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 Thomas Marshe). A new edition followed in 1581. Thomas Newton, in his 'Encomia,' 1589 (p. 128), highly commends the joint labours of Higgins and Udall. Higgins's next undertaking was a translation entitled 'The Nomenclator or Remembrancer of Adrianus Junius, Physician, divided into two Tomes, conteining proper names and apt termes for all things vnder their conuenient titles, London (for Ralph Newberie and Henrie Denham),' 1585, 8vo. The dedication, to Dr. Valentine Dale, is signed 'Joannes Higgins,' and is dated from Winsham, Somerset, 15 Nov. 1584. In 1602 Higgins published at Oxford 'An Answer to W. Perkins concerning Christ's Descension into Hell' (8vo).

Higgins is best known by his elaborate expansions of 'The Mirrour for Magistrates,' originally prepared by William Baldwin, and published in 1559. Baldwin's collection treats of English history from the reign of Richard II onwards. Higgins resolved to write on the beginnings of British history. In 1574 he issued 'The First Parte of the Mirour for Magistrates, containing the Falles of the first Infortunate Princes of this Lande. From the coming of Brute &hellip;,' London (by Thomas Marshe), 1574, fol. The volume opens with an induction in imitation of Sackville's well-known poem. Sixteen legends, dealing with Albanact, Locrinus, Bladud, Ferrex, Porrex, Nennius, and the like, are told in verse; and the volume closes with a metrical address by Higgins. Higgins reissued his 'First Parte' in 1575, enlarging his address at the conclusion, and adding a new poem, 'Irenglass.' In 1587 Thomas Newton prepared a collective edition of the original 'Mirrour' and of the various supplementary volumes. For this edition Higgins prepared twenty-three new poems in continuation of the seventeen already published by him. The new series treats of Brennus, Cæsar, Nero, Caracalla, and similar heroes. Thus the first forty poems in Newton's volume are from Higgins's pen, and in a later section appears another new one by him dealing with later history, namely, 'How the Valiant Knight, Sir Nicholas Burdet, Chiefe Butler of Normandy, was slayne at Pontoise, Anno 1441.' Richard Niccols reissued all Higgins's contributions in another collective edition of the 'Mirrour,' published in 1610, and reissued as 'The Falles of Vnfortvnate Princes' in 1619. In 1815 Haslewood once again reprinted the whole work.

A manuscript in Brit. Mus. MS. Cott. Galba, C. iv. 189, entitled 'A Discourse on the ways how to annoy the K. of Spain, and to provide for the restitution of wrongs,' is dated June 1571, and is assigned to 'Mr. Higgins.'



HIGGINS, MATTHEW JAMES (1810–1868), 'Jacob Omnium,' son of Matthew Higgins, by Janette, daughter of James Baillie, second son of Hugh Baillie of Dochfour, Inverness-shire, was born 4 Dec. 1810, at Benown Castle in the county of Meath. His father died soon after his birth. He was educated at a private school near Bath and at Eton. On 22 May 1828 he matriculated at University College, Oxford, but never graduated. At college he preferred hunting to study. He afterwards travelled much in Spain and in Italy, where his three sisters lived in Naples, after their marriage to Italians. In 1838-9 he visited British Guiana, where he had inherited an estate, and repeated the visit in 1846-7. This experience enabled him to keep his estate in good order during the critical period which followed the abolition of slavery, and to write some effective pamphlets upon the difficulties of the sugar-producing colonies. Immediately after his return in March 1847 he offered his services to the relief committee formed on occasion of the Irish famine, and spent several months in Ireland and London in active endeavours to help the sufferers. A letter to the 'Times' of 22 April 1847 (reprinted in his biography) gives a vivid account of the terrible scenes of the time. Higgins, who had been a conservative, followed Peel on the free trade question, and contested Westbury in 1847 on 'Peelite' principles, when he was defeated by James Wilson, afterwards financial minister in India. He never stood again, though he retained a keen interest in politics, and constantly attended debates. He was one of the chief writers in the 'Morning Chronicle,' under [q. v.], then the organ of the Peelites.

On 2 July 1850 he married Emily Blanche, daughter of Sir Henry Joseph Tichborne of Tichborne, and widow of the eldest son of Mr. Benett of Pythouse, Wiltshire. He then moved from 1 Lowndes Square to 71 Eaton Square. He was an exceedingly popular member of society. He was a judge of horses as well as a lover of literature and art, a member of the Philobiblon Society, and one of the original and most agreeable members of the Cosmopolitan Club. His advice was sought by many friends, and he spared no trouble in reconciling disputes and settling business. He had been obliged to take the waters at Homburg in later years, but no cause of