Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 62.djvu/247

  kind of literary work—a description of the local scenery, the natural history, the literary associations and dialect of Stratford-on-Avon. Wise's wide reading in Shakespeare's works, his powers of observation, and his skill as a naturalist, gave genuine charm to his volume on ‘Shakspere: his Birthplace and its Neighbourhood’ (1861), which was published in December 1860. There were twenty-five illustrations engraved by W. J. Linton, and a tentative glossary of words to be found in Shakespeare which were peculiar to Warwickshire districts. This book Wise followed up next year in a volume in the same vein called ‘The New Forest: its History and its Scenery; with sixty-two Views by Walter Crane’ (December 1862, sm. 4to; 2nd ed. 1863; 3rd ed. 1867; and 4th ed. 1883, with twelve additional etchings by Heywood Sumner). Wise walked through the district with Mr. Crane, then a lad of sixteen, and the young artist's illustrations of the sylvan scenery are excellent. The book, which includes a glossary of local words, is admirable also from the naturalist's point of view, and remains a standard work. Wise's friend George Henry Lewes favourably reviewed it, on its appearance, in the ‘Cornhill Magazine’ (December 1862).

Wise, who held advanced views on religion and politics, came to know Dr. John Chapman, editor of the ‘Westminster Review.’ For many years he wrote the section on ‘Belles-Lettres’ in that magazine, but withdrew suddenly owing to political differences with Chapman. His relations with the ‘Westminster’ brought him the acquaintance of George Henry Lewes and George Eliot. Subsequently he was a contributor to the ‘Reader,’ a weekly periodical which also advocated advanced views. To the ‘Cornhill Magazine’ Wise contributed in July 1865 an admirable paper on ‘The Poetry of Provincialisms.’

It is said that in 1870 he went out as a newspaper correspondent to the Franco-German war, and met with many stirring adventures. Subsequently he resumed his wanderings in England. In 1875 he was settled at Sandsend, near Whitby. Some years later he had migrated to Edwinstow, Nottinghamshire, whence he explored Sherwood Forest, with the apparent intention, which he abandoned, of writing on it in the same manner as he had written on the New Forest. In 1881 he came into some property by the death of his mother's brother, Henry Ellison, author (under the pseudonym of Henry Browne) of ‘Stones from a Quarry’ (1875). A part of his newly acquired wealth he expended in the production of an elaborate volume called ‘The First of May: a fairy Masque,’ which he dedicated to Charles Darwin (1881, oblong folio). The text, a collection of lyrics from Wise's pen, was elaborately illustrated by Mr. Walter Crane. Mr. Crane's fifty-two designs, of which a transcription of the author's text by the artist formed part, were finely reproduced in photogravure. Wise's name did not appear in the volume, which was financially unsuccessful. His latest years were passed at Lyndhurst in Hampshire, and there he died, unmarried, on 1 April 1890, aged 59. He was buried in Lyndhurst cemetery.



WISE, MICHAEL (1646?–1687), musician and composer, was born in Wiltshire not earlier than 1646, if he was, as generally stated, one of the first set of the children of the Chapel Royal in 1660, and in 1663 lay-clerk of St. George's, Windsor. On 6 April 1668 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers of Salisbury Cathedral; on 6 Jan. 1675–6 he was admitted gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and entered as a counter-tenor from Salisbury. When attending Charles II on his progresses, Wise was said to have claimed the privilege of playing the organ in any church visited by his majesty. The charge against Wise of active participation in the schemes of the country party (1680) cannot stand after a careful examination of the ‘Wiltshire Ballad’ (Bagford Ballads, p. 741), and that contemporary rumour gave Wise the credit of being a loyal abhorrer is evident from the tory preacher's approval of the musician's ready wit (cf. Modern Fanatick, 1710, p. 50). His absence from the coronation procession of 1685 has given rise to the belief that social or political misconduct had led to his dismissal; but in a great representative ceremony it was inevitable that a singer holding appointments at Westminster and the Chapel Royal should abandon one or the other choir, and no fewer than twelve singers were thus represented by substitutes (, Coronation of James II, p. 70). On 27 Jan. 1686–7 Wise was appointed almoner and master of the boys at St. Paul's Cathedral.

Wise's character for conviviality and uncertain temper is best supported by the manner of his end. He quarrelled one night with his wife, and rushed out of his house at Salisbury only to stumble upon a watchman, who returned his assaults by a blow from a bill, fracturing Wise's skull. He died on 24 Aug. 1687, and was buried near the great west door of Salisbury