Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 59.djvu/448

 of Rev. H. Askew of Greystoke, Cumberland, and had issue.



WASSE, JOSEPH (1672–1738), scholar, was born in Yorkshire, and entered as a sizar at Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1691. He became bible clerk in 1694, scholar in 1695, was B.A. in 1694, fellow and M.A. in 1698, B.D. in 1707. He assisted Ludolph Kuster in his edition of Suidas (1705), and in 1710 published a critical edition of Sallust, based on an examination of nearly eighty manuscripts. In 1711 he was presented to the rectory of Aynhoe, Northamptonshire, by Thomas Cartwright, with whom he was on intimate terms. He passed most of his time in his library at Aynhoe, and, according to Whiston, Dr. Bentley pronounced him the second scholar in England.

To Samuel Jebb's ‘Bibliotheca Literaria’ Wasse contributed extensively, and Bowyer declares that the length of Wasse's articles ruined that venture. He became a proselyte to Samuel Clarke's Arian opinions, and in 1719 published ‘Reformed Devotions,’ dedicated to Cartwright and his wife.

The fine edition of Thucydides by Charles Andrew Duker and Wasse was published in 1731 at Amsterdam, and was reprinted at Glasgow in 1759 with the Latin version by Robert and Andrew Foulis. The original notes contained in the book are not of great value, and compare unfavourably with the Sallust. Wasse contributed scientific articles to the ‘Philosophical Transactions.’ He died unmarried on 19 Nov. 1738. Part of his library was acquired by his successor at Aynhoe, Dr. Francis Yarborough, afterwards principal of Brasenose College, Oxford (1745–1770). The books, which contain a great number of manuscript notes by Wasse, were given by Yarborough's heirs to the college. Wasse's copy of Thucydides, with many manuscript notes, is in the Bodleian Library.



WASTELL, SIMON (d. 1632), schoolmaster, was descended from a northern family seated at Wasdale in Cumberland. He entered Queen's College, Oxford, about 1580, graduating B.A. on 15 March 1584–5. Before 1592 he was appointed headmaster of the free school at Northampton, where he acquired considerable reputation as a teacher. In 1623 he published a translation of John Shaw's ‘Biblii Summula,’ 1621, entitled ‘A True Christians Daily Delight,’ London, 1623, 12mo, dedicated to Sir, first baron Spencer of Wormleighton [q. v.] It was a short summary in verse of the contents of the Bible, intended for children to commit to memory. To make the task easier the stanzas began with the successive letters of the alphabet. The first edition was reprinted in 1683 (London, 12mo), under the title ‘The Divine Art of Memory,’ with a preface by ‘T. B.’ Wastell, however, himself issued a second enlarged edition in 1629, entitled ‘Microbiblion, or the Bibles Epitome in Verse,’ London, 12mo. The summary of the Old Testament was entirely recast, and, though still based on the ‘Summula,’ was rather an original paraphrase than a translation from Shaw. The summary of the New Testament was, however, merely reprinted from the first edition. The book was dedicated to Sir William Spencer, son of Sir Robert, who had died in 1627. The edition of 1629 also contained on four blank pages at the end of the volume two poems very superior to Wastell's verses. The former, ‘Upon the Image of Death,’ is usually attributed to [q. v.], and is included in his ‘Mæoniæ,’ 1595. The other, ‘Of Mans Mortalitie,’ is sometimes assigned to [q. v.] In 1631 Simon Wastell, or more probably his son, was vicar of Daventry in Northamptonshire, but resigned the living before 22 Sept. of that year. Wastell died at Northampton four months later, and was buried on 31 Jan. 1631–2. He was twice married. By his first wife, named Elizabeth, he had four surviving children: two sons—Samuel (b. 1599) and Simon (b. 1602)—and two daughters, Hannah and Mary. Elizabeth died on 1 July 1626, and Wastell took a second wife, also named Elizabeth, who died on 17 May 1639. Wastell's will (dated 19 Aug. 1631) is printed in Northamptonshire ‘Notes and Queries’ (1894, v. 117).



WAT TYLER (d. 1381), rebel. [See .]

WATERFORD,. [See, 1468-1538.]

WATERHOUSE, EDWARD (1535–1591), chancellor of the exchequer in Ireland, the youngest son of John Waterhouse