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Second Reading

About Peter Lely

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Sir Peter Lely, who painted history and landscape when he first came into England, applied himself afterwards to portrait, in emulation of Vandyck. He copied the works of that admirable master with great success; but could not arrive at his excellence in copying nature. Vandyck painted what he saw before him; Lely painted his own ideas. In Vandyck's pictures we instantly see the person represented; in Lely's we see the painter. The languishing air, the sleepy eye, the cast of draperies, shew him to have been an excessive mannerist: but they shew him, at the fame time, to have been an excellent artist. The ladies were desirous of being drawn by his hand, as he knew how to bestow beauty where nature had been sparing. It has been justly said of him, that "he painted many fine pictures, but few good portraits." Ob. 30 November, 1680, Æt 63. He left an estate of 900 l. per annum, and his judicious collection of paintings, prints, and drawings sold for 26,000 l.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Robert Streeter

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Robert Streeter, serjeant-painter to the king, was one of the most universal of our English artists. He painted history, portrait, landscape, and still-life. If he had confined his talent to one branch only, he would doubtless have arrived at much greater excellence than he did. Some of his fruit-pieces were deservedly admired. He painted several ceilings at Whitehall, which were destroyed by the fire; the battle of the giants at sir Robert Clayton's; and the chapel at All Souls college at Oxford. His principal work is at the Theatre in that university, a performance altogether unworthy of the architect. Ob. 1680, Æt. 56.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Lilly's 'Merlini Anglici Ephemeris'

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Lilly's Almanack, which maintained its reputation for a long course of years, seems to have been one of those books which were thought necessary for all families. 1 can easily imagine that the author scarce ever went into the house of a mechanic where he did not see it lying upon the same shelf with "The Practice of Piety," and the "Whole Duty of Man."
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Martin Clifford

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Martin Clifford, master of the Charter-house, was a man of parts and a polite scholar; and lived in great intimacy with most of the wits of this reign. Dr. Sprat has dedicated to him his "Life of Cowley," who was their common friend. He was author of a "Treatise on Human Reason," and was one of those who were said to have a hand in "The Rehearsal," to which these verses in the "Session of the Poets" allude:

"Intelligence was brought, the court being fat,
That a play tripartite was very near made,
Where malicious Matt. Clifford, and spiritual Sprat,
Were join'd with their duke, a peer of the trade."

He is here and elsewhere called Matt. Clifford; but his name was undoubtedly Martin.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Algernon Sidney

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Algernon Sidney, who saw and deplored the abuses of regal power, wrote much, and, as some think, much to the purpose, for republican government. He did not only write from his judgment, he also wrote from his heart; and has informed his reader of what he felt, as well as what he knew. He was so far from thinking resistance unlawful, that he actually entered into cabals for restraining the exorbitancies of the crown. He was tried and condemned for conspiring the death of the king, by a packed jury and an infamous judge. Only one witness appeared against him, but his papers on government were deemed equivalent to another. He had in these asserted, that power is delegated from the people to the prince, and that he is accountable to them for the abuse of it. This was not only looked upon as treason, but blasphemy against the vicegerents of the great Governor of the world. Though he was haughty and overbearing in his behaviour, perhaps none in this reign died more lamented, except the good and popular lord Russel. He was regarded as the second martyr to patriotism. He was executed Dec. 7, 1683.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Thomas Hobbes

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Thomas Hobbes, a man of much learning, more thinking, and not a little knowledge of the world, was one of the most celebrated and admired authors of his age. His style is incomparably better than that of any other writer in the reign of Charles I. and was, for its uncommon strength and purity, scarcely equalled in the succeeding reign. He has, in translation, done Thucydides as much justice as he has done injury to Homer: but he looked upon himself as born for much greater things than treading in the footsteps of his predecessors. He was for striking out new paths in science, government, and religion; and for removing the landmarks of former ages. His ethics have a strong tendency to corrupt our morals, and his politics to destroy that liberty which is the birthright of every human creature. He is commonly represented as a sceptic in religion, and a dogmatist in philosophy, but he was a dogmatist in both. The main principles of his "Leviathan" are as little founded in moral or evangelical truth, as the rules he laid down for squaring the circle are in the mathematical demonstration. His book on human Nature is esteemed the best of his works. Ob. 4 Dec. 1679, Æt. 92.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About John Evelyn

