Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 48.djvu/384

 he included in the third edition of the ‘Clavis’ an entire metrical version of the Psalms, those previously issued standing separately as the ‘Fourth Book of the Book of Hymns and Praises.’ Besides funeral sermons for Alderman and Mrs. Jackson of Bristol, and small devotional manuals, Roberts published an ingenious chart, ‘Synopsis of Theology or Divinity,’ London, 1645, for the benefit of his flock, and ‘Mysterium & Medulla Bibliorum, the Mysterie and Marrow of the Bible, namely, God's Covenants with Man,’ London, 1657, fol., a learned commentary upon biblical texts.

His portrait at the age of forty, engraved by Thomas Cross, is in the second edition of his ‘A Communicant Instructed’ (1651).



ROBERTS, GEORGE (fl. 1726), mariner, was the reputed author of ‘The Four Years' Voyages of Capt. George Roberts; being a Series of uncommon Events which befell him in a Voyage to the Islands of the Canaries, Cape de Verde, and Barbadoes … written by himself’ (8vo, 1726). According to this work, Roberts, after having been engaged for several years in the Guinea trade as captain of a ship, engaged himself in 1721 as chief mate for a voyage to Virginia, touching at Madeira, the Canaries, and Barbados. At Barbados, however, as the result of a difference of opinion with his captain, he fitted out a small sloop, in which he undertook a voyage to Guinea; but, being captured by pirates, who cleared the sloop out and detained his men, he was sent adrift, without sails, without provisions, and with no shipmates but a boy and a child. After various difficulties, the sloop was finally wrecked on the unfrequented island of St. John, one of the Cape Verd Islands, where Roberts remained two years, and got back to England in June 1725. It is suggested (, Life of Defoe, iii. 543) that the narrative is fictitious, and was written by Defoe, and this suggestion has been adopted in the British Museum ‘Catalogue.’ It seems unauthorised and unnecessary. The style is rather that of some humble and incompetent imitator of Defoe, whose story is very probably based on fact. No reason can be alleged for doubting the existence of Roberts or the substantial truth of the narrative. Watt, whom Allibone follows, seems to identify Roberts with a Mr. Roberts who was shipwrecked in 1692, and whose story of the disaster is published in Hacke's ‘Collection of Original Voyages’ (London, small 8vo, 1699); but Mr. Roberts, commander and part owner of the vessel wrecked in 1692, can scarcely have been less than sixty in 1722; whereas George Roberts is described as a man of about thirty-five. William Lee (Life of Defoe, &c.) makes no mention of Roberts's narrative, thus tacitly denying Defoe's connection with it.



ROBERTS, GEORGE (d. 1860), antiquary, was born at Lyme Regis, on the borders of Dorset, where he was chiefly educated. He afterwards kept a grammar school there in Broad Street, Cannon Liddon being one of his pupils. He acted as mayor of the town in 1848–9 and 1854–5. From the age of eleven he devoted himself to the history of the place and studied its archives. He spent much time in inspecting other manuscript records, and he soon became known to the literary world for his knowledge of local history. He corresponded with Sir Walter Scott and was occasionally consulted by Macaulay, who quoted him as an authority on the incidents of the invasion by the Duke of Monmouth. Hepworth Dixon, in his ‘Life of Admiral Blake,’ acknowledged obligations to Roberts. About 1857 he removed to Dover, where he died on 27 May 1860, aged 57.

Roberts published:  ‘The History of Lyme Regis,’ 1823.  ‘A Guide descriptive of the Beauties of Lyme Regis, with a Description of the Great Storm [of 23 Nov.] 1824,’ already published in the ‘Sherborne Mercury,’ and issued separately (1830).  ‘History and Antiquities of the Borough of Lyme Regis and Charmouth,’ 1834 (incorporating a large part of No. 1. Two editions were issued, and to one of them was appended a tract on ‘The Municipal Government of Lyme Regis and an Account of the Corporation,’ which was also issued separately).  ‘Etymological and Explanatory Dictionary of the Terms and Language of Geology,’ 1839; praised by Dean Buckland.  ‘Account of the Mighty Landslip at Dowlands and Bindon, near Lyme Regis, on 25 Dec. 1839’ (1840). This tract went through five editions in that year.  ‘Terms and Language of Trade and Commerce,’ 1841.  ‘Life, Progresses, and Rebellion of James, Duke of Monmouth, with a full Account of the Bloody Assize,’ 1844, 2 vols.  ‘The Social History of the People of the Southern </ol>