Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 57.djvu/162

 He was elected Goodridge exhibitioner in 1695 and in subsequent years to 1700, and scholar in 1696. He graduated B. A. 22 April 1699, and M.A. 19 May 1702, and either in 1703 or 1704 he became a fellow of his college. He was admitted as pro-proctor of the university on 4 May 1709, and in 1714 was incorporated M.A. of Cambridge.

Early in his academic career Trapp began to versify. He wrote poems for the Oxford collections on the deaths of the young Duke of Gloucester, King William, Prince George of Denmark, and Queen Anne, and the lines on the decease of Prince George were re- printed in Nichols's 'Collection of Poems' (vii. 116–21). To the university set of poems in honour of Anne and peace (1713) he contributed both the proloquium and an English ode. His Latin hexameters, entitled 'Fraus Nummi Anglicani' (1696) appeared in the 'Musæ Anglicanæ' (ii. 211), and his unsigned poem of 'Ædes Badmintonianæ' came out in 1701 ( and, Gloucestershire Literature, ii. 13). The anonymous 'Prologue to the University of Oxford. Spoke by Mr. Betterton' at the act on 5 July 1703, was his, and 'The Tragedy of King Saul. Written by a Deceas'd Person of Honour' (1703, again 1739), is sometimes attributed to him (, Biogr. Dramatica, iii. 241). At this period of his life he wrote poetical paraphrases and translations which are included in the 'Miscellanies' of Dryden and Fenton. His play of 'Abramule: or Love and Empire. A Tragedy acted at the New Theatre in Little Lincoln's Inn Fields,' which was printed without the dramatist's name in 1704, and often reissued, brought him 'some reputation among the witts;' but when the author was presented to Bishop Robinson for ordination in the English church, the bishop rebuked him for its composition. These early productions caused his name to be inserted in the ironical Latin distich on the nine famous Oxford poets, viz. 'Bubb, Stubb, Grubb, Crabb, Trapp, Young, Carey, Tickell, Evans' (, Reliques, ed. Wheatley, iii. 307). They gave him also the post of first professor of poetry at Oxford, which he held from 14 July 1708 to 1718. Hearne called him upon his appointment 'a most ingenious honest gent, and every ways deserving of ye place (he being also in mean circumstances),' and added that he was elected 'to the great satisfaction of the whole university' (Collections, ed. Doble, ii. 120). But this good opinion did not last long. Trapp's first lecture concluded with a compliment to Dr. [q. v.], and he was condemned as 'somewhat given to cringing.' His lectures, which were delivered in Latin, were well attended, and his criticisms are said to have been 'sound and clear,' showing thought of his own and not a compilation from others (Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. xi. 194). The first volume of these 'Prælectiones Poeticæ' came out in 1711, the second in 1715, and the third edition is dated 1736. An English translation by the Rev. William Clarke of Buxted and William Bowyer was published 'with additional notes' in 1742.

Trapp plunged into politics as a tory and a high churchman. He assisted [q. v.] at his trial in 1709 and 1710, and on Sacheverell's recommendation became in April 1710 his successor in the lectureship at Newington, Surrey. The preface to a tract called 'A Letter out of the Country to the Author of the Managers Pro and Con' on this trial was written by him, and in September 1710 he vindicated Sacheverell's noisy progress into exile in an anonymous pamphlet entitled 'An Ordinary Journey no Progress' (, Sacheverell Bibliogr. pp. 37, 53). Hearne pronounced the second of these productions 'a most silly ridiculous thing;' Swift wrote to Stella in March 1711–12, 'Trapp is a coxcomb; Sacheverell is not very deep; and their judgment in things of wit and sense is miraculous' (Works, ed. 1883, iii. 11–12). Another anonymous pamphlet by Trapp was called 'The true genuine Tory Address and the true genuine Whig Address set one against another,' 1710.

In January 1710–11 Sir Constantine Phipps, the tory lord chancellor of Ireland, carried over Trapp as his chaplain, 'a sort of pretender to wit, a second-rate pamphleteer for the cause, whom they pay by sending him to Ireland' (, Works, ii. 140). On the following 14 May Swift took a pamphlet in manuscript–'a very scurvy piece'–by Trapp to a printer's in the city. It was entitled 'The Character and Principles of the present Set of Whigs ' (anon.), 1711. His poem 'on the Duke of Ormond' was printed in Dublin, and reprinted in London, where 'just eleven of them were sold. 'Tis a dull piece, not half so good as Stella's; and she is very modest to compare herself with such a poetaster' (ib. ii. 326-7). The author's fortunes had not prospered to this date, and they were not improved by his marriage in 1712 to a daughter of Alderman White of St. Mary's, Oxford. This event probably led to the manuscript note in the bursar's book at Wadham College, that he left the society in 1712, though his name appears in the accounts until 1715.

Swift wrote on 17 July 1712, 'I have