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John Evelyn, the English Peirese, was a gentleman of as universal knowledge as any of his time; and no man was more open and benevolent in the communication of it. He was particularly skilled in gardening, painting, engraving, architecture, and medals; upon all which, he has published treatises. His book on the last of these sciences, is deservedly in esteem; but is inferior to that of Mr. Obadiah Walker on the same subject. His translation of "An Idea of the Perfection of Painting," written in French by Roland Freart, and printed in 1668, is become very scarce. His "Sculptura, or the History and Art of Chalcography, and engraving in Copper," was composed at the particular request of his friend, Mr. Robert Boyle, to whom it is dedicated. But his great work, is his "Sylva ; or a Discourse of Forest Trees, and the Propagation of Timber," &c. which was the first book that was published by order of the Royal Society. He tells us, in the second edition of that valuable work, that it had been the occasion of planting two millions of timber trees. The author, who resided chiefly at Says Court, near Deptford, had one of the finest gardens in the kingdom, and was one of the best and happiest men in it. He lived to a good, but not an useless old age, and long enjoyed the shade of those flourishing trees which himself had planted. Ob. 27 Feb. 1705.6, Æt. 86.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Traineband

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TRAIN-BANDS, TRAINED-BANDS Regiments made up of the Inhabitants of a City, trained up to Arms.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1731.

About Robert Boyle

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Robert Boyle, who was born the fame year in which lord Bacon died, seems to have inherited the penetrating and inquisitive genius of that illustrious philosopher. We are at a loss which to admire most, his extensive knowledge, or his exalted piety. These excellencies kept pace with each other: but the former never carried him to vanity, nor the latter to enthusiasm. He was himself The christian virtuoso which he has described. Religion never sat more easy upon a man, nor added greater dignity to a character. He particularly applied himself to chymistry; and made such discoveries in that branch of science, as can scarce be credited upon less authority than his own. His doctrine of the weight and spring of the air, a fluid on which our health and our very being depend, gained him all the reputation he deserved. Ob. 30 Dec. 1691, Æt. 65.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About William Brouncker (2nd Viscount Brouncker)

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William, lord Brouncker, whom bishop Burnet calls a profound mathematician, was chancellor to queen Catherine, keeper of her great seal, and one of the commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral. Few of his writings are extant. His "Experiments of the recoiling of Guns," and his algebraical paper on the squaring of the hyperbola, are well known. He was the first president of the Royal Society; a body of men, who, since their incorporation, have made a much greater progress in true natural knowledge, than had before been made from the beginning of the world. Ob. 5 April, 1684, Æt. 64.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Joseph Moxon

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Joseph Moxon, hydrographer to Charles II. was an excellent practical mathematician. He composed, translated, and published, a great variety of books relative to the sciences. He particularly excelled in geography, and was a great improver of maps, spheres, and globes, the last of which he carried to a higher degree of perfection, than any Englishman had done before him. Besides his treatises of geography, astronomy, navigation, &c. he published a book of "Mechanick Exercises, or the Doctrines of Handy-Works," &c. This book, which is in two volumes quarto, is uncommon. Dr. Johnson often quotes him in his Dictionary, as the best authority for the common terms of mechanic arts. There is a pack of astronomical playing cards invented by him, "teaching any ordinary capacity, by them, to be acquainted with all the stars in heaven, to know their place, colour, nature, bigness: as also the poetical reasons for every constellation."— He was living at the sign of the Atlas, in Warwick-Lane, 1692.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Sir Henry Blount

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Sir Henry Blount was third son of sir Thomas Pope Blount, of Tittenhanger in Hertfordshire. He distinguished himself, in the early part of his life, by his travels into the Levant. In this voyage he passed above six thousand miles, the greater part of which he went by land. This gained him the epithet of "The great Traveller." His quick and lively parts recommended him to Charles 1. who is said to have committed the young princes to his care, just before the battle of Edge-hill. He was one of the commissioners appointed in November, 1655, to consider of proper ways and means to improve the trade and navigation of the commonwealth. His "Travels to the Levant," which have been translated into French and Dutch, were published in 4to. 1636. The author of the Introductory Discourse prefixed to Churchill's "Collection of Voyages," gives but an indifferent character of this book, as to style and matter. He was author of several pieces of less note, and is supposed to have had the principal hand in the "Anima Mundi," published by his son Charles, the well-known author of the "Oracles of Reason." The former of these books contains much the same kind of philosophy with that of Spinoza. Sir Thomas Pope Blount, another of his sons, who compiled the "Censura celebriorum authorum," is a writer much more worthy of our notice. Ob. 9 Oct. 1682.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Edward Waterhouse

