Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 07.djvu/115

  among which his ‘Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Paston Letters,' xli. 15, may be especially mentioned. He also printed two letters relating to the affairs of the society in 1852. He wrote occasionally in the ‘Edinburgh Review’ and other periodicals, and was for some years editor of the ‘Gentleman’s Magazine.' For the Berkshire Ashmolean Society he edited a volume of ‘Original Letters relating to Archbishop Laud's Benefactions,' 1811, and for the Parker Society the ‘Works of R. Hutchinson,' 1842, and conjointly with the Rev. T. Perowne the ‘Correspondence of Archbishop Parker,’ 1853. In 1857. he contributed an edition of Cowper’s poems to the Aldine edition of poets. He edited the Calendars of State Papers, Domestic Series, Charles I, 1625-1639, 12 vols. published under the direction of the master of the rolls, 1858-1871, the last volume being completed by Mr. W. D. Hamilton, and in 1867 printed privately papers relating to William, first earl of Gowrie. In 1861 he was appointed by the Society of Antiquaries a trustee of Sir John Soane's Museum. He was a man of a noble simplicity of character, and was much beloved by all who worked with him. He had been a widower for some years before his death, which occurred very suddenly at London, 28 Oct. 1869. His manuscripts deposited in the British Museum are: Catalogue of State Papers in the State Paper Office and the British Museum, and class catalogues of manuscripts in the British Museum, Add. MSS. 28197-28202, and a classified list of the letters of William Cowper, Add. MS. 29716.

 BRUCE, JOHN HOPE (1684?–1766), of Kinross, soldier and statesman, and reputed author of the ballad ‘Hardyknute,’ was the third son of Sir Thomas Hope, bart., of Craighall, Fife. His mother was the sole heir of Sir William Bruce, bart., of Kinross, and hence comes the name of the son, which in the family records stands as Sir John Bruce Hope. On the death of his elder brothers without heirs he suceeded to the estates, and came to be popularly known as Sir John Bruce of Kinross. Besides serving in the Swedish army, Bruce gained distinction as a soldier at home, rising to the rank of lieutenant-general. His public career likewise includes the governorship of the Bermudas and the representation of Kinross-shire in Parliament. He died at the age of eighty-two, and was buried at Kinross. His first wife was Catherine Halket of Pitferrun, near Dunfermline, and it is her sister, Lady Wardlaw, who divides with Bruce the honour of having written ‘Hardyknute.’ It is extremely difficult with the existing evidence to decide which of the two wrote the poem—if indeed it was not their joint composition—but the best critics incline to give the credit to Bruce. Pinkerton, who wrote a sequel to the vigorous fragment, is quite decided in that view, resting his conclusion on a letter to Lord Binning, in which Bruce suys he found the manuscript in a vault at Dumfermline. Percy accepts Pinkerton's argument and inference, and Irving, the most competent judge since their day, while acknowledging the difficulties of the case, is clearly inclined to agree with them. Unfortunately neither Lady Wardlaw nor Bruce left any authentic poetical composition, though Pinkerton would have little hesitation in attributing to Bruce not only ‘Hardyknute’ but other members of Ramsay's ‘Evergreen’ as well. There exists, however, testimony of various friends as to the exceptional accomplishments of Lady Wardlaw, and as to the probability, amounting almost to a certainty, that she was the sole and unaided author of the ballad [see ].

 BRUCE, MICHAEL (1635–1693), presbyterian minister, was the first of a line of seven Bruces, presbyterian ministers in Ireland in six successive generations. He was the third and youngest son of Patrick Bruce of Newtown, Stirlingshire, by Janet, second daughter of John Jackson, merchant of Edinburgh. [q. v.], who anointed Anne of Denmark at Holyrood, 17 May 1590, was his grand-uncle. Bruce graduated at Edinburgh in 1654. He is said to have begun to preach in 1656. In that year John Livingstone of Ancrum, formerly minister of Killinchy, co. Down, paid a visit to his old charge, with a view to settle there again. This he did not do, but on returning to Scotland he looked out for a likely man for Killinchy, and at length sent Bruce with a letter (dated 3 July 1657) to Captain James Moore of Ballybregah ‘to be communicated to the congregation.’ Bruce was ordained at Killinchy by the Down presbytery in October 1657. At the Restoration Bruce’s position was very precarious, but he refused a call