JOHN EARLE.

_Author of 'Micro-cosmographie' 1628. Bishop of Worcester 1662, and of

Salisbury 1663._

_Born 1601. Died 1665._

By CLARENDON.

D'r Earles was at that tyme Chaplyne in the house to the Earle of

Pembroke, L'd Chamberlyne of his Majestys household, and had a

lodginge in the courte under that relation. He was a person very

notable for his elegance in the Greeke and Latine tounges, and beinge

fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxforde, and havinge bene Proctour of the

University, and some very witty and sharpe discourses beinge published

in print without his consent, though knowne to be his, he grew

suddaynely into a very generall esteem with all men, being a man of

greate piety and devotion, a most eloquent and powerfull preacher, and

of a conversation so pleasant and delightfull, so very innocent, and

so very facetious, that no mans company was more desyred, and more

loved. No man was more negligent in his dresse, and habitt, and

meene, no man more wary and cultivated in his behaviour and discourse,

insomuch as he had the greater advantage when he was knowne, by

promisinge so little before he was knowen. He was an excellent Poett

both in Latine, Greeke, and English, as appeares by many pieces

yett abroade, though he suppressed many more himselfe, especially of

English, incomparably good, out of an austerity to those sallyes of

his youth. He was very deere to the L'd Falkelande, with whome he

spent as much tyme as he could make his owne, and as that Lord would

impute the speedy progresse he made in the Greeke tounge, to the

information and assistance he had from M'r Earles, so M'r Earles would

frequently professe that he had gott more usefull learninge by his

conversation at Tew (the L'd Falkelands house) then he had at Oxforde.

In the first setlinge of the Prince his family, he was made on of

his Chaplynes, and attended on him when he was forced to leave the

kingdome, and therfore we shall often have occasyon to mention him

heareafter. He was amongst the few excellent men, who never had,

nor ever could have an enimy, but such a one who was an enimy to all

learninge and virtue, and therfore would never make himselfe knowne.

51.

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