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Edward Waterhouse was, according to Mr. Wood and Mr. Nicolson , author of the following books: "A Discourse and Defence of Arms and Armory," 1660; 8vo. "The Sphere of Gentry, deduced from the Principles of Nature; an historical and genealogical Work of Arms and Blazon, in four "books," 1661; fol. "Fortescutus illustratus, or a Commentary on Fortescue de Laudibus Legum Angliae," 1663; fol. The book to which his head is prefixed is entitled, "The Gentleman's Monitor, or a sober Inspection into the Virtues, Vices, and ordinary Means of the Rise and Decay of Families," 1665; 8vo. This is not mentioned by either of the above cited authors. The latter informs us, that he published an "Historical Narrative of the Fire of London," in 1666. Mr. Wood, who speaks with great contempt of his "Sphere of Gentry," tells us, "that he was a cock-brained man; that he took holy orders upon him, and became a fantastical preacher." Lloyd styles him "the learned, industrious, and ingenious Edward Waterhouse, Esq. of Sion College;" and acknowledges himself beholden to him for the account of Sir Edward Waterhouse, printed in his "State Worthies." Ob. 1670.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Anthony Hamilton

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Count Hamilton, a native of Ireland, settled in France, was author of the "Memoires de Grammont," in which he, with an easy and exquisite pencil, has painted the chief characters of the court of Charles the Second, as they were, with great truth and spirit, described to him by Grammont himself, "Who caught the manners living as they rose." The author has in his work displayed a happiness as well as accuracy, which have deservedly placed him in the first rank of the French writers of memoirs. He was brother-in-law to the count, with whose history he hath entertained and delighted the public.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Roger L'Estrange

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Roger L'Estrange, who was at the head of the writers by profession, in this reign, was author of a great number of political pamphlets and periodical papers. That which made the greatest noise was his "Observator," in which, he went as great lengths to vindicate the measures of the court, as were ever gone by any mercenary journalist. This paper was swelled to three volumes in folio. He translated Cicero's "Offices," Seneca's "Morals, "Erasmus's "Colloquies," and Quevedo's "Visions." His "Esop's Fables" was more a new work than a translation. The most valuable of his books is his translation of Josephus, which, though in a better style than most of his writings, has been very justly censured. He was one of the great corrupters of our language, by excluding vowels and other letters not commonly pronounced, and introducing pert and affected phrases. He was licenser of the press to Charles and James II. Ob. 11 Dec. 1704, Æt. 88.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Paul Rycaut

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Paul Ricaut, or Rycaut, was a gentleman of good parts and learning, and particularly distinguished by his travels, his negotiations, and his writings. He composed his "Present State of the Ottoman Empire" during his residence at Constantinople, where he was secretary to Heneage Finch, earl of Wilchelsea, ambassador to the Ottoman Porte. He was about eleven years consul for the English nation at Smyrna, where he wrote his "Present State of the Greek and Armenian Churches." But his capital performance is his "Continuation of Richard Knolles's excellent History of the Turks." He was, from his great knowledge of the Turkish affairs, better qualified than any other person for this work; but he is inferior to Knolles in historic merit. He also wrote a "Continuation of Platina's Lives of the Popes," in folio, which was published in the reign of James II. by whom he was knighted. He also translated Garcillasso de la Vega's "Commentaries of Peru." He was, by king William, sent resident to Hamburgh, where he. lived ten years. In 1700, he returned to England, and died in November the same year.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About Sir Philip Warwick

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Sir Philip Warwick was son of Thomas Warwick, organist of St. Peter's Westminster, of which church the former was some time a chorister. He was educated at Eton school, and finished his studies at Geneva, under the care of Diodati, well known for his Commentaries on the Scriptures. He had much the same advantages of knowledge, and was witness of many of the same facts, with the historians before-mentioned; and yields to none of them in candour and integrity. He served the worthy earl of Southampton in the office of secretary to the treasury; an employment which he had enjoyed in the former reign. He acquitted himself in this office with such abilities as did honour to them both: but the earl's enemies insinuated, that all the honour was due to the secretary, and usually called him "Sir Philip the Treasurer." The most considerable of his works is his "Memoirs, or Reflections upon the Reign of King Charles I." This book was published by Dr. Thomas Smith, the learned writer concerning the Greek church. But the doctor's preface, of some pages, having been not altogether pleasing to the administration at that time, it has been suffered to stand in very few copies. He died the 15th of January, 1682.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.

About John Rushworth

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John Rushworth was bred to the law, but neglected that profession, and applied himself with great assiduity to state affairs. He was not only an eye and ear-witness, but a considerable agent in some of the most important transactions during the civil war. His "Historical Collections" are a work of great labour: but he did not only employ his industry to collect facts, but also to conceal and disguise them. His books are very useful to the readers, as well as writers of our history; but they must be read with extreme caution. It is an unhappy circumstance for an historian to write under the influence of such as cannot bear the truth. Rushworth's compilation was carried on under the eye, and submitted to the correction, of Cromwell. Hence it is, that he has omitted whatever could give offence, and inserted whatever he thought would be agreeable to his patron. Ob. 12 May, 1690.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.