English verse, and the first who shewed us our tongue had beauty and +numbers in it. The tongue came into his hands like a rough diamond; he +polished it first, and to that degree, that artists since have admired +the workmanship without pretending to mend it. He undoubtedly stands +first in the list of refiners; and for ought I know the last too; for +I question whether in Charles II's reign; the English did not come to +its full perfection, and whether it had not had its Augustan age, as +well as the Latin.' Thus far this anonymous author. If I may be +permitted to give my opinion in so delicate a point as the reputation +of Waller, I shall take the liberty to observe, that had he, in place +of preceding, succeeded those great wits who flourished in the reign +of Charles II, he could never have rose to such great reputation, nor +would have deserved it: No small honour is due to him for the harmony +which he introduced, but upon that chiefly does his reputation stand. +He certainly is sometimes languid; he was rather a tender than a +violent lover; he has not that force of thinking, that amazing reach +of genius for which Dryden is renowned, and had it been his lot to +have appeared in the reign of Queen Anne, I imagine, he would not have +been ranked above the second class of poets. But be this as it may, +poetry owes him the highest obligations for refining it, and every +succeeding genius will be ready to acknowledge, that by copying +Waller's strains, they have improved their own, and the more they +follow him, the more they please. + +Mr. Waller altered the Maid's Tragedy from Fletcher, and translated +the first Act of the Tragedy of Pompey from the French of Corneille. +Mrs. Katharine Philips, in a letter to Sir Charles Cotterell, ascribes +the translation of the first act to our author; and observes, that Sir +Edward Filmer did one, Sir Charles Sidley another, lord Buckhurst +another; but who the fifth, says she, I cannot learn. + +Mrs. Philips then proceeds to give a criticism on this performance of +Waller's, shews some faults, and points out some beauties, with a +spirit and candour peculiar to her. + +The best edition of our author's works is that published by Mr. +Fenton, London 1730, containing poems, speeches, letters, &c. In this +edition is added the preface to the first edition of Mr. Waller's +poems after the restoration, printed in the year 1664. + +As a specimen of Mr. Waller's poetry, we shall give a transcript of +his Panegyric upon Oliver Cromwell. + +A Panegyric to my Lord PROTECTOR, of the present greatness and joint +interest of his Highness and this Nation. + + In the YEAR 1654. + + While with a strong, and yet a gentle hand + You bridle faction, and our hearts command, + Protect us from our selves, and from the foe, + Make us unite, and make us conquer too; + + Let partial spirits still aloud complain, + Think themselves injur'd that they cannot reign, + And own no liberty, but where they may + Without controul upon their fellows prey. + + Above the waves as Neptune shew'd his face + To chide the winds, and save the Trojan race; + So has your Highness, rais'd above the rest, + Storms of Ambition tossing us represt. + + Your drooping country, torn with civil hate, + Restor'd by you, is made a glorious state; + The feat of empire, where the Irish come, + And the unwilling Scotch, to fetch their doom. + + The sea's our own, and now all nations greet, + With bending sails, each vessel of our fleet. + Your pow'r extends as far as winds can blow, + Or swelling sails upon the globe may go. + + Heav'n, that hath plac'd this island to give law, + To balance Europe, and her states to awe, + In this conjunction doth on Britain smile; + The greatest leader, and the greatest isle. + + Whether this portion of the world were rent + By the rude ocean from the Continent, + Or thus created, it was sure design'd + To be the sacred refuge of mankind. + + Hither th' oppressed shall henceforth resort + Justice to crave, and succour at your court; + And then your Highness, not for our's alone, + But for the world's Protector shall be known. + + Fame swifter than your winged navy flies + Thro' ev'ry land that near the ocean lies, + Sounding your name, and telling dreadful News + To all that piracy and rapine use. + + With such a chief the meanest nation blest, + Might hope to lift her head above the rest: + What may be thought impossible to do + By us, embraced by the seas, and you? + + Lords of the world's great waste, the ocean, we + Whole forests send to reign upon the sea, + And ev'ry coast may trouble or relieve; + But none can visit us without your leave. + + Angels and we have this prerogative, + That none can at our happy seats arrive; + While we descend at pleasure to invade + The bad with vengeance, and the good to aid. + + Our little world, the image of the great, + Like that, amidst the boundless ocean set, + Of her own growth hath all that nature craves, + And all that's rare, as tribute from the waves. + + As AEgypt does not on the clouds rely, + But to the Nile owes more than to the sky; + So what our Earth and what our heav'n denies, + Our ever-constant friend the sea, supplies. + + The taste of hot Arabia's spice we know, + Free from the scorching sun that makes it grow; + Without the worm in Persian silks we shine, + And without planting drink of ev'ry vine. + + To dig for wealth we weary not our limbs. + Gold (tho' the heaviest Metal) hither swims: + Our's is the harvest where the Indians mow, + We plough the deep, and reap what others sow. + + Things of the noblest kind our own soil breeds; + Stout are our men, and warlike are our steeds; + Rome (tho' her eagle thro' the world had flown) + Cou'd never make this island all her own. + + Here the third Edward, and the Black Prince too, + France conq'ring Henry flourish'd, and now you; + For whom we staid, as did the Grecian state, + Till Alexander came to urge their fate. + + When for more world's the Macedonian cry'd, + He wist not Thetys in her lap did hide + Another yet, a word reserv'd for you, + To make more great than that he did subdue. + + He safely might old troops to battle lead + Against th' unwarlike Persian, and the Mede; + Whose hasty flight did from a bloodless field, + More spoils than honour to the visitor yield. + + A race unconquer'd, by their clime made bold, + The Caledonians arm'd with want and cold, + Have, by a fate indulgent to your fame, + Been from all ages kept for you to tame. + + Whom the old Roman wall so ill confin'd, + With a new chain of garrisons you bind: + Here foreign gold no more shall make them come, + Our English Iron holds them fast at home. + + They that henceforth must be content to know + No warmer region than their hills of snow, + May blame the sun, but must extol your grace, + Which in our senate hath allow'd them place. + + Preferr'd by conquest, happily o'erthrown, + Falling they rise, to be with us made one: + So kind dictators made, when they came home, + Their vanquish'd foes free citizens of Rome. + + Like favour find the Irish, with like fate + Advanc'd to be a portion of our state: + While by your valour, and your bounteous mind, + Nations, divided by the sea, are join'd. + + Holland, to gain your friendship, is content + To be our out-guard on the continent: + She from her fellow-provinces wou'd go, + Rather than hazard to have you her foe. + + In our late fight, when cannons did diffuse + (Preventing posts) the terror and the news; + Our neighbour princes trembled at their roar: + But our conjunction makes them tremble more. + + Your never-failing sword made war to cease, + And now you heal us with the acts of peace + Our minds with bounty and with awe engage, + Invite affection, and restrain our rage. + + Less pleasure take brave minds in battles won, + Than in restoring such as are undone: + Tygers have courage, and the rugged bear, + But man alone can whom he conquers, spare. + + To pardon willing; and to punish, loath; + You strike with one hand, but you heal with both. + Lifting up all that prostrate lye, you grieve + You cannot make the dead again to live. + + When fate or error had our Age mis-led, + And o'er this nation such confusion spread; + The only cure which cou'd from heav'n come down, + Was so much pow'r and piety in one. + + One whose extraction's from an ancient line, + Gives hope again that well-born men may shine: + The meanest in your nature mild and good, + The noble rest secured in your blood. + + Oft have we wonder'd, how you hid in peace + A mind proportion'd to such things as these; + How such a ruling sp'rit you cou'd restrain, + And practise first over your self to reign. + + Your private life did a just pattern give + How fathers, husbands, pious sons shou'd live; + Born to command, your princely virtues slept + Like humble David's while the flock he kept: + + But when your troubled country call'd you forth, + Your flaming courage, and your matchless worth + Dazling the eyes of all that did pretend, + To fierce contention gave a prosp'rous end. + + Still as you rise, the state, exalted too, + Finds no distemper while 'tis chang'd by you; + Chang'd like the world's great scene, when without noise + The rising sun night's vulgar lights destroys. + + Had you, some ages past, this race of glory + Run, with amazement we shou'd read your story; + But living virtue, all atchievements past, + Meets envy still to grapple with at last. + + This Caesar found, and that ungrateful age, + With losing him, went back to blood and rage. + Mistaken Brutus thought to break their yoke, + But cut the bond of union with that stroke. + + That sun once set, a thousand meaner stars + Gave a dim light to violence and wars, + To such a tempest as now threatens all, + Did not your mighty arm prevent the fall. + + If Rome's great senate cou'd not wield that sword + Which of the conquer'd world had made them lord, + What hope had our's, while yet their pow'r was new, + To rule victorious armies, but by you? + + You, that had taught them to subdue their foes, + Cou'd order teach, and their high sp'rits compose: + To ev'ry duty you'd their minds engage, + Provoke their courage, and command their rage. + + So when a lion shakes his dreadful mane, + And angry grows; if he that first took pain + To tame his youth, approach the haughty beast, + He bends to him, but frights away the rest. + + As the vext world, to find repose, at last + Itself into Augustus' arms did cast: + So England now doth, with like toil opprest, + Her weary head upon your bosom rest. + + Then let the muses, with such notes as these, + Instruct us what belongs unto our peace; + Your battles they hereafter shall indite, + And draw the image of our Mars in fight; + + Tell of towns storm'd, of armies overcome, + Of mighty kingdoms by your conduct won, + How, while you thunder'd, clouds of dust did choak + Contending troops, and seas lay hid in smoke. + + Illustrious acts high raptures do infuse, + And ev'ry conqueror creates a muse; + Here in low strains your milder deeds we sing, + But there, my lord, we'll bays and olive bring, + + To crown your head; while you in triumph ride + O'er vanquish'd nations, and the sea beside: + While all your neighbour princes unto you, + Like Joseph's sheaves, pay reverence and bow. + +Footnotes: +1. The ancient seat of the Sydneys family in Kent; now in the + possession of William Perry, esq; whose lady is niece to the late + Sydney, earl of Leicester. A small, but excellent poem upon this + delightful seat, was published by an anonymous hand, in 1750, + entitled, PENSHURST. See Monthly Review, vol. II. page 331. +2. Life, p. 8, 9. +3. History of the Rebellion, Edit. Oxon. 1707, 8vo. + + * * * * * + + + + + JOHN OGILBY, + + +This poet, who was likewise an eminent Geographer and Cosmographer, +was born near Edinburgh in the year 1600[1]. His father, who was of an +ancient and genteel family, having spent his estate, and being +prisoner in the King's Bench for debt, could give his son but little +education at school; but our author, who, in his early years +discovered the most invincible industry, obtained a little knowledge +in the Latin grammar, and afterwards so much money, as not only to +procure his father's discharge from prison, but also to bind himself +apprentice to Mr. Draper a dancing master in Holbourn, London. Soon +after, by his dexterity in his profession, and his complaisant +behaviour to his master's employers, he obtained the favour of them to +lend him as much money as to buy out the remaining part of his time, +and set up for himself; but being afterwards appointed to dance in the +duke of Buckingham's great Masque, by a false step, he strained a vein +in the inside of his leg, which ever after occasioned him to halt. He +afterwards taught dancing to the sisters of Sir Ralph Hopton, at +Wytham in Somersetshire, where, at leisure, he learned to handle the +pike and musket. When Thomas earl of Strafford became Lord Lieutenant +of Ireland, he was retained in his family to teach the art of dancing, +and being an excellent penman, he was frequently employed by the earl +to transcribe papers for him. + +In his lordship's family it was that he first gave proofs of his +inclination to poetry, by translating some of AEsop's Fables into +English verse, which he communicated to some learned men, who +understood Latin better than he, by whose assistance and advice he +published them. He was one of the troop of guards belonging to the +earl, and composed an humourous piece entitled the Character of a +Trooper. About the time he was supported by his lordship, he was made +master of the revels for the kingdom of Ireland, and built a little +theatre for the representation of dramatic entertainments, in St. +Warburgh's street in Dublin: but upon the breaking out of the +rebellion in that kingdom, he was several times in great danger of his +life, particularly when he narrowly escaped being blown up in the +castle of Rathfarnam. About the time of the conclusion of the war in +England, he left Ireland, and being shipwrecked, came to London in a +very necessitous condition. After he had made a short stay in the +metropolis, he travelled on foot to Cambridge, where his great +industry, and love of learning, recommended him to the notice of +several scholars, by whose assistance he became so compleat a master +of the Latin tongue, that in 1646 he published an English translation +of Virgil, which was printed in large 8vo. and dedicated to William +marquis of Hereford. He reprinted it at London 1654 in fol. with this +title; The Works of Publius Virgilius Maro, translated and adorned +with Sculptures, and illustrated with Annotations; which, Mr. Wood +tells us, was the fairest edition, that till then, the English press +ever produced. About the year 1654 our indefatigable author learned +the Greek language, and in four year's time published in fol. a +translation of Homer's Iliad, adorned with excellent sculptures, +illustrated with Annotations, and addressed to King Charles II. The +same year he published the Bible in a large fol. at Cambridge, +according to the translation set forth by the special command of King +James I. with the Liturgy and Articles of the Church of England, with +Chorographical Sculptures. About the year 1662 he went into Ireland, +then having obtained a patent to be made master of the revels there, a +place which Sir William Davenant sollicited in vain. Upon this +occasion he built a theatre at Dublin, which cost him 2000 l. the +former being ruined during the troubles. In 1664 he published in +London, in fol. a translation of Homer's Odyssey, with Sculptures, and +Notes. He afterwards wrote two heroic poems, one entitled the Ephesian +Matron, the other the Roman Slave, both dedicated to Thomas earl of +Ossory. The next work he composed was an Epic Poem in 12 Books, in +honour of King Charles I. but this was entirely lost in the fire of +London in September 1666, when Mr. Ogilby's house in White Fryars was +burnt down, and his whole fortune, except to the value of five pounds, +destroyed. But misfortunes seldom had any irretrievable consequences +to Ogilby, for by his insinuating address, and most astonishing +industry, he was soon able to repair whatever loss he sustained by any +cross accident. It was not long till he fell on a method of raising a +fresh sum of money. Procuring his house to be rebuilt, he set up a +printing-office, was appointed his Majesty's Cosmographer and +Geographic Printer, and printed many great works translated and +collected by himself and his assistants, the enumeration of which +would be unnecessary and tedious. + +This laborious man died September 4, 1676, and was interred in the +vault under part of the church in St. Bride's in Fleet-street. Mr. +Edward Philips in his Theatrum Poetarum stiles him one of the +prodigies, from producing, after so late an initiation into +literature, so many large and learned volumes, as well in verse as in +prose, and tells us, that his Paraphrase upon AEsop's Fables, is +generally confessed to have exceeded whatever hath been done before in +that kind. + +As to our author's poetry, we have the authority of Mr. Pope to +pronounce it below criticism, at least his translations; and in all +probability his original epic poems which we have never seen, are not +much superior to his translations of Homer and Virgil. If Ogilby had +not a poetical genius, he was notwithstanding a man of parts, and made +an amazing proficiency in literature, by the force of an unwearied +application. He cannot be sufficiently commended for his virtuous +industry, as well as his filial piety, in procuring, in so early a +time of life, his father's liberty, when he was confined in a prison. + +Ogilby seems indeed to have been a good sort of man, and to have +recommended himself to the world by honest means, without having +recourse to the servile arts of flattery, and the blandishments of +falshood. He is an instance of the astonishing efficacy of +application; had some more modern poets been blessed with a thousandth +part of his oeconomy and industry, they needed not to have lived in +poverty, and died of want. Although Ogilby cannot be denominated a +genius, yet he found means to make a genteel livelihood by literature, +which many of the sons of Parnassus, blessed with superior powers, +curse as a very dry and unpleasing soil, but which proceeds more from +want of culture, than native barrenness. + +Footnote: +1. Athen Oxon. vol. ii. p. 378. + + * * * * * + + + + + WILMOT, Earl of ROCHESTER. + + +It is an observation founded on experience, that the poets have, of +all other men, been most addicted to the gratifications of appetite, +and have pursued pleasure with more unwearied application than men of +other characters. In this respect they are indeed unhappy, and have +ever been more subject to pity than envy. A violent love of pleasure, +if it does not destroy, yet, in a great measure, enervates all other +good qualities with which a man may be endowed; and as no men have +ever enjoyed higher parts from nature, than the poets, so few, from +this unhappy attachment to pleasure, have effected so little good by +those amazing powers. Of the truth of this observation, the nobleman, +whose memoirs we are now to present to the reader, is a strong and +indelible instance, for few ever had more ability, and more frequent +opportunities, for promoting the interests of society, and none ever +prostituted the gifts of Heaven to a more inglorious purpose. Lord +Rochester was not more remarkable for the superiority of his parts, +than the extraordinary debauchery of his life, and with his +dissipations of pleasure, he suffered sometimes malevolent principles +to govern him, and was equally odious for malice and envy, as for the +boundless gratifications of his appetites. + +This is, no doubt, the character of his lordship, confirmed by all who +have transmitted any account of him: but if his life was supremely +wicked, his death was exemplarily pious; before he approached to the +conclusion of his