promising hopes of his future excellence, died, not with out strong suspicions of being poisoned, to the great grief and disappointment of the nation, on the 6th of November, 1612.

29. GEORGE ABBOT, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.* Engraved by Houbraken, from an original Picture in the Possession of Mr. Kingsley.

George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of James I, was younger son of Maurice Abbot, of Guil

The True Picture of Henry, Prince of Wales, Leyden, 1634, 4to. The Life and Death of Henry, Prince of Wales, by Sir Charles Cornwallis, London, 1641, 8vo.

The Life of Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I, compiled chiefly from his own Papers and other Manuscripts never before published. By Thomas Birch, M. D. 8vo. London, 1760.

In Peck's "Desiderata Curiosa” Lib. 6, Nos. 1, 2, 3, there is a large account of the sickness and death of Henry, Prince of Wales, of the matters observed at the opening of his body, November 7th, 1612, and some account of his funeral.

For a List of Portraits of Prince Henry, see Granger, vol. i, p. 315, $14.-8vo. edit.

* There are also the following engraved heads of Archbishop Abbot. 1. G.A. &c. 1617; Simon Passæus, sc, 4to.

2. Another by Simon Pass, with a View of Lambeth, Compton Holland, exc.

3. G. A. &c. A Copy from Pass, in Boissard, 4to.

4. G. A. a small head by Marshall, in the title to his Briefe description of the whole World."

5. G. A. &c, M. Vandergucht, sc. In Lord Clarendon's History, 8vo. There is a Portrait of the Archbishop in the University Library, Cambridge, and another in the Gallery at Gorhambury,

For a list of his Literary Works, see the Biogr, Britan, vol. i, article Abbot, and since that was written, there has been published, “The Life of Dr. George Abbot, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, reprinted, with some additions and corrections, from the Biographia Britannica, with his Character by the Right Hon. Arthur Onslow, late Speaker of

ford in Surrey, in which town he was born in the year 1562. He was educated at Baliol College, Oxford, and in 1597, after passing the minor degrees, proceeded Doctor in Divinity, and in the same year was elected Master of University College. In 1599 he was installed Dean of Winchester, and a new translation into English of the Bible being ordered by King James I, he was one of the translators of the New Testament. In 1609 he was consecrated Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, and about a nonth after translated to the Bishoprick of London, and from thence, in 1611, to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury.

In July 1621, a calamitous accident befel him in the Lord Zouch's Park at Bramsill in Hampshire. As he was shooting at a deer with a cross-bow, the keeper coming up unwarily too forward, was struck with the arrow, and died about an hour after. This shocking accident made so deep an impression on his Grace's mind, that he retired for some time from the enjoyment of all worldly pleasures.

His Grace's political conduct and principles rendered him obnoxious to the Court, which at length ended in his disgrace, and in the year 1627 he was sequestered from his office and jurisdiction, and confined to his house at Ford. He was however restored in the latter end of 1628. He died at his palace at Croydon, August 4th, 1633, in the seventy-first year of his age, and was interred in Trinity Church in Guilford, where a monument is erected to his memory.

the House of Commons; a description of the Hospital which he erected and endowed in his native town of Guildford in Surrey; correct copies of the Charter and Statutes of the same, his will, &c. to which are added the Lives of his two brothers, Dr. Robert Abbot, Lord Bishop of Salisbury, and Sir Morris Abbot, Lord Mayor of the City of London. Guildford, 1777,” 8vo,

30. BENJAMIN JOHNSON.

Engraved by Houbraken, from a Picture in the Collection of Dr. Meud.

Benjamin Johnson, one of the greatest English Dramatic poets in the 17th Century, was descended from a Scots family, originally of Annandale. He was born at Westminster, in the year 1574, and his mother, who on the death of her first husband, had married a bricklayer, obliged young John. son to work at his father-in-law's trade, which disgusted him so much that he went into the Low Countries, where he distinguished himself in the army by his bravery. Upon his return to England he applied himself with great vigour to his studies, and is said to have been admitted into St. John's College, Cambridge.

Shakspeare is said to have firstintroduced him into the world, by accidentally casting his eye upon one of Johnson's Plays, who found something so well in it, as to recommend the author and his writings to the public. His first printed dramatic performance was the Comedy of "Every man in his Humour," acted in the year 1598, which was soon followed by several others. In the year 1619, he was appointed Poet Laureat to King James I, on the death of Samuel Daniel.

He died on the 16th of August, 1637, in the 63d year of his age, and was interred in Westminster Abbey.

31. FRANCIS BACON, LORD CHANCELLOR.

Engraved by Houbraken, from a Picture in the Possession of Martin Folkes, Esq.

Francis Bacon, Lord Viscount St. Alban's, and Lord High Chancellor of England, was son of Sir Nicholas Bacon,

• Granger says that it is doubtful whether this bead be Johnson's Portrait.

Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by Anne, one of the daughters of Sir Anthony Cooke, and eminent for her skill in the Latin and Greek Tongues. He was born at York Place in the Strand, January 22d, 1561. In 1573, he was sent to Trinity College, Cambridge, under the care of Dr. Whitgift, who was afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. While he continued here, at about 16 years of age, he first fell into a dislike of Aristotle's Philosophy, as formed only for disputation and contention, but barren in the production of works for the benefit of human life, which induced him afterwards to endeavour after a more satisfactory, and perfect system.

L

When he had passed through the circle of the liberal arts, his father thought proper to qualify him for the management of public affairs, and therefore sent him to France with Sir Amias Pawlet, Ambassador to that Court.

He made no considerable advances in his fortune under Queen Elizabeth, but on the accession of King James I. he soon opened his way to preferment. In 1607 he was raised to the post of Solicitor General, and in January 1618 was made Lord High Chancellor. On the 11th of July following he was created Lord Verulam, and in 1621 advanced to the dignity of Viscount St. Alban's.

But he was soon after surprised with a melancholy reverse of fortune; for in March following he was accused by the House of Commons of bribery and corruption, removed from his office, and notwithstanding his submission and confession to the House of Lords, in which he acknowledged some facts, denied others, and endeavoured to answer and explain the rest in such a manner as to take off the malignity of the offence, was sentenced by that House to a fine of £40,000, to be imprisoned in the Tower during the King's pleasure, and be for ever incapable of any office in the state, or of sitting in parliament, or coming within the verge of the court. After a short confinement in the

Tower, he was restored to his liberty, and had the fine remitted to him; and immediately retired to a contemplative life, devoting himself to the prosecution of his favourite studies.

He died on the 9th of April, 1626, in the 65th year of his age, and was interred in St. Michael's Church, St. Alban's.

32. SIR EDWARD COKE, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.

Engraved by Houbraken, from a Picture in the Possession of Robert Coke, Esq.

Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in the reign of King James I, was descended of an ancient family in Norfolk. He was born at Mileham in the year 1551. After having studied four years at Trinity College in Cambridge, he went to Clifford's Inn in London, and the year following was entered a student of the Inner Temple. He was appointed Solicitor General in 1592, and Attorney General in the next year. On the 27th of June, 1606, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; and on the 25th of October, 1613, made Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, but on account of some expressions which he let fall upon one of the trials of the murderers of Sir Thomas Overbury he was sequestered from the office of Lord Chief Justice, and afterwards removed, being succeeded by Sir Henry Montagu.

He died at Stoke Poges, September Sd, 1634, in the 83d year of his age, and was interred at Tittleshal in Norfolk.

* There is a whole length Picture of Sir Edward Coke at Petworth,