Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/73

Rh he thrice prevented the burning of Bandon town, after three ſeveral orders given by that Prince to deſtroy it. The ſame year, having been deputed by the people of Bandon, he went over to England to peticion the Parliament, for a redreſs of ſome grievances they had ſuffered, while King James was in Ireland. During his ſtay here, and to the time of his death, he was in the higheſt eſteem among all ranks of perſons in this kingdom, for his eminent attachment to the true intereſt of his country. Having quitted his preferments in Ireland, he ſettled in London, where he, being celebrated for his abilities in the pulpit, was elected miniſter of St. Catherine-Cree Church, and lecturer of St. Michael’s Woodſtreet. He afterwards became miniſter of Richmond in Surry, and Stratford upon Avon in Warwickſhire, and at length, rector of Clapham in the county above-mentioned; which laſt, together with Richmond, he held to the time of his death. He was alſo chaplain to the duke of Ormond’s troop of Horſe-gaards, as he was to their Majeſties King William, and Queen Anne. He died on the 20th of May 1726, in the 67th year of his age, leaving behind him the reputation of a good man; he was of a moſt obliging, ſweet, affable temper, a polite gentleman, an excellent preacher, and no inconſiderable poet.

His compoſitions in poetry are chiefly theſe,

1. A New Verſion of the Pſalms of David, performed by him, in conjunction with Mr. Tate, ſoon after he ſettled in London; now ſung in moſt churches of England, and Ireland, inſtead of that obſolete and ridiculous Verſion made by Sternhold, and Hopkins, in the reign of King Edward VI. As the 104th Pſalm is eſteemed one of the moſt ſublime in the whole book, we ſhall preſent