days, he saw the follies of his former pleasures, he +lived to repent with the severest contrition, and charity obliges all +men to believe that he was as sincere in his protestations of +penitence, as he had been before in libertine indulgence. The apparent +sorrow he felt, arising from the stings and compunctions of +conscience, entitle him to the reader's compassion, and has determined +us to represent his errors with all imaginable tenderness; which, as +it is agreeable to every benevolent man, so his lordship has a right +to this indulgence, since he obliterated his faults by his penitence, +and became so conspicuous an evidence on the side of virtue, by his +important declarations against the charms of vice. + +Lord Rochester was son of the gallant Henry lord Wilmot, who engaged +with great zeal in the service of King Charles I. during the civil +wars, and was so much in favour with Charles II. that he entrusted his +person to him, after the unfortunate battle of Worcester, which trust +he discharged with so much fidelity and address, that the young King +was conveyed out of England into France, chiefly by his care, +application and vigilance. The mother of our author was of the ancient +family of the St. Johns in Wiltshire, and has been celebrated both for +her beauty and parts. + +In the year 1648, distinguished to posterity, by the fall of Charles +I. who suffered on a scaffold erected before the window of his own +palace, our author was born at Dichley, near Woodstock, in the same +county, the scene of many of his pleasures, and of his death. His +lordship's father had the misfortune to reap none of the rewards of +suffering loyalty, for he died in 1660, immediately before the +restoration, leaving his son as the principal part of his inheritance, +his titles, honours, and the merit of those extraordinary services he +had done the crown; but though lord Wilmot left his son but a small +estate, yet he did not suffer in his education by these means, for the +oeconomy of his mother supplied that deficiency, and he was educated +suitable to his quality. When he was at school (it is agreed by all +his biographers) he gave early instances of a readiness of wit; and +those shining parts which have since appeared with so much lustre, +began then to shew themselves: he acquired the Latin to such +perfection, that, to his dying day, he retained a great relish for the +masculine firmness, as well as more elegant beauties of that language, +and was, says Dr. Burnet, 'exactly versed in those authors who were +the ornaments of the court of Augustus, which he read often with the +peculiar delight which the greatest wits have often found in those +studies.' When he went to the university, the general joy which +over-ran the nation upon his Majesty's return, amounted to something +like distraction, and soon spread a very malignant influence through +all ranks of life. His lordship tasted the pleasures of libertinism, +which then broke out in a full tide, with too acute a relish, and was +almost overwhelmed in the abyss of wantonness. His tutor was Dr. +Blandford, afterwards promoted to the sees of Oxford and Worcester, +and under his inspection he was committed to the more immediate care +of Phinehas Berry, fellow of Wadham College, a man of learning and +probity, whom his lordship afterwards treated with much respect, and +rewarded as became a great man; but notwithstanding the care of his +tutor, he had so deeply engaged in the dissipations of the general +jubilee, that he could not be prevailed upon to renew his studies, +which were totally lost in the joys more agreeable to his inclination. +He never thought of resuming again the pursuit of knowledge, 'till the +fine address of his governor, Dr. Balfour, won him in his travels, by +degrees, to those charms of study, which he had through youthful +levity forsaken, and being seconded by reason, now more strong, and a +more mature taste of the pleasure of learning, which the Dr. took care +to place in the most agreeable and advantageous light, he became +enamoured of knowledge, in the pursuit of which he often spent those +hours he sometimes stole from the witty, and the fair. He returned +from his travels in the 18th year of his age, and appeared at court +with as great advantage as any young nobleman ever did. He had a +graceful and well proportioned person, was master of the most refined +breeding, and possessed a very obliging and easy manner. He had a vast +vivacity of thought, and a happy flow of expression, and all who +conversed with him entertained the highest opinion of his +understanding; and 'tis indeed no wonder he was so much caressed at a +court which abounded with men of wit, countenanced by a merry prince, +who relished nothing so much as brilliant conversation. + +Soon after his lordship's return from his travels, he took the first +occasion that offered, to hazard his life in the service of his +country. + +In the winter of the year 1665 he went to sea, with the earl of +Sandwich, when he was sent out against the Dutch East India fleet, and +was in the ship called the Revenge, commanded by Sir Thomas Tiddiman, +when the attack was made on the port of Bergen in Norway, the Dutch +Ships having got into that port. It was, says Burnet, 'as desperate an +attempt as ever was made, and during the whole action, the earl of +Rochester shewed as brave and resolute a courage as possible. A person +of honour told me he heard the lord Clifford, who was in the same +ship, often magnify his courage at that time very highly; nor did the +rigour of the season, the hardness of the voyage, and the extreme +danger he had been in, deter him from running the like the very next +occasion; for the summer following he went to sea again, without +communicating his design to his nearest relations. He went aboard the +ship commanded by Sir Edward Spragge, the day before the great +sea-fight of that year; almost all the volunteers that went in that +ship were killed. During the action, Sir Edward Spragge not being +satisfied with the behaviour of one of the captains, could not easily +find a person that would undertake to venture through so much danger +to carry his command to the captain; this lord offered himself to the +service, and went in a little boat, through all the shot, and +delivered his message, and returned back to Sir Edward, which was much +commended by all that saw it.' These are the early instances of +courage, which can be produced in favour of lord Rochester, which was +afterwards impeached, and very justly, for in many private broils, he +discovered a timid pusillanimous spirit, very unsuitable to those +noble instances of the contrary, which have just been mentioned. + +The author of his life prefixed to his works, which goes under the +name of M. St. Evremond, addressed to the Duchess of Mazarine, but +which M. Maizeau asserts not to be his, accounts for it, upon the +general observation of that disparity between a man and himself, upon +different occasions. Let it suffice, says he, 'to observe, that we +differ not from one another, more than we do from ourselves at +different times.' But we imagine another, and a stronger reason may be +given, for the cowardice which Rochester afterwards discovered in +private broils, particularly in the affair between him and the earl of +Mulgrave, in which he behaved very meanly[1]. The courage which lord +Rochester shewed in a naval engagement, was in the early part of his +life, before he had been immersed in those labyrinths of excess and +luxury, into which he afterwards sunk. It is certainly a true +observation, that guilt makes cowards; a man who is continually +subjected to the reproaches of conscience, who is afraid to examine +his heart, lest it should appear too horrible, cannot have much +courage: for while he is conscious of so many errors to be repented +of, of so many vices he has committed, he naturally starts at danger, +and flies from it as his greatest enemy. It is true, courage is +sometimes constitutional, and there have been instances of men, guilty +of every enormity, who have discovered a large share of it, but these +have been wretches who have overcome all sense of honour, been lost to +every consideration of virtue, and whose courage is like that of the +lion of the desart, a kind of ferocious impulse unconnected with +reason. Lord Rochester had certainly never overcome the reproaches of +his conscience, whose alarming voice at last struck terror into his +heart, and chilled the fire of the spirits. + +Since his travels, and naval expeditions, he seemed to have contracted +a habit of temperance, in which had he been so happy as to persevere, +he must have escaped that fatal rock, on which he afterwards split, +upon his return to court, where love and pleasure kept their perpetual +rounds, under the smiles of a prince, whom nature had fitted for all +the enjoyments of the most luxurious desires. In times so dissolute as +these, it is no wonder if a man of so warm a constitution as +Rochester, could not resist the too flattering temptations, which were +heightened by the participation of the court in general. The uncommon +charms of Rochester's conversation, induced all men to court him as a +companion, tho' they often paid too dear for their curiosity, by being +made the subject of his lampoons, if they happened to have any +oddities in their temper, by the exposing of which he could humour his +propensity to scandal. His pleasant extravagancies soon became the +subject of general conversation, by which his vanity was at once +flattered, and his turn of satire rendered more keen, by the success +it met with. + +Rochester had certainly a true talent for satire, and he spared +neither friends nor foes, but let it loose on all without +discrimination. Majesty itself was not secure from it; he more than +once lampooned the King, whose weakness and attachment to some of his +mistresses, he endeavoured to cure by several means, that is, either +by winning them from him, in spite of the indulgence and liberality +they felt from a royal gallant, or by severely lampooning them and him +on various occasions; which the King, who was a man of wit and +pleasure, as well as his lordship, took for the natural sallies of his +genius, and meant rather as the amusements of his fancy, than as the +efforts of malice; yet, either by a too frequent repetition, or a too +close and poignant virulence, the King banished him [from] the court +for a satire made directly on him; this satire consists of 28 stanzas, +and is entitled The Restoration, or the History of the Insipids; and +as it contains the keenest reflexions against the political conduct, +and private character of that Prince, and having produced the +banishment of this noble lord, we shall here give it a place, by which +his lordship's genius for this kind of writing will appear. + +The RESTORATION, or The History of INSIPIDS, a LAMPOON. + + I. + + Chaste, pious, prudent, Charles the second, + The miracle of thy restoration, + May like to that of quails be reckon'd, + Rain'd on the Israelitish nation; + The wish'd for blessing from Heaven sent, + Became their curse and punishment. + + II. + + The virtues in thee, Charles, inherent, + Altho' thy count'nance be an odd piece, + Prove thee as true a God's Vicegerent, + As e'er was Harry with his cod-piece: + For chastity, and pious deeds, + His grandsire Harry Charles exceeds. + + III. + + Our Romish bondage-breaker Harry, + Espoused half a dozen wives. + Charles only one resolv'd to marry, + And other mens he never ----; + Yet has he sons and daughters more + Than e'er had Harry by threescore. + + IV. + + Never was such a faith's defender; + He like a politic Prince, and pious, + Gives liberty to conscience tender, + And does to no religion tie us; + Jews, Christians, Turks, Papists, he'll please us + With Moses, Mahomet, or Jesus. + + V. + + In all affairs of church or state + He very zealous is, and able, + Devout at pray'rs, and sits up late + At the cabal and council-table. + His very dog, at council-board, + Sits grave and wise as any lord. + + VI. + + Let Charles's policy no man flout, + The wisest Kings have all some folly; + Nor let his piety any doubt; + Charles, like a Sov'reign, wise and holy, + Makes young men judges of the bench, + And bishops, those that love a wench. + + VII. + + His father's foes he does reward, + Preserving those that cut off's head; + Old cavaliers, the crown's best guard, + He lets them starve for want of bread. + Never was any King endow'd + With so much grace and gratitude. + + VIII. + + Blood, that wears treason in his face, + Villain compleat in parson's gown, + How much is he at court in grace, + For stealing Ormond and the crown! + Since loyalty does no man good, + Let's steal the King, and out-do Blood. + + IX. + + A Parliament of knaves and sots + (Members by name you must not mention) + He keeps in pay, and buys their votes, + Here with a place, there with a pension: + When to give money he can't cologue 'em, + He does with scorn prorogue, prorogue 'em. + + X. + + But they long since, by too much giving, + Undid, betray'd, and sold the nation, + Making their memberships a living, + Better than e'er was sequestration. + God give thee, Charles, a resolution + To damn the knaves by dissolution. + + XI. + + Fame is not grounded on success, + Tho' victories were Caesar's glory; + Lost battles make not Pompey less, + But left him stiled great in story. + Malicious fate does oft devise + To beat the brave, and fool the wise. + + XII. + + Charles in the first Dutch war stood fair + To have been Sov'reign of the deep, + When Opdam blew up in the air, + Had not his Highness gone to sleep: + Our fleet slack'd sails, fearing his waking, + The Dutch had else been in sad taking. + + XIII. + + The Bergen business was well laid, + Tho' we paid dear for that design; + Had we not three days parling staid, + The Dutch fleet there, Charles, had been thine: + Tho' the false Dane agreed to fell 'em, + He cheated us, and saved Skellum. + + XIV. + + Had not Charles sweetly chous'd the States, + By Bergen-baffle grown more wise; + And made 'em shit as small as rats, + By their rich Smyrna fleet's surprise: + Had haughty Holmes, but call'd in Spragg, + Hans had been put into a bag. + + XV. + + Mists, storms, short victuals, adverse winds, + And once the navy's wise division, + Defeated Charles's best designs, + 'Till he became his foes derision: + But he had swing'd the Dutch at Chatham, + Had he had ships but to come at 'em. + + XVI. + + Our Black-Heath host, without dispute, + (Rais'd, put on board, why? no man knows) + Must Charles have render'd absolute + Over his subjects, or his foes: + Has not the French King made us fools, + By taking Maestricht with our tools? + + XVII. + + But Charles, what could thy policy be, + To run so many sad disasters; + To join thy fleet with false d'Estrees + To make the French of Holland masters? + Was't Carewell, brother James, or Teague, + That made thee break the Triple League? + + XVIII. + + Could Robin Viner have foreseen + The glorious triumphs of his master; + The Wool-Church statue Gold had been, + Which now is made of Alabaster. + But wise men think had it been wood, + 'Twere for a bankrupt King too good. + + XIX. + + Those that the fabric well consider. + Do of it diversly discourse; + Some pass their censure on the rider, + Others their judgment on the horse. + Most say, the steed's a goodly thing, + But all agree, 'tis a lewd King. + + XX. + + By the lord mayor and his grave coxcombs, + Freeman of London, Charles is made; + Then to Whitehall a rich Gold box comes, + Which was bestow'd on the French jade[2]: + But wonder not it should be so, sirs, + When Monarchs rank themselves with Grocers. + + XXI. + + Cringe, scrape no more, ye city-fops, + Leave off your feasting and fine speeches; + Beat up your drums, shut up your shops, + The courtiers then will kiss your breeches. + Arm'd, tell the Popish Duke that rules, + You're free-born subjects, not French mules. + + XXII. + + New upstarts, bastards, pimps, and whores, + That, locust-like, devour the land, + By shutting up th'Exchequer-doors, + When there our money was trapann'd, + Have render'd Charles's restoration + But a small blessing to the nation. + + XXIII. + + Then, Charles, beware thy brother York, + Who to thy government gives law; + If once we fall to the old sport, + You must again both to Breda; + Where, spite of all that would restore you, + Grown wise by wrongs, we should abhor you. + + XXIV. + + If, of all Christian blood the guilt + Cries loud of vengeance unto Heav'n, + That sea by treach'rous Lewis spilt, + Can never be by God forgiv'n: + Worse scourge unto his subjects, lord! + Than pest'lence, famine, fire, or sword. + + XXV. + + That false rapacious wolf of France, + The scourge of Europe, and its curse, + Who at his subjects cries does dance, + And studies how to make them worse; + To say such Kings, Lord, rule by thee, + Were most prodigious blasphemy. + + XXVI. + + Such know no law, but their own lust; + Their subjects substance, and their blood, + They count it tribute due and just, + Still spent and spilt for subjects good. + If such Kings are by God appointed, + The devil may be the Lord's anointed. + + XXVII. + + Such Kings! curs'd be the pow'r and name, + Let all the world henceforth abhor 'em; + Monsters, which knaves sacred proclaim, + And then, like slaves, fall down before 'em. + What can there be in Kings divine? + The most are wolves, goats, sheep, or swine. + + XXVIII. + + Then farewel, sacred Majesty, + Let's pull all brutish tyrants down; + Where men are born, and still live free, + There ev'ry head doth wear a crown: + Mankind, like miserable frogs, + Prove wretched, king'd by storks and dogs. + +Much about this time the duke of Buckingham was under disgrace, for +things of another nature, and being disengaged from any particular +attachment in town, he and lord Rochester resolved, like Don Quixote +of old, to set out in quest of adventures; and they met with some that +will appear entertaining to our readers, which we shall give upon the +authority of the author of Rochester's Life, prefixed to his works. +Among many other adventures the following was one: + +There happened to be an inn on New-market road to be lett, they +disguised themselves in proper habits for the persons they were to +assume, and jointly took this inn, in which each in his turn +officiated as master; but they soon made this subservient to purposes +of another nature. + +Having carefully observed the pretty girls in the country with whom +they were most captivated, (they considered not whether maids, wives, +or widows) and to gain opportunities of seducing them, they invited +the neighbours, who had either wives or daughters, to frequent feasts, +where the men were plied hard with good liquor, and the women +sufficiently warmed to make but as little resistance as would be +agreeable to their inclinations, dealing out their poison to both +sexes, inspiring the men with wine, and other strong liquors, and the +women with love; thus they were able to deflower many a virgin, and +alienate the affections of many a wife by this odd stratagem; and it +is difficult to say, whether it is possible for two men to live to a +worse purpose. + +It is natural to imagine that this kind of life could not be of long +duration. Feasts so frequently given, and that without any thing to +pay, must give a strong suspicion that the inn-keepers must soon +break, or that they were of such fortune and circumstances, as did not +well suit the post they were in.--This their lordships were sensible +of, but not much concerned about it, since they were seldom found long +to continue in the same sort of adventures, variety being the life of +their enjoyments. It was besides, near the time of his Majesty's going +to Newmarket, when they designed, that the discovery of their real +plots, should clear them of the imputation of being concerned in any +more pernicious to the government. These two conjectures meeting, they +thought themselves obliged to dispatch two important adventures, which +they had not yet been able to compass.