Principia et Problemata aliquot Geometrica ante desperata, nunc
breviter explicata & demonstrata, London 1674, 4to.
Epistola ad Dom. Ant. Wood Authorem Historiæ & 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 Thomæ 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 Thomæ Hobbs, written by himself in prose, and printed at
Caropolis, i.e. London, and prefixed to Vitæ Hobbianæ 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-cælico 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 Cælicus; 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 Cæsar 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;