Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 25.djvu/379

 # ‘A Letter on “Uncle Tom's Cabin,”’ 1852. 
 * 1) ‘Casimir Maremma,’ 1870; another edit. 1873.
 * 2) ‘Brevia; Short Essays and Aphorisms,’ 1871.
 * 3) ‘Conversations on War,’ 1871.
 * 4) ‘Work and Wages, by T. Brassey the younger,’ 1872.
 * 5) ‘Life and Labours of Mr. Brassey,’ 1872; 7th edit. 1888.
 * 6) ‘Thoughts upon Government,’ 1872.
 * 7) ‘Some Talk about Animals and their Masters,’ 1873; new edit. 1883.
 * 8) ‘Social Pressure,’ 1875.

HELSHAM, RICHARD, M.D. (1682?–1738), friend of Swift, was born probably in 1682 at Leggatsrath, co. Kilkenny. He was educated at Kilkenny College, entered Trinity College, Dublin, 18 July 1697, obtained a scholarship in 1700, graduated B.A. in 1702, was elected fellow in 1704, and was co-opted a senior fellow in 1714. He was lecturer in mathematics 1723–30, and was the first to hold the professorship of natural philosophy on the foundation of Erasmus Smith, 1724–38. Helsham was also regius professor of physic in the university of Dublin, 1733–8. He practised with high repute as a physician. Swift mentions him, in a letter to Alderman Barber, as ‘the most eminent physician in this city and kingdom,’ and in another letter as ‘his friend Dr. Helsham.’ He formed one of that brilliant literary coterie resident in Dublin at the period. He died on 25 Aug. 1738, and was interred in the churchyard of St. Mary's, Dublin. His will, a holograph, with one codicil, solemnly charges his executors that ‘before his coffin should be nailed up his head was to be severed from his body.’ Helsham's ‘Lectures on Natural Philosophy,’ edited by Bryan Robinson, were published in 1739, and a second edition appeared in 1743.



HELWYS, GERVASE (1561–1615), lieutenant of the Tower of London, baptised at Askham, Nottinghamshire, 1 Sept. 1561, was son of John Helwys (d. 1581) of Worlaby, Lincolnshire, by Mary, daughter of Thomas Blagden of Thames Ditton. His grandfather was William Helwys of Askham (d. 1557). His uncle Geoffrey (1541–1616), a merchant tailor of London, was elected alderman of Farringdon Within, 14 Dec. 1605 (removing to Walbrook 9 Jan. 1610), was sheriff of London in 1610, and had a son Gervase (1581–1653) who was knighted 26 April 1629 and was relieved of serving as alderman of Cordwainer in 1629 on paying 500l. (, Remembrancia, p. 82). The family name was spelt in an endless number of ways (Elwes, Elwaies, Helwisse, Yelwas, &c.); the present representatives have adopted Elwes. The lieutenant signed his name as ‘Helwyess’ or ‘Helwysse’ (, Great Oyer, 172, 175).

According to D'Ewes's ‘Diary’ (i. 79), Helwys was a fellow-commoner of St. John's College, Cambridge. The university register gives the date of his matriculation as June 1573, calls him ‘Jervasius Elwasse,’ and describes him as a pensioner. He took no degree, and studied law at Lincoln's Inn. While travelling in France, he became the ‘friend and acquaintance’ of [q. v.], the letter-writer. He was knighted by James I at Theobalds on 7 May 1603. His father warned him against the temptations of a life at court, and it was not until 1612, when he was middle-aged, that he ventured there. He seems to have been well known to members of the Howard family, especially to the Earl of Northampton [see ] and to Northampton's nephew, the Earl of Suffolk [see, d. 1626].

On 21 April 1613 Sir Thomas Overbury was committed to the Tower. Northampton and Robert Car, viscount Rochester, were obviously resolved that Overbury, who was regarded as an obstacle to Rochester's marriage with Lady Frances, Suffolk's daughter and Northampton's great-niece, should not leave the Tower alive. They feared that the lieutenant of the Tower, Sir William Waad, might obstruct their plans. Northampton, therefore, contrived his dismissal and the appointment of Helwys in his place. Helwys was anxious to serve the state and the Howards, and readily paid 1,400l. for his promotion. On 6 May 1613 he was installed in the Tower. He was ‘somewhat an unknown man,’ writes Chamberlain, but was noted for the gravity of his demeanour. Northampton obviously made it plain to him that the interests of the Howard family required Overbury to be kept under strict surveillance, and that he was expected to deliver to his prisoner certain letters which members of that family would write to him. But there is no evidence that Helwys understood at the time the character of the plot in which his office was to involve him.

The day after his assumption of office he agreed, at the suggestion of Sir Thomas Monson, master of the armoury in the Tower, to admit into the Tower as Overbury's attendant