--There was an old covetous +miser in the neighbourhood, who notwithstanding his age, was in +possession of a very agreeable young wife. Her husband watched her +with the same assiduity he did his money, and never trusted her out of +his sight, but under the protection of an old maiden sister, who never +had herself experienced the joys of love, and bore no great +benevolence to all who were young and handsome. Our noble inn-keepers +had no manner of doubt of his accepting a treat, as many had done, for +he loved good living with all his heart, when it cost him nothing; and +except upon these occasions he was the most temperate and abstemious +man alive; but then they could never prevail with him to bring his +wife, notwithstanding they urged the presence of so many good wives in +the neighbourhood to keep her company. All their study was then how to +deceive the old sister at home, who was set as a guardian over that +fruit which the miser could neither eat himself, nor suffer any other +to taste; but such a difficulty as this was soon to be overcome by +such inventions. It was therefore agreed that lord Rochester should be +dressed in woman's cloaths, and while the husband was feasting with my +lord duke, he should make trial of his skill with the old woman at +home. He had learned that she had no aversion to the bottle when she +could come secretly and conveniently at it. Equipped like a country +lass, and furnished with a bottle of spiritous liquors, he marched to +the old miser's house. It was with difficulty he found means to speak +with the old woman, but at last obtained the favour; where perfect in +all the cant of those people, he began to tell the occasion of his +coming, in hopes she would invite him to come in, but all in vain; he +was admitted no further that the porch, with the house door a-jar: At +last, my lord finding no other way, fell upon this expedient. He +pretended to be taken suddenly ill, and tumbled down upon the +threshold. This noise brings the young wife to them, who with much +trouble persuades her keeper to help her into the house, in regard to +the decorum of her sex, and the unhappy condition she was in. The door +had not been long shut, till our imposter by degrees recovers, and +being set on a chair, cants a very religious thanksgiving to the good +gentlewoman for her kindness, and observed how deplorable it was to be +subject to such fits, which often took her in the street, and exposed +her to many accidents, but every now and then took a sip of the +bottle, and recommended it to the old benefactress, who was sure to +drink a hearty dram. His lordship had another bottle in his pocket +qualified with a Opium, which would sooner accomplish his desire, by +giving the woman a somniferous dose, which drinking with greediness, +she soon fell fast asleep. + +His lordship having so far succeeded, and being fired with the +presence of the young wife, for whom he had formed this odd scheme, +his desires became impetuous, which produced a change of colour, and +made the artless creature imagine the fit was returning. My lord then +asked if she would be so charitable as to let him lie down on the bed; +the good-natured young woman shewed him the way, and being laid down, +and staying by him at his request, he put her in mind of her +condition, asking about her husband, whom the young woman painted in +his true colours, as a surly, jealous old tyrant. The rural innocent +imagining she had only a woman with her, was less reserved in her +behaviour and expressions on that account, and his lordship soon found +that a tale of love would not be unpleasing to her. Being now no +longer able to curb his appetite, which was wound up beyond the power +of restraint, he declared his sex to her, and without much struggling +enjoyed her. + +He now became as happy as indulgence could make him; and when the +first transports were over, he contrived the escape of this young +adultress from the prison of her keeper. She hearkened to his +proposals with pleasure, and before the old gentlewoman was awake, she +robbed her husband of an hundred and fifty pieces, and marched off +with lord Rochester to the inn, about midnight. + +They were to pass over three or four fields before they could reach +it, and in going over the last, they very nearly escaped falling into +the enemy's hands; but the voice of the husband discovering who he +was, our adventurers struck down the field out of the path, and for +the greater security lay down in the grass. The place, the occasion, +and the person that was so near, put his lordship in mind of renewing +his pleasure almost in sight of the cuckold. The fair was no longer +coy, and easily yielded to his desires. He in short carried the girl +home and then prostituted her to the duke's pleasure, after he had +been cloyed himself. The old man going home, and finding his sitter +asleep, his wife fled, and his money gone, was thrown into a state of +madness, and soon hanged himself. The news was soon spread about the +neighbourhood, and reached the inn, where both lovers, now as weary of +their purchase as desirous of it before, advised her to go to London, +with which she complied, and in all probability followed there the +trade of prostitution for a subsistance. + +The King, soon after this infamous adventure, coming that way, found +them both in their posts at the inn, took them again into favour, and +suffered them to go with him to Newmarket. This exploit of lord +Rochester is not at all improbable, when his character is considered; +His treachery in the affair of the miser's wife is very like him; and +surely it was one of the greatest acts of baseness of which he was +ever guilty; he artfully seduced her, while her unsuspecting husband +was entertained by the duke of Buckingham; he contrived a robbery, and +produced the death of the injured husband; this complicated crime was +one of those heavy charges on his mind when he lay on his death-bed, +under the dreadful alarms of his conscience. + +His lordship's amours at court made a great noise in the world of +gallantry, especially that which he had with the celebrated Mrs. +Roberts, mistress to the King, whom she abondoned for the possession +of Rochester's heart, which she found to her experience, it was not in +her power long to hold. The earl, who was soon cloyed with the +possession of any one woman, tho' the fairest in the world, forsook +her. The lady after the first indignation of her passion subsided, +grew as indifferent, and considered upon the proper means of +retrieving the King's affections. The occasion was luckily given her +one morning while she was dressing: she saw the King coming by, she +hurried, down with her hair disheveled, threw herself at his feet, +implored his pardon, and vowed constancy for the future. The King, +overcome with the well-dissembled agonies of this beauty, raised her +up, took her in his arms, and protested no man could see her, and not +love her: he waited on her to her lodging, and there compleated the +reconciliation. This easy behaviour of the King, had, with many other +instances of the same kind, determined my lord Hallifax to assert, +"That the love of King Charles II, lay as much as any man's, in the +lower regions; that he was indifferent as to their constancy, and only +valued them for the sensual pleasure they could yield." + +Lord Rochester's frolics in the character of a mountebank are well +known, and the speech which he made upon the occasion of his first +turning itinerant doctor, has been often printed; there is in it a +true spirit of satire, and a keenness of lampoon, which is very much +in the character of his lordship, who had certainly an original turn +for invective and satirical composition. + +We shall give the following short extract from this celebrated speech, +in which his lordship's wit appears pretty conspicuous. + +"If I appear (says Alexander Bendo) to any one like a counterfeit, +even for the sake of that chiefly ought I to be construed a true man, +who is the counterfeit's example, his original, and that which he +employs his industry and pains to imitate and copy. Is it therefore my +fault if the cheat, by his wit and endeavours, makes himself so like +me, that consequently I cannot avoid resembling him? Consider, pray, +the valiant and the coward, the wealthy merchant and the bankrupt; the +politician and the fool; they are the same in many things, and differ +but in one alone. The valiant man holds up his hand, looks confidently +round about him, wears a sword, courts a lord's wife, and owns it; so +does the coward. One only point of honour, and that's courage, which +(like false metal, one only trial can discover) makes the distinction. +The bankrupt walks the exchange, buys bargains, draws bills, and +accepts them with the richest, whilst paper and credit are current +coin; that which makes the difference is real cash, a great defect +indeed, and yet but one, and that the last found out, and still till +then the least perceived.--Now for the politician; he is a grave, +diliberating, close, prying man: Pray are there not grave, +deliberating, close, prying fools? If therefore the difference betwixt +all these (tho' infinite in effect) be so nice in all appearance, will +you yet expect it should be otherwise between the false physician, +astrologer, &c. and the true? The first calls himself learned doctor, +sends forth his bills, gives physic and council, tells, and foretells; +the other is bound to do just as much. It is only your experience must +distinguish betwixt them, to which I willingly submit myself." + +When lord Rochester was restored again to the favour of King Charles +II, he continued the same extravagant pursuits of pleasure, and would +even use freedoms with that Prince, whom he had before so much +offended; for his satire knew no bounds, his invention was lively, and +his execution sharp. + +He is supposed to have contrived with one of Charles's mistress's the +following stratagem to cure that monarch of the nocturnal rambles to +which he addicted himself. He agreed to go out one night with him to +visit a celebrated house of intrigue, where he told his Majesty the +finest women in England were to be found. The King made no scruple to +assume his usual disguise and accompany him, and while he was engaged +with one of the ladies of pleasure, being before instructed by +Rochester how to behave, she pick'd his pocket of all his money and +watch, which the king did not immediately miss. Neither the people of +the house, nor the girl herself was made acquainted with the quality +of their visitor, nor had the least suspicion who he was. When the +intrigue was ended, the King enquired for Rochester, but was told he +had quitted the house, without taking leave. But into what +embarassment was he thrown when upon searching his pockets, in order +to discharge the reckoning, he found his money gone; he was then +reduced to ask the favour of the Jezebel to give him credit till +tomorrow, as the gentleman who came in with him had not returned, who +was to have pay'd for both. The consequence of this request was, he +was abused, and laughed at; and the old woman told him, that she had +often been served such dirty tricks, and would not permit him to stir +till the reckoning was paid, and then called one of her bullies to +take care of him. In this ridiculous distress stood the British +monarch; the prisoner of a bawd, and the life upon whom the nation's +hopes were fixed, put in the power of a ruffian. After many +altercations the King at last proposed, that she should accept a ring +which he then took off his finger, in pledge for her money, which she +likewise refused, and told him, that as she was no judge of the value +of the ring, she did not chuse to accept such pledges. The King then +desired that a Jeweller might be called to give his opinion of the +value of it, but he was answered, that the expedient was +impracticable, as no jeweller could then be supposed to be out of bed. +After much entreaty his Majesty at last prevailed upon the fellow, to +knock up a jeweller and shew him the ring, which as soon as he had +inspected, he stood amazed, and enquired, with eyes fixed upon the +fellow, who he had got in his house? to which he answered, a +black-looking ugly son of a w----, who had no money in his pocket, and +was obliged to pawn his ring. The ring, says the jeweller, is so +immensely rich, that but one man in the nation could afford to wear +it; and that one is the King. The jeweller being astonished at this +accident, went out with the bully, in order to be fully satisfied of +so extraordinary an affair; and as soon as he entered the room, he +fell on his knees, and with the utmost respect presented the ring to +his Majesty. The old Jezebel and the bully finding the extraordinary +quality of their guest, were now confounded, and asked pardon most +submissively on their knees. The King in the best natured manner +forgave them, and laughing, asked them, whether the ring would not +bear another bottle. + +Thus ended this adventure, in which the King learned how dangerous it +was to risk his person in night-frolics; and could not but severely +reprove Rochester for acting such a part towards him; however he +sincerely resolved never again to be guilty of the like indiscretion. + +These are the most material of the adventures, and libertine courses +of the lord Rochester, which historians and biographers have +transmitted to posterity; we shall now consider him as an author. + +He seems to have been too strongly tinctured with that vice which +belongs more to literary people, than to any other profession under +the fun, viz. envy. That lord Rochester was envious, and jealous of +the reputation of other men of eminence, appears abundantly clear from +his behaviour to Dryden, which could proceed from no other principle; +as his malice towards him had never discovered itself till the +tragedies of that great poet met with such general applause, and his +poems were universally esteemed. Such was the inveteracy he shewed to +Mr. Dryden, that he set up John Crown, an obscure man, in opposition +to him, and recommended him to the King to compose a masque for the +court, which was really the business of the poet laureat; but when +Crown's Conquest of Jerusalem met with as extravagant success as +Dryden's Almanzor's, his lordship then withdrew his favour from Crown, +as if he would be still in contradiction to the public. His malice to +Dryden is said to have still further discovered itself, in hiring +ruffians to cudgel him for a satire he was supposed to be the author +of, which was at once malicious, cowardly, and cruel: But of this we +shall give a fuller account in the life of Mr. Dryden. + +Mr. Wolsely, in his preface to Valentinian, a tragedy, altered by lord +Rochester from Fletcher, has given a character of his lordship and his +writings, by no means consistent with that idea, which other writers, +and common tradition, dispose us to form of him. + +'He was a wonderful man, says he, whether we consider the constant +good sense, and agreeable mirth of his ordinary conversation, or the +vast reach and compass of his inventions, and the amazing depth of his +retired thoughts; the uncommon graces of his fashion, or the +inimitable turns of his wit, the becoming gentleness, the bewitching +softness of his civility, or the force and fitness of his satire; for +as he was both the delight, the love, and the dotage of the women, so +was he a continued curb to impertinence, and the public censure of +folly; never did man stay in his company unentertained, or leave it +uninstructed; never was his understanding biassed, or his pleasantness +forced; never did he laugh in the wrong place, or prostitute his sense +to serve his luxury; never did he stab into the wounds of fallen +virtue, with a base and a cowardly insult, or smooth the face of +prosperous villany, with the paint and washes of a mercenary wit; +never did he spare a sop for being rich, or flatter a knave for being +great. He had a wit that was accompanied with an unaffected greatness +of mind, and a natural love to justice and truth; a wit that was in +perpetual war with knavery, and ever attacking those kind of vices +most, whose malignity was like to be the most dissusive, such as +tended more immediately to the prejudice of public bodies; and were a +common nusance to the happiness of human kind. Never was his pen drawn +but on the side of good sense, and usually employed like the arms of +the ancient heroes, to stop the progress of arbitrary oppression, and +beat down the brutishness of headstrong will: to do his King and +country justice, upon such public state thieves as would beggar a +kingdom to enrich themselves: these were the vermin whom to his +eternal honour his pen was continually pricking and goading; a pen, if +not so happy in the success, yet as generous in the aim, as either the +sword of Theseus, or the club of Hercules; nor was it less sharp than +that, or less weighty than this. If he did not take so much care of +himself as he ought, he had the humanity however, to wish well to +others; and I think I may truly affirm he did the world as much good +by a right application of satire, as he hurt himself by a wrong +pursuit of pleasure.' + +In this amiable light has Mr. Wolsely drawn our author, and nothing is +more certain, than that it is a portraiture of the imagination, warmed +with gratitude, or friendship, and bears but little or no resemblance +to that of Rochester; can he whose satire is always levelled at +particular persons, be said to be the terror of knaves, and the public +foe of vice, when he himself has acknowledged that he satirized only +to gratify his resentment; for it was his opinion, that writing +satires without being in a rage, was like killing in cold blood. Was +his conversation instructive whose mouth was full of obscenity; and +was he a friend to his country, who diffused a dangerous venom thro' +his works to corrupt its members? in which, it is to be feared he has +been but too successful. Did he never smooth the face of prosperous +villainy, as, Mr. Wolsely expresses it, the scope of whose life was to +promote and encourage the most licentious debauchery, and to unhinge +all the principles of honour?