Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 18.djvu/79

 EVANS, THEOPHILUS (1694–1767), divine, born in 1694, near Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, was the fifth son of Charles Evans of Pen y Wenalt, Cardiganshire. He was probably educated at Shrewsbury; he was ordained deacon in 1718, and priest in 1719, by the Bishop of St. David's. He was domestic chaplain to the Gwyns of Garth. In 1728 the Bishop of St. David's gave him the small rectory of Llanynis, Brecknockshire, which he resigned in 1738 on being presented to the rectory of Llangammarch. From 1739 till his death he held the living of St. David's in Llanfaes. In 1763 he resigned Llangammarch to his son-in-law, Hugh Jones. He died in 1767.

He married Alice Bevan, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. One of the daughters married Hugh Jones, and became the mother of Theophilus Jones, author of the history of Brecknockshire.

Evans's works are: 1. ‘Pwll i Pader,’ 1739. A Welsh comment on the Lord's Prayer in a series of sermons after the manner of Bishop Blackall. 2. ‘Drych y Prif Oesoedd,’ 1739. A very popular book on Welsh antiquities, which is said to have gone through thirty editions, and was translated into English as a ‘View of the Primitive Ages.’ It is utterly unhistorical, begins from the Tower of Babel, and declares Arthur to be as real as Alexander. 3. ‘History of Modern Enthusiasm, from the Reformation to Present Times,’ 1752 and 1759. An attack upon ‘enthusiasts,’ fifth-monarchy men, French prophets, methodists, &c. Evans's grandson says that he was the mildest and simplest of men, and on friendly terms with the dissenters whom he assailed in this book.

[Theophilus Jones's History of Brecknockshire, pp. 274–5; Life prefixed to Primitive Ages.] 

EVANS, THOMAS (d. 1633), poet, was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1612, M.A. in 1616, and B.D. in 1628. He was presented to the rectory of Little Holland, Essex, in 1618, and held that benefice till his death in 1633.

He is the author of one of the rarest poetical works in the English language. It is entitled ‘Œdipus: Three Cantoes. Wherein is contained: 1. His unfortunate Infancy. 2. His execrable Actions. 3. His lamentable End. By T. E. Bach: Art. Cantab.,’ Lond. 1615, 12mo. It is dedicated to John Clapham, one of the six clerks in chancery, and in a preliminary address, ‘savouring much of the academy,’ the author says that it is his ‘first child, but not the heyre of all the fathers wit: there is some laid up to enrich a second brother, to keepe it from accustomed dishonesty, when I shall put it to shift into the world; yet if this prove a griefe to the parent, I will instantly be divorc't from Thalia, and make myself happy in the progeny from a better stocke.’ Each canto contains about six hundred lines, rhyming alternately, and sometimes flowing with ease, but without any originality of invention.

[Newcourt's Repertorium, ii. 333; Collier's Rarest Books in the English Language, i. 260; Cooper's Athenæ Cantab. MS.] 

EVANS, THOMAS (1742–1784), bookseller, was born in 1742 and served an apprenticeship with Charles Marsh of Round Court and Charing Cross. He opened a shop in the Strand, where he published a quantity of works on English literature and antiquities, generally well printed, and many edited by himself. To these he prefixed dedications to friends and patrons, Garrick, Reynolds, Sheridan, and others. His chief literary undertaking was an excellent collection of old ballads, of which a third edition was brought out by his son. In an advertisement prefixed to Peck's ‘Desiderata Curiosa’ (1779) he submitted a proposal to reprint Tanner's ‘Notitia Monastica,’ afterwards published by Dr. Nasmith. He was a leading member of the booksellers' club in the Grecian Coffee-house, to which Thomas Davies (1712?–1785) [q. v.] belonged. He must not be confounded with his homonym who had the scuffle with Goldsmith, with whom he was on friendly terms. Evans collected the first London edition of the poet's writings. He was full of humour and much sought after for his companionable qualities. He died on 30 April 1784, leaving a widow and a son, Robert Harding Evans [q. v.]

The following are the works written or edited by him: 1. ‘Poems by Mr. W. Shakespeare’ [London, 1774], sm. 8vo. 2. ‘A History of Wales by Caradoc of Lhancarvan. Englished by Dr. Powell,’ London, 1774, 8vo. 3. ‘Memoirs of the Cardinal de Retz, translated,’ London, 1774, 4 vols. sm. 8vo. 4. ‘The Works of Richard Savage,’ London, 1775, 2 vols. sm. 8vo. 5. ‘The Works of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham,’ London, 1775, 2 vols. sm. 8vo. 6. ‘The English, Scotch, and Irish Historical Libraries, by Bishop W. Nicolson, a new edition,’ London, 1776, 4to. 7. ‘A Solemn Declaration of Mr. Daniel Perreau [forger], written by himself,’ London, 1776, 8vo. 8. ‘Desiderata Curiosa, by Francis Peck, new edition,’ London, 1779, 2 vols. 4to. 9. ‘Poetical Works of Matthew Prior,’ London, 1779, 2 vols. 8vo. 10. ‘Poetical and Dramatic Works of O. Goldsmith,’ Lon-