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 SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

487

1634. Died, George Chapman, a poet and dramatist, in the 77th year of his age. He was the author of sixteen plays, and is also distin- guished as the first translator of Homer into English verse. He has a high philosophical vein in his tragedies, and a very lively humour in his comedies, hut wants pa.ssion and imagination. His All Fools* Widowt' Tears, and Easttrard Hoe,\ are his most esteemed plays of the latter land ; the last contains the first idea of Hogarth's Idle and Industrious Apprentices. The following is an abstract from one of his plays, describing

AS AtTTHOR'S VANITY.

tbe foolish poet, Out still writ

All his self-loved veree in paper roysl,

Or parchment ruled with lead, smoothM with the pumice.

Bound richly op, and strung with crimson strings ;

Never so blest as when he writ and read

The ape-loved issue of his brain : and never

Bat Joying in himself, admiring ever.

1634. A convocation met at Dublin, in which the importance of communicating the scriptures and liturgy to the natives of Ireland, in their own tongue, was the subject of much debate. Two canons were passed uifder the authority of arch- bishop Usher and Dr. Bedell -^ the first, that " where most of the people were Irish, the churchwiirdens should provide, at the charge of the parish, a bible|| and two common prayer boolis, in the Irish tongue:" the other, that, " where the minister was an Englishman, such a clerk might be chosen as should be able to read those parts of the service, which should be ap- pointed to be read in Irish." The design of translating the bible met with violent opposition, not only from the catholics but many protestants ;

• AU Fooln, a Comedp, pretented at the Black Frien and lately before Hie Majeatie. Written by George Chap- man. At London : printed for Thomas Thorpe. lOOft.

t Bastward Hoe. As it wru plat/d in the Black-friera, by the Children of her Majeatiet Revela. Made by Geo. Chapman, Ben Jonson, Joh. Marston. At London : printed for William Aspley. 1609. King James was so displeased with this performance, on account of some sarcastical remarks upon the Scotch, that both the writer and' printer were nigh being imprisoned.

t William Bedell, D.D., was born at Black Notley, in Essex, in 1570, and studied at Cambridge. In 1037 he was elected provost of Trinity college, Dublin, and two years afterwards was raised to the united sees of Kilmore and Armagh. In his high station he conducted himself with that propriety which his private character had given reason to expect; and his conciliatory procedure so won the hearts of the catholics, that In the rebellion of 1041, his palace in the county of Cavan, was the only habitation of an Englishman that remained unviolated. He died Feb. 7. 1642. He was buried in the church-yard of Kilmore, two days after his death, when his remains were accom. panled to the place of intemnent by the rebel forces with unusual honours. His manuscripts, of which there was a large trunk full, fell into the hands of the Irish. Among the books carried off by them was his valuable Hebrew manuscript bible, which is now in the library of Emanuel college, Cambridge, and which was happily pre- served by an Irish servant. This bible, which is in three folio volumes. Is said to have been presented to Emanuel college, by the bishop.* It has two columns in a page ; the' Initial letters large, and decorated ; an Illumination round the first page of each volume ; some Ictteni gilt. It has tbe vowel points, and the Masora. It was purchased of the chief Chacam of the synagogue at Venice. Sir Henry Wotton gave for it it* weight nt aitver.

H The new testament, and such passages of the old as are insoted in the book of common prayer.

and the troubles which then raged in Ireland put a stop to all exertions; and the types which had been used for the printing of the new testa- ment, and other booKs, after passing through several hands, were procured by the Jesuits, and carried over to Douay, for the express purpose of extending their own principles in Ireland, through the medium of the vernacular tongue.

1634. June 26. Died, John Marston, a poet and dramatist, whose /orfe is not sympathy with either the softer or stronger emotions, out an im- pudent scorn and bitter indignation against the vices and follies of men. He was rather more of a satirist than a dramatist. — Chambers.

Marston was the author of eight plays, and was concerned in two others. The whole of the

auarto editions are very scarce indeed ; and of lese the Garrick collection possesses seven.

1635. It having been noticed that some of the assistants, and otbers of the livery, of the sta- tioners' company, came to the hidl in falling bands, doublets slashed and cut, or other inde- cent apparel, not suitable to the habit of citizens ; it was ordered that the assistants do come to the hall on court days in rufi' bands.

1636. Mr. Robert Allott gave £10 to the p«)or, and £10 for a dinner for the stationers' company.

1536, Feb. 9. Died, Philemon Holland, an industrious writer, who was a descendant of an ancient family of the Hollands, of Lanca- shire, and was the son of the Rev. John Holland, a pious divine, who, in queen Mary's days, was obliged to go abroad on account of his religion. He afterwards returned, and became pastor of Great Dunmow, where he died in 1578.

Philemon was born at Chelmsford, about the latter end of the reign of Edward VI.; and after some initiatory instruction at the grammar school of that place, was sent to Cambridge. He was admitted fellow of his college, and took his degree of M.A.,in which he was incorporated at Oxford in 1687.

Having left the university, he was appointed head master of the free-school of Coventry, in which laborious station he not only assiduously attended to his duties, but served the interests of learning, when learning was scantily dis- pensed, by those numerous translations which gained him the title of "Translator-general of the age." He likewise studied medicine, and practised with considerable reputation in his neighbourhood ; and, when in his fortieth year, took his degree of M.D. at Cambridge.

He was a peaceable, quiet, and good man in all the relations of life; and, by temperate habits, attained his eighty-fifth year, without diminution of faculties or sight. He continued to translate till his eightieth year; and his trans- lations, though devoid of elegance, are accounted faithful and accurate. His translation of Livy is said to have been written with one pen, whicn a lady of his acquaintance so highly prized that she had it embellished with silver, and kept it as a great curiosity. His other translations were Pliny's Natural History; Plutarch's Morals;

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