--Either Mr. Wolsely must be strangely +mistaken? or all other writers who have given us accounts of Rochester +must be so; and as his single assertions are not equal to the united +authorities of so many, we may reasonably reject his testimony as a +deviation from truth. + +We have now seen these scenes of my lord Rochester's life, in which he +appears to little advantage; it is with infinite pleasure we can take +a view of the brighter side of his character; to do which, we must +attend him to his death-bed. Had he been the amiable man Mr. Wolsely +represents him, he needed not have suffered so many pangs of remorse, +nor felt the horrors of conscience, nor been driven almost to despair +by his reflexions on a mispent life. + +Rochester lived a profligate, but he died a penitent. He lived in +defiance of all principles; but when he felt the cold hand of death +upon him, he reflected on his folly, and saw that the portion of +iniquity is, at last, sure to be only pain and anguish. + +Dr. Burnet, the excellent bishop of Sarum (however he may be reviled +by a party) with many other obligations conferred upon the world, has +added some account of lord Rochester in his dying moments. No state +policy in this case, can well be supposed to have biased him, and when +there are no motives to falsehood, it is somewhat cruel to discredit +assertions. The Dr. could not be influenced by views of interest to +give this, or any other account of his lordship; and could certainly +have no other incentive, but that of serving his country, by shewing +the instability of vice, and, by drawing into light an illustrious +penitent, adding one wreath more to the banners of virtue. + +Burnet begins with telling us, that an accident fell out in the early +part of the Earl's life, which in its consequences confirmed him in +the pursuit of vicious courses. + +"When he went to sea in the year 1665, there happened to be in the +same ship with him, Mr. Montague, and another gentleman of quality; +these two, the former especially, seemed persuaded that they mould +never return into England. Mr. Montague said, he was sure of it; the +other was not so positive. The earl of Rochester and the last of these +entered into a formal engagement, not without ceremonies of religion, +that if either of them died, he should appear and give the other +notice of the future state, if there was any. But Mr. Montague would +not enter into the bond. When the Day came that they thought to have +taken the Dutch fleet in the port of Bergen, Mr. Montague, tho' he had +such a strong presage in his mind of his approaching death, yet he +bravely stayed all the while in the place of the greatest danger. The +other gentleman signalized his courage in the most undaunted manner, +till near the end of the action; when he fell on a sudden into such a +trembling, that he could scarce stand: and Mr. Montague going to him +to hold him up, as they were in each other; arms, a cannon ball +carried away Mr. Montague's belly, so that he expired in an hour +after." + +The earl of Rochester told Dr. Burnet, that these presages they had in +their minds, made some impression on him that there were separate +beings; and that the soul either by a natural sagacity, or some secret +notice communicated to it, had a sort of divination. But this +gentleman's never appearing was a snare to him during the rest of his +life: Though when he mentioned this, he could not but acknowledge, it +was an unreasonable thing for him to think that beings in another +state were not under such laws and limits that they could not command +their motion, but as the supreme power should order them; and that one +who had so corrupted the natural principles of truth as he had, had no +reason to expect that miracles should be wrought for his conviction. + +He told Dr. Burnet another odd presage of approaching death, in lady +Ware, his mother-in-law's family. The chaplain had dreamed that such a +day he should die; but being by all the family laughed out of the +belief of it, he had almost forgot it, till the evening before at +supper; there being thirteen at table, according to an old conceit +that one of the family must soon die; one of the young ladies pointed +to him, that he was the person. Upon this the chaplain recalling to +mind his dream, fell into some disorder, and the lady Ware reproving +him for his superstition, he said, he was confident he was to die +before morning; but he being in perfect health, it was not much +minded. It was saturday night, and he was to preach next day. He went +to his chamber and set up late as it appeared by the burning of his +candle; and he had been preparing his notes for his sermon, but was +found dead in his bed next morning. + +These things his lordship said, made him incline to believe that the +soul was of a substance distinct from matter; but that which convinced +him of it was, that in his last sickness, which brought him so near +his death, when his spirits were so spent he could not move or stir, +and did not hope to live an hour, he said his reason and judgment were +so clear and strong, that from thence he was fully persuaded, that +death was not the dissolution of the soul, but only the separation of +it from matter. He had in that sickness great remorse for his past +life; but he afterwards said, they were rather general and dark +horrors, than any conviction of transgression against his maker; he +was sorry he had lived so as to waste his strength so soon, or that he +had brought such an ill name upon himself; and had an agony in his +mind about it, which he knew not well how to express, but believed +that these impunctions of conscience rather proceeded from the horror +of his condition, than any true contrition for the errors of his life. + +During the time Dr. Burnet was at lord Rochester's house, they entered +frequently into conversation upon the topics of natural and reveal'd +religion, which the Dr. endeavoured to enlarge upon and explain in a +manner suitable to the condition of a dying penitent; his lordship +expressed much contrition for his having so often violated the laws of +the one, against his better knowledge, and having spurned the +authority of the other in the pride of wanton sophistry. He declared +that he was satisfied of the truth of the christian religion, that he +thought it the institution of heaven, and afforded the most natural +idea of the supreme being, as well as the most forcible motives to +virtue of any faith professed amongst men. + +'He was not only satisfied (says Dr. Burnet) of the truth of our holy +religion, merely as a matter of speculation, but was persuaded +likewise of the power of inward grace, of which he gave me this +strange account. He said Mr. Parsons, in order to his conviction, read +to him the 53d chapter of the prophesies of Isaiah, and compared that +with the history of our Saviour's passion, that he might there see a +prophesy concerning it, written many ages before it was done; which +the Jews that blasphemed Jesus Christ still kept in their hands as a +book divinely inspired. He said, as he heard it read, he felt an +inward force upon him, which did so enlighten his mind and convince +him, that he could resist it no longer, for the words had an authority +which did shoot like rays or beams in his mind, so that he was not +only convinced by the reasonings he had about it, which satisfied his +understanding, but by a power, which did so effectually constrain him +that he ever after firmly believed in his Saviour, as if he had seen +him in the clouds.' + +We are not quite certain whether there is not a tincture of enthusiasm +in this account given by his lordship, as it is too natural to fly +from one extreme to another, from the excesses of debauchery to the +gloom of methodism; but even if we suppose this to have been the case, +he was certainly in the safest extreme; and there is more comfort in +hearing that a man whose life had been so remarkably profligate as +his, should die under such impressions, than quit the world without +one pang for past offences. + +The bishop gives an instance of the great alteration of his lordship's +temper and dispositions (from what they were formerly) in his +sickness. 'Whenever he happened to be out of order, either by pain or +sickness, his temper became quite ungovernable, and his passions so +fierce, that his servants were afraid to approach him. But in this +last sickness he was all humility, patience, and resignation. Once he +was a little offended with the delay of a servant, who he thought made +not haste enough, with somewhat he called for, and said in a little +heat, that damn'd fellow.' Soon after, says the Dr. I told him that I +was glad to find his stile so reformed, and that he had so entirely +overcome that ill habit of swearing, only that word of calling any +damned which had returned upon him was not decent; his answer was, 'O +that language of fiends, which was so familiar to me, hangs yet about +me, sure none has deserved more to be damned than I have done; and +after he had humbly asked God pardon for it, he desired me to call the +person to him that he might ask him forgiveness; but I told him that +was needless, for he had said it of one who did not hear it, and so +could not be offended by it. In this disposition of mind, continues +the bishop, all the while I was with him four days together; he was +then brought so low that all hope of recovery was gone. Much purulent +matter came from him with his urine, which he passed always with pain, +but one day with inexpressible torment; yet he bore it decently, +without breaking out into repinings, or impatient complaints. Nature +being at last quite exhausted, and all the floods of life gone, he +died without a groan on the 26th of July 1680, in the 33d year of his +age. A day or two before his death he lay much silent, and seemed +extremely devout in his contemplations; he was frequently observed to +raise his eyes to heaven, and send forth ejaculations to the searcher +of hearts, who saw his penitence, and who, he hoped, would forgive +him.' + +Thus died lord Rochester, an amazing instance of the goodness of God, +who permitted him to enjoy time, and inclined his heart to penitence. +As by his life he was suffered to set an example of the most abandoned +dissoluteness to the world; so by his death, he was a lively +demonstration of the fruitlessness of vicious courses, and may be +proposed as an example to all those who are captivated with the charms +of guilty pleasure. + +Let all his failings now sleep with him in the grave, and let us only +think of his closing moments, his penitence, and reformation. Had he +been permitted to have recovered his illness, it is reasonable to +presume he would have been as lively an example of virtue as he had +ever been of vice, and have born his testimony in favour of religion. + +He left behind him a son named Charles, who dying on the 12th of +November, was buried by his father on the 7th of December following: +he also left behind him three daughters. The male line ceasing, +Charles II. conferred the title of earl of Rochester on Lawrence +viscount Killingworth, a younger son of Edward earl of Clarendon. + +We might now enumerate his lordship's writings, of which we have +already given some character; but unhappily for the world they are too +generally diffused, and we think ourselves under no obligations to +particularize those works which have been so fruitful of mischief to +society, by promoting a general corruption of morals; and which he +himself in his last moments wished he could recal, or rather that he +never had composed. + +Footnotes: +1. See the Life of Sheffield Duke of Buckingham. +2. The Duchess of Portsmouth. + + * * * * * + + + + + GEORGE VILLIERS, Duke of BUCKINGHAM. + + +Son and heir of George, duke, marquis, and earl of Buckingham, +murdered by Felton in the year 1628. This nobleman was born at +Wallingford-House in the parish of St. Martin's in the Fields on the +30th of January 1627, and baptized there on the 14th of February +following, by Dr. Laud, then bishop of Bath and Wells, afterwards +archbishop of Canterbury. + +Before we proceed to give any particulars of our noble author's life, +we must entreat the reader's indulgence to take a short view of the +life of his grace's father, in which, some circumstances extremely +curious will appear; and we are the more emboldened to venture upon +this freedom, as some who have written this life before us, have taken +the same liberty, by which the reader is no loser; for the first duke +of Buckingham was a man whose prosperity was so instantaneous, his +honours so great, his life so dissipated, and his death so remarkable, +that as no minister ever enjoyed so much power, so no man ever drew +the attention of the world more upon him. No sooner had he returned +from his travels, and made his first appearance at court, than he +became a favourite with King James, who, (says Clarendon) 'of all wise +men he ever knew, was most delighted and taken with handsome persons +and fine cloaths.' + +He had begun to be weary of his favourite the earl of Somerset, who +was the only one who kept that post so long, without any public +reproach from the people, till at last he was convicted of the horrid +conspiracy against the life of Sir Thomas Overbury, and condemned as a +murderer. While these things were in agitation, Villiers appeared at +court; he was according to all accounts, the gayest and handsomest man +in his time, of an open generous temper, of an unreserved affability, +and the most engaging politeness. + +In a few days he was made cup-bearer to the King, by which he was of +course to be much in his presence, and so admitted to that +conversation with which that prince always abounded at his meals. He +had not acted five weeks on this stage, to use the noble historian's +expression, till he mounted higher, being knighted, and made gentleman +of the bed-chamber, and knight of the most noble order of the garter, +and in a short time a baron, a viscount, an earl, a marquis, and lord +high-admiral of England, lord warden of the cinque ports, master of +the horse, and entirely disposed all the favours of the King, acting +as absolutely in conferring honours and distinctions, as if he himself +had wore the diadem. + +We find him soon after making war or peace, according to humour, +resentment, or favour. He carried the prince of Wales into Spain to +see the Infanta, who was proposed to him as a wife; and it plainly +enough appears, that he was privy to one intrigue of prince Charles, +and which was perhaps the only one, which that prince, whom all +historians, whether friends or enemies to his cause; have agreed to +celebrate for chastity, and the temperate virtues. There is an +original letter of prince Charles to the duke, which was published by +Mr. Thomas Hearne, and is said once to have belonged to archbishop +Sancroft. As it is a sort of curiosity we shall here insert it, + +"STENNY, + +"I have nothing now to write to you, but to give you thankes both for +the good councell ye gave me, and for the event of it. The King gave +mee a good sharpe potion, but you took away the working of it by the +well relished comfites ye sent after it. I have met with the partie, +that must not be named, once alreddie, and the culler of wryting this +letter shall make mee meet with her on saturday, although it is +written the day being thursday. So assuring you that the bus'ness goes +safely onn, I rest + + "Your constant friend + "CHARLES. + +"I hope you will not shew the King this letter, but put it in the safe +custody of mister Vulcan." + +It was the good fortune of this nobleman to have an equal interest +with the son as with the father; and when prince Charles ascended the +throne, his power was equally extensive, and as before gave such +offence to the House of Commons and the people, that he was voted an +enemy to the realm, and his Majesty was frequently addressed to remove +him from his councils. Tho' Charles I. had certainly more virtues, and +was of a more military turn than his father, yet in the circumstance +of doating upon favourites, he was equally weak. His misfortune was, +that he never sufficiently trusted his own judgment, which was often +better than that of his servants; and from this diffidence he was +tenacious of a minister of whose abilities he had a high opinion, and +in whose fidelity he put confidence. + +The duke at last became so obnoxious, that it entered into the head of +an enthusiast, tho' otherwise an honest man, one lieutenant Felton, +that to assassinate this court favourite, this enemy of the realm, +would be doing a grateful thing to his country by ridding it of one +whose measures in his opinion, were likely soon to destroy it.-- + +The fate of the duke was now approaching, and it is by far the most +interesting circumstance in his life. + +We shall insert, in the words of the noble historian, the particular +account of it. + +'John Felton, an obscure man in his own person, who had been bred a +soldier, and lately a lieutenant of foot, whose captain had been +killed on the retreat at the Isle of Ree, upon which he conceived that +the company of right ought to have been conferred upon him; and it +being refused him by the duke of Buckingham, general of the army, had +given up his commission and withdrawn himself from the army. He was of +a melancholic nature, and had little conversation with any body, yet +of a gentleman's family in Suffolk, of a good fortune, and reputation. +From the time that he had quitted the army he resided at London; when +the House of Commons, transported with passion and prejudice against +the duke, had accused him to the House of Peers for several +misdemeanors and miscarriages, and in some declarations had stiled him +the cause of all the evils the kingdom suffered, and an enemy to the +public. + +'Some transcripts of such expressions, and some general invectives he +met with amongst the people, to whom this great man was not grateful, +wrought so far upon this melancholic gentleman, that he began to +believe he should do God good service if he killed the duke. He chose +no other instrument to do it than an ordinary knife, which he bought +of a common cutler for a shilling, and thus provided, he repaired to +Portsmouth, where he arrived the eve of St. Bartholomew. The duke was +then there, in order to prepare and make ready the fleet and the army, +with which he resolved in a few days to transport himself to the +relief of Rochelle, which was then besieged by cardinal Richelieu, and +for the relief whereof the duke was the more obliged, by reason that +at his being at the Isle of Ree, he had received great supplies of +victuals, and some companies of their garrison from the town, the want +of both which they were at this time very sensible of, and grieved at. + +'This morning of St. Bartholomew, the duke had received letters, in +which he was advertised, that Rochelle had relieved itself; upon which +he directed that his breakfast might be speedily made ready, and he +would make haste to acquaint the King with the good news, the court +being then at Southwick, about five miles from Portsmouth. The chamber +in which he was dressing himself was full of company, and of officers +in the fleet and army. There was Monsieur de Soubize, brother to the +duke de Rohan, and other French gentlemen, who were very sollicitous +for the embarkation of the army, and for the departure of the fleet +for the relief of Rochelle; and they were at that time in much trouble +and and perplexity, out of apprehension that the news the duke had +received that morning might slacken the preparations of the voyage, +which their impatience and interest, persuaded them was not advanced +with expedition; and so they held much discourse with the duke of the +impossibility that his intelligence could be true, and that it was +contrived by the artifice and dexterity of their enemies, in order to +abate the warmth and zeal that was used for their relief, the arrival +of which relief, those enemies had much reason to apprehend; and a +longer delay in sending it, would ease them of that terrible +apprehension; their forts and works towards the sea, and in the +harbour being almost finished. + +'This discourse, according to the natural custom of that nation, and +by the usual dialect of that language, was held with such passion and +vehemence, that the standers-by who understood not French, did believe +they were angry, and that they used the duke rudely. He being ready, +and informed that his breakfast was ready, drew towards the door, +where the hangings were held up; and in that very passage turning +himself to speak with Sir Thomas Fryer, a colonel of the army, who was +then speaking near his ear, he was on a sudden struck over his +shoulder upon the breast with a knife; upon which, without using any +other words, than that the villain has killed me, and in the same +moment pulling out the knife himself, he fell down dead, the knife +having pierced his heart. No man had ever seen the blow, or the man +who gave it; but in the confusion they were in, every man made his own +conjecture, and declared it as a thing known, most agreeing, that it +was done by the French, from the angry discourse they thought they had +heard from them, and it was a kind of miracle, that they were not all +killed that instant: The sober sort that preserved them from it, +having the same opinion of their guilt, and only reserving them for a +more judicial examination, and proceeding. + +'In the crowd near the door, there