Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 52.djvu/279

 instrument in the seventeenth century, and Simpson's work was soon out of print. A second edition, dedicated to Sir John Bolles, bart., with William Marsh's Latin translation opposite the original text, was published as ‘Chelys, Minuritionum Artificio exornata: sive Minuritiones ad Basin, etiam Extempore Modulandi Ratio: the Division-Viol, or the Art of playing extempore upon a Ground,’ in three parts, 1665: part i. ‘Of the Viol itself;’ part ii. ‘The use of the Concords, or a Compendium of Descant;’ part iii. ‘The Method of ordering a Division to a Ground,’ explaining the arrangement of parts between the organ or harpsichord and the two viols. Extempore playing after the fashion prescribed in this treatise, not attainable by any but the most skilful players (of whom, however, Simpson's pupil Bolles was one), began and ended with this period. A third edition, with a fine portrait of Simpson engraved from Carwarden by W. Faithorne, appeared in 1712. 3. ‘Principles of Practical Musick, delivered in a compendious, easie, and new Method for the Instruction of beginners either in Singing or Playing upon Instruments, to which are added some short easie Ayres,’ 1665. This elementary work was dedicated to Sir John St. Barbe, bart. It was followed by 4. ‘A Compendium of Practicall Musick,’ 1667, dedicated to William Cavendish, duke of Newcastle. This manual of advanced music, admirably clear and concise, is generally regarded as a new edition of the ‘Principles;’ the forty pages of which form the first—‘Rudiments of Song’—of the five parts (176 pages) of the ‘Compendium.’ A portrait of Simpson, drawn and engraved by Faithorne, was prefixed. A second edition was published in 1670, a third in 1678, and other editions followed in 1706, 1713, 1714, 1727, and the eighth in 1732.

In manuscript are (1) ‘A Series of Suites in Three Parts,’ twenty-one numbers altogether (Brit. Mus. Addit. MSS. 18940, 18944); (2) ‘Monthes and Seasons, namely Fancies, Airs, and Galliards for two Basses and a Treble’ (ib. 31436). The Oxford Music School possesses a portrait of Simpson.

[Hawkins's History of Music, pp. 707–12, with portrait and musical illustration; Burney's History of Music, iii. 358, 421, 473; Grove's Dict. iv. 43, ii. 422, 437, &c.; Mace's Musick's Monument, pp. 151, 217, 235; Salmon's Vindication, pp. 37, 57, 75; Lock's Observations, pp. 32, 33; State Papers, Committee for Compounding with Delinquents, pp. 905, 1088; Simpson's Works; Registers of Wills, P.C.C. Cope 90, Juxon 104; North Riding Record Society, 6 vols. passim; Illingworth's Account of Scampton, passim.]

 SIMPSON, DAVID (1745–1799), divine, was the son of Ralph Simpson, farmer at Ingleby Arncliffe, near Northallerton, Yorkshire, where he was born on 12 Oct. 1745. After education at Northallerton, and then at Scorton grammar school under the Rev. John Noble, he proceeded in October 1765 to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1769 and M.A. in 1772. In 1767 he made the acquaintance of the Rev. Theophilus Lindsey [q. v.], by whom he was ‘converted.’ His first curacy was at Ramsden Bellhouse, Essex, under his friend William Cawthorne Unwin. At the end of two years he became curate of Buckingham, where he remained twelve months, leaving on account of opposition excited by his over-earnest preaching. Then he went to Macclesfield, Cheshire, and was appointed assistant curate of St. Michael's Church on 1 June 1772. Here after some little time the ‘methodistical’ earnestness of his preaching caused him to be brought to the notice of Dr. Markham, bishop of Chester, who deprived him of his curacy. On the death of Thomas Hewson, prime curate of Macclesfield, in 1778, he was nominated by the mayor as his successor; but this appointment was so strongly opposed, on the ground that he was a methodist, that he refused it. On the consecration of Christ Church, however, in 1779 he was appointed the first incumbent, and he remained there for the rest of his life. John Wesley was a warm friend of Simpson, and often preached at his church. For some time he added to his income by keeping a school. He also carried on an evening charity school, and this was succeeded by a Sunday school, opened in 1796. He died on 24 March 1799, and was buried at Christ Church. He was twice married—first, about 1773, to Ann Waldy of Yarm, Yorkshire, who died on 16 Sept. 1774, leaving a daughter. His second wife, Elizabeth Davy, by whom he had three children, predeceased him a few days.

Simpson's works comprise: 1. ‘Collection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs,’ 1776; curious from its quotations from Shakespeare, Spenser, and other poets (see Notes and Queries, 5th ser. x. 469, xi. 75). 2. ‘Sacred Literature, shewing the Holy Scriptures to be superior to the most celebrated Writings of Antiquity,’ &c., 4 vols. 1788–90. 3. ‘Portraits of Human Characters,’ 1790. 4. ‘The Excellency and Greatness of a Religious Mind,’ 1790. 5. ‘Discourses on Dreams and Night Visions,’ 1791. 6. ‘Essay on the Authenticity of the New Testament,’ 1793. 7. ‘Key to the Prophecies,’ 1795; 3rd edit. 1812. 8. ‘A Plea for Religion and the Sacred Writings,’ 1797; often reprinted; an edition