less they were better; but say what you will, it pleaseth me, and since my delights are harmlesse, I will satisfie my humour: "For had my braine as many fancies in 't * It is not always, says Dr. Lort', that one would depend on authors for characters of their own works; but I think her grace's may be admitted: "You will find my works like infinite nature, that hath neither beginning nor end, and as confused as the chaos wherein is neither method nor order, but all mixed together without separation, like evening-light and darkness," &c. Letter cxxxi. We are farther informed by Wood", that the James Bristow, mentioned by lord Orford in p. 137, was of C. C. college, Oxon, a man of admirable parts, who had begun to translate into Latin some of the Philosophy of Margaret, duchess of Newcastle, upon the desire of those whom she had appointed to inquire out a fit person for such a matter; but he, finding great difficulties therein, through the confusedness of the subject, gave over, as being a matter not to be well performed by any. Her grace's philosophical speculations certainly constitute the most vulnerable part of her literary character. Dr. Birch records a resolution of the royal society, May 23, 1667, "that the duchess of Newcastle, having intimated her desire to be present at one of the meetings of the society, be entertained with some experiments at the next meeting, and that lord Berkeley and Dr. Charlton be desired to give notice of it to her grace, and to attend her to the meeting on the Thursday following." This ceremonial and the subjects allotted for the entertainment were referred to a subsequent council. JOHN POULETT, MARQUIS OF WINCHESTER, GRANDSON of the marquis mentioned above 2; an imitator of the earl of Monmouth, whom I may call The Translator; like the preceding lord, a prodigious sufferer for the royal cause, and not more bountifully rewarded. Indeed one does not know how to believe what our histories record, that his house at Basing3, which he defended for two years together, and which the parliamentarians burned in revenge, contained money, jewels, and furniture, to the value of two hundred thousand pounds. Of what was composed the bed valued at fourteen thousand pounds? In every window the marquis wrote with a diamond, Aimez Loyauté. His epitaph was the composition of Dryden. His lordship translated from French into English, 3 [The journal of the siege of Basing-house, is one of the most eventful pieces of history during the civil war. It was printed at Oxford in 1645. Several circumstances concerning the deliverance of Basing from open force, and secret conspiracy, are narrated by lord Clarendon, in his valuable History, vol. ii. 8vo. edit.] "The Gallery of Heroick Women 4." Lond. 1652, folio. Howell wrote a sonnet in praise of this work 5. "Talon's Holy History." Lond. 1653, 4to. And other books, which, says Anthony Wood, I have not yet seen o. [The translator's address before his Gallery of Heroic Women, is inscribed "to the ladies of this nation," and the following reasons are adduced for so general a form of dedication: "These gallant heroesses repaired first from all the regions of history to the court of France, to lay down their crowns at the queen regent's feet. This ceremonie and duty performed, they had a desire to passe the sea, and inform themselves of the condition and state of this island. And finding no queen here to whom they might render the same obedience, they resolved to address themselves to you, hoping to finde amongst 4 ["Written in French by Peter Le Moyne, of the society of Jesus. Translated into English by the Marquesse of Winchester."] • Vide his Letters, book iv. let. 49. [Howell's sonnet (as lord Orford, and not the author, denominates it) consists of eighteen lines, which were written at the instigation of earl Rivers, brother-in-law to the marquis of Winchester, "on that gallant piece called The Gallery of Ladies."] Vol. ii. p. 525. such noble company, some ladies, who resemble them at least in part of their vertues, if not in all. Their gallantry is so perfect, as you need not doubt but they will gladly suffer your noble hands to take some flowers out of their garlands; which, if well applyed, crowns may be formed of them, and one day placed upon your heads by some worthy person of our countrey, who taking notice of your vertuous carriages and improved actions in this land of trial, may hereafter erect a new gallery, in which your statues and names will remain a spectacle of honour and imitation to posterity." One of the books which neither Anthony Wood nor lord Orford had seen, was entitled "Devout Entertainments of a Christian Soule. Composed in French, by J. H. Quarre, D. D. Translated into English, by J. Marq. of Winchester." Printed at Paris, A. D. c1ɔ ɔc XLIX. [1649.] A portion of "the translator's address to the pious and Christian reader," may, by pious and Christian readers, be perused with profitable application. "This little golden treatise came into my hands as a missive of charity, sent to entertain me in my sad imprisonment; and upon a serious perusall, the finding it of so divine a spirit, and of so universall a concernment, was invitement enough to me to propose the naturallizing these meditations in our countrey, by contributing so much as I am able to them, namely, an English tongue; in which though they lose something of their native grace, yet I have reason to believe, that the charity of the authour will be content to be somewhat diminished himselfe, to become more beneficiall to his neighbours: nor need I doubt, but that the force of his heavenly spirit will break through, even my grosse language, and be not onely heard, but reverenced, amidst the noise of drums and trumpets, so frequent in these unhappy times; wherein we have more cause then ever to remember the great trumpet of the angell. "The authour shewes you, that this love of GoD is the most essentiall point of Christianity.' After he hath set you in the way of applying continually those duties which appertaine to the preservation of you in this happy state, he presents you with some considerations upon the whole passion of our blessed Saviour, as a powerfull motive to invite you to this pure love, which he demands of you, and to render homage to this excessive goodnesse, for so great and inestimable a benefit, which it hath purchased for you at so dear a rate, as even the death of the onely son of God! "And truly, when we looke upon the sufferings which Jesus Christ hath indured for us, ought we not to reproach our selves for bearing impatiently a few crosses and contradictions in this short pilgrimage? For, if so sacred a person sustained such violent pains. for us, can we conceive our selves exempt from them? No, no; let us rather be ashamed at our cowardice and effeminate affections, in desiring to find no opposition in our way, but to tread still upon roses; thornes seeming too harsh for our dainty feet, which (if they be so tender) cannot looke like feet appertaining to a head, stuck full of thornes." |