was found upon the ground a hat, in +the inside whereof, there was sewed upon the crown a paper, in which +were writ four or five lines of that declaration made by the House of +Commons, in which they had stiled the duke an enemy to the kingdom; +and under it a short ejaculation towards a prayer. It was easily +enough concluded, that the hat belonged to the person who had +committed the murder, but the difficulty remained still as great, who +that person should be; for the writing discovered nothing of the name; +and whosoever it was, it was very natural to believe, that he was gone +far enough not to be found without a hat. In this hurry, one running +one way, another another way, a man was seen walking before the door +very composedly without a hat; whereupon one crying out, here's the +fellow that killed the duke, upon which others run thither, every body +asking which was he; to which the man without the hat very composedly +answered, I am he. Thereupon some of those who were most furious +suddenly run upon the man with their drawn swords to kill him; but +others, who were at least equally concerned in the loss and in the +sense of it, defended him; himself with open arms very calmly and +chearfully exposing himself to the fury and swords of the most +enraged, as being very willing to fall a sacrifice to their sudden +anger, rather than be kept for deliberate justice, which he knew must +be executed upon him. + +'He was now enough known, and easily discovered to be that Felton, +whom we mentioned before, who had been a lieutenant in the army; he +was quickly carried into a private room by the persons of the best +condition, some whereof were in authority, who first thought fit, so +far to dissemble, as to mention the duke only grievously wounded, but +not without hopes of recovery. Upon which Felton smiled, and said, he +knew well enough he had given him a blow that had determined all their +hopes. Being then asked at whose instigation he had performed that +horrid, wretched act, he answered them with a wonderful assurance, +That they should not trouble themselves in that enquiry; that no man +living had credit or power enough with him to have engaged or disposed +him, to such an action, that he had never entrusted his purpose or +resolution to any man; that it proceeded from himself, and the impulse +of his own conscience, and that the motives thereunto will appear if +his hat were found. He spoke very frankly of what he had done, and +bore the reproaches of them that spoke to him, with the temper of a +man who thought he had not done amiss. But after he had been in prison +some time, where he was treated without any rigour, and with humanity +enough; and before and at his tryal, which was about four months +after, at the King's Bench, he behaved himself with great modesty, and +wonderful repentance; being as he said convinced in his conscience +that he had done wickedly, and asked pardon of the King and Duchess, +and all the Duke's servants, whom he acknowledged he had offended, and +very earnestly besought the judges that he might have his hand struck +off, with which he had performed that impious act before he should be +put to death.' + +This is the account lord Clarendon gives in the first volume of his +history, of the fall of this great favourite, which serves to throw a +melancholy veil over the splendor of his life, and demonstrates the +extreme vanity of exterior pomp, and the danger those are exposed to +who move on the precipice of power. It serve[s] to shew that of all +kind of cruelty, that which is the child of enthusiasm is the word, as +it is founded upon something that has the appearance of principles; +and as it is more stedfast, so does it diffuse more mischief than that +cruelty which flows from the agitations of passion: Felton blindly +imagined he did God service by assassination, and the same unnatural +zeal would perhaps have prompted him to the murder of a thousand more, +who in his opinion were enemies to their country. + +The above-mentioned historian remarks, that there were several +prophecies and predictions scattered about, concerning the duke's +death; and then proceeds to the relation of the most astonishing story +we have ever met with. + +As this anecdote is countenanced by so great a name, I need make no +apology for inserting it, it has all the evidence the nature of the +thing can admit of, and is curious in itself. + +'There was an officer in the King's wardrobe in Windsor-Castle of a +good reputation for honesty and discretion, and then about the age of +fifty years, or more. This man had been bred in his youth in a school +in the parish where Sir George Villiers the father of the Duke lived, +and had been much cherished and obliged in that season of his age, by +the said Sir George, whom afterwards he never saw. About six months +before the miserable end of the duke of Buckingham, about midnight, +this man, being in his bed at Windsor, where his office was, and in +very good health, there appeared to him, on the side of his bed, a man +of very venerable aspect, who fixing his eyes upon him, asked him, if +he knew him; the poor man half dead with fear, and apprehension, being +asked the second time, whether he remembered him, and having in that +time called to his memory, the presence of Sir George Villiers, and +the very cloaths he used to wear, in which at that time he used to be +habited; he answered him, That he thought him to be that person; he +replied, that he was in the right, that he was the same, and that he +expected a service from him; which was, that he should go from him to +his son the duke of Buckingham, and tell him, if he did not somewhat +to ingratiate himself to the people, or at least, to abate the extreme +malice they had against him, he would be suffered to live but a short +time, and after this discourse he disappeared, and the poor man, if he +had been at all waking, slept very well till the morning, when he +believed all this to be a dream, and considered it no otherwise. + +'Next night, or shortly after, the same person appeared to him again +in the same place, and about the same time of the night, with an +aspect a little more severe than before; and asking him whether he had +done as he required him? and perceiving he had not, he gave him very +severe reprehensions, and told him, he expected more compliance from +him; and that if he did not perform his commands, he should enjoy no +peace of mind, but should be always pursued by him: Upon which he +promised to obey him. + +'But the next morning waking exceedingly perplexed with the lively +representation of all that had passed, he considered that he was a +person at such a distance from the duke, that he knew not how to find +any admittance into his presence, much less any hope to be believed in +what he should say, so with great trouble and unquietness he spent +some time in thinking what he should do. The poor man had by this time +recovered the courage to tell him, That in truth he had deferred the +execution of his commands, upon considering how difficult a thing it +would be for him to get access to the duke, having acquaintance with +no person about him; and if he could obtain admission to him, he would +never be able to persuade him that he was sent in such a manner, but +he should at best be thought to be mad, or to be set on and employed +by his own or the malice of other men to abuse the duke, and so he +should be sure to be undone. The person replied, as he had done +before, that he should never find rest, till he should perform what he +required, and therefore he were better to dispatch it; that the access +to his son was known to be very easy; and that few men waited long for +him, and for the gaining him credit, he would tell him two or three +particulars, which he charged him never to mention to any person +living, but to the duke himself; and he should no sooner hear them, +but he would believe all the rest he should say; and so repeating his +threats he left him. + +'In the morning the poor man more confirmed by the last appearance, +made his journey to London, where the court then was. He was very well +known to Sir Ralph Freeman, one of the masters of the requests, who +had married a lady that was nearly allied to the duke, and was himself +well received by him. To him this man went; and tho' he did not +acquaint him with all the particulars, he said enough to him to let +him see there was somewhat extraordinary in it, and the knowledge he +had of the sobriety and discretion of the man, made the more +impression on him. He desired that by his means he might be brought to +the duke, to such a place, and in such a manner as should be thought +fit; affirming, that he had much to say to him; and of such a nature +as would require much privacy, and some time and patience in the +hearing. Sir Ralph promised he would speak first to the duke of him, +and then he should understand his pleasure, and accordingly on the +first opportunity he did inform him of the reputation and honesty of +the man, and then what he desired, and all he knew of the matter. The +duke according to his usual openness and condescension told him, that +he was the next day, early, to hunt with the King; that his horses +should attend him to Lambeth Bridge, where he would land by five +o'Clock in the morning, and if the man attended him there at that +hour, he would walk and speak with him as long as should be necessary. +Sir Ralph carried the man with him next morning, and presented him to +the duke at his landing, who received him courteously, and walked +aside in conference near an hour, none but his own servants being at +that hour near the place, and they and Sir Ralph at such a distance, +that they could not hear a word, though the duke sometimes spoke, and +with great commotion, which Sir Ralph the more easily perceived, +because he kept his eyes always fixed upon the duke; having procured +the conference, upon somewhat he knew, there was of extraordinary; and +the man told him in his return over the water, that when he mentioned +those particulars, which were to gain him credit, the substance +whereof he said he durst not impart to him, the duke's colour changed, +and he swore he could come by that knowledge only by the devil, for +that those particulars were known only to himself, and to one person +more, who, he was sure, would never speak of it. + +'The duke pursued his purpose of hunting, but was observed to ride all +the morning with great pensiveness, and in deep thoughts, without any +delight in the exercise he was upon, and before the morning was spent, +left the field, and alighted at his mother's lodgings at Whitehall, +with whom he was shut up for the space of two or three hours, the +noise of their discourse frequently reaching the ears of those who +attended in the next rooms and when the duke left her, his countenance +appeared full of trouble, with a mixture of anger: a countenance that +was never before observed in him in any conversation with her, towards +whom he had a profound reverence, and the countess herself was, at the +duke's leaving her, found overwhelmed in tears, and in the highest +agony imaginable; whatever there was of all this, it is a notorious +truth, that when the news of the duke's murder (which happened within +a few months) was brought to his mother, she seemed not in the least +degree surprized, but received it as if she had foreseen it, nor did +afterwards express such a degree of sorrow, as was expected from such +a mother, for the loss of such a son.' + +This is the representation which lord Clarendon gives of this +extraordinary circumstance, upon which I shall not presume to make any +comment; but if ever departed spirits were permitted to interest +themselves with human affairs, and as Shakespear expresses it, revisit +the glimpses of the moon, it seems to have been upon this occasion: at +least there seems to be such rational evidence of it, as no man, +however fortified against superstition, can well resist. + +But let us now enter upon the life of the son of this great man; who, +if he was inferior to his father as a statesman, was superior in wit, +and wanted only application to have made a very great figure, even in +the senate, but his love of pleasure was immoderate, which embarrassed +him in the pursuit of any thing solid or praise-worthy. + +He was an infant when his father's murder was perpetrated, and +received his early education from several domestic tutors, and was +afterwards sent to the university of Cambridge: when he had finished +his course there, he travelled with his brother lord Francis, under +the care of William Aylesbury, esquire. Upon his return, which was +after the breaking out of the civil wars, he was conducted to Oxford, +and presented to his Majesty, then there, and entered into Christ +Church. Upon the decline of the King's cause, the young duke of +Buckingham attended Prince Charles into Scotland, and was present in +the year 1651 at the battle of Worcester, where he escaped beyond sea, +and was soon after made knight of the garter. He came afterwards +privately into England, and, November 19, 1657, married Mary, the +daughter and heir of Thomas lord Fairfax, by whose interest he +recovered all or most of his estate, which he had lost before. After +the restoration, at which time he is said to have possessed an estate +of 20,000 l. per annum, he was made one of the lords of the King's +bed-chamber, and of the privy council, lord lieutenant of Yorkshire, +and, at last, master of the horse. + +In the year 1666, being discovered to have maintained secret +correspondence by letters, and other transactions, tending to raise +mutinies among some of his Majesty's forces, and stir up sedition +among his people, and to have carried on other traiterous designs and +practices, he absconded, upon which a proclamation was issued the same +year for apprehending him. Mr. Thomas Carte, in his Life of the Duke +of Ormond[1], tells us, 'that the duke's being denied the post of +president of the North, was probably the reason of his disaffection to +the King; and, that just before the recess of the Parliament, one Dr. +John Heydon was taken up for treasonable practices, in sowing a +sedition in the navy, and engaging persons in a conspiracy to seize +the Tower. The man was a pretender to great skill in astrology, but +had lost much of his reputation, by prognosticating the hanging of +Oliver to his son Richard Cromwel and Thurloe, who came to him in +disguise, for the calculation of nativities, being dressed like +distressed cavaliers. He was for that put into prison, and continued +in confinement sixteen months, whilst Cromwel outlived the prediction +four years. This insignificant fellow was mighty great with the duke +of Buckingham, who, notwithstanding the vanity of the art, and the +notorious ignorance of the professor of it, made him cast not only his +own, but the King's nativity; a matter of dangerous curiosity, and +condemned by a statute which could only be said to be antiquated, +because it had not for a long time been put in execution. This fellow +he had likewise employed, among others, to excite the seamen to +mutiny, as he had given money to other rogues to put on jackets to +personate seamen, and to go about the country begging in that garb, +and exclaiming for want of pay, while the people oppressed with taxes, +were cheated of their money by the great officers of the crown. Heydon +pretended to have been in all the duke's secrets, for near four years +past, and that he had been all that time designing against the King +and his government, that his grace thought the present reason +favourable for the execution of his design, and had his agents at work +in the navy and in the kingdom, to ripen the general discontents of +the people, and dispose them to action, that he had been importuned by +him to head the first party he could get together, and engage in an +insurrection, the duke declaring his readiness to appear and join in +the undertaking, as soon as the affair was begun. Some to whom Heydon +unbosomed himself, and had been employed by him to carry letters to +the duke of Buckingham, discovered the design. Heydon was taken up, +and a serjeant at arms sent with a warrant by his Majesty's express +order to take up the duke, who, having defended his house by force, +for some time at least, found means to escape. The King knew +Buckingham to be capable of the blackest designs, and was highly +incensed at him for his conduct last sessions, and insinuating that +spirit into the Commons, which had been so much to the detriment of +the public service. He could not forbear expressing himself with more +bitterness against the duke, than was ever dropped from him upon any +other occasion. When he was sollicited in his behalf, he frankly said, +that he had been the cause of continuing the war, for the Dutch would +have made a very low submission, had the Parliament continued their +first vigorous vote of supplying him, but the duke's cabals had +lessened his interest both abroad and at home, with regard to the +support of the war. In consequence of this resentment, the King put +him out of the privy council, bedchamber, and lieutenancy of York, +ordering him likewise to be struck out of all commissions. His grace +absconding, a proclamation was issued out, requiring his appearance, +and surrender of himself by a certain day.' + +Notwithstanding this appearance of resentment against him, yet +Charles, who was far from being of an implacable temper, took +Buckingham again into favour, after he had made an humble submission; +he was restored to his place in the council, and in the bedchamber in +1667, and seemed perfectly confirmed in the good graces of the King, +who was, perhaps, too much charmed with his wit to consider him as an +enemy. + +In the year 1670, the duke was supposed to be concerned in Blood's +attempt on the life of the duke of Ormond. This scheme was to have +conveyed that nobleman to Tyburn, and there to have hanged him; for +which purpose he was taken out of his coach in St. James's Street, and +carried away by Blood and his son beyond Devonshire House, Piccadilly, +but then rescued. Blood afterwards endeavoured to steal the crown out +of the Tower, but was seized; however, he was not only pardoned, but +had an estate of five hundred pounds a year given him in Ireland, and +admitted into an intimacy with the King. The reason of Blood's malice +against the duke of Ormond was, because his estate at Sorney was +forfeited for his treason in the course of government, and must have +been done by any lord lieutenant whatever. This, together with the +instigation of some enemy of the duke of Ormond's at court, wrought +upon him so, that he undertook the assassination. Mr. Carte supposes, +that no man was more likely to encourage Blood in this attempt, than +the duke of Buckingham, who, he says was the most profligate man of +his time, and had so little honour in him, that he would engage in any +scheme to gratify an irregular passion. The duke of Ormond had acted +with some severity against him, when he was detected in the attempt of +unhinging the government, which had excited so much resentment, as to +vent itself in this manner. Mr. Carte likewise charges the duchess of +Cleveland with conspiring against Ormond, but has given no reasons why +he thinks she instigated the attempt. The duchess was cousin to the +duke of Buckingham, but it appears in the Annals of Gallantry of those +times, that she never loved him, nor is it probable she engaged with +him in so dangerous a scheme. + +That Buckingham was a conspirator against Ormond, Mr. Carte says, +there is not the least doubt; and he mentions a circumstance of his +guilt too strong to be resisted. That there were reasons to think him +the person who put Blood upon the attempt of the duke of Ormond, (says +he) 'cannot well be questioned, after the following relation, which I +had from a gentleman (Robert Lesly of Glaslough, in the