THE LIVES AND CHARACTERS OF THE ENGLISH POETS. A Poet, who flourish'd in the Reign of the Glorious Que Elizabeth, and of her Succeffor King James I. He had a great Genius for Poetry, having writ two Pieces very much applauded in those Days. 1. The Life of King Henry the Seventh, with the Battel of Bofworth; in Heroick Verfe. II. The Battle of Creffy and Poitiers. That he was Mafter of good Thoughts in his Writings, appears by the following Couplet from his Life of King Henry: B Man 1 Man and Money, a mutual Falfhood show, And in his Battle of Creffy, are thefe Lines: They fwell with Love who are with Valour fill'd, FRANCIS ATTERBURY D. D. Dean of Westminster and Bishop of Rochefter: ΤΗ THIS excellent Prelate, is the Son of the Reverend Dr. ATTERBURY, late Rector of Milton, near Newport-Pagnel in Buckinghamshire. He was bred at Westminster-School, and from thence elected (with the fairest Promises of the Great Man he has ince made) to Chrift-Church College in Oxford, where he accomplish'd himself in the moft Polite Literature, and gain'd the greatest Reputation as an Orator and Divine. He was very much Courted and Admir'd by the politeft Perfons of the Univerfity on Account of his uncommon Abilities. His firft Preferments were thofe of Lecturer of St. Brides, and Preacher of Bridewell, London. Afterwards he was Chaplain to the Rolls; then Canon Refidentiary of Exeter, and Arch-Deacon of Totness: After this he was Dean of Carlisle, and preferr'd to the Deanery of Chrift-Church, in Oxford; and in the Year 1713. he was made Dean of Westminster, and Bishop of Rochefter. In his younger Years, before he had any Dignity confer'd on him in the Church, he wrote feveral feveral fine Pieces of Latin Poetry, amongst which, his elegant Tranflation of Mr. DRYDEN'S Abfalom and Achitophel is defervedly celebrated. Among his English Performances, the following Epigram on a Lady's Fan, is worthy of the highest esteem. Flavia the leaft and flightest Toy This Fan, in meaner Hands would provė That it Wounds more than Cupid's Bow; *** T Captain JOHN AYLOFFE. HIS Gentleman was Educated at Trinity-College in Cambridge. He was a Man of Wit and Humour, which carried his Inclinations to Poetry. He has publish'd several valuable fmall Pieces in the Mifcellanies, among which, one intitled, MARVEL'S Ghost, is very much admir'd. ISISISESSESESESY B. Mr. ROBERT BASTON. HIS Poet was born at, or near, the Town o Nottingham. He was bred a Carmelite Friar, at Scarborough in Torkfhire, and fo great was his Fame in Poetry, that King Edward the Second, in his Scotifh Expedition, thought him worthy to Immortalize his Heroick Actions; But the Chance of War at length giving the Advantage to Robert Bruce, who then laid claim to the Crown of Scotland, he was oblig'd by Torments to Change his Note. He wrote one Poem, viz. De Bello Strivilenfi, which was publish'd in a Volume of other Poems on various Subjects. XSir JOHN BEAUMONT, Baronet. N excellent Poet, who liv'd in the Reign of King Richard the Third; when, (fuch is the Catastrophe of fome of our English Monarchs) two hopeful Princes were inhumanly murther'd by the Ufurper Richard; but the Tragedy of his Reign was compleated in his own ignominious Death, at the Battle of Bofworth. Sir John was justly ftil'd one of the Chief of the great Souls of Poetical Numbers; He was fill'd with Phabean Fire; and he wrote, befides x * H is Poems (amiony are Painted in 12mo, 1629, under this title "Bosworth Field: with a taste of the variety of other poems, left by Sir John Beaumont, Baronet, deceased: set forth buy his Sonne, Sir John Bearmont, Baronet, and dedicated to the King's most Excellent Majestic.". |