county of +Monaghan, esquire) whose veracity and memory, none that knew him, will +ever doubt, who received it from the mouth of Dr. Turner, bishop of +Ely. The earl of Ossory came in one day, not long after the affair, +and seeing the duke of Buckingham standing by the King, his colour +rose, and he spoke to this effect; My lord, I know well, that you are +at the bottom of this late attempt of Blood's upon my father, and +therefore I give you fair warning, if my father comes to a violent end +by sword or pistol, or the more secret way of poison, I shall not be +at a loss to know the first author of it; I shall consider you as the +assassin; I shall treat you as such, and wherever I meet you, I shall +pistol you, though you stood behind the King's chair, and I tell it +you in his Majesty's presence, that you may be sure I shall keep my +word.' I know not whether this will be deemed any breach of decorum to +the King, in whose presence it was said, but, in my opinion, it was an +act of spirit and resentment worthy of a son, when his father's life +was menaced, and the villain (Blood) who failed in the attempt, was so +much courted, caressed, and in high favour immediately afterwards. + +In June 1671, the duke was installed chancellor of the university of +Cambridge, and the same year was sent ambassador to the King of +France; who being pleased with his person and errand, entertained him +very nobly for several days together; and upon his taking leave, gave +him a sword and belt set with Pearls and Diamonds, to the value of +40,000 pistoles. He was afterwards sent to that King at Utrecht in +June 1672, together with Henry earl of Arlington, and George lord +Hallifax. He was one of the cabal at Whitehall, and in the beginning +of the session of Parliament, February 1672, endeavoured to cast the +odium of the Dutch war from himself, upon lord Arlington, another of +the cabal. In June 1674, he resigned the chancellorship of Cambridge. +About this time he became a great favourer of the Nonconformists. +February 16, 1676, his grace, and James earl of Salisbury, Anthony +earl of Shaftsbury, and Philip lord Wharton, were committed to the +Tower by order of the House of Lords, for a contempt, in refusing to +retract what they had said the day before, when the duke, immediately +after his Majesty had ended his speech to both Houses, endeavoured to +shew from law and reason, that the long prorogation was nulled, and +the Parliament was consequently dissolved. + +The chief of our author's works is, + +The Rehearsal, a Comedy, first acted on December 7, 1671. It is said +that the duke was assisted in writing this play, by his Chaplain Dr. +Thomas Sprat, Martin Clifford, esquire, master of the Charterhouse, +and Mr. Samuel Butler, author of Hudibras. Jacob, in his Lives of the +Poets, observes, 'that he cannot exactly learn when his grace began +this piece; but this much, says he, we may certainly gather from the +plays ridiculed in it, that it was before the end of 1663, and +finished before 1664, because it had been several times rehearsed, the +players were perfect in their parts, and all things in readiness for +its acting, before the great plague in 1665, and that then prevented +it, for what was then intended, was very different from what now +appears. In that he called his poet Bilboa, by which name Sir Robert +Howard was the person pointed at. During this interval, many plays +were published, written in heroic rhime, and on the death of Sir +William Davenant 1669, whom Mr. Dryden succeeded in the laurel, it +became still in greater vogue; this moved the duke to change the name +of his poet, from Bilboa to Bayes.' + +This character of Bayes is inimitably drawn; in it the various foibles +of poets (whether good, bad or indifferent) are so excellently blended +as to make the most finished picture of a poetical coxcomb: 'Tis such +a master-piece of true humour as will ever last, while our English +tongue is understood, or the stage affords a good comedian to play it. +How shall I now avoid the imputation of vanity, when I relate, that +this piece, on being revived (when I[2] first appeared in the part of +Bayes) at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden in the year 1739, was, in +that one season (continued to 1740) played upwards of forty nights, to +great audiences, with continued mirthful applause. As this is a truth, +I give it to the candid; and let the relation take its chance, though +it should not be thought by some (who may not abound in good nature) +that I only mean by this, to pay due regard to the merit of the piece, +though it speaks for itself; for, without extraordinary merit in the +writing, it could never have gained such an uncommon run, at the +distance of fourscore years from its being first written, when most of +those pieces were forgot which it particularly satirises; or, if +remembered, they were laughed into fame by the strong mock-parodies +with which this humorous piece of admirable burlesque abounds. + +Mr. Dryden, in revenge for the ridicule thrown on him in this piece, +exposed the duke under the name of Zimri in his Absalom and +Achitophel. This character, drawn by Dryden, is reckoned a +masterpiece; it has the first beauty, which is truth; it is a striking +picture, and admirably marked: We need make no apology for inserting +it here; it is too excellent to pass unnoticed. + + In the first rank of these did Zimri stand: + A man so various that he seemed to be + Not one, but all mankind's epitome. + Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong; + Was every thing by starts, and nothing long; + But, in the course of one revolving moon, + Was Chymist, fidler, statesman, and buffoon: + Then all for women, painting, rhiming, drinking; + Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking. + Blest madman, who could every hour employ, + In something new to wish, or to enjoy! + Railing, and praising were his usual themes, + And both, to shew his judgment, in extremes; + So over violent, or over civil, + That every man with him was God, or devil. + In squandering wealth was his peculiar art; + Nothing went unrewarded but desert. + Beggar'd by fools, whom still he found too late, + He had his jest, and they had his estate. + He laught himself from court, then sought relief, + By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief. + Thus wicked, but in will, of means bereft, + He left not faction, but of that was left. + +It is allowed by the severest enemies of this nobleman, that he had a +great share of vivacity, and quickness of parts, which were +particularly turned to ridicule; but while he has been celebrated as a +wit, all men are silent as to other virtues, for it is no where +recorded, that he ever performed one generous disinterested action in +his whole life; he relieved no distressed merit; he never shared the +blessing of the widow and fatherless, and as he lived a profligate, he +died in misery, a by-word and a jest, unpitied and unmourned. + +He died April 16, 1687, Mr. Wood says, at his house in Yorkshire, but +Mr. Pope informs us, that he died at an inn in that county, in very +mean circumstances. In his Epistle to lord Bathurst, he draws the +following affecting picture of this man, who had possessed an estate +of near 50,000 l. per annum, expiring, + + In the worst inn's worst room, with mat half hung + The floors of plaister, and the walls of dung, + On once a flock-bed, but repair'd with straw, + With tape-ty'd curtains, never meant to draw, + The George and Garter dangling from that bed, + Where tawdry yellow, strove with dirty red, + Great Villiers lies--alas! how chang'd from him + That life of pleasure, and that foul of whim! + Gallant and gay, in Cliveden's proud alcove, + The bow'r of wanton Shrewsbury[3] and love; + Or just as gay in council, in a ring + Of mimick'd statesmen and their merry king. + No wit to flatter left of all his store! + No fool to laugh at, which he valued more; + There, victor of his health, of fortune, friends, + And fame, this lord of useless thousands ends. + His grace's fate, sage Cutler could foresee, + And well (he thought) advised him, 'live like me.' + As well, his grace replied, 'like you, Sir John! + That I can do, when all I have is gone:' + +Besides the celebrated Comedy of the Rehearsal, the duke wrote the +following pieces; + +1. An Epitaph on Thomas, Lord Fairfax, which has been often reprinted. + +2. A Short Discourse upon the Reasonableness of Men's having a +Religion or Worship of God. This Piece met with many Answers, to +which, the Duke wrote Replies. + +3. A Demonstration of the above Duty. + +4. Several Poems, particularly, Advice to a Painter to draw my Lord +Arlington. Timon, a Satire on several Plays, in which he was assisted +by the Earl of Rochester; a Consolatory Epistle to Julian Secretary to +the Muses; upon the Monument; upon the Installment of the Duke of +Newcastle; the Rump-Parliament, a Satire; the Mistress; the Lost +Mistress; a Description of Fortune. + +5. Several Speeches. + +Footnotes: +1. B. vi. vol. ii. p. 347. +2. T.C. +3. The countess of Shrewsbury, a woman abandoned to gallantries. The + earl her husband was killed by the duke of Buckingham; and it has + been said that, during the combat, she held the duke's horses in + the habit of a page. + + * * * * * + + + + + MATTHEW SMITH, Esquire. + +_(The following Account of this Gentleman came to our Hands too late +to be inserted in the Chronological Series.)_ + + +This gentleman was the son of John Smith, an eminent Merchant at +Knaresborough in the county of York, and descended from an ancient +family of that name, seated at West-Herrington and Moreton House in +the county pal. of Durham. Vide Philpot's Visitation of Durham, in the +Heralds Office, page 141. + +He was a Barrister at Law, of the Inner-Temple, and appointed one of +the council in the North, the fifteenth of King Charles I. he being a +Loyalist, and in great esteem for his eminence and learning in his +profession; as still further appears by his valuable Annotations on +Littleton's Tenures he left behind him in manuscript. He also wrote +some pieces of poetry, and is the author of two dramatical +performances. + +1. The Country Squire, or the Merry Mountebank, a Ballad Opera of one +Act. + +2. The Masquerade du Ciel, a Masque, which was published the year that +he died, 1640, by John Smith of Knaresborough, Esq; (eldest son and +heir to this Matthew, by Anne his wife, daughter of Henry Roundell, +esq; who dedicated it to the Queen. He was a person of the greatest +loyalty, and very early addicted to arms, which made him extreamly +zealous and active during the civil wars, in joining with the +Royalists, particularly at the battle of Marston-Moor 1644, when he +personally served under Prince Rupert, for which he and his family +were plundered and sequestered. He also fined twice for Sheriff, to +avoid the oaths in those days.) + + * * * * * + + + + + THOMAS OTWAY. + + +This excellent poet was not more remarkable for moving the tender +passions, than for the variety of fortune, to which he was subjected. +We have some where read an observation, that the poets have ever been +the least philosophers, and were always unhappy in a want of firmness +of temper, and steadiness of resolution: of the truth of this remark, +poor Mr. Otway is a lively instance; he never could sufficiently +combat his appetite of extravagance and profusion, to live one year in +a comfortable competence, but was either rioting in luxurious +indulgence, or shivering with want, and exposed to the insolence and +contempt of the world. He was the son of Mr. Humphry Otway, rector of +Wolbeding in Sussex, and was born at Trottin in that county, on March +3, 1651. He received his education at Wickeham school, near +Winchester, and became a commoner of Christ Church in Oxford, in the +beginning of the year 1669. He quitted the university without a +degree, and retired to London, though, in the opinion of some +historians, he went afterwards to Cambridge, which seems very +probable, from a copy of verses of Mr. Duke's to him, between whom +subsisted a sincere friendship till the death of Mr. Otway. When our +poet came to London, the first account we hear of him, is, that he +commenced player, but without success, for he is said to have failed +in want of execution, which is so material to a good player, that a +tolerable execution, with advantage of a good person, will often +supply the place of judgment, in which it is not to be supposed Otway +was deficient. + +Though his success as an actor was but indifferent, yet he gained upon +the world by the sprightliness of his conversation, and the acuteness +of his wit, which, it seems, gained him the favour of Charles Fitz +Charles, earl of Plymouth, one of the natural sons of King Charles II. +who procured him a cornet's Pommission in the new raised English +forces designed for Flanders. All who have written of Mr. Otway +observe, that he returned from Flanders in very necessitous +circumstances, but give no account how that reverse of fortune +happened: it is not natural to suppose that it proceeded from actual +cowardice, or that Mr. Otway had drawn down any disgrace upon himself +by misbehaviour in a military station. If this had been the case, he +wanted not enemies who would have improved the circumstance, and +recorded it against him, with a malicious satisfaction; but if it did +not proceed from actual cowardice, yet we have some reason to +conjecture that Mr. Otway felt a strong disinclination to a military +life, perhaps from a consciousness that his heart failed him, and a +dread of misbehaving, should he ever be called to an engagement; and +to avoid the shame of which he was apprehensive in consequence of such +behaviour, he, in all probability, resigned his commission, which +could not but disoblige the earl of Plymouth, and expose himself to +necessity. What pity is it, that he who could put such masculine +strong sentiments into the mouth of such a resolute hero as his own +Pierre, should himself fail in personal courage, but this quality +nature withheld from him, and he exchanged the chance of reaping +laurels in the field of victory, for the equally uncertain, and more +barren laurels of poetry. The earl of Rochester, in his Session of the +Poets, has thus maliciously recorded, and without the least grain of +wit, the deplorable circumstances of Otway. + + Tom Otway came next, Tom Shadwell's dear Zany, + And swears for heroics he writes best of any; + Don Carlos his pockets so amply had filled, + That his mange was quite cured, and his lice were all killed. + But Apollo had seen his face on the stage, } + And prudently did not think fit to engage } + The scum of a playhouse, for the prop of an age. } + +Mr. Otway translated out of French into English, the History of the +Triumvirate; the First Part of Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, the +Second Part of Augustus, Anthony and Lepidus, being a faithful +collection from the best historians, and other authors, concerning the +revolution of the Roman government, which happened under their +authority, London 1686 in 8vo. Our author finding his necessities +press, had recourse to writing for the stage, which he did with +various success: his comedy has been blamed for having too much +libertinism mixed with it; but in tragedy he made it his business, for +the most part, to observe the decorum of the stage. He has certainly +followed nature in the language of his tragedy, and therefore shines +in the passionate parts more than any of our English poets. As there +is something familiar and domestic in the fable of his tragedy, he has +little pomp, but great energy in his expressions; for which reason, +though he has admirably succeeded in the tender and melting parts of +his tragedies, he sometimes falls into too great a familiarity of +phrase in those, which, by Aristotle's rule, ought to have been raised +and supported by the dignity of expression. It has been observed by +the critics, that the poet has founded his tragedy of Venice +Preservcd, on so wrong a plot, that the greatest characters in it are +those of rebels and traitors. Had the hero of this play discovered the +same good qualities in defence of his country, that he shewed for his +ruin and subversion, the audience could not enough pity and admire +him; but as he is now represented, we can only say of him, what the +Roman historian says of Catiline, that his fall would have been +glorious (si pro Patria sic concidisset) had he so fallen, in the +service of his country. + +Mr. Charles Gildon, in his Laws of Poetry, stiles Mr. Otway a Poet of +the first Magnitude, and tells us, and with great justice, that he was +perfect master of the tragic passions, and draws them every where with +a delicate and natural simplicity, and therefore never fails to raise +strong emotions in the soul. I don't know of a stronger instance of +this force, than in the play of the Orphan; the tragedy is composed of +persons whose fortunes do not exceed the quality of such as we +ordinarily call people of condition, and without the advantage of +having the scene heightened by the importance of the characters; his +inimitable skill in representing the workings of the heart, and its +affection, is such that the circumstances are great from the art of +the poet, rather than from the figure of the persons represented. The +whole drama is admirably wrought, and the mixture of passions raised +from affinity, gratitude, love, and misunderstanding between brethren, +ill usage from persons obliged slowly returned by the benefactors, +keeps the mind in a continual anxiety and contrition. The sentiments +of the unhappy Monimia are delicate and natural, she is miserable +without guilt, but incapable of living with a consciousness of having +committed an ill act, though her inclination had no part in it. Mrs. +Barry, the celebrated actress, used to say, that in her part of +Monimia in the Orphan, she never spoke these words, Ah! poor Castalio, +without tears; upon which occasion Mr. Gildon observes, that all the +pathetic force had been lost, if any more words had been added, and +the poet would have endeavoured, in vain, to have heightened them, by +the addition of figures of speech, since the beauty of those three +plain simple words is so great by the force of nature, that they must +have been weakened and obscured by 'the finest flowers of rhetoric. + +The tragedy of the Orphan is not without great blemishes, which the +writer of a criticism on it, published in the Gentleman's Magazine, +has very judiciously and candidly shewn. The impetuous passion of +Polydore breaks out sometimes in a language not sufficiently delicate, +particularly in that celebrated passage where he talks of rushing upon +her in a storm of love. The simile of the bull is very offensive to +chaste ears, but poor Otway lived in dissolute times, and his +necessity obliged him to fan the harlot-face of loose desire, in +compliance to the general corruption. Monimia staying to converse with +Polydor, after he vauntingly discovers his success in deceiving her, +is shocking; had she left him abruptly, with a wildness of horror, +that might have thrown him under the necessity of seeking an +explanation from Castalio, the scene would have ended better, would +have kept the audience more in suspence, and been an improvement of +the consequential scene between the brothers; but this remark is +submitted to superior judges. + +Venice Preferred is still a greater proof of his influence over our +passions, and the faculty of mingling good and bad characters, and +involving their fortunes, seems to be the distinguished excellence of +this writer. He very well knew that nothing but distressed virtue can +strongly touch us with pity, and therefore, in this play, that we may +have a greater regard for the conspirators, he makes Pierre talk of +redressing wrongs, and repeat all the common place of male contents. + + To see the sufferings of my fellow-creatures, + And own myself a man: to see our senators + Cheat the deluded people with a shew + Of Liberty, which yet they ne'er must taste of! + They say by them our hands are free from fetters, + Yet whom they please they lay in basest bonds; + Bring whom they please to infamy and sorrow; + Drive us like wrecks down the rough tide of power + Whilst no hold's left, to save us from destruction: + All that bear this are villains, and I one, + Not to rouse up at the great call of nature, + And check the growth of these domestic spoilers, + Who make us slaves, and tell us 'tis our charter. + +Jaffier's wants and distresses, make him prone enough to any desperate +resolution, yet says he in the language of genuine tenderness, + + But when I think what Belvidera feels, + The bitterness her tender spirit tastes of, + I own myself a coward: bear my weakness, + If throwing thus my arms about thy neck, + I play the boy, and blubber in thy bosom. + +Jaffier's expostulation afterwards, is the picture of all who are +partial to their own merit, and generally think a relish of the +advantages of life is pretence enough to enjoy them. + + Tell me, why good Heaven + Thou mad'st me what I am, with all the spirit, + Aspiring thoughts, and elegant desires + That fill the happiest man? ah rather why + Didst thou not form me, sordid as my fate, + Base minded, dull, and fit to carry burdens. + +How dreadful is Jaffier's soliloquy, after he is engaged in the +conspiracy. + + I'm here; and thus the shades of night surround me, + I look as if all hell were in my heart, + And I in hell. Nay surely 'tis so with me; + For every step I tread, methinks some fiend + Knocks at my breast, and bids it not be quiet. + I've heard how desperate wretches like myself + Have wandered out at this dead time of night + To meet the foe of mankind in his walk: + Sure I'm so curst, that though of Heaven forsaken, + No minister of darkness, cares to tempt me. + Hell, hell! why sleep'st thou? + +The above is the most awful picture of a man plunged in despair, that +ever was drawn by a poet; we cannot read it without terror: and when +it is uttered as we have heard it, from the late justly celebrated +Booth, or those heart-affecting actors Garrick, and Barry, the flesh +creeps, and the blood is chilled with horror. + +In this play Otway catches our hearts, by introducing the episode of +Belvidera. Private and public calamities alternately claim our +concern; sometimes we could wish to see a whole State sacrificed for +the weeping Belvidera, whose character and distress are so drawn as to +melt every heart; at other times we recover again, in behalf of a +whole people in danger. There is not a virtuous character in the play, +but that of Belvidera, and yet so amazing is the force of the author's +skill in blending private and public concerns, that the ruffian on the +wheel, is as much the object of pity, as if he had been brought to +that unhappy fate by some honourable action. + +Though Mr. Otway possessed this astonishing talent of moving the +passions, and writing to the heart, yet he was held in great contempt +by some cotemporary poets, and was several times unsuccessful in his +dramatic pieces. The merits of an author are seldom justly estimated, +till the next age after his decease; while a man lives in the world, +he has passion, prejudice, private and public malevolence to combat; +his enemies are industrious to obscure his fame, by drawing into light +his private follies; and personal malice is up in arms against every +man of genius. + +Otway was exposed to powerful enemies, who could not bear that he +should acquire fame, amongst whom Dryden is the foremost. The enmity +between Dryden and Otway could not proceed from jealousy, for what +were Otway's, when put in the ballance with the amazing powers of +Dryden? like a drop to the ocean: and yet we find Dryden declared +himself his open enemy; for which, the best reason that can be +assigned is, that Otway was a retainer to Shadwell, who was Dryden's +aversion. Dryden was often heard to say, that Otway was a barren +illiterate man, but 'I confess, says he, he has a power which I have +not;' and when it was asked him, what power that was? he answered, +'moving the passions.' This truth was, no doubt, extorted from Dryden, +for he seems not to be very ready in acknowledging the merits of his +cotemporaries. In his preface to Du Fresnoy's Art of Painting, which +he translated, he mentions Otway with respect, but not till after he +was dead; and even then he speaks but coldly of him. The passage is as +follows, 'To express the passions which are seated on the heart by +outward signs, is one great precept of the painters, and very +difficult to perform. In poetry the very same passions, and motions of +the mind are to be expressed, and in this consists the principal +difficulty, as well as the excellency of that art. This (says my +author) is the gift of Jupiter, and to speak in the same Heathen +language, is the gift of our Apollo, not to be obtained by pains or +study, if we are not born to it; for the motions which are studied, +are never so natural, as those which break out in the heighth of a +real passion. Mr. Otway possessed this part as thoroughly as any of +either the ancients or moderns. I will not defend every thing in his +Venice Preserved, but I must bear this testimony to his memory, that +the passions are truly touched in it, though, perhaps, there is +somewhat to be desired, both in the grounds of them, and the heighth +and elegance of expression; but nature is there, which is the greatest +beauty.' Notwithstanding our admiration of Dryden, we cannot, without +some indignation, observe, how sparing he is in the praises of Otway, +who, considered as a tragic writer, was surely superior to himself. +Dryden enchants us indeed with flow'ry descriptions, and charms us +with (what is called) the magic of poetry; but he has seldom drawn a +tear, and millions of radiant eyes have been witnesses for Otway, by +those drops of pity which they have shed. Otway might be no scholar, +but that, methinks, does not detract from the merit of a dramatist, +nor much assist him in succeeding. For the truth of this we may appeal +to experience. No poets in our language, who were what we call +scholars, have ever written plays which delight or affect the +audience. Shakespear, Otway and Southern were no scholars; Ben +Johnson, Dryden and Addison were: and while few audiences admire the +plays of the latter, those of the former are the supports of the +stage. + +After suffering many eclipses of fortune, and being exposed to the +most cruel necessities, poor Otway died of want, in a public house on +Tower-hill, in the 33rd year of his age, 1685. He had, no doubt, been +driven to that part of the town, to avoid the persecution of his +creditors and as he durst not appear much abroad to sollicit +assistance, and having no means of getting money in his obscure +retreat, he perished. It has been reported, that Mr. Otway, whom +delicacy had long deterred from borrowing small sums, driven at last +to the most grievous necessity ventured out of his lurking place, +almost naked and shivering, and went into a coffee-house on +Tower-hill, where he saw a gentleman, of whom he had some knowledge, +and of whom he sollicited the loan of a shilling. The gentleman was +quite shocked, to see the author of Venice Preserved begging bread, +and compassionately put into his hand a guinea. + +Mr. Otway having thanked his benefactor, retired, and changed the +guinea to purchase a roll; as his stomach was full of wind by excess +of fasting, the first mouthful choaked him, and instantaneously put a +period to his days. + +Who can consider the fate of this gentleman, without being moved to +pity? we can forgive his acts of imprudence, since they brought him to +so miserable an end; and we cannot but regret, that he who was endowed +by nature with such distinguished talents, as to make the bosom bleed +with salutary sorrow, should himself be so extremely wretched, as to +excite the same sensations for him, which by the power of his +eloquence and poetry, he had raised for imaginary heroes. We know, +indeed, of no guilty part of Otway's life, other than those +fashionable faults, which usually recommend to the conversation of men +in courts, but which serve for excuses for their patrons, when they +have not a mind to provide for them. From the example of Mr. Otway, +succeeding poets should learn not to place any confidence in the +promises of patrons; it discovers a higher spirit, and reflects more +honour on a man to struggle nobly for independance, by the means of +industry, than servilely to wait at a great man's gate, or to sit at +his table, meerly to afford him diversion: Competence and independence +have surely more substantial charms, than the smiles of a courtier, +which are too frequently fallacious. But who can read Mr Otway's +story, without indignation at those idols of greatness, who demand +worship from men of genius, and yet can suffer them to live miserably, +and die neglected? + +The dramatic works of Mr. Otway are, + +1. Alcibiades, a Tragedy, acted at the Duke of York's Theatre, 1675, +dedicated to Charles, Earl of Middlesex. The story of this play is +taken from Cor. Nepos, and Plutarch's Life of Alcibiades. + +2. Titus and Berenice, a Tragedy, acted at the Duke's Theatre, 1677, +dedicated to John, Earl of Rochester. This play consists of but three +Acts, and is a translation from M. Racine into heroic verse; for the +story see Suetonius, Dionysius, Josephus; to which is added the Cheats +of Scapin, a Farce, acted the same year. This is a translation from +Moliere, and is originally Terence's Phormio. + +3. Friendship in Fashion, a Comedy, acted at the Duke's Theatre, 1678, +dedicated to the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. This play was revived +at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, 1749, and was damned by the +audience, on account of the immorality of the design, and the +obscenity of the dialogue. + +4. Don Carlos, Prince of Spain, a Tragedy, acted at the Duke of York's +Theatre, 1679. This play, which was the second production of our +author, written in heroic verse, was acted with very great applause, +and had a run of thirty nights; the plot from the Novel called Don +Carlos. + +5. The Orphan, or the Unhappy Marriage, a Tragedy, acted at the Duke +of York's Theatre, 1680, dedicated to her Royal Highness the Duchess. +It is founded on the History of Brandon, and a Novel called the +English Adventurer. Scene Bohemia. + +6. The History and Fall of Caius Marius, a Tragedy, acted at the +Duke's Theatre, 1680, dedicated to Lord Viscount Falkland. The +characters of Marius Junior and Lavinia, are borrowed literally from +Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet, which Otway has acknowledged in his +Prologue. + +7. The Soldier's Fortune, a Comedy, acted at the Duke's Theatre, 1681. +This play is dedicated to Mr. Bentley his Bookseller; for the copy +money, as he tells us himself, see Boccace's Novels, Scarron's +Romances. + +8. The Atheist, or the Second Part of the Soldier's Fortune, a Comedy, +acted at the Duke of York's Theatre, 1684, dedicated to Lord Eland, +the eldest son to the Marquis of Hallifax. + +9. Venice Preserved, or a Plot Discovered, a Tragedy, acted at the +Duke's Theatre, 1685, dedicated to the Duchess of Portsmouth. Of this +we have already given some account, and it is so frequently acted, +that any enlargement would be impertinent. It is certainly one of the +most moving plays upon the English stage; the plot from a little book, +giving an account of the Conspiracy of the Spaniards against Venice. + +Besides his plays, he wrote several poems, viz. + +The Poet's Complaint to his Muse, or a Satire against Libels, London; +1680, in 4to. + +Windsor Castle, or a Monument to King Charles the Second. + +Miscellany Poems, containing a New Translation of Virgil's Eclogues, +Ovid's Elegies, Odes of Horace, London 1864. He translated likewise +the Epistle of Phaedra to Hyppolitus, printed in the Translation of +Ovid's Epistles, by several hands. He wrote the Prologue to Mrs. +Bhon's City Heiress. Prefixed to Creechis Lucretius, there is a copy +of verses written by Mr. Otway, in praise of that translation. + + * * * * * + + + + + JOHN OLDHAM. + + +This eminent satyrical poet, was the son of the reverend Mr. John +Oldham, a nonconformist minister, and grandson to Mr. John Oldham, +rector of Nun-Eaton, near Tedbury in Gloucestershire. He was born at +Shipton (where his father had a congregation, near Tedbury, and in the +same county) on the 9th of August 1653. He was educated in grammar +learning, under the care of his father, till he was almost fitted for +the university; and to be compleatly qualified for that purpose, he +was sent to Tedbridge school, where he spent about two years under the +tuition of Mr. Henry Heaven, occasioned by the earnest request of +alderman Yeats of Bristol, who having a son at the same school, was +desirous that Mr. Oldham should be his companion, which he imagined +would much conduce to the advancement of his learning. This for some +time retarded Oldham in the prosecution of his own studies, but for +the time he lost in forwarding Mr. Yeat's son, his father afterwards +made him an ample amends. Mr. Oldham being sent to Edmund Hall in +Oxford, was committed to the care of Mr. William Stephens: of which +hall he became a bachelor in the beginning of June 1670. He was soon +observed to be a good latin scholar, and chiefly addicted himself to +the study of poetry, and other polite acquirements[1]. In the year +1674, he took the degree of bachelor of arts, but left the university +before he compleated that degree by determination, being much against +his inclination compelled to go home and live for some time with his +father. The next year he was very much afflicted for the death of his +dear friend, and constant companion, Mr. Charles Mervent, as appears +by his ode upon that occasion. In a short time after he became usher +to the free-school at Croyden in Surry. Here it was, he had the honour +of receiving a visit from the earl of Rochester, the earl of Dorset, +Sir Charles Sedley, and other persons of distinction, meerly upon the +reputation of some verses which they had seen in manuscript. The +master of the school was not a little surprized, at such a visit, and +would fain have taken the honour of it to himself, but was soon +convinced that he had neither wit nor learning enough to make a party +in such company. This adventure was no doubt very happy for Mr. +Oldham, as it encreased his reputation and gained him the countenance +of the Great, for after about three years continuance at Croyden +school, he was recommended by his good friend Harman Atwood, Esq; to +Sir Edward Thurland, a judge, near Rygate in the same county, who +appointed him tutor to his two grandsons. He continued in this family +till 1680. After this he was sometime tutor to a son of Sir William +Hicks, a gentleman living within three or four miles of London, who +was intimately acquainted with a celebrated Physician, Dr. Richard +Lower, by whose peculiar friendship and encouragement, Mr. Oldham at +his leisure hours studied physic for about a year, and made some +progress in it, but the bent of his poetical genius was too strong to +become a proficient in any school but that of the muses. He freely +acknowledges this in a letter to a friend, written in July 1678. + + While silly I, all thriving arts refuse, } + And all my hopes, and all my vigour lose, } + In service of the worst of jilts a muse. } + * * * * * + Oft I remember, did wise friends dissuade, + And bid me quit the trifling barren trade. + Oft have I tryed (heaven knows) to mortify + This vile and wicked bent of poetry; + But still unconquered it remains within, + Fixed as a habit, or some darling sin. + In vain I better studies there would sow; + Oft have I tried, but none will thrive or grow. + All my best thoughts, when I'd most serious be, + Are never from its foul infection free: + Nay God forgive me when I say my prayers, + I scarce can help polluting them with verse. + The fab'lous wretch of old revers'd I seem, + Who turn whatever I touch to dross of rhime. + +Our author had not been long in London, before he was found out by the +noblemen who visited him at Croyden, and who now introduced him to the +acquaintance of Mr. Dryden. But amongst the Men of quality he was most +affectionately caressed by William Earl of Kingston, who made him an +offer of becoming his chaplain; but he declined an employment, to +which servility and dependence are so necessarily connected. The +writer of his life observes, that our author in his satire addressed +to a friend, who was about to quit the university, and came abroad +into the world, lets his friend know, that he was frighted from the +thought of such an employment, by the scandalous sort of treatment +which often accompanies it. This usage deters men of generous minds +from placing themselves in such a station of life; and hence persons +of quality are frequently excluded from the improving, agreeable +conversation of a learned and obsequious friend. In this satire Mr. +Oldham writes thus, + + Some think themselves exalted to the sky, + If they light on some noble family. + Diet and horse, and thirty-pounds a year, + Besides the advantage of his lordship's ear. + The credit of the business and the state, + Are things that in a youngster's sense found great. + Little the unexperienced wretch does know, + What slavery he oft must undergo; + Who tho' in silken stuff, and cassoc drest, + Wears but a gayer livery at best. + When diner calls, the implement must wait, + With holy words to consecrate the meat; + But hold it for a favour seldom known, + If he be deign'd the honour to sit down. + Soon as the tarts appear, Sir Crape withdraw, + Those dainties are not for a spiritual maw. + Observe your distance, and be sure to stand + Hard by the cistern, with your cap in hand: + There for diversion you may pick your teeth, + Till the kind voider comes for your relief, + For meer board wages, such their freedom sell, + Slaves to an hour, and vassals to a bell: + And if th' employments of one day be stole, + They are but prisoners out upon parole: + Always the marks of slavery remain, + And they tho' loose, still drag about their chain. + And where's the mighty prospect after all, + A chaplainship serv'd up, and seven years thrall? + The menial thing, perhaps for a reward, + Is to some slender benefice prefer'd, + With this proviso bound that he must wed, } + My lady's antiquated waiting maid, } + In dressing only skill'd, and marmalade. } + Let others who such meannesses can brook, + Strike countenance to ev'ry great man's look: + Let those, that have a mind, turn slave to eat, + And live contented by another's plate: + I rate my freedom higher, nor will I, + For food and rayment track my liberty. + But if I must to my last shift be put, + To fill a bladder, and twelve yards of gut, + Richer with counterfeited wooden leg, + And my right arm tyed up, I'll choose to beg. + I'll rather choose to starve at large, than be, + The gaudiest vassal to dependancy. + +The above is a lively and animated description of the miseries of a +slavish dependance on the great, particularly that kind of +mortification which a chaplain must undergo. It is to be lamented, +that gentlemen of an academical education should be subjected to +observe so great a distance from those, over whom in all points of +learning and genius they may have a superiority. Tho' in the very +nature of things this must necessarily happen, yet a high spirit +cannot bear it, and it is with pleasure we can produce Oldham, as one +of those poets who have spurned dependence, and acted consistent with +the dignity of his genius, and the lustre of his profession. + +When the earl of Kingston found that Mr. Oldham's spirit was too high +to accept his offer of chaplainship, he then caressed him as a +companion, and gave him an invitation to his house at Holmes-Pierpont, +in Nottinghamshire. This invitation Mr. Oldham accepted, and went into +the country with him, not as a dependant but friend; he considered +himself as a poet, and a clergyman, and in consequence of that, he did +not imagine the earl was in the least degraded by making him his bosom +companion. Virgil was the friend of Maecenas, and shone in the court of +Augustus, and if it should be observed that Virgil was a greater poet +than Oldham, it may be answered, Maecenas was a greater man than the +Earl of Kingston, and the court of Augustus much more brilliant than +that of Charles II. + +Our author had not been long at the seat of this Earl, before, being +seized with the small pox, he died December 9, 1683, in the 30th year +of his age, and was interred with the utmost decency, his lordship +attending as chief mourner, in the church there, where the earl soon +after erected a monument to his memory.--Mr. Oldham's works were +printed at London 1722, in two volumes 12mo. They chiefly consist of +Satires, Odes, Translations, Paraphrases of Horace, and other authors; +Elegiac Verses, Imitations, Parodies, Familiar Epistles, &c.--Mr. +Oldham was tall of stature, the make of his body very thin, his face +long, his nose prominent, his aspect unpromising, and satire was in +his eye. His constitution was very tender, inclined to a consumption, +and it was not a little injured by his study and application to +learned authors, with whom he was greatly conversant, as appears from +his satires against the Jesuits, in which there is discovered as much +learning as wit. In the second volume of the great historical, +geographical, and poetical Dictionary, he is stiled the Darling of the +Muses, a pithy, sententious, elegant, and smooth writer: "His +translations exceed the original, and his invention seems matchless. +His satire against the Jesuits is of special note; he may be justly +said to have excelled all the satirists of the age." Tho' this +compliment in favour of Oldham is certainly too hyperbolical, yet he +was undoubtedly a very great genius; he had treasured in his mind an +infinite deal of knowledge, which, had his life been prolonged, he +might have produced with advantage, for his natural endowments seem to +have been very great: But he is not more to be reverenced as a Poet, +than for that gallant spirit of Independence he discovered, and that +magnaninity [sic] which scorned to stoop to any servile submissions +for patronage: He had many admirers among his contemporaries, of whom +Mr. Dryden professed himself one, and has done justice to his memory +by some excellent verses, with which we shall close this account. + + Farewel too little, and too lately known, + Whom I began to think, and call my own; + For sure our souls were near allied, and thine + Cast in the same poetic mould with mine. + One common note on either lyre did strike, + And knaves and tools were both abhorred alike. + To the same goal did both our studies drive, + The last set out, the soonest did arrive, + Thus Nisus fell upon the slippery place, + While his young friend perform'd and won the race. + O early ripe! to thy abundant store, + What could advancing age have added more? + It might, what nature never gives the young, + Have taught the numbers of thy native tongue. + But satire needs not those, and wit will shine, + Thro' the harsh cadence of a rugged line: + A noble error, and but seldom made, + When poets are by too much force betray'd. + Thy gen'rous fruits, tho' gather'd e'er their prime, } + Still shewed a quickness; and maturing time } + But mellows what we write to the dull sweets of rhime. } + Once more, hail and farewel: Farewel thou young, + But ah! too short, Marcellus of our tongue; + Thy brows with ivy, and with laurels bound, + But fate, and gloomy night encompass thee around. + +Footnote: +1. Life of Mr. Oldham, prefixed to his works, vol. i. edit. Lond. + 1722. + + * * * * * + + + + + + (DILLON) (WENTWORTH) Earl of ROSCOMMON, + + +This nobleman was born in Ireland during the lieutenancy of the earl +of Strafford, in the reign of King Charles I. Lord Strafford was his +godfather, and named him by his own surname. He passed some of his +first years in his native country, till the earl of Strafford +imagining, when the rebellion first broke out, that his father who had +been converted by archbishop Usher to the Protestant religion, would +be exposed to great danger, and be unable to protect his family, sent +for his godson, and placed him at his own seat in Yorkshire, under the +tuition, of Dr. Hall, afterwards bishop of Norwich; by whom he was +instructed in Latin, and without learning the common rules of grammar, +which he could never retain in his memory, he attained to write in +that language with classical elegance and propriety, and with so much +ease, that he chose it to correspond with those friends who had +learning sufficient to support the commerce. When the earl of +Strafford was prosecuted, lord Roscommon went to Caen in Normandy, by +the advice of bishop Usher, to continue his studies under Bochart, +where he is said to have had an extraordinary impulse of his father's +death, which is related by Mr. Aubrey in his miscellany, 'Our author +then a boy of about ten years of age, one day was as it were madly +extravagant, in playing, getting over the tables, boards, &c. He was +wont to be sober enough. They who observed him said, God grant this +proves no ill luck to him. In the heat of this extravagant fit, he +cries out my father is dead. A fortnight after news came from Ireland, +that his father was dead. This account I had from Mr. Knowles who was +his governor, and then with him, since secretary to the earl of +Strafford; and I have heard his Lordship's relations confirm the +same.' + +The ingenious author of lord Roscommon's life, publish'd in the +Gentleman's Magazine for the month of May, 1748, has the following +remarks on the above relation of Aubrey's. + +'The present age is very little inclined to favour any accounts of +this sort, nor will the name of Aubrey much recommend it to credit; it +ought not however to be omitted, because better evidence of a fact is +not easily to be found, than is here offered, and it must be, by +preserving such relations, that we may at least judge how much they +are to be regarded. If we stay to examine this account we shall find +difficulties on both sides; here is a relation of a fact given by a +man who had no interest to deceive himself; and here is on the other +hand a miracle which produces no effect; the order of nature is +interrupted to discover not a future, but only a distant event, the +knowledge of which is of no use to him to whom it is revealed. Between +these difficulties what way shall be found? Is reason or testimony to +be rejected? I believe what Osborne says of an appearance of sanctity, +may be applied to such impulses, or anticipations. "Do not wholly +slight them, because they may be true; but do not easily trust them, +because they may be false."' + +Some years after he travelled to Rome, where he grew familiar with the +most valuable remains of antiquity, applying himself particularly to +the knowledge of medals, which he gained in great perfection, and +spoke Italian with so much grace and fluency, that he was frequently +mistaken there for a native. He returned to England upon the +restoration of King Charles the IId, and was made captain of the band +of pensioners, an honour which tempted him to some extravagancies. In +the gaieties of that age (says Fenton) he was tempted to indulge a +violent passion for gaming, by which he frequently hazarded his life +in duels, and exceeded the bounds of a moderate fortune. This was the +fate of many other men whose genius was of no other advantage to them, +than that it recommended them to employments, or to distinction, by +which the temptations to vice were multiplied, and their parts became +soon of no other use, than that of enabling them to succeed in +debauchery. + +A dispute about part of his estate, obliging him to return to Ireland, +he resigned his post, and upon his arrival at Dublin, was made captain +of the guards to the duke of Ormond. + +When he was at Dublin he was as much as ever distempered with the same +fatal affection for play, which engaged him in one adventure, which +well deserves to be related. 'As he returned to his lodgings from a +gaming table, he was attacked in the dark by three ruffians, who were +employed to assassinate him. The earl defended himself with so much +resolution, that he dispatched one of the aggressors, while a +gentleman accidentally passing that way interposed, and disarmed +another; the third secured himself by flight. This generous assistant +was a disbanded officer of a good family and fair reputation; who by +what we call partiality of fortune, to avoid censuring the iniquities +of the times, wanted even a plain suit of clothes to make a decent +appearance at the castle; but his lordship on this occasion presenting +him to the duke of Ormond, with great importunity prevailed with his +grace that he might resign his post of captain of the guards to his +friend, which for about three years the gentleman enjoyed, and upon +his death, the duke returned the commission to his generous +benefactor.'[1] + +His lordship having finished his affairs in Ireland, he returned to +London, was made master of the horse to the dutchess of York, and +married the lady Frances, eldest daughter of the earl of Burlington, +and widow of colonel Courtnay. + +About this time, in imitation of those learned and polite assemblies, +with which he had been acquainted abroad; particularly one at Caen, +(in which his tutor Bochartus died suddenly while he was delivering an +oration) he began to form a society for refining and fixing the +standard of our language. In this design, his great friend Mr. Dryden +was a particular assistant; a design, says Fenton, of which it is much +more easy to conceive an agreeable idea, than any rational hope ever +to see it brought to perfection. This excellent design was again set +on foot, under the ministry of the earl of Oxford, and was again +defeated by a conflict of parties, and the necessity of attending only +to political disquisitions, for defending the conduct of the +administration, and forming parties in the Parliament. Since that time +it has never been mentioned, either because it has been hitherto a +sufficient objection, that it was one of the designs of the earl of +Oxford, by whom Godolphin was defeated; or because the statesmen who +succeeded him have not more leisure, and perhaps less taste for +literary improvements. Lord Roscommon's attempts were frustrated by +the commotions which were produced by King James's endeavours to +introduce alterations in religion. He resolved to retire to Rome, +alledging, 'it was best to sit next the chimney when the chamber +smoaked.' + +It will, no doubt, surprize many of the present age, and be a just +cause of triumph to them, if they find that what Roscommon and Oxford +attempted in vain, shall be carried into execution, in the most +masterly manner, by a private gentleman, unassisted, and unpensioned. +The world has just reason to hope this from the publication of an +English Dictionary, long expected, by Mr. Johnson; and no doubt a +design of this sort, executed by such a genius, will be a lasting +monument of the nation's honour, and that writer's merit. + +Lord Roscommon's intended retreat into Italy, already mentioned, on +account of the troubles in James the IId's reign, was prevented by the +gout, of which he was so impatient, that he admitted a repellent +application from a French empyric, by which his distemper was driven +up into his bowels, and put an end to his life, in 1684. + +Mr. Fenton has told us, that the moment in which he expired, he cried +out with a voice, that expressed the most intense fervour of devotion, + + My God! my father, and my friend! + Do not forsake me, at my end. + +Two lines of his own version of the hymn, Dies irae, Dies illa. + +The same Mr. Fenton, in his notes upon Waller, has given Roscommon a +character too general to be critically just. 'In his writings, says +he, we view the image of a mind, which was naturally serious and +solid, richly furnished, and adorned with all the ornaments of art and +science; and those ornaments unaffectedly disposed in the most regular +and elegant order. His imagination might have probably been fruitful +and sprightly, if his judgment had been less severe; but that severity +(delivered in a masculine, clear, succinct stile) contributed to make +him so eminent in the didactical manner, that no man with justice can +affirm he was ever equalled by any of our nation, without confessing +at the same time, that he is inferior to none. In some other kinds of +writing his genius seems to have wanted fire to attain the point of +perfection: but who can attain it?' + +From this account of the riches of his mind, who would not imagine +that they had been displayed in large volumes, and numerous +performances? Who would not, after the perusal of this character, be +surprized to find, that all the proofs of this genius, and knowledge +and judgment, are not sufficient to form a small volume? But thus it +is, that characters are generally written: We know somewhat, and we +imagine the rest. The observation that his imagination would have +probably been more fruitful and sprightly, if his judgment had been +less severe; might, if we were inclined to cavil, be answer'd by a +contrary supposition, that his judgment would have been less severe, +if his imagination had been more fruitful. It is ridiculous to oppose +judgment and imagination to each other; for it does not appear, that +men have necessarily less of the one, as they have more of the other. + +We must allow, in favour of lord Roscommon, what Fenton has not +mentioned so distinctly as he ought, and what is yet very much to his +honour, That he is perhaps the only correct writer in verse before +Addison; and that if there are not so many beauties in his +composition, as in those of some of his contemporaries, there are at +least fewer faults. Nor is this his highest praise; for Mr. Pope has +celebrated him as the only moral writer in Charles the IId's reign. + + Unhappy Dryden--in all Charles's days, + Roscommon only boasts unspotted lays. + +Mr. Dryden speaking of Roscommon's essay on translated verse, has the +following observation: 'It was that, says he, that made me uneasy, +till I tried whether or no I was capable of following his rules, and +of reducing the speculation into practice. For many a fair precept in +poetry, is like a seeming demonstration in mathematics: very specious +in the diagram, but failing in mechanic operation. I think I have +generally observed his instructions. I am sure my reason is +sufficiently convinced both of their truth and usefulness; which in +other words is to confess no less a vanity, than to pretend that I +have at least in some places made examples to his rules.' + +This declaration of Dryden will be found no more than one of those +cursory civilities, which one author pays to another; and that kind of +compliment for which Dryden was remarkable. For when the sum of lord +Roscommon's precepts is collected, it will not be easy to discover how +they can qualify their reader for a better performance of translation, +than might might have been attained by his own reflexions. + +They are however here laid down: + + + 'Tis true composing is the nobler part, + But good translation is no easy art: + For tho' materials have long since been found, + Yet both your fancy and your hands are bound; + And by improving what was writ before, + Invention labours less, but judgment more. + Each poet with a different talent writes, + One praises, one instructs, another bites. + Horace did ne'er aspire to epic bays + Nor lofty Maro stoop to lyric lays. + Examine how your humour is inclin'd, + And watch the ruling passion of your mind. + Then seek a poet, who your way does bend. + And chuse an author, as you chuse a friend. + United by this sympathetic bond, + You grow familiar, intimate, and fond; + Your thoughts, your words, your stiles, your souls agree, + No longer his interpreter, but he. + Take then a subject, proper to expound + * * * * * + But moral, great, and worth a poet's voice, + For men of sense, despise a trivial choice: + And such applause, it must expect to meet + As would some painter busy in the street; + To copy bulls, and bears, and every sign + That calls the staring sots to nasty wine. + Take pains the genuine meaning to explore, + There sweat, there strain, tug the laborious oar: + Search every comment, that your care can find. + Some here, some there, may hit the poet's mind. + Yet, be not blindly guided by the throng, + The multitude is always in the wrong. + When things appear unnatural, or hard, + Consult your author, with himself compar'd. + Who knows what blessings Phaebus may bestow, + And future ages to your labours owe? + Such secrets are not easily found out, + But once discovered leave no room for doubt. + Truth stamps conviction in your ravish'd breast, + And peace and joy attend the glorious guest. + They who too faithfully on names insist; + Rather create, than dissipate the mist: + And grow unjust by being over nice, + (For superstition, virtue turns to vice) + Let Crassus ghost, and Labienus tell + How twice in Parthian plains their legions fell, + Since Rome hath been so jealous of her fame, + That few know Pacorus, or Monaeses name. + And 'tis much safer to leave out than add + * * * * * + Abstruse and mystic thoughts, you must express, } + With painful care, but seeming easiness; } + For truth shines brightest, thro' the plainest dress, } + Your author always will the best advise, + Fall when he falls, and when he rises, rise. + +Nothing could have induced us to have laboured thro' so great a number +of cold unspirited lines, but in order to shew, that the rules which +my lord has laid down are meerly common place, and must unavoidably +occur to the mind of the most ordinary reader. They contain no more +than this; that the author should be suitable to the translator's +genius; that he should be such as may deserve a translation; that he +who intends to translate him, should endeavour to understand him; that +perspicuity should be studied, and unusual or uncouth names, sparingly +inserted; and that the stile of the original should be copied in its +elevation and depression. These are the common-place rules delivered +without elegance, or energy, which have been so much celebrated, but +how deservedly, let our unprepossess'd readers judge. + +Roscommon was not without his merit; he was always chaste, and +sometimes harmonious; but the grand requisites of a poet, elevation, +fire, and invention, were not given him, and for want of these, +however pure his thoughts, he is a languid unentertaining writer. + +Besides this essay on translated verse, he is the author of a +translation of Horace's Art of poetry; with some other little poems, +and translations published in a volume of the minor poets. + +Amongst the MSS. of Mr. Coxeter, we found lord Roscommon's translation +of Horace's Art of Poetry, with some sketches of alterations he +intended to make; but they are not great improvements; and this +translation, of all his lordship's pieces, is the most unpoetical. + +Footnote: +1. Fenton. + + + + + END of the SECOND VOLUME. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great +Britain and Ireland (1753), by Theophilus Cibber + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIVES OF THE POETS OF *** + +***** This file should be named 16469.txt or 16469.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/4/6/16469/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Fred Robinson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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